SPRINGBOK CABLEGRAM.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 January 1922, Page 11

SPRINGBOK CABLEGRAM.

LEAKAGE OF CONTENTS,

CASE AGAINST OFFICIAL

EVIDENCE AT INQUIRY.

Napier, Jan. 20. At the Napier Courthouse an inquiry <vas held to-day by Mr. Hunt, S.M., into the alleged divulgence of the much talked of Springbok cablegram. Joseph Thomas Evans was charged that contrary to the rules and regulations of the Post and Telegraph Department he did communicate to another officer the contents of the cablegram, and assisted in making a copy of the said cablegram. Mr. B. J. Dolan represented Kvass, and Mr. Macassey, Iv.C., of Wellington, appeared for the department.

Mr. Macassey said the cablegram was handed in on September 7, in the evening. and concerned the Springbok-Maorl foot’ all match. It was addressed to the Advertiser, Durban, and was written by an unofficial travelling reporter. A telegraphist named Winstanley transmitted it to Wellington. After discussion upon it in the office, Evans took a copy, as was the practice. Three copies were evidently taken. One copy reached art employee named Reichenbach, and after being shown round was returned. What happened to the third copy was never ascertained. The question was: “Did Evans have to do with it?”

The secrecy attached to the Post and Telegraph Department was very essential, said Mr. Macassey. It would appear that there were three copies of the cablegram taken. Two of them had been accounted for. Where the other went they did not know. Part of the cablegram, almost word for word, appeared in the evening paper. John Laurenson, chief inspector of the Post and Telegraph Department, gave formal evidence of a preliminary interview with Evans, and also of the procedure followed in the office. ORIGINAL MESSAGE COPIED. Francis Herbert Winstanley, telegraphist, said he received the Springbok cablegram for transmission to Wellington. Evans was then in the room. Rogers came in later. When witness had finished it he put the cablegram on the tray at the instrument, table. The tray Was cleared about every three or lour minutes. Subsequently he saw a typed copy of part of the cablegram, the part that was subsequently published. The copy had apparently been made on Rogers’ machine, which was the only one of its kind in the office. It was on Evans’ machine, and he saw it for only a few minutes. Later on in the evening Evans asked him if he bad seen a copy or one of the copies “floating round the room,” as he had lost one. Witness had not seen it. On the Friday witness sa.w a copy of the cablegram in the paper and got a great surprise, but he could not recall any discussion which occurred in the office. In the evening he noticed a copy of the published cable being telegraphed to Wellington, and lie asked the supervisor sow tae papers got hold of it. He then heard that a copy of Blackett’s cable had been found in the 'Caledonian Hotel, and he

accepted that. Witness was closely questioned about his recollections of any conversation in the office after the cable was published, but said he had no definite recollection. Under cross-examination witness said that tliree officers were suspended. At a later date two of the three were dismissed, and still later he himself was peremptorily dismissed. He had since been reinstated and fined £lO. Jn answer to the magistrate, witness said he had been in the service 15 years. Winstanley asked whether any evidence he was giving was going to incriminate him, and the magistrate told him that if there was any danger of that he would be the first to warn him. He had been punished once and would not be punished again. K “OUGHT TO BE FRAMED.” Frederick Rogers, telegraphist, said he could also use a typewriter. On the night of September 7 he came in at 7 pm. and saw’ a crowd of his fellowtelegraphists standing near the fireplace looking at something. He went along to see what the interest was and read the cable. It was the original message. Five minutes later he saw it being looked at again at a They were discussing football and referees, and someone said: “A man ought to take a copy of that.” Someone else said a copy of it ought to be framed. When he went away for tea ho had loft his machine on a table. Carmine, the supervisor, then sent witness a message to receive, and then Evans sent witness some. It was all matter from “Katipo.” Then Evans said, “Take some of this,” and began to send the first three or four lines of the cable message. Witness recognised it and. knowing it. would be against the rules to take a copy, did not receive any more. He was then

given work by the supervisor. In answer the magistrate, witness said that before Evans began sending him the cablegram witness put a carbon in to take a copy. He did not know why he put the carbon in then, but he left the carbon in when he went away. A few minutes later he heard his typewriter clicking. Someone had taken his place.

COPY PLACED IN POCKET. Later Evans handed him a sheet containing part of the cablegram, saying: “You’d better have one of these,” He looked at it, putting it in his office coat pocket, which was left in the cloakroom. The next day he went to work at 9 a.m., and between noon and 1 p.m. discovered the sheet in his pocket. At the moment young Reichenbach was in the room and he gave the sheet to him. Mr. Hunt (to Mr. Dolan): Here is a man admitting the 'very offence that you are charged with. Reichenbach returned the sheet about 6 p.m. When witness enmp back to work later, about 8 p.m., he showed it to Miss Cotter, and asked her to tear it up without t.bowing it, to anyone. Twice the ne??t day, hearing that the Springbok cablegram was beirtg talked about, he saw Miss Cotter, and she said she had torn up the sheet. To Mr. Macassey: He thought it was Evans who said someone ought to take a copy of the cablegram. RESPONDENT S EVIDENCE. Respondent Evans gave evidence that he first" knew of the telegram when Car-’ mine, the supervisor, called him over to Winstanley, who was sending the message. Witness “keyed’’ the rest of the '■ahlegram to Rogers, about, four or five all. The carbon copy was left at the table where Rogeis was. Logei*

sent messages ,to Carmine, and then Carmine sent messages to witness. Evans denied having asked Winstanley whether he had seen a copy o: the cablegram “floating about.” He himself took no copies out of the office. On the Friday Rogers asked him what he had done with the copy, and he replied that he did not have a copy. He said nothing about showing a copy to his brother. Evans said lie was suspended until December 28, when he received notice to report for duty, was paid for the intervening period, and suspended again. Under cross-examination witness said he knew that he was a party to the copying, as he had sent four or five lines of it. There was much talk in the office and outside about the affair. He did not suggest that there was a conspiracy between Winstanley and Rogers against him, but they had made muddled statements. If he had wanted to copy a message without the-super-visor’s knowledge his safest method would have been to send the message to anoth operator for practice. This concluded the evidence, and Mr. Uvnt said lie would report to the <lei>.aiimenl in teiuis of his warrant.