The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-07-05
Alfred LOeWenStein, King
of Belgian FinanCierS,
Is Held Suicide.

81 Jntted Press
LONDON, July 5.-Capt. Alfred
Loewenstein, mystery man of inter
national high finance, brought his
spectacular career to a mysterious
end when he stepped last night
from a door of one of his fleet of
private airplanes as it sped across
the English Channel, and dropped
into the sea.
Today, while the Dunkirk fish
ing fleet dragged the French coasts
and the England Belgium airplane
route for his body, stocks in Loew-
enstein's companies slithered down
in demoralized fashion on the Lon
An official French inquiry resulted
today in the decision that he had
committed suicide.
The mystery of Loewenstein's
end, though apparently susceptible
Of simple explanation, caused wide
conjecture throughout European
financial circles.
Third Richest Man
Loewenstein-said by some to be
the third richest man in the world
started for Brussels at p. m.
yesterday from Croydon airdrome,
near London.
The airplane in which he travelled
was a big Fokker, but one of many
he owned in England, in France,
and in Belgium. He was Belgian,
but was at home-and owned homes
in all three countries.
In broad daylight, the plane
passed out oyer the English coast
for a -f17e-mile stretch across
the channel to Ostend, on the Bel
gian coast.
No Trace Found
Somewhere about mid-channel
Loewenstein left his seat in the
cabin and went to the rear of the
plane, apparently to the retiring
room.
For some time nothing was
thought of his absence, though it
was prolonged. Finally one of the
other passengers went to seek him.
There was no trace of him. In
some way Loewenstein had stepped
out of the entrance door to the
cabin.
The pilot Of the plane was in
formed that Loewenstein was miss
ing. He landed the plane on the
sands at Dunkirk, France, gave the
alarm, and proceeded to Stingalvert
airdrome, near Dunkirk.
Fleets Drag Sea
From Dunkirk the fishing fleet
set out today to find the missing
financier's body. It's nets dragged
the water for twenty miles along
the French coast and over most of
the England Belgium air route.
On the London, Berlin and Brus-
sells Stock Exchanges today shares
in companies Loewenstein had con-
trolled reacted in nervous fashion
to his disappearance. The slump
in several issues was of alarming
proportions.
Nine. Loewenstein arrived at
| Stingalvert airdrome, Boulogne, at
$50 a. m. today, after a racing
ioruney from Brussels by automo-
bile. After a search of the Fokker
airplane cabin from which her hus-
band disappeared, she ordered all
who had accompanied Lowenstein
to talk to no one but French
officials.
Nine. Loewenstein left for Brus-
sells at noon.
Rose After War
Loewenstein was so years old. He
was one of the postwar flnanciers
the biggest next to the German,
Hugo Stinnes-so many of whose
fortunes declined as rapidly as they
had grown. Loewenstein apparently
had stayed on top.
The son of 3 Belgian banker,
Loewenstein was engaged in buying
material for Belgium during the
war. After the war he began spec
ulating on a gigantic scale, and
later forming and controlling COM
panies.
He was interested largely In
European electrical power schemea