A Canadian Mystery

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 67, 16 October 1930, Page 4

A Canadian Mystery

WEALTHY RANCHER MISSING. ONE EMPLOYEE KILLED, ANOTHER WOUNDED. MAY HAVEL ESCAPED BY AEROPLANE. (Received 9,10 a.m.) VANCOUVER, October 15. Mystery surrounds the disappearance of Cbsen Spencer, a wealthy British Columbia rancher, formerly a millionaire Australian film magnate, after fatally shooting Edward Smith, his storekeeper, and wounding another employee, W. Stoddard, who had an arm shot off. Th© mystery now is so deepened that it is even suspected that he may hare managed to make his way back to Australia. At the time of the shooting Spencer fled to the bush. A shot was heard, hut a thorough search failed to reveal his body. It was believed he was drowned, hut a search of the lake was unavailing. Days later a neighbouring rancher reported seeing an aeroplane some miles a wav from tbe scene the day after fhe tragedy. Sn°nc°r ran a 20.D00--.iere cattle ranch, the largest in British Columbia. After coming here from Australia six years ago, with a million made in Australian films, lie suffered a nervous collapse, after heavy losses in the stock market crash, but refused to entor a sanatorium. Tt is revealed also that Snenoer was worrying ever bis inability to pemi v e menev alDgedto owing in Australia and' be was obsessed with a fnlco idea that imia-T'Uevrs W'we st°Hiug bis tirwe rattle bred in England.