CASE OF SKULLS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23044, 23 May 1938, Page 12

CASE OF SKULLS

SYDNEY DISCOVERY MYSTERY BELIEVED SOLVED COLLECTION FOR DOCTOR [from our own correspondent], SYDNEY, May 12 "The Mystery of the 100 Human Skulls" is'not a now "thriller," but merelv the subject of a few paragraphs which helped to entertain Sydney newspaper readers for a few days. - Jn a zinc-lined packing case, 100 human skulls were discovered in a storeroom at a city bond store, the case having been unclaimed for at least 30 years. The packing-case is a square wooden box, and the only nwiking is a printed name which, though faded with the years, can be read as "Gablock." f , . ; Whether this was the name of a ship which brought the case to Sydney, oi the name of the owner, is not known. No steamer or sailing-vessel is now on Lloyds' register under that name. Most of the skulls are in a good state of preservation, and tho teeth in many of them are. perfect. The opinion was expressed- that more than 30 years ago tho case was consigned fron'i one of the Pacific Islands and that the skulls were those of natives. ..Medical Man's Claim ..'The next day one of tho newspapers published this: "Without, the assistance of Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson believes that he has solved the mystery of the 100 human skulls." It went on to say that Dr. Frederick Watson, of Canberra, has claimed the skulls. He said that during his studies in medicine at Sydney University he had been collecting skulls, arid liis father, ilr. James' Watson, who, with Mr. Janu-s Ewan, Dr. Watson's untie, had owned the wharf and bond .store, had asked the captain of a trading vessel to bring several 'New Guinea and Polynesian skulls to Sydney for his son.

' The case of skulls had arrived, flind tlieu been lost. The probable date of their arrival in Sydney was between 1898. and 1900, "I. was. collecting skulls ut -the tune for. my student work in imatoinv and that corresponds with the statement'that they : had been in the bond .store i'or more tCian 30 years," said Dr. Watson. "The name 'Gablock' on the case, may ,havo been a misspelling of my lather's home, Glanworth."' Many Years in Packing Oaso The skulls were inspected by Professor Shellspeaiy "research professor in anatomy'.at Sydney University. He said the collection was obviously an assorted lot of human skulls, resembling those of the Solomon Islands. The condition of the skulls suggested that they had remained in the packing-case, for betwekm ' 30' and 40 - years. As the shape of the skull and face bones were similar to those of presentday natives, he believed that the skulls were not of antique origin. .- - Although there is nothing sinister in the discovery of the skulls, Sydney detectives arfe continuing their investigations in the hope of establishing the ownership of the. consignment.