ILFRACOMBE MYSTERY.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18675, 26 April 1926, Page 4

ILFRACOMBE MYSTERY.

BEFORE PROBATE COURT. (FROM otm OWN CORRISPOtfDINT.) LONDON, March 10. There was a development in the High Court this wc6k, regarding the four-year-did mystery of the disappearance and presumed death of Mrs Susannah Bevan, of Cwmllynfell. A woman suspected of being Mrs Bevan is now in custody in tfew Zealand. In the Probate Court, before -Lord Merrivale, Mr. Beddingtoh, on behalf of the Prudential Insurance Co., applied to have revoked, letters of administration in the estate of Mrs Bevan, who was presumed by the Court, to be deceased on November 29th, 1922, on the application of Mr David Harris Bowen, solicitor, of Gorcimon, Glamorgan. Mr Beddington said that the date of the alleged death was June 29th, 1922. It appeared that Mrs Bevan was staying at Ilfracombe for sea bathing. In accordance with her usual custom, she went out on June 29th, 1922, apparently to bathe, and she was not seen agqin, although her clothes were found on the beach. She left a will, which was proved, in respect of an estate assets of about £350, debts £3lO, and life policies—ono in the Eagle, Star, and British Dominion Insurance Co., Ltd., for £2OOO, and another in the Prudential Assurance Co., Ltd., for £2BOO. The Eagle and Star Co. refused to pay, and the executor brought an ae : tion, but it had been discontinued. The Prudential Co. paid £2BBI 13s 6d. There was no suggestion made against Mr Davis Harris Bowen, solicitor, who had sworn an affidavit. Traced by a Photograph. Mr Beddington statfed that the eldest son of the woman was killed in a motor accident. For various reasons, £2227 10s had been paid into the Chancery Division of the High Court of Justice. It now appeared quite plainly from an affidavit which counsel had that the woman was not dead. On June 29th, 1922, the day on which she was supposed, to be drowned, a woman giving the name of Trixie Finch arrived at the Girls' Friendly Society's Lodf Exeter. A photograph of Susannah Bevan, who had previously applied for a passport to go to South Africa, had been identified by the secretary of the society as the photograph of Trixie Finch. On July Bth, 1922, "Trixie Finch" entered the service of Major Studdy at Broadclyst as a cook, and she remained, there until October 7th, 1922. She. explained that she had lost sotae of her clothes in the train. On February 12th of last year "Trixie |Unch" left Liverpool for New Zealand; she was granted a free passage under tho New Zealand Domestic Service Scheme. She had been arrested in New Zealand, and arrangements were bcihg made for her to be brought to England on a charge of conspiracy. Application to Stand Over. Mr Bayford, E.G., said he appeared for Mr Bowen, and was only anxious to help the Court in any way. If Mrs Bevan was still alive, then his client was entirely deceived. The Judge—lt seems to me that these grave questions of fact will bo set at rest when the woman said to be' the presumed deceased arrives—if she arrives—in custody to await her trial. Mr Bayford—l do not want to Say anything which might prejudice subsequent proceedings. At the present time the estate, oi' what is left of it, is being preserved, through the action of Mr Bowen. Tho Judge remarked that he saw arrangements had been made for the woman to be brought here to answer a charge of conspiracy. When was she expected ? Mr Beddington—l cannot say, my Lord. The application was ordered to over.