MISSING FROM SHIP

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 281, 30 November 1935, Page 9

MISSING FROM SHIP

WOMAN PASSENGER AN INQUEST OPENED EVIDENCE OF HUSBAND I Per Press Association. J AUCKLAND, Nov. 2f.' At the instigation of the Afarine Do> partment, an inquest into the disappearance of Airs. Ernest Bevington, a first-class passenger on the New Zea-' lond Shipping Company’s liner Rangb tat a, who was found missing from th« vessel on. November 3, over two days out from Balboa, was opened before Air. Wyvern Wilson. S.AI., coroner. De-tective-Sergeant McHugh appeared for the police. In evidence, Ernest Bevington, who was represented by Air. Puddle, said ho wa.s the husband of the woman. Witness was of independent means, as was his wife. They were coming to New Zealand on a holiday trip. His wife’s means were possibly equal to about half of his, and sbe had made her will just before she left. Witness did not know the contents of the will, but was under the impression it was in favour of her sisters. In reply to tho coroner, witness eaid he first met his wife on the Oronsay. Witness continued that on the voyage by the Rangitata from London to Balboa, he was on very friendly terms with his wife, and when two and a-half days out they attended a race meeting on the tourist deck. Later in the smokeroom lounge they had a couple of drinks with other passengers. It was probably just before midnight that witness and his wife went to their cabin which was on C deck. Mrs. Bevington’s bed was on the starboard side, immediately under a porthole, and there was another porthole at the foot of the bed. The portholes were always open except in bad weather. “We both undressed when we reached our cabin,” witness added. “I got into bed and started to read a book with my back to my wnfe. She came across to me and I think she said my name, and I said, 4 Oh go to bed.’ I was very tired at the time.” Witiress continued that he did not remember much more until he was awakened by a rustling sound on the other side of the cabin. As far as ho could determine, there were curtains on the portholes and on tha door, which could have made such a sound. As far as he could say the lights of the cabin were still on. His wife’s bed was not disordered, and as she was not in the cabin he rang three times for the steward. He met the head steward in the passage and asked him to institute inquiries and inform tho bridge. Witness said hij told a steward that he had told his wife to go to bed and she was not there. Air. AfcHugh: What would you say if the head steward states you said you had told your wife to go down to the cabin and wait for you, and she wasn’t there? Witness: I would say that was ant correct. Continuing, witness said his wife was wearing jewellery on tho night of her disappearance. He believed that two diamond bracelets, a wristlet watch and necklace were now missing. The jewellery was insured for £BOO. Witness sent a cablegram to a relative of Mrs Bevington giving notification of her death at sea, and later sent a second cablegram in relation to insurance on tho jewellery. The replv was received. “Utterly shocked; what happened! jewellery no account.” As far as he was awarr. his wife’s life had not been insured. She had an internal chill for two or three days on the vessel and was under care of the doctor. She had never suggested suicide. Witness thought it was two or three nights before she disappeared that he saw her leaning out of a porthole talking ts the occupant of the adjoining cabin. Tie thought she was leaning out to a dangerous extent. Questioned by Mr Purdie, witnesf said he was undressed before his w.fe on the night of her disappearance, and was reading a book before she began undressing. Tie was nearly naif asleep when she came across to him. The inquest was adjourned until the arrival of the Rangitata at Auckland from Napier next week, when further witnesses will be hear<l.