AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Otago Witness, Issue 3912, 5 March 1929, Page 30

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

POISONED BY CHOCOLATES.

NEWCASTLE, February 26.

A dramatic turn has occurred in the case in which Hilda Johnson, aged 15, died on December 15 after eating chocolates which were given to her at a picture show. During an inquiry to-day the police sought and obtained an adjournment to enable them to take a cer tain course. Detective Ryan informed th. coroner that he heard from two postal youths that they had been offered chocolates on the night of the girl’s death by Harold Ferris, who casually remarked: “ You need not eat them unless you like, because they have been in a pocket where I had poison.” Both youths spat them out.

WRECK OF THE KANOWNA

MELBOURNE, February 27.

Joseph Kean, the third officer on the Kanowna, gave evidence at the Alarine Court inquiry that there was a three to four-knot current running when the Kanowna struck the rocks.

Witness was asked why, if that were so, the steamer Alakarra, which was not far away when the Kanowna struck, should not find herself in the same plight. Witness replied: Yes, you would think so.

RACING DISQUALIFICATIONS. BRISBANE, February 26

R. White, a prominent Queensland squatter, was disqualified by the Queensland Turf Club stewards for 12 months for improper practices as the owner of Karadui at the Ascot course on February 16. The trainer, Stangfield. and the jockey, Hornery, were disqualified for a similar period.

CHARGE AGAINST A JOCKEY. SYDNEY, February 27.

The jockey, J. Pike, was to-day acquitted of being drunk while driving a car on February 16, when he knocked down and injured a pedestrian. Several constables stated that Pike was und : :r the influence of drink, but Pike’s doctor deposed that Pike was under treatment for nerves. The magistrate dismissed the case, and Pike is now available to ride Gothic in the Newmarket Handicap, his license having been restored by the Australia:! Jockey Club following a two months’ suspension. ATTEMPTED MURDER.

LAUNCESTON, February 27.

William Clear, who was charged with attempting to murder- Major Evans, secretary of the Northern Trotting Association, was found not guilty and discharged. Clear, who allegedly fired a shot at Evans after being disqualified, declared in evidence that the steward who moved for his disqualification offered him £4O for his horse Cardinal, although the horse was worth £2OO. The same steward had backed his horse, and became annoved when it lost.

STRIKE AT BROKEN HILL.

BROKEN HILL, February 28.

As the result of a strike among the members of the Municipal Employees’ Union the electricity works and sanitary services are at a standstill. The strike is a protest against a man being employed who is not a unionist. The general hospital and other buildings were plunged in darkness when the electricity supply was cut off.

FLOGGING FOR RAZOR SLASHERS.

SYDNEY, February 28.

Tn the Legislative Assembly the Crimes Act was amended to prescribe flogging for razor slashers. The Labour members strongly opposed flogging.

THE STRICKEN ARAFURA. SYDNEY, February 28. Her agents have received a radio from the Arafura that has progress has been retarded by south-easterly gales and high seas. The vessel is in tow of the tug Coringa, and is expected to arrive at Brisbane on Friday. BRISBANE, February 28. The Arafura is being buffeted by a fresh cyclone. The steering gear of the Coringa is disabled, and the other tug cannot be used owing to the severity of the weather. The steamer Peshawur has been ordered to the Arafura’s assistance. SYDNEY, March 2. Again in tow after a terrific battle /with the cyclone, the Arafura is moving towards Brisbane in fair weather. March 3. The Arafura reached Brisbane to-day

FEDERAL POLITICS. CANBERRA, February 28. A stormy debate is occurring in the House of Representatives upon the Transport Bill, which gives the Federal authorities more power over industrial

disputes. Labour members shouted wildly and described it variously as the “ bludgeoning Bill ” and “ Latham’s legiron, branding iron, and conscription of labour Bill.”

Mr Scullin, the Leader of the Labour Party, to-day gave notice that he would move—“ That in the opinion of this House, the Bruce-Page Government, by class legislation and partisan administration, has caused a dislocation of industry and is responsible for the crisis in the timber industry.” The motion is regarded as one of censure.

TRAGEDY IN SYDNEY. SYDNEY, March 1. Hazel Sly, a married woman, aged 26, was murderously attacked with a razor in a street in Five Dock suburb this afternoon and her throat was gashed from ear to ear.

A man ran away from the scene and attempted to commit suicide by cutting his wrists and his throat and then plunging into the Parramatta River. The police brought him out of the water, which was only waist deep. . He gave the name of Frederick Sly, and admitted that he was the woman’s husband.

The wife wrote a note saying that she had taken a maintenance order out against her husband, who was unemployed.

Mrs Sly died while awaiting the ambulance.

An eye-witness of the tragedy, Charles Debenham, who was working in his garden, saw the whole thing and pursued the attacker, calling on him to stop and shouting to other pedestrians to block the running man, but they were loth to interfere when they saw the razor in the fugitive’s hand.

RAILWAYMEN RESTIVE. SYDNEY, March 1. Another industrial upheaval is threatening. The railwaymen are incensed at the commissioners’ proposal to impose a 48-hour week, and speakers at a mass meeting promised drastic action if any attempt was made to alter the present conditions.

TRAGEDY’ AT PENRITH. SYDNEY, March 3. The mangled remains of Mrs Breyley (aged 21), her two-year-old son, and the body of an apparently still-born child were found on the railway near Penrith. The woman visited her parents’ home at Penrith on Friday and left to catch a late train to a neighbouring village. Her husband went to the home station to meet her, but when she failed to arrive he supposed she had stayed with her parents, as she sometimes did if delayed. How she got where she was found is inexplicable.

MOTOR FATALITY’. SYDNEY, March 1. Lance Rowley, who was killed in a motor car accident, was a brother of Nola Rowley, who was killed on New Year’s Eve when she fell 200 feet over Echo Point, at Katoomba.

FIRE-IN SYDNEY’. . SYDNEY, March 3. A fire on Saturday on the top floors of . Ultimo House in the city caused damage estimated at £60,000. The blaze started in Simmons’ printery on the top floor, and spread to a woolbroker's section, where £BOOO worth of wool was burned. The building is owned by Mr Herbert Solomon, who is at present visiting New Zealand. Several firemen were slightly burned by molten lead falling from the linotype supplies in the blazing printery.

FLOODS IN NEW SOUTH WALES. SYDNEY, March 2. Heavy rains have fallen on the north coast, causing floods in the Tweed and Richmond Rivers. The latter has risen 28 feet.

Over 100 houses have been evacuated. Great sheets of water are lying about the town, and in some places only the roofs are visible above the water, Thirteen inches of rain fell in 24 hours. . The tributaries of the Clarence are rising. A cyclone along the coast is reported to have done heavy damage. The cyclone having passed eastward, the north coast flood peril is lessened, and the rivers are falling, after having reached almost record levels. The Richmond River rose 29 feet at Lismore. Residents in the low-lying sections of the town moved their: furniture and secured accommodation at thQ police station and other buildings. All traffic is disorganised in the Tweed River district. A hurricane off the coast caused shipping to run before it or seek shelter. Sailings for Newcastle from Sydney last night were cancelled. March 3. The flood waters at Lismore have isolated the post office, and the telephone girls had to be carried to their work. The weather bureau on Saturday warned shipping that stormy conditions were imminent on the north coast. A cyclone is centred in the, neighbourhood of Norfolk Island, moving southwards.

PERILS OF THE SEA. MELBOURNE, March 2.

The Finnish barque Ponape arrived after nearly a five months’ voyage from Sweden. During a terrific gale in the North Atlantic two seamen were washed overboard and drowned. Heroic efforts at rescue almost resulted in other members of the crew losing their lives.