A LEICESTERSHIRE MYSTERY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2514, 11 April 1881, Page 4

A LEICESTERSHIRE MYSTERY.

Quite a sensation has been caused in Leicester by the announcement that a gentleman has appeared claiming to be heir to the estates of Wynn Stanley,who some eighteen years ago mysteriously, disappeared while hewas High Sheriff of Leicestershire. The case is enshrouded in great obscurity, but it appears that in consequence of some family disagreement Mr Stanley left Leicestershire suddenly, telling his mother that she would never see his face again. He was traced to Franco, and his relatives raised £IO,OOO which was given him while there to provide for his wants. He, however, again disappeared very suddenly, and it was subsequently discovered that he had unwisely entrusted the £IO,OOO to several gentlemen, and it was lost in an unfortunate agricultural speculation. All traces of Mr Stanley were lost, and £IOOO was offered as a reward for his discovery or the finding of his body. A Leicester detective named Smith went to Russia and Germany, and finally succeeded in finding a body in the Rhine bearing certain marks which were known to exist on Mr Stanley. This body was recognised by an innkeeper as that of an unknown traveller who had not paid his hotel expenses, but had left his jewels as security for payment. These jewels were recognised as those of Mr Wynn Stanley, and some handwriting was also sworn to by his valet. All the private marks on the linen, however, had been cut off; and, although there were grave grounds for doubt, it was generally believed that Mr Wynn Stanley had committed suicide. It is now as serted that while in France he was married to a French lady, to whom it was known he had an attachment ; and it is a son of this alleged marriage that is now put forward as the heir to the estates near Leicester. What lends additional interest to the case is the fact that a few months ago a Leicester Working Men’s Land Society purchased, with the consent of the Court of Chancery, about six acres of land for cottages from Mr Carlyon, into whose hands the estates have passed, at a cost of £2,040, and the purchase not being quite completed, they are in great difficulty what to do under the circumstances. The Society have taken the opinion of Mr Rigby, Q.C., upon the question, and he thinks that, under the peculiar circumstances, the Court of Chancery wonld consent to have the sale annulled. Meanwhile the sisters of Mr Stanley have made a declaration to the effect that, to the best of their knowledge and belief, he is dead, and that he was not married in England.