MYSTERY OF VANISHED RICH FAMILIES STILL UNSOLVED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22888, 7 March 1949, Page 5

MYSTERY OF VANISHED RICH FAMILIES STILL UNSOLVED

LONDON POLICE HUNT

(N.Z.P.A. —Reuter—Copyright.) (11 a.m.) LONDON, March 6. Despite diligent and incessant police inquiries in a nation-wide search, mystery still shrouds the disappearance of two wealthy families—Dr. Henderson and his wife, Rosalie, and Mr. William McSwan, his wife Amy, and son Donald.

The public lias supplied a welter of information, but little or nothing has been substantiated which would explain the riddle of the vanished people.

One of the main problems associated with the inquiries for the McSwans is the fact that apparently they have no surviving relations.

Despite wide publicity, no one has come forward with a claim to kinship. It was suspected that the McSwan family had been murdered in a basement of a London building. Now, says the Sunday Express, the police are wondering if the McSwan family is still alive. There is no proof of their death and there may be other reasons why they have not come forward. Meanwhile, Scotland Yard’s best homicide detectives are continuing exhaustive investigations which might finally offer a solution to the puzzle. Murder of Others Not Proved Scotland Yard issued a statement yesterday saying: “A few days ago information came into the possession of the metropolitan police that a number of persons had disappeared. Most had not been reported to the police as missing. Widespread inquiries since have been made in an effort to trace these people or to ascertain what have happened to them, so far without definite result. “The police have no evidence to support the published statements that additional persons mentioned have been murdered.” The Sunday Express says that Scotland Yard men investigating the case of the missing Henderson and McSwan families found in a builder’s workshop in southern England a human foot believed to be that of a woman. The foot was sent to the forensic laboratory for tests. Scientists Finish Tests Eight scientists have finished tests on soil material collected in various places in Sussex. They have been working 14 hours daily for the last six days analysing the contents of seven large boxes. It is understood that they discovered traces of human bone. Meanwhile 20 detectives are working night and day to trace the missing families.

The Sunday Dispatch says the police are trying to get possession of documents held by a London firm of solicitors which may have the most profound effect on the whole mystery because the man who is suspected of murdering both families deposited a number of documents with the firm some time ago.