Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-07-04
FARM HAND WRONG MAN
Broken Hearted Father Cannot lden.
tify Stranger Held at Grand Island
Senior White Gives Up the Search
and Leaves for His Home at Web.
ster.

twenty mile drive on a gloomy, foggy
day, Hon Fred White Of Iowa arrived
at the farm Of Peter Arnstedt near st.
Libory Sunday afternoon and discov-
cred that the strange farm hand, who
was being detained there was not his
lost son, Virgil White, the Des Moines
attorney. He further learned, however,
that his son had gone east on the I'm
ion Pacific for some point unknown to
himself or the train officials.
The father gave out completely
when he reached the farm, accom-
panied by Sheriff Taylor, and he sank
back exhausted In the carriage, never
journey back to Grand Island through
the mud and rain.
''I am about DONE" said the aged
father. II have finished my personal
search, and have but to see that the
circulars are sent out containing his
picture. Then will go home to my
Iowa farm"
Letters Mailed at Grand Island.
The affair was clearly explained to
Sheriff Taylor upon his return to this
city. The postmaster at St. Libory re-
membered we'll the two letters which
were mailed from that office to the
Fergusons and to Fuller at Defiance,
la. He declared Sunday afternoon that
the letters were received from Harry
Baydston, mil carrier between Grand
Island and that place, Bodyston getting
them from mail box at the Grand
Island depot, the emptying of which
each day is part of his official duty.
These letters were left in care of the
station agent, In order that they might
be sent back to Grand Island and then
| to their destination
General belief here is that Virgil
White was In the city Wednesday
enroute west on the main line Of the
Union Pacific and that he wrote the
letters on the train. When 1t stopped
at Grand Island, he got off and mailed
them in the nearest mail box, that
emptied each day by Carrier Boydston
The latter giving them to the st
| Libroy postmaster accounts for the St
Libory postmark.
Drops Out Of Sight.
Just where White has gone no one
knows. It is supposed, however, by his
father. who stopped at Grand Island
hotel for the night, that he has sought
work in some western bayfield, and thai
he will not return until he Is ready
and will not be located until he has
been identified by the pictures ant
circulars which are being spreaG
broadcast all over the state.
Fred White, Sheriff Taylor and tive
newspaper men left Grand Island Sun
day morning for ST. Libroy in a double
seated carriage. The day was mos
gloomy one-well fitted for such 6
gloomy mission. They drove north o.
this city and there interviewed the
postmaster-station agent. He directed
them to the Arnstedt farm, four miles
further on
II am certain 1t can't be Virgil,
said the old father pessimistically. &c
am certain that it cannot be he. II Il
is not I am completely nonplussed.
know not what to nor how to go abou
to do it."
A Polish Farmer.
| At the Arnstedt farm it was learned
that the fellow in question, whose ar
rival at the place was coincident with
the reception of tho letters written tt
ferguson and Fuller by White, was {
Poll: h farm hand, who lived two miles
further on past the Arnstedt home
stead. So conclusive vas the evidence
that Mr.. White and his party did no
go further to verify the report
Mr.. White was naturally greatly af
| fected by his failur, to find his son
i He did not break down in his disap
pointment, but it We under effort tina
he managed to step back into tho bug
gy and lean back with a sigh. ''It's
all over do not know what to do.