AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1973, 8 January 1907, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

SNAKE IN TROUSER LEG. Strength of nerve was exhibited by a young man named James Robinson, at Redcastle (Vic.) last week. He found a snake at his hut, which escaped from him. Shortly afterwards while lying on his hunk the reptile crept up one of the legs of his trousers. lie realised that to move would be. almost certain to result in his being bitten, so he lay quite still for about half an hour, when, much to his relief, the reptile'withdrew itself.

SENTENCE OE DEATH. An elderly woman named Annie Batten was 'charged at the Sydney Criminal Court with the murder of Annie O’Keefe. The prisoner, who became paralysed after being committed for trial, had to be assisted into tlio dock by two policemen. The case for tlio Crown was that Batten performed an illegal operation on O'lveofo, which resulted in her death. At the close of tlio evidence the prisoner made a • short, incoherent statement, denying the charge. Tlio jury, after a short retirement, returned a. verdict of-guilty, with a strong recommendation to mercy on account of the prisoner’s physical infirmity. Acting Justice Rogers passed sentence of death, and stated that the jury’s recommendation would bo conveyed to tlio proper authorities.

SHIP LOADING ON SUNDAY. At the Port Adelaide police court Messrs M’Uwrnith, M’Eacliarn and Co. wore charged by Archibald Wm. Smart, Collector of Customs, with having, at Port Adelaide, on 24th October, loaded certain goods on the steamship Kooringa on a . Sunday, that not being a working day of the Customs department, as prescribed in the Customs Act, 1001, and no permission , having being given by the collector for working overtime. Department company admitted a breach of the lav , declaring that the whole blame rested with the company’s agents at Port Adelaide. The agents were unaware that they had contravened the act, and regretted haying unwittingly failed to comply with tjio Customs. Act. The offence, it was ' contender)., \yas really one of having worked without the ngeegsary 'permission. Everything was done by defendants to obviate Sunday working. In giving judgment, the magistrate said this was the first case, to his knowledge, in this State in which action had been taken for a breach of section of the Customs Act. He thought it a case in which the court should exercise leniency. De-“ fend i)Jit company was fined £2 ros, and ordered to pay £4 8s costs.

-_.it OTAL TROTTING MATCH

Considerable interest was taken at the Ararat police court in the hearing of a charge of cruelty preferred against Alexander M’Doiiald, A. Gibson, Herman Anders, and Reg, -.Scott, The proceedings arose out of tlio recent trotting match to Lake Boiac and back, when two horses were driven to'death. The evidence for the prosecution alleged that the horses were exhausted ten miles from Ararat, and had to be dragged uphill and urged on with whips, For tjie defence it. . was stated that flip horses appeared fit to finish tiff just'before they 'felji and that the distance and pace were not excessive.

The bench dismissed the case against m'Donakl, on the ground that there was no evidence to show that he intended his horse to be treated cruelly, It iyas also shown that he went out and administered restoratives to flic animals, and declared the bets off. Each of the other three defendants was lined the miximiun penalty of iirO, with £2 16s costs, in default distress, and in default of distress 14 days’ imprisonment. The police magistrate, in announcing the decision of the court, said that if the case liafl been liofird in England the defendants could ‘ liav.o peon fined £-50, Personally, he considered' £he Victorian penalty inadequate for such an offence,'