AIR INQUIRY REOPENED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20743, 14 June 1929, Page 9

AIR INQUIRY REOPENED

FURTHER WITNESS HEARD. CONVERSATION WITH TODD. (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) SYDNEY,' June 13. (Received June 13, at 10 p.m.) The air inquiry was again reopened to enable a witness who had read Todd’s evidence to explain a conversation he had with Todd aboard the Makura after Todd left Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith and Flight-Lieutenant Uhn in America in 1927.

Harold Lilja, representative here of a foreign firm, said he had had many talks with Todd on the voyage, but Todd never once mentioned that Ulm had suggested getting lost in Central Australia. When, however, the Southern Cross was lost this year he happened to meet Todd in Sydney, and Todd had a copy of the Daily Guardian, and commenced to discuss the incident. Todd described Ulm as a crook. Witness asked him why he thought so, and Todd explained that he knew for a fact that Ulm had put it up to Keith Anderson to get lost on a flight round Australia some years ago. Witness asked him how he knew, and Todd replied that Keith Anderson had told him with his own Ups. Witness expressed the opinion that Todd must -have lied when he swore he did not have his knife into Ulm, and lied when he said that he heard Ulm make a statement about getting lost. Mr Myers (counsel for Lieutenant Anderson’s relatives) said that the evidence had taken a startling turn, placing Todd in a serious position. Ho asked the committee to hear further evidence to-morrow.

The chairman said the whole point at issue was as to the credibility of Ulm. Mr Myers later informed the committee that he had had a telephone conversation with Todd, whose boat was sailing during the afternoon. Todd said he remembered meeting Lilja in Sydney and discussing Ulm and Anderson, but he was not sure what he said to Lilja. However, he recollected Anderson-telling him in America that Ulm had suggested getting lost. The inquiry was adjourned.