A SUPPOSED DROWNING

Hokitika Guardian, 22 February 1926, Page 2

A SUPPOSED DROWNING

‘Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received this day at 8 a.m.t LONDON. Feb. 21. The “Sunday Express” states that an officer of the Criminal Investigation Department, is pro.coding to New Zealand to investigate the case oT Airs Finch who was reported to have disappeared from Ilfracombe several years ago. Clothing which was thought to lie hers was found on the sea front, but the body was not recovered. The law courts granted presumption of death and insurance money to ihe amount of £200!) was paid to 1 lie relatives.

The insurance company recently received a letter purporting to be signed bv Mrs Finch saving that she was alive in Australia and was proceeding to New Zealand, whereon the company placed the matter in the hands of Scotland Yard with the result as above.

Ihe “News oi the World” gives her name n.s Airs Hugh IJevan. and states that she disappeared in 1922. The paper also confirms other details.

Saturday’s- Lyttelton Times” says: Scotland Yard will deal with the case of a woman, aged fifty-two. who was aiiested on I* riday afternoon at Glentui. on a. warrant issued from London that morning. Alter the warrant had been received Chief-Detective T. Gibson. Acting-Detective A. Allen and Police Alairon Rogers went out to Rangioia and the woman was later arrested at a Glentuj farm on a charge of conspiring to defraud the Prudential Insurance Company, London, of £2.883 13s Gd. Ihe alleged conspiracy c-en-ticd about a lile insurance policy which was taken out by the woman. On a morning in 1924 she went for a bathe at a Devon watering place, but she was not seen there again and all that was found was a pile of clothes on the beach. After inquiries had been made it was decided that she had been ilrowned, and £2,883 ]3s Gd, the amount of the insurance policy was paid out to relatives. About two months ago the Christchurch police began inquiries which eventually led up to I-riilav’s arrest. The woman will remain in custody in Christchurch and appear on remand until an escort arrives from London, where she will stand trial.