Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-11-28
THINK MYSTERY
SOLDIER C00lEOGE
MR, AND MRe. G. w. COOLIDGE
CONVINCED CEDAR RAPIDS
MAN THEIR CON BYRON.
SISTER GOES TO THAT
CITY TO IDENTIFY HIM
Byron c. ceoisdsA q Camp Dodge
Mounted Peiies, Missing Since Tues
day Mornins-"Mystsry" Soldier Has
Lea In Cast, 90 Has Byron Coolidge
Identity Not Questioned.

Tho mystery" soldier who wandered
into Cedar Rapids with his leg In q
plaster cast, and who was unable to
tell his name, where he came from or
his service. is beyond question Private
Byron c. Coolidge. Of this city, OF the
mounted police of Camp Dodge. This
is the firm belief of his parents. Mr..
and Mrs. c. w. Coolidge, 6O5h West
Boone street. whose daughter Errna
went this forenoon to Cedar Rapids to
identify him. The belief of the parents
is borne out by very important circum-
stantial evidence.
Private Coolidge is absent without
leave from the base hospital at Des
Moines. His leg Is in a plaster cast,
knitting from fracture suffered here
three weeks ago. Coolidge is a mem
Der Of the mounted police Of Camp
Dodge and the mystery" soldier has
the insignia Of this branch of the serv-
ice on the blouse of his coat. Coolidge
was suffering with symptoms OF mental
arrangement when last here. The
mystery soldier is undoubtedly I'M
sound mentally. Coolidge carried
glasses furnished by Drs. French &
Cobb, city. The mystery" soldier had
in his poket glasses in a case marked
Trench & Cobb"
Reaches Cedar Rapids Tuesday.
The mystery" soldier hobbled on
crutches into the Pullman hotel early
in the Afternoon OF Tuesday. He could
not give him name, where he came
from, or where he was going. A note
book he carried contained lines OF
poetry. He was taken to the police
station and questioned. but without re-
suit insofar as establishing his
ider 'ty. He kept repeating Don't let
the blackness come over me, Don't
let that train run over me-" Don't let
that big man get my money" He is
being cared for by the police in Cedar
Rapids, and word from the COM
mander Of the mounted police OF
Camp Dodge to Cooledge's parents
was that Coolidge be left in Cedar
Rapids until Friday. when a detail
from Camp Dodge would be sent for
him.
Disappeared Tuesday Night.
Private Coolidge disappeared from
the base hospital at Camp Dodge about
midnight Tuesday, according to In
formation from the hospital. He was
reported absent without leave early
Tuesday morning after a search had
been made around the hospital.
Mr. Coolidge. says the boys mother
received a telegram from her son
Monday, asking her to come to- the
hospital. Mr.. and Mrs. Coolidge went
Wednesday. and the same day a squad
Of mounted police searched the camp
and vicinity all forenoon for the miss
ing man, but did not find him.
According to information from
hospital Coolidge, In spite Of his
fractured leg. arose. dressed himself.
and let without being noticed. The
parents say they learned that their
son asked to be allowed to step out
side to get some fresh air, and that
the guard allowed him to do so, against
the rules. Coolidge undoubtedly left
Des Moines on Tuesday forenoon
train. probably not knowing where he
was going.
Was Injured BY Fall.
Coolidge was indicted into the serv-
ice at Camp Dodge Sept. 6. His father
says he was suffering with stomach
trouble, but that he wanted to go lest
he was called a Stacker. Three weeks
ago, while here on a leave Of absence,
he fell from an extra rail, supported by
posts along a railroad track, on which
he had been sitting and fractured his
leg. He was removed to st. Thomas
hospital where he steadily recovered.
A sugeron from the base hospital at
Camp Dodge came Sunday night and
took Coolidge to Camp Dodge. where
he was placed in the base hospital.
Since being indicted Coolidge was IN
the hospital for short times on several
different occasions, and he had been
transferred to the mounted police.
Information from the base hospital
Is to the effect that Tuesday morning.
short time after Coolidge disap-
peared, the hospital was called on the
telephone by some one, who said It
was the mounted police Of the camp,
and that they had picked up Coolidge
and had detained him in the guard
house. Investigation developed later
that no such information had been
given by the mounted police to the
hospital, and it is now presumed that
Coolidge himself telephoned this mis-
information to- the hospital. The
search for him followed.
Sister Goes to Cedar Rapids.
The boys father said his son had
shown symptoms Of slight derange-
ment, and friends who knew him we'll
had noticed that at times he talked
strangely. They attributed this to
mental trouble. He was prone to be-
lieve that he had poetical power, and
it was said that he was seeking in
spiration" forAverse when he fell from
the rail and was injured.
So strongly was the family i'm
pressed with the belief that tho "mys-
terry soldier Of Cedar Rapids was
their son. after reading the story
printed Wednesday evening in the T.
r., and knowing already that their son
was absent from camp. that the sister
Erma went to Cedar Rapids this fore
noon to identify him.
psath At County Farm.
Mics Mary Gault, who has been an