DROWNING MYSTERY

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 54, 27 November 1929, Page 12

DROWNING MYSTERY

WOMAN’S BODY IN SEA AT ST. KILDA HUSBAND ARRIVE 1 S AT AUCKLAND Dominion Special Service. Auckland, November 26. A passenger on the Ulimaroa this morning, Mr. W. H. A. Biggs, received on arrival at Auckland news of his wife's death in tragic circumstances. A cable message was received from Melbourne on Monday evening stating that the police were investigating the finding of a woman’s body in the sea at St. Kilda, that it was believed to be Mrs. Biggs, f South Africa, and that it was thought her husband had left for New Zealand last Thursday. Mr. Biggs expressed amazement when the news was referred to him on board the Ulimaroa this morning. “I heard nothing about it at all either before I left Sydney or by wireless on the voyage,” he said. “This is a terrible thing to happen.” . . Mr. Biggs said he and his wife left England last September, and visited Perth and Adelaide before going on to Melbourne. They were to leave Melbourne last Tuesday for Sydney to catch the Ulimafom to Auckland, where they intended to settle. They visited the city previusly about four years ago. “We were in Melbourne for about a week,” Mr. Biggs said. “Last Monday my wife went out with some people we had met in the People’s Palace where we were staying. I have not seen her since. When she did not return on Tuesday I left , a note saying I had gone on and caught the afternoon train for Sydney. I left another note at the People’s Palace in Sydney. My wife was fully acquainted with the whole of our programme, and even when the Ulimaroa sailed I was confident she would arrive in Auckland by the next boat. I was not worried at all about her absence. Biggs is a middle-aged man, and describes himself as a property salesman. He was interviewed on the wharf to-day by Detective Nalder, of . the Auckland Detective Office, and details of his statement are to be cabled to Melbourne. Meanwhile Biggs is staying at the People’s Palace, Upper Queen Street, and intends returning to Australia by the Ulimaroa on Friday.

The cable message referred to, published yesterday, was as follows: — “The police are investigating the finding of a woman’s body in the sea at St. Kilda, believed to, be that of Mrs| Biggs, of South Africa. The woman s husband is thought to have left Sydney for New Zealand on Thursday. Arrangements have been made with the New Zealand police to interview him on his arrival.”