The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-05-05
Man Believed to Be J. l.. Will
son Acts Strangely and
Disappears
PUT OFF AT GRANITE
SAkEN TO CAR LINE
AND STARTED BACK
Nothing More Heard from Him
After He Is Put on Car at
Forest Hlll--Grip Not
Called For

Friends and the police are making
j. l.. Wilson, travelling salesman
tor the Smith Premier Typewriter
Company. whose safety Is a matter OF
anxiety.
MIR. Wilson OF u man supposed 10
have been him took Il short trip on
the Southern railway Thursday even
ing ana was sent back to the city
on street car, but has not been heard
from since, although his suit case
reposes In the baggage room OF the
Southern railway station where he left
1t before taking the train.
The strange conduct Of the man
Thursday evening is what has caused
concern. The fact that he has not
called for his satchel has made his
acquaiDtances here more anxious and
direct information from Baltimore
that Mr.. Wilson had written 10 the
Office there from Richmond when he
was supposed TO be IN Charlotte
county seems 10 bear out the impress
SION that the man whose strange con-
duet attracted attention Was really
MI. Wilson.
Place to he Killed.
Declaring that he wHs looking for
place to get killed the stranger
giving his name as J. L. Wilson, q
lFASGliHE salesman, jf1< AIS EI8p al
the southern depot Thursday after
noon and boarded the keysvilia ac-
coInnloaation train that leaves Rich
mond at clock. lie LEFT the train
at Granite. about five miles from
here. and attracted considerable at
tention about the station. lie was
finally taken in a buggy and brought
10 Forest Hiii Park AID put on a
trolley car for kichmoond This hap
nf. da yfw
since which lime he has not been seen
or heard from and IL IN feared the
man has committed suicide. Ills grip
il still unclaifn ed In the Southern
depot
Was Typewriter Salesman.
The man arrived la Richmond
Thursday afternoon from panville. J.
l.. Wilson is a salesman IN the EN-
pioy Of the Smith-Premier Typewriter
Company and travels out of Baiti-
more. his territory being in and
around nansillc. He spent some time
in the southern depot and attracted
considerable attention by talking con-
tinouusly To his grip, which he placed
on the Sc atnext to where he was sit
ting.
Just before O'Clock. the time for
this keysvilie accommodation train to
leave Richmond. ha placed his grip
with the station master and boarded
the train. When Conductor Read
asked for his ticket the man replied
that he had none,
Waited to BE Killed.
Wilson told the CONDUCTOR that he
was going 10 the place where they
killed people. and WAS informed that
he would have to supply himself with
"A ticket, or have the fare, IL he ex-
pected 10 ride on the train. The man
p finally decided TO get. .au at Granite.
When the train arrived at Granite
Wilson had to be told to get OFF. and
he again asked the conductor If IL
was the place to get killed.
said Wife Was Arrested.
Mr.. Hatcher, a resident or Granite.
engaged the man in conversation. ana
Was told remarkable story. Wilson
stated that his wife mad just been ar
rested in Baltimore and that he ex-
pected to be arrested at any time.
He did not seem to know why his
wife was arrested or why tho officers
wanted him.
Wilson also told Mr.. Hatcher that
his home was in Baltimore, that he
was q travelling salesman for the
Smith Premier Typewriter Company,
and had been working in Charlottes-
Vile and Danvilie this week. and ar
rived In Richmond from tho latter
city Thursday afternoon.
Wilson's pitiful story elected the
sympathy OF MIR. Hatcher, and several
dollars were collected from the resi-
dents Of Granite and given to the man,
and Mr.. Hatcher took him In a bug
Ky and drove him to Forest Hill Park.
where he took car for Richmond.
Nothing has been seen or heard of
the man since, and his grip Is still
uEalled for in the depot.
~ Local Office Not Advised
At the local Office of tho Su1ifh
Premier Typewriter Company the
manager Mr.. II. L. Gordon, stated
that Mr.. Wilson was in the employ
OF the company. hut that he had
not heard OF the man being in any
trouble OF any kind. He also said
that Mr. Wilson had not been In the
local office and he did not know he
was In Richmond. .
MIR. Gordon at once wired the facts
In connection with the case to the
baltimore office and later asked the
police to try and locate the missing
man.
1t develops that the Baltimore
house In a long distance phone CON
-a,s ersat4on with another Richmond man
said surprise had been occa stoned by
the receipt OF letter written from
sSf1i1s city by WILSON. WHO WIS thought
to be In Charlotte county. Wilson IA
regarded as one OF the Smith Premier
Company's best men IN this section
and u said to be a man OF temperate
habits