The Ariadne Case.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 1 November 1901, Page 4

The Ariadne Case.

Skipper Paid to Wrack the Yacht

Sensational Evidence.

jy B I'UKSS ASSOCIATION.]

Christchurch, Oct 31. In the Ariadne case the charges preferred were of casting away the shij) and conspiring to defraud the underwriters, and procuring persons to assist in casting away. These charges were taken together.

Mr Stringer in opening the case for the Crown said that Muinford, the skipper, on May 30, six days after the wreck verbally confessed to Lloyd’s agent that Kerry had agreed to pay him £4OO if ho would cast the ship away. He put the statement in writing on Willis promising him £4OO. Later on he made a more elaborate statement, and handed in the agreement between the three accused in accordance with which the wrecking was carried out.

Stewart Willis, Lloyd’s surveyor, gave evidence that the vessel was worth £5,000 and was insured for £IO,OOO. Mumford had told him that Kerry had gradually approached him on the subject of wrecking the yacht, and agreed to give him £2OO when the job was done and. £2OO when the insurance money was paid. If successful they intended to go home aud purchase a larger vessel, and heavily insure her and lose her in the Straits of Magellan. Mumford was to got £I,OOO security and a much larger sum if he wrecked the larger vessel. Broke was present when arrangements were made. Originally it was intended to wreck the vessel on the West Coast, hut a lifeboat had been lost. Kerry signed the agreement and handed a copy to Mumford. The latter lost it and Kerry refused to pay, but Mumford afterwards found it. This alleged agreement, together with Mumford’s written statement, were produced in the Court.

Willis stated that he had paid Mumford £4OO as promised. After lunch Arthur Henry Bosworth, clerk in the Bank.of New Zealand, with 20 years experience of, signatures was satisfied the signature ‘ , T._C. Kerry’ on the agreement was identical with the same signature on the document which is Kerry’s undoubted signature. The signature “E. J, Freke” on the agreement was written by the same person who signed Freke’s signatures on the depositions. Hid not think the agreement handwriting was Mumford’s, Percy Akwood, able seaman, one of the Ariadne crew, joined her at Sydney. Was on board the whole time and saw a boat load of trunks taken to a jetty about two miles past Circular Quay on February 24th. The load consisted of trunks, whisky cases, bags, etc., and two trunks were very heavy. There were besides himself seven men in the boat but five were sufficient for the boat. Kerry was one and gave the orders to the boatswain who passed them on. Kerry/landed with the cargo and came to the ship next day. On the voyage the lifeboat was equipped but not provisioned, and when off Cape Farewell the boat was washed out of the devits in a heavy sea. Freke came over in the yacht but only acted as steward though he took a watch on deck and had meals in the cabin with the captain. The yacht was very illfound. Had received no money in connection with giving evidence, and had been promised none. Had worked in Dunedin since the loss of the yacht as a plasterer’s laborer, and had also been on the steamship Bimu. After a few days at sea on the Ariadne he and his mates became disgusted with, tne bad food, bad navigation, and bad discipline on board, and the captain blamed him for the carrying away of certain sails. The captain said he saw witness and his friends wanted to run the ship by themselves, but if they wanted fun they could have it as soon as they liked. He was approached by Denuiston, Lloyd’s agent, about giving evidence, and made a verbal statement to him and a written statement to Commissioner Tunbridge. The Court adjourned till 10.30 a.m. next day.