Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-12-04
NON EST MAN.


A NON EST MAN.
Robert Chambers, IN his ''Scrap
Book" contributes as follows to the an
ecdotage of Mysterious Disappear
ances:' I'm the old collection of anec
dotes there is one to the effect that
whimsical man in good circumstances
in London, took it into his head to
leave his wife and family, as if going
out 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
"a house opposite to his own without be-
ing discovered though daily wathcingthe
outgoings and mornings of his family,
and enjoying the distress 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 uncommon. l will give one
or two examples. In the latter part of
the year 1884 intelligence was received
of the death of Captain D, of
NJ, by drowning, at Herne Bay,
on the coast of Kent. The deceased
gentleman was possessed of consider
able property in the county of Edin-
burgh, but had become completely
overwhelmed with debt, so that he was
obliged for some years past to live
comparatively In retirement. The
story of the drowning is curious.
The captain one morning left his home
at Herne Bay to battle in the sea. For
this purpose, he went along the wooden
pier, paying the usual toll as he passed,
and taking care to be seen by the toll
man. On getting to the outer extrem-
ity of the pier. he stripped himself of
all his clothes. which he laid down as if
to remain until he came out of the wa
ter. He. however, did not enter the
sea. but stealthily scrambled along IN
naked tateunderneatht the woodwork
of the pier till he got unseen to some
adjacent furze and sand-heaps, where
he dressed himself 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
to the Continent. The captain not re-
turning 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 drownedwhile bathing.
Every search was made for the body,
but in vain. There was no doubt Of
his decease, and the insurance officers,
accordingly, after the usual formaities,
paid considerable sums, which his cred
itors, both as body and as individuals,
had insured upon his life. One of
these gentlemen, whose claim Il little
exceeded four hundred pounds received
that sum from an insurance Office.
Under the will Of the deceased, the
| estates. which were entailed, fell into
the hands of respectable body oftrus-
tees. who administered the proceeds
on behalf of the heir, a minor,
and the other members of the family.
Matters 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 children
walking and riding out. One day, thor
oughly disguised, he had the exquisite
satisfaction of handing his daughters
into cab, and throwing to them a bo-
quet of fowers-a piece of civiity from
a lounger at the door of the hotel which
seemed somewhat extraordinary. Years
drifted on. The family were living IN
a quiet. unobtrusive way in Edlng-
burgh on the wreck of their fortune,
and the incident of the supposed
drowning had passed from the
public mind. With the restlessness and
cunning of a monomaniac, the captain
could not remain in seclusion. He re-
solved to come to Edinburgh, and actu-
ally did so, Drawing the possibility OF
discovery. Soon after arriving, at the
beginning of last winter, he was seen
bv several individuals, who could enter
tain no doubt of his identity. Rumors
to this effect spreading abroad, it was
supposed that the pretended drowning
was part of a scheme for relieving his
property from the load of debt which
encountered it, so that, through his son
he might realize an income from 1t.
Whether an arrangement for this pur
posehad been completedisn confident
| " stated. 1t seems not unlikely that he
was partly moved to risk detection by a
wish to see his wife and Children, to whom
he was fondly attached. While in Edln-
burgh he is said to have occupied lodg-
ings in the south side of the town, and
| lived in good st yle under a false name.
He was accustomed to lnger near the
house in Princes street where his faml
" resided. When any one OF his chill
| dren walked out he would follow them
at a distance; and it has been ascer-
tanned that he often sat for hours upon
the parapet wall of theOpposite gardens,
contemplating his ensabled widow as
she sat at he accustomed window. One
evening. seeing an old confidential SER
want in the act of closing the dining
room shutters, he approached, and
made signals for the purpose of bring
inc her to the door. The woman
came accordingly, but no sooner
heard him speak than she began to
scream violently and ultimately tainted,
which caused him to move OFF, Two
individuals, one of whom is judge OF
the Court of Sessions, observed him ON
the street, and, Notwithstanding his
disguise. were startled by his resem-
blance to the deceased friend, but sup
posing themselves to be deceived, did
not think it necessary to make the cir
cumstance public. He at length made
his existence known by letter to MISS
H, sister of his wife, and soon after
paid her a visit. To this lady and the
rest of the family there could, OF
course, be no such grief from the loss
of friend, as was experienced on the
return of one, as it were, from the
dead. Miss H has been much
blamed for not exposing the fact
which had thus come to her know1-
edge: but, doubtless, she shrunk
from the unpleasant duty OF publishing
the trick that had been 80 shamefully
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