MISSING SOLDIER.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 April 1919, Page 2

MISSING SOLDIER.

COURT OF INQUIRY. By Telegraph.—Press Association. ' • Dunedin, April 1. The Military Court of Inquiry resumed the inquiry into the disappearance of Private Geo. Gould from the steamer Maori on February 3. Major Fleming gave evidence as to the official steps taken on the disappearance being reported. Scrgt.-Major Wheeler, who was on the Maori when she brought the Matatua's draft, corroborated. Lieutenant M'Carthy's testimony at the previous sitting as to the assitsant-purser of the Maori telling them that on the night of Mould's disappearance he saw what he took to be a boy blindfolded with a handkerchief go over the side. It was possible, the assistant-purser said "soldier," but witness thought he said boy Frederick Percy Ussher, a soldier of the Oxfordshire, said he saw Mould on board after sailing. Mould was intoxicated and was brought to bed by a civilian. In the morning there was no appearance of Mould. John Campbell M'Gill was Mould's "cobber," but witness knew him as they were in camp together and he would describe Mould as of a very quiet disposition and in every way sound and reasonable. There was nothing whatever about him to suggest that he was likely to disappear in this manner. Colonel Colquhoun, president, said that M'Gill was now in Gisbornc, and his evidence would be taken there. The evidence of Leslie James Liste, asßist-ant-purser of the Maori, now on the Moeraki, also the evidence of Captain Cameron and 'Purser Munn, of the Maori, would be taken in Wellington to-moriw. The Union Company had handed him the following telegram from I the Wellington manager: "Press telegrams relating to the soldier lost overboard from the Maori are entirely misleading regarding the assistant-purser. The latter was working in the office with the purser when the matter was reported by another soldier. The captain was immediately advised by the purser, but a considerable time had elapsed before there was any mention of the taari going overboard."