“IF I’M MISSING”

Hokitika Guardian, 30 July 1921, Page 2

“IF I’M MISSING”

S 1 ’IIIIT U A LIST’s WA R XING. ■■lf ever i'm missing, you'll know I’ve gone over the other side,” George Gillmor, a spiritualist, of Sydney, used to sa v to his friends. On the afternoon of July 4th. he disappeared front the city with a close ..friend, and the next day the bodies of both of them were found limiting in Farm Cove.

Gillmor was a tailor, 17 years of age, and lived in Goodhope Street. Paddington. His friend Christopher Miller v a cellurmnn, 52 years of age, and lived in Olive Street, Paddington. 'His widow is in New Zealand.

Roth men, according to evidence given -at the City Coroner’s inquiry by James Edward Devine, a wharf labourer, were addicted to drink. For three months before July 4th. they wore chums, and wenet about drinking together. Gillmor could swim, but Devine was doughtful whether Miller could.

“Yes, I’ve heard Gillmor threaten to take his life,” Devine told the Coroner. “He asked pie one night how far it was to the Gap, but T didn’t take anv notice of him. About ;

month before this, Gillmor either fell or jumped out of his window, about 18ft. to the ground. Afterwards he said that lie didn’t remember doing it. But I’ve never heard Miller threaten to commit suiede.”

The Coroner was further informed that Gillmor had “some invention he was on for years—for some idea of perpetual motion.” He said once: “I am never to l>e killed. I think I’ll lie drowned.”

About 4 o’clock on the afternoon of the men’s disappearance, Mrs Devine, wife of the witness, saw them near the G.P.CK They were both drunk, and Miller had a black eye. She asked Gillnior why lie was not at work, and he replied that he had finished. When she spoke to him about drinking, he said: “If I don’t coma to-night keep my things.” He was hoarding at her home. Then they disappeared. and .nothing more heard of them till Sergeants Fewster and Butclier of the water police, dragged their bodies ashore the next day. The evidence of Butcher was that the men could not have fallen into Farm Cove accidentally. But how the two men met their death mystified the Coroner. Ho recorded an open verdict.