Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-08-15
VAIL MYSTERY
STILL UNSOLvED
mrs Trace His Course to
Clearwater Bat Further
Clue Is Lost

Edward Wahl, the missing RS0nSSee
,.ar,,er was last night tracked to the
clearwater river at the mouth of
catholic gulch above the Spalding
hr,dga by Draper's bloodhounds and
After following the bank of the stream
,or half of a mile where the! demented
man had repeatedly entered the water
and, again returned to the shore, the
dogs gave I'D the hunt at the waters
edge.
The details of the search and the
sract circumstances Of Wahrs disap-
oearance were brought to the city last
nieht BY one of the oflcers, who fol-
lowed the bloodhounds from the Wahl
ranch until they followed the last track
into the river.
The search was participated in by
about a dozen people. q number of
whom were harvest hands in the en-
ploy Of Wahl.
They report that he left the house
An his usual good spirits Monday
morning to go to Genesee to purchase
supplies and was to return early in
the forenoon to direct the header men
where to move the two headers which
were then completing a field of grain
tnearthe house inrwhich he lived. The
cutting was completed before noon and
as he did not return the men could not
resume cutting operations in the after
moon. AS he had not returned Tues
day morning some of the men went
to vacant barn on adjoining prop
erty leased by Wahl, where the team
vas found with the harness still on.
The harvest hands then went into the
vacant house, where the note was
found which directed his wife to look
after business affairs and toad her. that
tAes Clearwater river would look after
him.
Upon examination Of the Inerchan-
disc purchased in Genesee 1t was dis
covered that he had secured only a
portion of the things which had oc-
casoned his visit to town and his
friends believe the man became insane
while at "Genesee. BY back tracking
his buggy it was found that ne had
entered the vacant property from a
rear entrance and had left the road at
q point where he would not be seen
Dy either of his header crews or by
the family at the home where he lived.
The dogs were put on the scent
where the horses were left and after
going to the house where Wahl had
lert the note they started through the
nelds in circuitous route to escape
NE notice of his family and workfnen.
Arterpassing the house he started to-
ward the Clearwater river by following
the section lines and when going
'nrough grain field would keep sew
efai yards in the grain and in crossing
summer faliow fields would keep on the
grass tracts adjoining the fences in
oroer that no tracks would be left be-
hind
Tne work Of the dogs was most sat
Atactory, they following rapidly the
rack taken by the demented man un-
I'll about three miles from horne he
entered the Catholic gulch. In going
uOWn the gulch he kept to the hillside
10 avoid the houses of ranehers.
Inc scent was practically lost at
uiHes In the gulch, hut ,w0uld soon
"eain De found by the dogs and the
'Ou'e followed to the river, where the
man entered the water.
tracks in the sand told how we'll
a' a75:aa iEd dcue sheir work, but
A',er hrst entering the river WahI had
s''uehtly returned to the bank and
'peatedly went back into the water
oo'n ABOVE and below where he first !
Npptoached the stream.
me report sent out from Genesee
sss''e'oay ~ to the effect that wahl had
seen on the Clearwater hills
.ouy e'aay evening is claimed to be err
us' but question rests in the
HuS OF the officers whettnr the man
,oT. .ly took his life by drowning or
O~eo the stream for a distance and
aIra,. a returned to the bank to wander
4''essly in the hills.
NV w. Biilups left this afternoon for
visit to Grangeville.
n, Snam s1' Hadley left this afternoon
Prairie p0sh's on Nez Perce
/. hon'e n't. J, Wax left this afternoon for
visit to GranpeU,ua
were s,.' GOrrell and DR.. J. H. Lauts
tans 'vals - this morning from spO-
aerc. u route to their home in Nez
dfick va " w. suppinger, OF Ken
Arcb,,a... ~. an arrival this afternoon.
aAenooS ,,d n n. Black returned this