A mysterious and suspicious AFFAIR.

Evening Star, Issue 4025, 20 January 1876, Page 2

A mysterious and suspicious AFFAIR.

A correspondent of the ‘ Timaru Herald ’ writes A man named M'Dougall, well known in the Temuka and Geraldine districts (having been storeman for Messrs Wilson and Sons, of Temuka, and with Messrs Brown and Plante, at Geraldine, and for some years previously with Messrs Hogg and Hutton, in Dunedin), being out of employment, went to Christchurch about the middle of November last in quest of a situation. He stayed at Hawkins’s Temperance boarding-house, and paid for his board in advance. After the first week’s stay in Christchurch he was engaged for a week by Mr J. Pearson as a storeman, but at the termination of the first day was told his services would not be required any longer, and 8s was tendered him, which he refused’ asking for a week’s wages. Subsequently he took out summons for that amount, which was paid into Court. Before receiving the money, and before the week expired, he was engaged in Mr Jameson’s store for a few days to assist in stocktaking. On the evening of the third day, Monday, the 29th November, having returned from his work rather late, and while taking tea, the firebell rang, and he with others ran out to see the fire, which proved to be a boot factory (formerly an old brewery), in flames. Later in the same evening another fire broke out in a deserted house down the-Ferry road. Whether he went to this is not known, but he has never been seen or heard of since he ran out from the tea table. The most mysterious part of it is, that he received a telegram that day from his wife, living in Geraldine, stating that she had posted a letter for him addressed Post Office, Christchurch, in which she had sent him a P.O. order. The letter was never called for, nor was the L2 ss, at the Resident Magistrate’s Court, until the wife recovered them, when she went up to look after him a week after-, owing to her not being able to get any tidings from him. She found his other suit of clothes, &c., just as he had left them at his lodgings. M‘Dougall was a very quiet, sober man, and very much attached to his wife and family, between whom there existed the very greatest confidence. So that fears are justly entertained that he has met with his death, and circumstances seem to indicate that it is not by fair means, as no trace whatever can be found of him. He had written to his wife two or three times during his stay in Christchurch, telling her all the circumstances concerning himsplf as they happened. So that there is no ground whatever to think that he had either destroyed himself or deserted his' wife and family. The wife having earned L 4, sent him the post-office order to pay anything ke might owe for board, and for his passage back. His not having called for his money when the telegram had been put into his hands that day, telling him of the money, and his not having called at the Court for the L2 ss, and his clothes remaining at his lodgings, while his board having been paid for, show that he could not have gone away, and there is no circumstance at all tending to lead to the belief that he committed suicide ; beside, if he had, his body would ere this have been discovered. The only other conclusion is that he has been murdered. The police have been informed of the circumstances, but no warrant has been issued as the wife cannot swear that he has deserted her, for she is fully persuaded he is dead. M‘Dougall is thirty-four years of age, stands sft lOin high, is a native of Scotland, has a dark complexion, with a small dark moustache and beard.