LIQUOR INQUIRY IN SYDNEY

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26814, 20 August 1952, Page 9

LIQUOR INQUIRY IN SYDNEY

“Illness” Of Police Superintendent

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) (Rec. 11 p.m.) SYDNEY, August 19. The Metropolitan Police Superintendent, W. C. S. Thompson, who failed to appear before the Royal Commission on the liquor trade yesterday, was suffering from alcoholic poisoning, a leading psychiatrist, Dr. Horace. Spearman, told the Commission to-day.

Dr, Spearman admitted that when he saw Thompson at his home about 10 yesterday, Thompson “was plain drunk” and all he could get from him were grunts and mumblings Of “Go away.” Dr. Spearman said he had Thompson taken to hospital for injections and heavy doses of drugs to cure his alcoholic poisoning in the shortest possible time. It would take two days to get rid of the effects of drink.

Continuing his evidence from yesterday, a publican. Douglas Barwick, admitted that he himself had written out bookmakers’ vouchers which he had produced before the Commission to show he and Thompson had made successful doubles bets. Barwick said he "never dreamed” he would be asked to give an explanation of the vouchers. <

He explained that he had made out a rough list of doubles bets for a bookmakers’ clerk. Later the clerk, who was busy checking takings, asked Barwick to enter up the doubles himself.

A former metropolitan superintendent, James Francis Sweeney, was recalled for continued examination on his financial affairs. He said his large betting was well known and on one occasion a leading bookmaker had told'him he was "a wizard.” Mr W. R. Dovey, 9.C., who is assisting the Commission, said the bookmaker Sweeney had named was dead. Cccnmisaion's Terms

In the State Parliament to-day the Government was narrowly defeated on an Opposition motion that the Commission’s terms of reference shpulc) be extended to cover police administration of the liquor laws, The voting was 44 to 43, with an Independent Labour member, Mr J. L. Geraghty, who was instrumental in having the Commission constituted, voting with the Government. The Premier (Mr J. J, Cahill) this afternoon called a conference of the Crown Law Office, the Police Commissioner and the Commissioner (Mr Justice Maxwell) to examine the proposal to extend the Commission’s terms. Mr Justice Maxwell confirmed the Government’s views that the terms were wide enough. Mr Cahill to-day announced that a vice squad sergeant, Edward Clyde Davis, had been dismissed from the New South Wales Police Force. The Police Department had charged Davis with misconduct, including drinking in uniform and frequenting a night club. The charges arose from Davis’s evidence to the Commission when he admitted he had "the run of the Kitchen” at the Black Tulip restaurant which was frequently raided by the police.