From the Frederick Post of Saturday Morning, August 13, 1932:
"OFFICERS SEEK WOMAN MISSING FROM HER HOME. Mrs. Anna Ahalt Disappeared From Residence At Middletown. Disappearing from the home of her father-in-law, Joshua D. Ahalt, Middletown, about 10 o'clock Friday morning, Mrs. Anna Mary Ahalt, 63 years of age, wife of Harmon Ahalt, was still missing at midnight, notwithstanding that searching parties had scoured the surrounding locality and every effort made to locate her. With the exception of footprints in a corn field, several hundred yards from the house, thought possibly to have been those of Mrs. Ahalt, not the slightest trace of her whereabouts had been found up to an early hour this morning. The search will be renewed early this morning, it was said. Mrs. Ahalt, whose husband, son and daughter reside in Brunswick, went to Middletown about six months ago to care for her mother-in-law, Mrs. Joshua D. Ahalt, who was ill. Later, Mrs. Ahalt died and the daughter-in-law remained to care for Mr. Ahalt, far advanced in years. Mrs. Lora Kefauver, wife of the late Manville Kefauver, and her two children also resided at the Ahalt home. About 10 o'clock Friday morning, Mrs. Ahalt, who had been preserving fruit, left the kitchen and was last seen going in the direction of the poultry house. It was thought that she was about to feed the chickens and no attention was paid to her absence until toward dinner time when no plans had been made for the noon meal. Mr. Ahalt, the aged father-in-law, and other members of the household, searched the premises but no trace of the woman was found. Neighbors were notified and a general search failed to locate any trace of the woman. No one in the neighborhood had seen Mrs. Ahalt after 10 o'clock and no information could be obtained as to her whereabouts. Her husband in Brunswick was notified and he immediately went to Middletown and joined neighbors in the search for his wife. Sheriff Charles W. Crum was notified in the afternoon and Deputy Sheriffs William Foreman and J. Ruskin Loy went to the home and joined the party, who searched for some time without success. Buildings on neighboring premises gone through and adjoining lots and fields were carefully searched. In a field about a city block from the Ahalt home, footprints were found leading to an adjoining clover field, where the trail was lost. It was thought that the footprints were made by shoes worn by a woman. The search was continued for some time without finding any trace of Mrs. Ahalt. Lanterns and flashlights were carried by the searchers and every nook and corner about the premises and adjoining properties was scrutinized. While no reason could be attributed to the sudden disappearance of Mrs. Ahalt, it is reported that she had been depressed recently, although not to any alarming extent. Word of the disappearance of the woman, whose family is well-known, created considerable excitement in the town. About 10 o'clock, several persons went to Brunswick to secure railroad lanterns and resume the search later. In the meantime, some of those who had been searching stopped for the night intending, unless the woman was found, to go out early this morning. Telephone messages were sent to different sections of Middletown Valley, giving a description of Mrs. Ahalt. She is short in stature, about five feet two inches and weighs about 105 pounds. She has black hair, dark eyes and wore a black and white voile dress of summer weight, gray stockings and black tie slippers. She used the shell-rimmed eye-glasses with gold temples and bridge. She wore the glasses constantly and was unable to do without them."
From the Frederick News of Saturday, August 13, 1932:
"BODY OF MISSING WOMAN FOUND AT FOOT LOVER'S LEAP. Remains Of Mrs. Harmon Ahalt, 63, Discovered In Middle Creek. SEARCH MADE ALL NIGHT AND THROUGH THIS MORNING. Verdict Of Death By Drowning Is Given After Investigation. The body of Mrs. Anna Mary Ahalt, wife of Harmon L. Ahalt, of Brunswick, was found about 10:45 o'clock this morning in Middle Creek, near Lover's Leap, about 1 1/2 miles from Middletown, after searching parties had combed the entire section for her since her disappearance Friday. It was not known whether she threw herself from a rock or accidentally fell into the creek. A verdict of death by drowning was given by Justice Guy K. Motter, serving coroner. The body was in water about four feet deep when found by a man named Matthews, of Middletown, a friend of the Ahalt party, but who was not thought to have been among the searchers. He communicated with persons in Brunswick, and Merhl Ahalt, son of the dead woman, telephoned to other members of the family group and the sheriff's office and went to the spot where the body was found. Deputy Sheriff Frank Doil, Justice Motter and Dr. J. E. Harp, Middletown, at once went to the scene, which was on a farm once owned by Joshua D. Ahalt, father-in-law of deceased. The body was not bruised as from a great fall, but appeared to have been in the water about 24 years. Mrs. Ahalt had been missing since 10 o'clock Friday morning. A party composed of the husband of the missing woman; her son-in-law, Charles Porter, and others searched almost continuously for her since her disappearance from the home of her father-in-law. Sheriff Charles W. Crum was notified Friday afternoon and Deputy Sheriffs William Foreman and J. Ruskin Loy went to the home and made a thorough search of buildings and the surrounding territory. The only clue upon which the party worked was given by footprints thought to be those of a woman and found in a nearby cornfield. Mrs. Ahalt, who had been caring for her aged father-in-law was last seen at his house while preparing peaches in the kitchen. In the other side of the double house where she and Mr. Ahalt, Sr., lived, Mrs. Lora Kefauver, and her two children reside. Mrs. Ahalt, it was thought, had gone to feed chickens, and no significance was attached to her absence until toward dinner time, when it was found she had made no preparation for the noon meal. Members of the household then searched the premises to no avail, and neighbors, notified of her disappearance, joined in the search. As no one in the neighborhood had seen her after 10 o'clock, no information regarding her whereabouts could be learned. Mr. Ahalt, her husband, in Brunswick, was notified and immediately went to Middletown. After the arrival of Deputies Foreman and Loy, the search was continued, and lanterns and flashlights were carried by the searchers who investigated through the night. Word of the disappearance of Mrs. Ahalt, whose family is well-known, created considerable excitement in Burkittsville and Middletown. About 10 o'clock Friday night, several persons went to Brunswick to secure railroad lanterns to resume the search. Telephone messages were sent to different sections of Middletown valley, giving a description of Mrs. Ahalt, who was 63 years of age. She was short in stature, about five feet two inches and weighed about 105 pounds. She had black hair, dark eyes and wore a black and white voile dress of summer weight, gray stockings and black tie slippers. She used shell-rimmed eye-glasses with gold temples and bridge. She wore the glasses constantly and was unable to do without them. Friday evening, five automobiles carried the searching party in the entire section of Middletown, Burkittsville and Brunswick, and from midnight until 3 o'clock this morning, the husband and son-in-law of Mrs. Ahalt searched in vain. Returning to the home in Middletown for a brief time, they left again at 4:30 o'clock and searched until 6:30 o'clock this morning. In the meantime, Joshua D. Ahalt was taken Friday to the home of his son, Albert Ahalt, near Middletown, and early this morning, Mrs. Kefauver was informed by the Middletown telephone operator that a woman answering the description of Mrs. Ahalt had been seen walking along the highway from Middletown to Burkittsville Friday forenoon and had entered the Horine Store at Burkittsville at noon. Upon the return of Mr. Ahalt to his father's home, Mrs. Kefauver informed him of the new clue and he left at once for Horine's store, where he conferred with the proprietor at 9 o'clock this morning and was reported convinced that the woman there Friday was his wife. He was told that a woman was seen walking on the highway toward Burkittsville by Weldon Ray, of near Middletown, and that upon arrival at the store, she asked for two articles, only one of which was in stock. She answered the description of Mrs. Ahalt and wore a hat, it was said. Mr. Ahalt was reported as believing that his wife may be an amnesia victim, as she had been in ill health for two weeks. Since Mrs. Ahalt went to be with her father-in-law six months ago, she had visited her home in Brunswick only twice since, and then very briefly, it was said. She told Mrs. Kefauver that she had suffered greatly from indigestion and was unable to sleep well. It was believed that she might be in some secluded part of the county between Middletown and Brunswick, and the search was confined to that locality. The deceased is survived by her husband, one daughter, Mrs. Charles Porter and a son, Mehrl Ahalt, Brunswick; and two sisters, Mrs. Roberta Shank and Mrs. Marcella Smith, near Detour."
Funeral notice for Anna Mary Eyler Ahalt from the Frederick Daily News of Monday, August 15, 1932:
"The funeral of Mrs. Harmon L. Ahalt, whose body was found Saturday morning in Middle Creek, near Middletown, following her disappearance from her home the day before, was held this afternoon, leaving the home at 1:45, with further services in Zion Lutheran Church. Interment was in the Reformed Cemetery."
From the Frederick Post of Saturday Morning, August 13, 1932:
"OFFICERS SEEK WOMAN MISSING FROM HER HOME. Mrs. Anna Ahalt Disappeared From Residence At Middletown. Disappearing from the home of her father-in-law, Joshua D. Ahalt, Middletown, about 10 o'clock Friday morning, Mrs. Anna Mary Ahalt, 63 years of age, wife of Harmon Ahalt, was still missing at midnight, notwithstanding that searching parties had scoured the surrounding locality and every effort made to locate her. With the exception of footprints in a corn field, several hundred yards from the house, thought possibly to have been those of Mrs. Ahalt, not the slightest trace of her whereabouts had been found up to an early hour this morning. The search will be renewed early this morning, it was said. Mrs. Ahalt, whose husband, son and daughter reside in Brunswick, went to Middletown about six months ago to care for her mother-in-law, Mrs. Joshua D. Ahalt, who was ill. Later, Mrs. Ahalt died and the daughter-in-law remained to care for Mr. Ahalt, far advanced in years. Mrs. Lora Kefauver, wife of the late Manville Kefauver, and her two children also resided at the Ahalt home. About 10 o'clock Friday morning, Mrs. Ahalt, who had been preserving fruit, left the kitchen and was last seen going in the direction of the poultry house. It was thought that she was about to feed the chickens and no attention was paid to her absence until toward dinner time when no plans had been made for the noon meal. Mr. Ahalt, the aged father-in-law, and other members of the household, searched the premises but no trace of the woman was found. Neighbors were notified and a general search failed to locate any trace of the woman. No one in the neighborhood had seen Mrs. Ahalt after 10 o'clock and no information could be obtained as to her whereabouts. Her husband in Brunswick was notified and he immediately went to Middletown and joined neighbors in the search for his wife. Sheriff Charles W. Crum was notified in the afternoon and Deputy Sheriffs William Foreman and J. Ruskin Loy went to the home and joined the party, who searched for some time without success. Buildings on neighboring premises gone through and adjoining lots and fields were carefully searched. In a field about a city block from the Ahalt home, footprints were found leading to an adjoining clover field, where the trail was lost. It was thought that the footprints were made by shoes worn by a woman. The search was continued for some time without finding any trace of Mrs. Ahalt. Lanterns and flashlights were carried by the searchers and every nook and corner about the premises and adjoining properties was scrutinized. While no reason could be attributed to the sudden disappearance of Mrs. Ahalt, it is reported that she had been depressed recently, although not to any alarming extent. Word of the disappearance of the woman, whose family is well-known, created considerable excitement in the town. About 10 o'clock, several persons went to Brunswick to secure railroad lanterns and resume the search later. In the meantime, some of those who had been searching stopped for the night intending, unless the woman was found, to go out early this morning. Telephone messages were sent to different sections of Middletown Valley, giving a description of Mrs. Ahalt. She is short in stature, about five feet two inches and weighs about 105 pounds. She has black hair, dark eyes and wore a black and white voile dress of summer weight, gray stockings and black tie slippers. She used the shell-rimmed eye-glasses with gold temples and bridge. She wore the glasses constantly and was unable to do without them."
From the Frederick News of Saturday, August 13, 1932:
"BODY OF MISSING WOMAN FOUND AT FOOT LOVER'S LEAP. Remains Of Mrs. Harmon Ahalt, 63, Discovered In Middle Creek. SEARCH MADE ALL NIGHT AND THROUGH THIS MORNING. Verdict Of Death By Drowning Is Given After Investigation. The body of Mrs. Anna Mary Ahalt, wife of Harmon L. Ahalt, of Brunswick, was found about 10:45 o'clock this morning in Middle Creek, near Lover's Leap, about 1 1/2 miles from Middletown, after searching parties had combed the entire section for her since her disappearance Friday. It was not known whether she threw herself from a rock or accidentally fell into the creek. A verdict of death by drowning was given by Justice Guy K. Motter, serving coroner. The body was in water about four feet deep when found by a man named Matthews, of Middletown, a friend of the Ahalt party, but who was not thought to have been among the searchers. He communicated with persons in Brunswick, and Merhl Ahalt, son of the dead woman, telephoned to other members of the family group and the sheriff's office and went to the spot where the body was found. Deputy Sheriff Frank Doil, Justice Motter and Dr. J. E. Harp, Middletown, at once went to the scene, which was on a farm once owned by Joshua D. Ahalt, father-in-law of deceased. The body was not bruised as from a great fall, but appeared to have been in the water about 24 years. Mrs. Ahalt had been missing since 10 o'clock Friday morning. A party composed of the husband of the missing woman; her son-in-law, Charles Porter, and others searched almost continuously for her since her disappearance from the home of her father-in-law. Sheriff Charles W. Crum was notified Friday afternoon and Deputy Sheriffs William Foreman and J. Ruskin Loy went to the home and made a thorough search of buildings and the surrounding territory. The only clue upon which the party worked was given by footprints thought to be those of a woman and found in a nearby cornfield. Mrs. Ahalt, who had been caring for her aged father-in-law was last seen at his house while preparing peaches in the kitchen. In the other side of the double house where she and Mr. Ahalt, Sr., lived, Mrs. Lora Kefauver, and her two children reside. Mrs. Ahalt, it was thought, had gone to feed chickens, and no significance was attached to her absence until toward dinner time, when it was found she had made no preparation for the noon meal. Members of the household then searched the premises to no avail, and neighbors, notified of her disappearance, joined in the search. As no one in the neighborhood had seen her after 10 o'clock, no information regarding her whereabouts could be learned. Mr. Ahalt, her husband, in Brunswick, was notified and immediately went to Middletown. After the arrival of Deputies Foreman and Loy, the search was continued, and lanterns and flashlights were carried by the searchers who investigated through the night. Word of the disappearance of Mrs. Ahalt, whose family is well-known, created considerable excitement in Burkittsville and Middletown. About 10 o'clock Friday night, several persons went to Brunswick to secure railroad lanterns to resume the search. Telephone messages were sent to different sections of Middletown valley, giving a description of Mrs. Ahalt, who was 63 years of age. She was short in stature, about five feet two inches and weighed about 105 pounds. She had black hair, dark eyes and wore a black and white voile dress of summer weight, gray stockings and black tie slippers. She used shell-rimmed eye-glasses with gold temples and bridge. She wore the glasses constantly and was unable to do without them. Friday evening, five automobiles carried the searching party in the entire section of Middletown, Burkittsville and Brunswick, and from midnight until 3 o'clock this morning, the husband and son-in-law of Mrs. Ahalt searched in vain. Returning to the home in Middletown for a brief time, they left again at 4:30 o'clock and searched until 6:30 o'clock this morning. In the meantime, Joshua D. Ahalt was taken Friday to the home of his son, Albert Ahalt, near Middletown, and early this morning, Mrs. Kefauver was informed by the Middletown telephone operator that a woman answering the description of Mrs. Ahalt had been seen walking along the highway from Middletown to Burkittsville Friday forenoon and had entered the Horine Store at Burkittsville at noon. Upon the return of Mr. Ahalt to his father's home, Mrs. Kefauver informed him of the new clue and he left at once for Horine's store, where he conferred with the proprietor at 9 o'clock this morning and was reported convinced that the woman there Friday was his wife. He was told that a woman was seen walking on the highway toward Burkittsville by Weldon Ray, of near Middletown, and that upon arrival at the store, she asked for two articles, only one of which was in stock. She answered the description of Mrs. Ahalt and wore a hat, it was said. Mr. Ahalt was reported as believing that his wife may be an amnesia victim, as she had been in ill health for two weeks. Since Mrs. Ahalt went to be with her father-in-law six months ago, she had visited her home in Brunswick only twice since, and then very briefly, it was said. She told Mrs. Kefauver that she had suffered greatly from indigestion and was unable to sleep well. It was believed that she might be in some secluded part of the county between Middletown and Brunswick, and the search was confined to that locality. The deceased is survived by her husband, one daughter, Mrs. Charles Porter and a son, Mehrl Ahalt, Brunswick; and two sisters, Mrs. Roberta Shank and Mrs. Marcella Smith, near Detour."
Funeral notice for Anna Mary Eyler Ahalt from the Frederick Daily News of Monday, August 15, 1932:
"The funeral of Mrs. Harmon L. Ahalt, whose body was found Saturday morning in Middle Creek, near Middletown, following her disappearance from her home the day before, was held this afternoon, leaving the home at 1:45, with further services in Zion Lutheran Church. Interment was in the Reformed Cemetery."
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