Gebhardt Has Gone

Leaving His Bride of Six Weeks

A BIG SALINE SENSATION

Just Before The New Hotel Was Opened

The Proprietor Mysteriously Disappearing in Detroit Leaving No Trace-

He was Well Heeled with Money at the time of his Disappearance.

In the village of Saline there is great excitement over the unaccountable disappearance of Bernard Gephardt who had made arrangements to open a new hotel Monday. He left on Thursday for Detroit to buy some goods for the hotel, and informed his wife he would be home Friday evening and if anything prevented his coming then he would surely be back Saturday morning. He came not and telephone messáges were sent. From these and the visit of Sheriff Gillen to Detroit; the following facts are gleaned. Mr. Gebhardt called at the saloon of William Gaffney and left some packages there saying he would call for them on his way home. He then called at A. Koch's grocery corner Fort and Beaubien sts., where he said he was on his way to see some wholesale grocers to buy goods for his hotel. He was asked to stay all night. He answered that he would visit Adolph Frank, a cousin of his wife, and thought he would stay there all night. If he did not he would come back to Mr. Koch's. He seems not to have gone to Mr. Frank's at all. Here all trace of Gebhardt disappears.

Mr. Gebbardt came to Saline about a year ago and rented the bakery of John Frank. He proved to be a most expert, up-to-date baker. He was very industrious and worked up a very large trade. He seemed like an honest, hard-working German speaking English a little brokenly. He was a very pleasant talker and made friends with everybody, and was universally liked. He understood how to make himself particularly agreeable to John Frank and his estimable daughter. This resulted in an engagement and his marriage some six weeks ago to Miss Rosa Frank. His influence was so great with Mr. Frank that the latter fitted up bis bakery building into a hotel, which was to have been called Hotel Saline. All modern improvements are to be found in this hotel. There is a large restaurant room, large dining room, each bedroom was lighted by acetylene gas, hot and cold water bathrooms, closets, steel ranges in the kitchen and a fine new furnace are in place. In fact, everything that goes to make up a modern hotel was in the building. It had been arranged to open the hotel Monday. The Saline Band was to be present, and a general gathering of everybody expected.

Mr. Gebbardt claimed his age as 48 years, but many who knew him thought he was over 50 probably 51 or 52 years. He was a glib talker and spoke of his interests in African goldmines. He also claímed to own real estate in New York City. He told of his travels in Australia and other parts of the world. He had spent two years in Cuba and cooked for surveying parties on the Nicaraguan isthmus. He also claimed that at one time he ran a large restaurant in New York City. He was an industrious man, working 15 hours the day he left Saline. He seemed to have no bad habits and treated his six weeks bride with affection. When he came to Saline he seemed to be flush with money and spent it freely. The reason he gave why he settled down in Saline was that he was tired of the turmoil and excitement of the world, and wanted to end his days in a quiet little village like Saline.

His many creditors naturally feel worked up at his sudden disappearance. How much his father-in-law has advanced and is liable has not yet ever been fully ascertained. Before leaving Saline Gebhardt drew $235 out of the bank. He borrowed at least 20 in cash from Mr. Frank who signed two notes aggregating $800.00.  Art Glasier and each saloonkeeper of the village loaned him $20. He owed Friss & Minnette, millers, $400 for flour, Charles Clarke the furniture dealer for furniture in the hotel, hardware, and lumber dealers and plumbers, in fact, everybody, with whom he had business relations. The estimates of the money he took with him, vary from $1,000 to $2,000.

On Thursday on his way to the depot Gebbardt bought a horse from H. C. Lambkin for $70. He offered 60 for the horse aud Lambkin wanted 80. After some argument, they split the difference. Gebhardt told Lambkin to put the horse into his stable and he would pay him for the horse when he got back from Detroit. If Lambkin could not wait he should call at the bakery and the money would be paid him. On Saturday evening Mr. Frank levied on Gebhardt's stuff to try and protect himself as far as he could.

Mrs. Gebhardt is heartbroken and until Saturday night believed her husband would return. She has the sympathy of everyone that knows her. There were at flrst suspicions of foul play, but all the circumstances seem to indicate that this was not the case. It is difficult for those that knew Gebhardt to believe that he was an adventurer, who stopped in Saline to amuse himself and get what money he could out of the honest people. His hard-working, industrious habits seem to deny this. Further tidings are anxiously looked forward to, but may not come as he seems to have left no trace whatever behind him. The whole story seems like an oíd time novel. A stranger came, made himself liked, loved, married a fair bride, and just before reaching the fullest measure of his success he disappears.

LATER.

No new developments have appeared in the Bernard Gebhardt case in Saline. Why Gebhardt left is more inexplicable than ever. In no way can it be learned that Gebhardt has done anything in violation of law except, if true, that he has intentionally deserted his wife. His conduct since coming to Saline has been closely investigated and his leaving is as much a seven days wonder as ever. As near as can be ascertained Gebhardt arrived in Saline with more stuff than he took away. He brought $700 worth of flour as well as many other things from New York. It is believed he took away with him only $360 in cash leaving everything even his best suit of clothes. He was careful and frugal to the last. In the morning of the day he left, he got up at 1 o'clock and worked until 3 o'clock in the afternoon. He gave his wife money to pay the help. She spoke of putting down a carpet. Gebhardt answered his wife that they had better wait until after the opening of the hotel as the carpet was too good to be soiled. He left everything in charge of his wife giving her directions as to what she should do during his absence. He had gained the confidence of all the businessmen in Saline and could if he had desired pulled their leg for a large amount. The hotel will be opened by Mr. Frank's son-in-law Mr. Alber. The whole trouble is wearing on Mr. Frank who is upwards of 70 years of age. Mrs. Gebhardt is heartbroken and has the sympathy of everyone.