SOLDIER'S DISAPPEARANCE

Evening Star, Issue 17037, 7 May 1919, Page 4

SOLDIER'S DISAPPEARANCE

LOST FROM JHE MARAROA. [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, May 7. The military inquiry into the circumstances attending the .disappearance of Rifleman John Russell from the Mararoa en route from Wellington to Lyttelton on October 24 last was resumed at Wellington to-day. John Hutchison, secretary of the Wellington Tramway Union, and a cousin of deceased, stated that Russell returned from active service on October 8, and was ordered to Hanmer for curative treatment, but was granted 15 days' leave. Russell seemed queer in the head, and was under the impression tihat people were following him. *Ho hinted frequently about doing away with himself. Witness endeavored to get him placed under military confinement, but on approaching the military police was told there was no place in which to confine him owing to the influx of returned soldiers. Great difficulty was experienced in getting Russell to the steamer. Russell escaped from the boat and went to a friend's house, and then appeared to be In a worse state than before. Deceased passed a bad night, and disappeared in the morning, but was recaptured after a long search, and placed on the Mararoa under escort. On the voyage down to Lyttelton he disappeared. Captain Brimley was the next witness. His evidence showed .that Russell was sent away in charge of Stephens. Russell got up a number of times during the night, and early in the morning Stephens accompanied him to the lavatory, from which he disappeared while the attendant's back was turned, and was never seen again. Witness did not know that Russell was a shell-shock case. The papers showed he was suffering from trench fever. The inquiry is proceeding.