Telegraphic News.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume XXIV, Issue 2125, 5 February 1897, Page 2

Telegraphic News.

[rROM OUR OWN CORRISBPONDKNT.]

[Br Telegraph.]

Melbourne, Feb. 4. Further horrible facts have come oat regarding the murder of Mrs Lyfield at Rosebrook, near Port Fairy. Mrs Snell, daughter of Lyfi-ld, confessed that she had taken part with ber father in tbe murder of her step-mother. She held Mrs Lyfield's arms while Lyfield struck her on the head with a heavy ham er and killed her. Mrs Snell has been arrested on the charge of murder. The particulars of her confession are to the effect that her father was greatly annoyed because of the strict watch which her mother kept' oyer, his movements, preventing the father and daughter from having improper intimacy for some time. On October 13, in the afternoon, Lyfield said to his daughter that he was going to kill her step-mother that night, and remarked, " She wont watch us any ! more." When the time lor the crime came, Mrs Snell did not want to go to her room- Her father threatened to kill her, and shejielded He then lad the way to the bedroom and while Mrs iSnell remained at the door, walked up behind her step-mother, who was kneeling in prayer. Lyfield caught hold of her, threw a string round her neck and dragged her back on to the floor, at tbe same time pulling the string tightly round her neck. Mrs Lyfield screamed loudly, and struggled to free herself, which caused Lyfield to put a jacket over her head. He tben told Mrs Snell to held her. Mrs Snell thereupon grasped her step mother, and Lyfield struck his wife two or three blows on the mouth with his fist, and then seizing a knapping hammer use) by stone-breaker?, struck her on the nape of the neck. Tbe woman was dead before be ceased to strike h«r. Mr_ Snell's daughter also confessed to seeing the murder. Hobabt, Feb. 4. The Premiers' conference in discussing Mr Chamberlain's imperial union scheme would not entertain the idea of international free trade. It'was decided to write to Mr Cbamberlaja asking for furthet details in connection with the proposal with regard to the coloniesjoining in the Anglo-Japanese commercial treaty. The conference decided tbat. .it was undesirable to take any Bteps in that direction, on the ground previously advanced—that the colonies shculd remain in a position to protect themselves from Japanese cheap labour.

Nkw, Yofk, Feb. 3. When the tug was sent to tow the Swanhilda, the vessel signalled that Butler was actually on board. Six detectives and a number of newspaper reporters put out in a Government revenue cutter, and met the vessel at Fort Point, right at the entrance to the Golden Gates. Cn the previous evening when a pilot cutter appeared, Butler asked the Captain to slow the vessel down, as he expected important letters from Australia, When the cutter got alonside, Butler called out to the Pilot, "Is it so ; yes or no?" but the Pilot failed to understand the question.. Upon board ing the vessel, the Pilot informed Capt. Fraser tbat the police wished to quietly secure a man who shipped under the name of Weller. Previous to this, the captain had no suspicion who Butler was* The pilot had been informed by the poiica of the plan to be adopted for effecting Butler's arrest, and he conveyed to the captain the part that the police wished him to play in order tbat they might capture the man without disturbance- When the boat, with the quarantine officers came alongside the. ftwanhilda, there was on board a number of plain clothes police, Detectives Roache and McHsttie and Constable Conroy. According to previous arrangements with Captein Fraser, when the crew of the ship were ranged upon deck for medical inspection, he indicated Butler by standing; in front of bim. A sergeant of the local police at oace covered Butler with a revolver and ordered ,him to throw np bis hands, which he did. McHattie and Conroy having identified Butler, he was pinnioned, handncuffed and taken ashore to the gaol. Butler insisted that he was entirely innocent, although he was coniderably taken aback. When arrested be maintained his composure, and treated the whole matter with remarkable composure while he was in custody. Butler admitted he was obliged to leave Australia, and later on inadvertently remarked that he knew Weller very weP. Butler waa carefully searched and several packages containing strychnine poweren '! were found in his possession ' '"' h

:> ' >üblio Mining, ;J.J';f The public meeting called by Hie " Worship the Mayor to consider wh»i v stepß should be taken lo mark the visit of the fleet was held last night in the Town Hall. The attendance waß not large but influential. His Worship .the Mayor taking'"the chair, referred to the fact of the protection the navy, afforded tbe colony, which only contributed fl per head to its support, whilst in England the expense was 12s per head. He was sure all present were loyal and anxious to do their best to make the visit of the fleet a pleasant one The meetin? then discussed the question in a conversational manner, after which it

wasresolred Tbat the meeting recognises the desirability of entertaining the fleet, and that a Committee be formed to confer with other public bodies and make the necessary arrangements., The fol- '. lowing were elected »,Committee :—-His [ Worship the Mayor and Messrs Henning, McGregor, Harrison, E. E. Lelievre, Jacobson, Penlington and Rev. Smyth. It was arranged .that His Worship the Mayor and Crs Penlington and McGregor should wait on the i ounty Council at , their meeting on, Monday to confer on the subject— Hi* Worship the Mayor Miggeated that-a regatta might which we consider a very fcrappj thought, and no doubt crioket and Tennis matches and probably other amusements will he carried out. It was decided to ask for public support in the matter in tha Bhape of subscriptions.