The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1926-03-12
ASSERTS WATER
WAS MURDERED
Son, After Investigation, Says
Circumstances Indicate
Foul Play

Concerning the mysterious dlsap-
pearance, on February % at Thedford,
Nebr., Of z. B. Water of Livingston,
the Park County News Of March 4
says:
That E. B. Water of Livingston met
with foul play at Thedford, Neb., Is
the opinion of authorities there, &C
cording to, his. son, B. H. Water, who
returned yesterday from, Thedfprd,
where he posted a reward and assist
ed. in the search for his father
: .ThedfOrd is a..tOwnl st. about 300
people. Mr.. Water stepped from the
train there Tuesday last week to get
a breath of air and some exercise
while the train was at the station,
according to the story told. at Thed-
ford, Before he realized it The train
was In motion and he was unable to
catch it.
Missed by Train Crew e.
-He.1was. known to the train crew
because he had ridden with them be-
fore. His absence was discovered be-
fore the next station, II. miles away
was reached. The conductor phOneC
back to the agent at Thedford anC
told him that Mr.. Water had left the
train at -Thedford, and instructed hin
to see that Mr.. Water was taken tx
the hotel for the night and to see tina.
he. Was-cafled to take No. AZ the mex
morning ct A o'clock.
B. H. Water says that ThedfOrC
people told him his father was takel
to the hotel where he registered ant
had his dinner that evening. He pait
for the room and meal. During tn
evening it is said he conversed witt
people in the lobby, telling Of his lif
for several years past, and how h
missed his train. He retired early
Sanitary facilities at the hotel wen
outside on the alley. Mr.. Water cam
down about midnight and went out
side, leaving the light burning in hi
room.
s. Had Disappeared.
3 The agents assistant at the sts
; ticn called for him at $3.50 a. m. I
3 place him on his train. He found tn
; light burning and Mr.. Water gone.
s The sheriff was notified the nel
morning and he started a search.
& 1t is said that Mr.. Water was pc,
fectly sane when he talked wit
ThedfOrd people in the hotel, and Il
theory that he lost his mind al
wandered away is not given credenC
3 A freight train passed throul
ThedfOrd that evening, and it is sa
a number CT hOboes were on the trai
Mr.. Water carried a considerable su
of currency, and it is believed he m
/, with foul play when he went out
the hotel about midnight. Poor
living in the vicinity of Thedford I
ported seeing a strange man waikiki
across the sand hills the morning fl
lowing MI. Waters appearance, b
the %searchers were unable to find o
who he might have been. 1t is b
lieved he was a hobo implicated
Mr.. Waters disappearance and W
leaving the country.
Whole Town Searches
When Mr.. Water offered a rewal
the whole town of Thedford start
for the hills en- a search. The schoC
were turned out and the school Oh
dren participated.
The entire country was tramp
over, but no clue Of the missing m
could be found.
The sheriff at Thedford and
railway officials are continuing t
search on the slender clues availab
Mr.. Water was en- route to Sava
nah, Mo-, to take treatment for ca
Ger Of the face when he stepped
the train at Thedford. He was
wears Of aOn