NEWS BY MAIL

Hokitika Guardian, 27 June 1921, Page 1

NEWS BY MAIL

LIFE SAVED BY DREAM. PARIS, April 20. An odd story of phvschic premonition is told about Lord Dufferin, British Ambassador to France in 1891-6, in a new book by M. Camille Flnmmarion, tlie astronomer and writer on occult subjects, entitled “About Death.” While staying at a friend’s house in Ireland, says the narrative, Lord Dufferin awoke one night with an unusual feeling of apprehension. He went to tlie window. Tn the light of n hrillinnt moon he saw n figure walking along below him carrying something on its shoulder. As the figure passed the house it looked up and I,orcl Dufferin saw that the face was of a quite remarkable hideousness. He was also astonished to see that the object on the figure’s shoulder was a coffin. The figure passed out of sight. Next morning Lord Dufferin asked his host who the figure eottld have been, hut there was no eluo to the mystery. Years passed and Lord Dufferin became Ambassador in Paris. Soon after

his arrival ho was invited to a public dinner. One of the attaches led him to the lift to go upstairs, hut when the Ambassador readied it he gave an exclamation of surprise and alarm. The lift man had exactly the same repulsive features as those on which he had looked from his bedroom window in the moonlight. „ Lord Dufferin turned back towards Ilio office to ask for tbe lift man’s name. Tie bad not reached it when a crash and screams and groans were heard. The lift had fallen to the bottom of tbe shaft, owing to a broken cable, and all in it were killed or seriously injured.. The lift man. who was among the dead, had been taken on for that day only. Lord DtifTorin’s dream had saved his own life. LIQUOR MANTRAP. NEAY YORK, May 3. An explosive mantrap installed at the country home of Mr Adoplh Zukor, the film magnate, to protect his hoard nf wines and spirits, lias killed a burglar and injured another. Air Zukor’s house had twice been the object of unsuccessful burglaries ill the last two weeks. The steward then arranged a trap in the front vault, where the precious liquids were stored. The house was attacked on Sunday night, when the steward and menservants drove off the burglars alter a brisk exchange ol shots. They returned last night and got as far as the cellar and the mantrap. Aroused by tbe sound of an explosion, the servants found one man lying dead on tin 1 lawn and a trail of blood leading to tlu' shrubbery. The sound of a departing motor ear indicated that a wounded accomplice bad managed to escape. hi tlie wealthy residential suburbs if Chicago attacks on houses whose owners are known to have stores ol drinks have become so frequent that residents have organised a force of motor police to patrol the district at night. GUNMAN’S AVIIITE SPATS. PARIS. April 27. Yestordav was remarkable in the annals of Paris police history for the crimes of violence committed. In the early hours of the morning there was a mysterious affray in the Tuili'rios Gardens. Policemen on the watch for suspicious characters wore tired at by a man. who seriously injured two of them and escaped. He was well-dressed, wore patent leather shoes with white spats, and was an expert revolver shot. Police reinforcements searched minutely but found no signs ol him. At. dawn, however, they found, lying in the main walk, a dying mail. Ho was M. Bonnartli, secretary of the Paris Fair Commission. As M. lhmnardi lias not regained consciousness, the whole affair is wrapped in mystery. At St Cloud, in the suburbs, two men, sheltering Irom the rain in a quarry, found the body of a man who had been battered to death with pieces of granite. It was M. Moullo, an inhabitant of Sevres. There is no eluo as to lmw lie met his death. Later in the evening the Central Detective Office was informed •of two crimes of jealousy. In one a young clerk had shot his stepfather dead with a revolver for undue familiarity with his fiancee. In flic other a discarded, mistress had revenged herself on a former lover.