MISSING MAN.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 August 1926, Page 4

MISSING MAN.

WAS HE BURNED TO DEATH,? OAMARU, Aug. 13.

AVhere is Robert Kerr Clark? AVas his house at Reidston burned accidentally? Did he meet his death in the flames? If so, where are his remains? Why was a brief-bag, containing his will, a large sum of money and his bank-book left in a nearby shed ? These questions face the Oaniaru police. So far, they have been unable to find any trace of Clark, whose tlirei'roomecl cottage was destroyed by lire

early yeserday morning. Robert Clark, who lived alone in his three-roomed cottage at Reidston, was seen about tho place at about six o’clock on Wednesday evening, and at midnight the front portion of the house was noticed to he burning strongly. Mr F. Cullimore and lii.s son were quickly on the scene, the son going to the rear of the premises, where he broke the window of the room in which Clark usually slept. Thick volumes of smoke poured out of the aperture, and Cullimore was quite unable to gain a:i entrance to see if Clark was inside. The llamos soon had a strong hold cf the bedroom, completely blocking any further attempts to get in, and the police were then notified of the occurrence. On their arrival only the chimneys remained standing. Later the ashes were carefully sifted, but- no signs -of human remains were discovered.

All day yesterday a vigorous search was made for tho missing man, without avail, and there is as yet no definite proof that fie was in the house when the outbreak commenced. Clark is said to have returned to Reidston by NVednes'day evening’s train. Tho fact that the house was in darkness early in the evening excited no 'comment, as lie was ill the habit of retiring early. His bicycle was found in the shed, and it is fairly certain that if alive lie could not have travelled any great distance. The police yesterday searched the wells pud water-holes in the vicinity of the h ou.se, and followed the stream.■ which was quite clear for a considerable distance without finding any ] trace.

An incident which has added to the mysteriousness of the disappearance was the finding of a gladstono hag in .a shed nearby containing Clark’s, will and a considerable sum of money, and also his bank-book, showing a substantial credit. Clark was a man of about sixty-six years of age and had been under medical care for some time. It was his custom not to walk much, but to make use of bis bicycle, and the fact that the bicycle has been left behind makes his disappearance the more mysterious. The police made inquiries in Oamaru yesterday in an attempt to ascertain whether Clark had been in communication with people here or had dropped any hint of his likely whereabouts, but they could not locate anybody to whom he lilad spoken.