American Watchman And Delaware Advertiser

LANCASTER, June 21—Considerable interest has been excited in this city by the disappearance of a man named William Metayer, who arrived in this city on Monday the 10th instant, in the Western stage. After having supped, entered his name and paid his stage fare to Philadelphia for the next morning stage, he left the tavern, it is supposed, for the purpose of taking a walk. He did not return that evening, and in the morning when the stage started, was not to be found. His baggage, which was considerable, went on to Philadelphia. On Friday evening, a son of Mr. Metayer came to this city in the Philadelphia stage, and stated that he and his brother had parted with their father at Pittsburgh—that they were two days behind their father, and observed their father's name on all the stage books along the road; but when they arrived at Philadelphia their father could not be found;—his baggage was however at the stage office, and on examining the way bill, found opposite the name of their father "not gone." He then took passage for this city the next morning, and on his arrival here the police of the city made an active and vigorous search, but were unable to find any trace of the lost man. The son then, after offering a large reward for the discovery of his father, returned to Philadelphia. On Wednesday evening last, Mr. Slaymaker received a letter from the sons, informing that their father had arrived in Philadelphia in a state of derangement, with only his pantaloons and shirt upon him; that he had lost his watch, but that his money, in bank notes, drafts &c. to a considerable amount, had been found in his trunks. Many of the citizens of this place are not satisfied with this transaction: and from circumstances which have since come to their knowledge, believe that there may have been "method in the madness" of Mr. Metayer on this occasion. Time alone can give a satisfactory explanation of this mysterious occurrence.

Lancaster Journal.

Mysterious Circumstance—Considerable sensation has been experienced at Lancaster and in our own neighborhood, in consequence of the sudden disappearance and supposed murder of a Mr. Wm. Metayer. He was represented to be a merchant of New Orleans, who was proceeding on business to Philadelphia in the stage from Pittsburgh. Two men calling themselves his sons, followed several days behind their father; and when arrived here, they ascertained that no traces of him were to be marked on this side of Lancaster. They returned to that place, and under the impression that he had been murdered, offered a reward of four hundred dollars for the discovery of the perpetrator, and restoration of the property. From several circumstances, these men were themselves afterwards arrested on suspicion of having made way with their parent. They now asserted that he was alive and in the city, but that they did not know where to find him; to save themselves from imprisonment, however, they took the officers to a hovel in Christian street, near Seventh, where, after some difficulty, they entered and found the old man sitting on the garret stairs. He was taken to the mayor's office, and upon investigation the parties were all discharged. It has been ascertained, since their examination by the mayor, that the old man, three years ago, was a journeyman baker in this city, and went by the name of Georges; that Louis, about the same time, was an apprentice in a liquor store, had been dismissed for misconduct, and afterwards committed to prison for picking a person's pocket in the market. John Metayer, the other son, says he is no relation to the old man, and that his real name is Joseph Santee. It is supposed that a late robbery at Pittsburgh is somehow connected with this mysterious case.—Phil. Sat. Ev. Post.