TELEGRAMS

Hokitika Guardian, 13 October 1920, Page 3

TELEGRAMS

[per pbebb association. —COPYRIGHT. A GHOULISH THEFT. CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 12. A ghoulish theft was perpetrated between September 19tli and September 2lßt by Hilda Maud Brown, an English woman, 31 years of age, who appeared at the Magistrate’s Court charged with the theft of a diamond ring valued at £lO, the property of Gavin Hallibur- ! ton, the ring being stolen from a 1 corpse. I Chief-Detective Mellveney stated that ■ complainant’s wife had died prior to the date of the theft. Shortly before dying she asked complainant that the diamond ring she was wearing might be buried with her. The ring was left on her finger. Shortly before the coffin was closed it was noticed that the hands of deceased were shifted and the ring was', missing. Accused had been a domestic servant at the house. Questioned as to her knowledge of the disappearance of the ring, she stated that she knew nqthing of it. Later she left her situation and went to Wellington, where she was searched and the diamond ring found among her effects. The ring had been recovered. Accused was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. She was ordered to pay the cost of the proceedings, and report to a clergyman once weekly for a year. THE “NE TEMERE DECREE.” CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 13 The Christchurch Presbytery passed the following resolution: —That this Presbytery deplores the injustice caused by the operation of the ‘‘Ne Temere Decree,” arid urges Parliament to take i such steps during the present session \as will protect legally all married persons without interfering with the spiritual rights of Churches in their own sphere. SUPREME COURT SENTENCES. DUNEDIN, Oct. 13. In the Supreme Court Judge Sim sentenced the following prisoners from the lower court: — James Louis Peterson for breaking and entering, and theft of rabbit skins, was ordered to come up for sentence when called on, and to pay the costs of the prosecution, £3 12s. Thomas Edward Hardwick and William Frank Hardwick, for theft of a motor car at Invercargill, to be detained for reformative treatment for a term not exceeding five years. MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE. WELLINGTON, October 13. In giving his verdict at the inquest on Alfred Made who died at the hospital! on 29fli. (September, following being knocked down by a taxi, driven by William Arthur Webb, Mr Evans (Coronor) commented strongly upon the reckless manner in which tho car was driven, as disclosed by the evidence. Webb was subsequently charged with manslaughter and remanded for a week.