A MASTERTON MYSTERY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1026, 5 August 1911, Page 3

A MASTERTON MYSTERY.

Masterton, Aug, 4. The police have not yet been able to ascertain the whereabouts of the young man James Kingdon, who has been missing from home since Monday, July 24th. From information given to the police it would appear that Kingdon, in company with three other men, had been in Carterton on July 24th and had returned in the evening in a cab. One of the occupants of the vehicle was put dow n at his residence at Kuripuni, and the other three, including Kingdon, were driven to the house of one ol the men in Dixon street. His companions state that Kingdon got out of the cab and was last seen going along Dixon street, in the direction ol his home, the hour being between 11 and 12 o’clock.

All sorts ol rumours in regard to the missing man’s whereabouts are in circulation, but none with any foundation capable of being verified. It was alleged that a local girl had received a telegram from Kingdon the day he was reported to have disappeared, asking her to meet him in Wellington. The girl in question did certainly receive a telegram on the day mentioned, but not from Kingdon, nor had she seen him since July 22nd. The police authorities in Wellington made inquiries as to whether Kingdon had been seen in the city, but their efforts so tar have proved fruitless. It is alleged that the tueu had a dispute in Carterton, and in their statements to the police, the other two men say that they thought Kingdon was in a quarrelsome mood, and had struck them. They did not retaliate. The cab driver at first refused, but this morning agreed to sign a statement in connection with the matter, and therein he says he left three men in Dixon street. The police have been investigating the matter, and have been diligent in their search for Kingdon, but so far without success. No official communication has been received by them as to a serious charge, rumours of which have been current for some days, arising out of the disappearance of Kingdon. Later. The efforts of the police to trace the missing man, James Kingdon, so tar have been unsuccessful though the police have searched places where, if dead, the body would be likely to be found. It is proposed to carry out a systematic search of the whole town and district by a large body of residents on Sunday.