I.—lb.

25

T. H. JOHNSTON.

57. It was the 2nd December you made that statement, and it was after that you first came under the care of Dr. Craig?—Yes. 1 wish to add also that when I saw Sergeant Cooney there was nobody in the room, and he had neither pencil nor paper. 58. Did Dr. Craig tell you anything in particular as to what was the matter with you?— Dr. Craig told me all that was the matter with me was what he would call neurasthenia. He said that was only a trifling thing, and that I was to take a bottle of medicine and let him know how I got on. 59. Did Dr. Craig say anything to you about epilepsy in your family?—No, that was not mentioned, lie asked me if my father was a strong man, and I said, No, he was an invalid. He also asked me what was the matter with my father, and I said, Only weakness. He asked me to describe it to him, and I said he died when I was eight years old. My father was a man who could hardly walk about; he would walk along to church or anything like that. I also told him that when my father was coming from church I have seen him take hold of a picket and say to us little boys, " Get a cab," and five minutes afterwards he would get out and walk the rest of the way. My father never lost his speech once, and I told Dr. Craig that. 60. Did you relate anything more of your family history?—No, I was not there more than five minutes. 61. When did you first hear anything mentioned about epilepsy in connection with yourself? —The first I heard of it mentioned in connection with myself was when I first read the application form for my committal to the mental hospital —the day that Sergeant Wohlmann wrote it. 62. You read it on the day you were committed to the mental hospital?— Yes. 63. Dr. Craig was the only medical man who had examined you in any way prior to the 14th December ? —Yes. 64. The last case on which you gave evidence in Waihi was Barfoot's case? —Yes. 65. Your evidence at the inquest was given some time prior to the 19th November. On the day you were at the police-station and the committal took place, what was your object in being there? —Because Mrs. Johnston and I had been talking in the morning about it being just aB well for me not to go back to work until the beginning of January, because the holidays would be coming on and that I could well do with a fortnight's holiday. We had the house fairly stocked with groceries, but we did not have enough money for me to take a holiday and for her to have a little money to pull through unless I got all my money. I left home about 10.30 with that object, and I told Mrs. Johnston I would be home to dinner. She pleaded with me not to go, because she said, " I have a presentiment of evil." I promised faithfully that I would be home to dinner at 12 o'clock, and I would go to the mine and the police-station. I said if I could not get to the two places before dinner I would leave the mine till afterwards. I was delayed going to the police-station. 66. You went to the police-station in the forenoon?— Yes. I arrived there about 11 or a quarter past. I met Harvey on the way. 67. If Sergeant Wohlmann says that the day you were committed you had just concluded giving evidence in a case, and that he met you outside the Courthouse and took you back on the pretext of giving you witness's expenses, would that be right? —It would be far from the truth. 68. It would not be correct?—No, it would not be correct. 69. When were you told to go to the police-station to get the money due to you?—l had had a conversation with Sweeney and Kelly, who were strongly advising me not to go to work : that was during the week. 70. Detective Sweeney and Constable Kelly both spoke to you?—lt was a very common thing for the arbitrationists to confer with the police while evidence was being taken. 71. You fraternized? —Yes. We talked more with one another than the miners do down the mine. 72. Their advice to you was, what? —Their advice to me was, " j6hnston, if I were you I would not hurry back to work, on account of what you have gone through. Your best plan is to take a holiday," because they knew I was anxious to get back to work as soon as I could get back from the Court. I said I would have to draw my money, and they said, " You can get that at any time." 73. Was that between your appearing in Barfoot's case and going to Court?— Yes. 74. Between the Wednesday and the Saturday?— Yes. I saw Detective Sweeney at one time and Constable Kelly another.time. They both gave me the same advice at different times. 75. When you went to the police-station on the Saturday whom did you meet?— The first man was McWilliams, the bailiff. I spoke to him through the window at the rear of the Court. 76. What did you say?—l asked him if he thought there was any chance of my getting my money as a witness in the recent cases, and he said "Certainly." He said. "Are you stuck for it," and I said. " No, Tarn going for a holiday." He told me to go round to the front and that I would see Sergeant Wohlmann. I went round and saw Sergeant Wohlmann in the passage busy talking with some one, so I waited in the witnesses' room. About a minute later Mr. MacWilliams came round and I told him Sergeant Wohlmann was engaged, but he told me to speak to him. He spoke to the sergeant, and he came into the witnesses' room and closed the door behind him. I asked the sergeant if there was any chance of my obtaining my money as a witness in the recent cases, and he said, " What do you want it for, Johnston? " I said it was none of his business. He said, " Are you going away? " and I said. " I might." I will admit I was very sarcastic with him. I then said I might go to Katikati or Tauranga, so then he turned on a different tack altogether. He said. "Very well, Johnston. You go along to the other office. You will get your money. I will follow so that it will not be conspicuous. I

4—T. Ib.