CHARGES AGAJNST EX-DETECTiVE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIX, 29 January 1936, Page 9

CHARGES AGAJNST EX-DETECTiVE

ALLEGED TO HAYE HELPED IN ESCAPE OF PRISONER

I ALSO WITH CONSPIRACY TO | DEFRAUD ■ {United Press Association—By Electric | Telegraph—Copyright) j SYDNEY, 28th January. | At the Central Police Court to-day 4 i 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 Ne\v Zealand. He was further charged, together with Ernest Pierce Coombe, aged 40, agent, and Charles Richard Tanser, ag»d 52, agent, with conspiring with William Campbell and William Holland Makin and others to

defraud several persons of large sums of money. There are similar charges against William Campebll, aged 35, clerk. Detective James, in evidence, said that he and Findlay 'formerly did police duties together. In July, 1934, James issued a warrant for the arrest of William Campbell on a charge of false pretences. The latter absconded to Melbourne and Findlay went there to bring him back to Sydney. Campbell next absconded to New Zealand. Findlay was again detailed to bring him back. .Campbell was convicted last June and sentenced to three years’ imprisonment. Detective James submitted a statement which he alleged had been made by Campbell at Bathurst jail in November. The statement- detailed arrangements lor various undertakings which, Campbell alleged, had been made between lnmself and Findlay, the names of Coombe, Makin and Tauser uso oeiug mentioned in places. I Batbgate, appearing for the

Crown, said he proposed to tender the statement only as evidence ,against t-ampbell. On e paragraph related to ,i->etectiv e Findlay’s'arrival in New Zealand m order to escort Campbell back to Sydney‘Hard luck', Biff; James got on your track and cabled them to Jiaye you arrested. I think we can beat .VL here, said Findlay, who asked: wT ■>*» y °o r P u rse?’ adding ‘lam i ~\ e / Campbell arranged to see a solicitor and discuss the best means of . . l!l ff the matter, j ,j,j le Ciis e is part heard. the alleged statement continued: j ? v >.een the date of Findlay’s arrival and Ins first return to Sydney, lie renZ ed n 95 i al i told from my "solicitor. One cable loft Wellington for Tracey i solicitor, Sydney, asking Tracey To have Mr Barry (Crown Law Office) at his office to speak to him at a cer- : , , I ni f *° arrange for the ‘stinks’ to 1 ceneralh!'” a,K t 0 ascertain t!| e position

I llio alleged statement added: “Both indlay and niy so li c itor told my wife and I that Barry would fix things up. Ipidlay was told there would be £2OO sniJnT'i , F,ndla y> °n our winning the f f 'r,M eas corpus > left for Amn ' , 0 arrangements were that cabled to him at the idasomc Club when all was clear.” • ti statement went on to sav that Findlay returned to New Zealand and explained that James had had a nTiee'""' 1 . at the Crown Law Omce and forced Barry’s hand. it w Xn n' ned ’ detective James said Bipni notified the departaeiit that Campbell was in New Zealand, and suggested his arrest.