FIRE CONSPIRACY

Southland Times, Issue 22202, 20 December 1933, Page 7

FIRE CONSPIRACY

ALLEGED BRIBERY

SALVAGE CORPS OFFICER

CHARGED

AMAZING DISCLOSURES

(United Press Assn—Telegraph Copyright.) London, December 18.

Leopold Harris told an astounding story of wholesale bribery' in connection with the London fires. Giving evidence at Bow Street in- the case against Captain Miles, chief of the London Salvage Corps, he alleged that he had bribed almost the entire Salvage Corps, the members of which came openly to his office, sometimes in uniform, to receive money. He declared: “The Salvage Corps was corrupt before 1 was born. 1 did not initiate the bribery—it was simply a matter of competing with our competitors’ methods. The Salvage Corps gave better service to the assessor paying the biggest shilling.” Counsel produced a list of certain members of the corps and asked Harris to strike out the names of those bribed. He replied: “It is simpler to strike out the only man I have not bribed. I have even bribed his father whose name’ appears on the list.” He added: “I have never approached anyone with a view to bribery. I only bribed those who came to me, indicating that they wer. susceptible to money payments.” Harri:. told how Oliver Capsoni, in the course of an unfriendly and tearful interview after Capsoni had been kicked out of Harris’s office, had sought £2OOO to leave the country. Harold Ralph, a fire assessor, in evid - ence stated that Miles had ridiculed the idea of salvage officers going to Harris’s office for pay. Ralph made allegations against the superintendent, whose name was not disclosed to the Court, but Miles declared that the faintest suspicion that any salvage officer was helping Harris would be incalculably harmful. Ralph offered, to produce a book in Harris’s handwriting detailing all payments, but failed to obtain it. Witness paid a man £5 a week for information. The same man kept Harris informed. The case was adjourned till December 20.

An incendiarist conspiracy, existing since 1925 and backed by a central organization which secured an amount running into six figures, was alleged against sixteen men and women, who were charged at Bow Street on March 6 with conspiracy to defraud insurance companies. The prosecution in outlining several cases, alleged that Leopold Louis Harris, as assessor, headed the organization, and that he, with other accused, started companies and financed businesses in London and other places, tilled the premises with junk, effected insurances for grotesque sums, and when fires occurred presented inflated claims. Harris and several other were convicted and sentenced. Harns received fourteen years. On November 20 Captain Brynmor Miles, chief officer of the London Salvage Corps, was remanded on bail on a charge of conspiring with Leopold Harris to prevent the due administration of justice. When arrested he declared: “Absolutely preposterous." During the trial of Miles at Bow Street the prosecuting counsel said that Miles was alleged ever since 1930 to have been in the pay of Leopold Harris for the purpose of favouring him in his business of assessor. When the prosecution for the fire conspiracy became imminent in September. 1932, he was in the deep confidence of those having charge ot the proceedings, and at a time when secrecy was paramount he betrayed their plans to Harris for money. Miles received a salary of .£lO5O, free of income tax, free quarters for himself and his family, light and fuel, and a man servant. Thus he should have been ensured of being above this sort of temptation. He had received £25 a month from Harris, with extra pay for special services. Harris also guaranteed Miles’s banking account for £lOOO.