THE TALUNE MURDER.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 88, 23 April 1901, Page 3

THE TALUNE MURDER.

OPENING OF THE TRIAL, 13/ Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Sydney, April 22. Jane Smith was arraigned on a charge of the murder of Conway. Mr Wade, Crown Prosecutor, opened the case. He said that, although no one could say that accused put poison in the food, the fact that she was the last person in the company of the deceased person, at whose hands he took food prior to the fatal fit, combined with her demeanor, the conclusion was that deceased met his death at her hands, and that the deed was done with a criminal purpose. Accused, who looked more careworn than on her appearance at the Coroner’s Court, exercised her challenge freely', objecting to fourteen persons. Thomas Conway, brother of the deceased, said that his brother never had a lit in his life. Mrs Smith visited their house in 1.899. He had seen her several times since then. His brother, sister, and himself had accompanied her to the theatre. His brother had considerable sums of money by him from time to time. When the chief mate of the Talune was put in the box, Mr Reid objected to Mr Ward asking him what Hag he was sailing under. lie looked upon the question as irrelevant, and gave reasons that thc ( Hag the vessel was Hying was not evidence. Her registration should be put in.

The Judge overruled the objection. Hal ton, steward of the Talune, admitted that he did not receive instructions to lock up deceased’s effects till next morning.

Hr. Taylor, cross-examined by Mr Reid, said that lie formed his opinion of the death, after a post mortem, and questioning some of the ship’s company. lie had in mind the question of strychnine at the time, but finally decided, from the result of the post mortem, in favor of the certificate lie gave. He recognised that a man with diseased kidneys might have fits. Handling patients after poison had been well absorbed might bring on convulsions.

The evidence given showed that the jars containing the contents of the stomach lay in Jio morgue some days unsealed.

The Government Analyst said the chance was very remote that poison had been placed in the remains after death. .It would requiro a skilled anatomist to inject poison in the tissues. .Mr Hamlet, Government analyst, said that the strychnine he found in Conway's remains lmd been swallowed during life.