Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-04-03
ALDEN FAMILY
SEARCHING FOR
MISSING MAN
Ask Steamboat Company to
Explain Disappearance of
Money and Jewelry.

Members Of the family of Frank
Eaton Alden, of 465 Ridge street,
whose Disappearance from a Fall
River line boat yesterday Is believed
to indicate suicide, today began a
search for the man. refusing to accept
the police version of the affair. The
Fall River line offices in New York
were visited in an effort to obtain
more definite information and the
EsteauastiR representative were asked
| TO explain the disappearance of Mr..
Alden's money, jewelry and passage
ticket.
Herbert Alden, brother of the miss
ing Newarker, who arrived here to-
day from Detroit, was the one to
visit the offices of the Fall River line
in Manhattan this morning. There
he was told that the steamboat COM
pany officials had nothing to disprove
the suicide theory. When the boat
landed at Fall River, Mass, last night
the few effects found in Mr.. Alden's
staterooIn were turned over to the
police of that city.
It was said the legal department Of
the Fall River line was busy trying
to determine what action the COM
pany should take in the matter.
Nothing in a way for a search for
the body is made. it was said, as it
was not known where to begin.
Thursday morning Mr. Alden en-
gagged a berth on the steamboat
Plymouth for Boston. That night he
was seen to enter his stateroom. The
following morning the door of his
stateroom was forced open after a
nj Fai1 1n1 fr. IN
calls. The room was empty save for
an old suit of clothes. These had been
taken off evidently and thrown across
chair
On the undisturbed bedclothing
there were blood-stains and similar
marks were found along the wall
This was taken to indicate that Mr..
Alden had deliberately cut himself
and then CROPPED his way from the
stateroom to the boat rail, where he
threw himself overheard.
According to the steward, the room
had been locked from the outside and
the key thrown through hole in the
transom. A few pieces of jewelry
which Mr.. Alden wore, including a
gold watch and chain, $500 and some
other small effects were missing.
still Doubt Suicide.
While the Fall River line officials
and the police of Fall River, Mass,
say there is no doubt as to the sui
eide, relatives and friends of the miss
ing man say there are many things to
upset this theory Mr.. Alden was an
elder of the Third Presbyterian
Church. The pastor, Rev. DR.. Robert
Scott Inglis, also refuses to believe
the disappearance means suicide
"One thing is certain, and that Is
Mr.. Alden did not leave Newark with
the intention of committing suicide"
said DIR. IngliS today. Monday he
came to me with program of tho
music to be played and sung at our
Easter services tomorrow. He was a
member of the music committee and
was very much interested in church
work, especially affairs of the choir
and organist, etc.
Now, a man who intends to COM
init suicide does not bother himself
with such small details. l am afraid,
when l think the matter over care
fully, that there must have been some
foul play. If not, why the disappear
ance of his money, jewelry, ticket and
everything? Mr.. Alden was a man OF
keen intellect and his mental condi-
ton was always regarded as being OF
the soundest.
There is just one thing which
might account for the suicide theory.
Years ago Mr.. Alden spent consider
able time in the tropics. The great
heat of that country made him sub
ject to severe attacks of headaches.
Sometimes he would be obliged to
leave a meeting of the elders, because
Of the severity of the pain. 1t might
be that a sudden and acute attack of
this ailment came upon him on the
boat, caused him to lose his reason
and take his life. That is possible,
but highly improbable
"when Mr.. Alden started for Bos
ton he took about 5000 to obtain an
option on some property near that
city. While he suffered considerable
financial reverses at the time the war
started, he did not let the failure of
his brokerage business make him
respondent. OF course, he was dis
couraged, but he did not brood over
his loss. l met him nearly every day
for the past three months. He talked
Of his affairs to me, and | do not be-
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