NEWS BY MAIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 June 1921, Page 4

NEWS BY MAIL.

MILLIONAIRE SLACKERNEW YORK, March 25. “We are going to get Bergdoll! ! This was the terse declaration of Mr Weeks, Secretary for War, concerning the man who is known throughout tho United States as “the Millionnie Slavker,” who escaped to Germany Irom the United States while serving a term „f imprisonment for having evaded military service during the war. The attempt of two American military police to arrest Bergiloll in Germany failed, the detectives being sentenced to imprisonment a few (lays ago bv a German court on a charge of attempted kidnapping. ~ . , “So long as Bergdoll is alive, said Mr Weeks, voicing the view of the United States Government, “he is a fugitive from justice.” The New York World’s Washington correspondent is authoritatively informed that the British Government has been asked to demand tlie extradition of Bergdoll on a charge of forging the Canadian passport with which he escaped from America. Evidence to support the charge is being collected. Bergdoll’s brother Erwin is now serving a term of five years’ imprisonment for the evasion of military sendee.

LUMINOUS DRESS. PARIS, March 24. Phosphorescent frocks are ihc Eastei novelty in Paris.

The first of these luminous robes was soon this afternoon in the -paddock at Auteuil. The dress itself was black, with a design consisting of flowers done in phosphorescent paste. Tn the sunlight the effect is not particularly unusual, but as soon ns the wearer went into the tea-rooms the pattern on the dark background developed a faintly luminous glow which was certainly a novel effect in costume ornamentation.

plush turbans trimmed with metal wire were worn hv fashionable women at the crowded Easter race meeting in Paris. The Napoleon hat with feathers and pompoms at either side is also popular.

X-RAY MARTYR. PARIS. March 24. French science had a parallel loss yesterday to that caused to England by the recent death of Dr. Ironside Bruce. ’Hie latest victim in France to tho dangers of X-ray research is Dr Adolphe t.eray. for 25 years director of the Radiognphical Laboratory at the fet. Antoine Hospital. Dr Lorav made 35,000 radiographic examinations during the war, refusing to take any rest until after the armistice, when he went to have two fingers amputated on account of erosion set up bv the fatal rays.

“Atv great satisfaction "ill be.” he

said, “if 1 succeed in saving others from the fatal rays who are less seriously attacked than l. They may, 1 hope, he cured. I* or me, it is too late.

£50,000 ROBBERY. BERLIN, March 21

A masked woman bandit, who j,s described as having a refined voice and a silvery laugh is stated to be among those wanted by the Berlin police in connection with the robbery of a large post office. A few nights ago, when more than 1,000,000 marks (nominally £50,000) in bags and cash-boxes had been locked in the postoffice safe ready to be taken to the reiehsbank, three masked men dashed in and ordered the two clerks on duty to hold kip their hands, hour more bandits, including a young woman, who wore a neatly cut black mask, rushed into the room. The women, whose small mask failed to hide her blonde hair, seemed to know every corner of the post office. Tn a calm confident manner she directed the men to the safe in which the rash boxes were locked and replied to an occasional question in a low, refined voice. After the robbers had satisfied tncmselves that they had got all the money in the post office they bound and gagged the officials who were not released for an hour. Tlie authorities have offered a reward of 20,(MX) marks.