A MISSING SOLDIER

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 202, 21 May 1919, Page 6

A MISSING SOLDIER

FURTHER, EVIDENCE IN CASE OP RIFLEMAN RUSSELL. The. military inquiry into the disappearance of Rifleman John Russell, N.ZE.l''., from the ferry steamer Mararoa on the night of October 24-25 was resumed yesterday morning. The members of the Court were Major P. G. Hume (president), Major W. G. Ashworth, and Captain W. M. Bell. -' The Court examined the sixteenth witness. Frederick William Ruthberg, forecabin steward on the Mararoa. He said that lie saw Stephens and Russell on (lie night of Russell's disappearance. They came down to ' tea together about 5.15 p.m, and at that time witness noticed nothing strange about either • man. On his wav out from tea Russell said to witness. "Where is that woman that is calling out!'" Witness took no notice, and Russell passed on. Stephens came into the bar about (i.30 p.m., and had, witness thought, 1 ' a glass of beer. He was not in the bar more than five minutes, and on going awiy he remarked that ho was going to look for his patient. Witness saw nothing more 1 of Russell or Stephens that night. Stephens came to witness between G and G. 30 a.m. next day, and said that he had lost his man. 1

Ruthberg explained to the Court that Russell couldmot have got any drink in -the steerage bar except through him, but he could have got drink from* the first saloon bar without witness's knowledge. Up to the-lasv time at which witness saw him. Russell did not appear to have !:ad any drink. The reason witness remembered that Stephens'had entered the bar on the night m question was that only one other person had had a drink in the bar during the half-hour or so that the bar was open The Court adjourned till this morning.