A STRANGE STORY

Timaru Herald, Volume CVIII, Issue 16800, 2 April 1919, Page 2

A STRANGE STORY

NO STEPS TAKEN. (Per Press Association). • „ ~ DUNEDIN, April 1. On Friday, March 28th a Military Court of Inquiry (Colonel Colquhoun presiding), was opened at Dunedin, to inquiro into the disappearance of Private George Mould, who returned per the Oxfordshire, and disappeared from the Maori on the night of the 3rd February, between Wellington and Lyttelton. Sergeant-Major Little deposed that he gave the man a steerage ticket at Wellington and 6aw him on the Maori, and a chum told him he had put Mould to bed. Mould had been drinking, but not sufficiently to impair - his mental faculties. Lieutenant McCarthy, Military Landing Officer, narrated the steps taken to clear up the mvsterv, and said that on the 22nd or 23rd of February the assistant purser for the Maori told In'»*i that he saw a soldier jump overboard, with a handkerchief round his <wfw, on the trip which carried: the Oxfordshire's men. The purser added that he took no steps to have the man recovered, as quite a number of persons weon deck, and he thought that action had been taken. Lieutenant McCarthy further added that on a sub- ' sequent trip «with a draft by the Matatua.- the troopers of that draft sa'd the Matatua passed the body of a soldier floating at sea, on the 16th February. The Court adjourned till April'lst, to get further evidence. .THE INQUIRY RESUMED. The military Court to-day resumed the inquiry into' the disappearance of Private George Mould from the steamer Maori on February 3. i Major Fleming gave evidence as to the official-steps taken on the disappearance being, reported. Sergeant-Major Wheeler, who was on the Maori" when she -brought -the Matatua's draft, corroborated > Lieutenant McCarthy's testimony ,-at the previous sitting, as to the ".assistant purser of the Maori telling them on the night of, Mould's disappearance that he saw. what he took to be a , boy -blindfolded with a handkerchief go over ,the side. It was possible the assistant purser said "soldier," but witness thought he said "boy." < - Frederick Percy Ussher, a soldier per the, Oxfordshire, said he saw Mould on board the Maori after sailing.', Mould was intoxicated and was .brought to bed by * civilian. In the morning there was no appearance of Mould. John ' Campbell MoGWI waß Mould's "cobber," but witness knew him as they were in camp together, and/would describe Mould as of a very quiet disposition, in every way sound and' reasonable. There was .nothing, whatever about,.him to suggest that he would be likely to disappear in this manner... Colonel, Conquhoun, the president, said McGill was' now in Gisborne and his evidence would be taken- there. The evidence ■■ of Leslie, James t List, .issistant purser of the, Maori, now on the, Moeraki and also the-evidence of ■Captain Cameron and purser Munn of the Maori would be taken in Wellington. - ' i

The Union" Shipping- "Company had handed in the following -telegram from the Wellington manager:—"Press telegrams regarding the soldier lost overboard from the Maori entirely mispleading regarding : "the : ' assistant purser f The latter wa£"~w ( drkinir -in <Jthe office with the purser when' the-' mtftter was reported by another soldier. The captain was 'immediately advised- by the purser, butconsiflerable timeihad elapsed 'before tfiere was of the :bnan-'goingvOTerhoard." „„i„"