THE RECENT SALTING CASE.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 22 February 1901, Page 4

THE RECENT SALTING CASE.

Stray Fragments of evidence.

A witness had given evidence that in a creek near by Foleys, he had got seven or eight dwts of gold. Quoth Mr Hannan: " Did you take all tho gold out of the Creek," "Witness: "I can't say just yet." Mr Hannan: "It looks very much like it."

Mr Hannan to witness : " Was there a big piece of gold ?''

Witness: " I can't say." Mr Hannan: " A large piece with a a hole in it as if it had been* taken off a watch chain?" Witness: I heard from Dunedin that thero was a piece with a hole in it." Mr Hannan:—Suppose you didn't see the chain."

One witness with a woe-begone look entered the box and asked: "Who is to pay my expenses your Honor ?" (laughter)

His Honor: "You must look to Mr Guinness for that."

On leaving the box the same witness again asked.

" Well your honor, whom am I to look to for my expenses."

His Honor: Mr Guinness."

" You had better draw on

Mr Guinness (with smile that was child-like and bland), turning to witness as he left the Court: "Well good day to you; good-by." The witness looked unhappy.

Mr Hannan: "Now you remember perfectly well that your nose bled on a certain Tuesday months ago ? "

Witness: " Yes I remember." Mr Hannan: " Then you have a gocc memory ? "

Witness: " Yes. I recollect because il was the second day I worked and I sal down to dinner with my brothers."

His Honor: " Surely there is nothing very extraordinary in sitting down to dinner with your brothers ? " Mr Hannan: " And you can't remember a constable speaking to your this afternoon in Court; a constable you well know ? " Witness: "No I don't remember."

Mr Hannan : "Oh well that will do, possibly the jury will note this extraordinary freak of mentory."

Two constables called then and dare swore to having spoken to the witness in Court in the afternoon.

Mr Murdoch to Witness : Which is the bes" ground ? The ground without gold or no ground at all ? Forman of Jury : Your Honor are we compelled to sit here and have the time of the land wasted with such silly questions ? His Honor (smiling); I quite agree with your remark ; bnt I fear I cmjot atop such questions.

The gold was being handed round, and got into Mr Guinness's hands who turned it out on to a sheet of paper. Mr Hannan (in alarm); Don't lose any:

Mr Guinness: Oh thats all right.

Mr Hannan : Be cautious ; you never handled such experienced gold as that before.

Mr Bryno was being examined on the general character of the Lawsons. Mr Guinness: What is|the general char acter of the Accuseds' ?

Mr Byrne : I have done business with them before and found no fault, but of course the Foley's Creek transaction speaks for itself.

Kipling's story of the '-Light that faded."

"Witness Marks: I asked Murdoch what 1 was wanted for. He said "To throw some light on case." I said: " Throw what light ? " he replied, " You are in the habit of selling gold for your party," I said: "No."

The witness then gave very material evidence.

The Judge; I certainly believe your statement Mr Marks; you have thrown very material light on the matter.

Mr Carlsson under examinationMr Hannan : You prospected the olaim in this "salting case?" Mr Carlsson: Yes. Mr Hannan: And what did you get ? Mr Carlsson: Not sufficient-to pay for the " salt."