BOY MISSING

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 210, 18 June 1935, Page 5

BOY MISSING

WITNESS IN SHARK ARM CASE. SON OF THE ACCUSED MAN. CORONER'S STATUS ATTACKED, United tress Association—Copyright), SYDNEY, June 17. Upon the resumption to-day of the inquest on James Smith, one of whose arms was disgorged by a shark in the Coogce Aquarium, and in connection with which Patrick Brady is charged with murder, Mr Clive Evatt, counsel for Brady, submitted that the Coroner had no jurisdiction and should proceed no further. ... The law, said counsel, demanded that the Coroner ■ should have first viewed the body, whereas all that he had viewed was a human arm. The Coroner: My reply is that 1 have seen sufficient of a body to enable me .to proceed. Mr Evatt contended that the Corone; was sitting illegally, and thali newspapermen were broadcasting the evidence, or so-called evidence, illegally. Mr Evatt added that he intended to test the Coroner's position in the Supreme Court. The Coroner: You have no right to tell me that. Mr Evatt asked for an adjournment to enable Brady's, advisers to test the position. The Coroner: I will not do that, but any rights you think you have can be exercised. Police-Sergeant Toole, the officer prosecuting, informed the Coroner that a boy named John William Brady wa* to have been the next witness, - but that his whereabouts were unknown. The Coroner: Is he a son of Patrick Brady ? ! Sergeant Toole: Yes. The subpoena was left at the address of Patrick sister. Hired Launch and! Car. James Smith, a fisherman at Oronulla, gave evidence that a man named Williams, who he now identified 'aa Patrick Brady, hired a motor launch from him for a week or two at tine end of March, and moored it near a cottage that he rented from Percival Forbes, who gave evidence on Friday. Charles Cooper, a garage proprietor at Cronulla, said that Brady hired a car from him at 7 a.m. on April 9 to take him to the city. He was dirty and unshaven and appeared to have had a "night out." . Herbert McGowan, a taxi-driver, said that early in April he drove a man whom he now recognised as Brady to a number of second-hand shops, from which Brady purchased a mattress and at tin trunk, which he conveyed to Brady's rented cottage at Cronulla. Was Yacht Scuttled? Gregory Bede Vaughan, an estate agent, said that James Smith had looked after the yacht Pathfinder, which sank about 12 months ago. Witness was the registered owner, but the late Reginald Holmes was the actual owner. The Pathfinder was insured for £BSOO. Smith Avas the last man on the Pathfinder. * Witness was unable to say whether the vessel had been scuttled. The police had taken a statement from him. He was unable to say whether any insurance was claimed or paid. Mr Evatt asked Vaughan whether the insurance on the Pathfinder was pledged in any way. Vaughan :T know nothing about it. Mr Evatt: I suggest to you that the yacht was scuttled by Smith at the instigation of a syndicate of men.—-I know nothing about it. Several taxi-drivers also gave evidence of having driven Brady to various parts of the city in the early part of April, and about his movements after leaving their cabs. The inquest was adjourned till tomorrow. ATTEMPT TO STOP INQUEST. ACCUSED'S ADVISERS'ACT. ; . t ....■■ SYDNEY, June 17. There was a dramatic development this afternoon when Mr Justice Stephen, in Chambers, granted a rule nisi for a prohibition calling upon Mr E. T. Oram, City Coroner, to show; cause why he should not be restrained from further proceeding with the inquiry concerning James Smith. ! The application was made by Patrick Brady's legal advisers. The matter will be argued on Wednesday before the Judge in Chambers. THE INQUEST ADJOURNED. (Received This Day, 1.35 p.m.) SYDNEY, This Day; The inquest on James Smith was today adjourned until; Thursday, June 27.