AGENTS OF THE CROWN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11085, 23 May 1914, Page 4

AGENTS OF THE CROWN.

THE CANTEEN CASES.

DEFENDANTS PLEAD GUILTY.

SENTENCE DEFERRED.

By Telegraph—PrfM Association—Copyrijht(Received May 23. 11 n.m.) LONDON. May 22. In the otuiteen cases, owing to the judge ruling that, defendants wcro agents of (he Crown, nil the defendants following their counsels' advice, pleaded guilty, Sentence _v»s deferred. Tho defendants wore charged with eonspirnrcy. It is allowed that bribes hnd boon paid by tbo civilians, of whom nine were- summoned, to tho Army moi), with tho object of securing contracts for canteen business. Tbo defendants am:— Military.---Lieutenant-Colonel and Brevet-Col. C. H. T. Whitaker (formerly in command of the Yorkshire, Light Infantry at Malta), Hon Lieutenant and Quartermaster, William James Armstrong, Sorjennt-Major George Petehy Dennett, Hon lieutenant aud Quartermaster .Tunica Burns, Hon Lieutenant and Quartermaster Thomas Henry Johnson, Hon Lieutenant and Quartermaster William Kelly, StaffSergeant Thomas Mill ward, Hon Cup-' tain and Quartermaster George E. Mitchell. Hon Captain and Quartermaster Charles Quarrel!.

Civilian (all connected with Lipton, Ltd.).—,lo!in Calisfield (general manager and a director), Archibald Minto (manager general stores department), James C 'Craig, Daniel Lynch, Andrew Laing, Frederick William Owen, Edward Arthur Pegley, Alfred Swairi, James Boss Ness.