Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-07-11
REMARKABLE DISAPPEARANCE.


J.P. H. Crismon, clerk of the County
and Circuit Courts OF Spottsylvania, has
mysteriousIy disappeared. Having at
tended to his duties as clerk at the
session of the County Court last Monday
the following day he left, ostensibly for
the purpose of going to his farm, few
miles from the courthouse. He, went how
ever. to Fredericksburg, where he set
tied I'D a number of bills he owed mer-
chants. He said he had to return home,
but. instead of doing 80, he left his horse
and buggy at livery stable, went to the
depot, purchased ticket to Washington
and left on an evening train.
When he failed to return his office
was examined and note to his family
was found telling them that he would
never return. A deed was also found IN
which he left his property to his wife
for life, then to his children, Arthur
III. Crismond and Mrs. Harris, wife OF
DIR. w. A. Harris, both OF Spottsylyania
Cou rthouse.
Commonwealth Attorney Lee j.
Graves and Sheriff A. Harris, of the
county, arrived Thursday afternoon on
their way to Washington to see if they
could not locate Mr.. Crismond and
bring him back. At the depot Mr..
Graves made this statement:
"FThere has been for sometime a dit
ference between the amount of delin-
ouent land returns made to the auditor 8
Office at Richmond and those TO the
treasurer of the county, those made to
Richmond being greater than to the
county, when the returns to the treasurer
should be 80 per cent more than to the
State. Treasurer billiard and | had a
conference in regard to this, and Clerk
Crismond was informed of the circum-
stances. Without the slightest hesita-
ton and in the most pleasant manner
he said if there are any errors he would
cheerfully correct them, and if there is
deficiency would give a check for same
There were other errors found, and he
promptly gave a check. On last Fri
day | notified Clerk CrismOnd that felt
it nv duty as commonwealth attorney
to ask for an investigation. He replied,
All right; when do you desire to COM
mence it? l will aid you to the extent
of my ability l named Tuesday, but
was very sick Monday, and could not
make arrangements to begin Tuesday,
and | informed him that morning. He
replied: Il do not know what shape
this matter may assume, and it may be
necessary that / have counsel, so l will
90 to Fredericksburg and secure the
services of st. George r. Fitzhugh.'
That was the last | saw Of him."
"What is your purpose in going to
Washington with Sheriff Harris?' was
asked.
al 90 to take immediate steps to have
Mr.. Crismond apprehended, as / believe
he is going out of the country"
'Did he have sufficient money with
him to do that?"
Eyes. He drew $3.50 out of the bank
here Tuesday, and usually carried good
sum of money on his person."
"At what do you estimate the def
cency from the deliquent taxes p
"About 5000"
as that all? Clerk Crismond could
easily make good much more than that
amount. There certainly must be other
reasons"
"There are other reasons"
"Do you think his mind has become
unbalanced%
81 am not prepared to say. 1t is an un-
fortunate affair, and has cast gloom
over the peoples of the county where he
has so many friends. The first period Of
uneasiness with the family was Wednes-
day, when letter was received by Mrs.
Crismond bearing the postmark of Char
lottc and Washington, and mailed on the
train between Fredericksburg and Wash
ington which stated that his horse and
buggy were at Wheeler's stable,
and charges paid, and ask thst
they be sent for. This was done on
Wednesday evening. Thursday morn
ing there was found among his papers
in the clerks Office a note dated Tues
day and addressed to My Loved Ones.
In it he said; 4 am done; you can keep
up my life insurance or you can take il
at its cash value. "
Mr.. Crismond leaves in bank over
81, 900, and has property to the value
of $40, 900 or $4,000. He has been
one of the most prominent and popular
citizens. Besides being clerk, he was a
local Methodist preacher, and has per-
haps married more couples than any
other minister in that section. The gen.
eral impression is that his mind is I'M
balanced.
Sheriff Harris and Attorney Graves
returned to Fairfax yesterday evening
from Washington. They say they lost
all trace of him in Washington. Some
think he has taken his life.
To TEST EFFECTS OF TOBACCo.-Fol-
lowing the line of his recent investigation
into the effectsfollowing the constant con-