THE TALUNE MURDER.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 85, 18 April 1901, Page 1

THE TALUNE MURDER.

POSTPONED TILL MONDAY’

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrighl Sydney, April 17. The Conway case was farther post poned till Monday, pending the arrival oi witnesses.

Sydney, March 27. The inquest upon the body of Patrick Conway was resumed yesterday, after an interval of twelve days, before the DeputyCoroner (Dr B. H. Todd) and a jury of twelve. Mr Tillett appeared for tho Crown, and Mr Mack (on behalf of Mr Moss) for Mrs Smith, who was present in Court in custody, dressed as formerly with a fawn coat and gem hat. Some startling evidence was given.'

EVIDENCE OF A COOK.

The first witness called was Frederick George Passey, living at 118, Princess Street, Sydney, who stated that he was second cook on the Talunc on tho passage from New Zealand, which left on Feb. 15, He saw Conway on four different occasions on the ship before his death. On- the evening the steamer left Wellington a lady came along the starboard alley and asked if that was the way 'to tho fore cabin. That lady was in Court—Mrs Smith. Later on the same evening he saw the same lady sitting on No. 2 hatch talking to Conway.: Twenty minutes later thoy were still sitting there. When lie passed on the following night he saw Mrs Smith speaking with Conway, and later on. On the night of Feb. 19 he saw Mrs Smith go forward, and he saw her and Conway sitting on No. 2 hatch. The man Conway had a glass in his hand; but witness did not see him drink, although there was something in the glass. Some time after Mrs Smith went aft to the saloon. About 7.30 p.m.—fully an hour later—hearing that a man was in a fit, witness went forward, and saw Conway, apparently in great agony, neavthe hatch. He heard Conway say, in answer to a question, “ I never felt like this before ; this is terrible.” To Mr Mack : He had not read any of the evidence in the newspapers since coming to Sydney, about a week ago. He saw Mrs Smith for the first time on the boat. THE SUMNEB CONSTABLE.

Edward Charles Trcahy, police constable, stationed at Sumner, near Christchurch, New Zealand, stated that he saw Patrick Conway for the first time at Sumner about Feb. 10, when the latter called on him. In consequence of statements made lie searched for a handbag containing one £lO note, on tho back pf which there was said to bo written

Mr Mack objected to witness stating what was written on the note; hut the Deputy-Coroner overruled the objection, on the ground that the evidence was necessary to identify the note, but it could not be evidence agauist Mrs Smith. Witness, continuing, said that on the back of the £lO note certain words were written in pencil. He also searched for a brown pigskin purse, in which tho £lO note was supposed to be, and, in addition, ton sovereigns, a jubilee 2s piece, and one or two single £1 notes. He also looked for a gold keyless watch, in the case of which there were photos of a man and woman. Attached to the brass chain with

the pendant was a cross, engraved on one side “ P.C.,” and on the ether “ M.C.” a gold-handled pen and hook of dates. Mr Mack objected agahi to the description of the property which had been given ' by the deceased to witness. It was not evidence; it was only hearsay, and it might prejudice the.position of Mrs Smith by inflamingthe public mind. The Coroner again oveiruled the objection. Witness also stated that the hag was supposed to contain a promissory note for. £2OO, made out in the name of (Mr Mack pressed his objections to the admissibility of this evidence, and after argument tho deputy-coroner suggested that the name on the promissory note should not be stated.) There were also another promissory note and a chamois leather bag, containing small nuggets of gold, a hand ring with stone, another gold ring, (fifteen carat), and several private letters and papers. He saw the lady in court (Mrs Smith) outside the Supreme Court, Christchurch, on Feb. 18. She said to witness: “ The reason I didn’t come to sec you before was because I was afraid that my friends would hoar that the police were making inquiries for me. She went on to say: “ Conway told mo on Feb. 11, 12 and 13 that you wanted to speak to me. I met Conway at Christchurch on Feb. 7, and we took the 4 p.m. tram to Sumner, where we went to a refreshment room and had some tea. We walked to the sea beach, and after sitting down together for about half an hour I said I felt cold, and Conway said he would get me some brandy and port wine. Conway left, and came back with a bottle, out of which we both had several drinks. Seeing that Conway was getting drunk I asked him to put his watch and purse into my handbag, so that I could look after them for him. Conway put the purse and watch and chain into my bag, and we got up and walked along the beach, and went into the hotel at Sumner, and afterwards came out and sat down on a seat in front of the hotel. About eight o’clock in the evening the tram came in, I remember that, but then I lost my memory, and found myself lying on a vacant section of land at Sumner about 5 in the morning. I did not speak to anybody, or go into anybody’s house, but walked to Woolston, where I bought a veil for my face.” In answer to questions, she said she wouldn’t tell the names of any of her friends in Christchurch or Dunedin, nor where she was staying in Christchurch, as if her friends knew that the police were making inquiries they might think something was wrong. She further said: “If my husband in Dunedin was to find out that I slept out all night at Sumner I would poison myself. A boy brought my coat from Sumner on Monday, with my purse in the pocket, together with a gold ring with a stone missing, which belonged to Mr Conway. The boy said that the coat was given to him in a shop at Sumner, where it had been brought by a woman who found it in some bushes. My name and address were written inside the purse. I could not give a description of the boy. I did not ask him his name, but he told me he lived in Christchuroh.' If I saw bun again I would know him. I saw ' Conway on Monday, Feb. 11, and I told him that the boy had brought my coat from Sumner, and that my purse and his ring were in the pocket. I did not show it to him. I may go to Sydney. I will give Conway another promissory note for £SO that I owe him, and which was lost at Sumner. I have known Conway for a number of years in Dunedin.” She told witness that she left Dunedin by the express two or three days before Conway, and that in Christchurch Conway stayed at a hotel and she stayed with her friends. She further told witness that she would go down to Sumner and bring Conway with her on February 14, and that thoy would have a look round to see if they could find the handbag. She said that prior to i February 13 Conway and she had been down to Sumner, and bad walked round where she had been on the previous occasion. She found the place where she stopped all night, but they did not find the handbag, 'Witness searched in all the likely places in Sumner, but did not find any trace of the missing articles. On March 9 witness received a brown leather pocket-book (produced) from Mr J. W. Butters, who lives at Nayland-street, Sumner,