The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-05-16
STRANGE DISAPPEARANCE OF
CONDUCTOR scHLokoPH.
BELIEVE He WAS MURDERED
Well Known Railroad Man Suddenly
vaniehes on Eve Of His
Wedding.

lIeleSS DOuy lying III some out OIL the
way place, perhaps concealed by the
turbulent and swift running waters
of the Yellowstone?
This is the question his friends are
asking themselves as they continue
to speculate On his mysterious dis
appearance and the cause thereof.
Until his vanishment the missing
man was employed as a freight con-
ductor on the Northern Pacific, run
ming between this city and Forsyth.
The last seen of him was early last
month, shortly after his return from
st. Paul, where he had been as a
delegate of his brotherhood to con-
fer with the management of the COM
pany on some matters pertaining to
the relations between the two. Sud-
denly he dropped from sight and
snce then no trace of him has been
obtained, although his friends and the
order of which he is a member have
exerted every possible effort to learn
SOAuOt4lLA6 NOuCOl AluS HILL. ~
Suspect Foul Play.
While it is possible that he may
have decided to leave without in
forming any one of his intention, his
friends are inclined to believe that
he has met with foul play and has
been made away with by somebody
and his body thrown into the river to
more completely hide all traces Of the
supposed crime Their reason for as
Stunning that something of this sort
has happened to him is based on their
knowledge of the man and his sur
roundings. They say he vas not en-
barrassed financially or in any other
way and that he had a good position,
stood well with his employers and
fellow employees and to all appear
ances was better and more comfort
ably situated than the majority of
those who are compelled to toll for
their living.
Another reason they have for be-
lieving that he was murdered is that
he was to be married to a most es-
Unable young lady who lives with
her parents a short distance up the
valley, an event that he anticipated
with the greatest pleasure and was
frequently heard to speak of it and
the JOY he felt as the day fixed for
the ceremony approached. May 6
was the date set for the wedding and
Scholkoph had made all arrange
ments for the event. The wedding
suit had been ordered and is even
now at Forsyth awaiting delivery, hav-
ing bee received there the latter part
of last month.
Wa Expecting Money.
To those with whom he was more
intimate shortly before he disappear
ed Scholkoph told that he expected
to receive $500 from a man to whom
he had sold some land in Nebraska,
saying he was looking for the man
to come and make the payment. The
adherents of the murder theory say
that he probably was paid the money
arr that some one saw him receive
it orr in some other way learned that
he had it and took advantage Of the
knowledge to kill and rob him. They
scout the idea that he is purposely alb
senting himself and the more they
think about the matter the stronger
they become convinced that their
theory is the right one. They also
declare that it would have been i'm.
possible for him to leave the city
without being recognized, as he was
well known to all the trainmen on
both roads. Inquiry has been made
of everybody running out of the city
on either road and no trace has been
obtained Of him and his disappear,
ance is as complete as though the
very earth had opened up and swal
lowed him.
The young lady who was to have
been his wife is almost distracted with
grief and daily makes inquiries Of
his friends with the hope o. being
able to learn something concerning
him, but they r able to give her nc
comfort and are as deeply mystifed
and as sadly panied as she.
May Offer Reward.
) 1t has been about decided to Offer
a reward for Information that will
lead to the discovery of his where
abouts and unless something is
heard within the next few days it is
more than likely that this will be
done, as his friends r determined
to learn, il possible, what has become
of him.
- o1iak -fa1iohln ahoa -xnnair1ng. Post