MYSTERY FATE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 57, 7 March 1936, Page 4 (Supplement)

MYSTERY FATE.

AGED EVANGELIST. FIREMAN'S DISCOVERY. DEAD WITH HANDS ABOVE HEAD. With his hands held above his head, ail 87-year-old evangelist, Mr. Walter Webb, was found dead ill a chair at his home at Enfield, England. The discovery was made by firemen who were called to quell a lire at the house. Though the outbreak was in the room, the body showed no signs of having been burnt. The mystery of his death is being investigated by the police. His son, Albert, told an interviewer: "Some years ago he was robbed of £09, which was taken from under his bod, but although the thief was found my father refused to prosecute, remarking: 'The Lord will take his vengeance!' Although he was reputed to be a rich man, nothing has been found in the house. The mattress under his bed was slit open." Mr. Webb was a familiar figure in Limehouse and East London. He was known as the friend of all children, and, despite his great age, he travelled from his home in Chase Side, Enfield, to conduct revivalist meetings in the East End. Practically every policeman in the North and East End of London knew him, and every Monday morning ho sat in Enfield Police Court ready to help any person who had repented. Shilling a Week Wages. "Ho only had one day's schooling in his life," his son stated. "At the age of 12 he was put to work in the fields m »\ ales and earned a shilling a week, but ho later came to London, where he was a tra\ellei for a large biscuit firm. "Unfortunately he drank and gambled heavily, and eventually lost his job. Then, 12 years ago, he became religious, and used to conduct revivalist meetings all over the country. "His early training as a traveller made him a wonderful evangelist, and although he had such a scanty schooling lie educated himself and could speak three languages. ' ~ , "After his day s tour he would return to his home, where he lived alone, and lock and bar all the doors and windows. When asked why he did it he would say: 'To keep out the devil and the wickcd world.' ~ , "He married his first wife at an early age, and before she died at the age of 43 she had borne him eight sons and two daughters. Mv mother, his second wile, was only 18 when she married 22 years ago, and she has two sons.