EXTRAORDINARY DISAPPEARANCE OF A LANCASHIRE VICAR

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2063, 14 February 1889, Page 2

EXTRAORDINARY DISAPPEARANCE OF A LANCASHIRE VICAR

The greatest sensation bn been created amongst the people of Wood Plumpton, sear Preston, and neighboring places, by a report. which leaked oot to the effnot that the Rev W. H. Ramsbottom, Vica* rf Wood Plomptoo, had suddenly dlncp penred. Nothing of a particularly ■trlkiag obaraoter had been notload m the rev. gentleman's ooodaot m the pariah, or m his general demeanour, to ariose susplolon that anything had pone wrong • a great •mount of speculation had nevertheless, been Indulged m as to the truth of the, rumor, and the reasons which might oau3e the rev gentleman to depart ao quickly from the soenn of bis labors ; and th/» whole affair seemed sarrouaded by almost impenetrable mystery. The rumor, however, no longer exists, for the fact la the Rev W H. R*rasbottom has dlsippsared. On Wednesday afternoon recently the rev* gentleman was seen strolling along tba canal bank between Lea and Oot Una. He was accompanied by a man and also a woman nnd a dog. It was notlaeable, from various tlgos, thtt a warm, if not nn engry, conversation was belDg indolged m. Presently the woman. was senn to beoome very excited, and m a moment or two, assuming a pugilistic attitude, she did her be»t to castigate the rev gentleman. The dog, which' evidently belonged to the clergyman, appeared to sympathise with his master, and during the soeno went to his assistance. The enopunter, if we may so term it, was not generally known, and henoe no aniplolon as to a " disappearance " was aroused. On Thursday, a sort of costermonger'a oart was seen to convey some luggage belonging to Mr Ramsbottom to Preston, and the same day the rev gentleman hlmwas seen m the town, By next mornlog'a post, Mr William Harrison, of Wood PJutnpton, vioar's warden, received the following letter, whloh, to a oertaln ex ceo', ezpialni the whole affair j— Preeton, 2Qth December, 1888. Dear Mr Harrlaoo.— l am a ruined roan, I have resigned the living! and have gone away, never, X expeot, do see any of you again; I can- only pny that some kindly remembrance may dwell m your minds to set against my faults. 1 ask you, as churchwarden, to get either an auctioneer or valuer at once to buy the vicarage furniture to sooh an extent as shall be sufEiient to pay »ll parish debts. The Waterworth's Charity, £9 6s 83, is paid to Mr Biiley on January 6th. He will, no doubt, advance it until that time. The Blihop will, no d<ubt, take steps to have the datlet supplied,' but yon will have to get someone for Sunday next and Ohrlitmas Day. Of curse Friday's servloa will be given up, I enoloie the key to ths Oommunion plate and if sooh of my study drawers as may be looked. May your prayers go wltb yours faith folly, W. H, Ramsb.txom P.S. — Pleasa see that the housekeeper gets a month's wage*, 30s, and, if yon can, that my dog, poor fellow, gets a home. The following appears m the letter man authorisation s— "Wood P-lumpton Vicarage,— l hereby authorise the ohurohwardenn, or either of them, at once to soil auoh part of my fur* nlture, books, eto, a* thay shall think fit, to repay any sums owing by me to the parish or sohool fund*. Ido not suppose that these sums are £20 m all. W. H. Ramsbottom. The Rev W> H. Ramsbottom was appointed to th» Jiving of Wood Plumpton about rear years ago an the successor of the Rev I. Moesop. It has not transpired where he has gone to.