POLITICAL BRIBERY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18171, 17 August 1922, Page 7

POLITICAL BRIBERY.

—_ QUEENSLAND SENSATIONS LABOUR M.P.'S CHARGES. TWO MEN ARRESTED' By iTelecraoh—Preas Associationr-Copyright. (Received 8.5 p.m.)/ /;,;;,. A. and N.Z. Aug. 16. In the Legislative Assembly a censure motion was defeated by 36 votes to 35. The Premier, Mr. E. G. Theodore, charged the Opposition with endeavouring to induce him to leave Labour and lead a new party. The Opposition was also trying to achieve success by bribing members. Mr. Barnes denied that the National Party was in any way mixed up in the matter. Two journalists, John Sleeman and Edward Connolly, charged with attempting to Mribe Mr. F. Brennan to vote against his party on the censure motion, were remanded until Monday on bail in their own bond of £500 and surety of £500. According,to evidence tendered in the Court, Brennan arranged # for two detectives to meet him at an hotel, and after conversing with Sleeman and Connolly, Brennan called the detectives and told them that he had been offered £3200 sterling to vote .against the Government. Brennan added that he wanted to have nothing to do with it, but asked the detectives to take Sleeman and Connolly to the detective office and see if they had money upon them- When searched Sleeman was found in possession of £.3000 worth of bearer Treasury bonds and Connolly had £200 in bank notes.