Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-09-04
MAY HAVE ELOPED|
Miss Blanche Murdoch Disappears
From Her Home.
SAID SHE LEFT WITH STRANGE Man
Missing Girl Is Daughter Of John
Murdoch of Metropolitan Insurance
Co.-Departed While Father Was
Out of Town.
tFrom Wednesdays Daily.I


Miss Blanche Murdoch has disap-
peared from her home in this city and
no clue as to her whereabouts can be
found. Her father, John Murdoch,
who is the assistant superintendent Of
the local branch of the Metropolitan
Insurance Co., has been out OF the city
several days on business, and when he
returned yesterday it is said that he
found his daughter had packed her
trunk and left. 1t is rumored that she
went in company with a strange young
man who has been in the city for the
past few days. 1t has not been learn
ed whether or not any cash was taken.
The police were notified and are at
work on the case.
Found Daughter Gone.
Miss Murdoch is about IS years of
age and has been living in this city
over year acting as bookkeeper for
her father in his Office Last week
Mr.. Murdoch was up near Des Moines
where he owns farm on which his
wife and family, with the exception of
the missing daughter, reside, and it is
said that it was the purpose of the Wis
it to make arrangements to move his
family to Ottumwa. Yesterday morn.
ing he returned to this city and upon
going to his home, found evidence
there that his daughter had taken her
departure.
The keys to both the desks in Mr..
Murdoch's Office are gone and as
the desks nave not as yet been open
ed, it cannot he learned what shape
the accounts are in. The daughter
has been doing the Office work for Ter
father and in her position had access
to all the cash that was handled
through the office. 1t is thought how.
ever, that the cash accounts will be
found all right.
Rumors of Elopement.
Mr.. Murdoch thought it strange that
his daughter should leave before his
thinking of taking a vacation trip to
about the matter. Inquiry, however
led him to believe that this course had
not been pursued. Mr.. Murdoch i'm.
mediately notified the police and they
have taken up the case. 1t was rl-
mored that Miss Murdoch in company
with a young man had bought tickets
for Abba Monday evening, and last
night e. r. Sunley went to that town
OH Burlington No 4 to see if he could
find any trace of the parties. He was
unsuccessful, though, and could not
fine that the parties had been seen
there.
Babe Friends Good Bye.
1t is stated that the missing CIR
called on several of her friends Mon
day afternoon and babe them good
| bye, saying that she was going away
and did not know if she would return
again, but this was treated as a joke
by her friends. She is said to have re
marked to several people that she was
going away to get married but not un
til the news of her disappearance was
heard was anything thought of thes.
remarks.
Can Assign No Reason.
! The friends of the girl can assign
no reason for her action. There was
apparently nothing in her home life tt
bring about such an action. She seem
ed happy and well contented and has
never before shown any inclination to
ward such a move. Mr.. Murdoch haG
nothing to say when questioned by z
reporter this afternoon and seemed tt
| be dazed by the shock 1t is though
that the whereabouts of the girl vii
be soon found as determined effor
| will be made toward that end.