The daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1904-1905, 1904-12-20
GUARDED FOR
SIX MONTHS
THE WHEREABOUTS OF JUS
TICE BAUMGARTEN DEEP
MYSTERY.
WAS FORMER LOCAL MAN
Has Been Gone Since Last May and
His Family Have Searched the
Country For Him
WAS FORMER LOCAL MAN

jealousy guarded for six months
past,the story of the mysterious dis
appearance of Justice Baumgarten,
farmer employee of the Model Cloth
ing Store, leaked out yesterday.
six months ago from a little noun
tain town in Virginia. where he was
employed by the Steele Trust, as
though the earth had opened up and
engulfed him. From that day to this
not a trace of him has been foInd
and the many detectives who were EN-
ployed by his family to locate him
have signally failed as they have
absolutely no clue to work on. Mrs
Baumgarten. mother of the missing
man, is now residing at the old home
of the family in Cincinnati and the
mystery which surrounds the disap-
pearance Of her son has driven her
nearly frantic She is not without
hope however, of ultimately finding
him and this alone keeps her up. Des
pite the fact that Baumgarten has
been gone for six months the search
is still actively kept up through the
story has been kept from the news
papers at the request Of Mrs. Baum
grten, who wishes to avoid public
ity.
Justice Baurngarten came to Rich
mond about nine years ago from Gin
cinnati where he was born and rails
ed He accepted a position in the
Model Clothing Store and for five
years he was trusted employe Of thai
firm. He made many friends in this
city and while here boarded with
Mr.. and Mrs. William Moore who at
that time resided at the corner of
north ninth and C streets. Four Years
ago he left Richmond to accept a po-
sition in the United States Steel Go.
under his brother. After residing
there for a short time his brother
was transferred to Cumberland, Md,
and Justice went with him. Later the
two brothers were transferred back
to Pittsburg and about a year ago
they were sent to little mountain
town in Virginia, the name Of the
place could not be learned.
One. evening last May, Justice did
not return home from work This
slightly worried his mother, who hv-
ed with her two sons, but nothing
much was thought of it. The next
dav he did not 90 to work and his
family became greatly alarmed and
an active though quiet search for the
missing man was instituted but no
traces of him could be found His
room was searched and it was found
that he had destroyed all correspond
ence and every photograph he had
of himself. He left absolutely no
clue of his whereabouts. Day after
day past by and still no traces could
be found and then detectives were
employed with the hopes that they
could hunt him down, but no results
came of their efforts.
The steel company put an expert
accountant to work On Baumgarten s
books and after a thorough exami-
nation he announced that they bal
anced perfectly. Later the family re-
ceived word from Niagara Falls that
man answering Baumgarten des-
cription had been seen there Wheth-
err any thing ever came of the search
for the unfortunate man at the Falls
is not known. so guardedly do the
family and intimate friends keep the
details of the ease secreted.
The only story offered, and that
does not come from Baumgarten s
family, is that the missing man was
in love with young lady in Pitts
burg. Another man was in love with
the same girl and the romance ended
hy her marryino Baumoartan' = rival