BRIEF AND TO THE POINT.

NZ Truth, Issue 936, 3 November 1923, Page 5

BRIEF AND TO THE POINT.

An old dead-bent who appeared at tho Police Court m Wellington had two very brlnf cor.vorsnUons In ft couplo of days The first wus when ho was on tho "nip" m Tnrwmkl Street, und It ran something Hko this: "Can yor spare us a sprat fer o drink, matey?" , , ,- ,, XT . . Conatnblo m pi"'" clothes: "No: but I'll Rive ye- ft night's lodging If yer como with nW The old pot went nnd tho next conversation was m the Magistrate* Court, when ho owned up to being Alexander Thompson, and a roguo and vagabond. Accused: I'd sootier go to tho Army thnn to gnol. Tho Magletrate: You'll be convicted nnd aentcnceJ to four months' 1mDriiotunAtit.

, The scene of the tragedy was a QUiet little suburban -home situated ;in Somme Parade, about half a mile above the- Af amotio Railway Bridge, and m small but beautifully laid out grounds. The locality could not be described as lonely, for it is * ON THE MAIN ROAD to the recently-completed Aramoho tram extension. Oh either side there are neighbors, but looking from the rear of the house there are plenty of open spaces towards the railway line where a murderer or robber, if hotly pressed, could v make a hasty retreat. On the other side of Somme Parade runs the broad Wanganui River. This latest atrocity makes the third murder m Wanganui within three years. On the night of July 22, 1921, the police were called to go to Mangaluahu, where Jack. Kinsella had m a drunken fjtenzy ■ chopped off the head of his mate, ah old man named Jack Gordon. Kiiisella is now serving a term of 14 yeatflV imprisonment. The murder,. last* year was that of, Chow tat, an old man who lived by himself m a whare at Long Acre, a' few miles front toWn. The old Chinaman was attacked at his back door, and as ho staggered Up the road for assistance hisassillant pumped NINE CHARGES OF LEAD into him and then carried the body down the road m another direction and deposited it on the roadside, wher* it was found by a young woman who was -cycling home. The murderer m this Instance had never been discovered. There is a similarity between the murderer of Chow Vat and Mrs. Oates, for m each instance it was for monetary .gain, although 'the murderer of , the Chinaman got very little cash for hfe trouble. Even m the oase at Aramoho, the proceeds Were small, as it : is understood there Were several cbo'quea m the stolen booty, and it is extremely unlikely that an attempt will be made to negotiate them.