Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-11-02
.F0RCETS NAME AND
RESIDENCE PLACE
MISSING LEMhRS MERCHANT
SHOWS UP AT SIOUX
CITY.
CAN RECALL NEITHER
NAME NOR HOME TOWN
Has Econ in Colorado and Texas
Since His Disappe
Thru investments in Midland Pack
ing Company Stock Believed to
Have Unsettled His Mind.

Sioux City. Nov. 2.-Mcmbers of
the Sioux City police force were
somewhat puzzled by man, who ap-
parently suffering from amnesia, ap-
preached patrolman Patrick Bar
rett at Sixth and Pearl streets and
told the officer that he did not know
his name or where he came from. He
asserted he was unable to recall
anything that had happened prior
TO the last few weeks.
He was taken to the police station
and was asked many questions by
members of the department.. A search
of his clothing disclosed s23, 81
Jewel Hamilton watch and bill
fold. In the billfold an Identification
card bore the name Of William Pratt.
LeMars. Ia, and Hazel Pratt Of Lee
Mars. as an emergency address.
Councilman J. b. Mann telephoned
Hugh Maxwell sheriff of Plymouth
county Who TIid the description OF
the man fitted that Of William Pratt,
OLeary. Ia. grocer. who myster-
iously disappeared on Saturday, Oct.
Can't Remember Old Friend.
short time later he was identi-
tied as Pratt by j. II. Macarthur of
Sioux city. an old friend of the fam
lily. He FAMED to recognize Macarthur
and when asked said he had never
seen him before. Mr.. Macarthur as
serted he helped Pratt with some
work on the farm that Pratt operated
before going into the grocery bust
ness. Macarthur also declared Pratt
purchased $4,000 worth OF Midland
Packing Company stock. and that
when that company went into the
hands of receivers. it probably at
fectod his mind
In telling his story to the police.
Pratt said he came to- in box
car In Brighton, Col, a short distance
from Denver He assorted he was
lying in pool of blood and felt a.
pain in the back of his head. He left
Denver and went to Bayard. Neb..
where he worked for a time in a beet
sugar factory. He declared he re-
ceived his pay under the name of
Bill Bell" He was advised to go to
Sioux City i'll the hope that he might
meet someone there whom he knew.
Travels Take Him to Texas.
He boarded what he thought was a
Sioux city bound freight train and
after a long ride on the rods of a
freight car he found himself in Eel
Paso. Tex He arrived in Sioux City
aboard Burlington freight train
yesterday afternoon. He walked
|0bout the streets for several hours
and when he failed to recognize any
thing In the city he decided to seek
aid from the police
.3S caliher poliCeman's special
Colt revolver with Deceive Edward
Becker's name engraved on it was
found In a suitcase which he carried
during his travels. He said he did not
know where he came into possession
OF the gun. He found it In a holster
inside his shirt when he regained his
senses. The billfold was lying along
side of him. The suitcase was sent
from SCOTS Bluff, Neb.. to Bayard on
October II. This was disclosed by an
American Express company address
label tax pasted on the grip. Seat
checks for a Denver theater were
found in the billfold.
Forgets How to Read and Write.
Since regaining his senses he has
been unable to read and write. He at
first was unable to talk. He SD he
drew $50 for working in Bayard. He
is being held in jail for safe keeping.
sheriff Maxwell took the man to LIE
Mars today.
Pratt, it is SAID, started for Sioux
City on Oct. with a trucllOad OF
produce. When he failed to retuynSn
the evening Mrs. I'ratt became
alarmed and instituted a search. The
truck was found north of Leeds
with a pool of blood nearby, but
Pratt had disappeared.
Following his mysterious dlsap-
pearance an involuntary petition OF
bankruptcy was filed against him IN
federal court by the Warfield-P Pratt
Howell company. of Sioux City. The
company also asked that a receiver
be appointed for his property.
Tho Floyd river was dragged in an
effort to find his body.