AN OPEN VERDICT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16537, 22 September 1921, Page 2

AN OPEN VERDICT.

IN GREY LYNN MYSTEKY. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND. September 21. The, inquest concerning th© death of Frank Jew at Grey Lynn on July 16 or 17 was continued this morning.

Emma Millington, living two doors j from the vacant section, said she heard j a noise of boys squabbling outside her i gate about 11.30 on the night of. Saturday, July 17. She heard some on© pass along th© right-of-way adjoining. About 12 o’clock she heard some boys j quarrelling outside her gate. She told j Mr Pottierre, who had been making an j independent investigation, that she saw blood on the telegraph post opposite | her house. Her husband put his hand on the gate on Monday morning and got blood on it. Herbert Millington said that on INI on- 1 day morning, going out of his gate he put his hand on tho post and got some blood on his hand. H© thought someone had expectorated with blood in liis mouth. Detective Cummings disposed of th© statements regarding the blood on the ! gate, saying that they might have com© j from th© men who found the body and j who used the gate. The discolouration j on the telegraph x>ost was proved not to be blood. Detective-Sergeant Cummings stated that on July 17 be arrived on the scene of the murder, being immediately followed by other members of the police staff. He saw the body on the section. After having described the attitude of the body the witness said th© pockets of tho clothes showed no sign of interference, and deceased’s clothing was properly adjusted. Among other things in the vest pocket was a cameo ring. Witness found rain water in the folds of the overcoat that was across the lower part of the body. Among other details of the state of dress* given minutely by witness was that tho tie of deceased was quite normally adjusted, and did not appear to have been disturbed. There were no indications of a struggle. In the course of his description of indications and circumstances witness stated that a batten found near tho body weighed 51b. It was examined for finger-prints without result. Blood and hairs from the batten and body were handed to Mr Arrnitage for microscopic and bacteriological scrutiny, as also were two' splinters of wood found adhering to the head of deceased. Two tram tickets were found in th© pocket of deceased’s coat. It was some time before the police were able to get, the body identified, but after identifica-

tion that afternoon the body was removed and submitted to a. post-mortem examination th© same day. The night of Saturday, July 16, vras moonlight, but overcast. Full moon that month was on July 20. Heavy rain fell at 4 a .in. and again at 8 a.m. on the Sunday, but. there was a high wind to which the body, when found, was exposed, which would account for the clothing being dry in places. Witness handed to th© bacteriologist, in addition to what bad been mentioned, a suit of clothes belonging to the witness M’Mahon and a suit of clothes from the witness Kelly. No blood mark was found on Kelly's clothing. The rooms of M’Mahon. Kelly and Jew were searched. Th© champagne bottle mentioned by witnesses was found next door to Gregory’s, as also was the glass. "By the blood stains on deceased’s trousers it was obvious that the overcoat must have been placed over the legs of the body after tho blood stains had got on the trousers. To Mr Meredith: Everything pointed, in his opinion, to th© injuries having been inflicted at th© spot where th© body was found. The Corbner commented on th© unsatisfactory nature of some of the evidence, which, unfortunately, did not lead to any very definite conclusion. His duty was to find when, where and by what means deceased cam© by his death, and he recorded a formal verdict. He did not think th© evidenp© justified him in ssying more.