THE ARIADNE CASE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11842, 20 December 1901, Page 5

THE ARIADNE CASE.

FURTHER EVIDENCE. ! [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.]" , CiraisTcircmcH, Thursday. .;•■ " Further witnesses in the Ariadne case were examined at the Magistrate's Court - j this afternoon. | Annie Downing, formerly a barmaid at Port Jackson Hotel, Sydney, gave evidence that prior to the sailing of the yacht she had seen Mumford and Kerry in the hotel on two or three occasions. On one of these she heard Kerry • say to Mumford, "It is this way. I will give you £400 to take the yacht out and lose r her." , " ; Mumford said, "It is a* bargain. I will do it." Then Kerry said/ "It is an understood thing = that you carry out. my instructions and stick to mc," and Mum- - ford replied, " You can . depend upon me. I will stick to you." Witness was crossexamined at considerable length by Mr. Hanlon, who appeared for Kerry and Freke. Captain Willis, who brought the 'Ariadne ; out from . Cherbourg, said- he could, not say, '■' j what was. the • marketable . value of the' j Ariadne, as he was not a yachtsman, bub ' | he would aot have been inclined to i give • ■ ' more than £2000 for her. He. gave par- . ticulars of the gear, which - he, considered was rather indifferent. v'ln cross-examina-tion he denied that he had been intemperate on the voyage. -- • ' Andrew Olsen, able seaman,; who had' made a trip from Thursday Island to Sydney in the yacht, said tno . sails were in. bad condition, and that some spars were left behind in Sydney. Mumford promised to give ham £200 out of his share, besides what Kerry would give if the yacht was wrecked. Finally he refused to go. in the yacht. After the wreck Kerry visited witness. He had ■ expected the . wreck, and was looking out for an account of it. Kerry told him it ■ wasV not v wilfully done, and witness replied he had" known she was - going to -be wrecked. He had seen Mumford and Kerry in tho Port Jackson Hotel bar. with Miss Vin- ' i cent. . . > ... i Herbert James Hart - said he * first raefj ' Kerry in London in the beginning of December, 1899. He replied ,to, an adver- • • ' tisement in the Daily Telegraph, i stating:l "Explorer of experience, about to start on an exploring expedition, :is desirous of meeting a young gentleman with capita!, '■> . in same. :: Large profits. -AtHresj, - etc." * ' He replied to the address given, and' met Kerry at the Hotel Cecil. Kerry said lie owned the Ariadne, and proposed :*goin<» trading in the Pacific Minds. At' °first he wanted £1000, but finally . agreed• to ■ £500. Two other young men' were to go with him. One Simpkins, - who was in South Africa; the other McGowan, whom witness met at his next meeting with Kerry. He examined the • Ariadne at Southampton, and said she was unsuitable, having no hold, being' all . cabin : space. Kerry said he would hire a schooner £to ?'s•* do the rough work. Kerry said lift had already bought the trading goods. Two nights before the ship sailed from Southampton, he paid Kerry £300, and the balance at two months. Kerry, - McGowan,' and witness ' went to Cherbourg, the last two sailing for Durban to pick up Simpkins. Simpkins declined to join the ship. The sails and rudder were bad,- and the .•! food .almost gone. . The sails- and rudder were repaired, and the captain told him a steam launch .would :provide'- provisions. Kerry joined at Port Darwin. Witness told . him .he was dissatisfied.: '' 'Kgyy . . said he never intended to trade, but meant taking up a big estate in New:? Britain,' ■ under - offer for £70,000,: forming a - com-' . pany, and thereby - making £50,000- to £100,000. Witness wanted his money back, but Kerry laughed at him. At Sydney he sued Kerry for; the money and damages, and the case was settled. . McGowan ' also sued, and the case was. settled, Kerry paying the ;law;.costs. Vl.Kerry sued twitness for libel, and held him' t for bail in Darling- ' hurst gaol for six days. .' He instituted proceedings for false ; imprisonment, but all differences - were set tled by Kerry paying. £600. .s. " • Mr. Stringer said he would call no . . further evidence. ■ Witnesses i were borad . over, and the Court closed.