INMONROE-L Archives

From: Randi Richardson <>
Subject: [INMONROE] George Lampkins Disappears Mysteriously
Date: Sun, 21 Oct 2001 05:35:37 -0500

Bloomington (IN) World, Feb 15 1898, p. 1.

A WANDERER
George Lampkins Leaves Home Mysteriously and is Now Someplace in Kentucky

George Lampkins, a well known farmer who resides about five miles east of
the city, is giving his family and friends no small amount of uneasiness.

Lampkins came to the city Friday morning and drew his ninety dollars
pension money. From that time until Sunday morning, his folks did not know
of his whereabouts. When he did not return Friday evening, as was his
custom, his family believed that probably he might have been held up some
place on the road and robbed of his money.

One of his daughters, Miss Belle, who is one of the leading young lady
school teachers of the county, immediately came to town and began to search
for her father. It was thought that he had possibly been intoxicated and
that he would likely be found drunk, if found at all. Miss Lampkins, in
person, visited all the saloons at ten o'clock at night, but was unable to
secure any definite information regarding her father. Officers Kerr and
Johns told her that he had been seen by them that evening and that he was
sober.

The search in the city progressed and soon some 300 men were looking
everywhere for the missing man. His daughter, who remained in the city,
believed that her father had been made the victim of foul play and possibly
murdered for his money. Sunday morning the subject was the sole topic of
conversation and no one would believe but that Lampkins had never left the
city and that something terrible had happend to him.

Frank Dobson visited Ellettsville Sunday. When he returned he increased
the excitement by making the statement that Lampkins had been seen there
Sunday. His statement was not believed by Miss Lampkins. She asserted
yesterday morning that ther father was surely some place in Bloomington and
that she feared the worst.

However, it was thought best to investigate the Ellettsvile story, so John
M. Armstrong was sent up there yesterday morning. The axiety of Miss
Lampkins by this time had become intense, and at 3 o'clock yesterday
afternoon she telephoned to Ellettsvile and found the story told by Dobson
to be true.

Armstrong returned at 3:45 last evening. He had in his possession the fine
gold watch of Lampkins' which was found on the railroad track about halfway
between here and Ellettsville. He also stated that Lampkins had made his
appearance in Ellettsville about 8 o'clock Friday morning and remained in
the town until Saturday afternoon. He had talked with a number of citizens
at that place and the universal statement was that his mind was somewhat
unbalanced. At times he would talk intelligently and at other times he
would be considerable off. His great weakness in Ellettsville seemd to be
to display his money. He showed a roll of bills to the amount of $100 at
several places in the town and finally ended by getting ingloriously drunk.

In the afternoon he went to the station and bought a ticket to Buffalo,
Kentucky, and with the assistance of the conductor and a few citizens he
was placed on the train.

Miss Lampkins received this story at the train last evening with tears in
her eyes, and although she has proven a plucky, sensible young lady through
it all, it seemed that she was almost heartbroken.

"If he has only got his money yet, and if there is no one after him," she
said last night, "I would not worry so much."

Later: Miss Lampkins decided last night to send her brother to Kentucky to
search for her father and bring him home.

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