SKELETON FOUND IN SCRUB COUNTRY

Southland Times, Issue 23179, 21 April 1937, Page 6

SKELETON FOUND IN SCRUB COUNTRY

BELIEVED TO BE THAT OF MAN MISSING SINCE 1934 (United Press Association) HASTINGS, April 20. The skeleton of a man was found in scrub country at Crownthorpe yesterday, and it is believed to be that of William Fergusson Wishard, aged 55 years, who disappeared in 1934. The discovery was made in the course of routine farm work, the skeleton being brought to Hastings this afternoon. The police are now engaged in endeavouring to establish definite identification of the remains.

“Once an attempt was made on my life.” In these words Dr M. C. Franklin, president of the Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry, momentarily startled the members of that body (says The Christchurch Star-Sun). “The perpetrator is on my right,” he added, pointing a finger at Mr R. L. Andrew, acting Dominion Analyst, who had just concluded an address to the meeting. Dr Franklin said that at the time, he was working at the Dominion Laboratory. He was called aside by Mr Andrew, who offered him something to taste, telling him not to take too much of it. “It was strychnine, taken from the stomach of some person who had committed suicide,” Dr Franklin concluded, amidst laughter.