TALUNE MYSTERY.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 71, 27 March 1901, Page 3

TALUNE MYSTERY.

THE INQUEST RESUMED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Received March 26, 4.30 p.m. Sydney, March 26. Tho inquest regarding the death of Conway was resumed to-day. Jane Smith was present in Court. Passey, the second cook of the Talune, deposed that he saw Mrs Smith go forward on several occasions and sit on the forward hatch talking with a man who subsequently died. On tho 19th, while Conway and Mrs Smith were talking, he saw n gloss in Conway’s hand. About 7.30 Mrs Smith went aft. An hour later, from something he heard, lie went forward. He saw Conway lying in agony. He heard someone ask what was the matter. Conway replied, “ This is terrible ; I never felt like this before.”

SENSATIONAL DISCLOSURES. MRS SMITH’S STORY OE BEING DRUGGED. THE SUMNER ROBBERY. A CONSTABLE’S EVIDENCE.' By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright

Received March 26, 5.26 p.m. Sydney, March 26. Constable Trcahey, of the New Zealand police, stationed at Sumner, said that he know Conway. He saw him on February 10th in reference to a lost handbag containing a ten-pound note and other moneys, a gold watch, brass chain, gold pendant, a cross with the initials P.C. on ono side and M.C. on tho other, a goldhandled pen, and a promissory note for two hundred.

Counsel for Mrs Smith objected to the admission of details of the promissory note, but the Court refused to allow the objection, although it refused the Crown Officer permission to ask tho names on the note.

Continuing, witness said there was another promissory note for fifty pounds, two gold rings with stones missing, also a number -of private letters and papers. ’Witness had a long conversation with Mrs Smith outside the Supremo Court at Christchurch. She told him that she had met Conway at Christchurch, and went by the four p.m. train to Sumner. On arrival there they wont to the refreshment room, where they had tea. Afterwards both went down to the sea beach, and sat there some time. Mrs Smith complained of fooling cold. Conway got some brandy and port wino. Sho remained on the beach while Conway got the liquor. Both had several drinks out of the bottle. She saw that Conway was getting drunk, and sho asked him to put his watch and purso in her handbag, so that she could look after them for him. She then left the beach in company with Conway, and they went to the hotel at Sumner; afterwards sitting on the seat outside. Sho remembered sitting there till about 8 o’clock in the evening; then lost her memory, and found herself lying on a vacant section of ground at Sumner about five in the morning. She did not see anyone, but walked to Woolston, and bought a veil there. She would not give the names of friends at Christchurch or Dunedin, nor did she care where she stopped. If her friends know tho police worn making enquiries about her they would think there was something wrong. If her husband in Dunedin found out that she slept out all night at Sumner sho would poison herself. A hoy brought her coat, containing a gold ring which bolongcd to Conway. The hoy know her address, through its being written in the purse. Sho told Conway on the 11th that her coat had boon returned. Mrs Smith told witness that she might go to Sydney, and would give Conway another promissory note for fifty pounds that she owed him, and which was lost at Simmer. She had known Conway for a number of years in Dunedin. She loft Dunedin two or throe days before Conway did. Conway stayed at tho hotol. She stayed with friends. She saw Conway on the afternoon of the Bth. Sho told him she had lost a bag containing his property, and told him sho had slept out nil night. She told witness she would go down to Sumner with Conway, and try to find tho property. Witness had searched, and found no trace of the property, but on March 9th had received from Mr J. W. Butlors, of Sumner, tho missing pocket-book.

POSITIVELY STATED MRS SMITH BOUGIIT STRYCHNINE. CONAVAY POURS 70 SOVEREIGNS OUT OF A BAG. CONAVAY AND MRS SMITH AT SUMNER. THE CHRISTCHURCH CHEMIST. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright

Received March L’G, '7.1 p.m. Sydney, March 26. Mr Brook, chemist, of Christchurch, deposed that lie recognised Mrs Smith as the woman who visited his shop on February first. She purchased a few articles, but tho apprentice rdf used to supply her with poison, which she said sho required for her people at Ellesmere to poison eats and rabbits. AVitness supplied her with thirty grains of strychnine. lie had not seen' her before February first, but saw her frequently afterwards. On several occasions sho used his telephone. On one occasion she rang up tho Oxford Hotel, and asked whether Conway was in. She bought a second quantity of poison. This time he rubbed the strychnine up with Dragon’s blood. She made some remark ns to whether it would be as strong as the other. He replied that he put tho colouring in to prevent it being mistaken for salt or sugar. Sulphate of strychnine in tho form of poison ns supplied for sale was soluble in acid, but not in water. He was not prepared to deny tho authority quoted by the Coroner ihat the sulphate was easily soluble in water. Airs Smith did not sign tho poison book, because ho had not a book, just having opened the business. ASSISTANT’S EVIDENCE.

AVinstonc, an assistant of Air Brooks, corroborated his employer’s evidence, adding that he made the entry of tho sale in tho cash sales book, because they had no poisons book. . THE rUBLICAN’S STATEMENT. Dennis Fogarty, licensee of the Oxford Hotel at Sumner, deposed that he knew Conway for seven years. Conway was a steady* man, and enjoyed good health. Ho remembered Conway and Mrs Smith coming to his hotel. They had two whiskies each. Conway had plenty of money, and poured about thirty sovereigns out of a canvas bag when paying witness. Conway [told him, when he had asked where he had been all night, that he had had a drink of port wine and brandy, and remembered nothing thereafter, but felt very ill. Conway was shaking and trembling when he returned to the hotel. IT,- complained that he had lost some money and documents. He looked as if he had had a fit.

DETECTIVE’S EVIDENCE. Detective McLean detailed the conversation lie had with Mrs Smith aboard the Talune. She told witness that she had known Conway for two years; that she did not think ho had left any money, as he was a poor man. She said she was quite surprised to find Conway aboard the vessel at Wellington; that she had only spoken to him once. She had seen him several times from the upper deck, and nodded to him'. She said to witness that she supposed Conway had been buried in a pauper’s grave. ' She said she was glad to hear him say that he had been given a respectable funeral. Witness subsequently called on Mrs Smith in regard to Conway. The Superintendent of Police had obtained further information. ' He tbld her that it was likely tllere would be an enquiry. She replied that she could not sec what good that would do. She said she saw Conway when he left Dunedin a month before ; he had remained in Christchurch for three weeks, and thence went to Wellington, where he intended to stay, but he continued the voyage to Sydney. When asked whether Conway held 4250 worth

of promissory notes from herself and husband, she said 11 1 don’t know what that has got to do with the matter’.” The inquest has been adjourned until to-morrow.

FULL REPORTS BY MAIL. EVIDENCE TAKEN AT SYDNEY. [Special to Times.] Sydney, March 13. The Conway case has not progressed by leaps and bounds since my last budget by the Waikare, and bids fair to spin out for a long time. Judging by present experiences, there is no doubt that the task of tho police is a difficult one, owing to the absence of many of the witnesses, and the fact that most of the parties had their residences in New Zealand up to very recently. It is stated by the police that they have a great deal of evidence to bring from different sources, and Detective-Sergeant M’Lean went to Melbourne on Sunday night, presumably to interview passengers and crew on the Talune, which is now in the southern city. The Mokoia, which is expected to-morrow, brings further witnesses, and amongst the passengers is stated to be the husband of the accused, Mr Smith. A FELLOW-PASSENGER’S EVIDENCE.

The inquest was resumed on Saturday last, before the Deputy-Coroner (Dr Todd), and the prisoner was present, under a writ of habeas corpus, in custody of male and female warders. William M’Combie, who had given evidence previously, was recalled, and Mr Tillet, Crown Law Officer, was about to question him as to a conversation he had with Conway just before his death, but the questions were ruled as inadmissabie, for the present at any rate. Witness stated that ho did not afterwards see, to recognise her, tho lady whom he had seen sitting on the hatchway with deceased. In reply to Mr Moss (for the accused) witness stated that he did not know exactly what period of time elapsed from when ho saw the deceased sitting on the hides until he joined him after tea. Ho was sitting on the hatchway, and then moved over on to some hides. Ho was on the hatchway fully half an hour. It would hi about eight o’clock when he joined deceased on tho hides. Conway was taken with convulsions just before he wont to him. His and Conway’s luggage was generally put in their berths. There was no special place for it. This, of course, did not apply to portmanteaux and bags. Conway’s portmanteau was placed in an empty berth adjoining. Conway had never led him to believe that lie had a largo sum of money with him. Thcro were about tliirty-fivcpassengcrs in thcstcerago altogether. The women had their own compartment, and they did not dine with the males. The females could get access to the males’ portion by coming out of their door. Tho saloon passengers wero at the other end of tho boat. For the most part of tiio six days they were on board ho and Conway wore on deck together, and during this time tho berths were accessible to male and female passengers. Conway was not sea-sick. In reply to a juror, witness said that lie had never seen Conway conversing with a female on board. Mr Moss: “And during that six days I believe you were more in Ills company than anyone else ? ” Witness : AVo chummed up together a good deal, and played cards in tho evening. A Juror: “ Did ho in any way make a confidant of you ? ” AVitness : No. AVitness added that tho deceased did not complain in any way of his health.

CONWAY’S DEATH. L a Thomas Murphy, steward on the £ Talunc, deposed to that vessel leaving e Lyttelton, lie attended at the south j, morgue on the previous Saturday, March u ‘2, and identified the body there as that of ] ( I,’atriek Conway, whom ho had seen on a : mo ship shortly before 8 o’clock on the 0 night of February 19, when the vessel was n at sea. To Mr Tillct witness stated that ft deceased was then sitting on the foremost r hatch with a lady. He could identify her j, by her appearance, as he know the way s she was dressed. They remained there S; about ten minutes. They had a small s ; stout or English ale bottle. The next a thing ho noticed was that the lady got up a and wont up towards the saloon. She g wore a fawn waterproof and round straw a sailor hat. Mr Tillot : Is that it the lady is wearing now ? t Witness: I could not swear. It is / something similar to it. a Mr Tillot: Have you seen the waterproof since ? Witness : Yes, on Wednesday last. Mr Tillct : Where ? Witness : At the Central Police Court. Mr Tillot : Was tho lady wearing it then ? * Witness : Yes. Witness, resuming, said that he did not notice deceased again until a quarter of t an hour or twenty minutes later, when ho was being carried to the hatch in a fit. lie went to deceased, who worked like a man in convulsions. Every now and again ho would work up, and his legs would close in. His hands were being held, but when they were let go they would close in towards the body. His legs would do tho same thing. His head was lying Hat on tho hatch, and witness s did not notice him moving that. Ho was t holding deceased down, and remained 1 with him up to the time of his death, t Deceased was conscious to the. last, and answered all questions put to him. Wit- <■ ness personally did not ask any questions, 1 but heard others do so. WHAT CONWAY SAID. Mr Tillct again asked for details of the j conversation, but the Deputy-Coroner again reserved his judgment as to its adinissnbility. Subsequently, he agreed to admit as evidence any remarks made voluntarily by the deceased, which were not in answer to questions. Mr Moss objected to this decision, but ho was overruled. Witness, in reply to Mr Tillet, then deposed that he heard the deceased say: “lam so bad. I have never been taken f this way before.” He also said he thought ho would be well again. When he was in convulsions, he looked as if ho wero in , pain, but witness could not notice the . expression on deceased's face, as it was too dark. Ho showed no signs of fear. Ho was very hot, and perspired a great ! deal about the hair. After death, witness helped to carry the body on to the bridge. It was wrapped in canvas by the sailors. It was then limp. He only remembered hearing deceased use the words he had mentioned, and he repeated these several times. When he saw the lady and deceased on the hatchway, they wore close together. He did not notice whether they were [talking. Thoro was no one olse sitting thoro at the same time. A QUESTION OF IDENTIFICATION. Witness' depositions were then read over, and he stated that ho wished to make an explanation. He did not mean that the lady he saw in Court was the lady ho saw on the fore-hatch. The lady in Court was the same lady he had seen on Wednesday last at the Central Police | Station. The Deputy-corner : Did you see that [ lady on the Talune at all ? Witness : No, sir. [ Mr T-Uet :Do you say that this lady, [ Jane Smith, is not the lady’ that was on fore-hatch ? Witness : 1 simply can’t identify her. I will not swear she was not the lady ! Mr Tillet: Can you describe the lady 3 you saw walking from the hatch ? 1 * Witness : She was similar in height 3 and general apperance to this lady. 3 ilr Moss : I suppose you only saw her s for five or six seconds ? e Witness : Yes. r Mr Moss: Were there some hides near o the hatch '? ' 1 Witness": Yes, two or three yards 1 away, on the starboard side. 5 ANOTHER PASSENGER’S STATEa MENT. y William John M’Bride, a passenger by - the Talune, said that ho joined the vessel c i at Lyttelton; He saw Conway daily on t the voyage, and the latter appeared to be T . in good health. On the evening of Feb. t t 19th, he saw deceased at about 9 p.m., ;y sitting on some bags on the starboard side h of the ship. He saw no one alongside of h him, but abreast of him was a lady whom he could not identify. He could not ie say how she was dressed, or whether she Q was speaking to Conway, as witness

was on the other side of the vessel, and she had her back to him. Witness went into the steerage bar and remained there for some time. To Mr Tillet: When he came out he was walking up and down the deck when he saw a man named Allen sitting beside Conway on the bags. Conway was lying backwards with his legs bent over the edge. , , . ~ . .. . The Deputy-Coroner : Was this a large pile of bags ? * • ' > Witness: About four feet high. To Mr Tillet: He saw Conway take a fit-. He was convulsed and quivering, ■working his arms backwards and forwards. His legs were straight out and his head upright. This was after he was lifted off the bags. He did not take much notice of Conway while he was on the bags. His legs, as well as his arms, were quivering. He was placed on the hatch on his back. Witness was not near him all the time he was ill, but was present when he died. This was at five minutes to ten by his watch. He had seen the lady in court before on the Talune, but could not say whether she was or was not the lady he saw talking to deceased. Deceased was sensible during his illness, except for a few seconds when he had the fits. He put questions to deceased, which were answered sensibly. The inquest was then adjourned till Tuesday morning. AN APPLICATION.

The inquest was resumed on Tuesday morning, March 12, when, as before, Mrs Smith was present, in custody of male and female warders. At the opening of the proceedings Mrs Smith's solicitor stated that he understood that Mrs Smith’s husband would arrive in Sydney to-morrow from New Zealand, and he would ask that His Worship take only technical evidence that day. The Deputy-Coroner: What difference does it make whether her husband arrives to-morrow or not ? Mr Moss : I would like to have a conference with him, and I ask that no evidence regarding anything alleged to have transpired on board the vessel should be given meanwhile. The woman was before the Court practically by herself. The Coroner: Not before this Court. Her presence'is not essential here. Mr Moss: It is, however, very important for her to be here.

His Worship said that he did not see his way to stop the evidence, and he should go on. MR M’BRIDE’S EVIDENCE.

The first witness called was William, M’Bride, who was under examination when the Court adjourned on Saturday. In answer to Mr Tillett, lie said that while Comvay was on the hatch he saw the captain speak to him, and heard him answer questions put by the captain. The steerage cabin was on the main deck, and the ladies’ cabin was on the same deck. He recognised from the plans produced the positions, of the cabins, and he explained the relative situations of the cabins, entrances to them, bar, etc.

DEATH CAUSED BY STRYCHNINE POISONING.

Dr G. H. Taylor, re-called, said that he had been in Court and had listened to the evidence of the various witnesses who described the death of the man Patrick Conway. He had also heard the evidence of the Government analyst, and he now stated that-the death of the man Patrick Conway was caused by strychnine poisoning. In reply to the Deputy-Coroner witness said that if three-quarters of a grain of strychnine were found in tho viscera of deceased and the contents, that fact would indicate that a large quantity of poison must have been introduced into his body.

The Coroner: What amount of strychnine would kill a man in the way described by witness ? Witness : Half a grain. The Coroner : Is there any ovidonce that the strychnine found by Mr Hamlet in the body was introduced by the mouth ?

Witness : Yes, there is,

Witness then went on to state how the first analysis dealt with tho contents of the stomach, liver, spleen and kidney, in which Mr Hamlet found three-quarters of a grain of strychnine. In the second case the analyst found only a trace of strychnine in the intestines, liver and heart, and he inferred from that that the greater part of the three-quarters of a grain of strychnine must have been found in the food in the stomach. In reply to Mr Tillet, Dr, Taylor said that he heard the witness Kearney describe the stitching up of the body at the morgue, and considered that if those stitches had been interfered with there would be indications of such interference.

The Coroner : Could poison be introduced into deceased’s body after his death, and found as Mr Hamlet described ?

Witness : It would be impossible. ,' , THE EFFECTS OF STRYCHNINE,

: In reply to a juror, witness stated that the length of time before three-quarters of a grain of strychnine would show visible effects would depend upon the condition of the man’s stomach. In a full stomach it would act more slowly than in an empty one. If taken on a full stomach he would expect the man to die within two or three hours. Some people would die within a few minutes. There were exceptional eases of poisoning, where fatal results had been much longer delayed than two or three hours. If three-quar-ters of a grain of strychnine in solution were given to a person he would expect to see symptoms of poisoning commence within half an hour. In reply to Mr Tillett witness stated that strychnine had an intensely bitter taste. It could not readily be taken with food without-the taste being detected. In reply to a juror, witness said the symptoms displayed by deceased were proof of death being caused by strychnine. „ Frank Kean, employed by Mrs Kirby and Son, undertakers, gave evidence with regard to the burial of the body of Patrick Conway at Rookwood about February 22 last. There were no mourners at the funeral.

MORE EVIDENCE -BY PASSENGERS. 'George Chorley, re-called, said that he identified the body of Patrick Conway on March 2. On the evening of the night of the death, witness was near him at tl e tea table, and he then, as far as witne: s could judge, was in good health. Aft< r tea, some time about eight o’clock, witness noticed Conway sitting on the forehatch. His attention was soon-after called by seeing several passengers make a rush, and he followed them and saw Conws.y lying on deck and throwing his arms and legs up and straightening them out. He saw ice placed in his mouth and in his hands, and heard the captain speak to him. Somebody asked deceased how he felt, and he replied “I don’t know.” He was asked if anything would do him any good, and he said “ No.” At tea there were pickles (Chow Chow), and witness handed some to Conway. Alfred Allen, of 54, Stewart street, Paddington, boilermaker, deposed that he travelled in the Talune from New Zealand .with deceased, with whom he got acquainted on board, soon after leaving Wellington. He remembered Conway dying on board on February 19. Before he was taken ill. witness was talking to Conway. This was about eight o’clock, and about the same time he saw a lady come along on the starboard side. She was dressed in a long macintosh of brown fawn colour, and wore a straw hat. Witness did not take much notice of her at the time, but he subsequently noticed her going aft. He saw Conway come from tiie forecastle-head, and go and sit on No. 2 hatchway. (Here witness pointed out on a plan of the vessel where he saw Conway sit.) He soon afterwards saw what he believed to be the same lady again, judging from the dress. She came forward, and spoke to Conway, and sat down on the hatch beside him. Witness was then at the bulwarks of the ship, and he saw Conway put something to his mouth, and tilt back his head, as if drinking. The lady and Conway - continued talking on the hatch, and she afterwards went away, but witness did not pay much attention toiler or Conway. Later on, witness spoke to Conway on the hatch, and after a while Conway went and sat on some bags, and laughed,-and said, “It was his missus.” ■ He took fruit out of his pocket, and offered some -to witness. -•■ - ' •• This witness was under examination when the mail closed.—Lyttelton Times, *