SUSPICIOUS ATTORNEY

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 515, 19 November 1928, Page 9

SUSPICIOUS ATTORNEY

WRECK OF THE VESTRIS WITNESSES AND THE TRUTH (Australian and A'.Z. Press Associat tottj NEW YORK, Saturday. At the Vestris inquiry, the chief officer of the Vestris. Mr. Johnson, said he had left the closing of the coal ports to the carpenter. He had not inspected them. The vessel was ship-shape on the Saturday night. The list was discovered after the gale on the Sunday morning. The shifting of the cargo, principally motor-cars in cases, a broken bulkhead, and the exceptionally bad weather on the Sunday were the causes of the sinking. He had told Captain Carey at 4 a.m. on the Monday that the situation was serious, but he had left it to the captain’s own judgment to decide what action should be taken.

The chief engineer of the lost liner, Mr. Adams, said there was a leak in the ash ejector valve, another in a scupper pipe from one of the decks, and a third in the coal ports, which ultimately spilled from the bunkers into the engine room. Finally, there was an enormous leak in a bunker over the starboard boiler. All the engines were employed in working the pumps. Witness said he told the captain at 4 a.m. on the Monday that he believed he could keep the steamer afloat when the latter told him he expected destroyers to arrive by 5 p.m. However, the list grew so bad that the fires were washed out by 9.30 a.m. WANTS WHOLE TRUTH The proceedings, which were adjourned until 10.30 a.m. to-morrow-, were marked by the emphatic manner of Mr. Tuttle, who seemed to indicate that efforts were being made to control the witnesses. He said advices to that effect had reached him from confidential sources. He was sure the court would want to deal severely with anyone who undertook to prevent the revelation of the complete truth. One of the lifeboats. No. 13, was brought in by the steamer Berlin. Tt will be available for examination by the court. Mr. Tuttle said he was willing to adopt the suggestion made by Sir Harry Armstrong, British Consul-General at New York, for the appointment of marine experts to assist the court. Sir Harry proposed that the United States should appoint one expert, and the owners of the Vestris one. , Mr. Tuttle, how-ever, said the British Government, and not the owners of the line, should designate the second expert. Mr. Tuttle has ordered the production of the cargo manifest of the Vestris. ,