Australian Cables

Horowhenua Chronicle, 21 November 1913, Page 3

Australian Cables

ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH —COPYRIGHT. [PEB, PRESS ASSOCIATION.] (Received This Day, 9.40 a.m.) THE WEEWAA TRAGEDY. Sydney, This Day. At the Weewaa tragedy inquestj the police gave evidence that the woman Wallace lived with Richards as his Avife. When arrested blood was found on his clothes, though he denied all knowledge of the murder. A neighbour gave evidence that he heard screaming, and ran into the house. The children said "Daddy is killing Mummy." Richards said to the witness "We have done for her." The inquest was adjourned. EEDERAL GOVERNMENT TROUBLES. r i ( Melbourne, This Day. The Senate is still on strike. Senator McGregor asked if the Government had done anything in regard to the no-confidence motion The Government representative said lie had nothing to add to the previous day's statement, except that nothing the Senate had done would cause the Government to I swerve from the course decided J upon. He warned the Senate against its action in a bad crisis. Senator McGregor moved the suspension of the standing orders, and the adjournment of the House. Both motions were carried after further protests from the Ministerialists against blocking the business. AN AMAZING TALE- -LUNATICS AT THE RACES. Melbourne, Nov. 20. The amazing adventures of a party of lunatics on Cup day were related at an official inquiry into a charge against a man named Carter. and an asylum attendant at Mount Park Asylum. Carter was charged with assaulting the attendant and using bad language and the attendant was charged with being under the influence of liquor and assaulting Carter. The inquiry was held by the InspectorGeneral of Insane, and both charges were denied.

The evidence showed that ten patients, known as "liberty men,'' who work about the farm and are "harmless," were allowed to go to the Cup meeting as a treat, for good behaviour. Two of the attendants and Carter were placed in charge of the party, which went to the races in vehicles belonging to the asylum. Lunch was takii. the party's hamper including one bottle of light ale for each man. A shilling was given to each to pay his admission charge to the flat, where the patients were allowed to wander freely amongst the dense crowd, the understanding being that they should assemble beside the vehicles 'after the races.

The party visited two hotels on the homeward journey, during which a quarrel arose between Carter and an attendant, through one of the patient's taking a bottle of beor_from Carter's pocket. The patients became alarmed, but order, however, was restored, and the party returned safely.

This is not a new experiment. Parties from the asylum have gone to Cup meetings in previous years. None of this party was lost, but it is stated that one of the patients from the Kew Asylum party disappeared and has not been found.