A SOLDIER'S DISAPPEARANCE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 196, 14 May 1919, Page 8

A SOLDIER'S DISAPPEARANCE

« ■ MILITARY INQUIRY CONTINUED. . The military, inquiry into the facts surrounding the disappearance of Rifleman John Russell, N.Z.E.F., from the. ferry steamer Mararoa, on the night of October 24-25, 1918, was continued at the Wellington Barracks yesterday. The members of the Court were Major F. G. Hume, R.N.Z.A. (president), Major W. i G. Ashwortli, and Captain W. M. BelL The examination of Staff-Sergeant W. H. Stephens, who ha 3 been in charge of i Russell on the journey from Wellington, i was continued. i The witness stated that it was about 1 daybreak when Russell disappeared from ■ the ship. There wereifew people about, i and Russell could have gone over the Bide . unobserved. He did not eee Russell ; until just before the 6hip sailed. Hie ■ impression had been, that ho had charge l of a sick case. Russell appeared' , normal, and it- was not until later that witness understood the man was mentally unbalanced. Witness had left Russell' i alone on deck .for , a few minutes during > the afternoon. > William J. Hocking said he had been i butcher on the Mararoa at the time of • the disappearance. He saw Stephens . aboard the steamer during the evening. . Stephens was looking for his patient, and ; enid he was not going to worry. himself i verv much about the. man, and was not> i going. over the side after him if the man t went over. Up to 10.30 p.m. witness l had seen Russell two or three fames . walking the length of the bottom deck i alone. Between 2 and. 3 a.m. Russell i passed his room calling out,'"Where is - that woman?" Ho did not see Russell )or Stephens again. * - To the Court: Hβ. bad known Russell i well. Deceased appeared quite un--1 strung, and was talking to himself. ■ Witi ness saw Stephens on one occasion dur--1 ing the trip in .the steerage bar. ■Hβ r did not 6ee Stephens with Russell duri ing tho voyage. , ' ~ > :- Sergeant W. H. Stephens, recalled, said. d the military police, from whom- lie re- ■ ceived Russell, did not tell him that the 1 man was mentally upset or give him i any instructions.. Witness did not think r> it was necessary to apply to have Rusf eell locked up, as the man's abnormal r conduct consisted simply in trying to f ■ get down below to an, imaginary woman. ) Witness might have said he would not 3 go over the side after Russell, but he t had not said' that ho would not worry 3 much about tho man. i Charles Hobbs, " tramways motorman, i irave evidence regarding Russell's tympi toms of mental instability. during the I days preceding his disappearance. He - had aocompanied Mr. Hutchison to ask i the military authorities to provide an - escort, and, after seeing Captain Levy, - had been satisfied that proper arranget meats would be made. Hutohison had > stated distinctly to Captain Levy that i Russell was ' mentally unbalanced, and 3 oould not safely travol alone. The inquiry will be continued to-day.