MARY JAGGER IS STILL MISSING

Northern Advocate, 24 October 1935, Page 8

MARY JAGGER IS STILL MISSING

*NO TRACE SINCE SUNDAY afternoon

MYSTERY OF CHILD’S DISAPPEARANCE DEEPENS APPEAL TO WHANGAREI PEOPLE TO ASSIST

Must Have Been Tired

rpHE disappearance of Mary Jagger ' is still shrouded still niore deeply in mystery today and the volunteer search parties, who have done > such yeoman service, do not know where to turn next. With hop e becoming increasingly fainter, they are driven to go back over country they have already closely traversed. Ever since Sunday afternoon a small army of settlers has been searching for Mary Agatha Jagger, two-year-old daughter of Mr Harold Jagger, in the rough country between Waiotu, Tapiihi and Hukerenui, about 20 miles from Whangarei. Absolutely rio trace has been seen of the child after she disappeared from Mr W. Johnson’s farm, whither she had been taken by Miss Helena Johnson, who is employed by Mr Jagger.

The little girl was in the habit of having an afternoon sleep. She left chme on that fateful Sunday morning, with Helena, who is aged about 20, at 10 o’clock, arid did not have a rest between then arid her disappearance. She would thus be feeling tired. In the hollow at the back of Mr Johnson’s property behind the house there is a labyrinth of shallow creeks, some of which take subterreanan courses through the treacherous pipeclay country. Iri other* places the sides of the creeks have been undermined by currents.

The child’s bloomers were found underneath a row of pine trees on the horizon, about 4 chairiSi from the Johnson house. No significance is -attached to this, as she was in the habit of removing some of her garments.

Appeal for Searchers. An appeal was made today by Mr G. Martin, county councillor for the Otoriga - riding to all people in Wharigarei and neighbouring districts, who wish to lend a hand, to take part in-a public search oh Sunday, provided the child has not been found by. then. Inspector O’Hara has taken enthusiastically to the idea and all who wish to; take part are invited to be at the junction of the Parker-Lamb and Tapuhi roads, near where the girl disappeared, about 10 o’clock on Sunday, or as soon after as possible. The search will be under the supervision of the senior police officer present, and it is intended to divide the people into detachments of 40\ahd 50, and work every piece of ground systematically. Those who can provide transport are especially urged to co-operate, and ail who take part, are asked to take their food with them.

On the flat on Mr Johnson’s property, a child’s footprint has been found, but here again, it might quite easily be that of one of the Johnson children. . Heavy rain falling in the district last night, besides obliterating any such evidence, has swollen the creeks. The weather this morning is hot. Search Goes On. The band of about 50 settlers under Detective Nalder and Constables Butler and Smith are continuing the search. They do not feel that they can rest until they have eliminated every possibility of Mary Jagger being found.

A new aspect was' brought into the search this morning when Mr W. Hansen, Jun., had his team of 12 bullocks working, dragging snags and willows from one of the tributaries of the Waiotu Stream, about one mile from Johnson’s.

“This is an appeal to the whole "district” said Mr Martin, “and I confidently expect that 1000 people will turn up.”

Up to a late hour today there was no sign of the little girl, although the search had been extended over a much wider area.

Detective Nhlder was engaged early this morning ki taking statements from all householders oh the land which runs through the ParkerLamb sub-division, in an endeavour to check up oh the actual timd of disappearance. The scope of the investigation has been widened, and endeavours are being made to check up on every motor vehicle which passed along the Tapuhi or ParkerLamb road on Sunday. The Johnsons observe a very punctual domestic routine, although, on the day of the child’s disappearance, the mid-day meal was delayed, owing to the late arrival of the eldest Johnson boy. and ah employee who had been getting firewood. , Later, the ' members of the family enjoyed a siesta, while Helena prepared herself for returning to Jagger’s for ' assisting with the milking. Mr W. Johnson, Sen., is known for his great devotion to children and often may be found available for the care cf little ones When their parents have been away. He is feeling the present situation vrey keenly,- and, although a semicripple, is doing his best to forward the search. ■ ,

The organisation of the first four days was largely broken up today with small detachments following their individual tracks and theories, with thfe search being concentrated more within the immediate radius of about one mile. ~

Mr and Mrs Parsons, whose home is situated at the junction of the Par-keir-Lamb and , Tapuhi rtoads, were enjoying the sunshine at their residence on Sunday afternoon, but did not see human movement of any kind.

Difficult Country-

- This afternoon Inspector O’Hara led a party from Mr W. Johnson’s place to that of his brother, Mr James Johnson, about: a mile towards Tapuhi. They encountered difficult country, and had to break their way through standing tea-tree, seven, or eight feet high, fern, and the swamplands at the head of the Waiotu Valley.

. They came across several dead beasts, but no sign of the missing girl. The party also explored the upper reaches of the Waiotu River, which, at this place, is treacherous, with deep holes and a swift current.

The younger children of Mr v WJohnson were in the habit of wandering across .to their uncle’s place, and it was thought just possible that they might have set out on Sunday, and that the little Jagger girl had wandered further on.

The party made the return journey via easier country, over which Mary Jagger could easily have made her way. , The party then deviated towards Mr Pat Kenwood’s property, further down the Tapuhi Road.

When the swamp was dug up in front of Mr W. Johnson’s yesterday, hundreds of eels Were caught.