BRIBERY CASE

Hokitika Guardian, 30 January 1929, Page 5

BRIBERY CASE

GODDARD SENTENCED. ALSO RI BUFFI AND MRS MEYIIICK (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Received this day at 10.39. a.m.) LONDON, January 2.~. Goddard was sentenced to IS months with hard labour, and lined C2 and ordered to pay the costs of prosecution. Kibitffi and .Mrs Meyriek each received fifteen months with hard labour. JUDGE SUMS UP. LONDON. January 29. .Justice Avory in a 191 minutes summing up. said it was useless to parade Goddard’s record m the force when lie had to admit that for years he system otic-ally amassed money by a breach of the regulations, had monetary transactions with keepers ol disorderly houses, and betted with street bookmakers whom it was his duty to arrest. Goddard was admittedly in possession of banknotes numbered successively which came from the accounts ol Meyriek, I!ilmfii and Anna Gadda. The crucial question was whether the notes came into liis possession by chance, it. was pointed out that Goddard rented different safe deposits in 1923 and 1925 and moved the bulk ol the notes to a new depository under a 'false name in 1928. Dealing with Goddard’s answer to tlie charges, the .Judge said according to his statement everything lie touched turned to gold 11 lie backed a horse it always won. If he only invested money in swoetstuffs sold at A\ omble\ . jif lie dealt in foreign currency, or copyright songs, lie always made thousands. No doubt: the jury would think tlio.se gross exaggerations in his stoi,\. The characters of Meyriek and Ribulfi are not such as to make it improbable that they would commit the offence of bribery. The jury, after 1(55 minutes absence, found all accused guilty. Costs, which Goddard was ordered to pay, are estimated by the prosecution at £2,000. JUDGE’S COMMENT. (Received this day at 12.25. p.m.) LONDON, January 29. Justice Ivory, addressing Goddard said; “You have wrecked what might have been a noble career ill tin* police force for the sake ol lilthv lueie. Aon hoped 1,0 live in luxury and unlawfully amassed money which would not hn\o brought you a moment’s peace. Aon ought to have written in your pocket book: ‘Turn from glittering gold, they scornful eye. Nor sell for gold what gold can never buy.’ ”