Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 68, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 January 1909 — DILLEY FOUND. [ARTICLE]

DILLEY FOUND.

Missing Tralfagar Man Is Located In Indianapolis. HE WANDERED AWAY LAST JULY While Temporarily Unbalanced and His Family Have Been Searching for Him Unceasingly Since That Time. Eugene Dilley, a former resident of Rensselaer and a former well known school teacher of Jasper county, whose mysterious disappearance last July has been noted frequently in the newspapers in an effort to assist his family in finding him, was found last Friday in Indianapolis. The story pf his finding as given below, after his friends hal almost given him up for dead, had almost given him up for dead, is from Saturday’s Indianapolis News: Among the sleeping guests at the home was found Eugne Dilley of Trafalgar, for whom the police of many cities have been searching [for several months. Dilley had been working on the razing of the buildings of the city hall site and on the new-shelter house building for the last two months under his own name. Dilley left home last July. Since that time, until he came to Indianapolis, Dilley has wandered over the jountry, his mind a blank so far as the past is concerned. The search for Dilley has continued since he disappeared from his home near Trafalgar last summer after he had been injured by a brick falling on his head. The search was made with unusual vigor because of a reward of SSO, offered by Mrs. Dilley. Several days ago the Rev. Thomas H. Nelson received a letter and photograph of Dilley from Mrs. Dllly, who asked him to aid in the search. Mr. Nelson did not pay much attention to the picture until Thursday night, when he happened tq run across it. . ' ‘ Just take that and see if you have such a man here,” he said to one of the employes at the shel-ter-house.

A few minutes later the man re turned. “We have him,” replied the man. He has been here for two months and has been registered under the name of Eugene Dilley.” Mr. Nelson sent for Dilly and tried to find something of his past history. “Have you a wife?” Dilly was asked. The man looked surprised and troubled, as he answered. "I-I don’t know; 1 can’t remember,” replied Dilly slowly’. “I believe I had a wife once. “Haven’t you any ‘children?” continued Mr. Nelson. “I can’t remember that,” answered Dilly, hesitating. Then tears filled his eyes as memories seemed to come rushing back to him and he almost shouted: "Yes-»-yes; I think I had six little ones—if they are not all dead now.” Mr. Nelson continued to question him and’finally brought out the information that Dilly had left his home—some place—during the hot weather. That convinced Mr. Nelson that the man was Dilley and he sent for detectives Lancaster and Kruger, who took the man to the police station for safe keeping. Yesterday mprning Mr. Nelson telegraphed to Dilley’s wife and it was expected that she would come to the city at once. Mr. Nelson said that when Dilley applied at the shelter-house two months ago, his feet were wrapped in burlap and he was suffering from the cold. A- pair of new shoes and new clothing were given him and he began work for Mr. Nelson, working for his board and lodging and fifty cents a day. When Dilley arrived in the city he wore a long black beard, which Mr. Nelson persuaded him to have removed recently. He had grown the beard since leaving home and for that reason Mr. Nelson did not recognize the photograph sent to him. Mr. Nelson said he would not accept the SSO reward offered, as heunderstood Dilley’s farrfily was in poor circumstances. He **Raid he would also use his influence to keep t the police {tension fund from getting it. Dilley is said to have been an excellent worker and at times had to be restrained from doing too much work. Dilley’S case was clearly one of loss of memory, In the opinion of the police. After he was questioned from time to time he seemed like a man awakening from a deep sleep and trying to recall certain things. His mind was still in a dazed condition, and he would run the palm of his hand across .his forehead and look at his questioners in a manner that was pathetic. Turnkey Al Mathey, who understood the case from Mr. Nelson, assured the man that he was in the hands of friends and that he was tp be returned to his family.

"Don’t you remember your wife?” he was asked. “Yes, I did have a wife somewhere,” he said. "Yes, my home must be in Trafalgar because that name sounds familiar. Yes, I recall that I lived in Trafalgar.” "Don’t you remember your children?” “Yes, I remember that *1 had six children, but I don't recall much about them. At times I seemed to remember about my wife and children, but I couldn’t find them. I tried to find them but I’d forget them before I could find where they were.” Dilley had to study 7 for some time to tell of his children. He did not remember their names, but he said he thought the oldest boy was fifteen years old, the next one about eleven, then in order, nine, five, three and one. “I don’t know what’s become of them or my wife, either,” he said, putting his hand to his forehead. "I don’t know where I’ve been except at Mr. Nelson’s. • Maybe he would know something about me.” Dilley was questioned closely about himself and his former occupations. After a time he said he thought he formerly taught school and worked as a clerk in a store. When asked about the accident to his head Dilley said he remembered he was injured in Rensselaer and that he was taken home from there. He did not remember what happened after that time, he said. "Oh, I can’t remember anything,” he said, with tears in his eyes. "I hope they will take me back home. Then I might remember what has taken place.” All day long Dilley sat in a cell apparently trying to recall where he had been and facts about his family. He seemed more at ease when assured that his relatives would come for him and that he would be taken to his wife and little ones. The man’s mind seems to be clearing gradually and the police had strring hopes that when his’ family appeared his memory would return entirely. From Monday’s News: “Thank God, we have found you!” was was a fervent exclamation of Mrs. Edith Pepperlll, of Fletcher avenue, when the iron doors at police headquarters opened to release Eugene Dilley Friday afternoon. Tears streamed down the woman’s face as she held out her hands to the man. “There, Edith, don’t cry,” Dilley said gently. "I think I am all right now.” Dilley is the man from Trafalgar, Ind., who was found at the Pentecost Mission after he had wandered aimlessly about for many months. An accident, due to a falling brick caused him to lose his memory, and after he got away from Trafalgar he could not remember where he lived or anything about himself. He applied for shelter at the Pentecsot Mission about*two months ago after wandering aimlessly for six months, and since that time he has been working about that place.

In the meantime his wife and six children and other relatives In Trafalgar had appealed to the authorities in every direction to search for the man. His pictures were sent broadcast, but he was not recognized when he came to the mission because he had grown a beard. The beard was shaved only a few days ago and the man’s identity became known. Dilley seems on the road to recovery. Friday he had a faint recollection that he had a wife and children. The more he talked of the matter the more his memory iufproved, and he remembered that Trafalgar was his home. It was a pathetic case when the man fairly struggled to remember what he was formerly—a husband and father and a respected citizen. When his sister-in-law appeared in the turnkey’s office. Dilley’s mind seemed to clear, and he appeared as a man who had* been in a “Rip Van Wrinkle” sleep. He knew the woman when she spoke to him and he urged her to take him to his family without delay. The couple left during the evening for Trafalgar, where the wife and children were eagerly awaiting them.