The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-03
Mystery in Disappearance OF
Wealthy Sabetha Merchant.
Seldom Miner, Jr., Goes to
Kansas City on Business.
HAD MONEY WITH HIM
Was of Good Habits and Fond
of Home.
Family and Friends Satisfied He
Has Met Foul Play.

Sabetha, Kan, March 3.-What has
become Of Seldom Miner, jr., a prom
1nent hardware merchant Of this city,
is the question that is absorbing all in
terests here at the present time. Mr..
Miner left Sabetha over a week ago for
Kansas City and since week ago last
him regarding his whereabouts. The
only solution Of the problem which is
offered by his friends here is that he
has met with foul play Of some kind.
Miner left here a week ago Monday
morning. He took the early morning
train from here to st. Joseph from
which point he changed trains and went
on to Kansas City. He left on a pur-
chasing trip for the purpose of securing
a supply Of hardware goods for spring
trade.
When he left Sabetha he took with him
several hundred dollars with which to
purchase goods This accounts for the
theory of foul play which is held by his
friends here. Other suggestions as to
his absence have been advanced but
no family troubles of any sort and all
his business affairs We're in fourishing
condition which would tend to refute
any ideas Of self-destruction.
Mrs. Miner is at a loss to account for
her husbands actions and insists that
the family relations between the two
were extremely happy.
The last word which has been re-
ceived from Mr.. Miner was a postal
card which Mr.. Miner addressed to his
wife and four children and mailed from
Kansas City q week ago last night The
letter bore the stamp Of Station A, Kan
sas City, Mo-, at nine o'clock Monday
IT, Il
In this postal Mr.. Miner told his wife
Of his Intentions of going to Kansas
City, Kansas, before returning home
and since that time he has not been
seen.
So great has the interest in his dis
appearance become in Sabetha, that the
Masonic lodge No. 50, of which he was
a prominent member, has taken up his
case and has offered a reward Of TWEEN
ty-f1ve dollars for any clue which will
lead to his whereabouts. A COMMITTEES
of the local Masonic lodge has been
placed in charge of a movement which
it is hoped will result In learning Of his
whereabouts. ]. s. Hendrie, master OF
the local lodge, is chairman of the COM
mittee.
The police of Kansas City have been
notified of Mr.. Miners disappearance
and for several days have been working
upon the case. However, as yet not a
trace of him has been found. Detec-
tives have been placed at work but nc
developments were reported up to a late
hour today.
Mr.. Miner transacted his business In
Kansas City as he intended. It has
been found that he had visited the
Kansas City Car Manufacturing COM
pany and also the Plymouth Cordial
company, and purchased a large guam
tity of rope at the latter place. These
goods were all paid for and since his
disappearance have been received at
his store here together with the bill of
lading.
Mr. Miner was one Of the most prom
inent citizens of this city. He had been
here in business a little less than two
years but in this time he has acquired
large circle of friends. He has allied
himself with every enterprise tending
towards the advancement of the city.
He is man of temperate habits and is
a teetotaler so that all trouble of this
kind in connection with his disappear
ance is precluded. He was prominent
in social and business circles. He was
also a member of the Methodist church
and one of the leading men in the work
of the church.
The missing man was neat in his per-
sonal appearance. At the time of his
departure from Sabetha he wore light
gray overcoat and a black soft hat. He
was We'll QIGSSSu etlu wore dIl
business suit. He also wore a Masonic
pin in the lapel of his coat He is a
man from thirty-f1ve to forty years of
age, stands five feet and six inches in
height and weighs 40 pounds. His hair
is dark although not quite black, and
his face was clean shaven when he left
He has blue eyes.
Mr.. Miners family consist of a wife
about his age and four children, all
boys, the eldest one being about II
years of age. He has always been very
fond of his domestic life and spent a
great deal of his time at home. His
wife is nearly heartbroken over his
strange disappearance. Any informa-
tion leading to his whereabouts should
| be sent to the Masons at Sabetha.
| BRYAN HAD TO TALK.