The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-28
wANTEp no sEE woRLp.
Mystery Of Frank Rogers Disappear
ance Is Cleared Up.

Chicago, March 2s.@The first ap-
parently adequate explanation of the
mysterious disappearance of the boy,
FRANK Ely Rogers, and his aunt Miss
Florence Ely, four years ago, at
Evanston. was made last night to a
representative of the Associated Press
by James c. Rogers, father of the boy.
Though simple and straightforyVaT -d
the truth of the mystery, according to
Mr.. Rogers, is stranger than the many
fanciful stories that have been written
about the case, which, in Chicago, has
excited as much interest as the cele-
brated Charlie Ross case in Philadel-
phia. Replying to questions as to the
boys return yesterday, Mr.. Rogers
said:
AT the time of the disappearance
my son Frank, like many boys of his
age, was fred with a desire to run
away from home and see life for him
self His aunt, a sufferer from nelan-
cholia, was about to be placed by US in
a sarsftarium, a proceeding to which
she strongly objected. AS a result of
these circumstances, the two left home
together, and went to Buffalo. There
they separated. Miss Ely entering a
large store apparently to do some
shopping and leaving Frank outside.
She had previously given him a small
sum of money. From that time until
now Frank has not seen Miss Ely and
neither he nor we know her where
abouts. Frank, following out his ideas
of seeing life, made living as best he
could, and has finally returned home
after many vicissitudes. This is the
explanation of the mystery as learned
by me from my son and is apparently
the whole TRUTH
Young Rogers reappeared suddenly
in Evanston as rnySteriouSly as he dis
appeared from there in 1901. He
went to his old home, only to find
that his parents had moved away.
Then he hunted up some of his old
boy chuns and introduced himself. To
some he declared that he had not
seen Miss Ely, his aunt, since he went
away, and to others he admitted that
they went away together. The boys
telephoned for young Rogers uncle,
and after much persuasion, the latter
induced Rogers to accompany MIN
home Rogers parents were then
teIephoned for and there was an af-
fectionate meeting between the lad,
now grown to young manhood, and ms
father and mother He was piled with
questions, but refused to answer any
of them, and refused to accompany his
parents home until he was assured
that he would not be pressed to ten
where he had been or what he mad
been doing. From the fathers state
ment given out last night, 1t is ap-
parent that the youth was nnally pre-
vailed upon to talk
Rogers told his boy friends that he
had been in New York since ms us
appearance, working in restaurant
He came to chicago III d II ClS1I NAS-AAA'
and arrived ragged, dirty and hungry
Miss Florence Ely was graduate
of Vassar college and an accomplish
"a musician. For several years before
the disappearance she had been a
teacher of music. 1t was at first be-
lieyed that she did not have more than
500 in her possession when she TOOK
Frank Rogers away with her, but later
deve1o07nents have established the
fact that she secretly received money
from a relative in the east for many
months before the disappearance.
She was 81 and young Rogers was
g when they went away