A HOAX.

Temuka Leader, Issue 320, 20 November 1880, Page 2

A HOAX.

At an early hour on Saturday morning last, (says the 0. D. Times) the police were informed that a woman's dress and jacket had been found on the outer edge of the reclamation ground about a hundred yards below Jetty street. Inquiries were made, and it discovered that the clothes belonged to a young woman named Mary Prescott, about 20 years 01 age, who had last been seen on Friday night at 10 o’clock. In the dress pocket was found a letter (or rather a scrawl on a piece of an old copy book), dated November 21st, evidently in mistake for 12th, and which spoke of the writer being past the dark river of death,” &c. From this it was supposed the young woman had drowned herself. Drags were kept going on Saturday and part of yesterday but no discovery was made. It is not now, however, thought probable that the case is one of suicide, although so far the police inquiries have not resulted in any intelligence being gained of the girl’s whereabouts. One reason for thinking that there has been no suicide is that one of the dresses belonging to the girl is missing from where she had been staying, so that there is reason to suppose she has simply changed her quarters. The same young person, if what we have heard is correct, has previously somewhat inclined to mystery in her actions ? for we understand that she is identical with the servant-girl who, perhaps 18 months ago figured as the heroine of a mysterious and tragic occurrence at Waihemo. It was then asserted that one night she was tied up with ropes at the back of the hotel where she was serving, and had her clothes set fire to. The strictest investigation failed to solve that mystery, but there were always grave doubts whether anything of the kind really occurred. It is probable enough, therefore, that Miss Prescott may turn up all right on this occasion, Later. The missing female Mary Prescot, whose clothing was found at Dunedin on Friday, was discovered at 230 a.m. on Thursday in the streets of Port Chalmers by Constable Egan, who upon meeting her at once judged her to be the supposed suicide. She acknowledged herself to be the person wanted and was taken to the police station, where sha was accommodated with a bed. As there was nothing against her Sergeant Hanlon released her yesterday, and she made her way back to Dunedin on foot.