FOUND IN SEA AT BRIGHTON

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7141, 31 May 1910, Page 1

FOUND IN SEA AT BRIGHTON

DROWNING MYSTERY NEW ZEALAND CORRESPONDENT'S BODY. MR ARTHUR H. CHAPPEL. FBOM OUB SPECIAL COE.HEBPONDEHT. LONDON, April 22. Mr Arthur 11. Chappel, who was London correspondent for a number of New Zealand provincial jiapers, was found drowned in the sea at Brighton this week. His body wa3 identified by his sister-in-law, Mrs T. Chappel. So far the tragic affair is a mystery. Mr Chappel left his lodgings in Vauxliall Bridge road, where he had lodged for nearly three years, on Thursday of last week, saying that he would probably

return tho following day. Nothing, however, was heard of him until Sunday night, when a friend of tho landlady of the house, living in tho vicinity, brought the information that oil Thursday evening she had received a mysterious postal packet from Mr Chappel. It was a foolscap envelope, embossed "H. J. Chappel and C 0.," the name under which Mr Chappel is believed to have carried on a paper business, and contained a sealed package and a slip of paper, on w:hich were the words: If you do not hear from me in a week.from this date please forward : tho enclosed package to my friend,

Mr Marshall, at Leigh-on-Sea. Tho letter remained in the lands of the addressee until Sunday night, when she showed the note to Mr Chappell's landlady. The package was promptly sent by registered post to Leigh-on-Sea, and Mr Marshall found it to contain a letter asking him to undertake the settlement of Mr Chappel's affairs, of which details were enclosed.

The roam which Mr Cliappel had occupied for three years had partly been fitted up as ari office, and here he worked hard all day, spending a great part of his time working. a typewriter. lis did a considerable amount of journalistic work, and according to the statement of a friend was the author of several books. He left his room locked, and took the key with him. "When Mx Chappel left the house on Thursday," his landlady said, "he seemed much,;:more cheerful than usual. He always had a light breakfast of bread and butter and tea. but on this particular morning he ordered bacon and eggs. Ho informed the housemaid that he intended to take a day off, and when she asked why he did not intend to have a longer holiday, he replied, 'Ah 1 , wait and see. You never know what may happen.' He had previously remarked to me, during a conversation about some vacant rooms I had, 'AVell, you must do as Mr Asquith says, and "wait and sec." '" The body of Mr Cliappel was found in the sea on Tuesday, fully dressed. "I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS." The inquest was held yesterday at Brighton. Henry Joseph Clarke, a gardener, said about 2.30 t.n Tuesday morning he was sitting on a seat under the Madeira terrace. He saw a man who had since been identified as the deceased lying on the same seat. Witness spoke to him and saTd, "Pardon me, if I was you 1 should sit up; the constable will be round." After a while he got tip/ and said, "I have had enough of this," and then went across the road to the beach. Witness did not see any more of him. Questioned- by the coroner, witness said he thought the man meant he found the seat too hard. Alice Francis, the ,-witness to whom Mr Chappel sent the sealed package referred to above, said she used to live at 159, Vauxhall Bridge road. She had known deceased for thveo years. She left there about eighteen months ago, but still continued to ■ work for- deceased. The Coroner: What did you notice about him? Witness: He was eccentric. In what ivay?—He .was always saying what he was going to do, but nevex threatened to commit suicide. The jury returned a verdict of "Found Drowned."