Mysterious Disappearance of Doran

A TALE OF MYSTERY.– Mr. Richard D. Doran of Harper’s Ferry, who was for many years engaged in the mercantile business at that place, disappeared somewhat suddenly, about four years since, and all efforts to obtain information as to what had become of him were fruitless. Mr. D. was in very good circumstances, and having been last seen in Philadelphia, it was believed that he had been robbed and murdered. His brother was granted letters of administration at the June Court, and was proceeding to settle up the estate. It was therefore with great surprise that the Administrator received a letter from a Mr. McCue of Baltimore, (brother-in-law of Mr. R. D. Doran,) stating that a letter was in his possession, directed to his care, for the wife of the supposed deceased– who has herself died since the disappearance of her husband– giving an explanation of the whole matter, hitherto so unaccountable and mysterious in its character. “The letter (says the Spirit,) is dated at Glasgow, Scotland, and those who have examined it, say there can be no doubt of it being written by Mr. D. He explains his mysterious disappearance from the fact that he was in a state of partial derangement, and pursued that course to avoid a more fatal termination to his imaginary difficulties. He makes in the letter, a number of requests, and desires that his wife, from her own private funds, will remit him a bill of exchange, sufficient to pay his passage home and liquidate some other indebtedness which he names. He also desires his wife to retain a gold watch, (the description alone of which proves the letter genuine,) until he returns home, which he promises shall be as early a day as he can make his arrangements to suit.”
[Charleston (Va.) Torch-Light.