YACHT MYSTERY

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 95, 19 October 1931, Page 7

YACHT MYSTERY

DRAMA OF DEATH

STRANGE STORY

NEW YOEK, 2nd October

Tho police believe that the arrest of Dr. Lester Bitchie and his son "William will -be the means of unravelling a strange story of murder, pirates, and a diifting yacht.

A fortnight ago a yacht was found drifting in Long Island Sound, with a five-year-old child, Barbara Collinge, aboard.

Shortly afterwards the child's mother was discovered on the beach, and she told the police a remarkable story.

Mrs. Collinge, who is 32, said that late at night two pirates boarded the yacht and seized her husband, taking him away in a canoe.

They returned later and seized her. They then told her that they had killed her husband.

Tho police doubted the story, but the body of the husband was later found in tho surf, bound hand and foot, with a bullet wound in tho head and the throat gashed.

A second body, that of William Smith, a mechanic, has now been found, and the police are piecing together a supposed drama of love and jealousy. It appears that Smith made his home with Dr. Eitchie and was friendly with tho doctor's wife.

Smith disappeared on the same day that Collinge was murdered.

The police believe that a vengeful husband and son waylaid Smith with the intention of giving him a thrashing, but overdid it.

Tearful lest the victim would die, they paddled to Collinge's yacht, but found Collinge aboard, who recognised them. Smith died on their hands, and then the police allege, they attacked Collingp.

The Tiitcliios tied, and were tniccd to Florida, where they were arrested.

Father and son deny both crimes, and. intend to fight against the granting of aa. order for their extradition.