NEWS BY MAIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 September 1920, Page 1

NEWS BY MAIL.

MI 1.1 LION AIRE 1 CHARGED

VICTORIA, B.C. July 19. Mr Griffith It. Hughes, proprietor of the Victoria Times, was to-day committed for trial at the October Assize Court on a charge of stealing £5,600 from David Spencer's departmental store. The evidence in the police the investigator of Spencer’s accounts showed defalcations amounting to £6o • 000 during the past nine years, which amount, it was stated in evidence Hughes had confessed to. He promised restitution, He had been financial adviser and auditor of Spencer’s for 15 years. The amount involved and the position and wealth of Hughes, who is reputed to be a millionaire, have caused a great •stir.

WOMAN M URDEKED. LONDON, July 17. A murder was discovered last night in a semi-detached villa at Ashton-under Lyne. The victim was Mrs Ward, aged about 50, the wife of Mr William Ward, a confectioner with a. large business. About 8.30 pm. Mr Ward, oil reaching his house, found his wife (lying behind the kitchen door with her head battered in. Her hands were tied behind her back with a piece of clothes-line taken from the kitchen She had been gagged and her artificial teeth were forced into her throat. Mr Ward called to the neighbours, “They have murdered my wife!” Near the body were found a hammer and a chisel, which belonged to the premises, and with which Mrs Ward bad apparently been attacked. A doctor and the police were called in, and came to the conclusion that she had been f dead for some hours. She had no chil- ! dren arid had been in the house alone ; There was a large quantitv of valuable silver and other articles of considerable ("value in the house. It was found that a 1 safe in one of the bedrooms bad been forced open and rifled. . ) Mr and Mrs Ward celebrated their (silver wedding about two years ago.