THE CHRISTCHURCH MYSTERY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1061, 25 February 1911, Page 6

THE CHRISTCHURCH MYSTERY.

! A SENSATIONAL DEVELOPMENT. [ k THE VERDICT. - | PRUSSIC ACID POISONINQ. . [ , i TAKEN IN THE PRESENCE OF 1 ■ HARRY JACK." i . [- (By Tclccr*i>h—Press Association.! l • 1 Ghrlstchurch, February 24,t . Tlio, inquest on tho body of Ethel !' May Bradley, who was found dead in \ 'Mystery Lano at 7.10 a.m.; on Wednes- »'■" day;'-February 8, was continued at ! . ll.JJO}.'this morning beforo Mr. H. W. ' ' , Bishop; District Coroner, and a jury. | 'Harry Alexander Jack and Walter t Richard Sadler, who arc charged with \ tho murder of tho woman, wero present i L in custody. [ llr. J. A. Cassidy, \yitli him Mr. S. j G.' Raymond, 1 watched tho interests of * Jacl;,, and Mr. T..G; Russell appeared i on behalf of Sadler. Inspector Kiely , *nd-Chief Detective Bishop, appeared | . for the police. Tliere was/again a largo crowd of f sightseers round tlio Magistrate's,Qourt, 'whero tho inquest was held, eager to 1.. catch",a glimpso of tho men,; and dur-; ing f'.lio wholo of tho inquest 1 many hung--1" aboiit tho environs' of tho Court. Tho J. •. inquest was again not open to tho pubti- . Lc,: though a largo number of people [1, on-various pretexts managed to gain edmi'ssiori.'' v- ' '- ; - . • J Tl:o polico called further evidence. ' s 1 ChiefDctectivo Bishop said ho pro- !.■■ posed to put in a signed statement of Sadler's. J Tho, coronerls;he 'prepared;tolgive ' • evidence? ' 1 v.- ' Mr.-Russell: Yes, your Worship. Tho coroner: Put him,,in tno ( box . then'.;' I;'shall ha vo to'i.\vani . Sadler then entered tho boxj and' tho i . \ CorOnqr formally warned him. , ■ .Mr: RusSell.eSamiued witness.

'J 1 Sadler' In tho Wltnsss Box. ■ - Sadler said ho;liad been,.carrying on ■business in Cashel Street •as "a ' hairdresser and tobacconist einco November last. Jack had been in his employ continuously since witness startedbusilicss j here. Witness had; known vJack for about two years. Witness remembered Tuesday, February, 7; „ ■Ho was «t-fciis shop,'.that 'night. l ; Ho;was;. sup-, posed' to close his -shop in 1 tho ordhvary way .of business at 8 o'clock. At tbat time'Jio was in tho.shop Price, a- book-keeper. . Jack: left tho shop at about twenty past eightr.T Hptleft! with Mr.'.; Jackman. Witness; left, his shop Price at.' about" twenty ;or twenty-five to nino. Witness • returned . to his shop - that i> night .at (about a quarter'or ten- to nine.' Ho i went back to his., shop. to sweep out his shop and saloon,, aiut also to' - count his. money and iako .ifc homo with him. 1 /. Ho generally .-brushed out his saloon at.night after work was [finished. Ho-livcd at Huxley Street, Sydenham. Ho cleaned out his shop and saloon that'finight, and washed his ; benches down. Ho.wasentirely by himself. ;No ono else, came' to ■ his.shop up till nino o'clcfck. THo had alight in tho shop, mid jn the .saloon alsoj.i Tho front door was ielose'd, ; but not locked. After ho cleaned his benches ho Started to count his cash. ,

A Knock at tho Door. . Whilst counting" his cash, j i'.iv ' knock . tho. door, i"At that, moment lie was tbehind tho ' counter. The next ' thingVtho handle, turned and ,tho door • opened. .This was about half-past nine. Who'll, tho door opened Jack came in v : Witness;' had: not "seen nor spoken-' to' Jack whilst he was out. Witness said, . "Hullo,. Harry." Witness did not expect to see him again- that .night. . Ho . had not asked witness, and' witness had : not asked him to meet each other at any time that'evening Jack replied to v.'itncss's remark,,y "Hullo, Witniss ,tben said,' "Como in, Harry." Jack said, "I havo a friend outside." ■ Witness at that timo could not see who Jack's friend was, and witness then ■ eaid," '-Como in, then." Jack camo iii,' • and said/"I havo a friend outside. Sho - sav'n she's ill.'.' Witness did not know till Jack used tho word "sho" that tho friend was a woman. Jack' stepped jnto tho shop, and a woman followed him. Witness recognised her when sho camn in; ns Ethel May Bradley, the deceased. Witness said to her, "Good evening I" Cave a Big Slgli. She did not speak,; but gavo a big .■ sigh. Sho leaned on tho couch. Witness could not see her faco distinctly. Ho said. to Jack, "Givo her a chair, : Harry; sho seems ill," Jack brought a chair from tho saloon, and sho sat on it. Sho'did not speak: ,Sho seemed to give a very deep sigh two or three times . when she was sitting on tho chair. . .Witness rushed in and got her a glass : of water.; At tho sr.ino timo ho said to Jack, "Run and get her somo whisky." Ho % went to tho Zetland Hotel, closo by. illo had just got- out of tho door Mien tho woman dropped tho glass of water and witness ruslicd round to her.. Sho iseomcd as if she. woro falling for- ; ward. "Ho lifted her back on'to the . chair, and noticed, that" sho, seemed to be black in tho face.' Ho did not then notice her, breathing. , Ho thought sho • was', taking a fit. She was still on tli9 chair leaning forward. 'Witness rushed out after Jack to tell him that ho (witness) thought she was taking a .. lit or something. Witness had not tho : least, idea of what was tho matter. Wit- ! >jiess:camo back at once. Witness was from tho woman not moro than ; half' a minute. Jack had got somo whisky," and coming back with witness tho two,wero back almost.at once.

The Woman had Fallen on the Floor. When they returnod tho.v found the woman had fallen-an tho iloor, almost on her face. . Witucss caught hold of her and said to Jack, "Como on, Harry, lift her-on, tlio. couch."-: Witness took the whisky from Jack, and put como . water with it in a glass.„ Ha'tried'.to pour'some'of it down'her niolith." Ho then undid her belts and corsage, and -..felt her heart. Ho could not say: whether she was breathing. When sho was - tho couch witness thought sho was in a fit. When it. dawned 011 his mind that tho woman was dead lio thought for a few minutos' and then. said . to Jack, "1 Bay. Harry,-sho is-in a very bad way." Ho first recognised sho was dead when, after rubbing her for a while,' ho noticcd sho was black ,in' tho face,.her teeth closed tight, and ho did not notico any breathing. ' Tho woman had not' had anything in witness's shop that night except tho water and the whisky. It was about twenty tcr to ten when ho' a't length realised tho woman was dead. He could hardly recollect anything that occurred when tho fact that sho was dead broko upon him. Ho knew her quite wtll. When he found sho was dead ho picked up his hat and rushed out on to tho footpath. • Jack followed in as cxcitcda condition as witness was in. They walked as far • ns High Street. Witness talked.for a moment or two to Detcctive Snow in • High Street, , and thought of telling him. Ho -oould not' bring himself, however, to do, so witness walked back as far as the corner of Cashcl and Colombo Streets with tho detective. Ho stood •' there talking for a while, and, then weni back to tho shop, at abouj; 11 1 o'clock.' Tho reason way h'o did not

tclophono to tlio polico ami tell lliem all, about it was bccanso ho did not . know .what ho was doing. 110 snid ;to .'Jack: ."It would bo a good thing •to tell replied, "I think so, too. Wo ought also to sco ii doctor." Thoy, however, could not rnako up their mmds to do it. All lio wanted was to got the bnd.v out of the shop. Ho thought that jf tlio body wero only got out of the E|hop their connection, with it would never bo discovered nt all. Thoy sat in the shop perhaps for half 'an hour or-two hours, bo could not say. Wrapped tho Body In a Sack. . Thcro was an old sack in the shop, and tliey, wrapped tho body as well as they could in it, and placed tilio body in the right-of-way. whero it was found licxt day. Ho could not remember tho woman's hat, and did not remember seciug tho bag. Sho had a hat ou when she carno 'in. 'l'hcy went-back to tho shop. Witness did not do anything with tho hat., Ho. -did not know what bccamo of it. Ho was tho first to arrivo back at the shop. Ho did not remember taking tho hat outsido with tlio body. Ho thought Jack must liavo taken ■it away with him. Ho had told all that had happened without reservation. ■ Mr. Hussell: Why did you-not at onee stato what had happened .before this when asked to do'so? ' , Witness did not reply. Tho coroner: Your first statement therefore was false? \ In reply to Mr. Russell witness saio he had not taken legal advico about the position.'- He wasnfraid that everyone would" find out' and ho did not know what trouble lie might not get into.

Cross-examined; Detective,-. Bishop. (To" Chief IDatoctivo Bishops. Ho went in to" tho. shop' after IcAving" l'rico at about a quarter or ton to nine. It was at about 9.30 when Jack and deceased came to tlio shop. Witness was ;sq: oscitcd he could, iiofc.say. how lons Jack was'away. Tho- first 1 timtt' 1 witness went to and beckoned to Jack witness could not say whether Jack was with other men in tho bar. Witness was quito suro it was about'half past nino when, ho went to tho hotel for Jack. After'thoy carried tlio body into tho '.lario.'; they ".went biifck to' the shop,, locked it up,, and went .Alongtho.'street, past >a constable. • Beforormeeting' tlu coristablo' : they "had not' really-tried to get into tho,Zetland'Hotel.' As far as ho remembered this next.mornlng that ho_ and Jack discussed; the. affair. Jack said to'witncss, "I didjiqt.'seo you last night."; 'Witness replied,-Ir'Go on, Jack. I don't want to oo.mixed up in it." Ho thought that was tJic only arrangement como to between')him and Jack in case they wero arraigned by tho polico on tho matter. He might have said ' something, about tlio' b<Mks. Ho could not say whether ho expected tho polico' to interview .him.; HoV know 'that' Jack", had--been'keeping company with tlio deceased for,nino_months past. He knew an exhaustive.inquiry would lid mado"by tlio- police.- Jpok- at 110 ijmo.'.'aftorwai'ds a singlo"wor'd 'as !l to Nvhy' ho .'brought the girl to tho shop at that hour of tlw night, and witness novor asked liiro. •.

"What is tho Meaning of Ttjls?" $ After placing tho Jiody .in tBo lano and gwng up.,tho street-; .wjfyipss bejlieved' ho 'asked~Jackj "Whht- is tho 'meaning of this, Harry?" Jack replied, :;"I'm sure" I don't know,' Wal." Witness accepted •.that'.', explanation. ' Ho riover' asked -him for " anything , else. ■When they loft, tho shop, assuming Jack had the hat' with hini, li'o must havo had it with'liim when tli6y passed pthb policeman. ;. ( Ho could not say whether Jack hadi'if wrapped, up in white jpaper.V.i'Jack and witness' 1 were ; fairly chummy. During tho day ho never tpld witness; about the girl's condition—that 'sho was pregnant. Ho never spoko much to..witness.about his privato af-fairs.,-Witness did not visit any other woman''about this/woman., Ho did not 101 l any, ..other wqin3n.; I that„hc . wanted to, prbcurovabortioiu: He ..-remembered !on tlio morning of • tho ■ Otlv Chief-Detcc-:tivo Bishop and another dotectivo calling at his house and'.interviewing him. They brought him. to, the. police station! 'and iio niado a signed statement to them. .That statement''was-untrue. Ho remembered. l Chief-Detective Bishop questioning him ,and telling him if he had no connection with tho;d(;ath of tho woman to, tell; tho' truth and.cloar himself; /• Ho remembered .Chief-Detectivo Bishop telling him, ho would get himself into trouble, and, theh'ltelling him ho had ample .opportunities.of telling tho truthj and'then; begging, him to do so. Ho and Jack were ,at their shop thoSunday after. v -Ho was •quite"; suro' ' Jackhad , v ncvcr at any .timo given witness any .explanation for bringing deceased into, tho shop at tho hour ho did. Ho i- had never bought poison. on any occasion 1 .; If his name wero down: on tho poison book it might bo for 6omo poison • lie did ' not know of.. Ho had never bought strychnine. Ho did not. remember saying, in going to tho Court froih tho station, "Stick to your statement. Bo n man." What ho did say was "Tell, tho truth. You are innocent;'. At; least I believe so."

To Mr..Raymond: When ho went into tho hotel, Jack; to witness's, knowledge, only had ono bottlo - of whisky on him. That was tho whisky that was given to the . girl.';, When "Jack" went " for tho .whisky, ho hurried out of tho shop to get him. Jack*was equally upset with witness when, ho'ascertained tho girl's condition, wns ' desperate. After tho death ho and.Jack roamed about tho streets for an hour., - • •Questions by tho Coroner.' Tho Coroner: When had- you last seen Ethel Bradley beforo tho night of the death? .... ; * Witness:. I had seen. her 'in ,tlio street. Tho Coroner: Had she ever been,in the shop?-' •' : 1 Witness: Not "to my: know-ledge. The Coroner:: Well, how did,you get your knowledge'that Jack ; had .been keeping company with deceased? ■ Witness: l'Yom general'remarks mado by him. . . ; . Tho Coroner:-Now, you,say, you and Jack liover discussed what-you .would say if, questioned;'; Is that tritely'. Witness: I did not,want*my,wifo to know about it. »■ Tho Coroner: According to your story you' did wrong.' What havo yon to fear? Witness mumbled' sojno reply.', s \Tho Coroner'said ho was,, still not satisfied at tjio■ way witness and■ Jack had both' inado faiso statcmcnts 'according to'witness's present . In reply to further question's by tho Coroner, witness said ho was- r 33 years of age. Ho had not been afraid of his wife.or other relatives knowing anything about his connection, ';>v'ifli deceased. Ho was only a meroiaßquaintnnco. ' It came into • His tell Detective Snow when hd met liim. Ho knew lie had done no wrong, and had nothing to fear. He, howcyor, concealed tho matter (jut of sheer cowardice. Covernmont Analyst's .Statement.

A.' A; 1 Bickerton. 'Government Ana--4?5^..)!^9 was alio acid and cyanide of potassium was the fixed acid with potash, aucl rapidly formed a gas, so that it was ahvuyG sold diluted. Potassium of cyanido was stronger, and/ therefore 'a very much smaller quantity wouldj kill. The etfccts would bo tho samo'>m both instances. • • Ho had ; heard 1., tho evidence of Sadler,'to tho elfoct,'that Jack had brought, tho. girl to"the''shop very ill.'" Ho should ■ not think ■ sho could walk , by- herself much. moro> than 0110 or two chains. ' She could:while for about a minute./.' Assuming, statement was ,tru6, sho would not need .to bo far fioui. his door when sho took tho - poison; 'Sho would ho dead in from between fivo and twenty minutes, most' likely*-fn*.ten • minutes.

Ho had found traces of alcohol in tlio stomach. If any alcohol got into tho mouth it would account for the traccs of alcohol in tlio stomach. Medical Evldonco. Walter Ilenry Symes, medical practitioner (ro-callcd), in reply to tho coroner, said that the time from tho minimum filial doso beforo death, according to authorities, would bo from two to ten minutes. Smaller doses had caused death in sixteen minutes. Assuming symptoms described by Sadler wero correct, bo should say tho doso was not a very largo one. Tho principal effect of prussic acid Was to causo paralysis of respiration. Tho immcdiato symptoms at death wero that tho faco got dark, and breath got expelled only with great difficulty, and at long intervals, so that tho sighs heard by Sadler might bo tin's. i To tho foreman: Ho bad found 110 record of prussic acid being knowingly given to procuro abortion, though all poisons oould bo used for such purpose. To tho foreman: Hydroc.vanido acid and hydracitis could hardly bo mistaken for cacli other. Ho did not think hydracitis was generally looked upon as an irritant poison. Several drachms would bo dangerous, if not fatal. This closed tho polico evidence. Tho Coroner's Remarks. Tho coroner, in> summing up, said sonic light had been cast on tho immcdiato circumstances by Sadler. It was for them to say whether to believe, and how much.. If they believed liis evidenco they must acquit him of any ;sharo in tlio death of deceased. There must liavo been certain things pass between Sadler and Jack on tlio evening iin question. It was not for them to say. They must decido how much it ,was responsible for tlio .woman's condition. If ho were innocent tlioro was 110- ' thing for him to fear in coming to tho poiico and clearing up matters and Bottling questions, which would apparently not bo settled that afternoon. Jack had, however, placcd himself ill a difficulty by making a falso statement, which, if Sadler wero. correct, was a tissuo of lies. It was apparently falso, and ho (tho coroner) did not believe it at tho time, neither ho thought did tho jury,, Thoy might tako as established tho facts that tho deceased had died from prussic acid and that sho had been keeping company with Jack. The postmortem showed sho had been pregnant' for. 2$ months. Sho had not been a looso woman or keeping company with any other man. Furthermore, sho had been expecting to marry Jack. Jack had denied any intimato relations with her, and it was [for tlio jury to say whether they believed him or not. It was a pity Sadler'had not,coma forward beforo and mado tho statement ho had mado that day, instead of tho falso ono ho had mado before.

The Night of tho Tragedy. Judging by his appearance in the witness-box, it was very probablo that ho had got in a very cxcitcd state of mind on tho night of the .tragedy. It was quite possiblo that on tho night 111 question, though quite an innocent person, ho had through moral cowardico concealed tho fact of tho woman's death. Tho iuevitablo result was that ho had mado himself . a party up till that day. A question was why ho had never sought from Jack an explanation of why lie hud brought a dying woman ho l;new to his shop on 1)ho evening in question. Ho seemed to havo taken it as a mattor of courso. Taking tho circumstances as correct, tliero was a considerable period of timo to account for. It was quito possiblo that tho woman in that condition, after a discussion with Jack, might have taken tho poison herself in a lit of desperation. In that caso it must have been very closo to tho shop, and a short timo before. They must at any rate tako into account tho extraordinary fact of Jack taking the woman into Sadler's shop' in a moribund condition., . Throo Questions. Tlirco tliings_ only suggested themselves to his mind:. (1) Tbat tho woman was wilfully murdered, or ' (2) That she committed suicide in a lit of desperation, or (3) An open vordict that deceased died from tho effect of prussic acid and tjhere was no cvidenco to show how or by whom sho died. It was for them to bring in a verdict on ono of thoso' questions. Ho was glad that that day somo light. had been thrown on a matter which had been seriously affecting tho public mind. Tho doubt that had previously been in existonco jliad been to somo extent dispelled by Sadler's account. Sadler's act had been that of a coward, and had been callous. To pjant a woman under a tank' in a mass of rubbish in a lano in tho city was, to his mind, almost 'unbelievable.. Ono could hardly imagine it of a man supposed to bo a respectable tradesman. However, Sadler had mado up_ somewhat for his previous delinquencies by the tendering of his cvidenco that day.

Ths Jury's Finding. Tho jury returned after an hour and twenty minutes' retirement witlh tho following verdict:— "We find that tho deceased Ethel liny Bradley died by prussic acid pqisonint;. Whether it was. administered by herself or by other per-' sons we cannot say. • Wo arc of opinion that tho poison was taken in tho presenco of Harry Jack." ;