MISSING RECTOR

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 August 1928, Page 7

MISSING RECTOR

ESSEX VILLAGE SENSATION

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING ?

(Australian Press Association.) (By Cable—Press Assn— Copyright.)

LONDON, August 22.

The mysterious disappearance is reported of the Reverend Franklin Hutchinson, Rector of a little village, Doddinghurst, Essex. He formerly belonged to Bendigo, in Victoria, Australia. He lived in the rectory with a butler and with Miss Tricket, his secretary. He should have resumed duty, after having a holiday a fortnight ago, but nothing has been heard of him, except a letter sent to the Bishop’s Chaplain by Mr Hutchinson, announcing his intention to resigii. The butler of the rectory, named Strawn, is also missing. Miss Tricket said that Mr Hutchinson told her that he was going on a Vacation to Ireland. He was married, but he had not been living with his wife recently.

Mr Joseph Morgan, an. accountant, who is a friend of Mr Hutchinson, says that the Rector was worried in connection with a dispute 'which led to proceedings between them in the High Court last year.

' He says: “I, as his friend and counsellor, know the whole of the circumstances of the case. I have been trying to get in, touch with him. There is a considerable sum awaiting here as soon as he has complied with certain legal formalities, but I have not received any word since he left the Rectory. His total income was about £l5OO from the parish, from his share in a school aild from his literary work.”

The “Daily* Express” states that Mr Hutchinson received £360 just before his departure from the Rectory. Though the police are retie'ent, it will not be, surprising if the mystery should develop on sensational lines. The strangest feature in the case is that the butler, Strawn’s room at the Rectory was' found in a state of the utmost disorder. No one saw Strawn leave : the Rectory, though it is believed that he accompanied the Rector in a motor car. The statement that the Rector was married has surprised the village, as it was generally believed that he was a bachelor.

HINTS OF SUICIDE

LONDON, August 23.

A. G. Weymouth, who is joint principal at Saint Peter’s College, Lewisham, with Hutchinson, says that before Hutchinson was missing, he received a letter from him hinting he was making away with himself, and that he had left Weymouth , a thousand pounds. x Mr. Weymouth examined the books at the rectory and found that all Hutchinson’s property was mortgaged, and Hutchinson was penniless. A number of villagers and pressmen assembled outside the rectory early this morning, owing to rumours of sensational developments.

The police commenced searching the house and grounds covering eighteen acres and at two o’clock were still continuing the search which was fruitless. There was no trace of Hutchinson or Straw. The latter had given an address at Torquay, but letters sent there -were-returned marked “not known.” THE BUTLER FOUND. (Received August 24, 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, August 23. The police have ascertained that Strawn is looking for a job at Stroud, and is quite all right. They went to the Rectory in order to allay anxiety, and found nothing unusual. There is no reason whatever to suspect foul play. It is considered that Mr Hutchinson, who is suffering a nervous breakdown, is likely to turn up in Ireland. It is believed that he is impecunious.