GREY LYNN MYSTERY

Evening Star, Issue 17764, 12 September 1921, Page 6

GREY LYNN MYSTERY

JEW’S MURDER: THE INQUEST. (Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, September 12. The inquest on the body of Francis Edward Jew, who was found murdered at Grey Lynn on July 17, was resumed to-day before Mr M'Kean, S.M. Over fifty witnesses will bo examined, and it is expected that the inquiry will Lost three days. Jew attended a football match on the Saturday afternoon of his death, and was seen on tho Saturday evening in the vicinity of tho spot where his dead body was found. But his movements after 8 o’clock arc still shrouded in mystery. Mr Meredith represented tho police, and Mr Prendergast watched proceedings on behalf of Thomas M‘Mahon.

Outlining the circumstances, Mr Meredith said exhaustive inquiries had been made, 1,500 people having been interviewed by tho police The result of inquiries had nob justified the police in taking definite stops against any individual. Indications pointed lo a fatal assault committed on the spot where tho body was found, though there were no signs of a struggle. Jew received his wages of £4 10s 6(1 on the Saturday. He was known to have. £1 the previous evening. He had spoken about some bets on .horse racing, one on Saturday which might have involved the payment of £3, bub the police were unable to ascertain who he made the bets with, lb had been as.-ertaued that on the Saturday afteino n Jew, Thom is M'Mahon, and one of tho Newdicks had- a drink at an hotel, and then M'Mahon produced a lot tie of champagne; that Jew and the two Ncwdicks subsequently had a drink at another hotel; and that Jew went on to Newdicks’ factory in Grey Lynn. Alf. Jew, who was a particular friend of the deceased, called at tho stable at 6.30 p.m. to invito Jew to iea, but Jew had left. Ho was seen about that time under the influence of liquor. He asked a companion named M'Gregor to wait till Tom M'Mahon came, as the latter had a bottle of champagne: M'Mahon aigived with the champagne. M'Grcgor left them at 6.45. Jew and M'Mahon got on the train, but evidently they got off at Ariki street and started to walk back towards Grey Lynn. They met three lads. M'Mahon bought two pies. Tiro party went into the doorway of a shop and drank the champagne, Jew got sick and wanted to go to sleep. Tho three lads left M'Mahon and Jew in the doorway a little after 7 p.rn. About 7.30 Mr Nutt saw two men about a vacant section. He could not identify them, but their relative heights corresponded with Jew and M'Mahon. A lady saw a man whon she took to be Jew on tho opposite side from the vacant section at 7.50 p.m. That was as far as he could trace Jew’s movements.

Drs Murray and Shaw expressed the opinion that deatli was caused by a blow from a blunt instrument before midnight on Saturday.

John Jew, a brother of tho deceased, gave evidence that M'Mahon told him he was with tho deceased and M'Gregor on the Saturday night, and that deceased left him to board a city-bound car. Witness asked, did ho see the deceased return to Grey Lynn. M'Mahon replied that ho did not.