THE MURDER OF FRANK JEW

' -• _ N f Searching Examination of Thomas McMahon !■ BLOOD-STAINED CLOTMSH6— UNEXPECTED iNTERRUPTIOM OF ! - PROCEEDINGS BY AItEGEB PSYCHO - ANALYST

Lupton has said you were hot drunk when you got into his '.bus. Is lie wrong? — Yes.

i . The portion/ of the cvi- - denoe-'at the coronial inquiry into the v mysterious death of Francis .Jew at ■/• Grey Lynn ia detailed below. The ln[v- quest was heard before Mr. W. K. i ; MoKean. S.M. .• „ £■■'■ The examination of the witness * Thomaß McMahon was, continued on >v In answer to further questions by • Mr. Meredith, the witness said: I don t i know why I told the police m my ):. statement of July 24 that I got out of I 'the car at - Pitt- street. On each occa- * sion I told the police that I was sober ?■ enough to know what I was doing. The !*•■ police impressed It upon me to be ?■■• 'careful about the details I could give. '■ It is true that on two occasions I saw t my brother m the car, and that m cvi- « dence yesterday I said I was too drunk ■ to recolleot whether I saw him or not. ;, I don't remember being on the -car r going to Ariki-street. I don't.remem'i ber the police asking me on the .19th, it * I had gone to Ariki-street. My state- •: ments are there, but I don't remember h what was asked or what I said. In * the first statement ' it sets out that I ' denied going to Ariki-street, and m the ' second statement I said I had gone. ■■''- This^Avas because I had been told of ' it d> my mates. It is m my statement ■ that Jew, paid the fares, but I got the i details off some of the boys. \ Mr. Meredith: How could you know ■' '< Jew paid If your mind was a blank on .: the trip?— He must have. The tickets I ' WERE FOUND ON HIM.

'•^1 don't remember paying myself. I ;' : have only a slight recollection of getr tfng out of the car, but I must have >-•■ walked back to the twopenny section. • The police asked you on the 24th *•' about the conversation m the doorway - about having a sleep? — Yes. They asked 3 r oU about Jew suggest- : ing, a sleep m Newdick's. loft?-vThey ;' may have. •: And you told 'them, "I am certain V Jew did not say that he was going to ) Newdick's place to have a sleep m the I loft, but I wouldn't go there"? — It is 't down there. £ • wihy did you say you were certain?— | Because I have never been. there m my p,; life. That is why I said it. % You have had asleep with Jew on ■ : the section on a previous occasion? — -. t ."Not that I know of. - t In your statement you say you went r to Green's pie- shop with. Jew? — Yes. ; Do you. remember it? — No, it Is iwhat i I (have iheard. / ?. You must recognise how important it |. is for you if anyone saw you. Let me k put the position clearly. You and Jew j were seen together at Gregory's shop. ; Then neither of you were seen either j; separately or together wotil after nine , o'clock, iwhen you appear at the terminus I—Yes.1 — Yes. Well, can't you see how, important it .;•.'. "-'is to you? — Yes. -' And yet you cannot remember seeX- Ing anyone you know? — It makes no

>■• difference to me. I His Worship: It might make

"'A LOT OF DIFFERENCE TO YOU,

Mr. Meredith: You remember being

I; m the pie-shop when you came back [' from Point Chevalier?— l ihave a recollection of It. That is the only time you have any recollection of being m there or any- , wheretiear it?— ' Yes. [ . Why did you tell the* police that % ,Jew and you (were m the pie-shop f about 8.40 pun. or 8,45 pan,?— l could ' not say.

• Now, where were you from 6.30 p.m. ':-, %o 9 p.m.?--From the time we left the i terminus and went' to Arilci-street and s got bach; to the terminus must ihave ; taken us> all the* time. | And Jew and you (were together?— •' We most have been. {• Continuing, witness, m reply to Mr. * Meredith, said: It is m my statements

i that I was at the terminus before Lup- ? -ton, but I now say I don't remember ~ talking to Lupton before I went to

Point Chevalier. I was too drunk to . remember. I can't explain why I told [the police twice, neither can I explain ■ why I told Det. Cummings that Jew caught a car. Nor do I remember telling it to Jew's brother, Brodie, or Prenter. I may have told them, I don't know whether I did or not. If I didn't I cannot understand why they should say I did. You uront away before this inquest began?— rYes. For how long? — A fortnight, to Te Puke.

-Wlien did you get back? — A week last Saturday (August 10).

The police obtained from you the Clothes you were wearing on July 10? —Yes, I gave them the -clothes. That was an overcoat, a hat and »uit of clothes? — Yes. They were subsequently shown you .With part of both trousers pockets cut Out 7 — Yes. And they told that the analyst's report was that THERE WERE BLOODSTAINS, human fclood, on the pockets? — Yes. And that there were other'stains on ft, part of the pocket not-cut out? — Yes. And they asked you to explain how the stains got there? — Tea, and I told them from cuts on the back of my hand. I had worn the clothes to work. Do you use those clothes to go out on a Saturday night? — Yes. , Have you a suit for working m? — lYes, but that suit was not my working ■uit. Do you get your hands cut at work 7 ; f— Yes. . And you say that the bloodstains are from cuts on v your hands? — Yes, it must have been done through cuts on my hands. It may have been done on come other Saturday night 'when I have been out before. How do you mean? — When I wore the clothes on Saturday nights. OpenIng a bottle, perhaps. How would you expect to get blood ojl both hands on a Saturday night? — I cion't know. You didn't know the stains were , there till the police told you after the analyst had reported? — That's right. I want to put It to you again. , Can you tell us anyone you saw from the time you left Gregory's till you got on tha 'bus? — Only from what I have been told. Who was that? — Cole. Can you tell us where you were about that time? — Somewhere by the Iron fence. Were you there with Jew? — Couldn't say. Can you remember seeing anybody between Gregory's and the tin fence? V-No. Can you suggest anybody who saw you?— No. ,' His Worship: Do you know Dunn?— Yes. What did he say?— -He never said it was me he saw. When did you speak to him?— ln the room m the court. While he was waiting to give evidence? — I don't know whether he had given evidence or not. He asked me If I was McMahon and I said- "Yes." He then said he didn't think It was mo he saw that night. Have you spoken to Lupton? — Yes. And about Kelly?— Yes. Can you suggest any reason why he Humid bring Kelly's name in?— No.

Can you not explain what you were doing from the two hours, from halfpast seven to half-past nine? — No, I cannot.

This ended the examination of the witness, who had been m the box seven and three-quarter hours.

Mrs. Margaret Morris, residing m Hadlow- terrace, said she was at St. John's Church on the Sunday. morning before the body was found. She also went down to the church on the Sat-* urday evening, and as far as she could remember \t would be about 7.45 pan. Before entering the church gate

SHE SAW A MAN standing by a telegraph pole. The post would be m front of Woodlock-'s, near the vacant section. Witness couldn't see the man's face to distinguish him, but lie seemed to be a man of square'set features. He had a light hat pulled down m front. He was a man very much like the detective sitting m court. (This waa Det.^Sgt. Ward). As she was walking into the church she heaTd a slight movement, and saw the form of a man on a seat by the fence dividing the church from Woodlock's place. The man appeared to be asleep. He wore a tweed suit, end there was a coat and hat alongside of him on the seat. Witness knew now that the man was Thomas McMahon. Witness said she talked the matter over with her husband, and eventually she went and saw Father Holbrook. She told him what she had seen, and he asked her why she did not tell the detectives. He then rang up Mr. Prendergast, and witness told him about the incident.

A CURIOUS INTERRUPTION. Bloodstains, Hammers, Visions and Tar.

Whilst the Clerk of the Court. was reading over the depositions to the witness a voice at the back of the court, and from amongst the crowd, said: "Mr. Coroner, I [would like to make a statement."

His Worship: The court can adjourn for a few minutes, and the gentleman can m the meantime see the detectives.

The interrupter turned out to be an artist named Portiere, residing at 76, Wakefield-street.

His Worship :. What is it you -wish to say.

Portiere: I want to deal with the movements after eight o'clock that night. I have collected information and have written statements. I think it Is only right m the cause of justice that I should come here and tell .what I know. His Worship : Have you been cpllecting evidence on your own account? —^Yes, I have. I communicated with the detectives after my first visit to the scene of the murder.

Mr; Meredith : " The detectives have a statement and perhaps if I read it it may shorten proceedings.

Mr. Meredith then read a lengthy statement In which the witness set of£ by saying that he "

"HAD A DREAM and saw a vacant space." In the statement he spoke of rows, two-up, bloodstains, hammers, two visions — one at six o'clock m Fabian's pub— but many names were mentioned, and very considerately Mr. Meredith left 'much of the statement out. At its conclusion, Portiere said it' was practically correct. "I- took the evidence to the detectives, -which I claim I was entitled to do. They politely told me the blood stains were tar stains. Isn't that right, Detective McHugh ?"

Detective McHugh (smiling) : Quite right.

His Worship said -he did not wish to hear any evidence of visions or dreams. He would be prepared to listen to. any direct evidence the witness might have as to what occurred that night. Anything people told the witness His Worship did not want to hean "I'm afraid I cannot listen to the result of your Inquiries," remarked his Worship.

Portiere : These Inquiries leave a stigma on . I'm disinterested m . I found blood stains. His "Worship : Which the police say are tar stains. Portiere: This inquiry is under your jurisdiction, not entirely under the Jurisdiction of the police As a private individual I maintain I have a perfect right to be heard. I SHALL CALL A PUBLIC INQUIRY to go into the matter. I have proof of fighting after 12 o'clock that night His Worship : Where are your witnesses ? They are not here. Portiere : - The police don't want them. ' His Worship : I don't "wish to hear you unless you can give direct evidence yourself of things you know of your own knowled-ge. You will have to stand down unless you can do that. Portier^ then climbed down out of the box and the Court adjourned till Wednesday morning. CONCLUDING DAY'S HEARING. The first witness on the final day of the inquest (Wednesday last) was Emma Millington, living two doors from the vacant section where the body of Jew was found. Witness^aid she heard the noise of boys squabbling outside iher gate about 11.30 on the night of Saturday, July 17. She heard some of them pass along the right-of-way adjoining. About twelve o'clock she heard some boys quarrelling outside her gate. She told Mr. Portiere, who had been making Independent investigation, that she saw blood on a telegraph-post opposite her ihouse. Her husband put his hand on their gate on Monday morning, and got blood on it.

Herbert Millington gave evidence that on Monday morning, as he was going out of the gate, he put his hand on the post and got some blood on his hand. He .thought someone had expectorated with blood m his mouth.

Detective Cummings disposed of statements regarding blood on the gate, saying it might have come from the men who found the body and who used the gate. The discoloration on the telegraph-post was proved not to be blood. He stated that, on July 17, he saw the body on the section. After haying described the attitude of the body, the witness said that the pockets of the clothes-showed no sign of interference, -and the clothing was properly adjusted. Among other things m a vest pocket was a cameo ring. Witness found rain m the folds of the overcoat that was across the lower part of the body; Among other . details of the state of dress, given minutely by witness, waa that the tia of the deceased was quite normally adJusted, and did not appear to have been disturbed. There were

NO INDICATIONS OF A STRUGGLE.

The batten found near the body weighed five pounds. It was examined for finger-prints, without result. The blood and hairs from the batten and the body were handed to Mr. Armitage for microscopic and bacteriological scrutiny, arf also were two splinters of wood found . adhering to the head of the deceased. Two tram tickets were found m the pocket of the deceased's

coat. It was some time before the police were able to get the body identified, but after identification that afternoon the body was and submitted to a post-mortem examination the same day. The night of Saturday, July IG, -waa moonlight, but overcast. Heavy rain fell at 4 a.m., and again at 8 a.m. on Sunday, but there was a high wind, to which the body, when foundf was exposed, which would account for the clothing: being: dry m places. Witness detailed the investigations made by himself and* Detective Sergeant Ward, who was m charge of the investigations. Witness had seen Churchill's original written statement taken by Detective Sergeant Ward, and there was no such remark as "He shouldn't have done it." Witness was present when Dunn's attention was drawn to Mc Mahon. Dunn said that McMahon resembled m appearance and dress the man he saw alongside the kerbstone near the. section on th© night of the murder. He did not get a good look at the mana face and therefore would not swear to McMahon being the man. To Mr. Meredith : The stains taken off the gate at Mlllington's house had not been examined yet. The first witness heard of Churchill's remark about "Pie shouldn't have done it" waa during 1 the hearing of the denceWitness handed to the bacteriologist, m addition to what had been mentioned, a suit of clothes belonging- to the witness McMahon and a suit of clothes from the witness Kelly. No blood-mark was found on Kelly's clothing. The rooms of McMahon, Kelly, j and Jew were searched. The cham-' pagne bottle mentioned by witnesses was found next door to Gregory's, as also was the glass. By the bloodstains j on the deceased's trousers it was obvious that the overcoat must have been placed over the legs of the body after J the bloodstains had got on the trousers. To Mr. Meredith: Everything pointed, m his opinion, to the injuries having been inflicted at the spot where the body was found.