SKELETON IN A CHEST

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18861, 8 November 1924, Page 2 (Supplement)

SKELETON IN A CHEST

' . DEAF MUTE WHO VANISHED.

A SUFFERER FROM FITS.

DISCOVERY IN A GARDEN.

CHANGE AGAINST PARENTS

Information sent anonymously to thj Southampton Police Station a few weeks ago is beloved to have led to the unearthing of Jhe skeleton of a young man which is believed to have been lying foj many years in a seaman's chest in a back garden. The skeleton is believed to be that of the eldest son of a Mr and Mrs. Mabey, who lived in Albany Road, and it was in the garden of theij house that the discovery was made.

This young man in question was a deal mute, and suffered from epileptic fit®. About 15 years ago, when he was aboui 21 years of age, ha suddenly vanished, and it was believed that he had left th* district. The discovery was made when Chief Detective-Inspector Lucey and ser. eral officers paid a sudden visit to th< house of Mr. and Mrs. Mabey and asked if they could make a search in th« garden.

The house is one at the end of a ro« of two-storey workmen's dwellings and there is a short back garden in which a shed had been built. The structure is oi the lean-to type, and tho slanting s id< had actually been built on to a bi« wooden chest. Going straight to thil chest, which had been covered in. dirt and rubbish, the police officers dragged it away and prised open the heavl wooden cover, which was nailed down bl a large spike. J

A Gruesome Sight. As the officer flung back the lid of th* chest a grim sight met their gaze. Th* mummified skeleton of a young man laj on its side in the box, doubled up until the knees almost touched the chin. Pop tions of a counterpane, which had ovii dently been wrapped round the both when it was forced into the chest, stii remained, and packed round the bone) were a lot of rags, remnants of wearing apparel, and some printed paper. The 6equel to this discovery was tbf detention of Mr. and Mrs. Mabey, wh< were questioned by the police,' an] charged with "unlawfully disposing of 4 certain dead body so as to prevent thi coroner from holding an inquest." Mabey is employed by the South ampton Corporation, and he has severs] children living. Leonard is 33 years old) and married, living not far away froil his parents. Arthur is a seaman, age] 32, and he went away to sea the aaj before the detectives called at the housq Florence is married, and the other threj children —Harry (aged 23), Gladys (agei 17), and Audrey (aged 15)— lived witl the parents.

Mabey's Children Shocked. These three children were terribl; shocked at the course of events. The; knew of no other brother. "The old ches has been in the garden for years," sail Harry. After the chest had been removed t< the mortuary, and the- interior photoi graphed, Home Office experts were called in, and Sir Bernard Spilsbury, thi famous pathologist, who was accom panied by his woman assistant and Dri Seager Thomas, of Southampton, spenJ five hours in an examination of the r© mains. They paid particular attention t< the position of some ol the bones. Tin chest is one of the common pine boxe! in which seamen take their kit about.