Catalina Case

Delay Over Crown Witness

AT the Sydney Quarter Sessions on May 12, Judge Curlewis directed that a cable should be sent to Douglas Lindsay, now living in Hong Kong, asking if he will come to Sydney to give evidence at the trial of Bryan Wills Monkton, managing director of Trans-Oceanic Airways.

Lindsay was a witness at the coroner’s inquiry in February at which Monkton was committed for trial on a charge of maliciously damaging a Qantas Empire Airways Catalina flying-boat in August, 1949, at Rose Bay. Lindsay was formerly an executive of TOA but at the time of the inquest was in Hong Kong. He has since returned there.

When the case was mentioned on May 12, Mr. J. W. Shand (for Monkton) pressed for an early date of the trial. He said that cables received indicated that Lindsay would not be able to come to Sydney for at least three months —the position was clear—he did not want to come or was not allowed to come.

“The in hearing the case has al ready imposed a big strain on Monkton, and it is not right that his liberty should be further played with.” Mr. Shand added that the Court could not compel Lindsay to come to Svdnev._ The Crown Prosecutor, Mr. R. R. Kid ston, said the Crown had information that Lindsay was ill and was to enter hospital for two weeks.