Through the efforts of Congressman J. A. Beidler and Attorney John E. Morley of Cleveland the ponderous machinery of the United States department of state has been set to work to find some trace of Mr. Morley's brother, Reuben Hitchcock Morley, who, there is reason to believe, has been murdered and robbed or kidnaped and held for ransom in one of the countries of the Far East.
 

That the young man is either dead or held in captivity is the firm belief of his brother and friends in Cleveland. He has not been heard from since last July. The first inkling of foul play came in the form of cashed letters of credit carried by Reuben H. Morley and the discovery that the signature on the letters of credit were forgeries or signed by the young man himself under compulsion.
 

Reuben Hitchcock Morley is the son of a hardware merchant at Saginaw, Michigan. He is twenty-eight years of age. For several years he has traveled over a great part of the world, contributing to newspapers when the opportunity offered, but roving over the globe in search of adventure and business opportunities. During the trouble in the Philippines he visited the islands. At the outbreak of the Russo-Japanese war he went to Japan and traveled through Japan, China and parts of Russia. In all of his travels he wrote regularly to his home in Saginaw and his brother, John E. Morley, in Cleveland, recounting his experiences and adventures.
 

Letters came from the young man regularly until last July when they suddenly ceased. The last letter was received early in July. In that letter he wrote an account of having been robbed in a small town in Mongolia. Colombo, island of Ceylon, just as he was preparing for a trip to Mongolia, [Highlighted phrase seems to be misplaced.] he wrote of having been treated roughly and stated that he was then taking the necessary steps for the apprehension and punishment of the robbers.
 

Since the receipt of the July letter not one word of or from him was received from his friends or relatives in this country, and while alarmed, somewhat over his silence, his father in Saginaw and brother in Cleveland had no thought of foul play until two drafts amounting to about $4,000, representing the balance of two letters of credit held by the young man, were forwarded to Saginaw for payment. The first draft was for $930 and the second for over $3,000.
 

The receipt of the two drafts so near together and for, such large amounts immediately aroused suspicion in the mind of young Morley's father. The drafts were submitted to experts for examination of the signatures and after carefully comparing the signatures with other signatures of the young man, they pronounced them either forgeries or written by young Morley in a disguised hand, the latter assumption being based on the supposition that Morley might have been held in captivity and had signed the drafts, in a slightly disguised hand in the faint hope that it would result in steps being taken for his liberation.
 

His relatives, however, are inclined to the former theory, namely, that Morley has been killed and robbed. The fact that the last letter received from him referred to his having been assaulted and robbed and that be was taking steps to apprehend and punish his assailants, has produced the theory that in his efforts to punish the robbers he has been foully dealt with.
 

After waiting for several weeks in the vain hope that some word would be received from the son and brother in explanation of the two drafts, the father and John E. Morley of Cleveland decided to appeal to the department of state at Washington.
 

Attorney Morley went to Washington last Friday and in company with Congressman Beidler visited the state department last Saturday morning. Fortunately, one of the first officials they met in the department was Colonel Charles Denby, one of the secretaries in the state department who had only recently returned from 20 years' service in China and other oriental countries. Reuben Morley had spent several months in the Philippines with a brother of Colonel Denby, so that the latter was indirectly acquainted with him. He evinced the deepest interest in the case and in-formed the Congressman and Attorney Morley that he would take immediate steps to trace the young man. He sent two cablegrams, one to the American representative at Colombo, Ceylon, and another to Shanghai, where there was some reason to believe young Morley had been or was going.
 

Attorney Morley returned to Cleveland Monday, but up to a late hour Tuesday had received no word from the state department. He has received the assurance of Colonel Denby that the state department would use every possible effort to and in the search for the adventurous

young American who has so mysteriously disappeared.

[Newspaper clipping -- The Detroit News, Thursday, December 21, 1905.]
 

SAGINAW, Mich., Dec,. 21 - A strange and interesting career has been that of Reuben H. Morley, the young Saginawian, whose friends fear has been murdered in faraway China. Reuben Morley is a son of George W. Morley, President of Morley Bros.' big hardware firm.
 

Leaving off his studies at Harvard when the Spanish war began, Mr. Morley has lived a life of ceaseless adventure and daring, and his escapes from death have been many.
 

Morley was a traveler by instinct, and while many men whose means were independent, as were his, would have been anxious and willing to have settled to a comfortable life in his home town, his every inclination was toward a life of excitement and movement. When the war occurred he enlisted in a Connecticut regiment, but soon realized that its chances for reaching the seat of fighting was small, was transferred to Michigan, and went to Cuba. Nothing of particular note occurred at this time, excepting that wounds received and the conditions that prevailed combined to wreck his constitution, and since that date he had been constantly in ill health.
 

Being interested in the Philippines, he went to the islands after his discharge and began to look around. It was not long before an appointment as secretary of one of the provinces came to him. Here his duties were varied, not the least of them being extremely dangerous. At one time he was attacked in the woods with a small company of men by the natives. All were left for dead. About 48 hours after a Filipino, whom Mr. Morley had befriended, recognized him, and discovering that there was still life in his body, secretly removed him to his hut, where for four months he administered attentively to the wounded man's troubles, finally bringing him through. Not a word was known of the incident until Mr. Morley came home several years afterwards, when his brother saw a long scar on his body, and asked as to its cause. The story was then told. His Philippine experience had many other incidents, some of which were harrowing, but Morley remained in the islands as long as his health permitted.
 

His next serious experience was in Mexico. He was traveling through the land of the Yaquis when this tribe was most unruly. Another American party was bound for Mr. Morley's destination. It was planned to make the trip together and the party accepted the longest and supposedly safest route. Morley decided to go on a different trail, and accompanied only by a guide he went through the thick of the land, at one time being followed hundreds of miles by a gang of Indians. He escaped without injury; the other party met death.
 

Last year he decided to go to Russia, and having a newspaper instinct, become an onlooker at the war. He had made arrangements with several magazines, which bad printed some of his observations on the Philippines. Failing in other ways to get to Vladivostok he enlisted as purser on a blockade runner and thus made a start. The crew mutinied and left the ship at British Columbia. Morley stuck to his post, but the trip was a failure.
 

Finally arriving in China, he began an inland trip in company with a French naval officer. In a Chinese town he was robbed of all his silver and passports, but amends were made by the populace when an investigation was begun, and the entire community turned out to fete the American stranger. This was the last heard from him. In his letters of this date he confessed a suspicion as to the intention of his traveling companion, but said little.
 

Since the last letter drafts have been made against Mr. Morley's account in a local bank and as these have been pronounced not genuine the state department investigation was asked. The only hope that now is held by his relatives is based upon his many previous hair-breadth escapes.

[Newspaper clipping, unknown source, datelined - Saginaw, Jan. 4, (1906?).]
 
 

SAGINAW, Mich., Jan. 4 Special -- The United States consul at Shanghai, China, sends a cable to the state department which has been forwarded to G. W. Morley [Sr.] here, which seems to prove conclusively foul play of some sort in Reuben Morley's disappearance. The cable is as follows:
 

"Morley left last April for the north. Man using same name registered at hotel here Oct. 2. Hong Kong Shanghai bank purchased draft. There was no identification. Probably an impostor. Disappeared. Cannot trace any further."
 

The family has been considerably handicapped in the efforts to aid the state department in the search for the young traveler by the fact that he had been so long away from home that there were no recent photographs available for sending to China. The only likeness in their possession is a pencil sketch made by Artist William Bengough. This sketch Morley himself has never seen, as it was completed by the artist in New York recently from an outline which he made when in the field with Morley in the Philippines.

[Newspaper clipping unknown source and date.]
 

Attorney John E. Morley has received a letter from the state department at Washington about the investigation in regard to the mysterious disappearance of Reuben Hitchcock Morley. The letter states that the United States consul at Colombo, Island of Ceylon, has been making active inquiries to find out if the younger Morley had ever been in Colombo to draw the draft which was drawn there, and which has been the cause of so much suspicion and doubt.
 

The consul has been unable to find any trace of Morley's being in Colombo and it is now practically certain that the draft was stolen from him and his name forged.
 

This practically established fact, together with the cessation of letters from Reuben Morley, who was a frequent writer up to last June, strengthens the theory that he is either a captive or else has been murdered.
 

The state department will follow the matter up to the end, and there is a probability that armed tracers will be sent into the interior of Manchuria, where be was last heard from.
 

-Cleveland Leader.

[Newspaper clipping - hand written notation - "The Press - Jan 27" - (1906?).]
 

The Standard Oil Co., through its various agencies in China, will aid in the search for news of Reuben Hitchcock Morley, the young Clevelander from whom nothing has been heard since last summer, when he was touring northern China. The search is being directed by Chief Counsel Elliott. It is feared Morley was robbed and murdered.
 

To aid in the search a pamphlet has been issued for distribution in China and other places. This pamphlet tells the story of the disappearance of the young man, and also contains his last letters and diary.
 

Morley was last heard of at Jehol, near the Manchurian border. His letters of credit are said to, have been presented by a man not answering his description.
 

On June 1, 1905. Morley left Peking with a German named Dohr, with a caravan expedition headed for the Russian lines in Manchuria. Dohr had a stock of liquors and delicacies which he intended to sell to the Russian soldiers. Morley and a Frenchman named Le Verger accompanied him in order to reach the scene of war.
 

When the caravan reached Dolon-Nor, about 200 or 300 miles north of Peking, June 21, Morley left the expedition and turned back to recover a sum of silver which had been stolen from him at Fang Gang Shan, presumably by an innkeeper. Nothing has been heard, from him since that time.
 

In October two drafts came in, exhausting Morley's letters of credit. The first was for £160 and the second for £584. A cablegram from the United States consul at Colombo stated that the man who secured the money disappeared immediately afterward.
 

Morley is 29 years old and is a brother of Atty. J. E. Morley, 1215 Williamson building.

[Newspaper clipping, unknown source and date - probably mid to late Feb., 1906.]
 

An entirely new aspect has been given the case of Reuben H. Morley, by letters just received by the state department and by them conveyed to G. W. Morley of this city. According to these the possibility of the young man having met with foul play at the hands of the Frenchman, Le Verger, is very much increased.
 

F. S. Bigler of Detroit, who has been very active in the search for the young man, recently paid a visit to Washington and while there secured and forwarded a copy of letters received by the state department from the American authorities in China, enclosing especially a communication from C. D. Jameson, an American with mining interests in China. It will be remembered that this Jameson is the same American of whom Reuben H. Morley speaks in his last letter. He encountered him at Jehol.
 

Jameson gives new light on the movements of Le Verger, and his letter, together with a communication from the American authorities, established the following: Le Verger returned to Pekin on Aug. 1, and endeavored to secure another passport for Morley. This was refused for various reasons, among others that it was considered unsafe for Morley to travel in that part of the country. Accordingly the legation telegraphed him at Jehol on Aug. 3, "Duplicate passport cannot be sent you. Must return to Pekin and make fresh application." On the following, day the reply from Morley was received, "Now too late to return Pekin. Manage without passport."
 

A few days later, Aug. 8, Le Verger left again, apparently for Jehol. Sept 16 he returned, unaccompanied by Morley, and remained in Pekin for nearly two weeks. Sept. 28 he left for Tientsin, meeting Jameson on the train en route to that city.
 

To Jameson Le Verger claimed that he had been with Morley in the interior, near Jehol, during his absence from August to September; that he had found the young man seriously embarrassed financially and that they had started together for Pekin, although at the end of two days Morley again turned back to the north.
 

There is now little doubt that it was Le Verger who cashed the draft at Shanghai, and presumably also the one at Colombo, Ceylon. This gives his connection with Morley a sinister aspect.
 

"I cannot believe that Reuben waited around for over a month without communicating with us," said his father yesterday. "If he had waited at Jehol and at the Roman Catholic mission, as Le Verger claimed, started back with him and later turned, back north again he would certainly have managed to communicate with us in some way."
 

At the same time the fact that Le Verger had the young man's letter of credit, which he ultimately made use of, and yet waited around Pekin for nearly two weeks would indicate that he was reasonably confident that Morley would not turn up to embarrass his course of action.
 

Following is a copy of Jameson's letter:
 

Mr. Jameson's Letter.
 

Pekin, January 19th, 1906.
 

"My Dear Coolidge: The following are some notes on the 'R. H. Morley affair.' I have not the date of the departure of Morley for Mongolia. You have that or can get it at the Hotel du Nord. Morley, however, left with E. H. Le Verger, a Frenchman and a German trader whose name you have. Note this German had 'goods' for Harbin and was agent for Mr. Zurn, the proprietor of the Hotel du Nord. As Morley afterwards told me, they crossed the Great Wall at Nankow and kept together as far as Lama Miao. At this place the German trader took ox carts and as he would be at least 62 days on the road Morley and Le Verger left him and traveled southeast through Feng-ning Hsien to Jehol.
 

"They had no servant. Morley knew no Chinese. Le Verger some. How much I do not know. Each had a pony and their scant luggage went by cart or pack animal, hired for only a few stages at a time. They arrived at Jehol about July 19 or 20 and called on me at my house there about 4 p. m. July 21. Morley then gave me the above information regarding the trip. He also told me of having had money stolen and repaid by a Chinese inn-keeper, also, that he had a passport, and a 'letter of credit'. Le Verger said but little.
 

"I left Jehol the next morning and stopped at the Chinese Inn to get some letters Morley wished me to mail in Peking. That was the last I saw of Morley.
 

"Le Verger arrived at Peking Aug. 1, and called at the legation regarding duplicate Passport for Morley as he, Morley, had lost his original. Le Verger told me that it was taken from Morley's saddle bags while in a . . . [Continued on page 4 from what appears to be page 2 .]
 
 
 

[MORLEY WAS IN DISTRESS Continued from page 1 -- does not appear to be a continuation of the above, although it does appear to be from the same letter.] . . . Chinese street crowd in Jehol Le Verger left Peking Aug. 8 en route for Jehol. (So he said.) Sept. 16, Le Verger returned to Peking and stayed at the Hotel du Nord until Sept. 28, when he left on the morning train for Tientsin. At the hotel he said he would return in a day or two. He left his trunks at the hotel and an unpaid account of about $75. He also borrowed $100 from the manager. He has never returned and his trunks contained nothing.
 

"By chance I went to Tientsin on the morning train of Sept. 28, and Le Verger told me the following story on the way down. After leaving Peking Aug. 8, he returned to Jehol and met Morley either there or some two days north of Jehol at a Roman Catholic mission, Anyway, they were at this mission together. Morley had no passport but insisted upon going north to the Russians. Morley had no money and owed Le Verger several hundred taels. Morley had borrowed from the missionaries. Le Verger warned them to lend no more money and refused to continue north with Morley - said Morley must return to Pekin with him. Morley agreed and they started. At the mission was a Tientsin servant who wished to get home. At the request of the missionaries Le Verger agreed to pay the expenses of the servant to Tientsin and in return the servant was to cook and attend to Morley and Le Verger on the road.
 

"Some two days from the mission station Morley changed his mind and insisted on turning north. Le Verger refused and they agreed to separate. Morley wished. the servant but the servant declined and Morley and Le Verger had some words over the matter. Le Verger and the servant returned to Peking. Le Verger was now on his way to France via America and had a letter of introduction to Morley's father from whom he hoped to receive the money he had advanced to Morley. T.s. 500.
 

"The above is the story as told me by Le Verger on the train to Tientsin Sept. 28. I did not see any letter to Morley's father. Le Verger also said Morley started north alone.
 

"At the Hotel du Nord they report that when Le Verger arrived Sept. 16 the only person with him was a donkey-man and that Le Verger never had a personal servant.
 

"In Tientsin, Sept. 28, at the office of the China Merchants' Steam Navigation company, there was sold a first class ticket for Shanghai to a man whose name as written by the Chinese clerk appears as "Morey". This ticket was sold for the S. S. Hsin Feng. The customs report of this steamer shows 80 Chinese passengers and not one foreigner.
 

"In the same day in the passenger list of the German steamer Tsin Tau appears a name similar to Le Verger. Note -- The names of passengers are written by clerks and not by the passenger.
 

"Both of these steamers reached Shanghai about Oct. 2. I enclose a copy (copy not received at Washington) of the signatures of both Morley and Le Verger. I have given Mr. Ragsdale full description of both Morley and Le Verger which you can get from him.
 

"I hope this matter will be thoroughly investigated, as I am convinced there has been some foul play.
 

"Yours truly,

"C. D. JAMESON."

Mr. Jameson to Mr. Rockhill.

Pekin, Feb. 5, 1905.
 

Mr. Dear Mr. Rockhill - Re the "Morley affair." In addition to my letter of Jan. 19 to Mr. Coolidge I will call your attention to several points which might be of use in tracing Mr. Morley. Le Verger was in Pekin from the 1^st to the 8^th of August and during that time we know that Morley was in or near Jehol. Leaving Pekin Aug. 8, Le Verger would have arrived in Jehol, Aug. 13, and as he arrived in Pekin on September 16, he must, according to his own account, have left Morley about Sept. 10 within three days march of Jehol. There is nearly one month in which he and Morley were together, part of the time as guests at some Roman Catholic mission within this area of not more than 100 miles to the north of Jehol. This mission should not be difficult to find. The route they traveled could be easily traced if the Chinese really wished to trace it; but as the Chinese fear that they will be held responsible if anything has gone wrong with Morley, they will do absolutely nothing in the matter. As we have no reason to believe Morley had any money with

him and as he traveled with no servant, if he traveled at all after Le Verger left, he could be easily traced.
 

(Signed.) C. D. JAMESON.
 
 

Just before the receipt of the important dispatches another was received from Minister Rodgers reporting failure to make any real progress on the case, and containing the following description of the much sought Le Verger:
 

"The description furnished me of Le Verger is that he is of French nativity, has light hair, blue eyes, thin face, small and fairly prominent chin, small mustache, height about five foot ten, age about 35, speaks English fluently but with a slight accent; is of quiet and gentlemanly manners, and is said to have been a French officer."
 

It is possible now that a native Chinese detective will be employed immediately to investigate the case, without awaiting the arrival of Walter Morley. The idea has been suggested, a capable man has been pointed out and the family is inclined to look upon the proposition very favorably. G. W. Morley yesterday expressed himself as favoring such action, although he would confer with his son, John E. Morley of Cleveland, before taking any definitive action. He endeavored to communicate with him by long distance phone yesterday, but was unable to locate him.
 

The Proposition was suggested to Mr. Bigler of Detroit, while in Washington in connection with the case. He was put into communication with a Mr. Willis, who recently returned from an extended trip in China, made as geologist for the Carnegie institute. He recommended a Chinaman, one Li-San, for the task and suggested that he be put at work immediately on the case. This plan was also recommended by Mr. Denby.
 

Li-San is a man of about 40 years of age and has had considerable experience in dealings with Americana and Europeans. He was "head boy" for Gen. Howard and Gen. Chaffee, acted as interpreter and guide for Mr. Willis and has also been long associated with English and American mining interests in the vicinity of Jehol. Mr. Willis very warmly recommends him as sagacious, honest and shrewd. "He may be depended upon to carry out any engagement into which he enters in a thoroughly effective and faithful manner," he says. "I am sure that Li-San can unravel the mystery if anyone can."
 

The reasons for sending a native to investigate the matter are very strong. Probably Jameson hit the matter right when he said that the Chinese government believed it to be to its own interest not to investigate the matter too thoroughly, as it might be held responsible. At the same time it is argued that the very presence of the American would excite suspicion where a native would have little difficulty in securing the desired information.

[Newspaper clipping Courier(?)-Herald, Sunday, dated by hand, Feb. 25, 1906.]
 
 

G. W. Morley is in receipt of a copy of the report of W. W. Rockhill, in charge of the American legation at Pekin, relative to the search being made for Reuben H. Morley. Although it contains no news of the missing man, it is interesting as showing what steps are being taken in the investigation. According to this the authorities of Manchuria and Mongolia have been set at work looking after the missing man. Following is the letter addressed by Mr. Rockhill to the Prince of Ch'ing, together with the reply to same:
 

"Your Imperial Highness: I have the honor to inform your imperial highness that an American citizen, Reuben Hitchcock Morley, left Pekin last June for Jehol. On Aug. 4 he was still in Cheng-Te-Fu, in Jehol, but had been robbed of his passport. Since that date this legation has heard nothing from him. I am now in receipt of a cablegram from the department of state, asking me to discover, if possible, his whereabouts, and stating that he had been heard from, from Dollonor. Afterward two drafts had been presented for payment, signed with his name, which are pronounced forgeries. It is possible that his letter of credit was stolen at the same time as his passport, but the legation has not been so informed.
 

"I have the honor to request your highness to direct the authorities in Jehol and Mongolia to make search for him and report his present whereabouts, or where he was last seen in Mongolia, that I may be able to reply to the department.
 

"I trust that your highness will have these inquiries made as soon as possible, and that you will inform me promptly of any news that you may receive concerning him.
 

"I avail myself of the occasion to renew to your imperial highness the assurances of my highest consideration, etc.
 

After acknowledging the receipt of the letter, the Prince of Ch'ing wrote:
 

"In reply I have the honor to state that my board immediately communicated with the Tartar general of Manchuria and the authorities at Jehol and in Mongolia, with regard to the matter as requested, and directed them to order a careful search, and report as soon as possible. As soon as any word has been received from the authorities I will again communicate with your excellency; but in the meantime I send you this reply, and avail myself of the opportunity to wish your excellency the compliments of the season."
 

",Cards enclosed. Twelfth moon, fourteenth day."
 
 

There has been talk for some time of sending some one from here to take up the search for Reuben Hitchcock Morley in China. Some Detroit detective agencies were anxious to take up the matter and private parties have also offered their services. It is now understood that George W. Morley, Jr., will be sent for this purpose and that he will go as soon as the necessary arrangements can be made.
 

But unless certain concessions can be obtained from the government the trip will not be taken. With a view to obtaining these, however, John E. Morley of Cleveland will leave today for Washington. It is hoped that it will be possible for the Saginaw man to sail from Seattle March 12 for Shanghai. This part of the trip should take 29 days. The Journey from Shanghai to Tien-Tsin would undoubtedly be made inside a week. Another day would bring the traveler to Pekin, and before another two weeks had passed he should be in Jehol, thus bringing the whole journey inside of six weeks. At present, however, the reports from Washington, on which depends the trip, will be anxiously awaited.

[Newspaper clipping, unknown source "THE SA..."(ginaw?), hand dated March 2, 1906.]
 
 

George Walter Morley, Jr., leaves this morning for China to take charge of the search there for his brother, Reuben Hitchcock Morley. He will be accompanied by Mrs. Morley as far as Cleveland, where he will consult with John E. Morley as to the trip. He will be unaccompanied on his trip to China, however. Passage has been booked for him, on the steamer Dakota, sailing from Seattle for Shanghai, March 12.
 

The definite decision was reached yesterday on receipt of a communication from John E. Morley, who had just taken a trip to Washington to make certain necessary preparations, to communicate with the authorities and to secure the assistance of the government. He at once notified his brother that his mission had been a successful one and that everything was in excellent condition for the trip.
 

Exactly what arrangements have been made by him he did not state, but it is known that Walter will go armed with letters from the government to the American officials in China, as well as to some of the dignitaries of the Chinese government, and the way has been accordingly smoothed for him to a great extent.
 

In addition he will carry a personal letter from Congressman Edwin Denny to the viceroy at Tientsin, in whose province Jehol is situated. This is considered most important, as Mr. Denby is a warm personal friend of the viceroy, in whose hands rests practically the entire power of the

province. Mr. Morley will also carry with him a number of official and private papers introducing him to various American citizens and others in China.
 

The complete course of action has not yet been definitely decided on, cannot be, in fact, until Morley arrives in China and investigates the conditions there. He should arrive in Shanghai about April 10. From here he will proceed to Tientsin and after a short investigation there will push on to Pekin, which must be the starting point of all further operations. It is hoped to secure the authority and assistance of the Chinese government for the trip inland to Jeho1, and it is possible that a bodyguard will be furnished by the Orientals.
 

The American authorities in China have been instructed to assist Mr. Morley in every way possible, and it is believed that his search can be conducted with considerable dispatch and thoroughness, and it the same time with little personal risk.

[Newspaper clipping, datelined Saginaw, March 5.]
 

SAGINAW, Mich., March 5 (Special) -- George Walter Morley, Jr., sails March 12 from Seattle for Shanghai, China, to search for his brother, Reuben Hitchcock Morley, who mysteriously disappeared in northern China last July. Mr. Morley left the city today for Cleveland to confer with his brother, Attorney John Morley, who has been conducting a search through cooperation of the United States consuls at Pekin and Shanghai. After the conference he will go directly to Seattle.
 

Indications are that Reuben Morley was murdered by a treacherous companion. Morley left Saginaw in October, 1604, for China, hoping to be a witness to some of the struggles of the Russo-Japanese war. After his arrival in China a series of letters was received from him, describing the nature of the country and people and his route as he proceeded north into Manchuria.
 

The last letter came last July. He was then far above Pekin, in company with a Frenchman who called himself La Verger, and played the part of a French cavalry officer. The letters expressed some suspicions concerning La Verger. Early in November a draft was made on Morley's letter of credit for a small amount. It was marked 'Shanghai.' Ten days later another came from Colombo Island of Ceylon, for a large amount. The original drafts came to Saginaw, were passed upon acceptably and paid. By this time Morley's parents were anxious over the discontinuance of his letters, as frequent letters of great length were characteristic of the man. The draft for a large amount following the former so closely aroused suspicion. A quiet investigation proved that the signatures of the both drafts were forgeries.
 

While traveling in the Philippines, Reuben Morley became a close friend of Secretary of War Taft. Morley was secretary of one of the provinces. Through the influence of Secretary Taft the secretary of state took up the matter, instructing every United States consulate along the line of Morley's travels to investigate thoroughly.
 

The efforts of the consulates were futile; investigation proved that Morley had never arrived at Ceylon, thus confirming the forgery of the drafts. Telegraphic descriptions of the presenter of the drafts corresponded not to Morley, but to La Verger. Examination of different hotel registers gave further proof that Morley's name was used fraudulently. A report made by United States Consul General J. Lynn Rodgers at Shanghai, China, to the state department says that all trace of the course taken by Morley and his companion have been lost and that the forger of the drafts left Shanghai the day following their presentation, leaving no trace. The last trace of Morley was at Dolonor, where La Verger disappeared.
 

In undertaking the search for his brother, Walter Morley has secured letters of introduction to some of the most powerful men, both native and foreign, in China. He aims to secure the co-operation of the mandarins, who will have unlimited power to aid him all along the route. One letter is to the viceroy of Jehol, the province in which the missing man was last known to have been, and the viceroy will furnish the traveler an armed native guard. The trip will last six months and will be closely watched by the state department.

[Newspaper clipping, unknown source and date - on or before March 8, 1906.]
 

A letter written by Brig. Gen. J. F. Bell, U. S. A., who is to be the next chief of staff of the army, to F. S. Bigler of Detroit, a copy of which has been received here by G. W. Morley, shows how Reuben Hitchcock Morley was regarded by those with whom he was associated in the Philippines.
 

The letter is written from the Infantry and Cavalry School and Staff college at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., and is as follows:
 

"I am much gratified in receiving your letter of congratulations enclosing the pamphlet about poor Morley.
 

"'This lovable boy did associate with me a good deal in the Philippines, on several different occasions. His amiable and sunny disposition brought its own welcome everywhere. If I mistake not, he was in action once or twice with my regiment, and no one could have behaved in a more fearless, courageous way than he. Yet his innate modesty compelled him to pretend to be afraid. He was always joking about a fear, which he never really entertained. The last I remember of him was in the province of Bontoc, among the Igorrotes, associated with a Dr. Hunt. I was there, with Mrs. Taft and her sister, and he and Dr. Hunt were our hosts. If he be really lost, which God forbid, the humble and lowly members of humanity have lost a sympathetic friend, and the world has lost a ray of sunshine radiated by a noble character and disposition.
 

"The letters he wrote were very characteristic of himself. He had an insatiable thirst for exploration and adventure, and is deserving of a better fate.
 

"I wish you would be kind enough to extend my heartfelt sympathy to his relatives."

[Newspaper clipping, Detroit News, March 14, (1906?).]
 

DENVER, March 14. - This city is being made practically headquarters, temporarily at least, by the Detroit and Saginaw, Mich., friends and relatives of Reuben Hitchcock Morley, the invalid young Saginawian last heard from alive in Jehol northeastern China, July 23, 1905, and who are conducting a strenuous search to learn the young man's fate -- to rescue him if alive and in the clutches of Mongol bandits -- to recover his body if slain by some treacherous traveling companion, as it is feared may have happened.
 

Morley's relatives have searched for him for eight months in vain. They have now put up an additional $10,000 to keep up the quest. Frank S. Bigler of Detroit, an old and close friend of his, has drawn a map of young Morley's wanderings in Asia up to reaching Jehol, and of the canal route he expected to take to make his way into wildest Russia. With this map and provided with funds searchers may go to trace every possible step of the missing
 

The Chinese authorities, it es announced, have. promised the state department to cooperate in the search.
 

Efforts will be made to run down M. Le Verger, mentioned as a traveling companion by Morley in his last letters, and to discover the identity of the person who forged Morley's name in Shanghai and Colombo to drafts for considerable sums.

[Newspaper clipping - "The Saginaw Co..."(Courier?), March 16, 1906.]
 

The last word from Walter Morley that can be heard for some time was received yesterday by the family, having been mailed by him just before boarding the steamer Dakota at Seattle for the long trip to China. Although the ship sailed last Monday, it was necessary to go on board on Sunday.
 

Sailing on the same ship are many passengers bound for the Philippines and Japan, as well as various Chinese ports. In the number are several Michigan men, among others a Mr. Eldridge of Flint. The trip will occupy about a month, the Dakota, meanwhile, touching at various points on the way. A landing will be made at Manila, P. I., among other places. Three Chinese ports are touched at. At Shanghai the vessel will be tied up two or three days unloading. This time will be occupied by Mr. Morley in looking up the records of his brother there and endeavoring to obtain all possible information. He will sail with the Dakota again, finally reaching Tientsin. A short stop here will be followed by the railroad trip to Pekin.
 

The trip to Jehol will start from Pekin. It is hoped to make this under the escort of a Chinese guard, and it is also hoped that the Chinese government can be induced to furnish this. The plan is to take some other American on the trip inland. Just who this will be cannot of course be conjectured until Mr. Morley's arrival in China.
 

The exact plans for the investigation are of course not made out. Mr. Morley realizes that he must shape his course of action according to the conditions as he finds them in China, but the search will be prosecuted with all dispatch. The trip inland will be made at the earliest practicable opportunity.

[Newspaper clipping, datelined Saginaw, April 12, (1906?).]
 

SAGINAW, Mich., April 12 -- Detectives will search the globe for Laverger, the bogus French officer who is suspected of knowing the fate of Reuben, the young Saginaw man thought to have been murdered in northern China last year. Laverger was his companion when he last wrote home, and later is known to have represented himself as Morley and to have cashed Morley's drafts, amounting to hundreds of dollars at Pekin and other points in the orient.
 

John E. Morley, of Cleveland, half brother of the missing man, has gone to New York to confer with a big detective agency. No expense will be spared to hunt Laverger down, even if it takes years to accomplish the mission.

[Newspaper clipping, Dateline April 23, (1906?).]
 

Saginaw, Mich., April, 23, -- George W. Morley received the following message today from his son John E. Morley, of Cleveland:
 

"Have cable from Walter from Peking today. It says: 'Leave today for Jehol. Am accompanied by Dohr."
 

The message is front George Walter Morley, Jr., who went to China in "search of his brother, Reuben H. Morley, and is considered the most satisfactory that has come to hand since that young man's disappearance.
 

Dohr was the camel driver who had charge of the pack train which started for northern China early last summer, and which was accompanied by Reuben Morley and Le Verger, the Frenchman, and can fully identify the latter. With Dohr in his company, Walter Morley will be enabled to trace every step made by his brother and an early solution of the mystery seems likely.

[Newspaper clipping, page 2, notated in handwriting "(Cleveland) Plain Dealer, May 30".]
 

"Father, without doubt Reuben is dead. Everyone thinks so and from what I can gather it looks that way to me."
 

C. H. [G. W.] Morley, jr., of Saginaw, Mich., who is conducting a search in China for his brother, Reuben Hitchcock Morley, of Cleveland, who mysteriously disappeared a number of months ago while on a hunting and exploring trip in north China, wrote the above information in a letter to his father at Saginaw, dated Peking, April 19. His other brother, J. E. Morley, of the law firm of Kline, Toles & Goff, has long since abandoned hope of finding him.
 

Every effort has been made to locate him, but without success. The department of state at Washington was interested in the case and even the Standard Oil Co. in China sent out circulars in an effort to get some trace of the former Clevelander.
 

Young Morley in his letter speaks of suspicions against a Frenchman, Leverger, who was Reuben's traveling companion and who has dropped out of sight since the investigation of young Morley's disappearance began., Morley says that the Chines government won't do anything about his brother's disappearance and that the United States consuls "don't seem able to give anything but advice."

[Newspaper clipping - page 4, source not indicated, hand dated May 31, (1906?)]
 

That Reuben Hitchcock Morley of Saginaw, Mich., brother of Attorney John E. Morley of Cleveland, was murdered in Mongolia, where he was traveling, has been established beyond doubt by to The Associated Press from Pekin, China, received by The News on Thursday afternoon.
 

It was last fall that relatives and friends of Morley first feared he had met with foul play, when it was discovered that his name had been forged to letters of credit cashed in Ceylon, Colombia. The assistance of the state department was enlisted and G. W. Morley [Jr.] of Saginaw, the missing man's brother, went to China to search for him. The dispatch from Pekin reads as follows:
 

"Reuben Hitchcock Morley of Saginaw, Mich ., was murdered on the border of Mongolia, 400 miles north Of ,Pekin, on September 2 by a French adventurer, styling himself viscomte Laverger, with whom he was traveling. G. W. Morley of Saginaw returned today from an expedition, following his brother's route, during which he obtained convincing evidence from French, missionaries and Chinese showing that Reuben Morley left a Chinese inn on the morning of September 2 to visit a lake 10 miles distant.
 

"The Frenchman returned at night with Morley's rifle and saddlebags and told the servants that Morley had proceeded alone to Mongolia. The Frenchman was seen burning Morley's papers and Mongols found Morley's pack horse, carrying his packs, among a herd of wild horses. Weeks afterward a man resembling Laverger cashed Morley's letter of credit at Colombo, Ceylon, and sailed for Europe. The presumption is that he either shot Morley or drowned him In the lake."
 

John E. Morley was not surprised by the news of his brother's death. He said Thursday that his father in Saginaw had received a letter from his brother, George W. Morley, who is in China, saying he was convinced Reuben had been murdered for his money.
 

G. W. Morley, Jr., of Saginaw, Mich., another brother is in Pekin or thereabouts, looking for trace of the missing one. In a letter to his father in Saginaw he says that he is convinced that his brother was murdered for what money he had with him and letters of credit, since cashed, and that suspicion is directed toward the Frenchmen.

[Newspaper clipping, hand written notation - "Painesville Telegraph, June 5^th - (1906?).]
 

A Washington dispatch says: - "Representative Burton called at the state department Wednesday to receive the first information that has come from the East bearing on the disappearance of Reuben H. Morley of Cleveland. The first report throws little or no light on the mystery. A careful description of the man who cashed the draft in Morley's name at Colombo, Ceylon, forwarded by agents of the state department, proves that this person was not Morley.
 

"A report from S[h]anghai is to the effect that Morley left there in April bound for Manchuria. On August 2, a man registered at a hotel in Shanghai and cashed another draft, using Morley's name. The description of this man secured by the state department proves that he was not Morley. The state department has accordingly requested aid in tracing the missing man from the authorities at Peking, Mr. Burton has forwarded this information to Morley's friends."

[Newspaper clipping, source unknown - dateline July 10, (1906?).]
 

San Francisco, Cal., July 10. -- G. W., Morley, jr., of Saginaw, Mich., returned yesterday on the China after several months' search for his brother, R. H. Morley, who disappeared in China a year ago while traveling with a man named Le Verger.
 

Morley traced his brother to Wu Tun Cheng, on the border of Mongolia, more than 600 miles from Peking.
 

The last heard of the missing man was in September, 1905. Later Le Verger cashed a letter of credit owned by Morley in Shanghai for $1,000. Another letter of credit for a similar amount was cashed in Colombo, Ceylon.
 

It is suspected that Le Verger killed Morley, took his belongings and fled to France. Morley intends to keep up the hunt to discover what became of his brother. He is seeking information of the whereabouts of Le Verger.

No word has yet been received by the family in this city from Mr. Morley. He was expected to arrive in San Francisco either the 10^th or 12^th of the month, but as yet no message has been received by the family here announcing his arrival.