The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1914-08-14
MISSING MAN CAUSED
MUCH EXCITEMENT
VIM. HOBSON, NOT MURDERED AS
SUSPECTED
Strange Actions of Hired man Led to
County Wide Search By
Officers

Some time in the latter part of July
stranger giving his name as Ralph
Jones made his appearance at the farm
home OF VIM. Hobson, near this place,
and hired out as farm hand. Soon
after this he told Mr.. Hobson that his
mother had recently died at Tawas City
and left an estate consisting of farm
and 81 500 in money in which he was to
participate as an heir and which he
wanted Mr.. Hobson to help him secure.
Finally, Mr.. Hobson consented and
on Wednesday of last week the two
men started for Tawas, stopping at
Flint, on the way, to consult with an
attorney about the supposed estate.
From this time on nothing was heard of
either of the men until early Friday
morning when Jones made his appear
ance at the Hobson home and told the
latter's fourteen-year-old daughter that
her father was in Flint and that he had
bought new dress for her which she
could get by calling at the S. & F.
depot in Clio. He advised the little
girl to go down and get the dress, and
she, accordingly, hitched up horse and
drove to Clio, but failed to find the
dress and started to return home.
When within about mile and half of
home and near lonely ravine, Jones
stepped out into the road, stopped
the horse and attempted to assault the
little girl. The latter. being active and
strong, made her escape after strug-
gle, and whipping her horse inko run
soon reached home. AS she got away
from Jones, however, the latter shout
ed after her the alarming information
that her father was dead, having been
killed the preceding evening in Bay
City. The little girl, of course, at once,
told the neighbors of her truly alarming
experiences and search was made for
Jones but neither he nor Hobson could
be located.
The officers were notified, and as Mr..
Hobson had teld someone that he in
tended to take about $4,000 on the
trip, and in view of the evidently des-
perate character of Jones, it was
thought likely that Hobson had met
with foul play. Sheriff Green and
Deputy Powers put in the day looking
for Hobson and Jones but neither could
be found. Friday evening Deputy Pow
ers started for Tawas. stopping at
Saginaw, en- route, to see If he could
get any trace of either of his men.
The Hagenbeck circus was in Saginaw
on that day and meeting some farmers
from this section, who were in the city
to see the show, Mr.. Powers asked
them if they had seen Hobson. They
said they had, but short time before,
and in a few minutes walk about the
streets the deputy soon met the missing
man. Mr.. Hobson, we are told, claims
he went to Tawas with Jones where he
found the Jones estate to be a myth.
and where they found the hotel
accommodations exhausted and slept
under some trees. For some unac-
countable reason Hobson says he slept
until ten or eleven o'clock the next day
and when he awakened found Jones
gone. He suspects that when the lat
ter found out that his (Hobson 81 funds
were in the shape of certificates of de-
posit, instead of cash, he left, and COM
ing home attempted to assault the little
girl, Sheriff Green and Deputy Powers
have secured a clue to Jones where
abouts, which is expected to lead to his
arrest within a short time. 1t is said
that during his stay at Mr.. Hobson's
Jones told of several exploits as high
way robber and it is thought that he
has prison record.