The Sun.
London, England, 1868-02-26 00:00:00

THE DISCOVERY OF MR. SPLICE.

We are now in possession of what we have every reason
to believe is the correct history of the disappearance of
the Rev. Mr. Speke, the manner in which he has disposed
of himself since the night on which he was last seen in
London, and his discovery under the extraordinary cir-
cumstances already briefly announced. With reference to
the latter the Western Morning News says that a week or
two ago a Mr. H. Ayre absconded from Hull with a large
sum of money, and the police being in. possession of his
photograph, copies of it were forwarded throughout
England. One of these on Wednesday last reached Police-
sergeant Soady, of the Cornwall county constabulary,
stationed at the port of Padstow, on the north coast
Li Cornwall. Two days afterwards his attention was
attracted by a man who had taken lodgings in the
town, wearing the dress of, and professing to be, a
cattle drover. Many cattle being shipped to Padstow,
possibly the man was expecting to get on board some
vessel in pursuit of his alleged occupation. Soady went
to the stranger's lodgings and conversed with him, and on
comparing his features with the photograph of Ayre was so
impressed with the resemblance, that he sent for his superior
officer—lnspector Opie, of Wadebridge—who went to
Padstow on the following day (Saturday), and the result of
their consultation was that the stranger was taken into
custody. The ideas of the police officers were corroborated
by finding on their prisoner a considerable amount of money,
and they at once took him before Mr. IL P. Raveling, a
county magistrate, who remanded him for three daps on
suspicion of being the man absconded from Hull. Mean-
while the authorities at Bodmin, the county town,
were communicated with, and the deputy chief constable,
Mr. Vincent, with Mr. Barnes, superintendent of the
Bodmin police, proceeded to Padstow. After a careful
examination of the prisoner, the officers became satisfied
that they had not secured the man Ayre, but being im-
pressed with the conviction that there was some mystery
worth solving about their prisoner, they waited on Mr.
Rawling, who remanded the man to Bodmin. On the way
thither the officers seem to have become convinced that the
man was lie drover, but one who had been accustomed to
the refinements of life. His gentlemanly demeanour and
conversation showed that the prisoner was of a much
higher grade in society than he assumed to be, and on
arriving at Bodmin he was re-inspected and com-
pared with the description of the Rev. Benjamin
Speke which appeared at the time the reverend
gentleman vanished. This at once set all doubts at rest.
In every particular the man corresponded with his por-
traiture, and after a careful observation they became unani-
mously satisfied that their prisoner was no other than the
long-missing clergyman. His luggage was searched, and
found to include several suits of clothing and other
articles, enabling the possessor to assume various disguises.
Some books were also found with the name "Dick
Maxwell" written in them. The prisoner was then taxed
with being the Rev. B. Speke, of Dowlish, and after some
considerable hesitation he admitted that he was that
gentleman. The chief constable at once communicated
the fact to the friends of the long-lost man, one of whoin,
Mr. Murdoch, forwarded the information to Sir Richard
Mayne, chief commissioner of police, as our readers alrcad•
knOw.

On the discovery by the chief constable, Colonel Gilbert,
at Bodmin, that the person arrested on suspicion of being
the absconded man Ayro was the missing clergyman
Speke, that gentleman was treated with every considera'
tion. The Home Office and Mr. Speke's friends were
telegraphed to, and on Tuesday morning Mr. W. Speke
Ind Mi. Murdoch, the brother and brother-in-law of the
clergyman, arrived at Bodmin by the London mail, and
had an interview immediately with Colonel Gilbert and
the Rev. B. Speke. Detective-sergeant Williamson, of
the metropolitan force, accompanied those gentlemen, and
they subsequently started for London by the first im
express.

The Itev. 73. Speke gives the following account of his
rroceedings since leaving. London. On the night of his
disappearance he went to Basingstoke, and the next day
walked on to Winchester, a distance of eighteen miles.
Thence he proceeded to Bishopstoke, Southampton, Gos-
port, and Portsmouth. He remained at Portsmouth until
the 20th January, visiting during the time various places
in the neighbourhood. He then proceeded by steamboat
to Plymouth, where he arrived on the 30th January,
making that place his headquarters till February 10.
Whilst there he visited among others the following
places :—Egg Buckland, Tamerton, Itoborough, Ivy-
bridge, Cotehele, Saltash, and St. Germans. In the latter
place he attended church on Sunday, February 16.
ITe proceeded next day to Fowey, a little port on the
south coast of Cornwall, where he remained one nights
and walked on to Lostwithiel, six miles, the next day:'
On the 20th he walked another six miles to Bodmin, the
county town. There he put up at the Queen's Head, a
small second-rate inn, intimating his intention of remain-
ing there for some time. On the following day he went
on to Patlstow, a distance of fifteen miles on the north
coast, where be was arrested. He left hie luggage, con-
sisting, Of one large bag, in which, however, it afterwards
appeared were several smaller bags, at the Queen's
Head. _

Two hundred pounds in bank-notes and gold were fauna
upon him. When brought to Bodmin he was a little
eiv,eited, but talked rationally with the chief constable.
He appears, however, to hold peculiar religious views.
His great object in leaving home was, it seems from his
own statement, to get to a country where nobody knew
anything about him, that he might labour forhis living and
preach the gospel to his fellow working men. He had, he
states, obtained- a greater insight into the spirit of the
Bible by lonely study on the rock.s by the sea-shore, and
he felt his responsibility.
On being asked why be did not go abroad at once insteao
•of wandering about England, he replied that it would
have been of no use to attempt to do so, as he knew the
telegraph would be at work and the detectives watching to
stop him. He hoped by moving from place to place
to tire out all search, and then, after a time, he
should be able to get -away from a seaport without
molestation. He had laid out a plan for future action
when arrested. He intended to return to Bodmin
and attend church there on Sunday, the 23rd, then to visit
various points of interest on the Cornish coast, and after-
wards proceed to Ilfracombe, and cross over by steamboat
to Swansea. He had already ascertained the times of
sailing of the steamers. for Swansea, and proposed to
walk through Wales to Liverpool, and there embark for
A m erica.
He had read the newspapers daily, but the public excite-
ment consequent on his disappearam;e had no effect in
changing his resolution. He admitted to his brother,
Inwever, that he was now ashamed of what be had done,
and cried when told of the anguish felt by his friends as to
fate. He was calm and composed when he left Boil-
min, but appeared much dejected.