The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1884-03-25 00:00:00

A STRANGE STORY.

Information hes been mweived at Birmingham to the
Mime that Mr. 0. T. Starkey. of the toe of Mesa*
Lotami Harrison and Stwrkey, accountants, who wee
euppned to have been drowned at Cricesi.th. on the
North Wel** cost, in October last, I. alive and in
Andrelia. Os October &A Mr. Staher, with hi. wire
and other members of his fatally, went to Oriccieth for e
short holiday. Oa the following evening, the see being
cake, Mr. Starker hired • canoe for a peddle along the
coot. Ma non-return at dusk ootoesiood greet earl- ty,
especially as it was known that he we. an inexpermand
canoeist. During the night se many se 30 boon went
out in search of him, but with no result The bay sae
alsh dragged, but with out &mooring the canoe or the
paddle. It wee thought possible that Kr. Sterkey had
b.. 0 carried out to on and 'night have been picked op
by a passing craft. Dm' march was outlaw& on the 6th,
sad rewards were offered to the fishermen in the neigh-
bourhood for any tidings of the supposei unfortunate
gentleman. Nothing. however, was heard until the
lith October, when the 013170 was found at Portmadoe
her. It did not appear to hem been upset, as the
cushion wee In It. pieces, and there was only two inches of
wags in the bottom. A peddle was found mar
likortehyoban,
_mod • hat which was meowed toll-have
belonged to MX. S Witty_ 555 picked up the next day
near Orkciath Osetle. With the view of hviag,.g the
body, if under the water. $3 the surface, dynamite was
exploded by Captain donee, • friend of the family ; but
the proceeding was fatale. As the search for the body
wee unsuoceselel, and ea 11l Starkey woo unaware of
scything which should hays caused her husband to leave
her, it we. concluded that he had been drowned sad his
body curbed out by tbs tide. The family went into
mourning: but the cornice-stump of the diespygeranos
were by many omens regarded me highly mysteriouc.
sad it was felt not to be orprialaw that en ,pralftlica
to the Probed. Divieloa of -the High Court for pro-
bate of Mr. Starkey'. will was mutoooessfuL Tar
Oh. last few week. then have been rumours afloat cos-
arming the miming Pailelnan, sad these naturally
revived the doubt Mat bo had bsen the victim of any
Bewmon, the principal of the Arm with
which hiv Starkey Vat cosinectedtts been several
times informed that his Partner had iota at Um.
najo, London, and other Waco ; but such statements
could have had no fouedetion is fact, for Mre. Starkey,
who 6 dui Imo( at King's Notton, has received • gle-
am from her husbeal. Metier that he we. well and in
Australia. There are • number of rumours in circulation
as to the came of the departure, but we are unable to
say what mamma la lob' placed on them- The expected
tiosansunicetion from the missing gentlemen will be
awaited with mush curiosity and hawed _yowtwo„.
Poe.

The reedical -protonic-el ere now ordering Oedble
goooneds of coon bonnie it ocate
sore entaitiosis nod desh-forning eleneota *so soy
other and is massubio to the thick
woos ojto4ty sold. whoa you ask foe O.dbnryl
Oooos goessos he sure that you got It, as shoals=
anus peek lallstioss tot CU asks al cars m alt
10164 gesso. Pub Derot oe. laaboost Ilowne.