Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1921-10-14
R. H. NOONAN FOUND
IN PORTLAND, ORE.
FLED FROM SHAM OF LIVING
BEYOND HIS MEANS
Former Buftalao Contractor Well
Known Here, Will Not Return
to Wife and Children

Known Here, Will Not Return
to Wife and Children
Not the victim of foul play, as had
been thought since his mysterious dis
appearance on July 9, but a fugitive
from the sham of living beyond his
meapS Rufus Hazard Noonan, promi-
nent contractor of Buffalo, N Y, and
well known in Bridport and Vergen-
mes, has been identified in Portlad Ore
His curiosity to learn of his family and
how the papers had treated the story
of his disappearance was the cause of
his involuntary revelation of his where
abouts Mr.. Noonan wrote both to
Buffalo for newspapers of July and to
his wife under the alias of r Hazard,
but failed to disguise his handwriting
and reporter of the Evening Times
followed the clue to his place Of busi-
ness on the coast. He threatened 10
flee again if his present happiness is
disturbed
The Buffalo Evening Times story of
Mr.. NoonanB identification was as
| follows One of the sons mentioned in
the article is well known at college
here and at present is employed as sur
veyor on Bread Loaf
Rufus Hazard Noonan, prominent
contractor of Buffalo, n V, for whom
a nationwide search has been carried
on since his mysterious disappearance,
July 9 is now in Portland, under the
name of Rufus Hazard He admitted
his identity exclusively to a Times re-
preventative yesterday, and issued an
ultmatum to those who are anxious
TO have him return.
q will never 60 back to Buffalo"
said Noonan q am through with
things back there If they make it
hard for me to remain here in business,
I'll step out again and they'll have
hard time finding me next time
The story of his flight from Buffalo
and his indentifcation here last night
is the story of a man who feared to
plunge into the sham of living beyond
his means.
For the past six years, he said, he has
known that there was only one way
out Of The tangle in which he lived.
Noonan was prominent in Buffalo as
we2thy contractor He owned a
small coupe and an Elgin six cylinder
automobile. but he did not own his
home On July 9, 1921, Noonan sat in
the Acacia Club, in Buffalo, and took
stock of his surroundings. His three
children were fitted to take care OF
themselves in the world and he had no
large contract, under way The mo-
men had come for which he had wait
ed six wears.
"Mv children were old enough to
support themselves Noonan said this
morning "And none OF my men would
be left in the lurch
"IIow about Mrs Noonan:" he was
asked "Was there enough left in the
business to take care Of her.
"Shc will have to look out for her
self, was the answer
From the Acacia Club Noonan walk
ed out into Erie Street, down Main
street to the depot and boarded a
train for the west
Arriving in Portland about August
/, Hazard says the date is indefinite in
his own mind, he bought an interest
in garage at First and Mill streets
with part Of the $1,000 that he carried
when he left Buffalo.
Under the name Of X Hazard he
rented a small room at Leeds apart
ments No Dos Market street, and set
tied down to forget Buffalo
Then Noonan made what has proved
to be a serious mistake if he intended
to keep his family in ignorance of his
whereabouts His curiosity got the bet
ter of his good judgment and he wrote
to Buffalo for back copies of the news
papers that carried the story Of his
mysterious disappearance. Then he
wrote to his wife, signed his name "R
Hazard, spoke OF himself as an old
friend OF the family and asked if Moo
nan had been located
The handwriting was identified as
that OF Noonan and through informa-
ton furnished bv the Buffalo Times,
Hazard was located at his garage yes
terdav afternoon ntil late last night
Noonan insisted that he was Hazard, b
tU hlu llItUQ ol NbOutl. 1 HIS lllol IL f
ing he was confronted with a descrip-
ito of himself telegraphed from But
falo and then admitted his identity.
q was going to write home soon
and tell them where | was Noonan /
said He seemed to be tired of the
uncert tainty of living this double life
81 calculated to let them know pref
ty soon where l was, ne continued
But l just hadn't got around to it
But 1 won't 90 back. | don't think
there is anv way that they can take
me back | am going to stay here
but if they make it too hard for me
Ill step out again and they'll have a
hard time finding me next time.
Mrs. Noonan is anxious to have
YOU back he was told.
For moment Noonan appeared TO
study the matter "She had her
chance. he said coldly and quietly
Later the conversation turned to the
children There are three, two grown
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