MANSE MYSTERY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 200, 24 August 1928, Page 7

MANSE MYSTERY.

RECTOR DISAPPEARS.

Sensation At English Country Parish. DISTURBING FEATURES. (Australian and N.Z. Press Association.) LONDON, August 23. The Mysterious disappearance is reported of the Rev. Franklin Hutchinson, rector of the little village of Boddinghurst, Essex, who was formerly at Bendigo, Victoria. Mr. Hutchinson lived in the rectory with a butler and Miss Tricket, his secretary. He should have resumed duty after a holiday a fortnight ago, but nothing has been heard of him except for a letter he wrote to the bishop's chaplain announcing his intention of resigning. The butler, whose name is Strawn, is also missing. Miss Tricket says the rector told her he was going on his vacation to Ireland. The missing clergyman is married, but he had not been living with his wife of late.

Mr. Joseph Morgan, accountant, a friend of Mr. Hutchinson, says the rector was worried in connection with his wife. A dispute between them led to proceedings in the High Court last year. Mr. Morgan said he knew all the circumstances of the case and had been trying to get into touch with his friend. There was a considerable sum cf money awaiting the rector, he said, as soon as he had complied with certain legal formalities, but he had received no word from him since he left the rectory. The total income of the missing man is about £1500 a year from the parish, from his share of school fees and from his literary work. The "Daily Express"' says Mr. Hutchinson received £360 just before his departure from the rectory. The police are reticent, ,bnt it will not be surprising if the njystery should develop on sensational lines. The strangest feature of the case is that Strawn's room at the rectory was found to be in the utmost disorder. No one saw the butler leave the house, but it is believed that he accompanied the rector in a motor car. The statement that Mr. Hutchinson i= married has surprised the people o£ the village, as he was generally believed to be a bachelor. Rector Penniless. Mr. A. G. Weymouth, who was the joint principal of St. Peter's College, Lewisham, with Mr. Hutchinson, says that before the rector went away he (Mr. Weymouth) received a letter from him hinting that he intended to commit suicide, and saving he had left him £1000. Mr. Weymouth has examined the books at the rectory and found that all Mr. Hutchinson's property is mortgaged, and that he is penniless. A number of villagers and journalists assembled outside the rectory early yesterday morning owing to rumours that there were sensational developments. The police at 2 p.m. commenced to search the house and grounds which cover 18 acres of land. They arc still searching, but their efforts have so far been fruitless. There is no trace of the rector or of Strawn. The latter had given an address at Torquay for letters to be sent to him. Some were sent but were returned marked '"not known." The Rev. Franklin Isaac Hutchinson 1 was curate of St. Paul's Church, Bendigo, 1 Victoria, 1914-15. He then went to England and officiated at St. John's Church. East Malvern. He was at the Zion Church. Rnthgar. Ireland. 1916, chaplain of the Old Dreadnought Hospital. Greenwich, 1917-18. curate or the mariners' church. Belfast. 1915M9. vicar of St. Petrox. Dartmouth. 1119-20. and of St. Alfeg°. Greeuj wich. 19?0-°1. Prior to his =mpo'itment as rector of Doddinehurst. Mr. Hutchinson was vicar of Rotherham.

STRAWN TRACED. HUTCHINSON IN IRELAND ? (United Servipe.) (Rpeeived 11.30 a.m.l LONDON, August 23 The chief constable of E»"sex ai. nounces that Strawn has been traced r< Gloucestershire and that the Rev. Hutchinson is probably in Ireland. STRAWN'S STORY. FOUL PLAY NOT SUSPECTED. (Australian and N.Z. Press Association." (Received 12 noon.) LONDON, August '2i>. The police have ascertained that Strawn's story that he was looking for a job at Stroud is quite all right. The police went to the rectory in order to allay anxiety and found nothing unusual and have no reason whatever to suspect foul play. It is considered that Rev. Hutchinson was suffering from a nervous breakdown and is likely to turn up in Ireland. It is believed he was impecunious.