RECTOR VANISHES.

Grey River Argus, 24 August 1928, Page 5

RECTOR VANISHES.

ENGLISH MYSTERY. Butler Also Missing. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) (Received August 23 at 8 30 p.m.) LONDON, August 22. There is a mysterious disappearance reported. It is that of the Reverend Franklin Hutchinson, the Rector of a little village, Doddinghurst, Essex, lie frrnieily belonged to Bendigo, in Victoria, Australia. He lived in ths rectory with a butler and with Miss I’rickrt, his secretary. He should have re uineil duty, after having a holiday, a fortnight ago, but nothing has been heard of him, except a letter sent to (he Bishop’s Chaplain by Rec Hutchinson. announcing his intention to lesign. The but,lor of the. rectory, named St lawn, is also missing. Miss Tricket said that Rev Hutchinson fold he r that h e was going on a vacation to Ireland. He was married, but he had not been living with his wife recentlv.

WHAT FRIEND SAYS. (Received August 23 at 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, August 22. Air Joseph Morgan, an accountantwho is a friend of the Rev Hutchinson, says that the Rector was worried in connection with a dispute which ted t o proceedings between them in th e Hi<di 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 hero 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 of the school and from his literary work.” The Daily Express states that the Rev Mr Hutchinson received £360 just before his departure from the Rectory. WHAT THE VILLAGERS DIDN’T KNOW. (Received August 23 at 7.26 p.m.) LONDON, August 22. Though the polic e are reticent, it will not be surprising if Hie Hutchinson mystery should develop on sensational lines. The strangest feature in the case is that the butler. Strawn’s room at th.v Rectory was found in a state of the utmost disorder. No one saw Strawn leave flu* Rectory, though it is believed that he accompanied th? Rector in a mid or ear. The statement that th ( > Rector was married has surprised the village, as it was generally believed that he was a bachelor.