At some point in 1867, Matthew Harvey Nace—now known as James Hempstead Neyce and sometimes as Colonel Neyce—faked his own death. While the reason he did so isn't entirely clear, it probably had to do with him either embezzling, owing money, or fearing that someone was catching on to his faked identity.
He first ran into problems when he embezzled from his company, Nace & Coe in 1855 and then vanished, supposedly heading west.
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| The Independent, May 1, 1856 |
As he crossed the country, he married Ella B. Christian in 1856 in Vigo, Indiana, and by 1859, used the names Matthew Harvey or J. W. Hays in Missouri where he swindled more folks. (The Randolph Citizen May 1859, p. 2)
Perhaps he moved even farther west because too many people had caught on to his schemes. Eventually, he arrived in Oregon. According to various stories in Portland's The Oregonian and Dalles' The Morning State Journal, he'd been living in Dalles City, Wasco County, Oregon, for a while. From the May 2, 1863, The Morning State Journal, it appears Neyce was involved in selling real estate:
On September 28, 1863, he ran an ad in Portland's The Oregonian for return of his horse that had been lost for a month. A $50 reward was big money in those days, so Neyce must have been prosperous.
In April of 1864, he'd even been nominated to run for Wasco County judge, though he didn't win. As of March 1866, he and his wife were still living in Dalles City, Oregon.
According to The Oregonian (Thu, Mar 07, 1867, Page 3), In the Circuit Court on March 6th, plaintiff John McCracken won a case against James H. Neyce for $516.66. Perhaps now he was falling upon hard times. Then, seven months later, James H. Neyce mysteriously vanished.
The Oregonian (Tue, Oct 15, 1867, page 3), reported that the Albany Journal had published this information. "James Hempstead Neyce, formerly of the Dalles, arrived in Albany last week to attend the fair; he was last seen at the fairground on Friday Evening last. On Saturday a pair of saddlebags, containing a lot of medicines and a fine well worn frock coat, were found in the bushes southeast of the pavilion. There is anxiety as to whether any untoward matter has befallen him." [His friends] "were not at first seriously alarmed about this matter; but as time wore on and nothing was heard from him, and as he had failed either to return here or to communicate with a house through which he had ordered goods for the State fair, where it was well known he intended to be, they began some days ago to feel much alarm. The Journal's item was kept from the knowledge of his wife who is in this city, until a telegram of inquiry had been sent to Albany, and an answer received stating that nothing more had been learned of him. It was then thought best to inform her, and, of course she is in great distress at his mysterious absence and silence. Just before the time when he was last seen, he transmitted money to this city for goods which he desired to dispose of at the State fair, and he was expected to either come here for them, or send directions as to forwarding. The firm has heard nothing from him. Grave fears are entertained that he has been foully dealt with. His friends here will be under great obligations to anyone who will communicate any knowledge he may have concerning him."
The mystery of his whereabouts continued through October. From The Oregonian (Mon, Oct 21, 1867, Page 3): "One part of the Mystery cleared up—A letter from Capt. J. T. Apperson, states that the bundle received at the American Exchange last week . . . was left with him by Col. Neyce before he went to the Linn County Fair, and was forwarded by him (Capt. Apperson) when he saw the notice in the papers about Col. Neyce's disappearance. The Albany Democrat of Saturday says nothing more has been learned of the missing man though diligent search has been made by the citizens of Albany."
From The Oregonian (Tue, Oct 22, 1867, Page 3): "Will the person who left a small package at the American Exchange Hotel, on Wednesday, the 16th, inst., addressed to 'James H. Neyce,' be so kind as to give information to this office or to the American Exchange Hotel, as to when, and where, and of whom they received said package."
From The Idaho Statesman (Thu, Oct 24, 1867, Page 1): "More Mystery—The mystery which has for sometime surrounded Co. J. H. Neyce seems no nearer solution than a week ago. Nothing whatsoever has been heard concerning him, in either answer either to telegrams, letters or personal search. Mr. S. B. Parrish went to Albany some days ago to prosecute inquiry, but thus far he has sent back no word. On Wednesday to add to the mystery, a package was left by some unknown person at the American Exchange, marked Col. J. H. Neyce, and containing clothes and books which he was known to have taken with him when he left here some weeks since. The package was left, as nearly as is known, about 9 o'clock A.M. One of the employees of the hotel was writing at the front desk when a man came in and without saying a word deposited the package on the desk and immediately went out. No particular notice was taken of it at the time, but towards evening, Mr. Rodgers' attention was called to it, when the address was discovered. It may have been left with somebody in the country to be brought in, when Col. Neyce was inYamhill county just before the Linn county fair; or its appearance now may have some other meaning. There is nothing, however, beyond conjecture connected with the whole affair.—Oregonian
The Idaho Statesman (Tue, Oct 29, 1867, Page 1) gives some additional details (For some reason, Neyce's name was blocked out in on-line copy):
In 1868, Neyce was spotted and recognized. According to the Corvallis Gazette (Sat, Jun 13, 1868, Page 2): "The San Francisco correspondent of the Dalles Mountaineer, writing, May 25, says: "Another former resident of Dalles and one who left his mark behind him as well as his hat and coat, at the time of his mysterious disappearance from the Willamette last fall, (Col. Neyce), has been recognized in Vacaville, Solano county, by L. Levy and Washouskey, both known in Dalles, and goes by the name of [Norris?]. He denied his identity, is tinkering watches, and said his wife is in San Jose."
From Idaho Semi-Weekly World (Sat, Jun 20, 1868) :
