ALLEGATION OF BRIBERY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19216, 4 January 1926, Page 12

ALLEGATION OF BRIBERY.

TRADE IN OPOSSUM SKINS. AN OFFICIAL'S STATEMENT. A story that an inspector of the Game and Fisheries Department had been approached by a man, and had. been asked for permission to traffic in opossum skins for a bonus, was related at the City Court, in Melbourne, when John Francis Lyons, aged 34 years, was charged with having attempted to bribo Leo George Houlihan, a public officer, to forego his duty. Houlihan, an inspector in the Fisheries and Game Department, said he met Lyons on December 9. Lyons told him that he would give him £2O down, £2 a week, and a bonus at the end of the year if he would givo Lyons a "go" on opossum skins. Il£ asked Lyons what he had to do for tho money, and he re-" plied that he was to let him send down opossum skins. When a big batch came : down lie was to interview Lyons, and if they belonged to him he was to let them through; also,'if he discovered any catches in the bush belonging to trappers, he was ouhMo take ball'ol the,*; aVay. The inspector told him he would want; a few days f think over it. He \Vent to the'detective- office. ami told them that Lyons had approached him. and that he was to meot Lira on December 11., Ho f then arranged for the detectives to ac-. company him. On that evening he met Lyons, who gave him £2O. The defectives then came up, and Lyons wasarrested. He denied that lie had given him any money. Lyons, who pleaded not gnilty 4 was' committed for trial, " <