On Tuesday, at the Old Bailey, the trial was ended
of ex-Sergeant Goddard, Mrs. Meyrick, and 'Luigi Ribuffi on charges of corruption in connexion with night clubs. Goddard was sentenced to eighteen months' hard labour and a fine of £2,000 (1500 on each of four counts), and was ordered to pay the costs of the prosecution, and to remain in prison till he had paid. Mrs. Meyrick was sentenced to fifteen months' hard labour, and Luigi Ribuffi also to fifteen months' hard labour. The Prosecu- tion had asked for penal servitude, but Mr. Justice Avory ignored the suggestion. We have discussed in a leading article the significance of these important convictions, but may mention a detail here. Goddard was convicted of obtaining by bribery only £900 of the £12,000 which he was known to have amassed. The fine and the costs of his defence will involve him in a liability of between £4,000 and £5,000. He has not hitherto made any claim to the £12,000 which is still in the possession of the police. In order to get possession of this sum he would have to prove that it had been honestly acquired. A witness named Silberman said that he had had publishing transactions with Goddard, and swore that he himself was the rightful owner of £2,500 of the money in Goddard's safe.
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