The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1873-11-20
AroNEsrMAN.

ces, IN London, took It into his head
to leave his wife and family, as if go-
ing ont only for walk. and did not
make his appearance again for more
than ten years, the droll thing in the
affair being that he lived all the time
in disguise In house opposite his,
own Withoat being discovered, though
daily watching the outgoing and in
coming of his family, and enjoying
thedistress to which they seemed to
be put by his disappearance. 1t was,
of course, a ridiculous and heartless
trick, but such tricks are by no means
uueommon. i will give one 20 r.7tWo
examples. In the latter part of the
year 1884 intelligence was received of
the death of Captain D., ofM-
by drowning, at Herne Bay, on the
coast of Kent. The deceased gentle.
man was possessed of considerable
property in the County of Edinburgh,
whelmed with debt, so that he was
obliged for some years past to i've
comp paratively in retirement. The
story of the drowning is curious. The
captain one morning left his home at
Herne Bay, to bathe in the sea. For
this purpose he went along the wood
en- pier, paying the usual toll as he
passed, and taking care to be seen. by
the toll-man. On stripping himself
of all his clothes, which he laid down
as if to remain until he should come
out of the water. Ha,f however, did
not enter the sea. but stealthily scram-
bled along in a naked state, under
meath the woodwork of the pier, till
he got unseen to sbme adjacent furze
and sandheaps, where he dressed him
self in a suit of clothes which he had
previously deposited at the spot. So
equipped, he went across the country,
and succeeded in getting off 10 the
Continent. The, captain not retarn-
ing to breakfast, an inquiry was set
on foot regarding him, and as his
clothes were found, it was clear to
every one that he was drowned while
bathing. Every search was made for
the body but in vain. There was no
doubt of his decease, and the insur-
ance officers, acet 7iugly, after the
usual afoJmalities Id tconsidefables
sums, which his c1Saitors, both as
body, and as indiVi ,zuals, had insured
upon his life. One of these gentle
men, whose claim a little exceeded
four hundred pounds, received that
sum from an insurance office. Under
the will of the deceased, the estate
which were entaiIed, fell into the
hands of a respectable body of trust
ees, who administered the proceeds in
behalf of the heir, minor, and the
other members of the family. Mat
ters being settled, the family, for
change of scene, visited Paris. Here
they were discovered by the captain,
who took care, However, not to make
himself known. Haunting the hotel
where they lodged, he enjoyed the
pleasure of seeing, his wife and chill
dren walking and riding out. One
day, thoroughly disc uised, he had the
exquisite satisfaction of handing his
daughters into cab and throwing to
them boquet of fowers-a piece of
civility from lounger at the door of
hotel which seemed somewhat ex-
tfaordinary. Z eafsadfifted on The
family were living in quiet. unob-
trusive way, in Edinburgh, on the
wreck of their fortune, and the cir
cumstance of the supposed drowning
had passed from the public mind
With the restlessness aads cunning Of
monomaniac, the captain could not
remain in seclusion. He resolved to
come to Edinburgh, and actually did
so, Drawing the possibility of discov-
cry. Soon after arriving, at the be-
ginning OF last winter, he was seen
by several individuals who could en-
tertain no doubt Of his identity. Ru-
mors tothis effect spreading abroad9
it was supposed that the. pretended
drowning was part of the scheme
for relieving his property from the
load of bad debt which encumber6d
it, so that, through his son, he might
realize an Income from it. Whether
an arrangement for this purpose had
been completed is not confidently
stated. 1t seems not unlikely that be
was partly moved to risk detection
by.a wish to see his wife and chill dren
to whom he was fondly attached.
While in Edinburgh he is said to have
occupied lodgings in the south side of
the town, and lived in good style uh-
der false name. He was accustom-
ed to linger near the house in Princess
street where his family resided. When
any of his children went out for a
walk he would follow them at a re-
spectacle distance and it has been
ascertained that he often sat for hours
upon the parapet wall of the gardens
opposite, contemplating his ensablcd
widow One evening, seeing an old
confidential servant in the act of clos
ing the diningaroom shutters, he ap-
preached, and made signals fer the
purpose of brining her to the door.
The woman came accordingly, but no
sooner heard him speak than she be-
gan to scream violently and ultimate
ly tainted, which caused him to move
off. ? Two Individuals, one of whom
~ -
observed him on the street, and, not
withstanding his disguise, were start
led by his resemblance to the deceased
friend but supposing themselves to {,
be deceived, did 10 blink it necessary
to make the circu nee public. He
at length made 4 istence known
by q letter to Mil l. sister of his
wife, and soon aflI Daid her a visit.
To this lady and tn rest of the fami-
ly there could, of course, be no such
grief from the loss q q friend, as was
experienced on'the return of one, as
it were, from the dead. Miss H
has been m ueh blamed fer net4expos-
ing the fact that had Thus come to her
knowledge; but, doubtless, she shrunk
from the unpleasant duty of publish
ing the trick that had beeng SO sham e.
fully performed by Q relative. By
what means d. was Induced TO re-
tire from the town and how the tale
should have been kepta q secret 50 long
has not been explained. On learning
the factof his sreappeafance, the insur-
ance efices Immediately obtained
criminal warrants for is apprehen-
sion ;and the proceeds of his estates,
and all listing funds and property
belonging to his family, were arrested
by the creditors. Thus his wife, son,
and other children are reduced in a
momeDtl tpfFpemnilessnessg and the 1
whole scheme by which he hoped to
realize an income is defeated. D.
is the son of a deceased Clergyman of |
high reputation in the Scottish Estab-
lishment. 5s e'e
A gentleman in Virginia, when ex-