St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-12-26
DRUMMOND'S DEEDS.
The Strange Career of an
Esculapian Impostor in
Australia.
He Pers onates Another Ply
stefan and Steals His
Wife's Money.
Finding He Is About to be
Entrapped, He Flies by a
German Steamer.
He Is Arrested at Colombo
and Dies ola Dose of
Poison.

SAN FRANCISCO. Dec. 25.-The Cey-
lon Times, which arrived by the China
steamer yesterday, brings details of the
capture and suicide of DR.. Strathallen
Drummond, who, to avoid exposure of
his spurious diplomas, flew from New
South Wales with $4,000 belonging to
his wife. The Sydney Herald of Nov.
"a, gives the story Of Drummond's
career in Australia. which is one of the
imposture known in recent years.
When Drummond fled from Australia he
took passage On the German steamer
Hohenstautfer for Southampton. Gov.
Darlington. of New South Wales, cabled
the facts and description of the fugi-
tive to the police at Colombo, and re-
queSted them to arrest DrummOnd when
the steamer arrived there, as he was on
board under the name of Section. When
the steamer arrived at Colombo on Nov.
2. officers arrested Section, and found
one bag containing $3.50 in gold and
another with 9l5 i'll gold. He declared
the money belonged to his wife, but that
being involved. he had drawn the coin
and started for England and intended
to send for his wife when he reached
London. After his arrest, he asked for
time to complete his toiled, and while
III his state room he secured a small vial
of poison, which he swallowed. Soon
after reaching the police office he was
seized with commissions and died.
AN ADVENTUROUS LIFE.
The Sydney Herald gives the follow
ing story of his adventurous life, which
strongly resembles that of q. Hamilton
Griffin. recently sentenced to five years
in prison at Victoria. B. c., for black
mailing Robert Dunsmuir. The Herald
says: The history of the absconder
and the facts concerning his crime and
its discovery are remarkable. In Octo-
Der, 1886, Dr.. ii. A. Cloves was III Sgd
ney and became acquainted with DIR.
Drummond and his diplomas. After
ward, when in England, DR.. Cloves no
ticed that another doctor was practicing
at Rome under the same name, and
holding qualifications corresponding to
those held by the DR.. Drummond whom
he had met in Sydney. He wrote to Dr..
Drummond of Rome, asking if he knew
the Dr. Drummond whom he had met
in Sydney and whom he described. In
reply the real DR.. Drummond said if any
one were using the qualifications re-
ferred to, he had obtained fraudulent
possession OF them, as they had been
distracted during his absence i'll
Germany. DR.. Drummond also for
warded statement to the uni
versity of Edinburgh, giving him
full proofs of his identity, and stat
ing that when his diplomas were stolen,
in 1915. he considered it the act of an as
sistant who robbed him of money and
committed suicide. He recommended
that the university communicate with
the Sydney authorities.
THE FLIGHT.
This was done, and as result the
Sydney medical board called upon the
Self-styled DR.. Drummond. of Ashtield.
the sudden disappearance of the Sus-
pected man. This aroused the suspic-
ions of his wife, and detectives soon
learned enough to confirm her worst
fears. She and her friends testified be-
fore justice of the peace. She said her
maiden name was Mary Gallagher, and
she inherited as her separate property,
free from marital control, $1,000. She
married DIR. Edward Strathallen Drum
mond May p, 1887. OF her inheritance
she paid $4,000 into the Commercial
bank in her own name on deposit at 4
per cent. 1t remained there till March
Is last, when her husband told her if he
had the money he could invest it for
her at per cent. Believing his state
ment, she signed the check for the
amount which he had filled out. She
had no suspicion of his dishonesty un-
til he disappeared on Oct. II, the day
after the medical board demanded to
see his diplomas. Investigation showed
that he had an account with the Sydney
City bank. where he had deposited his
wife's check in his own name. The day
he fed he drew it all in gold. On this
and other evidence, a warrant for en-
bezzlement was issued.
DRUMMoND'S RECORD.
The antecedentS of the fugitive are
only imperfectly known. Some ten
years ago he left Cape of Good Hope
and appeared at Rock Hampton with
$4,000 in gold. He deposited it in the
Union bank there and remained at
Rock Hampton tor six months. He
then withdrew the money, refusing to
take anything but gold. On reaching
Sydney he was house surgeon at st.
VIncent's hospital, after which he went
to Newcastle, and ultimately bought
practice and settled at AShfield, where
he married Miss Gallagher. He repre-
scented that he had large amount of
land and possessed e20,O Drummond
was about forty years old, of gentle
manly appearance and good education.
How he obtained his diplomas will
probably remain mystery, unless it is
cleared up by the original DR.. Drum