LOST OVERBOARD

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20670, 8 March 1937, Page 13

LOST OVERBOARD

FATE OF NOTED PLAYWRIGHT AND FILM ACTOR United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received March 7, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 6. Frank Vosper, a noted playwright and stage film actor, disappeared from the liner Paris between New York and Plymouth. The officers of the ship conducted an inquiry behind locked doors before the liner berthed at Plymouth. They believe that Vosper fell overboard after a farewell party held in the cabin of Miss Muriel Oxford, who was Miss Great Britain in 1935. Vosper, during the party, went on to the private balcony attached to Miss Oxford’s cabin at 3 a.m. and did not return. A passenger states he heard a man in one cabin shout: “If you won’t marry me I will jump overboaid,” but he does not know whether this related to the tragedy or in anywise concerned Vosper. On arrival at Paddington, Miss Oxford emphatically denied that Vosper told her he would jump overboard if she did not marry him. She exple* :ed he ar.d she talked for some time on the balcony. She returned to the guests and he remained on the balcony. They were merely friends. She inet him for the first time aboard the shop. There was not the slightest question of a love affair. Evidence of Passenger Peter Willes, an actor, proceeding home in company with Vosper, says it was an accident. There was no question of Vosper threatening to jump overboard. Vosper went to bed early, but when Miss Oxford said she was “throwing a party,” we dragged him out of bed about 2 a.m.. Vosper whispered to me that he was tired and bored and was going to bed. In order to escape notice, he went out on the balcony, presumably to climb down to the lower deck and return to the cabin. I am certain he did not know the balcony did not overlook any deck, and opened only upon the sea, Willes later admitted. It was he who said jokingly to Miss Oxford, ‘‘lf you don’t marry me, I will jump overboard.”