News From All Quarters

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 137, 9 June 1917, Page 15

News From All Quarters

Liberty Hall, which was partially wrecked by bombardment during the Dublin rebellion, ls being repaired and fitted out as a communal kitchen.

q Lieutenant-Colonel A. G. Ferguson. Inspector of Constabulary for Scotland, states ln his annual report that during 1916 there was a decrease of 13,114 in the number of persons arrested for drunkenness ln Scotland.

During an inquest at Hackney Dr. Wynn Westcott, coroner for North-East London, said he was afraid that the ancient and honourable custom of marriage was going out of fashion, as every week he had one or two cases of men and women living together unmarried.

"Suicide in a moment of remorse," was the verdict . of a coroner's jury at Chalham at an inquest on the body of a storekeeper at the Royal Naval Barracks, who cut his throat with a razor. It was stated that a small quantity of Government stores had been found ln his possession.

Lord d'Abernon stated In the House of Lords on March 20 that "tbe time is not far distant when drunkenness will be reduced to one-third tbe amount prevalent beiore the war." This reduction has already been nearly accomplished in the Metropolitan area, where, during the week ending March. 25, the number of convictions fell to the record total of 357.

West London Police Court It was stated of a man who was remanded on a charge of stealing money from his sister's gas meter that on being arrested he said: — "I really did not know what I did. I get fits of depression. I have my sister's purse in my bag. and I have swallowed the door key and also a lot of buttons off my coat." YOUNG DESPERADOES. A sixteen-year-old girl in short skirts led three youths in the hold-up of Lawrence Barron, a wealthy syrup manufacturer, In Williamsburg (U.S.A. i. recently. They beat him almost Insensible with revolvers, robbed him of 300 dollars in jewellery, and escaped in an automobile. The girl was arrested. On the strength of ber story two boys were locked up charged with assault and robbery. BRAZIL'S REVOLUTION. Few countries have overthrown a monarchy with greater ease than Brazil. The Brazilian revolutionists in 1883 surrounded the Royal palace in a quiet, businesslike way, and in a few hours Dom Pedro 11. was on the high seas bound for Portugal. With only one casualty of any importance the House of Braganza was banished, and a Provisional Government formed, under which most of the officials at home and ambassadors abroad continued to carry on as though nothing unusual bad happened. ANOTHER "WOMAN IN THE HOUSE. The Manchester coroner commented strongly in a recent case upon the conduct of a husband whose wife had died. The woman. Mary Elizabeth Llvesey, had died. from natural causes, and a witness stated that the wife had been neglected and Illtreated, and was often short of food. Livesey denied the truth of these statements. The Coroner: Is it true that you have another woman living in the house? — Tes. The Coroner: That ls quite sufficient for us. You are a disgrace. I am sorry nothing can be done to you. I hope something can, WHERE WILL THE CZAR LIVE ? It seems to he expected that the late Czar will come to Switzerland or Englanij, though a visit to these islands Is improbable, and might be unacceptable, during the continuance of the war (says the "Observer"). But England has always been the favourite asylum for banished monarchs. Charles X., Louis (Philippe, and ■Napoleon 111. and the Empress Eugenic all took refnge ln this country, even though, in one case at least, the honour "was not greatly desired. With the grent Napoleon, too, It was always a grievance that he was not permitted to spend his exile among the people who had conquered him. To-day our tradition for hospitality Is maintained ln the cases of ex-King 'Manoel and ex-Queen Amelle. WOMEN THIEVES. Women have invaded many fields of activity in Germany during the war. Professional thievery is their latest. Two women, both married, aged 46 and 39. have just been arrested in Berlin for stealing on an extensive scale. Like true Prussians, they thoroughly "organised" their operations. Deciding to loot the huts and allotment plots kept by the working-folk on the edge of Berlin, the women first sent out their little hoys as scouts to ascertain which places were unoccupied during the day or early evening. Then the mothers would sally forth. They specialised in stealing ducks, geese, chickens, pigeons, nnd rabbits, and confessed to the police that their weekly "turn-over" ln sale of ill-gotten gains sometimes amounted to £__5. MEANEST MAN FOUND AGAIN. iMeanest men have been classified many times isays a Chicago paper). The man who robbed the contribution box at church, the fellow who stole the oats from his [ own horse, and the chap who sneaked the I milk from a sick kitten have all had their day, but now comes Thomas Harris, retired soldier, with a story Indicating there arc others. Harris was hit by a stranger driving an auto. His leg was injured. The stranger took Harris to his home, and told him to get off his clothes and take a hot bath while he, the stranger, went out and got some liniment with which to give 'Harris a rubdown. When Harris took off his clothes the stranger took 135 dollars from the pockets, and broke the speed record getting away. OFFICIAL FOOD USURY. "Vorwarts" charges the municipality ef Cbarlottenburg with "food usury" in connection with "turnip syrup" and pudding powder, which are now offered to citizens on ration tickets. Both articles 'are sold under official auspices, and are declared to be both wretched in quality and outrageously dear in price. For the syrup 5d per lb is demanded, though it is described as consisting often of nothing but a thin brew of disgusting taste, concocted from a fragment of sugar of the roughest and most unclean sort "mixed much water." As good quality sugar only costs 4d per lb, the Socialist paper wants to know why ihe syrup is 5d per lb. The pudding powder is retailed at 2/2* per lb, though it consists of nothing but "a very highly coloured substance." The Socialist journal sng gests that it would he interesting to discover the cause of the dearness of these two particular articles, "which are typical of the high cost of much of the' food officially sold." Suggesting that "graftmay be responsible, it ask*: "Who is malting- the names ant- ot tkese- t_±_gay •

| GOOD ADVICE. I Applicant- at the marriage license bureau in Pittsburg, U.S.A.. on April 12, wer« I confronted by the following sign, printed in black on a yellow background:—"A maa who marries a girl to shirk his duty to his country ls not going to think very much of shirking his duty to his wife. Girls, beware!" DUCHESS COOKS DUKE'S DINNER. "When I first went to Welbeck," said the Duchess of Portland at a mother's meeting at Mansfield, "few of the girls could cook, so I arranged cooking and Rewing courses and took them myself. The result was that one night I cooked the duke's dinner. I also made myself a dross la which I went to church." LIFE LOST BY SHYNESS. Following the extraction of a tooth a young man named Arthur Richardson,.bled to death. He had been suhject to bleeding, it was stated at the inquest, at Manchester, and had been warned that the extraction of a tooth might cost him his life. Through fear of being laughed at he did not mention the warning to the dentist. A verdict of death from misadventure was returned. NO USE THRASHING THE CART. A story of Lord Rhondda .was told by ; 6ir William Pearce, M.P., at a luncheon and presentation in honour of Sir Edward Smith, chairman of the Tower bench of magistrates. Lord Rhondda was walking along the street when he saw a costermonger belabouring a donkey. The co_te_monger, when stopped and asked "why ho was knocking it about, replied; 'Miecause It ain't no use 'itting the blooming cart." ENGLISH NEWS IN GERMANY. A typical example of the news Berved up for readers of German newspapers appears in "Vorwarts." So great, cays tha paper, is the potato and sugar famine la London that an enterprising barber offered as premium to every customer who came to have his hair cut one potato, and to everj; man he shaved he gave a piece of sugar. The barber's shop was besieged by suctt a huge crowd that the police had to interfere. ADVERTISERS' FORTUNES. Mr Francis Reckltt, of Butler's Court, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, joint chairman of Reckitt and Sons, Ltd., manufacturers of Reckitrs Blue, who died recently, aged 90, has left a fortune of £1,007,165 unsettled estate. Under the will £22,000 goes to charity. Reckitt and Sons, Ltd., have always shown great taith in bold and judicious advertising. Among large fortunes left by proprietors of much-advertised commodities are those of Sir Joseph Beecham, whose will for the purpose of probate was sworn at £1,000,000 last January; Mr G. Taylor Fulford (Dr : Williams' Pink Pins), £1,311,000; Mr J. Crossley Ene (Eno's Fruit Salt), £1,611,601. "FIEND IN HUMAN SHAPE." Observing that she must be "a fiend in human shape," Mr Hay Halkett, at Woolivich, sentenced to three months' hard labour a woman named Eliza -amnions, who was charged with acts of gross cruelty to her eight-year-old nephew, Frederick Hayhurst.

It was stated that she branded the boy on the back of bis legs with a hot poker, nnd Dr. Webley, divisional surgeon, j stated that there were seven furns on onu leg and three on the other, which could only have been caused by deliberate branding, y. " . A further allegation was that the woman tied the boy by the hands to a hook In a cupboard, and left bim there naked nearly all night. SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD TERROR, A youth of sixteen, who was charged at Old Street, London, had been arrested on a warrant for assaulting his mother. Ha described himself as a labourer, but according to bis mother, he did on work. Since he was fourteen years old he had been a terror to her. When she tried to get him out of bed to "find a job of work," he assaulted her, and when she refused to supply him with food he stole it. He had also stolen her watch and sold it. When his father was killed he only laughed, and said he was master in the house now. The prisoner, a bl glad, sai dhe wanted to go into the Army, and Lieutenant West (recruiting officer) said he would help hint if the mother would promise not to get him out. The mother said she bad had too much o£ him at home, and the iad wai handed over.

A MURDERER'S CONFESSipN. After hearing evidence as to a letter at confession and a statement by the accusedt the Court of Criminal Appeal in Edinburgh dismissed an application made on behalf of William James Robinson, who was convicted of the murder of Alfred Williams, a private in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, and sentenced to death. Miss Margaret Harding stated that sha received tbe letter ln question, and had burnt It. The copy produced was a true copy of the letter. She received two letters from the prisoner after his conviction, and burnt both. The letter was read, and in it the prisoner said: "I tell you now I am guilty, and am quite satisfied with my sentence. I am sorry for the poor soldier killed. It was not done for robbery, but simply unfortunately. I took him for somebody elsa I had a row with the previous day." The prisoner, in the witness-box, said h« had not the slightest recollection of writ" in« the letter. It was signed as he usually, signed letters. SOLDIER AND WIDOW. An infatuation for an attractive widow led to a charge of bigamy being preferred at Grimsby against Herbert Vivian Woodwar, a sergeant-instructor ln the 3rd Man* cbesters, who had been twice wounded IB the Dardanelles expedition. His wife said she was married at Manchester. There were two children. T__» marriage was a happy one, and both before and after going out to the Dardanelles h_ came home regularly when on leave. IX November last her suspicions were aroused, and on writing her husband at his billet at Grimsby she said: — "Now, then, I have found you out." He replied: "I knew you would." "Whatever made you do It**** asked witness, and he replied: "I must have been mad to do such a thing." Agues Kate Turner, a prepossessing widow, said she made prisoner's acquaintance in November. He posed as a single man, and agreed to keep company with her. At Christmas she accepted his proposal ot marriage, and they were married at Grimsby. He spent all his spare time with her. and she never suspected he was married. He had treated her most kindly. Prisoner made no reply to the charge, but called officers, who spoke to the splendid , services he had render*!. H. was »* . mttted to th* ___*•»•»■ /