Evening star., 1923-09-10
MISSING MINISTER
SOUGHT IN CAPITAL
FoIIGe Believe Baltimore Pas.
tor May Plan Visit to
Sister Here.

search is being made here today
tor the Rev. Samuel Register Neel,
pastor of prominent church in Bal
lmore, who left his home there Satur-
gay morning. "just to take a little
walk" and has not been heard from
since.
In view of the fact that the missing
clergyman has a sister living here.
MRS. c. f. Taylor of 2o14 Pierce Mill
road northwest, and has visited in
several Washington pulpits, police be-
Heve IT is possible he may have wan
oered to the capital during a sudden
attack of aphasia.
The disappearance OF Mr.. Neel pre-
sents one of the strangest cases the
police of Baltimore have had to deal
with for years. Turning to. his six
year-old son Saturday morning he
said: You stay at home with your
mother while l so for a little walk"
half hour later some unexpected
groceries arrived at the parsonage,
with the message that DIR Neel had
sent them
Wife Gives Alarm.
When Mr.. Neel failed TO return
home in time for suppef his wife be-
came alarmed and requested the po-
lice to inquire at hospitals. Search
IN that direction failed to disclose
Ine whereabouts of the missing man.
- Nelther had he applied at any Balti-
more railroad stations for a clergy
mans ticket out of the city.
Neither his wife. his sister here. nor
Cf flEs r,Fs IL II,
Methodist Episcopal Church South, To-
Gated at CarrolltOn avenue and Frank
I'm streets in Baltimore, had been able
70 offer any substantial reason for
VT; NeeIs absenc, He seemed in ex-
cellent health a. only recently had
nhlshed a three-week vacation.
My brother was. of course, quite
hard worker" said Mrs. Taylor this
morning. But l had never known
him to suffer from nerves l believe
he just wandered off and has tenn
porarily lost himself. The first l knew
or mis- disappearance was last night
am sure that he will be found, how
ever, alive and suffering probably
from aphasia, although l never knew
dy."
Will Comb Capital
Mrs. Taylor discredits the theory
lnat her brother may have come TO
washington. She said he had not been
t4oSeiy IN touCh with her for several
years The last time he preached in
TINS city was two years ago, during
the conference of his denomination.
Wnen he filed a pulpit in George
town. When Mrs. Taylor got in
touch with Baltimore this morning
however, she was told detectives had
started for the capital and would
comb II in hope of getting trace
of Mr.. NeeI.
Mr.. Neei is about forty years old.
about five feet ten inches in height,
and of slight build. His eyes are dark
and his hair also, is dark. although
streaked with gray When he left
his home Saturday he wore a dark
serge suit, soft black hat and black
shoes. He had in his pockets about
S25 in cash and several articles by
which he could be identified. incIud-
ing a motor vehicle operators permit
Mr.. Neel went 10 Baltimore several
months ago from Anderson. w. Va.
Last week he was absent in Bruins
wick. Md. where he helped raise funds
for the construction OF = new church
there. He returned Wednesday and
was to have preached the sermon in
his own church Yesterday and his
failure to appear created a profound
sensation among the members of his
congre cation.
Mr. Neel is a son Of the late Rev.
a. p. Neel who also occupied pulpit
IN Baltimore at one time. A brother.
Rev. Frank Neel, is pastor of church
in Laurel Nd