ST. KILDA TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 26 November 1929, Page 5

ST. KILDA TRAGEDY

CAUSE OF WOMAN’S DEATH.

HUS HAND’S STATEMENT

ON A]MM CAL AT AUCKL AND

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

AUCKLAND. November 2u

A cablegram published yesterday said tho Melbourne police were investigating the iinding of a woman’s body in the sea at St. Kilda, believed to be the body of Mrs Biggs, of South Africa. 'I be woman’s husband, H. li. Biggs, was a second class passenger by the Ulimaroa which arrived from Sydney this morning. He was met on the wharf by Detective Maher, who interrogated him, according to instructions from headquarters, following on cable advice from Melbourne.

When a copy of the cablegram was shown to Biggs by a “Star” reporter, be remarked: “Good gracious, ’ I’m sure.”

To questions, lie said this was his iirst intimation. He said he and his wife were on good terms, but they had their tiffs, ns was the ease with most married couples. They had booked to Auckland, where they intended to settle down. Last Monday his wife went out with some people she had picked up in the Peoples Palace, ’Melbourne. He left for Sydney in the 3 p.m. train the next day, leaving a message at the People’s Palace to say he had gone on, ns she had not returned on Monday night Asked if he had made any enquiries or report her failure to return on Monday, Biggs said: “Beyond leaving a message I did nothing.” On arrival at Sydney, hearing nothing of bis wife, he sailed in the Ulimaroa, quite expecting if she did not appear before the vessel sailed, that she would follow him. Biggs is a man over six feet in height, well built, and apparently between 55 and (50.

Fie stated his wife was about the same age. He described himsellf as a property salesman and said he could give no clue to his wife’s movements from the time she left the People’s Palace, Melbourne, and could not say whether she was in the habit'of going to the seaside to bathe.