DRICH WOMEN DISAPPEAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22260, 7 November 1935, Page 18

DRICH WOMEN DISAPPEAR

SISTERS FROM AUSTRALIA /, id ' M MONEY DRAWN FROM BANK /' ' " " [from our own correspondent] 1 . By Air Mail > ..< , . LONDON, 'Oct. 19 The strange disappearance of * two Wealthy sisters a year ago was described to a representative of the Daily Telegraph the other day. A countrywide Bearch by Scotland Yard, solicitors' agents and the Salvation Army has been made without success. The women are Miss Errima Gill Keeves, aged 75, and Miss Charlotte Gill Keeves, / aged 70. They formerly lived in a boardinghouse at / Bayswater. Mr. Arthur Keeves, a cousin of the women, who lives at Highgate, told the strange story of their lives. "My cousins arrived from Australia in 1929," he said. "Their strange * behaviour and manner caused me to have grave doubts about their fitness to be left alone. They stayed at my house and after a week disappeared. They wore found in Bayswater, whore they remained until . July of last year. Without a warning they left that house and have i)ot been seen or heard'of since.

"They have drawn no money from their bank; although several thousands of pounds are awaiting them. They were suffering from a persecution complex. Their relatives in Australia caused trustees to be appointed to administer thoir estate, ana a London firm of- solicitors are acting on behalf of the' trustees. The trustees were appointed under the Mental Deficiency Act of 1913, and it was contrary; to tho advice of relatives and friends that the two sisters left Australia and c?ime to this country. "I understand that they are enormously wealthy, and they always had plenty of money. , Every night there ■was a great commotion in their bedroom wnen they retired. After locking the door they pulled a large wardrobe in front of the door, and then further barricaded thfemselves in .with the 'hfeavy brass bedstead." _ Both sisters made wills, each leaving her estate to the other, with the provision that at death the whole was to go to the Exchequer to help clear fifE the notional debt.