THE ARIADNE SENSATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 252, 1 November 1901, Page 2

THE ARIADNE SENSATION.

By Telegraph—Press Association.

Christchurch, last night. The Ariadne case started this morning, before Dr McArthur, S.M. Mr Stringer, of Christchurch, and Mr Myers, of Wellington, are acting for the Grown, while Mr W. -I. Napier, of Auckland, and Mr A. 0. Hanlon, of Dunedin, ate appearing for Kerry and Broke, and Mr 11. J. Bcswick, of Christchurch, for Mumford. Five charges were preferred against the three accused, casting away the ship (two charges), forming a common intention to cast- away, conspiring to defraud underI writers, and procuring persons to assist in j casting away. The three main charges were heard first and together. Mr Stringer, in opening, said that Mumford, the skipper of the yacht, on May fiOth, six days after the vessel was wrecked, had verbally confessed to Lloyd’s agent, Captain Wiilia, that Kerry had agreed to pay him X'4oo if he would cast away the ship. lie put the statement in writing on Willis promising him X'loo, Later on Mumford made a more elaborate statement before a Christchurch notary, lie also handed to Willis an agreement between the three, in accordance with which the wrecking was carried out. Stewart Willis, Lloyd’s surveyor of Lyttelton, stated in evidence that the value of the ship afloat was XoOOO, and she was insured for XIO,OOO. Mumford had told him that, whilo working on the yacht, Kerry gradually approached him as to whether ho would cast the yacht away, and it was eventually agreed that ho should do it for X’-lOOO—X2OO down when the job was done, and the balance when the underwriters paid up. Mumford added that it was necessary to take the vessel to New Zealand, as the insurance policy had almost expired. If the job was successful, Kerry said ho were to go home to purchase a larger vessel, heavily insure her, and lose her in the Straits of Magellan. Mumford was to get XIOOO security from Kerry, and a much larger sum if he wrecked the larger vessel, Frckc was present when the arrangements were made. It was originally intended to wreck the vessel on the West Coast, hut a lifeboat had been lost. Kerry signed an agreement undertaking to pay Mumford Xl2 per month while master of the Ariadne, and X'loo if the vessel was totally wrecked, and handed a copy to Mumford. Mumford lost it, and Kerry refused to pay, but Mumford subsequently found it. This alleged statement, together with Mumford’s written statement containing certain facts, were produced in Court this morning by Willis, who stated he had paid Mumford X'loo, as promised.

MORE SENSATIONAL EVIDENCE

Ry Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, last night. In the Ariadne case, after lunch, Arthur Henry Rosworth, clerk in the Rank of Now Zealand, with 20 years’ experience of signatures, deposed that lie was satisfied i hat the signature “T. C. Kerry” on the agreement was identical with the same signature on the document, which was Kerry’s undoubted signature. The signature of E. J. T’reke on the agreement was written by the same person who signed Freke’s signature on the depositions. He did not think the agreement handwriting was Mumford’s.

Percy Akwood, able .seaman, one of the Ariadne’s crew, deposed that lie joined her at Sydney. He was on board the whole time. He saw about a load of trunks tsAen to a jetty about two miles 1 past Circular Quay, on February ‘24th. The load consisted of trunks of whisky, cases, oaf's, 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 thorn on. Kerry landed with the cargo, and came to the ship next day. On the voyage the life boat was equipped, but not provisioned and when off Cape Farewell the boat \va: washed out of the davits in a heavy sea Frekc came over in the yacht, Lut only acted as steward, though ho took a watch on dock, and had meals in the cabin with the captain. The yacht was very ill found. He had received no money in connection with giving evidence, and had been promised none. He had worked in Dunedin since the loss of the yacht as a plasterer's laborer, and had also been oil the steamship Ilimu. After a few days at sea on the Ariadne he and his mates became disgusted with the bad food, bad navigation, and bad discipline on board, and the captain blamed him for carrying away certain sails. The captain said that witness’ 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 Dennis ton, 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,in,, nest day,