STARTLING TURN TO SOUTHERN CROSS INQUIRY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18785, 14 June 1929, Page 6

STARTLING TURN TO SOUTHERN CROSS INQUIRY.

TODD MUST HAVE LIED, SAYS WITNESS.

(United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) SYDNEY, June 43. The inquiry into the mishaps to the Southern Cross and the Kookaburra was again re-openfetL -to enable a witness, who had read W. A. Todd’s evidence, to explain a conversation that he had had with Todd on board the Makura, after Todd had left Smith and Ulm in America, in 1927.

Harold Lilja, Sydney representative of a foreign firm, said that He 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. Lilja asked him why he thought so. 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. Lilja asked him how he knew. Todd 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 he had lied when he said he heard Ulm make the 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 Commission to hear further evidence to-morrow. The chairman said that the whole point at was as to the credibility of Ulm. Mr Myers, later, informed the Commission that he had had a telephone conversation with Todd, whose boat was sailing during the afternoon. Todd had said that 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.—Aus tralian Press Association.