Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-08-27
FRWARD VAIL
RETURNS HOME
Story of Mystery Deepens
By Fact OF his Peculiar
Actions

,ouing the trail of Edward Wahl with
n,oodhounds and dragging the river in
an effort to recover his body, where he
sais he would end his life, the man has
heep found in one of his own barns,
,,,t the mystery surrounding the
strange disappearance has not been
solved,
He was found Sunday by a brother
,,,bo u,isited one of the vacant barns
on the property held under lease by
Wahl. The brother had occasion to
visit the barn, and while there was
startled by seeing Edward descend
from the hay loft. Ed gave him a let
ter to be delivered to his wife, with
the instructions that the message he
not delivered until after dark. The boy
carried the letter for two hours, but at
o'clock delivered it, which resulted
in the family visiting the barn imme-
diately and finding the missing man
reposing in the hay,
There are reports of all kinds in cir
culation in Genesee relative to the
mans disappearance and the strange
manner in which he again returns
home, but the actual circumstances
may never be known. The family are
known to be secretive, and as soon as
Edward was found all strangers were
requested to leave the place. No ply
sician has been summoned, as he is
being cared for by a sister who is
trained nurse. The accepted story here
is that he is i'll and while ir de-
mented condition wandered from hOm-
and returned to the barn two ~ thrSe
days before being found
The contents of the letter sent to his
wife on the afternoon he was found is
not known, and members of the family
have not seen fit to make any state
ment relative to the letter or to his
condition.
1t has been learned, however, that
Wahl went to the Clearwater river on
the course taken by Harry Draper's
bloodhounds, and after wandering
along the bank of the stream, a part
of which time he was in the edge of tn
water. he made his way to Arrow
Junction, were he boarded the owl
train and has visited in Pendleton and
points in eastern Oregon and Wash
ington.
From the publics standpoint, the
mystery surrounding the Wahl case
has deepened rather than cleared by
his return, and all kinds of theories
have been advanced. Business men
who have been interested in dealings
with him are unable to offer any expla
nation of the case and it is generally
believed the circumstances will never
be known. His wife has stated that
he had high fever the morning he
left home for Genesee, and it is stated
he had high fever yesterday, but no
physician has been called and it is be-
heVed his condition is not serious.
Edward Wahl disappeared from his
nome southeast of Genesee on the
forenoon Of August II, after leaving a
note to his wife in which he instructed
her to collect a note due him, take
care of the crops and the Clearwater
river would take care of him. He had
oeen In Genesee during the morning
ana purchased supplies for his header
crews then engaged in the harvest of
oOV acres of wheat. When he returned
nome he went to a house and barn on
us prother's place which were vacant.
as ne held the property under lease. He
paced the team in the barn and there
ieit the letter to his wife. This was
.he last trace of him until last Sun
udy' when his brother discovered him
IN the same barn.
Alter the disappearance the services
VI Harry Draper and his bloodhounds
was secured and after taking the scent
" the barn the dogs followed a cir
eui'ous route to the Clearwater river
"nere the trail entered the water The
uoss were worked on the river bank foI
Instance Of half a mile, and at sew.
etai points the trail was taken UT
were the man had again come to the
snore Tor short distance and then re-
turned to the water.
omcers who were engaged in the
sn Srcn at that time discredited the
say eory that the man ad drowned him.
e. ana even suggested he would b,
Gnu IN due time, and not In tbs
clearwater river.
s return home has vindicated th,
o,o. Oh the hounds, which was depre.
naN. u at the time By members OF tn,
~ ~ who, did not believe the trail IL
f''er had been followed.