A STORY OF THE PAST.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1744, 8 May 1913, Page 5

A STORY OF THE PAST.

A BANKER'S DISAPPEARANCE. Bj Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, May G. Tho Courts liavo again been asked to presume the death of Mr. W. It.'Lidderdale, bank manager, who mysteriously disappeared in 1592. The Judge stated that the Courts now recognised tho existence of Miss Vining and the yacht. Tho case was further adjourned. "THE KIDNAPPED BRIDEGROOM." The Lidderdale caso concerns a motion for leave to swear death, arising out of what was known in 1892 as "Tho Kidnapped Bridegroom" affair. Mr. IV, K. Lidderdale, manager of tho Ilminster (Somerset) branch ot Stuclcey's Bank, made his last true' will on March 5, 1890. Ho was then engaged to be married to Miss Elizabeth Chapman, who was referred toiu the will, and they were to have been married ;ibout January 15, 1592. On the morning of January 8, 1892, Mr. Lidderdale drow a cheque for J61020 upon his' current account at. Stuckey's Bank, and left for London. He did not return to Ilminster, and on February 10, 1892, there appeared in tho obituary column' of several London newspapers tho notice: "Lidderdale," Op January 30, on Missß.A.S. Viping's yacht- Foresight, William Robertson Lidderdale, of Ilminster, result of an accident on January 3 alighting from carriage in motion." Shortly afterwards Miss Chapman received a registered packago •containing .£SOO in Bank of Englaud notes, a Christmas card, a marked Jubilee sixpence which had belonged to Mr. Lidderdale, and visiting cards of Miss B. A. 11. Vining, with the address cut oft'. On the back of one of these cards in Mr. Liddordale's writing wero the words: "I was true to you." ' Searching int|iiirios were mado by Scotland Yard to trace Mr. Lidderdale, or find an authentic copy of the certificate of his death, but in vain. In a letter to Miss Chapman, written after arrival in London, the missing banker mentioned meeting Jliss Yming, an old lover. Every inquiry was also made lo traco "Miss B. A. 11. Vining," and her yacht Foresight, but without result. No such yacht had over been registered in Lloyd's Register. It appeared, however, that some time before a dandyrigged yacht of that name had been seen off the coast, and that Mr. Lidderdale had met with an accident while in the company of Miss Vining. Rewards were offered for information as to either the accident, death, or disappearance of Mr. Lidderdale, and in November, 1907. the High Court of Justice was asked, niter a lapse of nearly sixteen years, for leave to swear his death, There were two insurance policies for .ClflOO each on the life of Mr. Lidderdale, and an accident . policv of JCIOOO.