The evening star and Newark advertiser., 1907-07-22
MISSING
MAN FOUND
In A RAID
William J. Wigg, Of East
Orange, Had Vanished
Suddenly.
LOCKED UP ALL SUNDAY
Left Wife and Children to Buy
Tobacco Saturday Night.
Police Unexpectedly Dis.
cover the Absentee in
Newark House.
LOCKED UP ALL SUNDAY

William j. Wigg, 81 years old. of SO
Rhode Island avenue. East Orange,
who was reported as having
strangely disappeared from his
home on Saturday night. was taken a
prisoner in a raid on an alleged disor-
derly house. said to have been run by
Mrs. Margaret Barnum, colored. at 81
Plane street, midnight Saturday night.
Wigg gave the name William Kelly,
3S years old, of 1876 Mum avenue. East
Orange. Later he admitted he was
Wigg. He was discharged. He had
spent part of Saturday night, all of
yesterday and all of last night locked
up.
Wigg is now at his home, nervous
wreck. He Is under the care of his
brother, who is a doctor.
wigg, while surrounded by relatives
and close friends, told reporter that
he remembers nothing of what hap
pened to him after he bought his to-
baceo He recalls stepping into door
way to get out of the rain. The next
he recolects is talking to Captain
Brown, of the Second Precinct, in the
court room this morning. Wigg said he
absolutely cannot account for how he
came to this city orNhow he happened
to be in the place which was raided.
| His brother, the doctor, said in his
! opinion the man~was suffering from a
nervous breakdown, which brought on
mental alteration. He said his brother
had been under a heavy mental strain
for the last six months, although he
would not specify what caused it.
Just before the thunderstorm Satur-
day night Wigg started out to buy his
favorite brand of smoking tobacco from
Main street, East Orange. dealer,
many blocks from his home, and to
stop at drug store nearby.
He did not return and yesterday the
case was reported to the East Orange
police.
The search for Mr.. wigg. who is the
son of a minister and who was former
| ly In charge of the United States
Leather Company. located In Pot
ter County, Pa, was one of the most
careful in the history of the East Orange
Police Department. Yesterday afternoon
and evening policemen were sent out to
every section of the city, and fields, woods
and buildings In course of erection were
searched with no success. Members OF
Masonic lodges, with the police of all sur
rounding municipalities, took part
in the search. With lanterns searching
party went through the wooded sections
of the Elmwood sections last night hoping
to find Mr. Wlgg
Mr.. Wigg started from his home shortly
after o'clock. He told one Of his sons
that he intended taking n short walk
Ia mat
Wigg In Oak street Efst Orange, near the
home of Police Chief James Bell while
his wife was on her way home after
making a trip to Newark to make Sow
eral purchases. Mr.! Wigg wanted to turn
back home with his wife. but she told
him to go on to Main street and pur-
chase the tobacco, and he agreed after
bidding her good-by. He was last seen
by several friends Mt the corner Of Cen
tral avenue and Oak street.
1t was said at Plumeys newsstand and
Fieger's drug store today that they did
not remember having seen anyone Of the
missing mans description In their estab-
lishments Saturday evening.
Mr.. Wigg has four sons, Elmer VIII
lam. Loring and Francis. His father is
the Rev. William n. Wigg. a retired
Methodist minister. who Is well known in
this vicinity. He resides with his brother
and family and left for Paterson few
days ago Mr.. Wigg also has a brother
who is a physician in Boonton. Dr. Cuth-
bert Wigg, who had been sent for to aid
ir the search.
Yesterday the members OF the family
and police started out on the search.
The East Orange policemen Travelled IN all
sections where It was thought the MISS
ing man might stray and word was sent
~ PENNSYLVANIA, where he formerly re-
sided Al night the searching parties re-
ported that the trips had been unsuecess-
sul.
Mr.. wigg IS n member Of Ga.eton, Pa.
Lodge, #. and A. M. and when East Or
ange Masons heard Of the affair they in
structed Chief Bell TO use every means
for locating the missing man.
Mr.. Wigg has been with the American
Telegraph and Telephone Company New
York seven years, and was In charge OF
the leather plant in PENNSYLVANIA six
years.