The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-09-09
PROSPEROUS BUSINESS;
HOME LIFE HAPPY
Had Many Unfinished Contracts at
Gary and Large Amount Owed Him
COLLECTED Several Hundred Dol
lars Day Before He Left Home
Thought to Have Been Murdered.
Especial to Lake County Tlmes.)

Especial to Lake County TImes.)
Whiting, Sept George f. Ston. a
prominent real estate owner and con-
tractor and builder of this city, has
been missing from hts home on Schrage
avenue ever since August 27, and 1t is
thought by his friends that he has met
with foul play. because of the large
amount of money he had in his possess
sion at the time OF his disappearance.
stoll left his home on the evening of
August 27 to go to Chicago, where he
was 10 meet several business men with
a. view OF getting the contract for the
building of a new theater at Gary. He
had in his possession at the time
large amount of money which he col
looted that day at Gary, and it is feared
that he was held up and robbed in Chi
cago and perhaps murdered and his
+ body thrown into the lake by some of
the desperate bands of thieves operat-
ing about the big city.
He left the house apparently in a
happy frame of mind. and bid his wife
a cheerful goodby, handing her a $40
bill as he stood at the door. He did
not carry any extra baggage and ap-
parentiy expected to return the same
evening. This was the last seen or
heard of the man. 1t was found that
the business men whom we went to
communicate with did not see him on
that evening, and he dropped out of
sight as completely as If the earth
had swallowed him.
Wife Grows Anxious.
When he did not return that night
his wife thought that he might have
been detained and from Chicago trav-
eled directly to Gary, where he was
constructing several buildings. On the
evening of the 2Sth. after she had
heard that he did not go to Gary, she
was anxious. but expected any moment
to hear from him. Day after day pass
ed but not even letter or telegram
has been received fr$m the missing
man. Mrs. StolI will now place the
matter in the hands of the Chicago po-
lice in an effort to find some trace of
her husband.
There is no apparent reason why
Stoll should run away from his home
or his business, or why she should alb
sent himself for any length OF time.
His affairs were in good shape and he
had many contracts yet unfinished in
Gary. In fact, at the present time
there are several firms ready and will
ing to pay him thousands of dollars for
buildings which he has erected. Among
the number Is the Manhattan Brewing
company. which is now occupying a
building butt by Stoll, on which he has
collected no payment. He had numer-
Gus other contracts which are now
standing idle awaiting completion.
Just before he disappeared he collect
ed sums of money from some of the
jobs, and tho sum is thought to be in
the thousands.
Home Life Pleasant.
His homo life was of the happiest.
and he leaves besides his wife Ave
children. the oldest Il years and the
youngest eleven months. The oldest
boy. George. is employed with his
father at Gary. but cannot account for
the disappearance OF his parent. When
he returned from his work in the even
ing it was his custom to spend all his
time with his wife and children, and
they are now heart broken over his
absence. He was man of good hab-
its, did not drink to excess and was
considered by all who knew him. a
man of good common sense.
When he left home he wore a gray
suit OF clothes and straw hat. He
was a heavy built mrn, standing over
six feet, and had brown hair, brown
eyes and smooth face. He was a pow
erful built man and was able to take
care OF himself If given a fair show in
an encounter.
Several clews have been followed by
the wife and friends of the deceased
but they have resulted in nothing. 1t
is thought that while on his way
through Chicago he might have been
the victim or footpads. who either shot
him or used a sandbag and after rob-
hing him. threw the body into the lake
or disposed of it in a like manner. De-
tectives will now be employed to find
a solution of the mystery.