WILD EXCITEMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 201, 25 August 1931, Page 1

WILD EXCITEMENT.

Mr Theodore is Cheered by Thousands. END OF MUNGANA CASE. United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. BRISBANE. August 24. The jury in the Mungana mines case found that Mr E. G. Theodore at no time was party to any conspiracy, nor had the money paid to him by Mr M’Cormack been in respect of'the sale of Mungana mines, or of any interest held by Mr Theodore in them. Cleared by the jury of having taken part in a conspiracy, the Federal Treasurer, Mr E. G. Theodore, and a former Premier of Queensland, Mr W. M’Cormack, left the Supreme Court triumphantly. They were followed by a crowd of 5000 men and some women. The men 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 for the purchase of the Mungana mines by the Queensland Government for £40,000, which the Crown had claimed far exceeded their value. There was no conspiracy by any of the defendants whereby either Mr Theodore or Mr M’Cormack was to use his influence in furtherance of a common design to defraud the Government. The jury’s answers to all questions exonerated the four defendants. Judgment was entered accordingly, costs to be taxed. Mr Theodore was greeted everywhere as “ Good old Ted.” Girls at windows were equally demonstrative. Mr M’Cormack, who kept 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. He said: “It marks the end of a very unpleasant chapter in the history of Queensland. The Nationalists for a very long time have carried on a campaign of calumny against me. They have tried to humiliate and destroy me, but have succeeded only in dishonouring themselves.” Mr M’Cormack contented himself with saying: “ I am now out of public life and have no desire to make any statement.” MR SCULLIN PLEASED. MELBOURNE, August 24. The Prime Minister, Mr J. H. Scullin, is greatly pleased that the longdelayed case has ended. "My confidence in Theodore’s integrity never wavered,” he said M ln this time of serious difficulty Australia wants the whole-hearted services of all her Ministers, particularly of the Treasurer. I therefore extend to him my congratulations upon his honour being cleared.’*