The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-01-28
IS SHROUDED IN MYSTERY H. D. (. Roy is Thought
 to Be Drowned. FOUL PLAY IS SUGGESTED Man Attempted to Cross on Ferry
 With Team. |. Negro. Rescued From Boat. Disappears, After Making UpusuaI stntement--
 Police Uncertain Regarding
 Fate of Farmer.

urday night on Henderson's ferry and has been missing since 12:15 o'clock yesterday morning. It is feared he was drowned or foully dealt with, An unknown bare-headed negro, who is believed to know the details Of the mystery, was rescued from the ferry boat in midstream early this morning. When he was brought to shore, he leap- ed upon the bank, and with the excla- nation. I'll be d----d if want to be witness in this case" ran rapidly away. He has not since been seen. and is be- ing sought by relatives and friends or MT Roy and the police to furnish so- iution of the mystery.
 Roy, who conducts farm about thlr- teen and one-half miles from Mont gomery, is also engaged in the business of hauling coal from Montgomery to the farmers in his neighborhood H" has a wife and five children. His wlte reached Montgomery yesterday morn ing in quest of her husband, and J. p. Roy, of Deatsvilie, cousin of the miss ing man. arrived in Montgomery last night and began a search for Roy.
 The missing man was seen last so far as the police have been able to learn. by J c. Booth, who conducts
 
 Left Store Alone.
 According to MT. Booth, Roy lett his store alone, about o'clock Saturday evening with his wagon and two mules to return to his home-across the river
 He returned to the store about 9:3O o'clock and said he had found the fer ryman gone, but had enlisted the as sistance of a negro to aid him in get ting across the stream. During Satur day, the ferry cable has been lowered to permit boats to pass, and had not been drawn up again. Not noticing this, Roy and the negro boarded the ferry with the team at the foot of the Commerce street underpath. and, after going half way across the river, found he could proceed no further.
 According to the statement of Booth, Roy said there were two row boats at tached to the ferry. The negro return ed to the shore, Roy said, in one Of them. and disappeared. He was fol- lowed by Roy, who reached the bank in the second boat. leaving the wagon and team on the ferry in midstream.
 Then 1t was that Roy returned to Booths store in search of the ferry man. He secured a hack and searched for the ferryman and sent two of the negro musicians at the store in quest of him. but to no avail.
 Finally, about 12:15 o'clock yesterday morning Roy secured the services of a negro who was lettering around the store. to assist him in crossing the riv- CT. The two proceeded together to the ferry landing
 when Frank caffey. the negro fer ryman, reached the river at 6 o'clock yesterday morning he discovered the ferry in midstream and on 1t the negro who had accompanied the missing man on his second trip and the team. The ferry was drawn back to Montgomery shore, and as soon as the bank was reached the negro sprang to the ground and exclaiming he did not want to be witness in the case, ran up the bank of the river toward the Union Railway Station.
 Caffey found one of the row boats ashore, This is the craft believed to have been used by the negro on the first trip. who came ashore The other boat, suppressed to have been used by Roy in reaching the bank after the first attempt to cross, Is missing and had not been located last night. Roy was missing and every effort to find him has been futile.
 There was some doubt at first as to whether the negro found on the ferry was the man who accompanied Roy on the first or second trip, but 1t seems to be established it was the second ne- gro because Caffey's description of him corresponds with that furnished by MT. Booth of the negro who went with Roy after his late visit to the store
 Negro Cannot He Located.
 Mir. Booth said last night he has seen the negro a number of times. and would know him on sight, but he could not recall his name. The negro is describ- ed as being aOout 2S years old. ginger He Is about feet inches tall, clean shaven, and wears a greasy looking suit of overalls and an overcoat He wore no hat.
 As soon as Caffey. the ferryman. made the discovery he reported the oc- currence to the police station. and Mrs. Roy was communicated with. The wagon and two mules were taken in charge by the police, and later put up at q lcca' livery stable
 According to MT. Booth, Roy had ta- ken several drinks before leaving his store Saturday evening. but was per fectly rational and seemed to know what he was doing.
 The police last night were undecided as to theory regarding the mans dis appearance, One theory advanced was that Roy had fallen from the boat and had drowned. The exclamation of the negro who was rescued on the other hand inclined toward the theory that Roy must have met with foul play to which the negro may have been wit ness, and to which he feared to testify
 No clue had been obtained last night to the identity of the first negro MT. Booth thought last night that he might be able today to learn the name of and locate the second negro, through some of the negroes who visit his store
 Did Not Notice Lowered Cable.
 W. A Henderson, owner of the Coosa Street ferry. was interviewed last night, He said the ferry line was out of order for the night because of the fact that Nixons log boat came down Saturday evening, nd it beca ne necessary to let the ferry line down for the boat to pass down the river to the landing AS the boat, following its usual custom, was expected to pass up the river again in a short time, the ferry line was not aga'n placed in shane for service at night
 MT. Roy came down 10 the Terry said MT Henderson, and found the boat deserted. Instead of raising an alarm, he evidently pushed off with the ferry boat and attempted to cross the river. All know about 1t Is that his mules and wagon were found on the ferry boat this morning.
 If he were sober, should think he would nave noticed the line 10 which the ferry beat is attached was missing l. is hard for me to account for his at tempt to cross the river without 1t on any other theory