THE POULSON PEOPLE

Today's hearing in Wakefield of the Poulson bankruptcy has been postponed •.. indefinitely.

Only 48 hours before the case was que re-open the the Scotland Yard Fraud Squad arrested John Poulson and his long-time friend, George Pottinger.

Friday's arrests followed consultation between the Director of Public Prosecutions, Home Secretary Robert Carr and Attorney-General Sir Peter Rawlinson.

While warrants were being issued for Poulson and Pottinger, they were aiso being served in the Lambton-Jellicoe aflair. Two women appeared at Marylebone court on vice charges and warrants were issued for the arrest of Norma Levy and her husband.

The postponement of the Wakefield hearings means that we may never know the contents of the 10,000 files (weighing six tons) which the debtors' lawyers have been combing through since the case adjourned six months ago. It will be frustrating for Mr Muir Hunter, QC.

He is the trustee in bankruptcy, one of the country's top authorities on bankruptcy, and the man charged with finding out where John Poulson's money went.

He is utterly composed and intimidatingly patrician. While thumbs through "The Times art around the room This hordes of henchlike ferrets. Two long benches are heaped with hundreds of files. One drooling Pressman -only feet away-invariably says to his colleagues: "What I'd give to get my hands on one of those files!' John Garlick Llewellyn Poulson enters stiffly, somewhat nervously. Who can blame him? Every file con• tains names of his associates in a design and construction busines scandal. Who immortal between the hui Hunter not, that you are immensely right? poutons T urd to think o generous heart. that not Poulsor think so.

figures, 'stupid' would describe it.

Hunter: Yes, stupidly generous. So the situation was this, were prepared to lash out large permanent regular sums to your old chums?

Poulson: I didn't know they were old chums; some of them I had never even met.

Then there was the bizarre piece of cross-examination concerning Pouslon's highest paid official, T. Dan Smith, one-time public relations consultant to the Labour Party and friend of Harold Wilson and George Brown.

Hunter: Think, try again. What was Mr Dan Smith doing for the Poulson organization? Yes?

Poulson: I can't think of any, sir. I just can't think, it's no gooder: Look, you know this man, do YOU not, you know him quite well?

Poulson: I haven't seen / him for-I haven't seen him since 1969.

Hunter: You mean he left the ship when the drink ran out; is that what you are suggesting? Poulson: No.

Hunter: Mr Poulson, you are not doing yourself justice. The sum paid to Mr Dan Smith or his companies exceeds the whole of the unpaid income tax for which you are liable in your bankruptcy?

Poulson: I see that now, sir. Hunter: You mean that you were sort of spending money, as the saying is, like a drunken sailor, caring not what it was for?

Poulson: No, there is no suggestion of that.

Every session of the Poulson hearing so far has produced excruciating exchanges like this. As Hunter proceeds exquisitely and exactingly to interrogate his quarry, more names tumble into the court. On this page we present a comprehensive profile of all the personalities named so far in the case. It shows the extent to which the Pontefractbased empire had links with the highest echelons of both the Tory and Labour parties. It is a compelling dossier in support of the Socialist Labour League's campaign to build a revolutionary party to take the working class to power.

Cordle, Tory MF ork Commission Albert I loberts, La our I P for Normanton, NUM-sponsored. Poulson paid him £11,508. n Smith, 'Mr Newcastle', ', former public relations co ead of the Northern Economic Planning Council. Er Of the Archbishop: annual fee from A. J. Merritt, principal regional officer to Department of Health in Leeds. Received $2,500 Scottish 'advice'.

By was on the payroll layor Dan Smith Organization promoting Poulson's building ernara kenyon, County Clerit for the lest Tł he late Sir Herbert Butcher, Tory MP, paid icretary of South-l Metropolitan ing. Became chairman of Poulson company. Wi as the 'brains' on tax questions. Poulson gave £2, to his wife. Pottinger, permanent secretary at the Reginald Maudling, Tormer Mome secretary.

Office. Chairman of Poulson companies up to the bankruptcy.

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