THE MOANA DEATHS.

Taihape Daily Times, 27 January 1919, Page 4

THE MOANA DEATHS.

EVIDENCE OF POISONING. WELLINGTON, aJnuary 24. ‘ The inquiry into the cause of death of Dr. Grimm, and Miss Insay M. Isbister on the steamer Moana while tho vessel was on her way from San Francisco to Papeete was opened to-day by Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M. Evidence was given by Alfred John Richardson, of Tracy, California, that when he saw Miss on the floor he knelt down besidn her and noticed that froth was from her mouth. Witness felt her pulse, which was very slow. Artificial respiration was tided and other remedies to counteract pois- | oning were administered. Presently Dr. Grimm was brought on deck in a state of collapse. Miss Isblster died In j about ten minutes, and Dr. Grimm just before her. When witness knelt alongside Miss Isbister he smelt something: which he thought was oxalic acid. He had experience of the acid, which was used for cleaning wood, copper and brass. He did not now think it was oxalic acid. WELLINGTON, January 25. The Moana inquest was resumed today. Gilbert Frank Kassel, metallurgist, of South Australia, who was a passenger on the steamer, said he smelt the remains of tho drinks taken by deceased. and detected an odour of bitter almonds, which was characteristic of cyanide of potassium In soda water bottles he detected the same odour. Captain Barlow, master of the Moana, said Dr. Grimm was a man of temperate habits and equable temper. He had a comfortable income apart ! from his pay. So far as witness knew,' Miss Isbister had not met the doctor before, and there was no intimacy between them. ’After their deaths witness examined the drinks, very little of which had been taken. In one he detected a foreign odour. He had the bottles, ‘-and tho remainder of the drinks, the tumblers, sugar and lemon squash sealed up at Papeete. Thedrinks were analysed, and disclosed the presence of cyanide of potassium. Oxalic acid was used on the ship for scrubbing floors, etc. It was kept in a. box in the bar. Afterwards a small bottle of oxalic acid was found in the port alleyway. The doctor was the only man who had access to the dispensary.

The chief officer. Mr. Prosser, said' that, after the deaths a steward named Ives, replying to a speculation on the part of a passenger, said: “He’s put oxalic acid in the drinks instead of sugar.’/ The “he” was some third person, not specified. Ives also volulV 1 tcetod the statement, that oxalic acid was kept beside the sugar in the bar. Charles Simpson, head saloon waiter, said Dr. Grimm, after drinking, said: “There’s something wrong with the drink.” Witness told Mr. Belshaw, second steward, what had happened. He said: “My God; I’ve poisoned two people with oxalic acid in mistake for- I limejuice.” ’ Belshaw gave evidence as to preoaring drinks with sugar in lemon and soda water. In his excitement at' the time he- may have spoken as Simpsott alleged, hut he was sure oxalic acid was not used in mixing the drinks.