DISAPPEARANCE OF A SOLDIER.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16522, 14 May 1919, Page 6

DISAPPEARANCE OF A SOLDIER.

ENQUIRY INTO RUSSELL CASE

(PRESS ASSOCIATION' TELE GUAM.)

WELLINGTON, May 13.

The enquiry into the disappeapmca of Rifleman Russell on tho passage from Wellington to Lyttelton was resumed to-dav.

Tho -examination of Sergeant Stephens, who had charge of Russell on the trip from Wolliugton, was continued. Witness stated that it was about daybreak when Russell disappeared from tho ship. Thero wore few people about, and tne man could have gone over the sido unobserved. He did not see Russelj ujitil just before tho ship sailed. His impression had been that he had chargo of a sick case. Russell appeared to be normal, and it was not until later that witness understood that tho man wa« mentally unbalanced. Witness left Russell nlono on deck for a few zninutos during; the afternoon. William J. Hacking said ho hnd been butcher in the Mararoa at tho time of the disappearance. He saw Stephens on board the steamor during tho evening. Stephens was looking for his patient, and said he was not going tc worry himself very much about tho man, and was not going ovor the side after him if the man went over. Up to 10.30 p.m. witness lvid seen Russell two or three times walking the length of the bottom deck alone. Between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. Russell passed witI ness's room, calling out, "Where is that woman?" Witness had known Russell I well. "Deceased appeared to bo qtdt« unstrung. Witness saw Bteolicna on one occasion during the trip in the steerage bar. He did not see Stephens with Russell during tho voyage. Stephens (recalled) said thn military police, from whom ho rcceivod Rusiell, did not tell him that tho man was mentally upset, or mvo him any instructions. Witness did n«t think it necessary to apply to have Russ?ll Icckerl up. n/s the rnnn's abnormal conduct consisted simj>!y in trying to get down bolow to an imaginary woman. Witness might) have said that he would not g-> over tho "'do "fter Russell, but he bad not saidi that he would not worry much about the man.

Tho enquiry will bo continued tomorrow*.