AIR SMASH

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 15 January 1925, Page 7

AIR SMASH

CROYDON DISASTER. INQUEST REOPENED. A SENSATIONAL STATEMENT. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHI . Received Jan. 15, 12.45 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 14. A sensation occurred at the reopening of the inquest on the victims oi the Cioydon air smash. The solicitor representing the relaticcs of. the victims alleged that tin: Imperial Airways Company had tampered with a witness.

The representative of the Imperial Airways denied the allegation. The witness concerned, Henry Clerk, was employed by the Imperial Airways, and gave evidence that he knew nothing of the alleged tampering. He said that Mr Eskel 1, the traffic superintendent, asked him why witness had not told him of the conversation he had heard between the deceased pilot, Hinchdiffe, and Hall, the mechanical .superintendent, when Hinchciiffe said: “The oil pressure is low,” and Hall replied: “If so the einjine should be thoroughly tested, and, if necesasry, changed.” Witness replied that he did not think it sufficiently important. Eskel 1 had adviesd him to be most careful in what lie said at the inquest, and not to advance any theories or say any tiling that was not in his line.

Counsel for Imperial Airways suggested the withdrawal of what he regarded as an outrageous statement.

The solicitor said he was glad the matter was not so serious as he had thought, but it was unfortunate that Eskell had sought to advise the witness in regard to his evidence. —Reuter.

Nine persons were killed when the air express from London to Paris crashed at the Croydon aerodrome on December 24. The machine immediately burst into flames. The victims were the pilot and eight passengers.