EXTRAORDINARY MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 2823, 16 August 1890, Page 6 (Supplement)

EXTRAORDINARY MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE.

Two agents of a well-knawn New York detective bureau have arrived in London for the purpose of investigating the movements of Mr P. R. Stewart in this country, in connection with whom some reitmi kable occurrences have taken place, which will lead to serious legal complications in America, It seems that in the year 1862 Mr Philip R. Stewart, a rising tradesman of New York, while on a visit to Charleston, was supposed to be drowned. His clothing, watch, money, documents, &c, were found on tho shore, as though ho had gone into the water to bathe and had been drowned. He was never seen by his family again, who mourned him as dead. A few weeks afterwards a dead body was washed up OD tho shore, a short distance from the spot where Mr Stewart was last seen, which, although the features were too decomposed for recognition, was identified by Mrs Stewart as the body of her husband on account of a peculiar ecar on the ankle. Tho body was buried by the supposed widow, and a suitable monument erected to the memory of the deceased gentleman. There were two children of tho marriage at the time of the occurrence—a boy aud a girl, one three and the other four years old—and Mr Stewart, being a man of means, his property was realised for the benefit of his widow and children, and an insurance company paid over to the widow 5,000d015, on Mr Stewart's insurance policy. In the year ISGS Mrs Stewart married again, and moved from New York to Cincinnati, where her present husband is a well-known citizen, and by whom she had had a family of ftvo children, the youngest of whom is now 18 years of age. Surrounded by a grown-up family, with a kind and affectionate husband in prosperous circumstances, she was one of the happiest of womon until, a short time ago, she was amazed and horrified to see Mr Stewart, whom she thought she had buried 28 years before, walk into the house and olaim her as his wife. There was no doubt whatever as to his identity, for, notwithstanding tho lapse of years, his wife recognised him immediately, and, moreover, in the course of conversation he recalled incidents known only to themselves. Mr Stewart deolined to give any explanation of his extraordinary conduct except that he had his own reasons for disappearing, and had been living ever since in Europe, most of the time in Great Britain. He did, however, volunteer the statement that leaving his clothing, money, &c, behind was intended to convey the impression that he was drowned. He had another suit of clothes near at hand, which he donned, shaving his beard, and left for Europe. He now demands his property, which was realised and divided among his family nearly thirty years ago, and this its likely to lead to extraordinary complications. Then, too, arises the question of the legitimacy of Mrs Stewart's last live children, some of whom have come into legacies to which they would not be entitled if they were illegitimate. The insurance company will demand the return of the 6,000 dollars they paid supposing Mr Stewart to be dead, so that with one thing and another in connection with this extraordinary affair, the American lawyers will have a busy time of it. The unfortunate

lady is completely prostrated by this sensational event, and in the meantime her legal advisers are endeavouring tc trace Mr Stewart's career in Europe, as it is supposed that a woman was the cause of his mysterious disappearance. It is considered possible that he may have committed bigamy, and if so his wife will take steps to have him punished. The second husband is nearly out of his mind at this unexpected blow to his family.