The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-05-30
BERT TURNER MISSING

Mrs. B. E. Turner of this city is al
most distracted over the sudden and
unexplained disappearance of her hus-
band, who left her without warning
Sunday afternoon.
B. E. Turner is a printer and work
ed on the Evening Star for nearly a
year. He did fairly good work, and
was evidently preparing to make a
permanent home here. His wife, a
trained nurse from the north, arrived
here about six months ago, and they
were married and settled down and
seemed to be well pleased with their
home and each other
Saturday morning, Turner told his
associates on the Star that he intend
ed to leave Sunday. The editor, wish
ing to follow the Stars custom in Civ
ing a good send-off to its printers
who leave with good record, asked
him where he was going. Turner re-
piled, up in Michigan, but asked as
favor that nothing be put in the
paper about him. This unusual but
reasonable request was of course
granted, and as another man stood
ready to take Turner's place nothing
more was thought about the matter.
Turner was at church Sunday morn
ing, and in the afternoon, the busi-
ness manager of the Star saw him at
the union station, waiting to take the
northbound train. He said he was
going to Pittsburg.
Late Sunday afternoon, a member
of the Star force. who lives near Tur-
ner, and who had been out for a walk
with his family, on returning home
was surprised to find Mrs. Turner
sitting on the piazza and still more
surprised when she asked him if he
had any idea where her husband was
This gentleman supposed that both
Mr.. and Mrs. Turner were halfway to
Jacksonville by that time, and his
surprise was augmented when he
found Turner had never told his wife
he was going away.
Turner had left his working clothes
at home, and in one pocket was found
on a piece of proof paper, message
evidently intended for a telegram. Il
was directed to st. Louis printing
Office, and said the writer would leave
Ocala to take a position with the ST
Louis house on Sunday night. 1t was
signed "E. B. Thomas" As there is ne
printer by the name of Thomas in
Ocala, it was supposed that it wa:
the copy of telegram intended to be
sent by Turner. Inquiry at both tele
graph Offices disclosed that Turner
had not sent such a telegram, so the
inference is that he wrote it and left
it in his pocket to mislead his wife anc
her friends.
No ticket for any place further
north than Jacksonville was sold fol
the train Turner left on. He is short
rather thickset man, about fifty year:
old, with almost black hair and 4
heavy black mustache-black enough
to arouse suspicion of hairdye TIVE
upper front teeth missing. Wear.
big, blackrimmed glasses at work, bu
generally goes bare-eyed when on tn,
streets.
No reason is known why Turnel
should leave so unexpectedly He hat
a good situation, stood well in th,
community, and the only conclusion
that can be arrived at was he had al
attack of "wanderlust." !" to which man,
printers are yet addicted.
1t was learned this morning tha
Turner bought ticket for Jackson
vile Friday afternoon.
Several letters addressed to E.
Thomas, from some place in Georgia
hace come to the Star office in the las
few weeks. and have been promptl,
returned to the postoffice 1t seem
likely Turner has gone to some plac
in Georgia. He gave his wife tel
dollars Saturday evening, which i
probably all the money she has. Mrs
Turner is a good woma and has tn
friendship of all who know her.