LOST FROM LINER

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 42, 30 November 1935, Page 3

LOST FROM LINER

INQUEST INTO WOMAN’S DEATH. EVIDENCE BY HER HUSBAND. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, November 29. At the instigation of the Marine Department, an inquest into the disappearance of Mrs Ernest Bevington, a first-class passenger on the New Zealand Shipping Company’s liner Rangitata, who was found missing from the vessel on November 3, more tlmn two days out from Balboa, was opened before Mr Wyvern Wilson, S.M., as coroner. Detective-Sergt. McHugh appeared for the police. , In evidence, Ernest Bevington, who was represented by Mr Purdie, said he was the husband of the woman. Witness was a widower, aged 59, and be and Mrs Bevington, who was aged 49, had been married at a registry office in London on June 15. She hacl divorced her previous husband. AVitness was of independent means, as was his wife. They were coming to New Zealand on a holiday trip. His wife’s means were possibly equal to about half of his, and she had made a will just before she left. AVitness did not know the contents of the will, but lie was under the impression that it was in favour of her sisters. In reply to the coroner, witness said he first met his wife on the Oronsay. The witness continued that on the voyage by the Rangitata fi om London to Balboa he was on very friendly terms with his wife, and when days out they attended a race meeting on the tourist deck. Later, in the smokeroom lounge, they had a couple of drinks with other passengers. It was probably just before midnight that witness and his wife went to their cabin, which was on the C deck. Mrs Bevington’s bed was on the starboaid side, immediately under a porthole, and there was another porthole at the footof the bed. The portholes were always open, except in bad weather, " “Awakened by Rustling' Sound.” “AVe both undressed when we reached the cabin,” the witness added. “I got into bed, and started to read a book with my back to my wife. She came across to me, and T think she said my name, and I said, 'Oh, go to bed.’ I was very tired at the time. The witness continued that lie did not remember much more until he was awakened by a rustling sound on the other side of the cabin. As lar as he could determine, there were . curtains on tlie portholes ' anti' on the door which could nave made such a sound. As tar as he could say, the lights of the cabin were still oil. His wife's hed was not disordered, and as sire was not in the cabin fie rang three times for a steward. He met the head steward in the passage, and asked him to institute inquiries, and inform the bridge. The witness said he told the steward that lie had told his wile to go to bed, and she was not there. Mr McHugh: AYliat would you say if the bead steward states you said you had told your wife to go down to the cabin and wait for you, and that she was not there? AVitness: I would say that that was not correct. Was Wearing jewellery. Continuing, the. witness said his wife was wearing jewellery on the night fo her disappearance. He believed that two diamond bracelets, a wristlet watch and a necklace were now missing. The jewellery was insured for £BOO. AVitness sent a cablegram to a relative of Mrs Bevington, giving notification of her death at sea, and later sent a second cablegram in relation to the insurance on the jewellery. A reply was received: “Utterly shocked what happened. Jewellery no account.” As far as be was aware, liis wife’s life had not been insured. She had had an internal chill for two or three days on the vessel and was under the care of a doctor. She had never suggested suicide. AVitness thought jt was two or three nights before she disappeared that lie saw her leaning out of the porthole talking to the occupant of an adjoining cabin. He thought she was leaning out to a dangerous extent. Questioned by Mr Purdie, witness said he was undressed before his wife on the night of her disappearance, and was reading a hook before she began undressing. He was nearly half asleep when she came across to him. The inquest was adjourned until the arrival of the Rangitata at Auckland from Napier next week, when further witnesses will he heard.