HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY	545

only objection offered by Councilmen Moore and Fast for voting against
the ordinance was that it did not limit the fare to five cents between
terminals—Brazil and Harmony.
Mysterious Disappearances.
	There are in the history of Clay county instances of the sudden and
wholly unexpected disappearance of well-known residents who have not
only not returned to render an account of their absence, but have become
as completely lost to their nativity, families and friends as though they
had been translated to other spheres.
	At some time in the year 1871, Curtis L. Laughlin, who had resided
in the north part of the county from the time of his boyhood, disappeared
without having made any announcement or given out any intimation of
his intentions, and from that time has never been seen nor heard from
by any one of the large circle of his former acquaintances and associates.
He left a family of orphan children, his wife having died two years
before. Members of the family have all along disclaimed any knowledge
of him. Laughlin was then a man of middle age, a farmer citizen of high
repute, who had served the people of Dick Johnson township as trustee
for six years. That his honor and integrity were unquestioned by his
neighbors was evidenced by the fact that they confided to him their
business and the handling and safe-keeping of their money, private and
public. They did not hesitate to deposit with him. However, at the
expiration of his long term of official service he was short in his accounts
with the public, unable to square-up with his successor, who, realizing the
situation, its intricacies and responsibilities, agreed to accept Laughlin’s
proposition to turn over to him lands at an agreed price in liquidation of
the shortage, so that the township lost nothing. It was said, though, that
he left individual obligations unsettled. Within the thirty-eight years
that have elapsed since his disappearance only one man (so far as heard
from) has ever claimed to have seen him, who reported that in traveling
through the state of Missouri by railroad he identified him in the person
of the conductor. But when approached by the passenger as to his
identity he disclaimed having any knowledge of anyone bearing the name
of Curtis L. Laughlin.
	A familiar face and character at Bowling Green was seen for the
last time by Clay county people, Tuesday, the 7th day of November, 1871.
Amer Teter is remembered as an efficient deputy under County Auditor
James M. Hoskins. Teter had his faults, of which the worst was that of
imbibing too freely. When under the influence of intoxicants he was
shunned by even his most intimate associates. At such times he was
liable to become abusive, even vicious. On the 6th day of November, on
the streets of Bowling Green, he assaulted Peter Miller, of Harmony,
without provocation or cause, injuring him dangerously, then fled from
the town, pursued by officers of the law, who apprehended him and
brought him back, when he was lodged in jail. When arraigned on the
succeeding day he gave bond for his appearance and was released. On
the same day he left the town and his family and was never again seen
in the county, unless, as claimed by resident detectives Warren Green-
well and Edward White, he spent one night with his parents at Bowling
Green, several years later.
	In the spring of 1876, Charles Murbarger, then residing on the
farm near the Poland river bridge, whose intention to desert his family
(wife and two daughters) and quit the neighhorhood and county was
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