New-York tribune., 1915-03-23
Missing Boston Oil Man
Followed by Detectives
to North Dakota.
BELIEVED ON WAY
TO BOYHOOD RANCH
Suffering Mental Breakdown,
but Otherwise Well and Soon
To Be Overtaken.

lftom Sta1 correspondent OF The Tribune.1
Boston, March %. Henry Clarke
Coe, jr., the protege of President Fol-
ger of the Standard Oil Company, who
disappeared from his home on Janu-
ary 80, is alive and making his way
through the Northwest as pedler.
This is the statement made by Harry
Burns, head of a detective agency
which has been securing the country
looking for him since his disappear
ance.
Coe, the detective says. is suffering
from a mental breakdown brought on
by business disappointment and worry
over the condition of his wife, who
bore him a daughter last Saturday.
This development encourages those
interested in the case to believe it is
only matter Of time before he will
be caught up with and taken in charge
by friends. For the present the hunt
centres about Minot. n. d., where he
was one week ago yesterday. On that
day he left for the little town Of Don
nybrook, thirty miles away and not
reached by rail or telegraph.
Headed Toward Boyhood Ranch.
Donnybrook is only $50 miles from
the ranch where as a boy young Coe
spent many months. 1t is thought he
was heading for that place, and his
friends in that section have been wired
to watch for his arrival and to notify
his brother in New York of any devel-
opments.
1t is clear to the detectives that Coe
on the day of his disappearance made
his way north from the Boston &
Maine Terminal. His first stop was in
Fitchburg, junction point. Thence
he went to Essex Junction. VT, close
to the Canadian border. 1t was from
this town that the tip came Of his pur-
chasing a Khaki hunting outfit. For q
time this caused some confusion, but
it is established that at the time an
other stranger hN"sht khaki Coe WAS
in the store and bought some under
clothing. The man who bought the
khaki outfit has been located, and has
identified Goes picture as that of a
man he saw in the store. The clerk
who waited on Coe identified his pict-
ure.
From Essex Junction Coe went 10
Montreal, where he stayed only a few
days, and then started west. Appar-
emily his funds began to grow low
about this time, for he began to peddle
brass weather strips for doors and
windows. From town to town he was
followed, always with the strips for
sale. In Landlord, \. d., the detec-
tive was only few hours behind him.
Thence he went to Minot.
The fact that Coe is selling a
weather strip is taken to indicate that
his trip was not "a unprecedented as
at first supposed On the night before
he left home he wrote his father
letter that was a picture of a con-
tented man, but in his home was found
a copy of a commercial travellers or
gan on which he had written the name
of the firm making the weather strips
he is now selling.
Coe had about $500 when he left
Boston, a watch easily identified and
diamond ring. At last reports he had
both watch and ring, but was careful to
let no one see the watch.
Called "Queer" by Customers.
Persons with whom Coe talked and
10 whom he sold goods said he was
queer" He did not seem eager TO
sell, vet he made a good canvass and
the most of his opportunities lie
Continued on page :, column