Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-12-10

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Fact Outdcins Fiction Mysterious Disap-
pesranco of WeIl-kuown Merchant.
He Returns to the City, after Several
Years, aud Finds his Wife Re-married-
He Visits Her, and is not Recognized
Found.
Some years since a gentleman velknown
in the business circles of this city suddenly
disappeared, without any apparent cause,
and without intimating to any one that he
had reason to DO dissatisfied, either with his
domestic relations or financial affairs. In
deed, bis wife seemed to be the most devoted
of women, and his children were regarded
particularly by the mother-as perfect prod
igies. In his business he had been remark
ably prosperous, having accumulated ifnot
q fortune, at least competence, and his
affairs were never in more prosperous con-
dition than at the time of his departure.
His sudden disappearance created pro-
found sensation at the time. His partner,
who placed the most implicit reliance in his
integrity and capacity, suspended business
temporarily, and afterward settled up the
affairs of the firm permanently, satisfied he
was no longer alive.
The first impression entertained by the
community was that he had been murdered;
but by whom, or for what object, no one
could conjecture. He had no enemies, and
the amount Of money he was known to keep
upon his person was hardly sufficient to
tempt the avarice of even the most hardened
criminal, to degree that would prompt him
to take life; that he had committed suicide,
was likewise dismissed as unreasonable, for
he had never exhibited any evidence of in
sanity, or even extraordinary discomfort
ment.
But though the perplexity of his friends
was great, that of his family was greater
His wife could not endure the idea that he
had been murdered, or that he had commit
ted suicide, and the suppostion that he had
wilfully abandoned her, was SO contrary to
the whole course Of his previous conduct,
that it would have been q crime to have en-
tertained it for a moment.
At length rumor became current that he
had been accidentally drowned and imme-
diately q number of his friends commenced
tracing it to its source, and were informed
that on the day he was first missed, q man,
whose appearance in all respects conforme6
to the printed description, had been seen to
leave the shore of the river in skiff, which
soon after ran into the wake of a steamboat,
and was, by accident, sunk; and since that
time neither the man nor the craft had been
seen. The informants were so minute in
giving the circumstances, and so exact in the
description Of the unfortunate man, that no
doubt could be entertained that he had been
accidentally drowned; for it did not once oc-
cur how easy il is for those who learn all the
circumstances from the newspapers, to not
only deceive others, but even themselves.
Days, weeks, months and years passed on,
and no other solution of the mystery pre-
sented itself, and all became so confirmed in
the opinion that he had come to his death in
the manner narrated that it was spoken of
as an indisputable fact.
| This conviction having become firmly
established, affairs went on as it was natural
| they should. The deep mourning-dress of
his widow faded by degrees, until she once
more became the gayest votary of fashion in
the circle in WHICH she moved. His partner,
| as we have already stated, settled up the
business of the firm his creditors presented
their claims, and as there remained no
doubts of his death, application was made
for letters of administration on the estate,
which were duly granted. Another year
| passed by, and still another, and the ad-
ministrators made their final settlement, and
| paid into Court the money in their hands.
| Nor was this the only nor even the most
important event that transpired. The
widow, obeying the injunction to be CON-
forted in affliction, had, after some hesita-
ton, entered a second time into a matri-
monial alliance; and this, in turn, gave rise
to an additional complication.
Thus matters proceeded till last week,
| when the missing man entered the store
formerly occupied by himself and his part
ner, and not wishing to make himself inn
| mediately known, inquired if that was the
business-house Of NJ & =, and re.
ceived for answer that NJ had been
drowned many years before, and that T
had left The city. He then inquired about
other matters, pretending that he had been
an old friend of the members of its former
firm, until he ascertained every thing about
| the marriage and administration.
He next presented himself at the door Of
his residence, and was met by a female whom
he knew to be his wife. Without any emo
ton he asked if M resided there, and
received for reply that he had been dead G
number Of years.
The tone employed in imparting the in
formation fully satisfied him that whatever
grief his wife might once have entertained
It had long since departed; and to an invita-
tion to go into the house, he muttered SOM
excuse and turned away. He next callet
on man who had been his friend, and hearC
for third time of his own death, and having
heard it asserted positively so often, he prob
ably began almost to believe it himself
Next he went to the Probate Court, mad,
the same inquiry, and received a simila
reply. Returning to his hotel, he wrote ou
history of his days adventure in the city
and directed it to his wife; and that no on,
might entertain any doubts as to his identity
he enclosed her likeness, ring, on whicl
her name was engraved, and some othe
articles, formerly hers, and of which sh
possessed distinct recollection. The pack
age was received by the woman, and we will
let the reader imagine the scene that fol
lowed. The affair soon became known t
the gentleman's friends, and they imme
diately sought him out; but he had left hi
hotel, and disappeared from the city, with
out leaving any explanation of his conduct
and every thing is left in unfathomable mys
terry.