NIGHT CLUB SCANDAL

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 25 January 1929, Page 9

NIGHT CLUB SCANDAL

POLICE SERGEANT’S WEALTH PROSPEROUS SPECULATIONS. GODDARD GIVES EVIDENCE. United l’resi Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright.) ( A nstraliau Press Association.) Received 2.30 p.m. to-day. LOADON, Jan. 24. When the Goddard bribery case was resinned to-day Ohdet inspector Cooper gave evidence that ex-Sergeant Goddard! was called to Scotland Yard, and; confronted with the fact that his safe deposits were suspected. He was asked to accompany the police to bring the contents to Scotland Yard. Witness said that Goddard staggered momentarily and said: T am done for.”

When the notes were being counted Goddard said: “I shall give no trouble, i shall plead guilty. I would rather go to penal! servitude than say anything, although I could. 1 don’t want to disgrace the service.” The police traced notes, some to Rebuffi and some to Mrs Meyrick. The inspector added that between two and three hundred £5 notes were traced to about fifty people apart from those present in the case. The case for the prosecution has ended. lmere was miild excitement in the crowded court when Goddard went into the witness box and gave evidence. He said he began big betting, in 1926, and, including Gay Crusader’s Derby, he won between £7OOO and £BOOO between 1924 and October, 1928, being in touch with persons in the West End, with inside information on horse racing. He made bets sometimes in a false name, and when ho won he received the monev in Treasury notes, iso they could not be traced. That was done in view of his police work. He also speculated in publishing songs with Si 1 her man, music publisher, of Charing Cross Road. He received £SOOO in profits between 1918 and 1923, but the profits were smaller since, being only £2OO a year. £2500 of the money found in the safe deposit belonged to Si 1 berriian.

He expained that he ran staffs at Wembley for the sale of Wembley Rock from which the profits were £3OOO in 1924 and £ISOO in 1925. In addition lie made between £2OOO and! £3OOO from frano speculations, mostly paid to him i n £5 notes. These he changed at various times into Bank of Eing’lla.nd notes, the change being effected by persons mentioned 1 in the case, who always had a- 'lot of money in their possession, and also West End habitues, of whom he knew hundreds.

Counsel: “Have you. received money as bribes from Mrs Meyrick or froiin Ri buffi ?”

Gbddafd (emphatically): “No.” The notes traced as having oome from Mrs Meyrick must have been changed for him bv some members of her club. An emphatic denial 1 , was mad© of false reports in relation to any night clubs. He declared he did not stoop stiffioiently low to warn clubs of impending raids.

Questioned regarding Wilkins’ statement that he had handed over monies, he replied it was untrue. He was astounded at Wilkins’ evidence. The case was adjourned.