Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-13
SUGGESTED AS CLUE
Probable Reason for Herbert
FIeischner's Disappearance.
HIS AMBITION FRUSTRATED
Wanted Position as Translator in
Post Office Department.
WAS PREVENTED BY LAW
Second Assistant Postmaster Gen.
eral Stewart Tells of Missing
Mans Disappointment.
HIS AMBITION FRUSTRATED
WAS PREVENTED BY LAW

A probable clue to the cause of the
mysterious disappearance of Herbert Z.
FIeischner the young War Department
clerk who left his apartments in the
Laclede Wednesday night. was furnished
today by Second Assistant Postmaster
General Stewart.
Mr. Stewart said the post of translator
in the foreign mails office of his bureau
had been vacant for several months and
recently efforts were made to secure
competent man through the civil service
commission. Fleischner very
anxious to secure the appointment. One
examination was held. but proved fruit
less second was ordered July or 8,
but the night before the commission
caused the persons who were to be ex-
amined TO he informed that owing to the
law affecting appointments in the census
bureau which had just been passed by
Congress and required applicants to be
domiciled for one year In their state
homes prior to entering the competition,
the examination of any thus anected
would only be provisional.
Anxious to Secure Position.
Fleischner was one of these persons.
He had been very anxious to secure the
position. and had spent considerable
animation. which he felt certain would
show him 10 be best fitted for it. He had
number of converse tions with Mr.. Stew
art prior to the examination. and Mr..
Stewart says he was bright cheerful and
very optimistic.
Il should have been very glad indeed
to have had him. added Mr.. Stewart,
If he could have passed the require
ments of the civil service commission.
know their decision was a keen disap-
pointment to him. but I suppose he was
not aware of the fact that the commits
sion had called upon the Attorney Cen
eral for an opinion as to the applica bill
ity Of the law to such cases as his.
Hundreds Are Affected.
There are hundreds of young men in
Washington legitimate residents OF states
whose quotas may not be filled and en-
ployed in the government service. yet
they are not eligible to take examination
or receive appointments through the COM
mission because of the provision that
they must be domiciled for year where
their homes are and where the only ex-
animation which they are competent to
take is held. They must first give up
their government positions and go back
home to live for a year before they can
take the examinations.
Il do not know that this fact caused
to clear out. but II seems to me. under
the circumstances, knowing how eager he
was for the place. how hard he tried to
fit himself for 1t. and how optimistic
he was as to the result Of the examina-
ton. it might have had much to do with
his disappearance"
Police Without Trace.
A brother of the missing man came here
last night from Boston to assist in the
search. While on his way here the
brother read an account in a New York
paper Of we'll dressed young man hav-
ing committed suicide near White Plains,
n. Y. and he thought it possible that the
man was his brother
This morning Inspector Boardman wired
the White Plains police. and received a
response stating that the man referred to
was a resident of Brooklyn. Nothing has
been heard by the police which throws
any light upon the disappearance or
whereabouts of Fleischner.