JURY’S VERDICT

Taranaki Daily News, 25 August 1931, Page 9

JURY’S VERDICT

MUNGANA CLAIM FAILS CHARGE NOT SUBSTANTIATED DEMONSTRATION IN STREET CROWDS CHEER PARTIES GOVERNMENT CLAIM FAILS By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. ReC. 7 p.m. Brisbane, Aug. 24. Cleared by the jury of having taken part in a conspiracy, the Federal Treasurer, Mr. E. G. Theodore, and the former Prime Minister of Queensland, Mr. W. McCormack, left the Supreme Court to-day triumphantly followed by a crowd of men and some women who cheered wildly and threw their hats in the air, making a remarkable demonstration in the city’s most congested area. The jury found in effect that there was ■no conspiracy among the defendants, who also included Reid and Goddard, for the purchase of the Mungana mines by the Queensland Government for £40,000, which the Crown claimed far exceeded their value. There was no conspiracy by any of the defendants whereby either Theodore or McCormack used his influence in furtherance of a common design to defraud the Government.

The jury’s answers to all the questions exonerated the four defendants and judgment was entered accordingly, the costs to be taxed.

Mr. Theodore was greeted everywhere with “Good old Ted!” Girls at windows were equally demonstrative. Mr. McCormack, always smiling, exchanged a few cheery words with newspapermen as he strode proudly from the court precincts.

An hour later Mr. Theodore broke his silence and commented on the verdict. “It marks the end of a very unpleasant chapter in the history of Queensland,” he said. “The Nationalists for a very long, time have carried on a campaign of calumny against me. They tried to humiliate and destroy me but have succeeded only in dishonouring themselves.” Mr 1 . McCormack contented himself by saying: “I am now out of public life and have no desire to make any statement.” The Government’s claim was for £30,000.

The Prime Minister, Mr. J. H. Scullin, is greatly pleased that the long delayed case has ended,, says a Melbourne message. “My confidence in Mr. Theodore’s integrity never -wavered,” Mr. Scullin said. “In this time of serious difficulty Australia wants the wholehearted services of all the Ministers, particularly of the Treasurer. I therefore extend to him my congratulations upon his honour being cleared.”