The Washington herald., 1911-03-06
TRAGEDIES RECORDED
IN MISSING" BOOK
Volume at Police Station Mutely Tells of Sorrow
and Anguish of Wanderers Relatives
and Friends
and Friends.

Puzzled by tn. mysterious disappear
ances of aged DR.. William Gray. Mrs.
Philip w. Knox, and the more than a
score of additional unexplained absences
brought to their attention during the
past few months local authorities are
exerting every effort to solve the rid
die of the whereabouts OF the wanderers,
VINO, as a class, give the department as
much trouble as any other one line Of
endeavor.
OF the many interesting records which
are to be seen at the headquarters of
the Washington police department, that
which attracts the least attention and
bears the marks of the most suffering
and patient waiting is that of the miss
ing book" In this are recorded all the
unfortunates who have, either willfully
or because they were unable to support
themselves, gone from their homes and
those who love them into a wandering
life Of adventure and inconsistencies, or
have been betrayed by friends into the
seeking of a career which offers bet
ter surroundings and position.
In some instances-and it is fact of
record that there are many such cases
the name on the Look out for book
spells death. Suicide by gas, pistol, knife.
drowning, or poison are invariably the
cause of marking the record with the
official o. K, which means that further
inquiry into the affairs of the missing
has been brought to a sudden halt.
Informed by Newspapers.
The attention of the public is attracted
by newspaper items to, majority Of the
reported missing cases, in which it is
set forth that such a person has been
absent from his home for a week, a
month, or several months. Contempla-
ton runs rife among the friends of the
absent one as to his whereabouts and the
general public at once forms a concur
sion that the missing person is either
here or there, or that he has tired of life
and has used one of the many means
to rid himself of the burden which he
finds it impossible to bear.
A glance at the police records would
prove enlightening, as there can be seen
the o. K mark on hundreds OF the names
entered of those who have been reported
as missing and for whom the police
have been diligently searching who have
been located by relatives. These records
too. are marked o. n, but the public
hears nothing of their return, since the
mere returning of a lost person without
startling experiences or touch of or
nance, leaves little upon which to base
a story that would interest the public.
Mystery in Many Cases.
In many cases the absence is surround
ed by mystery, sometimes because the
police are unable to locate a person re-
ported missing, who is known to be in
Washington and who has probably been
seen upon the streets. and ofttimes be-
cause his whereabouts are completely
shrouded, in that no trace has been found
Of him since his disappearance.
In most instances where persons are
reported as being missing and the po-
lice are unable to locate them rivers are
dragged, hotels investigated. and the hos
pitfalls are searched in the hope that some
information may be gained
In February, 1909. Richand Van Horn
twenty-six years odd, OF exemplary hab-
its, left his home with a small bundle of
laundry, stating to his family that he
would return shortly. Yesterday the po-
lice department sent 5000 circulars
throughout the country, giving his de-
scription and requesting that search be
made OF the hospitals. Since his depar-
ture nothing has been seen or heard of
the missing man.
Van Horn had been suffering from an
illness, which II Is thought may have led
to a arrangement of his mind. A dill
gent search on the part Of the local police
failed to bring out clew to his where
abouts, and several days after he had
been reported as missing general look
out was sent over the country.
The case Of DR.. William Gray, retired
druggist. who left the Georgetown Uni
versity Hospital last Thursday while his
brother-in-iaw, G. B. Chew. was talking
with the physicians Of the institution also
- shrouded with mystery. DR.. Gray u