GREY LYNN MURDER

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 14 September 1921, Page 5

GREY LYNN MURDER

THE INQUEST

FURTHER EVIDENCE

(BY XSWMJnAPH—I'KKHS ASSOCIATION.) . AUCKLAND, Sept. 13 lhe inquest concerning tho death of Francis Edward Jew on July 16 or 17 at Grey Lynn was continued to-day. On resuming, Mr. Meredith (for the police) made a request that while each witness was being examined, the other witnesses should be excluded in view of the possibility of discrepancies m their statements being of some value Ihe coroner acquiesced, and for the rel moulder of the inquest this course was xouowed. A . A'P oyßbPy. Edward Eaton, described the behaviour of Jew and Tom Me Alahon outside Shearer's shop between 6,15 p.m. and 6 SO p.m. on the Saturday. Jew said he bet McMahon that ho could stand straightor than Me-' *?i!* c"!^ seemed to bo trying to get the bottle, tut he could not do I so. and he told McMahon to stop fooL me and go home They went down a right-of-way, and seemed to be squabbling for a little while, and then fame back. At that time Jew's over" coat, a fawn-coloured one, was on a seat outside Shearer's. Other aspects of the same incident were narrated by Wm. Hayes, anS newsboy, who stated that fora ul Mahon askod a boy. Green, to draw a chalk Jme to see who could stand straightest but the boy declined. Witness thought the two men were friendly and did not seem to be quarelling. McMahon seemed unsteady on hw 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 a tramcar. *f«nejg Kevin Burns narrated how he travelled to town from Grey" Lynn early on tho evening -of July 16 in a tramcar in which Jew and McMahon were seated. Leaving Shearer's corner, MCMahon, who appeared to have taken some liquor, said: "Let hor go," or ft .*<> «»at effect. Jew haJ asked McMahon where he was going a ,,d Me Mahon said: "To the King's Theatre." Jew told him that he' (McMahon) had iio business there, and should be at Jl on, lo- _ The Pa»' got off the tram at Ank. 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 McMahon was leaning ■ forward in his seat, and waa told by Jew to "sit up." Jew got off the tram first, and told McMahon to B»fc'°J- He : appeared to be looking after McMahon.

Alexander James Pollock, who was conductor of the 6.45 p.m. tram from Grey Lynn, to town on the evening of Jaly 16. said Jew, was sober, but his companion was well intoxicated. Jew called his companion "a cow of a man*' several times, added the conductor. / ■ . "

Among the witnesses' was Frederick Louis Armitage. Government bacteriologist, who said he received from the police a hat/overcoat, coat, waistcoat, and trousers for examination for human bloodstains. The hat was marked "T. McM." There were no traces of blood on the hat, coast, waistcoat, or overcoat, but there were bloodstains inside both the left and right-hand trouser pockets. He could not give the age of the stains, as there was no test determining thus. It was human blood in each case. The bloodstains must naturally have (come from the knuckles and not from the nalms, owing to their position in the Dockets. •