A MYSTERY CLEARED UP.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1939, 23 December 1913, Page 5

A MYSTERY CLEARED UP.

BODY FOUND AFTER SIX YEARS,

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Auckland, December 22. :A mystery which surrounded the disappearance of an old gumdigger named Charles Sprains from the yumficlds near Takapuna six years ago lias been cleared up by the finding of a skull, boots, leggings, aud other articles which have been identified by a porson who knew Spranz. Spranz, who was a very old man, lived in a tent oil the gumfields, about three miles from Takapuna. About six years ago ho was seen returning homo late one night, but since then nobody had seen him. On Saturday niglit Alexander Bell, a gumdigger, wlio was acquainted with Spranz, was in the scrub just off tlio track loading from the East Coast .Road to Spranz's tent, and about three-quarters of a mile from the road, when ho discovered a skull and n pair of boots. Bell is able to identify the. boots, leggings, and hat as thoso belonging to Spranz. The missing man had only one eye, and the Sight in the other was very bad. It is surmised that the old man's indifferent sight caused him to miss tlio track, and to lose himself, and it is thought probable tliaf he then sank exhausted on 'She ground, and died..