The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-06-04 00:00:00

MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCES.

A Sheerness correspondent states that great sensa-
tion has been caused there by the disappearance of
Mr. Henry J. B. Montgomery. assistant paymaster
of her Majesty's ship Duncan, flag ship of Vice-
Admiral the Prince of Leiningen, Commander-in-
Chief at the Nore. It appears that Mr. Henry V.
Forrest, Fleet Paymaster of the Duncan, has been
absent on a fortnight's leave of absence, and his
duties have been discharged during his absence by
Mr. Montgomery. Mr. Forrest's leave expired on
Wednesday evening of last week, and about noon on
that day Mr. Montgomery left the Royal Naval
Barracks, where the 'paymaster's office is situate,
without leave, and no further trace has been gained
of him, except that he left Sheerness by the 2.15
train. He left a note in his office, addressed to
Mr. Forrest, stating that he was obliged to go
to town. Mr. Montgomery not having re-
turned on the Friday, Captain Frederick C.
B. Robinson, the commanding officer of H.M.S.
Duncan, applied to the Prince of Leiningen for
permis- ion to break open the paymaster's safe, the
keys of which were in Mr. Montgomery's possession,
the money being required to pay the crew their
weekly wages. The Prince gave the necessary per-
mission, and the safe was forced in the presence of
Captain Robinson, Commander C. J. Corfe, and Fleet
Paymaster Forrest. It was then discovered that
several hundred pounds in bank notes and gk ld were
missing. The facts were at once communicat i to
the Prince, who telegraphed to the Admiralty, and a
warrant has since been issued for Mr. Montgomery's
apprehension. When Mr. Forrest went on leave he
transferred £lBOO to Mr. Montgomery's charge. The
crew of the flag ship have been paid twice since then,
and this would absorb about £6OO. The precise
amount of the defalcations has not yet been ascer-
tained.

The Home Office has received particulars respect-
ing a missing American lady, Mrs. Montgomery,
whose disappearance is causing her friends great
anxiety. The lady is rich, and has been travelling in
Europe for two or three years. The last news re-
ceived from her was in January, from Berlin. She
then expressed her intention of proceeding to Amster-
dam, the Hague, Rotterdam, and thence across the
North Sea to England. Since that time nothing has
been heard of her, and as she had many valuables and
considerable sums of money with her, foul play of
some kind is suspected. The following is the official
description of the lady: Mrs. Sarah Montgomery,
height about sft., weight 1201bs. to 1401b5., age 51,
complexion light, eyes light blue, hair light brown and
turning grey.

A CRITIC, in noticing a discourse on "The Baying
and Doings of Great Men," remarks: It is sad to
observe how much they said and how little they did.
A SHORT COURTSIIIP.—A sensible woman, as Dr.
Abernt thy would have called her, was discovered by
a shy man, who made her a rather original proposal.
Ile bought a , wedding-ring and sent it to the lady,
_
enclosing a sheet of notepaper with the question,
Does it fit P—By return of post be received for P. 13
answer. Beautifulls.