The Laidley Mystery.

Manawatu Herald, 9 December 1897, Page 3

The Laidley Mystery.

Having made investigation from reliable sources, we (the Qtaki Mail) have gleaned the following information in connection with Mr Laidley's movements after he left Levin.

Mr Laidley left Levin on May sth with the object of riding td Welling ton to attend a cattle sale j*t Happy Valley on the 6th, and to sell the horse he rode at the hortjja sale on the Bth May. He left Levin about ten. In the evening of the 6th he went to Wellington, where he stayed at the Cambridge Hotel, patting his horse and dog up at Johnston's •tables next door.

Friday, the 7th, ha wrote to his wife telling her he had not purchased any coif § at the Happy Valley sale, is be found there was a big reserve on them, and they were not the class he wanted, being very wild ; but he had heard of a line of young heifers at the Uppar Hutt which he was going that morning to Bee; if he succeeded in making a deal, he would bring them home himself, and he expected to reach home about, the following Wednesday. It was arranged when be left Levin that he was to sell the horse he rode, at the horse sale on the Bth. If he did not bay the cows he wanted, he was to itay over. Sunday at Porirua with Mr Wall, his father-in-law, and then return to Letin by train.

Mr Wall, on enquiring at the Hutt, found that Mr Laidley had inquired at the Honeymoon Hotel, Taita, on 7th May, as to whether they knew anything of Cheetham's cattle, and from the information supplied he decided that the cattle would not be suitable.

On Saturday, Bth, Mr Laidley took his horse from the stable and put it in the sale yards, where a trial of it was given, and was afterwards sold to a grocer in Kent Terrace. He left the ealeyard about 4.80 p.m., carrying his saddle and bridle on his arm. The auctioneer asktd what he should do with the cheque for the horse, and Mr Laidley replied " post it to me at Levin. I shall be there in a day or two. lamin a hurry to catch the train. lam going to stay with some friends on my way (meaning, as is supposed, Mr Wall, of Porirua). He then returned to the hotel, paid his bill, and hurried away, saying he wished to catch the train on his way home.

Since then, there is no trace of Mr Laiclloy whatever— not the slightest clue of his whereabouts.