SEQUEL TO FIRE CONSPIRACY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19671, 13 December 1933, Page 5

SEQUEL TO FIRE CONSPIRACY

SALVAGE OFFICER BEFORE THE COURT. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, December 11. At the trial of Captain Brymoor Miles, chief officer of the London Salvage Corps, on a charge of conspiracy to prevent the administration of Justice, Leopold Harris, in evidence, said that Captain Miles approached him in May, 1930, saying that he knew Harris was saying the Salvage Corps superintendents considerable sums. He added while they were geting all the plums, he, as chief officer, did all the work and accepted all the responsibility and yet received nothing for it except his salary. He indicated that he was prepared to assist Harris for a good consideration. Harris agreed to pay him £25 a month which Captain Miles accepted until three weeks before Harris's arrest. Harris added that he paid Captain Miles £SOO early in 1931 and occasionally gave him odd sums up to £4O instead of £25 a month when business was good in return for which Captain Miles imparted valuable information. Harris declared that he also paid salvage officers for influencing business in his direction. Captain Miles knew of this. The case was adjourned. Harris declared that he made the statement Implicating Captain Miles because he desired to extricate himself from the seething mass of bribery and corruption in which he was involved for 15 years. He wanted to serve his sentence feeling that he had cleared himself of all his previous associations in order to help clearing his conscience.