Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 September 1902 — Eugene Dilley Seen Again. [ARTICLE]

Eugene Dilley Seen Again.

Eugene Dilley, the unfortunate man who is roaming about the woods and fields in this vicinity, in a more or less insane condition, as the result of a blow on the head received several years ago, was seen again last Saturday afternoon. He was first seen by some men who were threshing, some three or four miles north of town. F. M. Parker, his wife’s uncle, was telephoned to, in town, and at once started out in his buggy to look for him. He tracked him to an old orchard on what is now the Lpman’Jßarce place, about two miles north, and fijally saw him some distance away, walking south on the Monon tracks. By hurrying around in his buggy Mr. Parker got in front of Dilley, and walked, up the track and met him. Dilley at first acted as though he would pass without speaking, but Mr. Parker called him by name, and shook [hands with him. Mr. Parker turned and they walked along together, Eugene said he was going to town and Mr. Parker asked him to ride in hie buggy. Mr. Dilley said he would, but refused to walk with Mr. Parker to where he had left bis buggy, but would meet him at the next road crossing, which is the east and west road, near the former W, 8, Coen farm. Mr. Parker went and got into his buggy and hurried to get to the crossing before Dilley got there. The latter however had walked fast and was several hundreds yards past before Mr. Parker got there and was going south on the track at a rapid pace. Very soon after that he disappeared in a cornfield and though several parties, including Constable Vick, from town, searched the vicinity thoroughly, he gave them t)ie slip and could not be found. About six o’clock that evening, however, he was seen passing the residence on th Jasper Kenton farm, some miles north, having evidently turned and gone in that direction as soon as he got out of Mr. Parker’s sight. Just before he reached the crossing where had promised to meet meet Mr. Parker, be passed the Monon section men, but did not look at nor speak to them. To Mr, Parker be talked rationally, for the moot part, but to some of the former’s questions he refused to answer. He said he was working for Bruce Moffit, of near Fair Oaks,.baling hay. Which statement, of course, Was false. He looks wild, haggard and unkempt as of course he would. So far as heard from he never goes to people’s houses for food, and he must live on fruit and whatever else be can find in the fields.