The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-10-16
His TnRY'S'
MYSTERIES
coeyTe,,y ~ mr. vs1xzst7 ,fJs11<,Ce Jy,1vcfEr
THE MISSING MESSENGER


= LOOMS, brother of +. Il. LOOMS,
the assistant secretary Of state, sailed
from New York on board the Kaiser
Wilhelm II, bearing with him the text
Of treaty between the United States
and AbysSlnia-a treaty concerning
which there had been much conjecture
and speculation on the part Of certain
European powers.
Under ordinary circumstances Loom
Is would have taken his wife and child
with him; on this occasion, lie con
slderel it best to leave them behind
in Parkersburg, w. ", both on account
Of the fact that he was on diplo-
matte mission and because he intended
to participate in some big-game hunt
ing after delivering the treaty to King
Meneik.
Nothing unusual occurred on the
trip until the morning of June 20, the
day on which the steamer was due 10
dock AT Plymouth, England. II ,was
then noted that LOOMS seat III the
captains table was empty and a
steward was dispatched 10 find out II
lie were i'll. A few minutes later the
steward returned with the news that
LpomIs berth had not been occupied
and an immediate search of the ship
was ordered-but without bringing to
light the slightest trace Of the repre-
,.F nj. mi
Several passengers volunteered the
information that they had seen
LOOMS on deck shortly after mid
night and William h. Ellis, cabin
mate and travelling companion OF the
missing passenger, declared that his
friends absence from the cabin had
not alarmed him because of the fact
that Loolhls had come in at fairly
late hour on several previous evenings.
British officials at Plymouth and the
French officers at Cherbourg repeated
the search of the steamer, but in vain.
Nothing was missing from the cabin
save the suit which Loomis was wear
Ing at the time and even the fiat dis
patch box which contained the text of
the treaty was found concealed be
meath a pile of clothing in one corner
of Loomis' trunk. Investigation de-
veloped the fact. however, that the
State department messenger had been
In the habit. Of carrying this box In
his pocket and had laid 1t aside on the
previous evening only because II made
an unseemly bulge in the dress clothes
which he had donned In honor of the
captains dinner.
During the next few weeks rumors
of all kinds filled the press on both
sides Of the Atlantic. Loomis had gone
suddenly mad and had been placed In
a sanatorlum. He had slipped Off the
steamer at Plymouth disguised as n
secondclass passenger. He was the
victim of n clique of international
spies who. baked in their attempt 10
secure possession OF the text of the
treaty, were holding him for ransom.
He was still confined in the hold OF
the Kaiser Wllhelm-and so on to the
limit Of the imlginatlons of those who
like to use fact as Il basis for fiction.
| But all these reports were set at
rest when, on the morning OF July ia
just thirty.two days after LOOMS
had sailed from New York-a body
was washed up ut Warren Point,
about fifteen miles from Plymouth.
Believing that the body was that Of a
common sailor, the local police were
about to inter II without further cere-
mony, when, from the watch-pocket
of the trousers there dropped water
soaked bit of pasteboard, upon which
was barely discernible the name,
Kent ]. Loomls."
Careful examination of the body
developed the fact TINT. under the
| right ear. there was circular wound
which appeared to have been inflicted
before death and a post-mortem ex.
animation of the lungs of the dead
man showed conclusively that death
had been due to the blow which Ind
resulted In this wound, rather than IL
drowning. The physicians were dl-
vded in their opinion as to whether
the blow had been delivered by an IN.
strument similar to blackjack or
whether LOOMS might have fallen and
struck his head against projecting
portion Of the ironwork on the steam.
or. Examination of the Kaiser VIII.
helms log showed, however that the
sea had been extremely calm on the
night that Loomis came TO his death
and that there had not been enough
roll to cause anyone to lose his foot.
Ing. Besides, there was the evidence
- the manner In which the body was
| clothed. The cont was missing, the
collar had been torn partly away aud
there were other signs of rough treat
ment before LOOMS had struck the
water.
| 1t was therefore practically certain