FRAUD CHARGES IN SYDNEY

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21698, 4 February 1936, Page 11

FRAUD CHARGES IN SYDNEY

MORE EVIDENCE HEARD

SYDNEY, February 3. The hearing of charges against John Ellis Findlay, Ernest Pierce Coombe, Richard Tanser, and William Campbell was continued at the Central Police Court. John Ellis Findlay, a former detective, aged 40, is charged with having conspired to pervert the course of justice by aiding a prisoner, William Campbell, to abscond from bail and escape to New Zealand.

Findlay was further charged, together with Ernest Pierce Coombe, aged 40, an agent, and Charles Richard Tanser, aged 52, an agent, with conspiring with William Campbell and William Holland Makin and others to defraud several persons of large sums of money. There are similar charges against William Campbell, aged 35, a clerk. Continuing his evidence, William Campbell said he had suggested to Findlay the selling for a lump sum of the formula of nitrolyte alleged to be possessed by the Chargol Syndicate. He assured Findlay that he could sell it in New Zealand if fie were allowed to go there. Campbell saw Findlay the day before the former left for New Zealand, when he told Findlay that he and Makin had booked their passages under the names of Gamble and Dakin. On that occasion he handed Findlay a "fiver." Campbell also gave Findlay £6 on board the ship before its departure. Campbell was arrested in New Zealand in February. 1935. Findlay arrived a fortnight later, and said he would withhold the issue of the original warrant, adding: "How is the purse?" Campbell replied: "I have nearly completed the sale of the New Zealand rights for £SOOO and the Australian rights for £20,000." Campbell paid £95 to Findlay in New Zealand.

Albert William Barry, solicitor and prosecuting officer of the Crown Law Department, was interposed as a witness to enable him to deny the references which had been made regarding him. In reply to Campbell, witness said that if Findlay had stated that he was giving witness money it would be a deliberate lie.

Campbell declared that about £550 had been received from' the sale of "Chargol" shares. Campbell had received £IOO, Tanser and Coombe about £IOO, and Findlay about £llO apart from £35 which Campbell authorised his wife to pay Findlay, Makin had received about ,£6O. - «.-*-•*- -~- —<,-oa^.