The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-07-11
J. P. H. CRlSMOND
DISAPPEARS.
TRUSTED CLERK OF COURTS
OF SPOTSYLvANIA COUNTY
LEAvrS MYSTERiOUSLY.
Generally Believed His Mind is Un-
balanced-Thousht 10 Have Lett
the Country.

The citizens Of fredericksburg ana
Spotsy lyania county were startled and
shocked late Thursday evening 10y the
rumOr that j. L. II CrismOnd, VINO has
been Clerk Of the Courts OF Sputsylvania
for - years. hal suddenly ana mystic
riously disappeared This information
was brought 10y ayoung gentleman OF
the comfy who is a well known, reliable
business man. and was told To gentle
man who was unwilling To believe the
report The telephone between here aud
Spotsylvania was brought into service,
but the parties communicated win de-
clned TO talk on the subject. lhen the
report was whispered TO Others ana IN
short time the air was filled Win all
sorts of startling reports. A representa-
tive Of this paper immediately started 10
Sputsylvania oget az the facts va 'he
outskirts ui the city Mr.. Arthur u Ofls-
mond. son of Clerk Crismord incOmpany
with Dr. ". 4. Harris, who was en- route
here. was met. To our enquiry astp the
report and the statement that we "'re
going TO Spotsylvania, Mr.. Crlsmond
courteously declined 10 make any sta'e-
ment. except that Clerk Irismond was
gone and he too WAS anxious To know
OF his whereabouts The gentlemen
came on 10 the city and our fepr, s'nta-
tive continued his way 10 Spotsy wanna
About three miles from the city common
weelth's Attorney Lee j. Graves and
Sheriff +. 4. Harris, Of Spotsy lvhoia,
were met driving at rapid rate towards
the city From them we obtained con
firmation Of the report OF the disappear
ance and also the information that they
were endeayoring to catch the y. m
train for Washington. Come back with
us said Mr. Graves, and we will tell
Won what we know about the matte
At the depot here Mr. Graves made
this statement. There has been Tor
some time difference between the
amount of delinquent land returns made
10 the Auditors Oihcc at Richmond ana
those To the treasurer of the county,
those made to Richmond being greater
than To the county, when the retnrns 10
the treasurer should he 30 per cent more
than To the State. Treasurer Dihard
and had conference in regard to THIS
and Clerk Crismond wac informed oil the
circumstances Without the slightest
hesitation aud in the most pleasant iuan-
ner he said II there are any errors he
would cheeriully correct same ~ d II
there il a deficiency will give check Tor
same There were other errors found
and he promptly gave checS for them.
On last Friday notified Clerk 'rismond
that ielt il my duty ~ CommonweHlt Oh r
Attorney 10 ask for an Investigation.
- 4. A - la vrh hon do de-.
sire to commerce it? ! will aid y, To
the extent Of my ability. | named Tues
day. but ! WAS very sick Monday ana
could not make arrangements 10 b'gin
Tuesday and go informed him hat
morning He replied: 4 do not know
what shape this matter may AZ. nme
and it may be necessary that J nave
counsel. 80 will 20 To frederickr Hufg
and .ecure the services 81 Nr. It. Geore~
f Fitlhugh. That was the last -eW Of
him.
"What il your purpose in going to
Washington with Sheriff Harris We
asked.
4 90 to take immediate steps to htve
Mr. Crismond apprehended ~ ! be'irye
he il going out of the country
did he have sufficient money with
him TO do that
Yes: he drew $3.50 ont Of the lank
here Tuesday and usually carries - eood
sum of money on his person
What do sou estimate the deiich lcy
from the delinquent taaes!
"About 5000" replied Mr.. Graves
We said: "ls that all9 Why Clerk lis
mond could easily make good much ~ ore
than that amount. There certainty must
be other reasons.
Mr. Graves replied There are other
"Do you think his mind has become
unbalanced?
II am not prepared To say. IL n a
most unfortunate affair and has cast a
Gloom over the people OF the county
where he has so many friends.
lie further said "1'he FIRST period OF
nneasiness with the family was W'dnes
day. when q letter was received by MrT.
Crismond bearing the postmark OF
/ .-barlotte and Washington, mailed on
the train between here and Washing on,
/ which stated that his horse ana bugg!
was at Wbeeler's stable and all charges
mid. and asked that II be sent Tor: ms
was done on Wednesday evening. lhurs-
day morning there was found among hi.
paners in the clerks office a note dated
Tnesday-'To my loved ones. am gone.
You can keep up my Reinsurance or you
can take II in at It's cash value either
you prefer = -.
"On Tuesday morning he had in his
hand a legal paper. The part To be
signed was exposed, while the remainder
was folded. This be asked his son 70
acknowledge. which he did This paper
was afterwards found To he ueeu
which gave to his wife his entire proper
ty, real and personal.
Clerk Crismond was here Tuesday anc
stated be was going to Washington tI
n .rfect a real estate deal. At the depot
he greeted a representative OF this papel
and lett on the 657 train north. lin
friends in this city think that his minC
has become unbalanced. Ii isnot believ
cd nv them that he has intentionall!
done anything wrong. from presen
; DEVELOPMENTS il looks as II he owns tel
times as much property &c the reported
deficit. besides he 10 bonded officer 4
the amount VI TlVsVON '@ht
man ia amply able to make good an.
shortage to the amount OF bond.
2 Clerk CrismQnd has enjoyed the con
, 6dence and esteem Of the people oil hi
) life. He was born 10 epotsylysnla an
: owns the Crismond homestead, one {
r the most productive farms In the county
>. He has always been man OF the churcc
i and Sunday School and was foremost
4 this work. For - years he has bee
0 Clerk of the Courts, and 1t will believe
by the bulk of the people that this col
dition il an error OF the head and not
the heart until it il otherwise proved;
Later Developments show that NJ
10 Crismond left home wearing his ever
!. day clothes and in the pocket OF hls be,
D. suit was found roll of money. Hepal
- every private bill he owed on Monda
J. and Tuesday and still has in one ban
lie here about 81 100 and in the other abo'
e, 81 900. As he passed from his house OF
4. to his buggy to come to this city he q
not tell any member Of his family goo
bye.