Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-23
The Strange Disappearance Of
=, Mr.. Cor3tarl.
Ill.

currence reached the Universal, and Mr.
Doggett was at once instructed to institute
the most searching inquiries into the affair
Only one premium had been paid on The
policy on Mr.. Constants life, and thu
Universal stood to lose heavily in the even
of his death. True, the loss would bt
shared by several other Offices who had beer
Joined with us in the undertaking, but a:
the lions share of the loss would fall to us
we deemed it necessary to take every pre-
caution against any possible attempt al
fraud. 1t is not an uncommon circumstance
for men to fly their country when trouble /:
at their heels, and give themselves up fol
dead until it suits their convenience to ap
pear again in the flesh. To guard aga1ns
any attempt TO palm off q superstition:
death, it was all important that our private
inquiry agent should take the matter II
hand Immediately while the scent was still
warm.
The day after tidings of the occurrence
reached our ears Mr.. Doggett made his first
report. After recapltulating the facts at.
tending the alleged disappearance, which
had been recounted at the close ofthe former
chapter, the report went on TO say:
1.-The friends of the missing gentleman
show much anxiety to keep the affair quiet,
hoping that he may yet return. All the
same, a most active investigation is being
carried on, under directions OF Lord Selin-
court and Mr.. Bretterly, who have called in
Inspector Ferret, of Scotland Yard, to as
sist them. So tar their inquiries have led
to no result.
"The policeman, who is the last person
known to have spoken with Mr.. COnstam,
has been turned inside out, Dut is unable to
add anything further TO his statement that
Mr. Constam was quite cheerful in his man
ner, and after wishing the officer good
night walked away at rapid pace In the
direction of Trafalgar Square.
';The reticence of Mr.. Constants friends
makes it difficult to ascertain precisely what
had happened at EPSON; but from in
oulries made elsewhere | learn that he had
plunged wildly, and his losses must have
been phenomenally heavy. 1t is said that
the whole of the large sum which he bor-
rowed six months ago has disappeared, and
that with the exception of the income Sc
cured to Lady Barbara on her marriage
there is nothing left. Here is motive for
absconding, and perhaps for suicide.
"There are three theories afoat to account
for his disappearance.
"Some say ne has 1evanted.' This theory
has been broached partly in consequence of
some indiscreet revelations made by Mr.
Bretterly. Ii is only fair to that gentleman
to say that he repudiates the inference
which has been drawn from his communi-
cations.
'The second theory is that it is case of
suicide. Those who tade this view argue
that when Mr.. Constam quilted the card
table it was in execution of some purpose at
which he had arrived slowly after mentally
reviewing the situation; and that his prom
Use to return Immediately was mere blind
to get away quietly, without risk of interro-
cation. He knew that he had worse than
ruin to meet-dishonor! They declare that
he could not face it out, and that leap
from Waterloo bridge will turn out the
right explanation of his disappearance.
f'The third theory has been adopted by
the family. Their suspicious are summed
up in one word: foul play. They say he
was not the man to shrink from any ordeal,
and they argue that be was the last man in
the world-whatever his imprudences NAV
have been-to leave the wife to whom he
was tenderly attached in doubt of his fate,
or to rush upon doom which would bring
a terrible stigma on his name, and leave his
children fatherless, from want of common
courage to face the full consequences of his
indlscretions.
Their explanation is, that when he went
out he meant to return, but that becoming
abstracted in thinking over his losses, he
probably walked on until he found himself
in some low part OF London or Westmins er
the river side possibly-and was there
wavlaid and murdered. They say that in
addition to the few pounds he had won at
whist, he had at least fifty pounds in gold
and notes, whilst his ring and diamond
sleeve links and studs were worth more than
treble that amount. The flashing of his
diamonds would tempt robbery with violence
if he happened to have wandered into any
of the low criminal haunts. The family Law
great stress on his excellent spirits down to
the last moment as shutting out any idea of
suicide, and they are indignant over the
suggestion that be has Ievanted."
81 agree with the family in repudiating
suicide, but for a different reason. His
good spirits may have been put on; but a
man never assumes good health or pretends
10 a good digestion. Now, Mr.. Constants
health may be called robust; and if am
not misled, he could use a knife and fork
pretty freely. His digestion, in fact was
simply perfect That kind of man does not
commit suicide.
is it, then, case of foul play? 1 have
obtained a correct description of the clothes
Mr.. Constam was wearing, and the rest Of
his personal belongings which he carried
with him when be set out on that summer
evenings walk which is so perplexing to
his Misunderstanding Scotland Yard.
am not going to drag the Thames. Wap-
ping way is my next destination; and NAV
even work my way down as far as Graves
cad, perhaps Plymouth, before l find in
what ship Mr.. Constam sailed when he bade
farewell to the white cliffs of Britain
IN. B.-He has not been seen at Dover.
or Newhaven. Watch is kept
on all the Continental boats, and l have
despatched a man each to Southampton,
Liverpool and Glasgow"
And so exit Mr.. Doggett for the present.
His report tells everything bearing on the
story, and saves space which would other
wise be taken up in describing with more
particularity the modus operandi of Mr..
Doggett's proceedings. 1t has also the ID
vantage of stating the three theories soon
prevalent to explain Mr.. Constants disap-
pearance, and the general grounds on which
each rested. The reader will chose his own
theory, and will doubtless be able 10 adduce
more cogent reasons for his particular theory !
than any here given.
Several days passed by before Mr.. Dog
pett had anything Of importance to commu-
nicate. He stuck manfully to what he
speaks of in one of his reports as his 'hap- |
py hunting ground, which lay eastwsrds
of London bridge.
Meanwhile ''the family" as Mrs. Doggett |
described the friends o. Mr.. Constam, were /
pursuing the most active search, in which !
we're spared neither labor, skill, nor what is !
'ometlmes OF more Importance than either |
10 such eases-mOneyi