THE TALUNE MYSTERY.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 62, 14 March 1901, Page 2

THE TALUNE MYSTERY.

POSITIVE STATEMENTS,

WITNESSES ASSERT THAT MR SMITH SAT WITH CONWAY.

STEWARD HELPS HER TO THE FORE-CABIN. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Received 10.59 p.m., March 13. Sydnoy, March 18. Tho inquest concerning tho death of Conway was resumed to-day. A LADY’S EVIDENCE. Jessie Fairloss deposed that when tho lady in court (Mrs Smith) first came to tho cabin, sho said to witness’s mother, “Are you the lady who lias a daughter that I am looking for ? ” Her mother replied, “ No, Ido not know you.” MR THOMPSON’S POSITIVE EVIDENCE. Janies Thompson, a steerage passenger on the Talune, deposed that ho mado Conway’s acquaintance on tho day tho stoainor left Lyttelton. On tho following Saturday ho saw a woman sitting with Conway on tho hatchway. After leaving Wellington Conway told him something, and pointed out the lady now sitting in Court. On the night Conway died he and witness after toa played cards on tho hatchway near the saloon until it became too dark to continue. Witness then went to his bunk. Whilo there he saw a lady look into tho ladies' cabin, also into the steerage cabin. It was the same lady ho saw on deck when they loft Wellington, and she was identical with the lady in the court. He did not notice where she went after. Looking at the cabin door a little while after he saw Conway on dock, struggling in a fit. MISS FAIRLESS IN THE BOX. Jessie Fairless, a steerage passenger on the Talune, deposed that on the evening of February 19th, a woman, a stranger, not one of tho steerage passengers, came to the fore-cabin. That was the lady in Court. She was evidently addressing somebody, and said : “ I could not come before, bocauso I have been too sick.” It was about half-an-hour after she saw tho lady that witness heard that a man had been seized with a fit. Sho saw the lady next afternoon, standing at the foot of tho ladder leading to tho forecastle. A SALOON STEWARD.

Frederick Liardet, saloon steward on tho Talune, identified the lady in Court as tho passenger who recently travelled on his vessel. On February 19th, he saw hor between numbers 1 and 2 hatches at about 7.30 p.m. She asked him if that was the way to the fore-cabin. Ho replied in tho affirmative'. Ho handed her over the steam-box. He saw hor go to tho foro-eabin. He did not notice her again till about 8.15 p.m., when ho saw her entering the starboard alley-way, going aft. The same lady, whon the ship reached Sydney, asked him if they had taken the dead man ashore. ADJOURNED.

The inquest was adjourned until Friday.