MURDER OF FRANCIS JEW

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 303, 16 September 1921, Page 6

MURDER OF FRANCIS JEW

CORONER CONTINUES INQUIRY THE STATUS OF COUNSEL By Telegraph —Press Association. Auckland, September 15. The inquest in connection with the death of Francis Edward Jew, who was found murdered at Grey Lynn on July 17, was continued before Mr. M'Kean, g.M. (Coroner) to-day. Mr. Meredith is representing the police, and Mr. Prendergast is watching proceedings on behalf of Thomas M’Mahon.

When the inquiry was resigned this morning, Mr. Prendergast made a statement respecting his status ,at the proceedings. lie had looked tho matter up, he said, and had found that his status, if no greater, was at least no less than that of Mr. Meredith. It was only for convenience that the police conducted tho calling of evidence at an inquest. In actual fact, tho matter was entirely in tho hands of the Coroner, and counsel saw that in England—and he assumed it was Jho same here —where th,e Coroner had refused counsel the right to call evidence and cross-examine witnesses the findings had bean quashed. Consequently he thought that his friend Mr. Meredith could not object to any renresepintions that he, as counsel for an irTrested person, should properly make to the Coroner.

The Coroner stated that the matter was entirely in his discretion, and counsel had a perfect right to ask questions by permission of the Coroner. If Mr. Prendergast wished to ask questions, he would not prevent him from doing so. Witnesses Closely Examined. A largo number were closely examined by the Crown to-day in regard to what they. knew of the move'ments of deceased and his companions prior to tho murder. Percy Lupton, a bus-driver, said he did not see either the deceased or Tom M'Mahon between 7.30 and 9.30 p.xn., when M'Mahon, Mackie and another young man. got on his bus, travelled to Point Chevalier, and returned at 10.15 p.m. All had pies' at Green’s shop. Ho had stated that there was a third man In company with Jew and M'Mahon at the, terminus about 7.30 p.m., and the police brought a man named Kelly, whom he identified as that man. Having been told (the police Jiad evidence that Kelly was not there, witness replied that he was either'Kelly or a man very much the sanib in appearance. He could not swear to it. When they wort about to start for Point' Chevalier, M'Mahon asked: “Is that Putty (xiieaninsr deceased) under Shearer’s verandah?” He had not this since, because he did not want to get anyone into trouble, he had known M'Mahon so long; The inquiry was again, adjourned.