The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-04-26
THE PETERSON MYSTERY.
Their Whereabouts Is Still an Unde-
termiaed Question.
THEY DISPOSED OF THEIR CATTLE
The Sheriff Believes They Have Left for
the Old Country and Told Nobody
Their intention.

Nothing has SO far developed as TO the
whereabouts of Farmer Peterson and his
wife. The facts of their disappearance
and the burning of their home and out
houses is too fresh In the minds OF the read
sng public to need repetition.
1t appears, however. that the question OF
Mhat became OF their cattle and chickens
has been answered. The former were sold
something like two weeks ago to a butcher
of this city. Paul Sonnen, while the chick.
ems were peddled TO various local dealers.
1t is alleged that they were seen in Hous-
ton last Tuesday evcnlng--the day before it
was discovered that their PLACE was burned.
1t is further stated that they were seen 10
be engaged iu conversation with live stock
dealS-s camped in the southern edgs OF the
city. and II is supposed that they sold their
wagon and mules to those people, though
at a late hour last night that report mad
not been confirmed.
sherif Anderson learned that the missing
people were IN ecceatric couple, and Peter
son had no relatives In this country save
Nrs. Herman kummel, who lives with her
husband in the same community Giillen-
dahn, where Peterson and his wife nave
lived Tor the past several years. They had
no Intimate friends, and were seldom Wis.
tied by the neighbors. and they were sell
dom seen out together.
some years ago borrowed something Ike
$500 from one OF his sisters in Europe
and that he had regularly paid the Interest.
II Is said, too. that he had been talking a
great deal lately Of returning to his native
country tlSrancel, and as the days came
ana went nc appeatcd TO grow more aud
more dissatisfied with this section.
Thus, putting everything together the
sheriff IS forced 70 the conclusion that the
couple determined TO 80 Ia Europe, and at
the same time concluded to destroy every
~ Inn tl4saw~ al. a
needed was cash, and IS they had no chill
dren they probably Thought Is bCst TO de-
stroy All they could OF their property. or
course, any clew as 20 their whereabouts
that the officers may ind viii be followed,
but no further extra effort VIII be made to
fr2ce them.
In a conversation held last night with
, Sherih Anderson he gave ii summary Of the
] matter as follows: About twenty year.
G ago he borrowed S1I0o from his sister i'm
Europe with which "a hny the place which
] he has destroyed and vacated II was bar
= rem land when he bought &C. and he male
y. y the improvements there was ON a.. lTr
MAS relig1ously paid thu interest on the
money 10 his sister. hun hr has been heard
70 complain recently about these regular
payments and said he saw no Vty TO finally
discharge the obligation. He WIS regarded
as somewhat eccentric and from an I CGD
learn | believe that he deliberately de-
stroyed all the improvements he had put on
She place with the intention OF having the
land revert 10 his sister, II she wanted il.
In the same condition he found IN. When
he concluded 10 leave he sold his cattle
and chickens aud he and his wife wcrc
seen 10 the city last Tuesday evening by
Paul Sonnen. the nan 10 whom he had
previously sold his cattle. His team ana
probably his wagon. were sold, as ] be-
iieve. TO some traders who were here dur
Ing thc first part Of thu week, hut | nave
not been able TO fnd them as they moved
into the country THIS morning. OF course,
hviu see them and find out. After dis
posing of these things the couple took tho
ED. tt. Fag on ar q AL
reill prohably ship from one Of those places
Dor the cid countcv. AS TINT Is my concu
y sim, and safe one as I believe from ali
can find out, shall spend no money IN
felerraphing to find their whereabouts, and
the matter win be dropped. ga far as I am
concerned"