Suspected Murder.

Temuka Leader, Issue 3711, 9 March 1901, Page 4

Suspected Murder.

THE CONWAY CASE Sydney, March ,G Jane Smith, aged 32, who is understood to be a resident of Dunedin (arrested at a late hour last evening), was remanded at the Police Court to day till the 13th inst., on a charge of being concerned in causing the death of P. Conway. Meanwhile the woman appears at the Coroner’s inquest on Friday. A rumour, which, however, lacks confirmation, is that the analyist found strychnine in Conway’s stomach. The woman Smith, who is charged with being concerned in the death of Conway, is described as a married woman. The police are in possession of what they consider strong circumstantial evidence, and startling revelations are expected at the inquest. It is understood that evidence will be submitted bearing upon transactions between the woman Smith and Conway in regard to certain promissory notes and a bill of sale, money, and valuables which were in Conway’s possession on board the I'alune, and which it is alleged have disappeared. It is stated that Conway had between .£3OO and JMOO.

March 7. A stewardess and fireman of the Taluue are coming to Sydney by the Mokoia to give evidence in connection with the Conway case. As the Taluna also arrives in Melbourne on Sunday probably some more of the crew will come over to give evidence. The woman Smith, who is in custody, is the wife of one, Percy Smith, who resides in the vicinity of Dunedin. She has made a statement to the police denying the charge. She also told them that she was going to travel round tho world with a lady and gentleman whose little daughter she had rescued from drowning. It is believed, however, that since she came to Sydney she has sought employment as a oarmaid.

Tha police are in possession of information from Now Zealand which alleges the following fads : Percy Smith owed Conway £2OO, for which he held a promissory note and deeds of Smith’s property. Conway and Mrs Smith left Dunedin about the end of January. Shortly after they went to Christchurch. While there Conway made a statement to the police that he was at a watering-place with a woman ; that he had the promissory note and deeds of Smith’s property with him ; that ho had a drink and became unconscious, and that when ho recovered he found the documents gone. He reported the matter to the police, but the documents were not recovered.

This was about a week before Conway left by the Talune, on which Airs Smith was a saloon 2 mssen g 61 ' During the voyage Conway and Mis Smith were frequently seen sitting tog‘-ther on the hatchway shortly before Conway was taken ill.

A Christchurch chemist is en route to Sydney to give evidence Ha was given a description of Mrs Smith, and declares that it tallies with that of a woman to whom ho sold two lots of strychnine in February. When Conway died there was no suspicion of anything wrong. The body was sewn up, but the captain decided to bring it on to Sydney. An oflicer took possession of and sealed up Conway’s belongings.

Mr Smith has resigned his position as salesman in the City Boot Palace, Dunedin, and will proceed to Sydney. Ho has implicit confidence in his wife’s innocence. Mr Smith denies the statement cabled from Sydney that he owed Conway £2OO, and that Conway held a promissory note and the deeds of his house.

CONWAY IN CHRISTCHURCH. Conway stayed for a short time at tbo Oxford Hotel, in Christchurch, and during Hue time he spent there, he was frequently seen m company with a woman, who, however, did not stay at the same house. On one occasion, the pair went to Sumner together, and on the following morning Conway found himself at Sumner minus liis purse and ton pounds which it had contained. It is stated that later in the day he met the lady, and that she informed aim that she had had a similar experience, and had lost her bag containing money. I'ho police were communicated with, and at once suspected the woman, but Conway expressed himself as satisfied that she had not taken the money, and had been robbed as well as himself. Before the police had lime to make any enquiries, the pair vanished, and it was afterwards discovered that they had both left by the Talune for Sydney, via Wellington, tbo woman as a saloon passenger, and Conway travelling in che steerage. Upon news of his death being received, the police again set to work, and it is now understood that important evidence has been secured by them, and chat it will probably throw some light upon the cause of death.—Lyttelton Times.