Various witnesses have been examined before the Metro- politan Police
Commission during the week, the most noteworthy being a street bookmaker named Platt, of Lambeth. According to his evidence, he had been in the habit for months at a time of regularly bribing members of the police force, several of whom he mentioned by name, at the rate of El a week each, and also of arranging for his occasional arrest in order to disarm suspicion of collusion. He further stated, in reference to his convictions for betting, that he never gave his right name or address, but that the police never verified them. The record of these bribes, with the names of recipients and dates, was contained in a book which be kept for the purpose of having a hold on the constables concerned, but it had been burnt by his wife on the day on which he last gave evidence. His wife was called and con- firmed this story. She had opposed her husband's intention to give evidence, because she feared lest it might compromise her brother, who was finishing his time in the police force. Quarrels had arisen between them, and on Thursday week she burned the book in her husband's absence.
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