CROYDEN DISASTER

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12038, 16 January 1925, Page 5

CROYDEN DISASTER

N . WITNESS IN QUESTION. f IGNORED CONVERSATION. Australian a-- 1 v 7 A«—’’on LONDON, January 14., At" the reopening of Hie inquest on the victims of the Croydon air amasn, the solicitor representing the relatives of the .victims . alleged . that .the Imperial Airways hid tampered with a > witness. A representative of the Imperial Airways denied the allegation. The witness concerned was Henry Clerk; employed, by the Impenal Airways.' He gave evidence to the effect that he knew nqthing of the alleged tampering'., He said that Mr Eskelt (the traffic superintendent) asked him . why ho had not .told him uf s ccnver sation he had hfeard between Captain Hinchcliffe, the, pilot Who had flown the aeroplane for some days before the accident, and Hall/tbe mechanical supennten dent, when Hinchcliffe said tha t the oil Treasure was low, And Halt f replied that? if so the engine would be thoroughly tested, and, if necessary, changed. • - , . Witness replied that he did net think- it sufficiently important. Mr Eskell advised him to hie most careful ns tp 'what he said at the inquest; “nd hot to advance any theories or to say anything that was not in his line. Council for the Airways suggested the withdrawal of the outrageous statement. Thefisolicitor said that he was glad that the matter had not been so serious as he thought, but it was unfortunate that Eskell had sought to advise’ thenvitness in regard to his evidence.’’* " ’ ■

ESKELL EMPHATIC DENIES TAMPERING. Reuter’s Telegram. (Received Jltnuary 15, 5.30 p.m.) LONDON, January 14. Mr Eskell, in evidence, admitted that he 'told Henry to be careful when he answered questions, but be was referring to a private inquiry which the company was holding, not to the inquest. He emphatically denied that he bad tampered with the witness or pilot. The coroner accepted Eskell’s evidence, and said that the allegations were unjustified. , The inquest was* adjourned.