A WOMAN'S DISAPPEARANCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3763, 27 April 1926, Page 64

A WOMAN'S DISAPPEARANCE.

THE ILFRACOMBE MYSTERY AWAITING MRS BE VAN’S RETURN FROM NEW ZEALAND. (F.kom Oub Own Cobrespondent.) LONDON, March 10. There was a development in the High Court this week regarding the four-year-old mystery of the disappearance and presumed ce&th of Mrs Susannah Bevan, of Cwmllynfell. A woman suspected of being Mrs Bevan is now in custody in New Zealand. In the Probate Court, before Lord Merrivale, Mr Beddington, on behalf of the Prudential Insurance Company, applied to have revoked letters of administration in the estate of Mrs Bevan, who was presumed by tha court to be deceased on November 2y, 1922, on the application of Mr David Harris Bowen, solicitor, of Gorcimon, Glamorgan. Mr Beddington said that the date of the alleged death was June 29, 1922. It appealed that Mrs Bevan was staying at Ilfracombe for sea-bathing. In accordance with her usual custom, she went out on June 29, 1922, apparently to bathe, and she was not seen again, although her clothes were found on the beach. She left a will, which was proved, in respect of an estate with assets of about £350, debts £3lO, and life policies—one in the Eagie, Star, and British Dominions Insurance Company (Ltd.), for £9900, and another in the Brudential Assuranee Company (Ltd.), for £2BOO. The Eagle and Star Company refused to pay, and the executor brought an action, but it had been discontinued. The Prudential Company paid £2BBI 13s 6d. There was to suggestion made against Mr David Harries Bowen, solicitor, who had sworn rn affidavit. Mr Beddington stated that the eldest son pf the woman was killed in a motor accident. For vartcus reasons £2227 10s had been naid Into the Chancery Division of the Hign Court of Juftiee. It now appeared quite plainly from an affidavit which counsel had that the woman was not dead. On June 29, 1922, the day on which ehe was supposed to be drowned, a woman giving the name of Trixie Finch, arrived at the Girls’ Friendly Society’s Lodge. Exeter. A photograph of Susannah Bevan, who bad previously applied for a passport to go to South Africa, had bee a identified by the secretary of the so ciety as the photograph of Trixie Finch. On July 8, 1922, “Trixie Finch” entered the service of Major Stnddy at Broadclyst ag a cook, and she remained there until October 7, 1922. She explained that Bbe bad lest pome of her clothes in the train, On February 12 of last year “Trixie Finch” left Liverpool for New Zealand-* she w*s granted a free passage under the New Zealand Domestic Service Scheme. She had been arrested >n N-:w Zealand, and arrangement-* were being made for her to be brought to England on a of conspiracy.' Mr Bayford. K.C.. said be appeared for Mr Bowen, and was only anxious to help tli-v court in any way. If Mrs Bevan was still aliv#*. then hi« client was entirely deceived. The Judge: It seems to me that these grave questions of fact will be set at rest when the woman said to be the prestmn i deceased arrives—if she custoly to await her trial Mr Bayford: I do not want to say anyihing which might prejudice subsequent proceedings. At the present time the estate. o~ what is left of it. is being preserved, through the action of Mr Bowen. The Judge remarked that he saw arrangements had been made for the woman to bo brought here to answer a charge of conspiracy. When was she expected? Mr Beddington: I cannot say. my Lord. The ippllcaiion was ordered to stand over.