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Sam Matthews, twenty-four, son of Mrs. U. S. Matthews, who lives in the
Oleoak-Bethel community, five miles east of Glasgow, disappeared from
his mother's home Thursday night about six o'clock, and has not been
seen since. Parties, varying in number from twenty-five to two hunded,
have searched almost continually day and night since young Matthews left
home without finding the slightest trace of the missing man, who
disappeared as completely as if the earth had opened and swallowed him.
Many theories have been advanced regarding his disappearance, the
principle one being suicide. Some believe, however, that Matthews may
have been picked up by a passing car and carried out of the country or
even the state. From the facts, as we gathered them from close friends
of the family and his relatives, Matthews underwent an operation for
appendicitis at the age of fourteen, which left him an invalid. He has
never been very active since and at times, it is claimed he acted queer,
giving rise to the belief by the family that his mind was not right.
These facts have caused the family to keep him under survellance.
Thursday night he stepped into an adjoining room, and after a few
minutes some member of the family called to him and received no reply.
On investigation revealed the fact that he had passed through the room
and had left the outside door open. A No. 20 gauge shotgun and four
shells were also missing. This alarmed the family who at once started a
search, aided by nearby neighbors, who had been notified. About the time
the search was started several persons heard the report of a gun,
causing the belief that Matthews had ended his life. The direction from
which the report was supposed to have come was searched but no sign of
the missing man was found. An all night search was kept up with no
results. The news of the disappearance spread and as it did, the number
of searchers increased until they numbered, over two hundred, who
searched day and night until forced to cease Sunday night, a majority of
searchers being exhausted from fatigue and cold. Monday morning the
search was resumed by some seventy-five who braved the zero weather to
try and aid their neighbour, but without results. Tuesday some of the
territory covered was gone over again, this time thecrowd walked abreast
over hills, through woods and fields scanning every nook and corner.
These thorough searches have convinced many that Matthews did not end
his life as was first believed but had left that section, however, in
his physical condition he could not have walked far, it is claimed. Some
cling to the belief that he wandered out on the highway and was picked
up by a motorist, not knowing his condition. Relatives issued circulars
Monday, mailing them to towns and cities in this and adjoining states
offering a reward of $50 for his return or information leading to his
recovery. Sam Matthews is 24 years old, 5 ft 8 inches high, weighs about
115 pounds, black wavy hair, grey eyes, appears partially crossed at
times, and walks erect. When he left home he wore a grey coat, tan
shirt, blue pants and tan broad toed low-cut shoes. Judge V. H. Jones
went out to the scene of the disappearance, and held a court of inquiry,
to determine the reliability of a number of reports derogatory to the
young man's character. All he could find was evidence that he had been
mentally unbalanced for sometime. His mother saw a note he had written
last Septemer, intimitating that the family was liable to see him no
more, but after reading it she had returned it to his pocket, so could
not produce it. Thinking perchance he had gone to his brother, Leonard,
in New Castle, Ind., Sheriff Ed Matthews sent a telegram of inquiry but
received a negative reply. the general conclusion seems to be that he
was unbalanced and in some way took his own life.
Sam Matthews, 24, son of Mrs. U S Matthews, six miles east of here in
the Oleoak-Bethel neighborhood, who disappeared from his mother's home
Thursday evening, Dec. 30th about six o'clock, was found dead in what is
known as the Boles or Foster Cave on Sam Wade's farm about a mile from
his mother's home. The body was found by Mesrs. John Nelson, Milton
Snyder and Calvin Rogers, who were searching for it, about 3:30 Monday
afternoon. The body was about 250 feet from the entrance to the cave,
and in order to reach that point it was necessary to crawl in mud all
the way to his body. When the body was found the lower part was
submerged in water and mud, and a gaping hole over the left eye showed
how he met his death by his own hands. The shotgun which he carried from
home was laying about six feet from the body, an empty shell in the gun,
one on the ground by the gun, and the other two were in his pocket. In
order to bring the body out it was necessary to strap it to a plank and
sled it out. The body was brought here Monday night and prepared for
burial which took place Tuesday at noon at the Boles burial ground in
that section, after funeral services by Rev J. L. Piercy. The finding of
Matthews' body ended a search of eleven days, in which every able-bodied
person in that section, including many from here, took part, the number
searching reaching 200 at times.The first few days the search was pushed
night and day in zero weather. Circulars were issued offering $200
reward for information leading to the recovery of Matthews, $50 of which
was offered by his brothers, and $150 raised by Rev. J. L. Piercy
through citizens of that place. Instead of claiming the reward, as they
were entitled, uner the terms of the offer, Messs. Nelson, Rogers and
Snyder asked that the money be used to defray the expense of the burial,
and if any remained to be given to the unfortunate man's mother. Messrs.
Nelson, Snyder and Rogers left here at 1:15 p.m. and after locating the
cave the finding of the body followed at about 3:30."
Unknown Glasgow KY paper, Deaths and Obituaries Volume 5, Gorin
Genealogical Publishing, (c) Sept 1994
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