SOLVING A MYSTERY

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 11323, 29 September 1930, Page 2

SOLVING A MYSTERY

faTe'of Voting’girl

SEARCH FOR' COMPANION

SYDNEY. &?pt. 16. The solution of the mystery caused by the discovery of a skeleton at a lonely' spot near Newcastle is at last approaching after weeks of work by a large squad of police 'and detectives. For.weeks the police have been unable or unwilling’?to throw any light on the matter, which was surprising, seeing that the discovery ot the skeleton bad caused a great, deal of interest 'throughout' the

State. Now they say definitely that the skeleton was that of Mary Deris Schubert, aged 14, formerly of Taree. on the North Coast v of New South \\ ales They are now searching for the girl's father, a man past.middle age. Between Christmas and January of this year the girl and a man left the small township of Coopernoik for Newcastle. The man -was carrying a suit-case in which the girl's clothing was packed. The girl's mother, it is alleged.-believed that her daughter was.to ho placed in a home at Newcastle. She had no idea. what. happened to the - girl, and she was satisfied when the man returned home with. the.empty case,' stating "that "he had left the girl safely housed. M ceks passed, the mother not hearing anything of the whereabouts of her daughter. Having received no letter front her, she questioned the man, who is alleged to have told her that he took the girl to Sydney instead of to Newcastle. In: any" - ease, .the girl. soon afterwards was posted missing. When the • remains were found some, weeks- ago ■ at a lonely spot hear Newcastle, .various people viewed the cheap jewellery that was found with the tones. In the meantime a constable at Coopornoek, having road the circular from police headquarters, communicated with the Newcastle police, Mrs-nSphiibf'ri then went to Newcastle, and she was able to identify the trinkets" as belonging to her . daughter.

Mrs Schubert also spoke of the man who, the police think, will he able to throw a .good deal of light; °n the mystery. The trail took, the police to the northern districts of'the State, where the man had" been working on the roads, but when they had arrived they found lie had gone on lias way. The police were able to collect some valuable information and they found that ' he* had' cashed a money order at the local post office. Tliey followed him across the border of Queensland; blit alwaysvthow.trojee behind their, quarry,' Vhc! * it' ’ is thought, ' "returned t 0 New South M ales and is now working outback. Ail analysis of 'the sbil near where the honbs were found has satisfied the police that the girl was poisoned, hut the circuinstaiices in. which the poison. was' administered : remain, a mystery. 1 •: ’■ 1 I the inquest which was held ! 0n Thursday last, the coroner -return- ; ed a verdicttthafc ’tlieNgifl-.aied from • strychnine poisoning, feloniously adi ministered * her:... fairer, whose* ; whereabouts are unknown. '• • 7}