The Bellerby Mystery.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7847, 26 May 1904, Page 6

The Bellerby Mystery.

Tho Argus of May 12 supplies the following particulars of the disanpearance of Mr Bellerby, a Queensland grazier, who formerly -resided in bisborne :

Searching enquiries are beins made by the police with a view to discovering the whereabouts <A Mr Alexander Bellerby, grazier, of Drou*n > ™k° has been missing since the •frd inst. His disappearance is surrounded with absolute mystery, and grave fears regarding his safety are entertained. '

ilr Bellerby has an estate between Drouin and Longwarry, in Gippsland, and on the 3rd inst. he left his home to go into Drouin on his usual round of business. While he was in Drouin, he received a letter calling him to Melbourne on imperative business, and without returning home he took the next train for Melbourne, arriving- there shortly before 2 o'clock. Be wrote a letter to his wife, explaining to her the reason of his sudden departure, anc.|, knowing the nature of tho business pending between her husband and the firm who had written to him, she felt no anxiety. WLen, however, he neither returned home nor wrote, Mrs Bellerby became' alarmed, and travelled to Melbourne to make enquiries. She found that he had not appeared at the hotel at' which he was accustomed to stay in Melbourne. Alter Jus arrival in the city iho only acquaintance who saw him was Mr * • J. Boileau, stock and station agent, of Collins-street. Mr Hoilcau and M r Bellerby were "together at the Vienna Cafe, at about 3 or 4 in the afternoon, and went to a tailor s shop, where Mr Bellerby made an appointment to come next day. IHe two men parted, and Mr Bellerby disappeared. Mrs Bellerby and Mr Boileau spfnt some time in making enquiries, but tailed to trace the missing man, and on Saturday they reported his disappearance to Superintendent Sharp, who instructed Detectives Howard and Manning to make investig-arions. Up to the present their systematic search has failed to discover the slightest trace.

There is nothing to account for the disappearance of Mr Bellerby. He was,ifc gojod he.alth, and his finnancial position was sound. Enquiries make it seem prof-able that he had a considerable sum of money in his possession, although the fact that he found it necessary to cash a cheque for £3 with Mr Boileau on the afternoon of his disappearance points in the other direction. It lias been ' ascertained however, that the day before lie left home he drew £25 from his tank, and that in Drouin, prior to leaving for Melbourne in response ».o the letter which he received there, .he sold some cattle to a stock and station agent, Mr England, receiving the payment for them. These sums, with the cheque for £3, make a total of £70 which came into his possession on May 2nd and 3rd. Mr Bellerby was devoted to his wife and children, and Mrs Bellerby is persuaded that his disappearance has not been due to his own act. She is still in Melbourne and is utterly prostrated by the grief caused by her husband's mysterious disappearance.

Several reports that the missing man had been seen in Melbourne reached the police last night. Some of the " clues " ao gained were followed to the end and found to be misleading ; other of the reports remain to be verified or disproved. (Since the above was in type: a cable lias been received stating -that Mr Bellerjby has been found in' the country in a demented condition).