FERRY STEAMER MYSTERY

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1033, 25 July 1930, Page 1

FERRY STEAMER MYSTERY

WIFE BELIEVES HUSBAND STILL ALIVE MESSAGE IN WALLET Special to THE SVX NEW PLYMOUTH, Today. Filled with drama and pathos was the sequel to the mysterious discovery on the Maori yesterday morning of a note reading, "Jumped over last night,” by the side of a wallet containing papers belonging to Mr. A. F. J. Hebbend, of Tupoki Street, Fitzroy, New Plymouth. The story published in yesterday’s Sun was read over to Mrs. Hebbend, of Tupoki Street, this evening. A cheerful voice had confirmed that Mrs. A. F. J. Hebbend was speaking. “No, I have heard nothing from Christchurch,” said Mrs. Hebbend in reply to the opening question. Then word by word the mysterious and ominous circumstances were unfolded, punctuated with requests to proceed growing gradually quieter, and at the end of the story that seemed so long, Mrs. Hebbend burst into tears. “Yes, < it is my husband,” she sobbed. A human story was then unfolded by the missing man’s wife. “Mr. Hebbend left home on Monday morning and 1 have not seen him since He was dressed in his best grey suit. He did not say where he was going nor when he would be back. He did not saye goodbye nor did he kiss me. He has been worrying about his business for a long time. He is a builder and has done bricklaying. I cannot understand it.” LOSS OF MEMORY Mrs. Hebbend was loath to think that the worst had happened and inclined to the suggestion that Mr. Hebbend might have lost his memory. One glaring piece of evidence gave her hope. That was the curious use of the past tense in the laconic note discovered.” Jumped over last night.” It was not “Am jumping over tonight.” In the stress such as would be expected in the circumstances of suicide the man would not be likely, in the ordinary course, to make the note read as at the morning after. To that circumstance Mrs. Hebbend clings. She gave a description of her hus band as he set out on Monday morning. “He wore a lovely grey suit, knickerbockers, black boots, grey socks and a cap to match, a pull-over ,Jersey under his coat and a red tie. His height is about sft Bin and he is well built. He has just turned 47.” Mr. Hibbend was originally in Wellington, where he was a builder befo/e the war. Some years were spent ill the same occupation at Raetihi. unril four or five years ago when be came to New Plymouth and engaged in the building and bricklaying trade assisted by his elder son. Mr. Hibbend has two sons, aged about ID and 15 respectively, and one daughter. FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES Inquiries among men in the building and allied trades referred to in the documents found in the wallet hidden on the steamer confirmed the fact that Mr. Hibbend was probably in financial difficulties and had been worrying. Several men considered the suicide suggestion would be found to be a hoax. The last member of Mr. Hibbend’s family to see him was the elder son who worked with his father. Mr Hibbend, senr., set out with his son by car at 7 a.m. on Tuesday without telling his wife where he was going The father left his son in town and requested him to tell his mother that he was going to Opunake that Tuesday morning in search of work and would not be back until Wednesday evening. Neither the son nor the rest of the family have seen him since. A cheque signed by Mr. Hibbend was received by a building firm on Tuesday in settlement of an afccount and that cheque was apparently honoured. Mrs. Hibbend subsequently stated last night that it seemed very strange that her husband had misled both herself and her son while he had paid an account the same day that he set out. He had no baggage with him.