407
Tom.
have at Lockhart's request been trying to get evidence
of it ever since October last. Apart from the gambling bribes he received there is proof now that he did re-
ceive money for emigration matters. But in any case
the proof of receiving bribes from the gambling house
is absolute and I don't see that it makes much differ-
ence whether a man received bribes for a week or a
month or a year. If he received them at all he should
be punished with the utmost severity.
If this man Osmund is to be allowed to retire on
a reduced pension, a premium is put on this taking of
bribes. The chances are 1000 to 1 against the re-
cipient of bribes being run to earth in this Colony
where the difficulty of obtaining evidence from (and of course it is the Chinese
Chinese e who are concerned in the bribery)is enormous,
and if when a man is run to earth he is allowed to go
on a pension it really is quite worth a man's while
to run the risk and take bribes.
To let Osmund off in this way is in my
opinion unjust. Look at Witchell.
He has been proved
to have only been in receipt of bribes for 3 months,
and is imprisoned, and dismissed and ruined for life,
and Osmund is allowed to retire on a pension! I feel
that the decision in Osmund's case will weaken my hands
in dealing with the remaining Police Officers against
whom I have no absolute proof of receiving bribes but
who nevertheless must be got rid of if this unclean
thing is to be stamped out.
I sincerely trust therefore that the Secretary
of State will amend the decision of the Council in
Osmund's