NOT A BRIBE

Southland Times, Issue 20662, 18 April 1929, Page 7

NOT A BRIBE

GIFT TO CHIEF SECRETARY.

SYDNEY JURY STOPS CASE.

(Rec. 9.30 p.m.)

Sydney, April 17

The trial has concluded of Michael Fitzgibbons, an omnibus proprietor, on a charge of attempting to bribe the late Chief Secretary, Mr Bruntnell. The jury stopped the case and brought in a verdict that Fitzgibbons was not guilty and he was discharged. Fitzgibbons’s defence was that the money was a pure gift intended for the Nationalist Party funds and not for Mr Bruntnell.— Australian Press Association.

A case of pipes and an envelope containing two £lOO notes, it is alleged, were placed on a table before the late Mr Bruntnell, who at the time was Chief Secretary, by a prominent Nationalist member on behalf of an Ashfield constituent. The Premier, Mr Bavin, directed the Crown Law authorities to prosecute the person alleged to have been responsible for the attempt to bribe the Chief Secretary. The Premier was of opinion that the £2OO was evidently intended to influence the Chief Secretary to favour a certain proposal. Mr Bavin was desirous of dispelling the illusion at once that Ministers are open to corruption. Mr Bruntnell at the outset declined the gifts and directed a departmental attendant to return them immediately the Nationalist member had left the room. It was then that the innocent envelope containing £2OO was discovered secreted beneath the case of pipes.