BISHOP OF NEWCASTLE DECLARES MINER WHO WAS KILLED WAS INNOCENT OF ANY WRONGDOING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18947, 18 December 1929, Page 1

BISHOP OF NEWCASTLE DECLARES MINER WHO WAS KILLED WAS INNOCENT OF ANY WRONGDOING.

Police Allege Men Returning From Funeral Fired Into Colliery Grounds. (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Received December 18, 10.47 a.m.) SYDNEY, December 18. At Rothbury, after a day of rumours, incidents full of ominous portent occurred near the mine. Last night the police guarding the colliery reported that G shots were fired into the grounds of the pit from lorries containing miners returning from the funeral of Brown, and reports of a ride or revolver were heard also earlier in the afternoon as the lorries were passing on their way to the funeral. There are persistent rumours in Branxton and Greta that if the present effort at settlement in Sydney fails there will be further intensive picketing and here lies the seed of a new danger as the temper of the men has been inflamed by the tragic happenings of Monday. The owners last night definitely rejected Judge Beeby’s proposals on the ground that they were unacceptable to individual owners. It is not expected that the suggested terms will be accepted by the State Government. His voice vibrant with emotion the Bishop of Newcastle, Dr Long, who officiated at Brown s funeral, expressed the hope, in God's name, that there might be no recrudescence of the anger which caused death and suffering on Monday. In the course of his address, Dr Long said: “ This brother, who has so innocently fallen in the strife, was no aggressor. He was not engaged at the time of his death in any breach of the law.”