THE MOANA INQUIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 January 1919, Page 5

THE MOANA INQUIRY.

FURTHER EVIDENCE, By XaUcir*?)!.—Fms Auotitt:^ Wellington, Jan. 27

The Moana tragedy enquiry w&» resumed thia morning. Dr. Oswald C. Carp Thomas, dental surgeon, and a passenger on the Moaua, described what he did whan called on deck to see Dr. Grimm and Miss lsbister. The teeth oi deceased were clenched, making it impossible to open the jaws to get to the tongue. The ey<a were open and staring, the pupils not reaching to the light, while the breathing was unnatural. He did not notice any smell from the lijte of the patients, but on his own hands, later on, lie detected a smell something liice metal polish, William Joes, steward on the Moana, in reply to the question: Did you say to the chief officer that he put oxalic acid in, replied: Well, I may have, but I do not remember. I had no reason to believe ycalic acid was used in 'the drinks instoad of sugar, i did not know if any oxalic acid was kept in solution in the bar The oxalic acid in his possession was in bulk. He could give no reason for having made the remark attributed to him by other witnesses that the sugar was next to the oxalic acid in the bar.

The pantry-man and stewardess gave evidence that they did not hear the second steward say: "My God, we've poisoned two people with oxalic acid instead of sugar." V. Belshaw, sccoond steward, recalled, said ho gave no oxalic acid out for cleaning purposes since leaving 'Fnsco to his knowledge. Oxalic acid was in the bar.

The enquiry was adjourned till tomorrow, when the analysis of the drinks wili be ready.