THE ARIADNE CASE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 258, 1 November 1901, Page 2

THE ARIADNE CASE.

per press association. Chbistchurch, October 31. In the Ariadne case, the charges preferred were Casting away the ship, conspiring to defraud the underwriters, and procuring persons to assist in casting away. These were taken together. Mr Stringer, op suing for the Crown, said Mumford, the skipper, on May 30th, six diys after the wreck, verbally confessed toLiyd's ug'<nt that Kerry bad agre )d to pay him £4OO if he would cast the ship away. He put the statement in writing on Mr Willis promising him .£4OO. Later on he made a more elaborate statement, and handed in an agreement between the three Hocused in accordance with which the wrecking had been carried out. S'ewart Willi*, Lloyd's ageot and surveyor, gave evidence tbat the vessel' was worth .£SOOO, and was insured for .£IO,OOO. Mumford had told him Kerry gradually approached him on the subject of wrecking the yacht, and agreed to give him £2OO when the job was done, and £2OO when tho insurance money was paid. If successful, they intended to go home, purohass a larger vessel, heavily insure her and lose her in the Strait* of Magellan. Mumford was to get £IOOO in security, and a much larger sum if he wrecked a larger vessel. Fieke was present when ariaogemeuts were made. It wis originally intended t j wreck the vessel ou the West Coast, but the life boit had been lost. Kerry signed the agreement, and handed a copy to Mumford, but the latter lost it, but Mumford, however, afterwards found it. This alleged agreement, together with Mumford's written statement, wag produced in Court,

Mr Willis stated thit ha had paid Mumford i) 400 ax prmii-ed.