O.R.F.U. INQUIRY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11507, 21 August 1899, Page 6

O.R.F.U. INQUIRY.

THE REV. L. M. LSI/IT'S CHARGES.

The inquiry into the charges preferred by the Rev. L. M. Isitt against certain footballers travelling in the train from Chris tchureh to Dunedin on July 31 was resumed on Satur-

day night.

It was stated that Ronald was the only member of the team not present, and that he was a total abstainer.

Robert Slater, who was recalled, and asked if he could identify any of the team, said: "I positively refuse to identify any man." Mr Gallaway: You have not looked.

Mr Slater: lam not going to look. I will tell you my reason. This is not my quarrel at ail. I came liero last Monday niglit and gave all the evidence I hud to give. The gentleman who made the charge would not identify the men. It is not my quarrel at all, and I don't sec why 1 should identify thorn. I think I have done all I can reasonably do. It is not. my wish to be in this affair at all; but when I was asked if I had seen anything I said I had, and I did not know that any inquiry was going on; in fact, I did not know that any charge had been made. I positively refuse to go any further or to, identify any man.

Mr Gallavvay: Of course it is out of the power of this committee to make you att«rapt. to identify any member of the Kaikorai team unless you .choose to do it. The committee would have been very'glad if you had tried to identify them. If you could not identify them, it would have been a perfectly fair thing for you to say that yon could not. Mr Slater: I never said anything about the team. There were two teams on board the train. The position'is this: Everybody must admit that there were mcii there with football caps and colours who wore the worse of liquor, and the [footballers know who those men were; and, if it.is going io leave the whole team umler a stigma it is for the team to relieve themselves .of that, to my mind. Frederick Shinor was recalled, and Mr Adams said: .1 understand that the whole of the Kaikoriu. team travelling in the train on Monday, .Inly 51, are here, with the exception of one man.mid thai probably tiiere may be another poison not present wiio was in the carriage. If Mr Slater can lumoctiy and without doubt identify any man m tha room among those who were misconducting themselves, I think ho would bo doing a service both to the union and to '.lie p-.ibiic. T can say no more than that.

Mr Gallaway: Mr Shiner, if lucre is anyone yon think you can identify, and whom it would assist you to identify, lie will put on a football cap.

Mr Shiner (after looking- at the team): ] would like to say, sir, that 1 recognise this as the team generally who travelled in the carriage that I was told was occupied by the Kaikorai football team. There seems to be some doubt about that.

Mr Gallavvay.: Could jou identify any one of them?

Mr Shiner (after again looking at the team for some time): I am just in lliis position: 1 feel that there is a very dim possibility of making a mistake, and, therefore, 1 cannot commit myself.

Mr Gnllaway: Will it assist you if, as I before suggested, any particular member of tJie team be asked to put on a football cap? Mr Shiner: No; it would assist me no further. I have tlio faces in my mind's eye, and I think a football cap would make very little difforonco.

Mr Gallaway: I must say, on behalf of tho committee, that you have honestly tried your best to identify them; and if you don't like to do it, or if you are unable to do it, it cannot be helped. William Marshall was recalled, and Mr Gallaway said : The team is here with one exception. That is so, Mr Adams? Mr Adams: That is so. Mr Gallaway (to Mr Marshall): Will you look at them, and see if you can identify thorn. Sir Marshall: Well, I don't think I will attempt to identify them. / Mr Gallaway: Would you not Have a look' first?

Mr Marshall: Of course I would not like to make a mistake; and I have given my description of the men that I remember. I would rather that whoever held a responsible position in the team would try and find out his own men.

Mr Gallawa}':, I don't understand from you that you decline to try to identify.

Mr Marshall: Well, I don't think I would like to identify them.

Mr Gallaway: Am I to understand that Mr Marshall will not identify? \ Mr Adams: T cannot say. I take it that Mr Marshall objects to endeavour to identify. (To Mr Marshall): You think it would be unfair lo you to lake the onus. You suggest that tho onus should lie upon the person responsible for the Rood conduct of the team. Mr Marshall: Yes: I think so. I don't know why I should be led into saying if I could recognise any s one of them; but if I thought I could say that was the team that is the only thing I would care to tio. Mr Adams: The team are here, excepting one; if you care to do that, Mr Marshall. Mr Gallaway: In your evidence you said ynu shook your fist at one in particular. Mr Marshall: Yes: I shook my fist at one.

Mr Gallaway (after reading a portion of witness's evidence to him): I understand that the team have the same clothing on that they had then.

Mr Hanlon: As near as possible. Mr Gallaway: That is so, Mr Marshall; and any man will put on his cap that you ask to nut it on.

Mr Mars hull: Well. I would rather not identify. I have matin my statement, and that is true. It would be us good as if I had token an oath to that description. I don't think I need say ai'ything more about the

Mr Galkway (after reading witness's description) : Surely with all the men before you, you might try and identify him. Mr Marshall: It seems to me, Mr President, that the captain of the team should pick out that man.

Mr Gallaway: That might be a question for the after consideration of the committee, but wo know that you are anxious to assist the committee, and the committee's only object is to establish tho truth of. the matter. It is for that rouson we ask you to identify the man if you can.

Mr Marshall: I don't want to. I would like to help the committee, but I don't want to make a mistake.

Mr Hutchison: Mr Marshall might be asked in say whether the man is in the room without identifying him.

Mr Gallaway: If lie says he is in the room I would Rflc him lo identify him. Mr Marshall: Personally T don't know ons in the team, and whether this man was a footballer or not; I cannot say. But, as I say, he had a cap on, and be was on the train. That is all I know. He might not have been a footballer. If he is not a footballer he would not bo here.

After being further questioned, witness said' he thought he would abide by what he had said. He was net going to say if he could identify the man whom he had described. Mr Adams suggested that the committee should take the names of the persons who travelled in tho carriage with the team. Mr Duncan said Torrance's brother and Mason were all he knew. Seventeen tickets were taken out.

Mr J. Torranee stated that three railway servants travelled in the same carriage. They had passes of their own.

Mr Payne asked what was the name of the Jewish-looking man. Mr Hanlon mentioned his name, and stated that he worked in Rattray street. The inquiry was subsequently adjourned till Thursday.