MILITARY SCANDAL

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 147, 23 June 1915, Page 8

MILITARY SCANDAL

ALLEGED FORGED TENDERS (By Telejraph.— Press Association.— Copyright.) SYDNEY, 22nd June. In the High Court, the trial of Arthur Kidman (contractor) for forging a tender in the name of C. Brown for the supply of goods to the military, with the intention of having the document accepted as a genuine application, has commenced. Tenders were called for supplies of m«ut and groceries to the German concentration camp, and the Crown case was that Kidman submitted several tenders, allegedly in the same handwriting, including that signed by Brown, and two in the name of his own firm. Though Brown's prices for the meat were lower than those of Kidman, the latter's tender was accepted after the Tender Board had made enquiries. The Crown claimed that some of the tenderer firms were non-existent. The Chief Justice asked how the Commonwealth was likely to be prejudiced by Kidman's action. Crown counsel said that the Crown, in considering tenders, was entitled to have genuine tenders from genuine people before it. If not, it was like false bids at an auction, and would deceive some Nbody ultimately purchasing. Kidman's counsel stated that Kidman admitted that he put in the tenders, and thought he had a right to do so. Paymaster De Witt, a member of the Tender Board, gave evidence that the board had examined Kidman in regard to the tenders, and accepted the meat tender after his examination. Kidman was in the habit of contracting for military supplies, and his work was always satisfactory. Major Page, senior member of the Tender Board ? • deposed that Kidman admitted to him that he had sent the tenders in the same handwriting, and added that he had done bo foolishly, and was sorry. E. F. Tait, a member of the Light Horse, formerly employed in looking after Kidman's interests at various camps, gave evidence that Kidman said that he would, like to use his name' in connection with some tenders. He agreed to sign certain papers, but he did not know if the tender (produced) had been submitted for his name. He had no interest in the tenders, in his own name or otherwise. He expected that Kidman, would carry out the con tracts if the tenders were accepted. He never expected to carry them out himself. Kidman told him to tell the Court everything he knew. Charles Brown, a carcase butcher, said that lie just knew Kidman by passing the time of day. He never submitted a tender or -gave anybody authority to do so.