THE LEVANTING DOCTOR.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 265, 9 November 1888, Page 3

THE LEVANTING DOCTOR.

"DR." DRUMMOND AND THE STOLEN DIPLOMAS.

In yesterday's Star we published an account of the arrest of Dr. Drummond and his subsequent suicide. The particulars of the disapjDearance of "Dr« Edward Drummond," of Sydney, are thus given by a local paper :—" Considerable sensation has been caused within the last few days by the sudden disappearance of a gentleman who has been practising at Ash* field for a number of years as a doctor 3 under the name of ' Dr. Edward Drummond.' He was married only recently to a lady of good fortune, and to all appearance had been happy in his married life and successful in his professional career. On the 18th' insb. he disappeared, leaving no word behind him of where he had gone. Soon after his departure ib was ascertained that he had taken with him £6,500, which was deposited in the City Bank in trust for his wife. In the course of the morning he drew the whole in gold, and then, it is supposed, proceeded by a sailing vessel on a iou£ voyage. Besides this money it ia believed he took between £10,000 and £12,000 belonging to himself. The motive of his disappearance seems scarcely apparent. He was engaged in a very lucrative practice, and was respected largely in the district! where he resided. Ib is said that years ago he mysteriously disappeared from South Africa, where he was living. Ant investigation into hi 3 affairs brings soma' rather peculiar circumstances to light. In the first place grave doubts recently arose whether he had a right to the name under which he had been practising. In conse-: quence of certain rumours to that effect, hist case was brought under the notice of the New South Wales Medical Board, and we understand that he had been called upon by that body to undergo an examination aa to his qualifications. The particular surmise was that he had been practising with diplomas which he had not gained himself.1 Ib was alleged that by some person or other these diplomas were stolen from Dr. Drummond, a physician of high standing in London, in 1864. No trace of them was afterwards discovered, and Dr. Drummond removed to Rome, where he is said to be still practising. Whether the Ashfiekl doctor is in any way connected with this affair will probably be demonstrated when he returns to Sydney. A warrant has been issued for his arrest, and the matter haa been placed in the hands of two experienced detective officers. It is said that) both his destination and the name of hia ship are known." The strange part of the business is that one of the leading medicos of Sydney always employed the levanter in consultations, but his knowledge of surgery was admittedly superficial.