H.—3

150

3221. Was it in good preservation?— Very good preservation. 3222. Do you know what the sealskin jacket was sold for?— Four pounds. 3223. It was very cheap at that?— Yes, I should think so. 3224. You do not know who bought that ? —I am not quite certain of her face, but I was with some one who recognised her face again. I think she lives up near Kent Terrace. Ido not know her name. 3225. Is there not another lady you know who knows something about Mrs. Dallon's affairs ?— There was a Mrs. Sheridan who was helping me a little. When Mrs. Dallon got too ill I sent for her. 3226. Where is Mrs. Sheridan ?—On Tinakori Boad. 3227. Could she be found?— Yes. 3228. What is her occupation?—l think her husband is in the Native Land Office. 3229. At any rate, he is in the Government service ?—Yes. 3230. How long was Mrs. Sheridan assisting you ? —The old lady was taken ill on the Saturday morning. Mrs. Sheridan came in on Saturday afternoon, and again on the Sunday, and after Mrs. Dallon was dead. 3231. Then, perhaps, she communicated something to her ?—No, from what I know. 3232. Mr. Macdonald.} Was Mrs. Dallon sensible?— No. I think until Sunday afternoon or evening she was; but on Monday morning she was quite insensible, and could not speak at all. 3233. Did she make any observation respecting her son or her effects ? —No. I do not think she thought she was going to die on Sunday afternoon. I did not think so either, and I did not send for the doctor until Monday morning. She told me on Sunday she was suffering from a cold. 3233 a. Are you quite sure about the price which the sealskin jacket brought at auction? —Yes, quite certain, and I know Mrs. Sheridan would be certain of that too. 3234. Were you at the auction ? —Yes, because I bought some things there. There was a little broche mantle T bought. 3235. Did you find the receipt which your husband got from Mr. De Castro of things delivered to him by Mr. Morrison? —I believe I sent the receipt from Mr. De Castro on to Mr. Dallon. 3236. Mr. Loti.ghrey.] Do you know Dallon's address?— Yes. 3237. The Chairman.] Your husband told the Commissioners yesterday that he had received a receipt from Mr. De Castro for the jewellery-casket, which he hacl given to you to take care of. Do you remember that ?—I remember his bringing it home to me. 3238. Can you produce that receipt ? —No. 3239. Where is it ?—I am almost certain I sent it to the son of deceased to let him know what I had done with the things. 3240. Could you tell me the address of Mr. Dallon? —Yes : Gatton Folice Court, Brisbane. 3241. And that address will find him? —Yes. 3242. Mr. Loughrey.] Did you see the bracelet mentioned sold on the day of the auction?— No. 3243. Was it put up ?—No. 3244. The Chairman.] Do you remember a bangle being sold ?—No. 3245. Would you call that missing bracelet in any respect a bangle?—No, certainly not. 3246. It could not be mistaken for a bangle ? —No. The ladies' watch was in a hunting-case. There was quite a hard bundle of lace, about Bin. square, put in amongst the clothes. When doubled up together it was about Bin. square—not less than Bin. square. It was in one bundle amongst the clothes. 3247. That bundle was perfectly distinct and separate from the smaller parcel of lace in the jewellery-case ? —This bundle was not in the jewellery-casket at all. It was just laid loose amongst the clothes. 3248. Besides that, then, there was the small parcel of lace in the jewellery-case now on the table before the Commissioners?— Yes. 3249. What was the bracelet like? —It was a bracelet of beaten gold. The links were l-§-ii_. long. The links were weighty —l|in, in width and ljin. long. 3250. How many medallions ?—Six on it altogether. I cannot tell you how they were joined, but they were slack, they would move. The medallions were quite close to each other, and I believe were joined top and bottom. 3251. Is there anything more you could tell us about the estate ? Have you any idea of the value of the ladies' watch? —I should think about £25. It was a splendid watch, and we asked Mr. De Castro—at least, my husband did —to give us a chance of buying it. He said it would go for a mere nothing, and he said he would let us know. He said it would be ready for Dallon when he proved ; and that there was sufficient money to pay off claims, and that there was no necessity to sell this jewellery. 3252. But, notwithstanding that, the Public Trust Office did sell the jewellery?— Yes, and never let us know, although they knew we wanted to buy some things. I wrote to Dallon, and he said he would be very glad to hand me over the watch as a memento of his mother; but, apart from that, I would have bought it rather than let it go. Mr. William Leslie Morrison further examined. 3253. Mr. Macdonald.] Mr. Morrison, when did you last see this lace and the bracelet ?—The last time I saw them was the day I gave them in. 3254. When you went fof young Dallon's watch to Mr. De Castro, did you see the lace and bracelet then ?—No. 3255. Was the jewellery exhibited to you then by Mr. De Castro?— The box was taken out and laid on the table, and the watch and chain were picked out of the other things.