MURDER MYSTERY.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 September 1921, Page 5

MURDER MYSTERY.

GREY LYNN TRAGEDY. MeMAHON GIVIES EVIDENCE. Searching cross-examination. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. The inquiry into the circumstances attending the death of Francis Edward Jew, who wan found murdered at Grey Lynn on July 17, was continued to-day. ihom-as Rowan McMahon stated in evidence that he was 22 years of age. On Saturday, July 16, he met deceased at Carlaw Park, where they had some drink. He carried a bottle of champagne in his pocket. He left the football ground alone, and had a drink at the Albert Hotel on his way home. He left there at 6 p.m. and took a tram to Grey Lynn, where he sat on the seat, outside Shearer’s shop. Jew and McGregor came along there, and also sat on. the seat. McGregor left witness, and Jew went down the right-of-way. He could not remember asking Jew to go there and have a drink. Then they rode on. the 7 Grey Lynn car, but he could not say where they got off. They met some boys, Mat. Brodie, Jack Cordin, and a boy named Don, who went bock with witness and Jew. He thought they went right on to the terminus. He had a very hazy recollection of the incident deposed to by other witnesses, but remembered having a drink of champagne.

McMahon said he could not remember seeing Jew later or hearing him say he wanted to go to the vacant section near the church. If Jew did he (witness) had too much liquor to remember. He saw Lupton about half an hour after he left Jew, but he wug simply guessing. His mind was a perfect blank. The next, thing he remembered was coming back from Point Chevalier in Lupton’s ’bus, but he remembered nothing about what occurred on tlie trip, till he met some mates at Shearer’s shop. He went home with Stan Rodgers, Fred Edmunds and McGregor about 11 p.m. His mother heard him come in. He first heard about the murder on Sunday. He might then have said he left Jew at the terminus the night but he did not remember. He had heard a man named Dunn say he saw someone like him (McMahon) near the vacant section. He might have crossed over to the section, but he was in such a condition that he did not know what he did. The cross-examination of McMahon had not concluded when the inquiry was adjourned for the day. Witness was very closely questioned as to his movements on the night of the murder. In reply to a question, McMahon said he must have been very drunk on Saturday evening, as he did not remember anything. The police asked you, did they not, if you were drunk and you said deceased' was not drunk but he had taken some drink, which could not be noticed on him and you was in a similar condition?— Yes.

If that was your state of sobriety you could, have remembered what happened that evening —Yes. Then what you told the police was untrue?—Yes.

And you told the police the times without remembering them? —Yes. And did you notice the times you gave filled in the whole evening?—No. Was that just a coincidence?—Yes. The coroner: Why do you say “yes”? You say your object in giving the times was to clear yourself and now you say it was a coincidence. —I could not remember; I was only guessing at it.

Witness had been in the box six hours when the proceedings terminated for the day.