The Conway Mystery.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 163, 15 June 1901, Page 3

The Conway Mystery.

Sydney, June 12

In the Conway murder case, Jessie Fearson, of Waikouaiti, Otago, said that she had known the accused for a aouple of years, and had advanced her £IOO in February, 1899, due in twelve months. The accused returned the amount at the end of the term and asked for a further loan of the same sum, which was granted, giving a promissory note. At the end o 1 the further twelve months, she gave the accused time to pay Smith explained that she was going to Sydney to see a lady and ; a gentleman whose child she saved ; James Russell, ex-steward of the Talune, deposed that the morning after Conway’s death he went to take the accused’s order for breakfast. She asked them whether they were going to take the body to port, or bury it at sea. He replied that they would not bury it at sea as the boat would reach Sydney next day. When the vessel reached port the accused gave witness a watch and chain to keep till the next morning, stating that she was afraid of breaking or losing it. She informed witness that giro had two Others.

June 13,

Miss Middlesten, recalled, admitted that the stout she drank on the night of Conway’s death had a distinctly bitter taste. After the case for the prosecution closed the accused addressed the jury at some length in a voice broken and low. Rhe declared that she was aabsolntely innocent of the charge, and denied being on deck on Saturday, Sunday or Monday. She came to Sydney with her husband’s consent. The parents of the child she had saved went Home eleven years ago, but returned twelve montbs ago. They settled a policy on the child’s life for £SOO on her. She gave the details'of her-connection with Conway, which was already known, and concluded by 'Baying that if Con way could only rise from his grave he ’would declare her innocence.

Counsel for the defence sought to show that strychnine was a cumulative poison, and that Conway who bad been in illhealth, and, as the post mortem showed, suffered from Bright’s disease, probably took a tonic of which strychnine formed a part. The poison accumulated and suddenly acted fatally. After a lengthy and lucid summing up by the Judge the jury in the Conway murder ease, after thrice returning to ask questions, wore locked up for the night.