MARATHON COURT CASE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24346, 10 July 1940, Page 11

MARATHON COURT CASE

i EVIDENCE FOR 112 DAYS | SYDNEY CONSPIRACY CHARGES (By Tasman Air Mail) (From Our Own Correspondent) SYDNEY. June 25. Evidence has been concluded in a police court case which has established a duration record for Australia, if not for the world. The taking of evidence lasted for 112 days. The case is one in which Ronald Bruce Walker, a member of the Legislative Assembly, William KingsleyWicks, accountant, Albert Levitus, solicitor, and Clive Oscar Airey, traveller, are charged with having conspired with John Woolcott Forbes to cheat and defraud. During the hearing of the case, 143 witnesses were examined. Some of them came frcm New Zealand, New Guinea Queensland, Victoria, and South Aus I ralia. One witness, Mr T. H. E. Smith, of the Bank of New South Wales, made 26 appearances in the Wit-ness-box. Another witness was in the box for 14 days. Altogether 800,000 words of evidence were taken, and 1354 exhibits containing between 25,000 and 30,000 documents, were put in evidence. Two constables had the stupendous task of indexing 1350 exhibits containing thousands of documents. The deposition clerk typed 2600 pages of evidence. The case is continuing with submissions to the magistrate, Mr R. G. Atkinson, on behalf cf the four defendants.