AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22052, 7 September 1933, Page 9

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

CLEVER FRAUDS IN SYDNEY. INSURANCE COMPANIES FLEECED. SYDNEY, September 6. Insurance executives are inquiring into a series of remarkably clever frauds which apparently have been perpetrated in this city recently. They are attributed to a gang of international crooks, and strongly resemble the frauds discovered in London not long ago, where companies were fleeced of huge sums by means of faked claims. LIFE OF PARLIAMENT. THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN BILL. ADELAIDE, September 0. The State Assembly passed the second reading of a Bill increasing the life of Parliament from three to five years. An amendment limiting the life of the Legislative Council to six years is expected to result in the council’s rejection of the Bill. STORM AT CRONULLA, LIGHTNING STRIKES BUILDING. SYDNEY, September 0. During a severe thunderstorm at Cronulla lightning struck the -telephone exchange. Two switch girls were knocked unconscious. A large tree some distance away was blasted. WOOL FOR ENGLAND. FIRST OF PRESENT SEASON. SYDNEY, September 6. The City of Dieppe sailed this morning for Manchester, carrying the first of the season’s wool from the current sales.

THE BONDI MURDER. LIFE IMPRISONMENT IMPOSED. SYDNEY, September 6. (Received Sept. 6, at 10 p.m.) In the criminal court Claude Wallace, aged 25, a motor mechanic, and Erie Hewlyn, aged 26, a motor driver, were convicted of the manslaughter of John ■Rowland at Bondi and sentenced to life imprisonment. Wallace’s defence was that he did not know the revolver was loaded, while Newlyn declared that he was not aware that Wallace possessed a revolver when the hold-up occurred on May 18. At the conclusion of the inquiry into the death of John Rowland, who was found shot by motor bandits, the' coroner returned a verdict of death by a bullet wound. He committed Claude Wallace for trial on a charge of murder, and also found that Eric Newlyn was present at the shooting and aided and abetted the crime. He also was committed for trial on a charge of murder. Newlyn made a statement to the detectives similar to that made by Wallace, declaring that Wallace planned the holdup as he wanted money to buy something to eat. Rowland attacked Wallace with a suitcase. Newlyn heard a revolver shot and saw Rowland fall, and wanted to take him to hospital, but when he saw people coming he decided to drive away in the car, which was stolen. WOMAN’S LEAP TO DEATH. SUICIDE FROM HARBOUR BRIDGE, SYDNEY, September 0. (Received Sept. 0, at 10.15 p.m.) A woman who went to her death over the harbour bridge to-day was seized by a passing workman, who held her suspended in mid-air until his strength gave out, when he was compelled to release his grip. He called for help but other pedestrians were so petrified that they lent no assistance. She is the thirtieth bridge victim. A DISMISSED CHAIRMAN. heavy damages awarded. SYDNEY, September 6. (Received Sept. 7, at 1 n.m.) In the Supreme Court Frederick Hurt, a former deputy chairman of the Metropolitan Meat Board, obtained judgment against the New South Wales Government. with £3OOO damages, for premature termination of his services. Hutt_ was the Lang Government appointee, with a tenure of five years. He was dismissed along with several other Lang appointees in other Government positions after the return of the Stevens Ministry.