MISSING SOLDIER'S FATE.

Taihape Daily Times, 8 April 1919, Page 6

MISSING SOLDIER'S FATE.

CONFLICTING EVIDENCE

JUNIOR PURSER'S TESTIMONY

DUNEDIN. April 5.

The military inquiry regarding the disappearance of Private ( George Mould from the steamer Maori between Wellington and Lyttelton on the night of February 3 was resumed this morning. Lieutenant-Colonel D. Colquhoun, D. 5.0., presided.

Evidence was given by Leslie James List, assistant purser on the Maori at the time of Mould's disappearance. He said he could not tell the Court anything about the alleged disappearance of Mould. He made a statement on February 21 to an officer and a non-commissioned officer -while crossing the Straits, to the effect that on January 27 a returned man named Mason reported to the pursuer, witness being present, that at about 11.30 p.m. he saw a man coming out of the steerage doorway wearing an overcoat; that the man was smoking a cigarette; that he put a handkerchief over his eyes and walked out and stood on the rail. He ..then took a neat header over the side. "That was Mason's statement. Witness did not say he saw a man go overboard. If any officer or non-commis-sioned officer had made a statement to that effect he would contradict it. He did not see the man go overboard. Mr. A. G. Neill, appearing for Mrs. Mould, asked Lieutenant McCarthy, whether he was prepared to stand by his evidence that List did not say he saw a man go overboard. Lieutenant McCarthy: Yes; I can vouch for it.

-List, repeated that there must have been some misunderstanding. He denied that he at any time said he saw a man go overboard. Mr. Neill asked whether there was any record of another man named Burns going overboard. List replied that there was an official record of the ship being stopped and turned down round on January 27.

M. Rudd, assistant-secretary to the Union Steam Ship Company, said there was no record in the company's office as to Mould's disappearance, The com-

pany's impression was that it was Burns, and not Mould, to whom Mason

referred

The Court adjourned till next Wed-

nesday.