THE TALUNE MYSTERY,

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 58, 9 March 1901, Page 2

THE TALUNE MYSTERY,

* -THE INQUEST.

OBJECTION TO ACCOUNTS IN FLUENCING THE PUBLIC MIND.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Sydney, March S. The inquest concerning the death of Conway was resumed to-day. Mrs Smith was in attendance. Mr Moss appeared as solicitor for Mrs Smith.

The Government pathologist, who made a post mortem of the deceased, was the first witness called.

Mr Moss complained of the papers publishing accounts of the case, which, he said, were intended to inflnmo the public mind.

The Coroner intimated that neither Mrs Smith nor anyone else was before that Court.

A WITNESS WANTED.

MR SMITH GOING TO SYDNEY TO GIVE EVIDENCE.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrighl

Received March 8, 10.1- p.m.

Sydney, March 8. The police are trying to find a man, named Allen, who worked his passago as a fireman on tho Talune. Ho left on reaching Sydney. He was with Conway during his last hours, and is considered an important witness. Mr Smith has cabled to his wife that he is coming over to Sydney in the Mokoia, to give evidence.

Mrs Smith appeared at the inquest, under a writ of habeas corpus, in chargo of two warders from Darlinghurst:

EVIDENCE OF GOVERNMENT PATHOLOGIST. Received 9.28 p.m., March 8. Sydney, March 8,

The Government pathologist deposed that at tho post mortem on the body on February 21st, he removed a portion of the intestines and other organs of placed parts, which he handed to tho morguekeeper.

Under his instructions three men from the Talune, who saw Conway, wore all brought to the morgue. On the strength of what he heard from these men, and taking into consideration the whole facts, and the absence of any suspicious circumstances from the evidence before him at the time, he wrote out a statement that deceased had died from an epileptic form of convulsion and asphyxia. Conway's kidneys wero diseased, but their condition was quite compatible with the man being in fairly good health and feeling well. He was present on March 2nd, and saw and identified the exhumed body. He removed the remaining intestines, which wero handed over to the Government analyst. In reply to the coroner, the witness said that tho post-mortem signs he found wore consistent with strychnine poisoning. ■ [ln reply to a further question, whether the condition of tho kidneys could liavo caused death, he said that at tho time he made the post-mortem he considered death might have been caused by convulsions.

A FELLOW-PASSENGER. W. McCondie, a fellow-passenger of Conway’s, said that deceased’s health and spirits up to February 19th seemed very good. ’That evening, after tea, he saw Conway lying near the fore hatch, struggling convulsively, With his hands clenched, and he helped to carry him to the hatchway. Conway was quite conscious all. the time. lie said, “ I have never had anything like this in my life. I cannot understand what it is.” After a drink of water he jumped right out of witness’s arms. He would.struggle for a ; few minutes, then become quiet, and then the struggling would come on again. The paroxysms lasted about a couple of minutes. An hour and a quarter elapsed between the first seizure and death. He died in a fit. ADJOURNED.

The inquest has been adjourned uni to-morrow (Saturday).

[By Telegraph—Press Association.] Christchurch, last night. Smith, the husband of Mrs Smith, arrested in connection with the Conway case, is in Christchurch, on his way to Sydney. Ho denies the statement cabled from Sydney that ho owed Conway T2OO, and that Conway held a promissory note and the deeds of his house.