SYDNEY POLICE SCANDAL.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13100, 31 January 1936, Page 2

SYDNEY POLICE SCANDAL.

CHARGE AGAINST EX-DETECTIVE.

HELPING PRISONERS ESCAPE

SYDNEY, January 28

At the Central Police Court today a former detective, John Ellis Findlay, aged 40, was charged with having conspired to pervert the course olj justice by aiding a prisoner, William Campbell, to abscond from bail and escape to New Zealand. He was further charged, together with Ernest Pierce Coombe, aged 40, an agent, and Charles Richard Tanser, aged 52, an agent, with conspiring with William Campbell and William Holland Makin and others to defraud several persons of large sums of money. There is a similar charge against William Campbell, aged 35, a clerk. Detective James, in evidence, said he and Findlay formerly did qjolice duties together. In 'July, 1934, James issued a warrant for the arrest of William Campbell on a charge of false pretences and the latter absconded to Melbourne. Findlay went there to bring him back to •Sydney. Campbell next absconded to New Zealand, and Findlay was again detailed to bring him back. Campbell was convicted last June and sentenced to three years’ im--1 >ri sonment. Detective James submitted a statement which he alleged had been made by Campbell at Bathurst gaol in November. The statement detailed the arrangements and various undertakings which Campbell alleged had been made between himself and Findlay, the names of Coombe, Makin and Tanser also being mentioned in places. Mr Bathgate, appearing for the Crown, said he proposed to tender the statement only as evidence against Campbell. One paragraph related to Findlay’s arrival in New Zealand in order to escort Campbell back to Sydney: “Hard luck, Bill! James got on your track and cabled them to have you arrested. I think we can beat it here,"’ said Findlay, who asked: “How is your purse?” adding, “J am broke.’’ Campbell arranged to see a solicitor and discuss the best means of squashing the matter. The alleged statement continued:

“Between the date of Findlay’s arrival and his first return to Sydney ho received £95 all told from my solicitor. .One cable left Wellington for Mr Tracey, the solicitor in Sydney, asking Mr Tracey to have Mr Barry (Crown Law Office) at his office to speak to him at a certain time, to arrange for ‘stinks’ to be killed and to ascertain the position generally. ” The alleged statement added:

“Both Findlay and my solicitor told my wife and I that Mr Barrv would fix things up. Findlay was told there would be £2OO for him. Findlay, oil our winning the second habeas corpus, left for Australia. Arrangewere that the £2OO be cabled him at the Masonic Club when all was clear.”

The alleged statement went on to say that Findlay returned to New Zealand and explained that Janies had had a row with Barry at the Crown Law Office and forced Barry’s hand. Cross-examined, Detective James said it* was Findlay who notified the department that Campbell was in New Zealand and suggested his arrest. The case is part heard. SYDNEY, January 29. The charges against ex-Detective Findlay and others of aiding a prisoner named Campbell to abscond to New Zealand were resumed to-day. A statement alleged to have been made by William Campbell, one of the accused, was produced by Sergeant Thorn ley referring to shares in the “Chargol Proprietary Syndicate’" which according to the statement was a. bogus syndicate. Ten shares of £lO each were allegedly sold to Rear-Admiral Peakes and from the" proceeds £25 was paid to Find la v.

Sergeant Thorn Icy, in evidence, said he had told Findlay that C’ampbell had made a. statement declaring he had paid moneys to Findlay in connection with certain offences which Campbell had committed and that Findlay had assisted him to leave Sydney by the Monowai for New Zealand. Thornley added: “1 took Findlay to police headquarters in November where he made two statements on separate dates and later certain lockers at the detective office were opened and the documents in them were examined by Detective James. Sergeant Thornley also tendered further long statements allegedly made by Campbell, but these were admitted only as evidence against Campbell. Sergeant Thornley produced a statement allegedly made by Charles Tanser in which Tanser said that about £4OOO and between 16,000 and 18,000 Chargol shares were to come to him. Tanser declared a solicitor named Desmond was acting on his behalf in New Zealand. He remembered a. cable being' sent to Desmond in Wellington, saying: “I will accept £20,000 for the Australian rights and give you permission to grant an option for the purchase of the New Zealand rights.’’ Sergeant Thornley cross-examin-ed, said Campbell had a number of aliases? His first conviction was when he was 18, which was about 20 years ago. Witness added that according to a report made by Findlay some time ago Campbell had received from £7OO to £IOOO from the sale of shares. The hearing was adjourned till tomorrow.