CHARGE OF CONSPIRACY

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVII, Issue 4473, 21 November 1933, Page 5

CHARGE OF CONSPIRACY

ANOTHER ARREST MADE. IN BIG INCENDIARY PLOT. (Press Asscoiation. —Copyright.) (Received 12.5 p.m.) London, November 20. Captain Brynmor Miles, chief officer of the London Salvage Corps, was remanded on bail on a charge of conspiring with Leopold and Harris to prevent the due administration of justice. When arrested at noon he declared the charge to be “absolutely preposterous.” Detectives indicated that more serious charges would be brought against Miles, whereupon the Magistrate said there must be heavier bail. Bail was forthcoming in recognisances totalling £IO,OOOO. Captain Miles is 38 years of age. He had a distinguished war record, and won the Military Cross and was twice mentioned in despatches.

After a trial which had lasted 33 days in July and August last—the longest in the history of the Old Bailey, the previous longest having been 23 days—lo persons accused of conspiracy in connection with fire insurance were convicted on various charges, in addition to four who, besides Leopold Louis Harris and Louis Jarvis, had pleaded guilty. It is estimated that the case cost £IOO,OOO, which the insurance companies and Lloyd’s are paying because they, believe they are systematically deprived of £500,000 a year by fraudulent claims that this prosecution was aimed at stamping out. Leopold Harris was sentenced to 14 years’ penal servitude, David Harris to five years, Gould to six years, Riley, Marks, Ball, Priest and Jarvis to three years, and the others to 9 to 21 months.