MYSTERY DEATHS

Hokitika Guardian, 3 February 1928, Page 3

MYSTERY DEATHS

IN VICTORIA AND QUEENSLAND. SYDNEY. Jan. 21). .Mystery deaths of a man in Queensland and a woman in Victoria arc occupying the attention of police in the t\States, and arc intriguing public interest, since in both cases the deepest mystery surrounds the eircuins!anccs leading up to the deaths. The Queensland case concerns I lie discovery of the body ol Charles Powell on the day on which he had arranged to be married. Powell lived near Vepoon. which is some miles out of Roi khamptoii. He had been missing from the previous Saturday, and m. alarm was felt until the Tuesday—tinday previous to the marriage. Next day his body was found in the dense scrub on his father’s holding, and was only lN) yards from the hush roadway. There were no signs of violence, hut a post-mortem examination and an inquest have been ordered. .More mystery surrounds the action of the ()ineo. Victoria, police, who this week requisitioned the services of a detective to investigate the* death of Al.-s Ethel Constance Briggs, aged 21. rife of the .Methodist minister at Omen. She came to Australia from Tasmania a rear ago, and at the age of 20 years was married to Rev. Donald Briggs. Only a few weeks ago she returned to her husband after a six months’ holiday in Tasmania, and soon fell ill. A doctor was called in on January 1, and from what lie was told considered that Mrs Briggs was in the last stages of exhaustion supervening on excessive sickness. He treated these conditions, hut was called again at 2.30 a.m. on January 3, when he lound that Mrs Briggs had been dead lor some hours. He gave a certificate *4 death and the woman was buried next day.

Rumours of a startling nature became current in Omen next day. and resulted in the local constable making inquiries at once. AA hat he discovered has not been released by the police, hut his report was of such importance that Detective Mulfahey was immediately requisitioned to go to Omen and supplement the report of the local constable. A theory that Airs Briggs’ death was the result of foul play is gaining ground. Mulfahey lias interviewed most of the residents of the district, and feeling is running very high : s * high, in fact, that at a meeting of the Swift's Creek branch of the Church oi Omeo, prominent members of the congregation called upon the minister to resign. This action ol the churchmen am! the immediate rclusal of the minister to follow their suggestion have revived the discussion round the case. Rev. Briggs was a brilliant scholar at Queen’s College. .Melbourne, and had done good work lor the Methodist Ali.— sion before receiving the call to Omeo. CHARGE OF MURDER. (Australian A N.Z. Cable Association.) MELBOURNE. Feb. 2. Following the death of Airs Etliel Griggs, under suspicious circumstances at Omet. the police exhumed the lindv and later arrested the husband, the Rev. Donald Griggs, a Methodist Minister, PA » charge p? mtirder,