EXHIBIT 17

Petrol taken from court in secret formula case

THE TIMES.

16^th JAN , 1975.

 

Exhibit 17 in the "Munson's mixture " fraud trial at the Central Criminal Court caused an alarm in court yesterday. As Mr. Thomas Munson, aged 51, gave evidence about his secret substitute for petrol, the exhibit, ordinary petrol in a plastic container, caught counsel's eye. Mr. Christopher Hilliard, for the prosecution, paused in mid- question and said: "One of the containers is smouldering. No, I am sorry, it is swelling . . .'

The container was removed by a detective and placed in an ante-room.

Mr. Martin Reynolds, for the defence, tried unsuccessfully to persuade Mr. Munson to divulge the formula for his 4p-a-gallon fuel substitute. He said: "As you have now applied for a patent, you are protected, so you can tell us what went into your mixture." Mr. Munson replied: " I would be here all night trying to explain it " and began to list the ingredients.......95.3 per cent distilled water, benzene, methanol, iodine crystals, ignitable oil, borax and Fairy Liquid. The final ingredient, he said, was his magic powder "tracanath", but he did not explain what that was.

Two men are alleged to have used an incomplete version of "Munson's mixture" to try to get E20m from an oil company. Malcolm Cummings, aged 41, a salesman, of Langton Green, Woolston, Warrington, Cheshire and Thomas Eastwood Burke, aged 33, a consultant, of Nightingale Lane, Clapham, London, have both pleaded not guilty.

Mr. Reynolds told Mr. Munson: "The reason I am asking  you about the recipe is not because I want your invention but I am instructed by Mr. Cummings that each and every one of these items you told him about." Mr. Munson said: "Not all, but nearly all. There is one thing I have kept back from everyone. I am not allowed to say what it is."

Mr. Munson, who said he enjoyed being called a crank and an idiot by the press, added: "There is no David Nixon nonsense about my mixture."

He had already set up a refinery at his house in Picton Terrace, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Clwyd, and now, with a new partner, planned a new refinery in a quarry to produce the mixture.

The trial continues today.