The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-05-26
DISAPPEARS
AMID MYSTERY
[. {. Humphrey, a Prosperous
Farmer, Drops From Sight.
FEARED THAT IT. is SUICIDE
MURDER THEORY IS ALSO AD-
VANCED By BROTHER.

TTT HAT has become Of L. E. Hum
Wv phreyo Has he been murdered,
become insane or committed sui
eide in some secluded spot? He has
been mysteriously missing since May
Is, and his brother and the sheriff's
officers are searching in vain for some
clue 10 his wherea bouts. The peculiar
circumstances under which Mr.. Hum
phrey disappeared lead to the fear that
nc has either disposed Of himself in
some way, or has been killed.
Mr.. Humphrey was we'll known
farmer Of BeIlevilIe, w Va. who had
been in Salt Lake for his health for
some days prior to his disappearance.
For some years, il is said, he has been
a sufferer from catarrh. and left his
home in Belleville May ?, telling his
family that he was going to Denver to
spend while in hopes of getting relief
from his malady. From information
secured since. 1t is known that he left
Denver suddenly May Is, and came to
Salt Lake, but where he stopped here
no one has been able to learn.
A few days ago S, d. Humphrey.
brother of the missing man, received a
letter at his home in Belleville from
his brother, in which the latter babe
him and his family farewell forever.
The letter gave directions as 10 the dis
position Of his property and told his
brother not to make any attempt TO
find him, as he was going away for
ever. and did not want TO be hunted
for The letter was written on paper
bearing the Cullen hotel heading, and
was dated May Is.
Comes Seeking His Brother.
When he received the letter S. D.
Humphrey thought his brother must
have lost his mind, and he Immediately
telegraphed to Proprietor s. c. Ewing
of the Cullen to find his brother and
hold him safely until he arrived Mr..
Humphrey. accompanied by E. w.
Crooks, ueighbor. started Immediately
afterwards to this city, TO investigate
the meaning of the mysterious letter.
They arrived here yesterday and went
Immediately 10 the Cullen, expecting to
find the object of their search, but
were told that he had never registered
or stopped there, and no enc could re-
member having seen him about.
To increase the mystery. Mr.. Hum
phrey found telegram awaiting him
at the Cullen stating that his broth
g = Il AAAfNr NtAAAetAAAAAf1 O AAohNAAg VI AiAD
personal effects and a small amount Of
money, had arrived home by express
from this city. There was nothing in
The trunk 10 throw any light whatever
on the mysterious disappearance of its
owner
As soon as he received this Mr.. Hum
phrey and his companion began a
search through all the hotels of the
city in quest Of some trace Of the miss
ing man, but so far as could be learned.
he had registered at none of the places.
The searchers then turned TO the
jails, thinking he might have lost his
mind and been taken into custody, but
he could not be found. The hospitals
were searched. and the records of the
undertakers for the past few days were
looked over, but they gave no clue to
the missing man.
Mr.. Humphrey soon became con-
WINGED that something had happened to
his brother, and he called upon the
sheriff for aid in finding him. The
officers are. accordingly. making every
effort to assist the searchers in getting
some trace Of the missing man.
Suicide Is Feared.
Mr.. Humphrey. when seen yesterday
afternoon. stated that he could not
account for the strange disappearance
OF his brother, unless he lost his mind
committed suicide. or had fallen a vic
tim to foul play From all the cir
cumstances in the case he is fearful
that his brother has taken his life in
some lonely spot in the nearby noun
tains.
He has been a sufferer from catarrh
for long time, and complained Of il
a great deal before leaving home" said
Mr.. Humphrey, but he appeared to be
as cheerful as ever when he left, and
never limited at anything Of this kind.
if he contemplated Il then. From the
tone Of his letter I thought at first that
he had lost his mind, and might be
wandering about out here, but after
coming out and investigating the case
fear that he has become respondent
over his III health and probably hidden
himself away in the mountains and
taken his own life. OF course he may
have lost his mind and be somewhere
yet, or he might have met With foul
play. We expect TO he every Dos
sible effort TO locate him, or at least
get some trace Of him"
The missing man was about p yea rs
Of age, and was unmarried He was
tall and well built. and had a rather
prominent nose. No one knows what
kind of clothes ne was wearing when
he disappeared.