AMERICAN NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1665, 19 June 1875, Page 3

AMERICAN NEWS.

THE TILTON-BEECHER TBIAL ' of H?« WTF° rlf' 1 May of the Brooklyn scandal triaf began to-day Pnrtlv for the defense by Th?« i a me,B are Ban£uine of a verdict the ™r?r°T g Tllton I say he believes that SLP^ b? C _have nofc beea in respect to his case. TERRIBLE FIRES. Extensive forest fiies in New York, Pennsylvania, and Jersey have destroyed two milium dollars, worth of property and rendered hundreds homeless. A telegram from ?T° ?'!*■> °/ .Ma y 22> says a" & a t»» o w lett of this thriving town is about thirty nous-a, everything else in che place being a mass of smouldering wood and ashes, and it is utterly impossible to recognise any part of the place. Ihc fire commenced in the Presbyterian Church with a strong gale blowing trom the hills directly towards the centre of tne town at the time. In three hours time tne devastation was complete, and people were obliged to fly for life and leave everything behind them. GIGANTIC DISTILLERY FRAUDS. The principal distilleries of Chicago have been sejzed, consequent on the discovery of a gigantic ring formed to defraud the public. OUTRAGES IN THE COAL REGIONS. Pottsville (Pa ), May 6.—Reports from the upper coal region indicate constantly increasing outrages. At several places where miners have shown a disposition to continue work, threatß and warnings have been posted around. Attempts have been made to throw trains off the track, and damage has been done to property. At a late hour last night, the railroad telegraph office at Locust Summit was burned by incendiaries. An attempt was made to burn the town of Shenandoah, Pa. At Riles' Hotel it was discovered that coal oil and lighted matches had been thrown in the windows. Several dwelling houses and carpenter shops were burned to the ground. While the firemen were working on adjoining buildings, a third alarm was given up town. A lumber yard was fired and partially destroyed. The citizens are much alarmed, and Vigilauce Committees and Committees of Safety have been organised. Several parties have been arrested, charged with being connected with the incendiaries, and were held to answer at the next term of Court.