THE TALUNE TRAGEDY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 9095, 13 March 1901, Page 2

THE TALUNE TRAGEDY.

EVIDENCE AT THE ENQUIRY. Klectrio Telegraph Copyright— United Press Association. . SYDNEY, March 12. The inquest concerning the death of Patrick Conway on board the steamer Talune was resumed this morning. The Government analyst deposed as to the result of the chemical analysis, ot the contents of Conway-s stomacn, removed by the Government pathologist, at the post mortem on February 21st. He found strychnine present, the quantity amounting to nearly three-quarters of a grain. He also examined the kidney, the left side of the heart, and a portion of the liver taken from Conway's body on March 2nd .after exhumation. He found strychnine in all. He found poison in all the viscera and their contents. There was three-quarters of ,a grain of strychnine in some organs of the body. It was, he said, a deadly dose. The Government pathologist was recalled. He said that half a grain would 'kill a man. There were indications of the poison having been introduced by tue mouth. The symptoms manifested- by Conway when dying were, in witnesses' opinion, proof that death was due to the effects of strychnine. Strychnine could not readily be taken with food without the taste being detected. If administered in beer it ; was much more readily concealed. Alfred Allen, who worked his passage by the Talune, said that he became acquainted with Conway a couple of days after the vessel left Wellington. Before Lonway was seized with the fatal illness, he (witness) saw a lady go forward. A few minutes afterwards she went away again. Shortly after, the same lady, judging by the dress, came forward again, She appeared to have something under her mackintosh. -She spoke to Uonway, and the two sat down on the hatch. Conway then put something to his mouth as if drinking. Gonway and the woman, said witness, , sat conversing for about half-an-hour. : iSubsequently" Conway, talking to witness and a companion, and referring to the woman with whom he had been sitting, said, "That is my missus." Conway handed witness and his mate each a plum, which he said his missus bad brought. He also said she had brought him a drink. Witness said to Conway, "It seems funny that the lady should travel saloon and you forward." Conway replied, "You save money — you can never be too careful." Witness and his companion went away for a short time. When they came back they found Conway ill. In witness's opinion, the lady in Court (indicating Mrs Smith), judging from her height and build, was the one he saw sitting on the hatch with. Conwiay, He did not notice her face. Witne* himself next morning was seized with a. slight fit, but he did not attribute it to the plum Conway gave him. . -. . ■ . - : The inquest was adjourned till tomorrow afternoon. MELBOURNE, March 12. Detective McLean left. for Sydney, accompanied by Fletcher and Lairdet, stewards of the Talune, who will give evidence in the Conway case.