Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-09-16
A BATTLING MYSTERY.
Strange. Remarkable Case of Mr..
Mansf1eld's Wife.

ManSh6ldS WIFE.
All was excitement at the Mansfield
mansion; it's mistress, the beautiful
and accomplished wife OF David Mans
field, had suddenly and mysteriously
disappeared. They were all ready for
an evening ride. MIR. Mansfield was
already at the carriage, awaiting his
wifc's coming. She had appeared at
the doorway, but stopped, and, telling
her husband that she had forgotten her
gloves and would return for them, she
rccntcrcd the house and started up
stairs to her room.
That was the last Mr.. Mansfield saw
of his wife He waited fifteen or TWEEN
ty minutes, and then sent a servant to
hurry Mrs. Mansfield. The servant re-
turned and reported that the door to
the lady's room was locked, and that
there had been no response when she
knocked.
Frightened, Mr.. Mansfield fastened
upstairs and tried the door of his wife's
room. 1t was locked, as the servant
had said. Mr.. Mansfield called his
wife's name, but received no reply.
lie was now thoroughly frightened,
and summoning all his strength, he
burst the door open. One hasty glance
about the room was sufficient.
The room was empty-his wife was
gone!
But where, and how, and why?
These were the questions that agi-
tatcd the mind of the husband, and he
could find no answer for any one of
them. Still, she might be in the house,
NTorpn,lJ fhN,,rrhf ha
servants to searching for her. High
and low, upstairs and down they
searched, but no trace of the missing
woman could they find.
Then they extended their search to
the grounds, with the same results, and
Mr.. Mansfield was in despair. The
disappearance of his wife was SO sud
den, SO unexpected so mysterious, that
he was filed with kind of nameless,
mum bling feeling of horror, Of fear, of
he knew not what.
For hours the search had been kept
up, and at last, disheartened, weary,
nguish-striclien, the bcreaved husband
ordered the search discontinued. What
to do next he did not know, until it
was suggested to him to send for n de-
tcctivc.
Mr. Mansfield caught at the sug-
gestion at once, and telegraphed to the
city for detective. The next train
brought one of the best detectives in
the city of New York, and he lost nc
time in setting to work.
Accompanied by Mr.. Mansfield, he
entered the room of the missing lady
and began an examination of it.
us everything just as 1t was wher
her absence was discovered?" asked
Mr.. Ferret, the detective; has nothing
been moved or changed in any way?'
Nothing" replied Mr.. Mansfield
Everything is just as she left it"
Then that window was open," as
serted the detective, indicating al
open window at one side of the room
r and Mr.. Mansfield nodded assent.
, Mr.. Ferret crossed the room, and ex
+ amined the sill and floor beneath tn
5 window. Then he looked out TIL,
I only possible means of reaching tn
I ground, thirty feet below, was by
lightning rod, which could be reached
from the window, and the detcctiv
shook his head. 1t would be power
full incentive that would induce a WON
an to descend by means of this rod.
After examining every nook an
Il Granny of the room, the detective sa
down and studied the matter fror
= every point of view, as he thought. A
last he turned to his companion:
"Mr. Mansfield" he said, 81 wish t
ask you a question. 1t is of rather
delicate nature, hut l hope you will nc
! be angry. Did you and your wife hav
any trouble? Do you know any reaso
Il. - +
you?"
II do not" was the reply. "My vii
and l were on the best terms; we nevC
quarreled in our lives"
r The detective looked puzzled.
20 don't understand it." he said; 1.-The on
theory that 1 can advance is that 81
has committed suicide, though if yc
= were on good terms there would be 1
reason for her doing this"
- The detective spent week searchir
for n clew, but could find none. A sy
tematic search was made for mill
Q around; advertisements were inserte
" in all the papers, but it availed not
ing. Nothing could be discovered. TT
disappearance of the woman was
complete and unfathomable a mystel
as ever
Mr.. Mansfield grew pale and thi
VI He had loved his beautiful wife as fe
y men do love, and the uncertainty q
~ tending the disappearance of his love
one made his sorrow all the harder
bear. 1t was worse really than
would have been had he known his wi
- was dead He was unwilling the