CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD

Evening Star, Issue 22327, 1 May 1936, Page 9

CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD

THREE MEN CONVICTED Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright SYDNEY, April 30. John Ellis Findlay, who was formerly a detective, Ernest Coombe, an agent, and Charles Tanser, an agent, were convicted at the Quarter Sessions today on a charge, together with William Campbell, who pleaded guilty, of haying conspired to defraud the public in respect of a preparation known as Chargol, for revitalising motor car batteries. The trial occupied nine days. The prisoners were remanded for sentence. Each denied being concerned in the fraud in connection with the formation of the company for marketing Chargol. Both Findlay and Coombe denied receiving money from Campbell. The Deputy-commissioner of Police, J. Lynch, giving evidence on behalf of Findlay, described him as a capable officer while in the police. He also had acted as secretary for several big police functions. Lynch said he had heard rumours of defalcations in the police funds, but there was nothing official. [A former detective, John Ellis Findlay, aged 40, was 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. He 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 anti William Holland Makin and others to defraud several persons of large sums of money. There was a similar charge against William Campbell, aged 35, a desk.]