The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1916-08-30
STRANGE DISAPPEARANCE EN-
sHROUDED IN MYSTERY. BIG
REWARD is OFFERED.

AMERICUS.-Ne two weeks
ago-August 1.-THE most mystlfy-
ing happenings in this section of the
state began to evolve into maze OF
uncertainty which has fairly shaken
the city of Americas, the little town
of Leslie, several miles west, and now
promises to engage the attention OF
all this section of the state.
On that night Walter H. Wade,
prosperous and prominent young bus
mess man of Leslie, left that place
en- route to Americas.
An alarm was sounded on Satur-
day afternoon following his failure
to be at his accustomed place of bust
ness the day before. Sunday brought
scores of relatives and friends to
Americas to assist in the work of the
authorities who had just begun to
enter on the mystery which is yet
fathomless.
The known facts in the case sub
stantiate murder with robbery as the
motive, the authorities now on the
case believe. Some refuse to credit
this theory, and on the few days fol-
lowing Wade's disappearance they
stoutly maintained that he was lust
off" But a reason for this conclu-
sion was not advanced, and has not
vet been brought forward.
Automobile Found.
Some time during Friday following
the young mans known arrival IN
Americas car which is known to be
his property was found near the Cen
trail of Georgia railway passenger
station in this city, and it remained
there without special attention until
the missing man failed to return TO
Leslie. Bloodstains were found on
the steering wheel and on the drivers
seat. The impression of what IS be-
lieved to have been a bullet has been
found below the wind shield directly
in front of the driving wheel in the
inside of the car. There the search
began and since that time $3.50 IN
rewards have been accumulated, a
portion coming from Gov. Harris IN
behalf of the state in the sum ~of
$3.50; the citizens of Leslie, DeSoto
and Cobb have $3.50 in cash in the
Bank of Leslie and now Walter Clop-
ton, a relative of young Wade, has
announced a reward of $3.50.
Sheriff Harvey, working with the
CITY police force, has found Wade's
hat two and one-half miles north of
Americas on the Dixie highway. Near
this spot witnesses have been found
who say that they heard two shots
fred in an automobile about lO:5O
o'clock on the night which the young
merchant came to this city. Further
up the road, about eight miles from
Americas, a part of the flooring OF
the car has been found; bloody
mat, which was in the car, an inner
tube of an automobile tire the size
used by Wade, bloody handkerchief
in a corrugated iron sewer, pistol
holdster. His keys were found near
his car. These things prove foul play
to the authorities.
Carried $500 in Cash.
For robbery as the motive the po-
lice know that young Wade had about
S0UU IN CASH Ou LlS POASVAt, oAAN
''Aashed'' this in Americas on the
night of his visit. The police insist
that they have traced him to re-
stricted section of the city.
Parties in position to speak with
authority so far as what is known
by the police believe that arrests will
follow the discovery of Wade's body
if he is dead-and he has been gone
now for nearly two weeks. Without
the physical remains of the young
man the authorities would be help
less before any moves OF arreste1
persons charged with what they think
was heinous crime. -. =
-Four days following the visit OF
Wade to Americas a young child was
born in his home.
Wade's family forms well known
circle among the first people OF Les
lie and Sumter county. His absence