The Wreck of the Ariadne

Southland Times, Issue 15083, 1 November 1901, Page 2

The Wreck of the Ariadne

*. SKXSATIONA L STATEMENTS. SUI' 1 ' )RTE J ) B V DOC U M ENTS. WRECKING AS A BUSINESS. . BEWARE OF "LLOYDS." [Pek United Fkess Association.] CiiKisTcntßcu, Oct. 31. Tlie Aiiadne case started this morning before Dr Mc '.rtbnr. Messrs Stringer and Myers weie for the Crown : Messrs XV. J, Napier and A. 0. Hanlon for Kerry and 1 .eke, and Mr Beswick forMumford Five charges were preferred against tlie three accused, viz., casting away the ship (two charges), forming a common intention to cast away, conspiting to defraud the underwriter., and procuring persons to assist in casting away* The three main charges were heard first and together. Mr Stnnger, in opening, said Mam ford, master of the yacht, on May 30th (six days after the vessel was wrecked) had verbally confessed to Lloyds agent, Captain Willis, that Kerry had agreed to pay him £400 if ho would cast away the ship. He put that statement in writing on Captain Willis promising him £400. Later Mum ford made more elaborate statements before a Christ church notary; ho also handed to Captain Willis an agreement between them, in accordance with which the wrecking was car ried out. Stewart Willis, Lloyds surveyor at Lyttelton, stated that the value of the ship afloat was £5000 and she was insured for £10,000. Muinford had told him that while working on the yacht Kerry gradually approached him aa to whether he would cast the vessel awuv and it was eventually agreed that he should do it for £400-- £2OO when the job was done and the balance when the underwriters paid up. Mumford added that it would be necessary to take the vessel to New Zealand as the insurance policy had almost expired. If tbe job was successful Kerry and he were to go Home, purchase a larger vessel, heavily insure her and lose her in the Straits of Magellan. Mumford was to get £1000 security from Kerry and a much larger sum if he wrecked a larger vessel. Freke was preseut when the arrangements were made. It was originally intended to wreck the vessel on the West Coast, but a lifeboat had been lost. Kerry signed an agnomen t undertaking to pay Mumford £12 pur month while master of the Ariadne and £400 if tho vessel was totally wrecked, and handed a copy to Mumford, who lost it, and Kerry refused to pay. ..Ijmford subsequently found it. This alleged agreement, togethor with Mumford's written statement containing the abo7e facts, were produced in court this morning by Captain Willis, who stated that he had paid Mumford the £400 promised. Arthur Henry Dosworth, clerk in the Bank of Now Zealand, with 20 years' experienc? of signatures, said he was satisfied that the signature " T. C. Kerry* " on the agreement was identical with the same signature on a document which bears Kerry's undoubted signature. The signature "E. J. Freke " on the agreement was written by the same person who signed Freke's signature on the depositions. He did not think the agreement's handwriting waa Mumford's. Percy Attwood, A.8., one of the Ariadne's crew, said lie joined her at Sydney and wa« ou board the whole time. A boat load of trunks svas taken to a jetty about two miles past Circular Quay, Sydney, ou 24th February. The load consisted of trunks, whisky cases, bags, etc., and two trunks were very heavy. There were, besides himself, seven men in the boat, but five were sufficient for j the boat. Kerry was one, and gave the orders to the boatswain, who passed them on. Kerry landed with the cargo and came to the ship next day. On the voyage the life boat was equipped, but uot provisioned, aud when oft Cape Farewell the boatwas washed out of the davits in a heavy sea. Freke came over in the yacht but was only entered as steward, though he took a watch on deck and had his meaLs in the cabin with the captain. The yacht was very ill-found. He had received money in connection with giving evidence and had beeu promised none (more ?). Had worked in Dunedin since the lo.ss of the yacht as a plasterer's labourer and had also been on the stoamer Rimu. After a few days at sea ou the Ariadne ho and his mates became disgusted with the bad food, bad navigation and bad discipline on board, and the captain blamed him for carrying away [causing the loss of] certain sails. Tho captain said that witness and his friends wanted to run the ship themselves, but if they wanted fun thoy could have it as soon as, they liked. He w&s approached by M-- Denni6ton, Lloyds agent, about giving evidence and mide a verbal statement to him and a written statement to Commissioner Tur- bridge. The court then adjourned till next day.