HOME AND FOREIGN

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 5199, 13 February 1904, Page 9

HOME AND FOREIGN

EXTTIOARDIXARY WEDDING INCIDENT. Recently a ploughman on a farm north of Blairgowrie mas to have been married in tho manso ot a neighbouring parish, and all arrangements had been completed for tho ceremony. Tlio local police, however, received information that ( tho bridegroom was “wanted” on a ohaa-gS of theft, and fully half an hour before the time fixed for the wedding ho was arrested, and convoyed to tho lock-up passing tho minister who was to have married him cn route. Tho articles ho is alleged to have stolen are a gold brooch and a gold ring, but ho emphatically denied any knowledge of them. Inspector Small and Constable Mfßoan visited the hrido at her homo, and asked her to show them her presents, which sho proceeded to do, being ignorant of her intended's arrest. Among the presents wero tlio brooch and ring reported to have been stolen, and those wore taken possession of by the police. When told that her lover had been arrested on a charge of stealing them the bride gave way for a time to uncontrolled grief, and later on called at the Police Office and asked that tho marriage ho allowed to bo proceeded with in the cells. Needless to say, Gris request was refused, but during the evening the accused was liberated on hail of £3, and the couple proceeded direct to the manse before mentioned, whore tho knot was duly tied. YOUNG LADY BOUND AND GAGGED. At tho Sittinphourne Petty Sessions recently, John Wilson, a 'labourer, of stalwart build, was charged with housebreaking at Little Rides Farm, Sheppey, and with endeavouring to obtain money by throats from Miss Florence Grant, aged 22, described os- an authoress, who lives alone at the farm. Miss Grant found the man in her cottage, and it is alleged he gagged her, and bound her to the bod until sho told him where her money wag and promised to get more. Prisoner wont with Miss Grant to her parents' house, but sho there gave information which lied to prisoner being apprehended. Ho made his escape, hut was again captured after an exciting chase. Ho was remanded. EXTRAORDINARY TALE FROM RUSSIA. On arriving at St Petersburg a week or two’ ago, a Gorman visitor purchased a peculiarly-shaped cap, whion ho thought would be more comfortable than his ordinary head-gear for exploring tho town, with which ho was not well acquainted. On -arriving home in tho evening after his first day's .sightseeing, ho was surprised to find in tho pocket of bis overcoat two purses, one of them containing over 810. Next day ho found in his pocket several more purses, and the third day ho communicatod with tho -Chief of Police. Tiiat official suspected that the cap had something to do with the circumstance, and ho sent the Gorman with a policeman to tho hatter’s shop, where they learned that some time ago a man had' caC-lod and given a largo piece of English cloth, of which the shopkeeper was to make 15 caps of oxaot similarity. On concluding this order the hatter found that ho had a piece of cloth over, and of this ho made an extra cap—tho one which was sold to the Gorman. On the strength of this information the. Chief of Police arranged for a detective to accompany the Gorman on his next day’s sightseeing; and then the mystery was cleared up. Watching his charge carefully, the dootivo saw various men lounge furtively up to the German and transfer something from thoir hands to his pockets. On each occasion tho man thus discovered was arrested, and in the course of two or three days, during which tho same plan was pursued, the police mado prisoners of about a dozen men. They turned out to bo a gang of pickpockets, and all wore a cap of tho same pattern as that purchased by tho German. Their plan was to pass on their plunder to a confederate for whom tho German had been mistakeu. A FIGHT TO THE DEATH. Tho Scots Zoo. in New City Road. Glasgow, was tho other day the scene of the fiercest animal combat that has ever boon witnessed among the animals in the collection. A majestic forest-bred South African lion, named “Cecil,” without tho slightest provocation, attacked a largo . lioness, which only two or throo days ago had been put into his cago, and in a few minutes, despite tho strenuous efforts of Air Bost-ock and tho tamer and the staff, tho female lay a mangled and lifeless mass in the corner of tho don. So fierce was the encounter and so firm the hold wliich tho lion bod obtained, that the united efforts of tho men to save the lioness wero unavailing. Every available weapon was used, and a deluge of water was poured upon- the lion from the fire-hose, hut not until tlio inanimate form of the lioness lay motionless iu his mouth did ho relax his hold. Tho lioness was a very

beautiful one, intended for stock purposes. It may he added that the old lion “Wallace” attacked and killed a lioness under similar circumstances at tho Toweic Menagerie, Blackpool, about eight years ago. CHICAGO GANG OF*BOY MURDERERS. The four young bandits—-Marx, Vandiuo, Roooki, and Neklemoier—who have committed eight murders between, them, and were captured last month after a desperate resistance, '.were charged with the capital offence at Chicago. It is intended to send them to the gallows as quickly as the law permits. Vandine, the oldest of the gang, who has been a soldier in the Philippines, wept when visited by his mother and sweetheart. Tho latter declares that she is willing to marry him in prison or on tho gallows. Vandine told them that ho could not explain his conduct. To a reporter -ho said that- trashy stories ol adventure were not responsible for his criminal career, hut the fact that ho was unable to earn more than enough to buy broad. Ho sajp that there was an agreement between -the four that, in case one was arrested, tho others should rescue him and kill the witnesses. They had even planned to blow up the police station with dynamite to rescue Marx, tho first of tho gang to ho captured. Vandine says that he could kill a man two blocks away. All the boys pride themselves on their marksmanship. Marx said that after ho had killed two men in tho carsheds he thought eveiy policeman knew his secret. ■Ho had a pretty hat career he said; “but wo might as well end it now as at any other time.” Noiclemoior refused to talk, except to say that ho and Vandine surrendered be'cauMO Vandine said that he wanted to see his mother before he died. Noidemoier's parents blame Marx for loading him astray. Roeoki says that Neidemeier and Vau-din-o wanted to kill him a month ago to ensure thoir own safety. Ho feared treachery on the day of tho fight with tho detectives and sought to escape. He lost his revolver while running, and broko through tho ice . on the Calumet river, only his head being above water. Hid clothes were frozen, and his stockings .and shoos were filled with blood. Vandine and Neidemeier aro tho vainest of the four. They ’ refused to he photographed after thoir capture until tho blood and dirt were washed from their faces. MADE HIS ‘TILE’’ IN PRISON. According to a New York corresipoindenit, Alphono J. Steplmn/i, who is serving a life sentence in Danncmora Prison for murdering Judge Reynolds, out of revenge, is becoming known in the jail aa “tho dead man of Wall Street.” Stophani has an office in his cef.l, closely follows tiro stock reports, and has become a well-known client of several brokers in Wall Street. So good is his judgment that ho is said to have mado a fortune, and his cheque is reported to bo good for five figures in pound sterling. Some time ago his mother died and left him £SOOO. The owner of all this wealth lives in a cell, wears. a coarse stripped suit, and supports existence on dry bread, black coffee, and other unpalatable prison fare, TERRIBLE RAILWAY DISASTER. A terrible disaster has occurred on the railway near Greenwood, Delaware, when a collision between two goods trains close to tho town. A crowd was watching the wreck when suddenly there was a terrific explosion from one of the waggons, which contained either dynamite or naptha, and two persons wero killed—ono of them, a' child, being killed merely by tho shook—and scores injured. several beyond hope of recovery. Five houses near the railway were destroyed, and hundreds of buildings were damaged. Tlio - force of tho explosion wan such that a hole 10 feet, deep .and 200 feet, in circumference was tom in tho earth. BIGAMY EXCUSED. Paris, Bth December.—A ’ man who had committed bigamy was to-day acquitted at tho Paris Assizes. Ho had married a woman twenty yens older than himself, but she turned out to have a very had temper, and refused to live with him. Then ho met a young woman, with whom ho fell violently in love, and not being able to wait for a divorce married her. When the jury heard tho story and saw the behaviour of the two women in court they decided to acquit the man. “But he is ray legal husband,” protested the elder woman.. “No,” said the younger woman, kissing the man, “the court says my poor darling is not guilt}’, and I am therefore his wife.” ° Thereupon tho two women began fighting with their umbrellas, and had to bo separated by the police.