AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 August 1928, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(Australian Press Association.)

CLEVER, IMPOSTER

SYDNEY, Aug. 10. A man who early in the year posed as Sir Robert Gunther, an expert from England, and who interviewed Members of the New South Wales Government, as well as the Civic Commissioners of Sydney, on traffic problems, was deported to-day in the liner Marama to New Zealand, whence he will be sent to England. He is an engineer by profession. The man appeared in New Zealand during the latter part of 1927, and stayed at a fashionable hotel. He got in touch with prominent people who believed that he was a traffic expert. He arrived at Sydney, armed with letters of introduction, but finally suspicions were aroused regarding his bona fides, and an investigation resulted in the man getting six months’ imprisonment for imposition. His term has now expir-

REVOLVER DUEL. SYDNEY, Aug; 10. Early in May, Eduard Joseph Coffey disappeared: He was supposedly drowned while bathing at Bondi, while on bail awaiting trial on charges of stealing motor cars. The drowning story was viewed with suspicion, but the police were unable to trace the man until to-day when a patrol < party in ,a motor car was scouring the Mascot district, where it was believed that lie' was hiding. They sighted Coffey, who simultaneously recognised the police, and made off. A long chase followed. Coffey refused to stop when called upon, so a shot was fired over his head. Then Coffey drew a revolver and he returned the fire. In the next few minutes a running fight was maintained and a number of shots 'were exchanged, till at length Coffey was stopped with a bullet in his back, and lie was then quickly overpowered. In his possession was a . revolver, all the eight chambers of which had licen discharged.

SYDNEY OUTRAGES

SYDNEY, Aug. 10. Giving his reasons to the Court of Criminal Appeal why ho lias imposed a sentence of fifteen years' penal servitude on Leslie Gosper for having attempted to discharge a gun at women, Judge Curlewis said: “With regard to the evilly disposed section of the community, I consider it my duty, not only to inspire fear, but, in the case, of crimes of violence, to inspire terror. Many people*have to live in the congested areas, where opportunities occur for the commission of outrages, often on children of both sexes, who look to a Judge for protection.” Judge Curlewis remarked that it was significant that, in recent years, light sentences for brutal outrages had provoked the prediction that a crop of such crimes would follow. This had been borne out by events. Gosper lias appealed against the sentence of fifteen years, oil the ground that his shooting was unintentional. The appeal was adjourned. S.S. MAHENO. > SYDNEY, August 10. The Malieno sailed at 2 o’clock this afternoon for Wellington. S.S. MARAMA. SYDNEY, August 10. The liner Marama sailed at four o’clock this afternoon for Auckland. WHARF COMEDY. vSYDNEY, August 10. The Malic no’s departure was delayed ■'"V, for an hour owing to the absence of a fireman, who was arrested just before the scheduled sailing time owing to a dispute with a taxi-man over his fare. The rest of the firemen prevented the ship being taken from the wharf. They seized the gangway ropes, which the seamen had begun to east off, and, when these were made fast again, the men wont forward and held a meeting, after which a deputation interviewed the captain on the bridge. Then the absent fireman, having settled his affair at court, returned to the ship. He was cheered by liis comrades as lie mounted the gangway. The ship then cast off, and the comedy ended.