AUCKLAND HARBOUR MYSTERY.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3448, 30 March 1920, Page 5

AUCKLAND HARBOUR MYSTERY.

S'l‘(‘)'R.Y OF A MISSING £IOO NOTE.

INQ UEST RESUMED.

The cii-cumstances surrounding the death. of William Henry Marwick Sim, an Australian trooper, whose body was found in the Auckland -harbour, together with the facts relflting to a. £IOO note Said to have been in the duceasedk: possession prior to his

heath, were further investigated by Mr J. E. Wilson, S.M., at Aucklan-I

yo.stel'day

3 Oscar Paul Faixiburn, now in cus{tody on :1 charge of stealing the £IOO ‘note, was present. at the proceedings land was represented by Mr Graham. ; Evidence was given by Ada Lums-

ton, a. Salvation Army ‘sister, that when Sim first went to stay at the

People’s Palace he tendered a £IOO note for witness to hold against his board, but she declined to take it. Sim said he was suffering from shell shock, and seemed to be brooding. She again saw the note in the possessioll of the deceased at 7.30 12.11). on the 10th instant.

Replying to Mr Graham, witness said that Sim was very vacant and had every appearance of suffering from shell shock.

Jilah Ferguson another Salvation Army ofiicer, attached to the Peop_le's Palace ‘staff, said at 7.30 pm. on the 11th instant Siffi wanted a bed, and she refused him on account of the house being full. Shortly afterwru-ds he went through to the residential portion ‘of the establishment, and shortly afterwards :1 complaint was received that he had occupied a room and refused to leave. Vvitness had to have him ejected by the police nbmlt

ilt) p.lll. Witness again saw him 3:155 ithe premises. He appeared to have "been drinking. 1 James Simpson. a porter at the fPeople’s Palace, said that some time !after 7 o’cl'c-ck in the evening of the illth deceased came to the place in a imotor car and took away his belongiing.‘ About 9 pm. witness saw him’ it:-_ving~the doors‘oi' the bedrooms, and I when questioned, he said he was loci}:;ing for a. friend. Then he went info téone engaged room zfnd, I'elna.!‘king, E“This will do_me_.s’ lay down on the Ebed. Witness fetched a constable; "told him the ‘man was behaving in a. 'peculiar manner, and that he believed ‘he had £IOO on him. The constable asked him if he was suffering from sh:-_1:1 shock, and the deceased replied ihe thought he was. Later he left with Ethe constable. When Sim was looking round the rooms witness 2.‘-:1;ed Ihim where he had taken his ‘luggage, ~and he said he did not know where 7he had been. Witness was of the opi-

nion that fhe man had shell shock. He luight have been dr‘ink“mg, but he did not xhow many signs of it. To Mr Graham: The man appeared tn be excitable that day.

Harry Dunk, manager of a. boardinghouse in Wellesley Street, deposed‘ to finding some luggage in one of his 1001115 at 9 pm. on the 11th. This he leamed had been.left by a man earlier in the evening. He never saw the owner, but on the 18th, saw the :w.<’*olllJt of the death of Sim, and I':ln_9: up the police to inform t.-hem that he had luggage inscribed with that name. Sim never occupied the room on the night of the 11th. .\rfhm' Thns. B:'mk.~', :1 night‘ porter on duty at the People’s Palace from M p.ln. onward, said at 2.45 am. on the 12th. he was in the kitchen and heard :1 door slam and someone ca]: out. He. saw a man standing like 3

statue. The inquest is proceeding.