VAIN APPEAL BY A MODERN BLUEBEARD

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2523, 31 July 1915, Page 6

VAIN APPEAL BY A MODERN BLUEBEARD

. THE BATH'MURDERS, By Telegraph—Prose Association—Copyright London, July 29. The appeal of George Smith, found guilty of murdering three women (whom ho had married at' various times), by. drowning them in-a bath, lias been dismissed. .

"Found drowned" was 1 the verdict returned by the Coroner (Mr. D. G. A.Cooper, S.M.) at the conclusion ,of an inquest held yesterday, on the body of Walter Hall, whoso body was found, floating in the harbour on Tuesday last. Sergeant Kelly -represented tho police at the inquiry. Tho cargo 6tcanier Cauastota/ formerly known as tho Falls of Orchyj was considerably damaged by tho fire which broke out on board on Say 7, when tho vessel was nearly ready to leave New York for Auckland, Wellington, and Australian ports. Loading operations were almost completed, when a fire was discovered amongst the cargo in Ivo. 5 hold. ■ The flames spread quickly to INo. * 4-hold. Tho cargo consisted principally of motor-cars, glassware, paraffin and a quantity of ammunition. The fire, which startod amongst tho wax, was extinguished after 6ix hours' strenuous work by the New lork fire brigades. The whole of tho cargo in the two holds was either completely burnt or destroyed by water, whilo the steamer's iron decks were buckled owing to the intense heat.When the holds were flooded, the steamer's after part was resting on the. harbour bottom, and after sho had been pumped out the remains ot tho cargo were discharged and tho vessel was placed in dry-dock. It was found neces- . sary to renew the whole of the afterdcckplates and beams and several side ■ plates. Tho repairs occupied about three weeks, when another consignment of cargo was shipped, and the Canastotft sailed on June 17. A general average ' of 20 per cent. has. been struck on certain lines of the Canastota's cargo as a result of tho fire.

Brief news of the progress of the warin other parts of the world is received by tho men fighting at tho Dardanelles '■ through tho medium of a. small jiews-, paper'called the "Peninsula Press." Ono of the issues of tho paper, dated Juno 8. has reached New Zealand, the back of tho printed page having been used by ono of the men for tlie purposes of his lott-cr. The paper is, printed by the Royal Engineers printing section, and : the particular i6suo received contains details of a submarine raid in the Sea of Marmora, details of tlio recapture of I'rzemysl, nows of Italian victories, an item coneerning the new war Ministry, and an- account of the note sent by America to Germany concerning the. sinking of the Lusitmia. --The issue of ,■ twentieth edition-, s