The: Missing Woman.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11571, 12 July 1899, Page 2

The Missing Woman.

MYSTERY STIf.L UNSOLYiSD. ACTIVE SEARCHES BEISG MIDE. Tiif. disappearance of Mrs Pearson is still surrounded in mystery. It is a week ago to-day (Wednesday) since &ho left the Coffee Palace at; New Plymouth, and though aatire and thorough ocqniriea have been made no definite trace his been obtained which would furnish a clue as to her whereabouts. Mrs Pearson arrived in New Plymouth from England abo it six months ago with her two children, girlp of tho age* of 14 years and 3 years respectively, and for some time reside^ with a relative of bers (Mm Duacin). Re'cenily fhe went to the Coffee Palace, and tho?e who knew her intimately observed that at times she appeared in rather a despondent state of mind. It is said that she was expecring a letter from England by a mail which camo to hand early last week, but the letter did not fc arrive, and Mrs Pearson seemed somewhat perturbed at the fact On Wednesday morning, sth, Mrs Pearson had breaktas 1 -. as usual, and immediately afterwards asked one of the inmates to look after the younger child. She then put on her hat and went out, and has not been heard of since. The diaappsarance was reported to the police late on Wednesday uight', and Constable "Stackpole, Nightwatchtnan Oliver, and one or two outsiders started a search party. On Thursday the lake in the Recreation Grounds was dragged, but nothing was discovered that would warrant the conclusion that tha missing woman would be found in that locality. It was at first suggested the water should be drained off, and tha Boird intimated its willingne«s to afford every facility for the prosecution of the search, but it was pointed out tint it would tak-a three or four days before the lake could be uleared, and the idea wn thorefore abandoned. With the publication of the disappearance in the newspapers cams a variety of • reports from perains who had, or thought they had, seen M»s Pearson. The first statement was tint she was notice 1g ling along Currie^street, apparently in th-> direction of the Recreation Grounds, but iinaiodiato'y afterwards two persons gave a detailed description of a -voman they I had seen at Waiwakaih >. The description was such as to lead the police to think it was Mrs Peir-on, and Constable Ljnd was gent out to make enquiries. He traced the person seen as far us Wait ira, but there she disappeared, though from iu formation subsequently obtained there does not seem to be anything in the sup» po iiion that the woman was Mrs PdaraoD. A.bout the game time it was reported that a woman ans»veiing to the discription given of Mrs Poirson hid b=>en seen on tha btach at Waiwakaiho, while similar reports have been received from oth'-r parls, the confiding statement; oilj ! tending to increase rather thau throw any 'ight on the mystery. The weather during the week has been wet and bitterly cold, ar.d anyone out iv tho element* could not, possibly have survived the expo ure. Mrs Pc rsou was au aff eotiomtn moth -r, and it seems safe to assume that i£ she were alive and in the district her maternal instincts would have assured her return. Her husband is living in England, and is, we understand, an ougiaesr by profession. Nothing has been left undone that would in any way lelieve the mystery, and the police are to bo commended for the diligence they have shown in making investigatio' s. Thia (Wednesday) afternoon Sergaaut Stqgpoolti \> A3 engaged drigging the Ileuui Kiver.