The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1907-10-25
TOWN MINUS MAYOR
Fairmont Is Anxious About It's
Lost" Chief Executive.
COUNTRY WILL BE SECURED
VIM. w. Ward Has Quietly
Dropped Out of Sight.

Fairmont. Oct. l7-Mrs. w. W
Ward has resolved to wait no longe
and has taken active steps to ascer
tain what has become of her husband
the well known mayor of Fairmont
She has placed the matter in the
hands of Mathwig & Sasse and theil
first move was to send to sheritf'
and chiefs of police a printed circula,
as follows, containing a half tone cut
Of the mayor:
w. w. Ward, mayor of the city o.
Fairmont, Minnesota, about forty-si,
years old, gray eyes, gray hair, face
smooth shaven, ford complexion
height about five feet eight inches, and
weight about two hundred and fifteen
pounds. Was last seen at st. Paul
Minnesota, OH Sept. 80; stated that he
was leaving for Fairmont, and that
official business required his presence
in that city.
Mr.. Ward has lived in Fairmont
about fifteen years. Was elected mayor
of Fairmont twice in succession, the
last time in April. 1907.
He was somewhat involved finan-
cially. but not enough to warrant
his leaving for parts unknown, or
even causing him much concern, as
most of his creditors are secured, his
unpaid bills but few, and the amount
not large.
His wife, family and friends are
very much concerned about him, and
would like to know what became of
him.
He is member of the Masonic
fraternity, also of the Elks and
Knights of Pythias.
Address all communications relating
to where he may be found, or any
information regarding him to Math-
wig & Sasse, Fairmont, Minnesota.
Went to ST. Paul Six Weeks Ago.
Mr.. Ward went to st. Paul about
six weeks ago to look after business
affairs in which he was interested with
George P. McGuiggan. AS stated in
the circular sent out the missing may
or was last seen by Fairmont man
on Sept 30 Ed. Smelley of this city
was in st. Paul on that date, and met
Mr.. Ward, who informed him that he
was about to leave the city for
Fairmont. Since then he has as COM
pletely disappeared as though the
earth had opened and swallowed him
up.
There are many who believe he has
met with foul play, others think he
has taken the suicides route away
from trouble. and still others believe
he has quietly absconded rather than
come back and face the certainty of
business failure.
Was Not One to Suicide.
Billy Ward, as he was Familiarity
known. was not of the temperament
of which suicides are made and it
does not seem as though he would
flee the country. While he has be-
come badly involved financially, there
has been nothing dishonorable in his
business transactions and the Ward
residence property, worth $4,000 or
$1,000, which is in his wife's name,
is free from incumbrance. The theory
that Mayor Ward has been foully
dealt with in st. Paul receives the
most credence.
Mayor Ward was in partnership
with George P. McGuiggan in the
plumbing and heating business, both
in ST. Paul and at Fairmont, and
through Encouragement or oversight
their affairs are in bad way and
there appeared no escape from failure
1t is not believed by his family that
Mr.. Ward had over $3.50 in money
when he left Fairmont. Mr.. McGuig.
gan, however, makes some serious
charges against his partners conduct
of their affairs.
Fairmont is now without mayor
but the city charter provides for such
a condition. The city council may
at any time declare the office of may
or to be vacant and proceed to ap
point mayor from their own mum
Der or from the outside as they
may see fit. City Attorney Mathwi&
is of the opinion that the intent Of
the charter is that the mayor BIZ
appointed from the outside so as moi
to cause a vacancy on the council
The city council will no doubt soor
take action along this line if Mr.
Nnrd dneS not ROT Urn