CONSPIRACY CHARGE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 146, 22 June 1915, Page 8

CONSPIRACY CHARGE

EXCESSIVE PRICES FOR MILITARY GOODS. SYDNEY, 21st June. Before the High Court, Arthur Kidman (contractor), Major F. W. Page (Quartermaster-General of the Military Forces of Nbw South Wales), Major A. G. O'Donnell (Assistant Director of Supply and Transport), and Sergt. E. Leslie (principal clerk), acting under O'Donnell, were charged with conspiring between themselves and others, between 29th October and Bth May last, -to defraud the Commonwealth of large sums of money by charging excessively for goods for the use of the armed forces of Australia. A point was raised that the Act under" which the charges were laid only came into operation on 7th May, and the prosecution was depending on. a retrospective Act. Page pleaded not guilty. Counsel, on the other charges, asked that the indictments be quashed. The Chief Justice stated that a full Bench of the High Court had been summoned for 2nd August to deal with the question of the retrospective powers under the Act, and all the points raised would be reserved until after that sitting. The trial was adjourned to 9th August. Kidman was also charged with forging a tender in the name of C. Brown for the supply of goods to the military, with tho intention of having the document accepted as a genuine application. The quashing of the indictment, on the ground that the Comonwealth had no power to deal with retrospective cases, was refused in this case, the hearing of which has been fixed for to-morrow.