A SYDNEY MYSTERY.

Waikato Times, Volume LVII, Issue 7008, 12 May 1906, Page 2

A SYDNEY MYSTERY.

DISAPPEARANCE OF A CLERGYMAN.

PERTH, May 11. A sensation has been caused by the disappearance of the Rev, T. A. James. Minister of the Albany Mfthodist Church, and an Ex-Presi-dent of the Conference. He left on April Ist. on a month's holiday. After visiting friends in Victoria, he went to Sydney. From there he wrote to his wife on April 16th and mentioned that he had made friends with a man named Hunter, at whose lodgings he was staying on the way, On May 2nd Mrs James received a wire from Syduey, signed " Hunter," stating: "James was accidentally drowned and not discovered."

Seven days later, a letter arrived from Hunter, dated April 26;.b, purposting to have been been written at sea.

The writer stated that he and James were sailing in Sydney Harbour on April 18th and James fell overboatd and was drowned. The writer gives lengthy details and expresses regret that he had not reported the ense earlier.

He adds that he was afraid to report to the police, besides he had excellent reasons for not being brought into prominence just now, and could not be delayed on the journey he was about to make.

Meantime enquiries put afoot in Sydney showed that the telegram and letter were 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 or disguised hand. The Sydney police have no information of any case of drowning which would correspond with the date given. All the bodies recovered from the Harbour were identified and the whole allair is surrounded in mystery.