Statement of John Featherston

[Page 1]

CORONER'S INQUEST

COLONY OF VICTORIA,
TO WIT

This Deponent John Featherston
on his oath said, I am a Carrier
residing at Highett St, Richmond.

On the 18th December about one o'clock I was down about No 5 Wharf
attending to business. I met Williams there. [Coroner to Prisoner
"Stand up"] That is the man He knows me. I was accosted by that
man and I asked him if he wanted a Carrier and if he had any lugg-
age in the Sheds. He said he had some up in town and would I
take it reasonably. He had a lady with him and she stood by while
he spoke to me. When I asked him if he wanted a Carrier he said
he had no luggage in the sheds but wanted to know what I would-
charge for some he had up in town. I said [crossed out: 10] 10/- That was for de-
livering four boxes from the store and picking up some luggage at
the Coffee Palace and taking them to Windsor. I asked him the
address and he said he would ride with me. He said something -
about the price and I said I would take it for 6/- He said "You
are talking sense now" and he agreed to give me 6/- He said he
had to see about some machinery coming in and he would go down -
about it and if I was there when he came back he would give me the
job. He did come back and gave me the ticket to get the lugg-
age from Wrigley's free store in William [crossed out: s indecipherable] Street. At Wrigley's I got
two hamper baskets and two heavy tool boxes. - a lathe he said [crossed out: he] it
was. I then went to the Federal Coffee Palace and met his wife
there. It was the same lady whom I saw at the Wharf. We then
put the luggage on the lorry and while we were doing so the lady
said

[Crossed out: Taken and Sworn before me, the ... day
of ... 18 at ...
... Coroner.]

[Annotations: top right-hand corner]

27
No.53

[Annotation: centre bottom]

62

[Annotations: two in left margin at centre and lower page]
J E N

J E N

CORONER'S INQUEST

[Crossed out: COLONY OF VICTORIA,
TO WIT
This Deponent....
on h... oath saith, I am a...
residing at...

said "Take care of that Jack dear" She referred to a dressing bag
and he just said "All right" and made no further remark. We then
left the Coffee Palace. Williams and myself got on to the cart
and we drove to Number 57 Andrew Street Windsor. I remember a
canary bird and cage being put on the lorry. That now shown to
me is the cage. I remarked at the time "Will it be safe to put
that on the bottom of the lorry It might frighten the bird" He
said "No, it has travelled further than you have." I asked him
if I should cover it. He said "No, it is all right" He had
very little further to say. When we arrived at Number 57 Andrew
Street he gave me a hand to put the heavy packages in. A lady
came to the door as we came up and she opened it and we backed in.
That was the same lady I saw at the Coffee Palace and at the Sheds
I moved the things in and he paid me. I wanted to put the things
into the room but he got his hair off, told me to put them down in
the passage where he told me. At that time he had a small cut
moustache but was otherwise clean shaven.
John Featherston

Taken and Sworn before me, the 5th day
of April 1892 at Melbourne
James Edward Neild
Coroner

[Annotation: top right-hand corner]

28
No.53

[Annotation: centre top of page]

2

Annotation: centre top of transcript]

John Featherston

[Annotation: centre bottom]

63