A MISSING MINISTER

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13162, 12 May 1906, Page 5

A MISSING MINISTER

IS iTE DEAD ? OR HAS HE DESERTED HIS WIFE ? United Press Association*— By Electric Telegraph.— Copyright. Perth, May 11. A sensation has been caused by th« disevppearance of the Rev. X. ,A. James, minister of the Albany Methodist Church, and an ex-President of the Conference. Hc-i left on April Ist 'for a^ month's holiday. After visiting friends in Victoria he went to Sydney, and from there he wrote *o his wife on April lftth. He mentioned he had formed a friendship with, a man named Hunter, at whose lodgings "he was staying. On May 2nd Mrs* James reoeived a wire from Sydney signed "Hunter," stating that her husband had been accidentally drowned, and the body had „ not J>e«?n recovered. Seven days later a letter arrived from Hunter dated April 26th. purporting to have been written at sea- The writer stated that James was, sailing in Sydney harbour on April ISth, fell overboard, and was droynsd. t He gave lengthy 'details and i expressed regret that he did not report earlier. He added that hi was afraid to report to the police, besid •• es r^yhich, he had excellent reasons for mot -being brought into prominence just nom', .and could not be delayed on the journey he was about, to make. Meantime inquiries were set afoot at Sydney, and showed that the telegram and letter wore. posted at Suva on April 23rd/ with a letter to the Postmaster at Sydney asking him to forward them to Albany. The letters .were written in a cramped . and disguised hand. The Sydney polifio have no information .of a case of drowning which would correspond with the date given, and all the bodies recovered from the harbour were identified. The whole affair is shroud-, ed in mystery. \ Sydney ? May 11. Np- trace" hasf so far been discovered of Ja^e^v^pyeaxient in Sydney; .•;' A * f ':'<: : : --',-^ Perth)' May 12. . IfeJ : is -j 6tfetfe~ ih%t,- v . pfio*< tb h'ife deptir"t«r^- I f'"3:ariies 'raised a - considerable sum on- nis property, arid had further moneyvjyired.fto Melbourne. - . '" jamesT sjsEn, "fs] Sydney! .'-: -r. •' . r -■ • ■ tftfcfflW'A B^iJARD WHTCH HE -- x T^SUAtiLY WORE. /■',/■•■■,. 'i' ■■• Received May 12,- $ .a.m. " •-•••'- :': ' '- ' - Sydiwy; May* '12. Mr James^ ihoueh to several ministers in Sydney, did not •Visit any of. them. . ,- .. Th« only .definite.) trafto* 6i-. him is that he called" on. a seadsimtani and iordered seed' potatoes be: sent to his son, in Wostralja. He was *. clothed, in civilian dress, and was withou-t the •beard-- which^hc* usually, word". "'■ ' ■ '-The ' &&ke of Hhfr Suva l^ter coin'.cides with 'the arrival \\6t the- Mahieno th?re. The nam^es Hunter ' or James aro rto't on the^passßnger list.