SYDNEY CONSPIRACY ALLEGATION

Northern Advocate, 31 January 1936, Page 5

SYDNEY CONSPIRACY ALLEGATION

CASE AGAINST FORMER

Wnited Press Association.-By Electric

Telegraph.—Copyright.} ■ (Received 10 a.m.) SYDNEY, January 30.

The hearing was resumed today, at the Central Police .Court, Sydney, of the case in which 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. Accused was further charged, together with Ernest Pierce Coombe, 40, agent, and Charles Richard Tanser, 52, agent, • with conspiring with William Campbell and William Holland Makin to defraud several persons of large sums of money. There was a similar charge against William Campbell. 35, clerk. Campbell, one of the defendants, called by the 'Crown,' gave evidence along the lines of his statement. He further said that while on bail he met ex-Detective Findlay almost daily, and also met Tanser and Coombe.

Campbell suggested to Findlay that they should exploit, a. nitrolyte proposition later known as the ChargoL Proprietary Syndicate. Campbell assured Findlay that there-was plenty of money in it. Findlay said he could arrange' remands from time to time for Campbell, providing that, he (Findlay) was looked after.. Actually Nothing, Campbell added 'that the Chargol Syndicate was registered in 1934. It was actually nothing; in fact, it was a dishonest venture. Campbell then proceeded to give.the names of persons who were approached to take up shares, Coombe supplying likely names.. Findlay later told him he had been appointed a member of the Duke of Gloucester's escort. Campbell gave him £25 to buy a suitable outfit for the occasion, and Campbell next gave him £2O to meet a private debt. Campbell informed Findlay that he was going to Tamworth, in connection with the sale of shares in Chargol to a local citizen, upon which Findlay impressed him to be careful, as the Royal train was going through, and Detective James, who was also a member of the Duke's escort, might get his eye on him. # I ,