GREY LYNN MURDER

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 301, 14 September 1921, Page 6

GREY LYNN MURDER

FURTHER EVIDENCE AT INQUEST JEW’S MOVEMENTS ON SATURDAY EVENING Tha inquiry info tfie circumstances attending the death of Francis Edward Jew, who was found murdered at Grey. Lynn, Auckland, on July 17, was continued yesterday. The movements of deceased just prior to his death araistill shrouded in mystery. By TelegrapU —rress Association. Auckland, September 13. On the resumption, of the inquiry Mr. Meredith (who represents the police) made a request' that .-while ®ach witness was being examined the other witnesses should be excluded, in yimr oi the possibility of discrepancies in statements being of some value. The coroner acquiesced, and for the remaindl- - er of the inquest this course was followed. / Evidence was given by Frederick C. Edmonds, who saw Frank Jew and M'Gregor at Shearer’s shop at 6.25 p.m. Ho stated that he heard of the tragedy the next day. He and M'Mahon wore mates. He denied that he asked M'Gregor where Jew was. < Gertrude Lillian Scott stated that she knew the deceased by sight. She saw Jew about 6.40 at the tramway terminus with another young fellow, who had what’ appeared to be a bottle of champagne. Jew- seemed sober; the other fellow was not. ' Thomas M'Mahon was called, and witness said that though he wag eomewjiat like Jew’s companion, she could not identify him as the man. Evidence by Newsboy. A newsboy, Edward Eaton, described the behaviour of Jew and Tom M'Mahon outside Shearer’s shop between 6.15 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. on Saturday. .. Jew said 110 would Uct M'Mahon thiit fio could stand straighter than M'Mahon. Jew , seemed to be-trying ,to get the bottle, but could not do so, and he told M Mahon to stop fooling'and-go home. They went down a right-of-way, and seemed to be squabbling for a little while, and then came back. *°At that time Jews overcoat, a fawn coloured coait, wte on a seat outsidd Shearer’s. Other aspects of the same incident were narrated by William Hayes, another newsboy, who stdted that Jew bet M'Mahon that he could spit further than he could. They had one try. Then M'Mahon asked a boy napied Green to draw a chalk-line, to see who could stand the straightest, but the boy declined. Witness thought that the two men were friendly, and did not seem to be quarrelling. M'Mahon seemed ungteady on his feet, but Jew was all right. Three other newsboys testified about the Incident, one of them stating -that he saw the two men eventually get on * tramcar. Traveller by Same Tram. Francis Kevin Burns narrated how he travelled to town from Grey Lynn early on the evening of July 16 in a tramcar in which Jew and Tom M Mahon were seated. On leaving Shearers corner M'Mahon, who appeared to have taken some liquor, said: "Let her. go. or words to that effect. Jew had asked M'Mahon where ’he wm ‘ going, and M'Mahon eaid, "To the King s Theatre. Jew told him that he (M'Mahon) had no buineas there, and should be at Th® pair got off the, tram at Anki Street, and walked .back towards Grey ,Lynn. Jew had paid the fares. Both young men had been calling out rather loudly in the tram. Shortly before the tram started, M'Mahon 'was leaning forward in his seat, and Was. told by Jew to bit th, I" Jew got off the tram first, and told M'Mahon to get off. He appeared to be looking after M'Mahon. Alexander James Bollock, who was conductor'of the 6.45. p.m. tram from Shearer’s, Grey Lynn, to town on the evening of July 16, said that Jew was sober, but his companion was well intoxicated. "Jew called his companion 'a cow of a man' several times," added the conductor. Bloodstains Examined. Frederick Louis Armiiage, Government Bacteriologist, said that he had received from the police a hat, overcoat, coat, waistcoat, and trousers for examination for human bloodstains. The hat was marked "T. M'M." There were no traces of blood on the hat, coat, waistcoat, or overcoat. There were bloodstains inside'both left and right-hand trouser pockets. He could not give the I age of the stains, as there was no test for determining this. It was human blood in each case. The bloodstains must naturally have come from knuckles, not from palms, owing to their position in the pockets.