Missing Student Contacts New York Home Indirectly

The disappearance of Roy S. Durstine Jr. '56 appeared to be solved early this morning after his father informed the CRIMSON that he had contacted his son "indirectly" and would "hear from him sometime today."

Durstine left four notes Wednesday night outside the door of Claverly Hall proctor Alexander C. Hoagland, Jr. '50, saying he had "made a mess of things" and "this is goodbye." Hoagland turned the notes over to F. Skiddy von Stade '38, Dean of Freshmen, who called in police.

Cambridge police issued a nine-state alarm for the youth, checked all local hotels, railroad stations, and airports, but were unable to locate him.

The CRIMSON learned that the four notes were addressed to Von Stade, an unidentified girl in New York, a classmate, and his father. All said the same thing.

He then went to a Square garage where his Cadillac was stored. He found it had a flat tire, and was told by garage attendants that the flat couldn't be repaired until morning. He left a suitcase in the car, then went to Cronin's Restaurant where he cashed a check for $25. This was the last time he was seen.

Durstine's father, Roy S. Durstine, a New York advertising executive, arrived in Cambridge yesterday and conferred with von Stade.

Durstine's father returned to New York later in the day, and it was learned this morning that he had ascertained his son's whereabouts following a call from a New York girl who in turn had received two telephone calls from the younger Durstine.

Durstine was a second term freshman. He attended Princeton for several months last year, but withdrew after being placed on probation.

New York police quoted his mother as saying, "the thing that bothered him was the fact that he couldn't get in with the upperclassmen; he didn't like the restrictions at the school."