A STRANGE STORY.

Pahiatua Star and Eketahuna Advertiser, Volume 1, Issue 27, 7 September 1886, Page 4

A STRANGE STORY.

(From Examiner, September 8,) Mr Levy, whose departure from Wellington iH surrounded with such mystery was well-known in the bush districts. At one time cowboy for the late Mr Drowcr, at Waipukurau, he was sent by that gentleman to manage a store in the bush. He managed the store through all snrtsof strange experiences, of which the Scan dinavians have some amusing remembianccs. Mr Levy there organised a Sja-cial Settlement Association. He managed it so well that many of the members w'shed they hail never seen Mr Levy or the Association either, lie lett the books in a hejs less muddle, and we believe tile Association has not yet got its ntfairs in an understandable position. Mr la>\y had also something to do with a Road Hoard, and his management of Unit brought d, wn on his head the wrath of the Scandinavians who beseiged him on on* occasion in such force that he had to grant tin ir demands. Mr Levy then ha 1 a desire to be a J.P. Mr Ormond was the man in power, and had promised to do anything ha could for him. The J.P, circle was a very select one in thnte days and we fancy Mr Ormond hud his doubts about fulfilling his promise so far as this. At all events a petition w as suggested and Mr Levy had s petition circulated asking that he should be appointed a J.l\ '1 he petition was Humorously signed, though many of the Scandinavians afti r cards denied that they had signed it themselves, ami said - ine nc had written their names without their consent. On the strength of this petition Levy was made a J.P. Mr Ormond has not heard the last of this as during the late session he was on several occasions asked as to the health of hi- J.P. For some years I.evy has been a leading man in temperance matters, and we are prepared to admit that in this respect he has done n deal of good. Latterly he lias held a position in Wellington ns Secretary to the Allinnc , and it is while tn connection w ith this that his disappearauce so mysteriously occurred. As an officer of the Alliance fie lias bten workng hard against the pul lienn interest. It is therefore stated that he and Mr Eraser, of Wellington, who was chairman of one of the committees, had received threatening letters on account of their actioil on behalf of the temperance cause. For our own part we doubt the genuinemss of these letters, an 1 we understand the letters in Levy’s t*c-s ssion were very like his own handwriting. They may, of Course, be genuine eno igh. There was a handsome young lady in Wellington. She was of Scandinavian descent, having hailed from Norsewood. She was a barmaid by profession, and Mr Lew had known her well. He has been seen in company with her in Wellington. This young lady wu- going to Sydney, and Mr Levy did the amiable by addressing her hoxi s and aiding her in her arrangements for her departure. Now what was more natural than that a gpntlcuisu should do, this for a hoiv friend Well the lady left for Sydney. .Meantime Mr I.evy continued his avocations, and things up[►cared to go very well. At length he had to go into the country by rail to uri inge lor Mr ltiirnett's mission or something of that kind. He went and war. seen at the wharf talking wi'h some people. A steamer was about to leave for Sydney. The steamer left. I.evy was missing. At once the threatening letters wcie uneiirthed and all sorts „f foul play were suspected as between the Wellington publicans and the missing man. The temperance cause has claimed its first martyr and the police were on the alert. Policemen are knowing dodgers, and the Wellington police, alter a little inquiry winked knowingly. They wished Mrs Levy to take out a wife desertion warrant, hut this she declined to do.. They traced Levy to Sydney in the sc If same steamer that had left the day lie was first ini>sing. They -t iled that he hud gone on to Melbourne, and there they left nini, insinuating that tae pre tty barmaid luid preceded him thither. Meantime Levy's friends were anxiously awaiting direct tidings from him. Th. eat last cutne in the shape of a long letter to his wn* written from Sydney. The letter is a most extraordinary one. In it Mr I.evy explains that all lie' remembers was being haunted I v a bad . looking limn and lie was net conscious again until he hod been some day* on the stamper when ho awoke in a state of great pain and emaciation, having lusted no food. H» - c\s that there were two young men from Wanganui whom lie knew;. He was ah in >t penniless when lie became conscious. It certainly seems strange that hail he intended to go away he should have departed without money or clothing, hut thu idea <>f las being dragged mid smuggled oil hoard a siuamur ])i broad daylight when there u«r# doz»i,s uf people about s>. ms rather hku a “ tali yarn and “ill r. ipure a great deal of explanation before an ordinary intelligence at all events can credit it. In his letter levy stated his intention i, t endeavouring to obtain the necessary funds for his return journey in Midliouine and returning at an early date. M, aiiltouj Ills wife and children have • offered much aiivisi), mid |h*ir home has been broken up. The children lime In i n taken by friends an I Ills w jfu t,.» cone t" r. ide with her parent* in Woodwile. Such i.-, one ol the most inexplicable tales we over heard and the solution of tin- mystery will ho anxiously uu ailed.