Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-05
Council Bluffs
FITCP MAKES EXPLANATION
Business Worries and Constant Appli.
cation Too Much for Him.
DEEPLY REGRETS HIS ACTION
story OF Operation for Appendicitis
a Fiction Intended Simply 60
Throw searchers or Track
and Let Him Disappear.

and Let Him Disappear.
Edward P. Fitch Of this city. who last
October, while travelling In Europe. dropped
out OF sight and after a ~fruitless search had
been made for him turned up at Naples a
few weeks ago, has issued a statement in
tended to clear up the mystery Of his dis
appearance. Mr.. Fitch Is still visiting rela-
tlves in Evanston, H.. and the date OF his
return to his home in this city is as yet
uncertain. The statement. which was sent
to an Intimate friend OF the family here
with the request that It be given full pub
licity in the newspapers. follows:
Iron returning 20 Council Bluffs. my
home since boyhood, and having, since ar
irving at New York two weeks ago. been
placed In the possession OF many facts, II
Is my duty. voluntarily undertaken. to
make 4 plain statement OF events occurring
during the four painful months Of my
abeence.
The reluctance Of one TO return to the
scenes where explanation must be MADE
for his misdeeds must be apparent to all.
but the necessity for such an act Is equally
apparent.
reparation for the suffering endured by my
family and friends; that no words can ex-
press tho gratitude l feel for the sympathy,
encouragement and aid offered 70 my
NhdN AZ NtAo1 OoAA
actions, yet I feel 1t may help TO a ruler
understanding II the simple tects are
known.
Appreoiating gratefully that the press has
bean a kindly medium through which my
friends have been kept informed OF the
efforts put forth in my behalf, yet some
articles published are to be deeply regretted
because OF their inaccuracies and the fol-
lowing statement VIII assist IN correoOhe
these.
.Nnao anrhtcottor and careful study, a
business filled with a mass or seemingly
bewIldering detail. Il became impossible TO
me to give up any portion OF H. even
though realizing the necessity for IL en-
! tcJned by an ever increasing business.
In Justice, l admit that my employers
often urged me to relinquish much OF TINS
work; to place details in the hands OF
others and to secure relaxation by oc-
casional vacations. Even this seemed Inn
possible to mo-.
Thought of Standardization.
Increasing difficulties and complexities
were brooded over and magnified until they
assumed undue proportions and the daily
task became too heavy for proper accom-
pIishment. Outdoor exercise presented no
attractions. hence there was no physieai
offset to this mental strain.
Gradually and in~sidiously the thought OF
self-destruction took possession OF me. rms
idea remained until hours OF moroio
thought were given to II. Finally came a
distinct apprehension OF entire collapse.
Az this time a trip to Europe was sug-
gested and urged by my employers. rms
had been my life's desire and seemed TO
present a oiution of the problem.
From the moment of boarding the train
at Council Bluffs on August %, 1908, con-
mind. BUSINESS requiring attention enroute
was, at times, properly considered or again
neglected with an indifference that Is yet
incomprehensible to me.
During the first five weeks after my ar
rival in England ! wrote frequent letters
10 my family and friends. The inspiration
to travel buoyed my. MIND and apparently
relieved the tension, but later / found that
my business worries were not diminished
by retrospect nor rendered less ominous In
the future
and invented a plausible story to cover
that disappearance. i had often ex-
Pre- .sti.r a Of fe October Oh HSeI isSs. stating that
l was about TO undergo an operation be.
iieving this would furnish a clsw Tor a
which Terminating UNNECESSARILY. would
be abandoned and that would be
What followed During the next two
weeks l cannot clearly recall. They were
nights and days of seif-reproach and
ton had been with me for. years. Worn
out in body and sou: 1 6oTght sgAin tSs
travel and study as deeply as II II were
physical dissipation The latter never
entered my mind.
4MG8NAOA w
Those who are most kindly disposed
towards me may attribute this entire
act TO a disturbed and diseased brain;
those les: G cha ss,,GD inclined %ss s6us TiYl ds SGS-
be moderated. but when l consider my
moral training and standards, l am forced
to conclude that. while perhaps not fully
accountable. must stu bear the re,
from being criminal by a power not my
The particulars OF being brought to a
ton TO return ho@e and face whatever
consequences awaited me; my resolve 70
rid myself forever of the Incubus that
circumstances that brought me TO this
decision are known to those most deeply
omit the details. 1 would say, however,
that the lack of funds referred TO In
the first csblegram from Naples was IN
cidentai and not instrumental. ! truly be-
lieve that the great change in my thought
and purpose was brought about by the
Divine Spirit who watched over, directed
and finally controlled my devious way.
I have Undoubtedly lost friends whose
confidence in. me has been destroyed. In
no manner blaming them, ! wish to ex-
press my most sincere gratitude to those
whose assurances have led me to believe
past.
wark OF strength in their actions. words
or u~nspoken sympathy to my sisters, who
have so bravely and nobly borne a sor-
row they should not have chen called
upon to endure; q sorrow intensified by
the death of our only brother, which oc-
Cured but a few days before the cable
gram from Naples was sent. His high
moral character and Integrity. we'll known
TO all, I shall endeaVor to emulate.
EDWARD =. FITCH.
MONTHS WORK OF THE POLICE
-
Not = single Arrest for q Serious
Onense.