TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 April 1922, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

I.BY TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.

ASSAULTS ON WOMEN. WELLINGTON, March 31. Oil charges of common assaults on women, Maurice Tangney, to-day, was sentenced at the Magistrate’s Court to six months’ imprisonment. Tangney was in the habit of approaching women in the streets and making himself objectionable, bumping them and breathing on them. He was described by the police as a menace to society and a “Peeping Tom.”

A SMART ARREST.

OAMARU, March 31

Another smart arrest was effected in the vicinity of Oamaru late this afternoon. Word was received to-day by the local police from Dunedin that a man named. Edward Stephen Laws, alias Thomas Hunter, who was wanted for theft of a savings bank book and forging the owners name on a withdrawal slip for £75, was believed to be journeying northward. On leaving the police station shortly before’five this afternoon, Constable Abel noticed a Dunedin taxi speeding past the station, bound north. The Constable gave chase in an Oamaru taxi and overtook the suspect eight miles out of town, and found the man wanted, hi the course of searching, accused bolted over a fence. Congo, the taxi man, and thb constable gave chase in the ear, going clean through the hedge. Laws was quickly recaptured, and .lodged in Oamaru lock-up. Accused is 23 years of age, and lias a previous record over 13 years. He was out on probation for theft in 1919. At one time he was in Burnham, and later at the Borstall Institute, Invercargill. When arrested accused was smartly dressed, and wore an expensive overcoat. He had also in his possession a fairly large sum of money. This smart arrest adds-another creditable performance to the work of Oamaru police. During the past 12 months four gaol breakers have been recaptured and several other “wauled have been apprehended, while the escaped murderer Matthews, war, run to earth by local police.

A TRAGIC SUICIDE'. CHRISTCHURCH, March 31. A sudden violent fit of temper, engendered by some days of bard drinking caused the Cheviot County Clerk, Wilfred Maxwell Cottcrill, married aged 52, to shoot himself in the presence of his wife this morning. Cotterill, who was a returned soldier with the rank of Captain was a heavy drinker and had been drinking bard for some days. About 8 o’clock this morning he attempted to get more liquor. His wife refused to g*'l- - anything more to drink, and he said “If you don’t I’ll shoot myself.” 81k> still refused and he seized a loaded rifle which was nearby, leaned down over the barrel and pulled the trigger, shooting himself through the heart.

SUPREME COURT. WELLINGTON, March 31. At the Supreme Court before Air Justice Hosking Cecil Harold Pugh for theft of £lO5 from the Post and Telegraph stamp vending machines was sentenced to reformative treatment for a period not exceeding 18 months. Reginald Freeman for theft of £47 from his employers was ordered reformative detention for two years. John Lennox for theft was to six months imprisonment. •Charles Aloysins Welkinson and Harold Fairhall Foliar, two youths, the former for the theft, of opium, and the latter for receiving, were 1 placed on probation for three years. May Faithful convicted of receiving stolen jewellery was declared n habitual criminal. George Henry Smith and William Brandt for breaking and entering were sentenced to two years’ reformative treatment.

:A SATISFIED BOROUGH. TE AWAMUTU, March 31. A unique achievement has been accomplished by the T'e Awamutu H u ~ rough Council, which, three years in succession, collected all tiro rates an other revenue, and again, the year just closed shows a clean sheet. Every penny of over £12,000 in revenue has been paid.

RAILWAY POLICY. WELLINGTON, April 1

In connection with the I’rime Minister's recent references to changes in the railway policy, it is reported locally that one of the measures contemplaed is an Advisory Board, composed of business men. Its special function will bo to suggest methods for improving the business side of the railway system.

CITY COUNCIL THEFTS. WELLINGTON, April 1. Another City Council employee is being called on to account for peculations to a considerable amount. One is already in gaol, awaiting sentence _