POLICE BRIBED?

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 18, 22 January 1929, Page 7

POLICE BRIBED?

SERGEANT CHARGED.

Sheltering Night Club Sinks

Of Iniquity.

MRS. METRICK ALSO IN DOCK.

(Australian and K.Z. Press Association.)

(Received 12 noon.)

LONDON, January 21

Mr. Justice Avory refused the application of Mrs. Meyrick, the "Night Club Queen," to be separately tried on the charge of giving bribes to ex-Sergeant Goddard of the police force. Counsel for the prosecution, in a lengthy review, said Sergeant Goddard was 26 years in the force and receiver pay of JE6 per week. When requested to account for the possession of money, a freehold hou»e and a saloon motor car, he replied that he had saved a few hundred pounds as well as having made money on reliable information about racehorses and iu foreign exchange speculations. The police traced the money to variousbanks in Goddard's name, as well as large denomination hank notes in two safe deposits, the whole amounting to £17,904. Many notes were traced, having been paid to Goddard fro;.i people in the position of Mrs. Meyrick and Ribufb, a keejier of a Solio disorderly house, who has since disappeared from the country. The prosecution, referring to Mrs. Meyrick, said: "An anonymous letter addressed to Scotland Yard asked why 'the notorious Mrs. Meyrick was permitted to run three night clubs without police interference. ~ These places are, disgusting sinks of iniquity where young men are filled with drink, robbed anil petted by street women.'" Sergeant Goddard, in his report on Mrs Meyrick's night club, set out that approximately 70 women resorted to the establishment nightly, many known to be undesirables, but he was satisfied that the place was not used habitually as u place of illfame. / He added: "Women attach themselves to males who buy them chocolates, tlu wholesale price of which is trom two to three shillings but are retailed at the club for 25/ to 30/." Goddard's report concluded: "The<e arc insidious, lying and unfounded allegations against the police." The hearing was adjourned.