Bridgeton pioneer., 1917-09-06
The Redmond
Mystery
BY ETHEL HOLMES

cdSteIu ueTCuduI IN business Tor llm-
self, seeing that large corporations
must eventually absorb his trade, de-
cided to put his stock into money and
go west with it where big business was
still comparatively unknown. He
cleaned up $4,000 and started west
ward to find a new field for invest
ment.
Since he was uncertain just where
he would locate he put his capital in
thirty bills of $1,000 each His wife
made him a bag in which to keep them,
and the bag he hung around his neck
His family consisted Of two persons.
his wife and little daughter ten years
old. These he left behind him. it be-
ing his intention to send for them when
he found a settling place.
During his journey Redmond wrote
home from different points through
which he passed. When about to enter
New Mexico he wrote that he would
leave all regular conveyances, proceed
ing on horseback. Quite likely he might
not have another opportunity to send
another letter for some time. since he
was dOoul " pass luTOuSu d TdLuer
wild country.
A fortnight passed and Mrs. Red
mond was beginning to expect another
letter from her husband. but was dis
appointed. Another two weeks went
by and still no word from him. Then
the weeks of his silence became months.
When half year had passed without
hno rin har I'd
the poor woman gave him up for lost.
Friends of hers who had correspond
ents IN the west wrote them, giving
them such data as they possessed of
where Redmond was when last heard
from, and they investigated the matter.
No trace was found OF him after be
left the place where he had written his
last letter to his wife. When told that
he had $4,000 Oh his person the in
vestigators declared that he had doubt
less been murdered for his money.
Mrs. Redmond did not assent to this
theory. She knew her husband to be
or have been very secretive man and
did not believe that he would permit
any one he did not trust implicitly with
knowledge of the bills he carried on
his person. She rather inclined to the
theory that he had been robbed
However. after several years had
passed and nothing was learned Of her
husbands fate Mrs Redmond gave up
all hope of his ever returning to her.
He had taken all her capital with him
except enough to supply her wants till
he should become permanently located.
She made this amount last for a year
and then was obliged to work to sup
port herself.
Mrs. Redmond lived ten years after
her husbands disappearance. He had
left in the east a record of the num-
bers of the bank bills he took with
him, and these numbers were sent to
banks all over the United States hop
ing that some knowledge might come
of the lost man through one or more of
the bills. But none Of the bills was
ever presented at any bank. This add
ed to the mystery and reflected on the
theory that Redmond had been mur-
dered. If he had not been murdered
what had become Of him?
When Mrs. Redmond died her daugh-
ter Flora was twenty years old. Her
mother before her death told her that
she was heiress to $4,000 and would
some day come into possession of her
fortune.
Flora formed an attachment for a
young man named Trevor. but since
Trevor had nothing except a small sal
ary neither he nor Flora could bring
themselves to accept the burdens of
matrimony. One day a letter came ad-
dressed to Mrs. William Redmond from
an official in New Mexico. 1t stated
that in opening a road quicksand had
been struck. While endeavoring to Sc
cure foundation the body of a man
on horseback was found some distance
under the surface. From papers found
on the body the mans identity as Will
liam Redmond had been learned. The
body had been placed in a burial vault.
Flora read this letter with great in
terest.
Both Trevor and Flora had been saw.
ing money for some time, thinking
that they might, after all, unite their
lives and by this time had enough
jointly to pay their expenses to the
west.
After much deliberation the pair de-
cided to be married. go to New Mexico,
and if the fortune was not recovered
they would settle where there was
more opportunity to make a career
than in the east.
On reaching New Mexico, without
making themselves known. they learned
where the body of John Redmond had
been placed. and one night visited an
acre of ground used for a cemetery.
There was but one vault in it. and the
fastenings to this were insecure. Ire
vor forced them by means of file and
an iron implement he had provided for
the purpose. Then he went in and
opened rude box containing the only
BODY there Striking a Light he began