NEWS OF THE WORLD.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10957, 23 December 1911, Page 4

NEWS OF THE WORLD.

The following items have appeared' iu the Australian papers employing the independent cable service: — London December 12. Scotland! Yard is just now conducting a vigorous campaign against palmists, clairvoyants, and others who are always prepared to reveal the future for a consideration. This action is being taken as the result of a. robbery of, which tlia wife of a Cabinet Minister was lately made the victim while on a visit to one of the fortune-telling fraternity. It is reported that the lady lost quite a large sum. Desperate efforts were made to keep the case out of the newspapers, but the incident leaked out yesterday during a Police Court prosecution. Archibald Duncan was tried 1 at the Old Bailey to-day for the murder of his wife. The rjrisoner did not deny his guilt, but sought to jutify the crime on the ground that the woman had had improper relations with another man. Duncan was convicted and sentenced to 15 years' penal servitude'. In passing sentence the presiding Judge, Sir Thos. Horridge, said: "There is no justification for pleading the unwritten law ; n a case like this. Neither a husband l nor a wife has any reason for taking thelaw into his or; her own hands.' That ?s what the Courts are for." London, December 13. The tugboat hands in Cardiff came out on strike as a protest against Sunday work in connection with pleasure excursions. The men, however, returned! to their vessels upon ■.'. receiving a promise of an extra day's pay. Statistics that have just been published reveal that the cost of living in Great Britain has increased 25 per cent, since 1898. The price of bacon and ham has doubled, and'putter has increased to the extent of Is, while lardi is more than double what it was 13 years ago. Flour and. tea,' however, are a little cheaper than formerly.

Vancouver, December 12. Returning home from work yesterday a builder named Wooldridge found his wife lying dead on the floor of the dining room with a fearful gash across her throat. At the woman's sido was her baby, whose throat also had been cut. The infant was alive, and although the wound from which it is suffering is a rather serious one, the doctors are hopeful of the child's recovery. The discovery of a. razor close to tlie woman's body naturally suggested that Mrs Wooldridge had died by her own hand, but her husband discredits the theory of suieide.