BRIBERY ALLEGED.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 August 1922, Page 5

BRIBERY ALLEGED.

TWO JOURNALISTS CHARGED. A POLITICAL MATTER. By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. Brisbane, Aug. 16. Two journalists, John Sleeman and Edward Connolly, charged with having attempted to bribe F. Brennan to vote against his party on the censure motion, were remanded until Monday on bail in their own bond of £5OO and a surety of £5OO. ■ Received Aug. 16, 9 p.m. Brisbane, Aug. 16. According to evidence tendered in Court, Brennan arranged for two detectives to meet him at a hotel, and after conversing with Sleeman and Connolly, Brennan called the detectives and told them he had been offered £3200 to vote against the Government. . x , Brennan added that he wanted to have nothing to do with it, but he asked the detectives to take Sleeman and Connolly to the detective office and see if they had money upon them. When searched Sleeman was found m possession of £3OOO worth of bearer Treasury bonds and Connolly had £2OO in bank notes.

A SYDNEY CASE. CITY IMPROVEMENT SCHEME Received Aug. 16, 11.45 p.m. Sydney, August 16. Charles Knight was charged with having incited Hector McWilliam, secretary of the Martin Place extension committee, to conspire with him and unknown persons to bribe certain aidermen of the City Council in connection with the extension scheme. McWilliam gave evidence that Knight interviewed him and asked what were the Martin Place extension committee’s relations with the City Council. Witness said he was uncertain whether the council was in favor of the scheme or not. Knight then said: “This is where I can help you. Certain aidermen can be induced to vote in favor of the scheme, but it needs about £1000.” Witness promised to get the propertyowners affected by the scheme to put up the money, and after arranging a further meeting he informed the police. He met Knight later, when Knight said: ‘You would be surprised how easy it is to do this thing.” But when witness informed him he did not have the money, Knight said the matter was off. . • , For the defence Knight said he was laying a trap for McWilliam to find out whether the big property-owners were putting up money for the scheme, and on the morning of his arrest he was arranging to get in touch with the Lord Mayor, to inform him what had transpired. Knight was committed for trial.