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Hokitika Guardian, 19 March 1928, Page 4

FATHER’S GRIM DISCOVERY. LONDON'. Jan. ill. A lather found his son dead in the dark belfry of .Mitcham parish church, Surrey, last night about 7 o’clock. Mr Henry King, one of the officers oT the church, wondering what had become of his 27-vears-old sou, Stanley, one of the bell-ringers, who, ho knew, was alone in the tower greasing the ropes, climbed the winding stairs to the rope-room, calling “ Stanley, where are you?” He got no answer. On the threshold of the room ho found his son hanging with a bell-rope twisted round bis neck. The electric torch which he bad used in bis greasing task was lying on the lloor, with the light on bis face. The father cut the rope. It is almost certain that when the son was greasing the ropes lie becamo entangled in one, and it is thought that the bell may have dragged him upwards. A resident near the church heard a boll sound three times shortly alter o p.m., and thought it very strange. The choir was practising below at the time Mr King found his son’s body.