MISSING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7802, 5 September 1903, Page 5

MISSING.

STRANGE DISAPPEARANCE OF A CLERGYMAN. NO TRACE FOUND. A painful sensation was caused in scholastic and other circles yesterday by tn« spread of a rumour that tthe Rev J. M. Marshall, of Wanganui Collegiate School, was missing. Mr Marshall t who lias been ■for some years chaplain and) first assistant master at Wanganui Collegiate School, came to Christchurdh. ten days ago to meet the Wanganui School football team, which, caimo down for the annual matches with Christ's ! College and Wellington College. It has been Mr Marshall's custom in past years to travel with, the team, but this year ho I wa.- in Dunedin, when the team left,, having been spending ai 'holidlay in the. southern i city. A few months ago he suffered from J an attack of rheumatic fever, and his holiday was aeceseitatedi by the state cf his health. ! Mr Marshall was staying with the Rev P. |J. Cocks, of Opawa;, and on Wednesday morning went out for a walk. He did not return to lunch, and as his friends had no- j | ticed that his health and spirits were not so good as usual, some anxiety was felt as to his whereabouts. His overcoat j and portmanteau were still at the vicarage, and as he had said nothing about going away, it was thought that he could not have left town for either Wanga- | nui or Dunedin. He was expected to return to the vicarage during the afternoon, [ bufc no sign of him was seen, and all inquiI ries made concerning him were of no avail. Most of the members' of the Wanganui football team left Lyttelton for Wellington by the Mararoa on Wednesday evening, but it was understood that Mr. Marshall did not accompany them. In view of his recent illness, his friends became very anxious. ; The police were informed of the mysterious disappearance, and and yesterday search parties were sent out. The hills and the river were scoured, and i> quiries were made wherever the missing gentleman might have 'been, but no word of him could be obtained. From the moment of his leaving the, vicarage his disappearance was complete. No one could be found who had. seen him or even heard of him, and though a very diligent search was maintained by the police and his friends, they had obtained no trace of the/ missing gentleman when darkness forced them to cease operations last night. A telegramiwas received by the police about 8.30, p.m. , stating that Mr Marshall's name appeared in, the passenger list of the Mararoa, which left for Wellington on Wednesday evening, but there was no 'definite statement that he arrived in Wellington, and nothing to show thas. he Had gone on to Wanganui. A representative of this journal, who traivelled to Wellington by the Mararoa, telegraphed late last night, in reply to an inquiry: — "Mr Marshall was said to have been booked 1 by the Mararoa, and his name appears in the passenger list; but, though I knew him well, I did not see him on board, about the train at Christchurch, or at Wellington. From inquiries made in scholastic circles here to-night, I could .gain no idea of 3us movements." The greater part of Mr Marshall's stud<enfc life was spent at Canterbury College, where he had a 'brilliant career. He entered Canterbury College in. 1886 as a junior University scholar, and in Jus three years of undergraduate life won honours and exhibitions. At tie end of 1888 ihe eecuredi his B.A^ degree, and the senior scholarship for mathematics, and 1 in the following year his avi.A. degree with first-class htaaours in mathamatics and second-class honours in Latin and Greek. This was one of the most remairkable^perfonnamces ever made by a New Zealand stJudent. Taking up teaching- as a pro* fession Mt Marshall was for some, years a master at Christ's College, leaving"m order to continue his studies in mathematics at Cambridge. He gained a high place in the mathematical tripos, and after taking holy ! orders returned to the colony, and was ap- < pointed to a position at Wanganui Collegil ate School. As an athlete Mr Marshall hias a high reputation. He has represented the i Canterbury province in the football field, he has been tennis champion of the colony, [ and when the English cricket team visited the colony last season he proved himself one of its' most capable opponents. Mr P. F. Warner, in his book (giving an account of the tour, describes him as on& of the best [ all-round cricketers the team encountered. Mr Marshall is very warmly 'esteemed by all those who know him intimately, and it is generally hoped that his whereabouts may be discovered to-day. The search was continued to-day, but no trace of the missing man was found, j Inquiries made by the police have received no answer from Wanganui, and private inquiries have" been fruitless. Up to the time of going to press nothing iiad 'been heard. /