THE CHRISTCHURCH TRAGEDY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 242, 18 February 1911, Page 5

THE CHRISTCHURCH TRAGEDY

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST. THE PLOT THICKENS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. The inquest concerning the death of Ethel Bradley was resumed to-day. The police led evidence to show that the deceased was seen going towards Sadler's shop about 8 o'clock on February 7. William Henry Price, who kept Sadler's books, gave evidence regarding the movements of Sadler up to about nine, o'clock on February 7. He said |he knew no reason why Sadler should want to check his books after they were made up on the night of February 7. Joseph Claid, a porter at the Zetland Arms Hotel, said he knew both Sadler and Jack. He was in Sadler's shop in January, when Jack told him he had n girl in trouble, and would either have to get her fixed up or get out. John Freeman, barman at the Zetland Arms Hotel, related that, with two other men, he saw a woman dressed in dark clothes, wearing a. black hat, standing near the hotel right-of-way for a considerable time. .Jack came up and spoke to her, and the two went off tdgether. This was shortly after eight on the night of February 7. John Grant corroborated Freeman's evidence in the main.

SADLER'S SOLICITOR INSISTS ON SILENCE. A PECULIAR PIECE OF BUSINESS. Christchurch, Later. Further evidence was given relative to the movements of the deceased and the accused men on the night before the bodv was found. ' Chief Detective Bishop said that, acting on the advice of his solicitor, Sadler would refuse to answer nuestions at this stage of the enquiry. He would, therefore, not put him in the box. but put in his signed statement instead. The Coroner said: Accused has to answer a charge, and it would be better for him not to be put in the witness-box at the present stage. Chief Detective Bishop said that if he put in Sadler's statement it would save Sadler attending at the resumption of •the inquest. Thomas Gibson, police detective, said that on the morning of February 11, at 0.30, he went into Sadler's shop to get him to attend the inque.st. After a minute or two, Sadler said, "Here is the man who will clear the matter up," and he called out of his shop to a man who gave the name of Hansen. Witness took this man to the detective office, and ho then gave witness a signed statement. Hansen immediately disappeared, and had not been found since. The Coroner remarked that the police must make another effort to find the man. Witness: He is a sailor. The Coroner, after reading the statement, .said it was only valuable in one respect, in that it proved Hansen a liar, and would not he received as evidence in any criminal proceedings. He made one statement first, and then said it was a lie. At this stage he would not admit the statement as evidence. The inquest was adjourned till Friday next.