IN CIDER VAT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 412, 21 July 1928, Page 6

IN CIDER VAT

MYSTERY OF UNCONSCIOUS GIRL CIGARETTES AND TORN LETTERS A lone country barn on the banks of the River Severn, with doors wide open; in the barn, a huge cider vat and, lying in the vat, a pretty 17-yea: old girl, unconscious, clasping in be: hands a chocolate-box full of the fra* ments of torn letters; on the floor near the vat, a nosegay of daisies. Such were the circumstances in which Violet Green, a domestic serfant employed at the Portland Road. Malvern, whose parents live in Widemarsh Street, Hereford, was found after being missing for nearly three days. On the evening that she disappeared, Violet —an industrious giri ©* irreproachable character —had hew working very hard, and was asked by her employer if she would not care to have a stroll. It was a lovely ing, and it was thought that the frwb air would do her good, but she ® not seem to care about going out. Eventually Miss Woodman, the V ro ' prietor’s daughter, persuaded ber. At ten o’clock, however, Violet ha not returned, and an hour later tne waiters formed a search party went to look for the girl. yUe could not be found, however, and police were informed. . At Pixham Ferry, where a weu; known Worcestershire farmer his relatives live, Mr. Thomas He - Edwards, who also runs a ferry went to do some repairs at the I landing stage. Chancing_tO too* ® the cider vat, he was startled to ae* what at first appeared to be tne body of an attractive young huddled at the bottom. In her hM was a box. which had at on contained chocolates, containing dreds of small pieces of were torn letters. Mr. Edwards w to rouse the Kiri, and shook lently. He was astonished to" her exclaim in accents o. , t ', "Thunder and lightning. raining. Oh!” Her eyes were ™ of terror. , . noliee. A message was sent to the .rTflif and after she had been given girl was taken to the farm 0 ; 1 tioned, but could give no account herself. She could not even

what her name was. -jri. The police found lett *j? °A* ideaand were able to establish . p, tity. Cigarettes were also ion her possession. . wheß ‘ But I don’t smoke, she sa\a. her father appeared on the sc Where did Violet Green V two nights she was missing Malvern? SHh does not kn • recalls thunder and lightning. gives some clue to what ■ happened. On the night ■ reared there was a violent storm, and it is possible , j elll js. who was on her way to visit lost her way. and. the thun coming on, she fled. confuse effect rorised. So great w&» the upon her that her memory , re tte»And yet there are "he => c Violet said she did not smo dnfl( ettes. Did someone attempt' her with a prepared cigarette. v is no reliable evidence, no support this theory. . girl The cigarettes found oa were ordinary ones that cert not been doctored. Then there is the mysteiT , . torn letters and the nosegay ° p The proprietor of the *" yjoHotel. Mr. Woodman, said tn let was an exemplary girl _ () od way. and that he ha 3 nothing D to say of her.