CREDIBILITY OF ULM

Taranaki Daily News, 14 June 1929, Page 9

CREDIBILITY OF ULM

ISSUE IN FLYING INQUIRY MORE STARTLING EVIDENCE 'TODD’S CHARGES REFUTED DISCUSSION ON MAKURA By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Australian Press Association. .Received June 13. 9.15 p.m. Sydney, June 13. The Southern Cross inquiry was again opened to-day to enable a witness who had read William Angus Todd’s evidence to explain a conversation he had with Todd aboard the Makura after Todd left Smith and Ulm in America in 1927. Todd, a sdiip’s officer, had given evidence the previous day that he had heard Ulm make a suggestion that the airmen should lose themselves in Central Australia for a few days for publicity and financial purposes. Harold Lilja, a representative of a foreign -firm, said he had many talks with Todd on tlhe voyage, but Todd had 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 tdie incident. Todd had described Ulm as a ‘‘crook.” Lilja asked him why he thought so, .Todd explained that ho knew for a fact that Ulm had put it up to Keith Anderson to get lost on the flight round Australia some years ago. Lilja had asked him how he knew and Todd had replied that Keith Anderson had told him with his own lips. 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 he heard T iin make a statement about getting lost. Mr. Myers (counsel for Anderson’s relatives) said the evidence had taken a startling turn, placing Todd in a serious position. He 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 Bailing during the afternoon. Todd had Baid he remembered meeting Lilja in (Sydney and discussing Ulm and AnderBon, but he was not sure what he had said to Lilja. However, he recollected Anderson telling him in America that Ulm had suggested getting lost. The inquiry was adjourned.