The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-10-28
.UNSOL We'd MYSTERY
IN LUNEkBURG
A Wife Waits sorroWfuIIy for
the Return Of Her
Husband.
fsneciaI Dispatch to The Times.l

(snecial Dispatch to The Timesl
MEHERRIN, VA, October 27.-About
five years ago. when the trees were sfeu-
ding their foliage. there came ana settled
in a small secluded little home near mere
in Prince Edward county. Mr.. and Mrs.
NJ. h Ward, from Bedford. Ohio. They
came here for the purpose of engaging
in the chicken business and Immediately
set to work to hatch them from an IN
cubator.
Months passed on and everything went
well. and Mr.. Ward. who was a man of
about thirty-fve years. ambitious and
considered by all who knew him clever
man, in addition to his chicken raislns'
devoted part of his attention to farm
ing. For two years he paid close atten-
tion to his affairs. and he was beginning
to reap some benefit from his labor,
when, about three years ago. Just as the
corn, tobacco and vegetable were all
very near ready to be harvested. he left
his happy little home ono Saturday eye
ming, telling his devoted wife, who is
about five years his junior. that he was
going to town to make a few purchases
and get his mail. as was his usual Gus
tom All had been happiness for them
previous to this. and they had lived
quiet, easy life together.
He departed on horseback, leaving his
wife happy attending her household du-
ties and when she had arranged every
thing it was time for his return. She
watched for him, but her heart grew sad
| der and sadder as the hours passeu by
and he failed to come. She waited
longer. but only in vain. and in her dis
tress inquired from those returning from
town it they had seen her husband: and
this added more to her anxiety as they
told her he was not#seen in town at all.
The. horse he was riding, which was
- l>,, lJ,. nar . fdC
hours after his departure returned to his
home with everything as he left, except
Mr.. Ward. who was missing.
Mr.. Dance thought the horse must
have broken away from him and re-
turned. and nothing moro was said until
the next morning, when he did not re-
turn. She spent a restless night and
thought her husband would return early
the next morning: but her hopes were in
vain. and she Immediately notified her
friends. who at once secured the neigh
horhood and made inquiries, but nothing
could be learned, except from an old col
ored man, who lived on his route to
Meherrn. and who had seen him pass
by as was his usual custom on Saturday.
The whole vicinity was stirred to its
fullest extent for three or four days.
and then inquiries were mads at the.
depot, thinking perhaps he had pllr-
chased a ticket No trace had been seen
Of him here His wife was almost broken
hearted. and her neighbors finally aban-
doned all hope of finding him. and con-
Guided that he was murdered by some
one and hidden in a secure place His
devoted wife fingered here for many
months afterwards, using every available
means to find him, and finally gave up
tho search here and went to her native
State. Ohio. in the hope that she would
find him there.
She searched in vain there until a few
f days ago. when she returned here with
the mystery yet unsolved.
q She has been a faithful searcher. which
goes to show how devoted she was to her
husband. and now it is said that she,
too. has concluded that he was muir
#dered for some unknown cause. notwith-
standing that he had not a. known enemy
in this county. It was one OF the most
mysterious affairs that ever happened
in this section. and since nothing has
been learned Of the whereabouts of Mr..
Ward, all have about decided that he has
come to some bad end.