Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-17
All World Still Puzzles Over
Amazing Case of Loewenstein

America with the rest of the world
stu wonders about the amazing case of
Alfred Loewenstein. Whether the Bel
gian multi-millionaire fell by accident
or design from his airplane into the
English Channel or secretly plotted an
escape to parts unknown. his dramatic
exit from the world stage proves again
that fact is stranger than fiction.
THE mind that amassed millions of
dollars either failed in one thoughtless
moment or 1t worked to a set purpose, !"
suggests the Albany Evening News. He
fell and the stocks of 100 companies in
which he was interested fell with him.
If Loewenstein committed sui
eide he dramatized himself to the last.
He made his exit In the same spectacu-
lar manner in which he had lived" The
Duluth Herald believes 1t Is clear that
Whatever LoewenStein did. he did de-
liberately. But what he did, whether it
was suicide, the result OF financial re-
verses, or a deliberate disappearance
made to look like suicide. remains a
mystery"
The reported circumstances are so
peculiar and his whole career is SO out
OF the ordinary" according to the
Providence Journal, that many persons
would not be surprised If he were sud-
denly to step from the void In which his
identity has been engulfed and appear
with his whirlwind sweep in the promo
ton OF some new enterprise" And the
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle con-
cludes that "if Capt. I.oewenstein's dis
appearance was not the result of an ac-
cident 1t was a masterpiece of ingenui-
ty," while the ASbury Park Press be-
lieves that millions the world over--far
more millions than have ever read de-
tective mystery story-are In the posi-
ton OF the novel reader or the playgoer
when the problem is stated, and are
challenged to solve It,"
Writers ought to breathe q sign of
gratitude to the late COR not late) Capt.
Loewenstein, wherever he is" declares
the Kansas City Post. Nothing in a
life of adventurous success ever was
half such q spur TO imagination as the
manner OF his taking off" The paper
points out: I'm the incident we are
constrained to recognize the fact that
men OF business are not all dull, COM
Elercial-minded Rabbits. If this be
aginative a way 1t was of stepping out
OF the world! II 1t be a fake, what a
marvellous, admiration compelling, bold
stroke, forsoothl"
The old proverbs" says the New
York Evening Post have an uncanny
way Of asserting their reality. =
Without explanation, Capt Loewenstein
arises from amidst his private pilots,
secretaries and Wallets, opens the door of
his plane and quietly drops to death In
the waters of the Channel. All Euro
pean stock markets crash. And at once
there rises the legend that Loewenstein's
death Is hoax, Truly. as we started to
say, truth Is stranger than fiction
Does this attract you?" asks the
Baltimore Sun. We'll. we had almost
said turn TO page 279 for the solution
But after all this Is not the advertise
ment for the latest thriller that we are
writing We started to discuss an Incl
dent OF the news, In which one OF the
most remarkable men of the world has
departed from sight in one OF the most
remarkable OF the worlds ways" To
the Minneapolis Tribune, furthermore
IL appears that "the case. obviously, Is
not for the amateur sleuth, unless he
approaches II cautiously and with a
stern contempt for the shaky logic OF
circum8tantlai evidence"
'1is financial career was mystery
II seems that he had deliberately in
tended to make OF his death mystery
In keeping with his life" AYERS the Ro-
anoke World-NeWs That he may not
be dead at all" Ia conceded by the Man
chester Leader, which observes that In
any event "for the next 10 years some
body will be constantly seeing Loewen-
stein"
while financiers speculate AZ bulls
and bears over market changes caused
by his death. and while mankind won"