The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-07-11
j. E. Humphfres Believes Wife
Is Prisoner in Resort.
Fake Drowning Message Cover
for Her Kidnapers.
TRUSTS IN STRANGERS.
Kansan's Beautiful Wife Not
Drowned Says Her Father.
Police Seek ''Billy" and Myster-
ious ''Miss Ware.''

Kansas City, July 11.-No trace of
Mrs. Edith HUMPHREYS, % years old,
the pretty young wife of J. E. Hum
phfres, a real estate dealer at Hutch
inson. Kan. has been found oy the
police. They were asked Saturday night
to look for the woman, who is believed
by the husband to have met with foul
play or to be drowned in the Blue
river
Mrs Humphfres left Hutchinson
June % en- route to the home of her
parents at Boomer. Mo. Her little son
a years old. had been sent on ahead
and they had planned to spend the
summer there. After reaching Kansas
City the wife wrote three letters to
her husband. The first said that she
had met old friends with whom she
became acquainted last summer in
Denver. The second said that she had
decided to remain over here some time
and take a trip down the river with
these friends. The last letter said that
the trip had been begun and that she
was greatly enjoying herself. This last
letter was received by the nusDand
July L.
The river trip was said by the wife
to be in company with "Bilp' and Miss
Ware persons unknown to the hus-
band.
Mysterious Message Received.
"I know you won't care for me tax
ing the trip with Them she wrote:
''They are such nice people, and Bill
is so good to me. Miss Ware IS his
niece. and we will have such jolly
time"
Nothing was thought Of the woman's
change of mind about her visit to her
parents until a telegram was received
July by c. A. Reed, her father, at
Boomer. The message was clouded with
mystery.
Mrs. Humphfres was drowned while
boating said the message. 'Impossi-
BILE to recover the body" 1t was sign
ed Miss Ware
The father telegraphed Immediately
to the husband and they met in KAN
sas City Saturday and took the matter
up with the police. AS no record OF
any drowning was found in the depart
ment detectives were inclined to be-
lieve that the telegram was fake
and that the woman was probably in
the city. thorough search, however,
has failed to show any traces of her
whereabouts.
Believes 1t Was the Blue.
mo person can look at the picture
Of our little boy and believe that his
mother has wilfully deserted him and
myself . said Humphfres this morning.
Il believe from the description of the
river on which my wife said she was
boating that 1t was the Blue river. L
Thoroughly De1SVo now LndI she Ado
been drowned although at first 1
thought that the message was to mis-
lead me in my efforts to locate her.
IT have always shown her a good time.
We have always been happy together
and there is no reason why she would
leave me and send me such a message.
If she is alive, she is being held some
where against her will
That the woman may have been kid
mapped and held in some house of i'll
fame is the belief of c. A. Reed, her
father.
MY daughter is very beautiful and
looks much younger than she really is
said the father. 'She has a habit of
putting great trust in strangers and it
is my belief that some person has lock-
ed her up in soma dive in Kansas City
and holding her against her will.
have no faith in the genuineness Of the
telegram saying she had been drown
ed"
Post card pictures of the woman have
been printed and will be circulated by
Mr.. Humphfres. The police viii con-
tinue their efforts to discover the iden-
tity of the mysterious "BilP' and Miss
Ware