MYSTERY OF THE GROYNE

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4931, 26 July 1918, Page 5

MYSTERY OF THE GROYNE

DISAPPEARANCE OF MR. A BRYAN.

SEEN AT 10 O’CLOCK ON SATURDAY NIGHT.

RELATIVE INTERVIEWED

The circumstances surrounding the disappearance of Mr. Arthur Bryan have developed into a greater mystery than was at first assumed, and inquiries made yesterday by a Times reporter certainly disposed of the suggestion that he was not seen after 8.30 p.m. on Saturday. It will be remembered that a suit, of clothes, which .have been identified as belonging to Mr. Bryan, a well-known farmer, of Puha, was found on the groyne on Sunday morning, and this led to the supposition that fie had met his death by drowning. Mr. Bryan came to Gisborne on Friday to transact some business, and stayed the night with his wife’s parents. Mr. and Mrs. Mann, of Derby Street. On Saturday afternoon, despite the fact that it was bitterly cold, be borrowed a bathing suit belonging to bis brother-in-law , and stated that h® was going for a swim. He returned to the house some hours later, hut did not hand back the bathing suit. He again left the house at 8.30 p.m. on Saturday, and according to the information available on Sunday not boon seen since. It was presumed by his relatives that he had taken the train to Puha, and they gore no further thought to the matter. Further light has boon thrown on the mystery by Mr. Dowdle, of Messrs rates and McPhail, who was interviewed by a Gisborne Times reporter. I saw liim at 10 o’clock on Saturday mght, ’ said Mr. Dowdle. “My, bro-ther-in-law, Mr. Sutcliffe, and 1 went j up as far as th e Post Office, and on eur return, at exactly 10 o’clock, we both recognised him standing just- in £.J' on f °f the London Music Shop, in Gladstone Road. He was standing on the edge of the footpath, and in reply to my Good night’ ho cave me *1 nod.”

The suit which was found on the groyne, and-. which was identified as that belonging to Mr. Bryan, comprised a light colored coat, a dark vest, and trousers 0 f a somewhat darker material. But as Mr. Dowdle had averred that when he saw Mr. Bryan ne was wearing a brown suit, the "reporter mentioned the matter to Mr Mann—brother-in-law of Mr Bryan— Aviio stated that Mr. Dowdle must be mistaken. "When lie came to town on riiday Mr. Bryan was wearing the same suit as that- which was foirnd on the groyne, and, in fact it. was the only suit which he had’with him at Die time of hi s arrival in town. Mr Mann added that the affair was a complete mystery.

The supposition that Mr. Brvan was drowned, whilst bathing is born® out oy the fact that he had also bor-rojy-ed a bathing suit last Friday and icit lor the purpose of goino- for a ■swim He returned later in the dav and handed the bathing suit back, ri ,ll i -T i , ln could not remember, efinitely, whether or not it was damn, though ho had a slight recolo. -mn c.iat it was—indicating that aespite the extremely cold weather he ii acl actually carried out his ini tention 0 f indulging in a swim . J , he . missing man is about oft Bin m height, of slight build, and is iushaven t 0 6 dark ’ and is dean

P le pdice are still energetically piosecntmg a search, and, as -oon as the weather moderates suffieientJy, dragging operations, which were commenced on Sunday will be resumed.