AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20705, 1 May 1929, Page 9

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

FIRE- AT PETERSHAM. CHILD BURNED TO DEATH. (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph— Copyright.) SYDNEY, April 30. Robert Hogan, aged 18 months, was burned to death, but his brother, aged three, was rescued under thrilling circumstances from fire at a residence in Petersham. A man named Charlesworth rushed_ into the burning room and effected a courageous rescue. He found one of the children dead upon his first visit, but returned and carried the body to the street after first rescuing the elder boy, who was nearly suffocated. The mother had previously made repeated attempts to enter the blazing room. Charlesworth was burned about the hands and face. OVERSEA TRADE., A SERIOUS DECLINE RECORDED. SYDNEY, April 30. According to the latest oversea trade bulletins, during the last.financial year there was a serious decline in Australia’s oversea trade, amounting to £18,098,921, compared with the preceding 12 months. The value of the trade during the financial year was £291,158,040. There was a considerable improvement in trade with British countries, which .represented 52 per cent, of the total of Australia’s trade. COLLISION BETWEEN STEAMERS. CHARGE AGAINST OFFICER. MELBOURNE, April 30. (Received April 30, at 9.30 p.m.) The Marine Court decided that the charge of failure of duty against Cecil Vincent, third mate of the steamer Kaituna, which collided with the Sclje on March 29, had not been sustained. DEATH OP A CARRIER. ARSENIC FOUND IN BODY. SYDNEY, April - 30. (Received April 30, at 10 p.m.) Definite traces of arsenic were found in the body of William Masterton, a master carrier who died on March 10 at Ashfield, a suburb. The body was exhumed three weeks later. The coroner ipened an inquiry to-day, when medical evidence was given that death was due to arsenic poisoning. The widow of deceased told the police that her husband had taken £ small dose of liquid paraffin the day before his death with no ill effects, but on the day of his death he took a second dose, when he remarked that it tasted bitter, and he died in agony. The contents of the bottle were afterwards emptied in the back yard. An analyst examined the earth whero 4 it was emptied, and discovered more traces of arsenic. The inquiry wqas adjourned owing to the absence of an important witness. THE BANKSTOWN TRAGEDY. HUSBAND DIES IN HOSPITAL. SYDNEY, April 30. Philip Hess died in the hospital. A previous message read as follows: A tragedy occurred at Bankstown, a suburb, as the' outcome of domestic unhappiness. Clara Hess, aged 24, is dead, and Phillip Hess, aged 28, is in a critical condition. The throats of both victims were severely gashed with a razor, while the man also had a bullet wound in the head. Neighbours heard screams, but they arrived too late to render assistance. The husband was observed hacking his own throat in the bathroom.