NELSON MYSTERY

Hokitika Guardian, 20 July 1927, Page 4

NELSON MYSTERY

JY TKF.ECKAPU—PKESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT. XFI.SOX. July 19. Xo further particulars are available as to the circumstances under which the man named AV. Ryan, ot Rod Hills Station, Tollhouse, was found in the lounge of Trafalgar Hotel, in a badly I knocked ahem state. It has been ascertained that Ryan, who enquired a room at the I rainlgar Hotel on Friday. was very lavish with his money. He gave several people an impression that he was carrying a large sum with him. For instance, Ryan insisted on giving a taxi driver I'l lor a run which cost oniY 3s. Ryan suggested a motor drive late on Friday night (not on Saturday, as previously stated), and he accordingly hired a taxi. Ryan was accompanied on the drive bv another man, and also by two girls, besides the driver. 11 van is now able to remember being in the taxi, until the party reached tlte Moutere Hills. There the ear was turned Imelc towards Xelson. and a short halt was made on the hill. From then onwards, however, until he retrained consciousness in the hospital. Ryan’s mind is a blank. The driver of the taxi stated that he could throw no light on the matter. Ho said he was engaged by Ryan tor the run. He says that he later on dropped Ryan at the Trafalgar Hotel “ about Id o’clock.” The driver also said that Ryan’s condition was not such as to allow of anyone taking ins money without his knowing. The driver knew that Ryan had a

large sum of money about his person. Besides two blackened eyes, possibly as the result of concussion, Ryan is now suffering from a fractured skull, and liis hip is also broken. The police are enquiring into the matter.