A MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13683, 17 March 1910, Page 4

A MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE.

No light has yet been thrown on tho mysterious disappearance of the young man Robert Barker, who has been missing from his home in Papanui road dince Saturday, February 26th. It transpires that on the day in question, between 9 and 10 o'clock in the morning, Barker, who is 38 ye*»rs of age, and is an epileptic, was suddenly misv ed, and although immediate search was mado no trace of him could be found. Later, however, it waa ascertained that & man answering his description had been seen et Eyreton Junction, about fourteen miles distant, that came afternoon. The surrounding district was scoured by a search party on the following day (Sunday), but proved futile, and although search parties have been out on several occasions since, Barker's whereabouts is still a complete mystery. It was reported that he had been seen at Shirley, and although the report was felt to be incorrect, tho locality was vigorously searched, but without any' clue being found. Tho missing man is described os being of slight build, medium height, and very dark. A remarkable feature of the affair is that in spite of the fact that he was wearing alippers at the time of his disappearance, and had no hat on, his unusual appearance does net seem to have attracted the atten- j tion of travellers on the country roads. I

The greatest anxiety is naturally felt by tho people of the unfortunate young man ns to his whereabouts, and tho gravest doubts aro entertained as to his still being alive, especially in view of the fact that the night of his disappearance was a very boisterous one and that heavy rain wa_ falling.