THE LIDDERDALE MYSTERY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXVII, Issue 10641, 9 May 1913, Page 3

THE LIDDERDALE MYSTERY.

The Lidderdale case, referred to in recent cables in which preammptioh of death is asked for, arisen ont of what was kmowa iu 1893 as "The Kidnapped Bridegroom" affair. Mr W. B. Lidderdale, manager 0f... the Ilminßter, (Somerset) branch of Stuekey's Bank, made his last true will on March sth, 1890. He wa/9 then engaged to be married to Mies Elizabeth Ghapmuu, who was referred to in the will, and they were to have been married about January 16th, 1892. On the morning of January Bth, 1892, Mr Lidderiale drew a cheque for £IO2O upon his eurreat acoount at Stnokey's Bank, and left for London. He did not return to Ilminster, and on February 10th, 1892, there appeared in the obituarj columns of several London newspapers the notice: "Lidderdale.—On Januray,L3oth, on Miss B.&A. H. Tining's yacht Foresight, William Robertson Lidderdale, of Ilminater, lesalt of an accident on Januaxy Bth alighting from carriage in motion." Shortly afterwards Miss Chapman received a registered packagell'containing £SOO in Bank of England notes, a Christmas card, a marked Jubilee aixpenoe which had belonged to Mr Lidderdale, and visiting cards ,of Miss B. A. H. Vining, with the addns ss cat off. On the b»«k of one of these cards: in writing were [the words: 'I was true to you.' 'inquiries wore made by Scotland Yard, to trace Mr Lidderdale, or "fini an authentic copy of the certificate of his death, bnt in vain. In a letter to Miss Chapman, written after arrival in London, £; the missing banker mentioned-, meeting Miss Vining, fan old lover. Every inquiry was also made to trace "Miss B. A. H. Vining," and her yaoht Foresight, but without result. No such yacht had ever been registered in Lloyd's £ Register. * It appeared, however, gthat some] time', before a danetv-rigged yacht of that name had been seen off the coast, and that Mr Liddeidale 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, after a lapse of nearly sixteen years, for leave to swear hio death. Tnere were two insurance policies for £IO3O eachgon the life of Mr Lidderdale, and anj acoident of , £IOOO. •