THE DEATHS ON THE MOANA.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16433, 29 January 1919, Page 9

THE DEATHS ON THE MOANA.

+ ANALYST'S EVIDENCE. CYANIDE FOUND, RUT NO OXALIC ACID. (SPECIAL TO "THE TRESS.") AVELLINGTON, January 28. The mystery surrounding the deaths on the Moana of Dt. Grimm (ship's surgeon)* ami Miss lngsay M. Isbister, a Christchurch lady, were further enquired into at the Magistrate's Court to-duy. Mr Kiddell, S.M., presided. Mr Macassey appeared for the Crown, Mr Douglas Jackson tor a relative of Miss l*bister, .\lr Lovi for the Union Steam Ship Company, and Mr It. Kennedy lor Messrs Thomson, Lewis and C 0.," cordial manufacturers. Chief-Detective Boddam exhibited a photograph of the bar on tho Moana, showing where the sodawater, oxalic acid, and sugar were kept. Witness also exhibited the various bottles and glasses concerned, and explained how each receptacle had been sealed by Captain Barlow soon after the tragedy. He stated that, he had made a close sparc-h of the quarters on board the ship of all those who had given evidence. He found nothing that wpuld throw any light on the tragedy. He had no reason to suspect anybody on the boat. Belshaw, the second steward, had informed witness that Dr. Grimm's conduct towards Miss Isbister was exactly the same as {lis conduct towards tho other passengers. There was nothing to justify a suspicion that Dr. Grimm and Miss Isbister wore qven on familiar terms. Mr Macassey explained that the latter portion ot' . Cnief-Detective Boddam's statement was not really evidonce, but in fairness he thought it should be made public. Mr Macassoy: \ou have made a very careful search of Dr. Grimm's personal effects? Detective Boddam: Yes. Particularly his correspondence?— Yes. Did you find anything in the correspondence relating to Miss Isbister? — Nothing whatever. Willie Donovan, public analyst, employed at the Dominion Laboratory, stated that ho analysed the bottle of • sugar and tested the contents for cyanide or oxalic acid. He found neither. In one of the glassos there was a faint trace of cyanide, but no trace of oxalic acid. In one of tho sodawater bottles ■ whicli had been handed to him he found 1.2 cubic centimetres, or 24 drops, of a ' clear alkaline liquid. He tested this liquid for cyanide and found the equivalent to one-lifth of a grain of cyanido -of potassium. If the bottle had been filled with that liquid, it would have contained thirty grains, and the fatal dose, according to his author-' ity, was 2} grains. In the other soda- j water bottle there were only five drops ■ of liquid, but thero was a similar pro- ; portion of cyanide. Witness also * ex- j aniined what remained of the drinks | partaken of by Dr. Grimm and Miss | Jsbisler. He found one bottle to con- | tain slightly over 7oz of a liquid, pro- j sumably lemon squash. He testpd it ; for cyanide and also for oxalic acia. He found cyanide equivalent to 15 grains per pint, but no trace of oxalic acid. In the other bottle the contents were tho same, but the cyanide : was slightly less—about 14$ grains I to the pint. Again there was no oxalic acid. There was no oxalic acid : in the lemon squeezer. . I Dr. Kingston Fytfe stated that he' had heard certain evidence relating to tho symptoms exhibited by Dr. Grimin and Miss Isbister after tliey had par-: taken of the drink. The symptoms j were consistent with cyanide poisoning, 1 but Rot with oxalic acid poisoning. The shortness of the timo between the taking of the dose and death could only be accounted for by poisoning with • cyanide. Witness said Tie knew Dr. ■ Grimm personally. He was a very! highly oultivated, charming gentle- • man, who took a great, interest in his j profession. He was a man witness! had the highest respect for, and he j was a very fine specimeu of his profession. 1 Mr Macassey stated that he had no ! iurthcr evidence, to offer. Of course! now it had been proved that there was j cyanide in the soda water, further : enquiries might be necessary. • ti^ 1 Kcnnec, F. suited that Messrs i homson. Lewis and Co. desired to submit evidence which would show not' only the improbability, but the sheer; impossibility, that thero was prussic acid or any poison whatsoever in the soda water supplied by them to the Luion Steam ijhip Company. Thev would show that not only did they not «s e any cyanide in their manufacture of soda waiter, or any poison, but tha'. they used no material in which it had ever been known or might occur as an impurity, and that there was no pro- : cess of manufacture in their business whatsoever by which it could by any '■ possibility be produced. '■ Tho Coroner enquired what had be- \ come of the remainder of the six dozen : bottles taken from the store to the bar, and which included the two bot- 1 ties from which the fatal drinks were : made. 1 1 The second steward stated that he; ' understood these had been kept bv the 1 enief steward. He would make' eiK 1 Quiries. 11 The Coroner: I think those bottles' should be analysed also. it Mr Riddell agreed that Messrs' ' Thomson. Lewis and Co. should be I given an opportunity of submitting I evidence. He was prepared to I journ the enquiry until Friday morn- 1 fag at 10.30 o'clock, J