LATE NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 January 1920, Page 1

LATE NEWS.

TURTLE WALKS ASHORE. LONDON, Nov. 9. A Clcethorpos (Lines) shrimper named Rinnan was busy on the beach yesterday morning when lie was astonish-' ed to see a giant turtle stroll across the sands. With help he captured it. It measured, roughly, sft. by 3ft. and weighed nearly 3cwt. The turtle was taken in triumph to Grimsby fish pontoon and offered for sale. The auctioneer solemnly assured the onlookers that the find -had been made beneath Ross Castle, where it had existed for 350 years. Bids for the turtle came slowly, despite the nearness of many mayoral banquets, and by the time the price had reached £5 5s the salesman was of opinion that the turtle was 3000 years old. It was sold at that figure for despatch to a London store.

It is assumed that the turtle escaped from a ship, or was part, of the cargo of a ship which has foundered.

SCOTLAND WET OR DRY? GLASGOW, Oct. 31. Purring softly, Mr “Pussyfoot” Johnson told the Scottish prohibitionists today that he had no desire to> interfere with, or advise, on British affairs.. He gave the impression that it pained him to he thrust into the limelight, and that he would far sooner remain remain in a nice quiet dark corner, where ho could purr or pounce at will. But the Scottish prohibitionists, who and now well on the warpath, drew Mr Johnson from his corner and hailed him as the Great Dry Chief, whose successes in the United States, Norway, and Finland were to bo repleated in Scotland by a majority “no-license” vote next year. These people, who have sworn to vote Scotland dry, make much of “Pussyfoot.” They cheerfully admit his superiority as a barsmasher, and they eagerly anticipate the arrival of the AntiSaloon League representatives at the great gathering to be held in Edinburgh next year. The women are to be canvassed everywhere, for it is largely on the women’s vote that the prohibitionists depend.

MURDER SHOCK IN COURT. PARIS, Nov 9. A pathetic incident occurred at Nice during the trial of a Serbian actor and ox-cavalry officer named Soitirovitch for the murder of a Belgian woman named Zon ,who was found burned to death in her bed at Nice in September of last year.

The accused man had been giving evidence as to Iris situation in Serbia and was asked why His wife had not been able to draw his revenues for him since she had remained in Serbia. Sotirovitch was about to explain the conditions of the Austro-Bulgarian occupation when he was interrupted by his counsel, who said:

“I have a sad communication to make to the court. Mine. Sotirovitch is dead and her son was murdered. My client has been kept in ignorance of these facts.’ ’

Sotirovitch broke down completely at this announcement and the hearing of the case had to he suspended. Before this he had insisted that his friendship with Mme. Zon was quite platonic.

“Her face,” lie said, ‘‘recalled to me Dnrwfn’s theories as to the descent of man. She was middle-aged and ugly, but very intelligent. Our friendship was ideal. As an actor I have studied feminine psychology for many years. Women do not want heroes from Shakespeare or men with the fortune of a Rothschild, but merely a heart which understands them.”