THE TALUNE MYSTERY.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 59, 11 March 1901, Page 2

THE TALUNE MYSTERY.

THE STEWARD’S EVIDENCE,

A WOMAN SAT WITH CONWAY. A BOTTLE OF ALE. SUBSEQUENT COLLAPSE OF CONWAY. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright Sydney, March 9. Tlio inquest was resumed to-day. Murphy, steward of the Talune, deposed that shortly after eight o’clock on the night of February 19tli, he saw Conway sitting with a lady on the hatchway. The lady had what appeared to be a small bottle of English ale in her hand. After they had sat together for some time, the lady got up and went to the saloon. About twenty minutes after the lady had gone, he saw Conway in a state of collapse. He failed to identify Mrs Smith as the lady ho saw sitting on the hatchway with Conway. CORROBORATIVE EVIDENCE. CONWAY’S DYING MOMENTS. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright Received 3.17, p.m., March 9,

Sydney, March 9. ' Murphy gave similar evidonce to McCombio in regard to Conway s death. [HcCombie, a fellow-passen-ger,"said that deceased’s health and spirits up to February 19th seemed very good. That evening, after tea, he saw Conway lying near the forehatch, struggling convulsively, with his hands clenched, and ho helped to carry him to the hatchway. _ Conway was quite conscious all the time. lie said: “I have never had anything like this in my life. I cannot understand what it is.” After a drink of, water, he j umped right out of witness s arms. He would struggle for a few minutes, then become quiet, and then the struggling would como on. again. The paroxysms lasted about a couple of minutes. An hour and a quarter elapsed between the first seizure and death. He died in a fit.] A FELLOW-PASSENGER.— LACK OF IDENTIFICATION. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Sydney, March 9. Thomas Mcßride, a passenger by the Talune, gave evidence that ho saw a lady near Conway shortly before Conway was taken ill, but he could not identify her. He had seen Mrs Smith on board the Talune. The inquest was further adjourned.

A YES-NO WITNESS. INQUEST ADJOURNED UNTIL TOMORROW. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Received 5.30 p.m., March 10. Sydney, March 10. At the inquest the steward Murphy, said that he saw Conway just before the latter was taken ill,, sitting on the hatchway with a lady. He pointed out Mrs Smith as the lady. He recognised her by the dress, not by the face. When his depositions were read over, Murphy amended the statement, and said he did not recognise the lady in |court as the lady he saw on the hatchway. She, however, resembled the one on the hatchway in dress and build.

The inquest was adjourned until Tuesday.

CLUE FOUND AT SUMNER. THE POCKET BOOK LOST BY CONWAY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Christchurch, last night. What is expected to prove another link in the chain of evidence connected with the Conway case, was unearthed at Sumner yesterday afternoon. While Mr J. W, Butler, a resident of that place, was engaged in clearing under a maerocarpa hedge hi Mayland street he found a pigskin pocket book. On opening it the contents turned out to be a left-luggage ticket and a penny stamp. The pocket book is said to correspond in every respect with the one Conway lost at Sumner. Butler immediately handed it over to the custody of the local police constable.