Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 August 1904 — ANOTHER SENSATION. [ARTICLE]

ANOTHER SENSATION.

W. S. Parks, a Respected Citizen, sald to Have Clone Wrong. Rensselaer still continues to be the scene for the unexpected to happen, and the latest in this line is the disappearance of William S. Parks, a heretofore highly respected citizen, under circumstances which has caused no end of gossip. The disappearance of hire. Charles Nichols, wife of the Monon section boss, at about the same time as Mr. Parks, and the now rumored report that they had had been quite friendly for some time, is given as the cause of Parks’ disappearance. Will left Rensselaer on the early north - bound train on Tuesday morning of last week, and is said to have purchased no ticket. Several Rensselaer people bound for Niagara Falls were on the same train, and to these he is said to have stated that he, too, was going to take in the Falls’ excursion. When the others got off at Hammond to change cars, however, Will remained on the train, and in reply to inquiries of friends as to why he did not get off, is reported to have said he would go on to Chicago and take a train for the Falls from there. We are told that he wrote Mrs. Parks from Chicago stating that he was going up in Dakota and probably Minnesota, and would be back. It has since developed that he had sold his dray and express business to Abel Grant last May, but nothing was said about the matter, and as Grant was not to take possession until September Ist, it was not known that the sale was made. Grant took possession of the business Wednesday. The woman in the case, if such there be, is said to have arrived at an understanding with her husband, and in consideration of $l5O, which was paid her, relinquished all claim on their little home and chattels. She left town on the milk train, which passes through Rensselaer for Chicago three houTB after the train taken by Parks. William S. Parks comes from a most excellent family in every way, none of whom, so far as we have ever heard, did a dishonorable act. He came here from near Remington sbme twelve or fifteen years ago and engaged in the draying business, in which he prospered. He was most highly respected, was a pillar in the Christian church, former Chancellor Commander of the Knights of Pythias lodge, an ex-member of the city council of Rensselaer, and was looked upon as the soul of honor and a model husband and father. His wife has also been prominent in church and society affairs, and is a most highly esteemed lady. They have two sons, just entering their teens, and apparently there was no family in Rensselaer more devoted to one another. He had a nice residence property here and also owned ten acres of land adjoining the city bn the south, for which he paid some $2,300 for about two years ago. In addition to this he recently sold his farm in Benton county to his father, Thomas Parks, of near Remington, for some $12,000 to $15,000. His father is a highly esteemed gentleman, and is no doubt worth $50,000 to $75,000, and has but four children, so that Will’s financial prospects were of the brightest kind. It is said that he took considerable ready money with him when leaving, which, if true, would indicate that he had fully considered the act he was about to do. That one of his standing could do anything of this sort is hard to believe, and the now apparently vain hope is still felt by some that he will return and make a satisfactory explanation of the whole matter.