Charles Bell and his wife Edna had reached their time for retirement, but nothing was known about the background of Charles’ parents. Charles did know about his early theatrical time on the stage, which information he had refrained from telling his sons or his in-laws. However, it was known that he had been a very successful businessman. It was later discovered that in his teens he set himself on the road of self taught studies into clerical work and then into the business world of customs. He was orphaned at the age of nine and raised in foster care, then his sister died young, but his life became complete when he met his future wife Edna Taylor. Charles was at first questioned in 1965 as much as he would permit. From then on many years of research was carried out in Australia and overseas endeavouring to piece together a story involving kidnapping,
secrecy, tragedy, success, discouragement, and love. At the end of Edna’s life she related as much as she could remember towards their story.