LEAP FROM AIR LINER

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 182, 29 April 1933, Page 11

LEAP FROM AIR LINER

Mystery of Recent Disaster OPEN VERDICT RETURNED London, April 27. Au open verdict was returned at ihe inquest info Hie circumstances surrounding lite (leatll of Albert Voss, of Manchester, the passenger who jumped from the City of Liverpool, the Imperial Airways liner, before it crashed in flames near Dixmude, Flanders, on March 28. with the loss of 12 passengers and a crew of 3, all of whom were killed outright. Tiie jury found Hint Voss died from injuries received, there being no conclusive evidence as to why or how he left the machine. Major Mayo, an air expert, gave evidence that tiie fire unquestionably began in tiie rear of tiie aeroplane, where it was first seen. There was nothing to indicate engine failure or other defects in tiie aeroplane. Voss’s clothing was settree’y burnt, indicating Hint he left the aeroplane at the commencement of the lire, but he did not have a parachute. A doctor . declared that Voss was neither poisoned nor shot. It was impossible to say whether Voss was blown out or jumped overboard. Tiie coroner instructed tiie jury that though Voss's reputation was an unenviable hoc. there was no positive evidence Hint lie was responsible for the lire.

Scotland Yard lias been investigating sensational theories regarding the crash in flames of lite air liner City of Liverpool. Voss's sou. Alfred, was alleged io have said that Dearden, another victim, was Voss’s agent, and that. Voss collapsed from an overdose of a drug in October. The police asked Alfred Voss in Decoti'l er to make a stnteniont respecting his fa’her’s I usiness affairs. The Coroner s.-iid Voss jumped from the air liner a mile or two before the crash. “I understand that ho attempted suicide some time ago. I have ordered an analysis of bis organs. I also want to sc.- if the examination will throw anv light on the origin of the fire." The Coroner nddeil that it was possibli- fh-it V'oss became strange and sn| fire to I lie m-tehim'. Imt it wns■ diflienlt to reconcile this theory with the I'm-t that his ni-i-ci- wns aboard the neropiiin‘‘.