A MYSTERIOUS CASE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2479, 21 March 1893, Page 4

A MYSTERIOUS CASE.

The Melbourne Argus reports that an extraordinary occurrence in Albert Park on the oth inst. attracted pedestrians. Cries for help were heard from the direction of the island iu the lake, and a number of young men took boats and quickly rowed to the spot, to find a man struggling iu the water, very much exhausted. In an instant an over-turned out-rigger skiff was also discovered; and later on, at a distance of 60 yards, the body of a woman. It appeared as if the woman were dead, and attempts made to restore life were unsuccessful. In the meantime the man was sufficiently revived to able to briefly state the circumstances leading up to his plight. He gave his name as John Wuodhead, said he was a tailor, and lived at 21 Victoria avenue, Albert Park. The woman-was his wife, her name being Clara, and her age 19 years. They had been but three weeks married. Lie hired a boat on the lake at half-past 7 o'clock, and pulled backwards and forwards until half-pa«t nine with his coat on. Finding the exercise too heating, he rose to take off his coat, and at the same time his wife, who weighed between list aud 12st, leaned over the side and capsized the boot. As the boat turned over his foot was caught in one of the outriggers and he fell into the water, his head for a few moments being under the surface. When he extricted himself he could not see his wife, and cried for help aa stated.

The fact of anyone being drowned in 2ft 3iu of water— for that was the depth where the woman's body was found — seemed so strange that Detective-sergeant Cawsey was instructed to make full inquiry. It then appeared that Woodhead was not the man's name—merely an assumed name under which he and his wife had been living since their marriage. Woodhead was his stepfather's name, but his own name, ho says, is John Alexander Manton, and he claims to be a descendant of the Manton family who at one time owned considerable freehold property in Brompton, London, and who but for having parted with their interest in the property a good many years ago would be now fabulously wealthy. He is 26 or 27 years of age, and a native of BalLarat, wheie he lived until two years ago with the re.it of his family. His father was a tailor in business in that city, and he was brought up as a tailor's cutter. After the death of his parents he came to Melbourne, and fur the past two years he has resided in lodgings in various parts of the city. During that time he has not done any work, but has supported himself "on his means." About six months ago lie made acquaintance by chance with Clara lble, a girl of 19, daughter of a widower, and they were eventually married by Air Kinsman. Manton had at this time £4O. They went into lodgings and appeared to live very happity. Mr Manton was quiet and reserved, Mrs Manton chatty and pleasant, aud while he gave little or no information concerning himself to any of the people in the house, his wife only explained that they were living on the husband's private income, which would be ample to snpp' rt them comfortably during his lifetime. At his death, she said, these means of support would fail, and he had' therefore as a precaution against the contingency of his death, insured his life for £7OO. This assurance, however, was not upon his life alone. It was a joint policy upon the lives of both, made payable at the death of the one to the survivor. Thus if she died he would receive £7OO, but if he died first she would become entitled to the money. The risk was proposed by Manton on the day after his marriage, to the Australian Mutual Provident'Lifa Assurance Society, and w.-s accepted, and aftar the usual formalities had been complied with aud the first quarter's premium of £5 35s had been paid, the policy was registeied as complete. Though it has not yet been issued it is, nevertheless, good and binding. ■So far as could be learned there were no quarrels during the brief matrimonial experience of Mautrn and his wife, and the most of their time was spent together excepting last Saturday (when Manton went to the races and lost £4 15s) and Sunday. Both days Were Bpent with friends, fur reasons which were made known by him to his wife. On Mond >y afternoon he returned home. He left the table, stating that lie had an appointment to keap, but his wife fallowed him, tmd they went out together for a walk, and then on to the lake. Manton states that when tho boat capsized his head stuck in the mud at the bottom. The account which he furnishes of tbefat'dity conveys the impression that lie altogether i'jst hif? wits when the boat upset, for the lako ;« i\w foot where the fatality happened, or whWa hy and the i oat were f.jun . wis "nly 3ic til it in depth, and yet lie cried for.'S-i.-dance ; and wntsn [tiohard Waul, a bo;'.thous'i keeper, pulled out, to the f.-uijin 1 , he was clinging In ihe b at as H fcj* j-e di-p udul upon the ti nacity of im s£fj l' t :iiri 119 Wlia pretty nearly exhausted.

W hen U>oLo<ly <ih\k w"J/l> J? •'•*'! ~t!Gn recoveri d M;;iilon went to mh ;md without inf<.lining anyone in the house of wlu.t had happened wont to bed W »fc/- morning eaily Mips Young re--natke i ifikt k& t'/othe-i were wot, and hu Jri ,., ,">ve<ifiy tm % if-wrf sw) 'Juckiug' oUrniJht. > replied <' mp 4 wmpIhing more seiiotis fiifil) "*<«._ J »►■•;?' with --in accident, and Mm MaiitOn J» dead."

The />w«s viortcin eitamimitioii of the bodv made bv i>r Brett revealed no marks of violence, ami showed thajb _4etj,thwas due t<> Kiiir.ication by drowning. M.™ Mautoii is .said to have been five from lit.", but easily frightened, and when in that state, quite incapable of action.