1904 Mystery:
The Disappearance and Return of Brother Willis C. Stevens
Willis C. Stevens
On the evening of Sunday, April 10th, 1904, dozens of mounted riders made their way down Ulster Ave in Walden, New York, to the Victorian style home of Congressman Thomas W. Bradley. The rhythmic thud and clack of horse hooves filled the evening air, symbolizing unity and solidarity among the freemasons of Wallkill Lodge No. 627 F. & A.M., who gathered in response to a fellow brother’s disappearance.
The missing brother was a man of the best reputation, he was a gentleman of high character and was never known to speculate or gamble. He had a distinguished 17-year career as a cashier at the National Bank of Walden, was an active member of the Reformed Church of Walden, served as treasurer of the village and was a dedicated member of Wallkill Lodge since 1886. His name, Brother Willis C. Stevens.
As the mounted riders assembled, Congressman Thomas W. Bradley, fellow Freemason and trustee of Wallkill Lodge, swiftly restored order and focus at his private residence and announced that Brother Stevens was likely deranged at the time, having been suffering from an attack of the “grip,” or influenza, as it’s better known today. Brother Bradley declared that an exhaustive search be conducted, regardless of the expense to either find him or recover his body. A committee was thereby formed, where Brother Albert S. Embler, chairman, Philip Hasbrouck, and Brother Edward Whitehead were tasked with leading the search and rescue efforts.
Photo: Honorable Brother Thomas W. Bradley
That same night, Brother Albert S. Embler, an accomplished attorney in Walden, compiled a circular bearing the title “Missing!” followed by:
“Mr. Willis C. Stevens, cashier of the National Bank of Walden, of Walden, Orange County, New York, has been missing since Thursday, April 7th, 1904. He was last seen in Newburgh, N.Y. at eight o’clock p.m., on April 7th, 1904. His accounts and financial affairs are correct, and in perfect condition, and no motive is known for his actions. It is presumed that he is temporarily deranged, caused by an attack of the grip.”
In a bold effort to spread the word, Embler not only mailed a copy of the circular to every Masonic Lodge in the Orange-Rockland district, but he also contacted every newspaper spanning from Newburgh to Poughkeepsie and from Kingston to Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
The very next day, on Monday, April 11th, tabloids began headlining: Bank Cashier Disappears, Walden Man Missing, and Disappearance Cashier Stevens. At the time of his disappearance, Brother Stevens was 52 years old, stood 5’7 inches tall, weighed between 150-160 lbs., had jet black hair, slightly sprinkled with gray and bore a thick moustache. Stevens always made the best practice of dressing remarkably, he wore a black derby hat, and dark suit, his jacket was particularly made by B.P. Sallander merchant & tailor of Newburgh, and his name, “W.C. Stevens” was engraved on the inside of his pocket watch. Stevens was known to carry a “gold hunting case watch, with his wife’s photograph inside,” plus “a square gold fob set with diamonds, and wore an opal ring on the third finger of his left hand.”
That same morning, Philip Hasbrouck, member of the search and rescue committee, telephoned the Pinkerton Detective Agency in New York City to help work the case. Hasbrouck informed the detective that Stevens had been stricken with an episode of the grip for the past four months, but recently, had been acting in the strangest manner. He mentioned to the detective that he spoke to Hattie, his spouse, who mentioned that recently over dinner, Stevens had asked her the same question multiple times, even after she had given the same answer more than once.
Hattie went on to say that she had last met with him after he had drawn $75 from the bank, had given her $60 for the household, and told her that he was obliged to go down to Newburgh for a few hours… on business. Stevens left on the electric trolly at 2 o’clock, and that was the last time she had seen or spoken to her husband.
The family physician, Dr. William H. Faulkner, a fraternal brother and Past Master of Wallkill Lodge, reported “there is no doubt that Mr. Stevens [was] mentally unbalanced.” The special agent did not delay, and arrived by early afternoon, steaming into Walden Station by way of the Wallkill Valley Railroad. The agent immediately began an exhaustive inquiry into the whereabouts of Willis C. Stevens and only remained in Walden long enough to “get a line” on the case.
With a cabinet card photograph in hand, the Pinkerton detective agent traveled 13 miles east to Newburgh and began retracting Steven’s last footsteps, commencing interviews with people of interest. The last two individuals who observed Stevens in Newburgh were Mr. John H. Quinlan and DeWitt E. McKinstry, a cashier of the Highland National Bank. Both expressed that he was last seen alone on Water Street, an active waterfront district, known for its bustling crowds and abundant storefronts. The detective soon learned that at about 3 o’clock, Stevens had visited Mr. Treadwell’s store to purchase a cigar. After a brief questioning, the clerk of the establishment declared that he did not notice anything unusual about Steven’s appearance or demeanor, and that he only stayed a few minutes time and left.
That same day the agent caught lead that Steven’s last whereabouts was at the elegant United States Hotel, a busy establishment with fine restaurants, splendid views of the Hudson River, easy access to the ferry, and trolley car, which stopped at the hotel’s door front. Fred C. Ulrich, the hotel clerk stated that Stevens was last seen the night of his disappearance, April 7th at 8 o’clock, when he inquired about the next trolly car home to Walden. It was noted that the last car to leave Newburgh was at 8:20 pm. Ulrich telephoned the powerhouse where it was learned that the trolly car was running late that night, and after a brief talk, noticed Stevens retire to the café, purchase a cigar, and a minute or two later, depart the premises. Ulrich suspected he had left to wait for the trolly car, and that was the last time he was seen. Unfortunately, for the detective, all clues and leads ended there.
The Pinkerton detective subsequently met with special policeman James Cronk at the ferry building, who expressed that Stevens was not seen, and suspected that he may have committed suicide or even drowned in the Hudson River.
Brother Edward Whitehead, president of the Walden Knife Company, learning of this information, telephoned from Walden to Marshal Perrott, Chief of Police for the City of Newburgh, requesting that a thorough search of the river be conducted. Over the next several days, boats began scanning and “dragging” the Hudson River between first and third streets, and from “long dock” to “the Erie slip of the transfer steamer Hart.” No remains were ever found.
A. Schrader’s Son, Inc., a Brooklyn, New York-based venture, were also hired to join the search and rescue operations. Outfitted in an oversized bronze bolted helmet, with heavy steel-toed boots, and a leather diving apparatus, these scuba divers utilized cutting edge equipment for their time. Unfortunately, however, after exhaustive efforts, no remains were ever found. Rumors began to surface that he was seen as far away as Philadelphia, and last hope was had when police recovered the body of a well-clothed man in the Erie Basin, near Brooklyn, New York. Regrettably, on either basis, it wasn’t Brother Stevens.
Months went by, and all hope was lost, when on Tuesday, August 30th, Willis C. Stevens mysteriously returned to Walden on the 6 o’clock Wallkill Valley train. Brother Thomas W. Bradley immediately dispatched a horse drawn carriage to retrieve Wallkill Lodge’s long-lost Brother. After staying the night as a guest at Bradley’s residence, it was learned that Stevens turned himself into a Sanitarium to help improve his failing health. Both Bradley and Stevens were seen riding together the very next day through the streets of Walden, an illustration of camaraderie, and the strong arm of Brotherly Love.
Brother Willis C. Stevens later relocated to live under the care and direct supervision of his son Fred, and for the remainder of his life, lived in Upstate New York.
Article Sources:
Bank Cashier Disappears. (1904, April 11). Poughkeepsie Evening Enterprise.
Brief Notes. (1904, April 13). Newburgh Daily Journal.
Cashier Stevens Returns. (1904, August 31). Newburgh Daily Journal.
Cashier Stevens Still Missing. (1904, April 12). Newburgh Daily News.
Disappearance Cashier Stevens. (1904, April 11). The Newburgh Daily News.
Dragging River for Body of Mr. Stevens. (1904, April 13). Newburgh Daily News.
Gold and Diamond Found on Body. (1904, May 9). Newburgh Daily News.
Meeting Minutes, Wallkill Lodge No. 627 F. & A.M., Archives.
Missing Cashier Returns. (1904, September 1). The New York Times.
Mr. Stevens in Philadelphia? (1904, April 16). Poughkeepsie Evening Enterprise.
Return of Bank Cashier. (1904, September 9). Liberty Register.
Still Missing: The Whereabouts of Cashier Stevens Still Unknown. (1904, April 13). Poughkeepsie
Evening Enterprise.
Walden Cashier Has Disappeared. (1904, April 12). Kingston Daily Freeman.
Walden Man Missing. (1904, April 11). Newburgh Daily Journal.
Walden’s Missing Man. (1904, April 15). Kingston Daily Freeman.
Heir To An Estate Missing. (1901, April 21). Davenport Morning Star.
Bro. Williams, a collector of New York Masonic history, is Worshipful Master of Wallkill Lodge 627 in Walden, New York, where he also is lodge Historian.
