The Cape weekly tribune. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1914, 1914-07-03
Mother of Retired Cigar Man
COllapses From Worry Over
His Absence
LEFT NEIGHBOR NOTE
HE WAS GOING AWAY
Took FOurteen-Year-Old Son and
Disappeared Sunday-Health
Had Been Failing

William +. Bauman, n well-tO-dC
retired cigar manufacturer of Cape
Girardeau, disappeared rather mys.
teriously Sunday, taking Alvin, one
of his two sons, with him.
His departure marked the climax
of series of mishaps which began
with a fall on the ice last winter
which broke his left leg and this
accident was followed by paralytic
stroke a few months later.
Whittier Mr.. Bauman went, not
even Mrs. Adoline Bauman, his
mother, and with whom he lived,
knows. The shock and worry caused
by his mysterious absence caused
Mrs. Bauman to suffer a nervous
collapse yesterday and she was re-
moved to the st. Francis hospital.
Owing to her advanced age it is
feared the shock may result disas-
trously to her.
At the request of the attending ply
stefan, Robert Bauman, brother of
the missing man, has been summoned
from his home in Belleville, ILL.,,
and he will reach this city within
a short time to be at his mother s
bedside and to take steps toward
instituting a search for his brother.
The missing man did not discuss
his proposed departure with either
| friends or relatives. But he had
planned in advance. When his son
Alvin, who is IA years old, left the
house with his father Sunday, it
was presumed that they were going
for a walk.
When they did not return late in
the day, Mrs. Bauman became alarm
ed and informed the neghbors.
Mrs. J. Rocker, who lives next door
to the Bauman residence, informed
the aged mother that she had found
a message from the missing son.
The missive was placed under the
front door of the Rocker home and
it read:
look after my mother. |
have done all that l can for
her. l am gone"
The message was signed "W. +.
Bauman." 1t did not state what his
designation would be or when he
expected to return. That was the
last message received by his relatives
from Bauman.
Mr.. AlOis thinner of $40 Good
Hope street, brother-in-law of
the missing man, does not believe
any harm has come to Mr.. Bauman.
He expects to hear from his brother
in-law within very short time,
and he thinks the first letter will
clear up the mysterious features of
his disappearance. Il am certain my
brother-in-law is all right" said
| Mr.. thinner last night.
There is no reason for thinking
otherwise. He had not complained
recently of being in ill health and he
is reasonably well fixed financially
His departure has caused his rela-
tives much alarm, but l feel certain
everything will come out all right"
Friends of Mr.. Bauman are much
concerned over his absence. The
fact, however, that he is accompanied
by his son is looked upon with favor.
But the fact that Mr.. Bauman has
suffered recently from insomnia has
aggravated the worry Of his relatives,
He has not been in the best of health
since his wife died about two years
ago, and at times has been somewhat
mOrose.
Last winter he spent most of his
time confined to his bed. While
on his way to his cigar factory at
626 Good Hope street, he slipped on
the slcet covered walk and fell with
such force that he broke a leg.
The shock of this fall, coupled with
the fracture, kept him confined in
doors for a long time.
When he did finally recover, his
health seemed impaired. And H
short time after his recovery from
the fall, his left arm became para
Iyzcd. His physicians said this
stroke was the result of the fall,
Since then he has worried about his
declining health and at times has
shown pronounced evidences of acute
mclancholia,
Only a few weeks ago he disposed
of his cigar business and has not
attempted to transact business since
He has spent much of his time re-
Gently at home in company with
his mother at S24 Merriwehter street,