VOSPER MYSTERY

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 159, 2 April 1937, Page 11

VOSPER MYSTERY

Evidence of Miss Muriel Oxford at Inquiry Loudon, March 31. At the inquest concerning the death of Frank Vosper, the noted playwright and actor, who disappeared from the liner Paris a mouth ago between New York and Plymouth, a report received from the harbourmaster at Plymouth stated that the body must have travelled 170 to 200 miles between March 6 and 21. He expressed the opinion, in view of Hie weather conditions, that during that period the total drift of a floating object would not exceed 100 miles. Dr. Shera stated in evidence that all the injuries were caused by the sea and that the body was alive when immersed. Peter Willes, an actor who was accom],*i)yiug Vosper to England, told how he and Vosper went to the cabin of Miss Muriel Oxford, who was formerly "Miss Great Britain," to finish a bottle of champagne. Vosper spoke of the room being warm, and went to the veranda. There had been no words of anger. Vosper was extremely short-sighted, and was not wearing his glasses because they had been broken.

Miss Oxford called out to Vosper, “Come and have a drink,” but there was no reply. “I was puzzled and went to the veranda and looked right and left.” sajd Willes. “I walked to the window, the centre of which was open, and looked out. I was horror-stricken, because I thought there was the deck outside on which I expected to see Vosper walking.” He expressed the opinion that Vosper climbed out of the window, expecting to find the deck outside. Mlsw Oxford stated in evidence that she could not imagine what had happened when no reply came from tjje v.eran(la. Vosper showed no jealousy when she and Willes were sitting on the sofa.

The coroner said there was not a scrap of evidence of a disagreement. The foreman of the jury told the coroner that they were unable to reach a verdict and felt strongly that evidence should be forthcoming from a steward and the captain. The inquest was adjourned till April 5.

The body of Frank Vosper was found on a beach near Eastbourne on March 23. ExpertH familiar with the tides of the English Cannel were puzzled by the fact that the body was found so far east. Apparently it had drifted 280 miles in 16 days, which was considered most unlikely. as the tides run at only three to four knots. They were also puzzled by the fact that the sea had unclothed the body.