The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-07-06
HUNT BODY OF
MAGNATF LOST
OUT OF plane
Mystery of Disappearance
Over English Channel
Is UnSoIved.
WIDOW ORDERS SEARCH
LoeWenstein's Chief Aid
Says Suicide Theory
Is Stupid
BIZ United Press

By united Press
LONDON, July 6.-Mystery in the
disappearance of Captain Alfred
Loewenstein, noted Belgian flnancier
who fell from his Fokkel' plane as
it crossed the English Cha mel, con-
tinued today as efforts were started
to find the body.
Captain Roland Drew, pilot of the
Loewenstein plane, believes he
knows fairly accurately the spot
where Loewenstein might have fall
len after opening-either accidental
ly or purposely-a door leading out
of the cabin
The plane was flying at a height
of about 1000 feet at the time, Drew
said, and there was considerable
chance the body might have been
smashed.
The pilot today planned to hire
the Dover harbor board tug and
make a search for the body, near the
spot where Drew believes the
financier dramatically brought an
end to a career that had been dra-
matte.
1t was understood here that the
search for the body had been or
dered by Loewenstein's widow who
at present is in Brussels. She has
returned to Brussels and has refused
all comment on the disappearance
of her husband.
Scouts Suicide Theory
However, commenting on reports
that the Paris coroner's board I'M
officially had decided Loewenstein's
death was suicide, M. LaUter,
Loewenstein's chief aide in Brussels,
is reported as saying:
"It is stupid to think 1t was
suicide. Loewenstein was energetic
and characterize. He had no reason
to desire death 1 know the
plane we'll and it was easy to mis-
take the door to the retiring room
and the outside door"
Loewenstein's dramatic death had
very telling effect on the bourses
Of many European capitals.
The financier. who had at times
offered to loan his own government
100000 without interest and the
French government S100,000,0o0 at
2 per cent interest, had claimed 10
be just ready to start on one Of
his greatest financing schemes.
Wednesday night he boarded his
Fokker plane-one of the vast fleet
Of airplanes ne kept-to cross the
channel. Apparently, friends said,
he was in good humor. A valet and
two secretaries accompanied him.
PIunges From Plane
At about mid-channel the finan-
cier rose, said something to one of
his secretaries about going to the
retiring room, and then disappeared.
Soon his valet discovered the cap
tain had disappeared, had discov-
cred the outer cabin door open and
ordered the plane brought down.
Many pointed out that Loewen-
stein was thoughtless about some
minor things and often mistook
doors. This was given as explana-
ton for his mistaking the outer
door and the retiring room door.
However, officials at the Croydon
airdrome, from which the plane
sailed, said it was almost impossible
to accidentally open the outer door.
The door opens outward and there
is a terrific wind pressure against 1t.
Market Gains Confidence
Financiers Thursday night, after
diagnosing the market and the
sharp downward trend Of the Loew-
enstein holdings, said they believed
the market had regained its conf
dence and that further losses would
not be expected.
The International Holdings and
Investment Company and the Hydro
Electric Securities Corporation
whereof Loewenstein was president,
issued statements saying the finan-
cial position of both companies was
sound. LoewenStein's sharehold-
ings also were said to be unencum-
bered.