I.—IB.

R. M. BEATTIE.]

11

142. Hon. Mr. Fisher.] What was the name of that man? —1 cannot remember. That is a case with which I took special precautions. 1 warned the relatives. I got some of the relatives who were living in Avondale to take a special interest in the case, and I also warned the police at Newmarket and Auckland to watch the man's drinking habits, and if he drank to report to me. No report was ever made to me. 143. Mr. Dickson.] I suppose the fact of Johnston escaping from the mental hospital cast a kind of reflection on your staff?—l do not think so. If there is any reflection at all it is on myself, because l'was so satisfied the man was sane that I put him in the charge of an attendant who had a lot of duties to perform, and who could not possibly supervise that gang of patients thoroughly. 144. Did you enter into any agreement with any one that if Johnston would return you would discharge him as sane? —No, I did not. I knew where the man was —at least, I had suspicions— and communicated with his friends through Mr. Lundon, the solicitor, saying that I thought Johnston ought to give himself up, and if he gave himself up and I had an opportunity of examining him thoroughly and was convinced after my second or third examination that he was sane I would release him on probation. 145. Did you visit Mr. Lundon's office on any occasion in connection with that case before Johnston was produced? —Yes, on one occasion. 146. You say that you did not promise Mr. Lundon to discharge him as sane if he produced Johnston ? —Certainly, I did not. 147. You knew that Mr. Lundon knew where he was all the time?—No, I did not know that. His wife wrote to me saying that she could get him after advertisement in one of the local papers. I suspected that Johnston was in his wife's keeping somewhere or other. But Mr. Lundon led me to believe that he did not know where Johnston was. 148. At that last meeting that you had with Mr. Lundon at 4 o'clock in the afternoon in his office—that was prior to Johnston being produced—did he not tell you where Johnston was then i —No, he told me that he did not know. I met Mr. Lundon on only two occasions—one the occasion when he asked me to go in and see him, and the other the occasion after Johnston had given himself up. I went to the wharf and met Johnston and took him over from the police, and took him straight to Mr. Lundon's office and examined him there. 149. Mr. Campbell.] This petit mal —is it a minor form of epilepsy?— Yes. 150. Is it at all likely to recur with a patient who is suffering from it—recur at regular intervals? —My experience is that epilepsy, either minor or major, is practically never recovered from, and I think the minor epilepsy more frequently lecurs than the major. 151. At regular intervals, I mean?—No epileptic condition recurs at regular intervals. 152. You cannot form any idea when another attack is coming?— No. A man may have thirty or forty in a day and not another for weeks. 153. What is the longest interval likely to be?—l could not tell you.

Thursday, 2nd October, 1913. Ward George Wohlmann sworn and examined. (No. 3.) 1. Mr. Robertson.] You are sergeant of police at Waihi?—l am. 2. You have been there for some time? —For two years past. 3. You were in charge of the police when the late strike commenced at Waihi?—Yes. 4. Were you in charge to the end ?—Under the superior officers who were present. 5. That was some time after the strike had been in progress? —Yes. 6. You know the petitioner Johnston? —I do. 7. When did he come under your notice in any conspicuous manner in connection with the strike?—l had seen him fairly frequently after work was resumed, standing about in the street and with other workers. " 8. He took a prominent part with the workers? —Not very prominent. He was one of the crowd who went to work first : that was all. 9. He was one of the first to go to work when the mine was opened?— Yes. 10. He was a witness at the time of the inquest on Evans?—He was. 11. What was the date of that inquest: do you remember? —No, Ido not. 12. Could I suggest to you the 20th November? —Just about that date. 13. Was Johnston present that day when the inquest opened, do you know?—l cannot sp6ak definitely as to that day, but he was present at the inquest. There were a number of adjournments. Ido not think he was present at the start. 14. You remember my being present at the inquest?—l do. 15. That was on the 20th November —the morning it opened : would you say that he was not present that day?—l have no recollection of his being present. 16. You would not swear definitely that he was not?—No, but I do not think he was. To the best of my recollection he was not sufficiently recovered at the beginning of the inquest from his wound. He was wounded and taken to the hospital. 17. He was wounded on the 14th ?—Yes. 18. Could you tell the Committee at what date Johnston appeared before the Coroner as a witness at that inquest ?—He was there just about the close of the inquest—l think the last day. He was there the day before the last. I have not the dates with me, but I know he was there at the end of the inquest.