A SEA TRAGEDY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17533, 27 January 1919, Page 6

A SEA TRAGEDY.

THE MOANA FATALITIES. (Pbb Uxitbd Phess Assooxatioh.) WELLINGTON, January 25. At the Moana inquiry to-day, Gilbert Prank Kassel, metallurgist, of South Australia, who was a passenger on the boat, said he smelt the remains of the drink •taken by the deceased, and detected the odour of bitter almond, which was characteristic of cyanide of potassium. .In the soda water bottles he detected the same odour.

Captain Barlow, the master of the Moana, said that Dr Grimm, was a man of temperate habits and equable temper. He had a comfortable income apart from, his pay. So far as witness knew, Miss Isbister. had not met the doctor before; and there was -no intimacy between them. After the deaths witness examined the drinks, very little of which had been taken. In one he detected a foreign odour. He had the bottles, with the remainder of fee drinks, tumblers, sugar, and lemon squash sealed up. At Papeete the drinks were analysed, and the analysis disclosed the presence of cyanide of potassium. Oxalic acid was used on board ship for scrubbing the floors, etc., and was kept in a box m the bar. Afterwards a small bottle of oxalio acid was found in the port alleyway. The doctor was the only man who had access to the dispensary. An officer, Prosser, said that after the deaths a steward, whose name was Ives, replying to some speculation on the part of a passenger, said: "He's put oxalic acid in the drinks instead of sugar." He was sure that a third person was not specified. also _ volunteered a statement that the oxalic acid was kept beside the sugar in the bar.

Charles Simpson, the head saloon waiter, Btated that Dr Grimm, after drinking, said there was something wrong with the drink. Witness told Belshaw, the second steward, what had happened. He said: "My God, Iv© poisoned two people with oxalio acid in mistake for limejtdce." Belshaw gave evidence as to preparing the drinks with sugar, ice, lemon, and soda water. In his excitement at the time he may have spoken as Simpson alleged, but was sure that the oxalic acid was not used in mixing the drinks. The 1 inquest was adjourned tfll Monday.