The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1902-02-19
Josie Grinley, Sweet Six
teen, Put on Her Best
Dress and Dis
appeared.
GEORGE HEGBHAA Dlsc0HsOLATE
He Boosted Of His Mashes
and Now He Is as Anx-
ious as Josie's Parents.

Josie Grinley, the sixteen-year-old
daughter Of Mr. and Mrs. Charles H.
Grinley. of No. 461 Fairmont avenue, Is
mysteriousiy missing from home, and de-
spite the most energetic efforts OF her
parents and friends to find her, her
whereabouts cannot be learned The girl
left home on Sunday afternoon to WISH
the family OF her accepted lover, George
Hege,naE. a 4seventeen-y -year-old boy, with
whom she went to school The Hegenan
family live at No 40 Highland avenue,
near the Boulevard. This visit the girl
made and left there about s o'clock In the
evening. Then she disappeared as II the
earth had opened and swallowed her
Ever since young Hegeman and Miss
Grimiey met, seven years ago at school,
they have been inseparable companions
little over two years ago the family OF
.he girl suspected that there was some
thing other than mere friendship exist
ing between the two, and they acceptea
the Young man with clear understand
ing. It was considered that the school
chums would some day marry, and the
idea was by no means displeasing 70 the
family of either of thesyoung people, But
of late Hegeman has been acting IN
manner that has led the girl to tnink
that she was no longer as much to MN
as she was formerly, and she became
moody. This was noticed by her parents.
and they did all they could to cheer her
up. but with little success. Notwith-
standing the turn affairs had taken, Miss
Grimley continued to visit the home OF
her sweetheart as she had done for years
so when, on Sunday, she dressed herself
In ner new clothes. including the -rs-
long skirt she had ever worn, ana said
she was gong to Hegeman's nothing was
thought of the matter.
George Hegeman is a very big boy. He
is about six feet tall and built in pro-
portion so that he looks to be fully
twenty-three or four years old. He left
school some time ago because he thought
himself too big to continue with the boys
of his age who are much more insig-
ni6cant in appearance than he. Then ne
secured a position as trolley conductor
He had the habit of youth In boasting
and took pleasure IN teasing his sweet
heart with stories Of all the pretty ladies
he met and became acquainted With while
collecting fares He further exaggerated
matters by saying at different times that
he had made engagements to visit some
OF these transient acqualntances, and 1t
was this that was chiefly the cause of
the melancholy that took possession OF
Miss Grimley. On Sunday afternoon he
made such a remark in the presence of
Miss Grimley while she was at his home.
Contrary to her usual manner of receiy-
ing such remarks the girl seemed to pay
no attention to him but was unusually
vivacious. When six o'clock came she
departed saying that she was going home.
Mr. and Mrs Grimley waited up until
midnight for their daughter but she did
not come They expected that she and
Hegeman would arrive at the house at
any time and all unsuspecting Mr.. Grim
ley retired to his room. In preparing his
bed, a task his daughter had always un-
dertaken before, Mr.. Grimley found
sealed envelope on the covers. 1t was
addressed in his daughter handwriting
to her mother Mrs. Grimley opened the
envelope. It contained a note saying that
the missing one had been married and
expressing the hope that her parents
would not be angry The first thought
was that the girl and Hegeman had gone
off and married. This was not expected,
but still as just this result Of the rela-
ultimately, the parents did not receive
the information ungraciously and went
to bed in the thought that their daughter
and Hegeman would come to the house
the next day to ask the paternal blessing,
which would be given
On Monday Hegeman called at the
Grimley home as he usually did when he
was off duty. and asked for Josie Mrs
Grimley was greatly taken aback and in
the greatest excitement asked the young
man if he did not know where her daugh-
ter was. Upon his denial Mrs. Grimley
showed him the note that was found the
night before by Mr.. Grimley Then fol-
lowed a search that was made among all
the friends Of the family and of the girl,
but without result Mrs. Grimley was al
most prostrated and her husband and the
young man exerted every effort to To-
cate the missing one. Yesterday after
noon they gave the task up as hopeless.
few hours later Mrs Grimley re-
ceived a letter from New York city. 1t
was postmarked Station La and was
from her daughter. 1t expressed the hope
that Mr. and Mrs Grinley were well and
contained a remark about the storm In
q postscript the girl said that she would
probably go to Florida There was no
reference IN this letter about marriage.
Mr.. Grimiey IS retired balloon manu-
facturer. He is an extensive property
owner and is well and generally known
ia the Bergen section. He said this morn
ing:
"Josie is away. ] don't know where she
Is, but am not worrying She will prob
ably return soon. At least hope she