AN EXTRAORDINARY STORY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2104, 27 September 1890, Page 1

AN EXTRAORDINARY STORY.

i Two agents of a well-known New York detective bureau have arrived in London (or the 'purpose of investigating the movements of a Mr P, R. Stewart in that country, in connection with whom Some remarkable occurrences have taken place which will lead to serious legal complications in America. It seems that in the year 1862 Mr Philip R. Stewart, k rising tradesman of New York, while on a visit to Charleston, was supposed to bo drowned. His clothing, watch, money, documents, etc., were found on the shore, as though he had gone into the water to bathe, and hod been Browned. At all events, he was never seen by his family again, who mourned him as dead, and a few weeks afterwards a dead body was washed upon the shore a short distance from the spot where IMr Stewart was lust seen, which, although the features,were too decomposed for recognition, was identified by Mrs Stewart as the body of her husband on account of a peculiar . scar on the ankle. This body was buried by the supposed widow and a suitable monument erected to the 'memory of the deceased gentleman. There ;wera two children of the marriage at the time of this occurrence—a boy and a girl, the one three and the other four years old—-Mr Stewart being a man of means, bis property was realised for the benefit of his widow and children, and an insurance company paid over to the 'widow the sum of 5000 - dollars on Mr Stewart’s insurance po’icy. In the year 1865 Mra Stewart married again, and moved from New: York to Cincinnati, where her present husband is a well known citizen, and by whom she has had i* family of five children, the youngest of whom is now eighteen years of age. Surrounded by a grown up family, with a kind, and affectionate husband, in prosperous circumalences, she was one of the happiest 6T women until a short time ago she was amazed and horrified to see jMr whom she thought she had buried 28 years before, walk into the house and claim her as his wife. There was no'doubt whatever as to his.identity for, notwithstandingithe lapse of years, his wife recognised him immediately and, moreover, in the course of conversation he recalled ? ’incidents > known only * to themselves, :>Mr Stewart-dec’iued to give any explanation of his extraordinary conduct, except that he. bad his -reasons for disappearing, and had deen ’ living iever since in Europe, most of the time in Great Britain. l Je did, howeverVolunteer the ktatkment that leaving bis clothing, money;, etc, was intended to convey the impression that he was drowned. Be bad another suit of ' clothes - near at hand which he donned, shaved bis heard, and left for Europe: He now demands his property, 'which-was realised : and divided among bis family nearly 30 years ago, and this ia likely to lead to extraordinary complications. Then, too, arises the question of the legitimacy of Mrs Stewart’s last five children,'some of whom have come into legacies to wbloh-they would not be entitled if they Were illegitimate. The insurance* company will-’'demand the jreturn of-the 5000 dollars they paid supposing Mr Stewart to be dead, so that with on o thing and another in connection with this extraordinary affair, the American lawyers will have a busy lime of it. The unfortunate lady is completely prostrated by this'sensational event, and in the meantime her legal advisers are endeavoring to trace Mr Stewart’s career in Europe, as it is supposed that a woman was the cause of his mysterious 'disappearance. It is l considered possible that be may have committad bigamy, and if so bis wife will take steps to have him punished. The second husband is nearly out of his mind at this unexpected blow to hie family.