Local Recluse Found Missing

TAYLOR

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 3/30/2013 at 16:59:43

The Grinnell (IA) Herald; Dec. 27, 1932

LOCAL RECLUSE
FOUND MISSING
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"Rusty" Taylor, Custodian of
Brick Yard, Missing For
Last Two Weeks
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POLICE CAN FIND NO
TRACE OF WHEREABOUTS
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Taylor Said to be of Hermit Type;
Lived Alone With
Animal Pets
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Local police began yesterday a search for "Rusty" Taylor, a recluse who has been living for the past year in a tiny room in one of the buildings of the deserted Grinnell Brick yard, and who has been missing for the past two weeks. Taylor has been acting as a sort of custodian of grounds at the brick yard, and as he is a sort of hermit, and is responsible to no one, police thought nothing of it when he was discovered missing two weeks ago. They thought he was off on a jaunt of his own, and would be back with in a short time.

Recently, however, officials have been growing anxious, and yesterday conducted a thorough search of the brick yard, and all the buildings. No clues as to Taylor's whereabouts were discovered, however. Both Taylor's shotgun and rifle were found missing, and the door to his one room dwelling was padlocked on the outside. Evidently the leave-taking was premeditated.

Taylor is well-known around Grinnell, and is said to be quite a character. He is of a mechanical turn of mind, and loves to work with his hands. He fixes watches easily, and can tell by listening to the motor of a car, what's wrong with it.

He loves pets, and left behind him a live pigeon and a possum which he had trained himself. A platform had been erected on the wall of his room, with a ladder leading up to it. This platform was the 'possum's dwelling place. Taylor liked to catch rats and mice and train them, and has built a merry-go-round which he trains the mice to use, for their own enjoyment.

Several days prior to his disappearance, Taylor was visited by a friend who had heard that he was ill. When the friend entered Taylor's room, however, he found Taylor up and around, cooking onions for the 'possum, who was also sick with a cold.

Taylor has one sister who lives in Canada, and from whom he receives a letter every Christmas. The letter came at its regular time this year, so evidently the missing man has not gone to his sister's home.

Taylor is a comparatively young man, not having reached the age of 40 yet.