THE CONWAY CASE

Waikato Argus, Volume X, Issue 930, 27 April 1901, Page 2

THE CONWAY CASE

Received Apiil 20, 9.16 p in. Sydney, Adh'l 2G. AT the trial of Mrs Smith Mr Read addressed the jury for two hours, lie said the accused was charged with u deliberate and cold-blooded murder. It was not mi act of hot jealousy, but the Crown case suggested the motive to be due to monetary matters. Every act of tho accused had been frank. She had not acted as a stealthy poisoner. At every turn her actions had been open. He laid stress en the fact that Conway, when taken ill, did not say a word about being poisoned, or that from a woman had come this thing. If Conway had been poisoned at Sumner would it not have flashed through his mind on the fatal night that he was similarly affected ? Asrain, accused had left New Zealand in broad daylight, laughing and chatting with Conway. Was this the act of a stealthy poisoner ? Again, why should accused take Miss Huddleslone, who could watch her movements, into her cabin 'i If accused had a design on Conway's life would she have waited till the ship was close to Sydney when she cohld have given him the stout immediately after leaving Wellington ? The Crown Prosecutor's address lasted two hours. He said that Miss Huddlestone in her evidence said that accused told her she gavo stout to deceased. Th.it was absolute proof that accused was with Couwny on the fatal r.ight. Doubtless accused purchased wholesale quantities of strychnine to avert suspicion, which would arise if she only purchased the fatal dose. It would have been easy for the defence to prove whether her relatives received any poison from her. In her interviews with the Sydney police an innocent person would have served her cause best by truthful statements, yet she made different statements about the affair. (Received Aprd 27, 1.10 a.m.) Sydney, April Its. The jury at a late hour stated that there was no hope of them soon agreeing, and they were locked up for the night.