A MYSTERY.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 337, 19 January 1937, Page 8

A MYSTERY.

BOY FILM STAR’S PARENTS. I UNACCOUNTABLE DISAPPEARANCE. ANXIOUS RELATIVES. Where are Freddie Bartholomew's parents? What has happened to them? (asks the Sunday Despatch). These questions are being asked wdh considerable anxiety by relatives and Iriends of the British boy Him star's lather and mother. Their anxiety arises from the fact that the recent movements of Mr and Mrs Bartholomew are a complete mystery. More Ilian a month ago they left Hollywood to relurn to London via Mexico. Their two little daughters, Eileen and Hilda, who are in a convent in London, received a postcard from them shortly afterwards. It was dated from Mexico, and lold the children their parents were on their way to London, and would be seeing them soon. The Last Trace. The lawyer who has acted for the Bartholomews in New York expected 1 visit from them on their homewards journey, but they did not appear, and he has not heard from them. Lr-;: a telephone call was received at the London office of Mr Albert Fletcher, the solicitor who has acted for Mr Bartholomew on this side, and who was given power of itlorney on behalf of the two children, Eileen and Hilda. The telephone call purported to come from Cecil Llewellyn Bartholomew, Freddie's father, and the caller promised to visit the office, but Mr Bartholomew has not called in person, and no further message has been received. At the Canadian Pensions Office, where Mr Bartholomew Is paid a war disability allowance, It was stated that he called one day last week to collect pension money, but it was not then available. This was after the telephone call to Mr Fletcher, and is the last trace his friends can find of Mr Bartholomew. At the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, where he has been for soma years employed as a clerk, nothing Is known of his recent movements. Ha was granted leave of absence to visit America, but this leave expired on October 8. His relatives and friends, including those who helped to finance that Journey to America, which he made with the object of settling the problem of Freddie's guardianship, are naturally anxious as to the health and safety of the parents who have so mysteriously disappeared. Children’s Future. Mr Fletcher and other friends have matters of Immediate importance to discuss with Mr Bartholomew. Not least of these is the question of the future maintenance and welfare of the two girls, Eileen and Hilda, who seem to be temporarily orphaned and and anxiously inquiring, “What has happened to Mummy and Dad?’’ Under the settlement of Freddie Bartholomew's affairs the boy star will receive In trust 50 per cent, of his earnings, estimated at £225 a week. Of this his parents are to receive £lOO a month.