MYSTERY OF THE SEA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21553, 26 July 1933, Page 11

MYSTERY OF THE SEA

PASSENGER DISAPPEARS INCIDENT NEAR SYDNEY UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES There are unusual features in the mystery surrounding the disappearance on Juno 7 last of Mr. Guyton Butler, a passenger by the steamer Nieuw Holland, in the course of the voyage from Singapore to Sydney. An inquiry has been opened in Sydney by the deputy-director of navigation, Captain G. D. Williams, who will examine other witnesses on the return of the liner from Java on August 4. Vernon E. H. Rhodes, rubber planter, said, in evidence, that ho had met Butler on board, and sat at the same table. He did not impress witness as a person likely to do away with himself. Butler said that ho had suffered from sugar diabetes for many years. Witness gathered that his business trip to India had not been very successful, but Butler was very jovial generally. Witness last spoke to Butler at 11.30 p.m. on Juno 6 in the smoking room, where he was watching a game of cards. The doctor came on board at Sydney at 7.30 a.m. on June 7, and the passengers were called to the saloon for examination. 'i- was examined by the doctor," said Mr. Rhodes, "and shortly after I went to Mr. Butler's cabin to return some medicine. Mr. Butler was not there. I left the medicine on a shelf. I returned to my cabin, and shortly afterwards my name was called by the chief steward for examination by the doctor. I told him I had already been examined. He said, 'No, you haven't.' I was then examined a second time." No Sign of Mr. Butler Witness said that Butler's name had been called and he could not be found. Witness again went to his cabin, which was still unoccupied. Nothing in it appeared to be disturbed. He also inquired of the cabin boy, who informed him that the bed had not been slept in the previous night. The ship's officers took no action so far as he knew. "A Major Fraser, who was in my company, asked the chief steward while the vessel was alongside the wharf whether Mr. Butler had been found, and Major Fraser told me that the steward's reply was that Mr. Butler had gone overland to Melbourne," said witness. Paula Butler said that she last saw her husband in January, 1933. They had arrived in Melbourne about 12 months before by the Orsova. She had left him at Melbourne to look up some friends, and she herself had come on to Sydney to visit her people. Toward the end of January, 1933, he left for Western Australia by aeroplane, and then embarked for Ceylon and the Far East on business connected with the firm of Felton, Grimwade and Duerdon and other firms. She spoke to him on the telephone, and he appeared to be in unusually good spirits. Ho wrote regularly. Sufferer From Diabetes Witness said she did not expect her husband in Sydney until a month later; but when she heard from friends, who congratulated her on his return to good health, that he was on board, she thought he was giving her a surprise. She went to the ship, and was told by the chief steward that he had not seen Mr. Butler since breakfast. Mrs. Butler said that her husband had suffered from sugar diabetes for eight years or more, and was under insulin treatment. He was an expert in chemistry, and treated himself with insulin. Asked if she knew of any overdoses taken by him, Mrs. Butler replied that, on one occasion at least, on which he took too large a quantity, tho effect was such that he became dizzy and had to seek treatment from outside. The effect lasted only a few minutes. Witness said that her husband had no financial worries and no debts, and was receiving a pension of £750 a year (English money) from the Brunner Mond Company. Their married life had been happy.