NEWS BY MAIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 October 1922, Page 4

NEWS BY MAIL.

FIVE MURDER ARRESTS. VIENNA, Aug. -0. Five persons have been arrested in connection with the discovery in the office of a timber .merchant, JLi r Steiner, at Graz, the capital of Styria, of the nunnmified head, hands, feet and trunk; of a woman named Elsa Monteniire, who disappeared in Graz in April. The different portions were wrapped in paper and squeezed into a pillar bearing a flower vase. Separated from her husband, an officer. Frau Montcmire, was known as the Merry Widow of Graz. Like many women of good family in Austria, she traded privately in furs and jewellery.

It is alleged that the woman was invited to tea at Herr Steiner’s flat ami that Steiner flung a cord round her neck from behind and strangled her, while a Lieut Keller pinioned her hands. For two nights the body lay on a divan upon which Steiner slept. Other portions of the body were found yesterday tinder the coal in the cellar of Col Filipck, Lieut Keller’s stepfather. Steiner, Keller, Filipck, anti the wives of Steiner and Keller have been arrested, ft is further alleged that tliey plotted together to murder the woman and divide the property in her flat. An attempt is said to have been made in March to poison her with morphia, and then she was strangled on April 3.

MOTOR CAR FOR POPE. ROME, Aug. 20. Pins XI is the first Pope to own a motor car. This is the gift of Milan Roman Catholics to their former archbishop. It is the latest 80-h.p. Bianchi model of standard type, with, the usual electric fittings. Over its mauve coat the 1 ontifical arm's appear in enamel on each door. When it was delivered the Pope seemed delighted. He is reported to have said that now lie owned a motor car he would not take enough exercise, a drive replacing his daily walk in the Vatican gardens. This drive—about 3 miles consists of a double tour round the gardens. People wonder whether the gift is not a hint to the Pontiff to break bis voluntary imprisonment and leave the Vatican to go motoring.

NEW LORD EX-MOUTH. NEW YORK, Aug. 20

Mr Henry Edward Pellew, wh» on the death of his cousin Biscount Exmouth succeeds to the title, has lived since 1888 in Washington, where he is well known as a man of affairs.

Before taking up his residence in Washington the new viscount, who is 94, spent some years here. He was associated with the late Mr Theodore Roosevelt in the formation of the New York Bureau of Charities, and was interested in tenement house inform. For a time'he was president of an association for improving the condition of the poor. He was also a member o' the School Commission and an active member of the Society for Sanitary Reform.

In spite of his advanced age he is still active in the public service and has taken a leading part in the plans for the building of an Episcopal Cathedra! in Washington. He is a past presi.leni of the St George Society, an AngloAmerican organisation. The new viscount, who is u noiunuised American, lias also devoted himself to work among Negroes. His only son Charles Ernest, horn In 1863, now the licir apparent, is a professor of chemistry at Columbia Lniversity.

MONEY OUT OF RAIN. FIELD DAY FOR AMERICAN HUMORISTS. NEW YORK, July 8. American humorists are having a field day at the expense of the rain insurance companies, who in New York

State have paid out more than £IOO,OOO on policies taken out to protect their holders against wet during the -Independence Day (July 4th) holidays. Sincere Englishmen having started insuring themselves against inclement holiday weather, it has become in the United States a national pastime, with the curious result, as a despondent broker observed to mo to-day, that people here no longer put by money for a rainy day, but pray for rain to earn

money. In other words, thousands of Americans. instead of making hay while the sun shines, make money when the rain

The rainfall this summer lias been unprecedented in its persistency. Everyone, consequently, has collected linin' the rain insurance companies—vendors of hot sausages, popularly known as "hot dogs,” who sell thenedibles at open-air booths, seaside hotels, Imsehrill dulis, and even golf-

At Atlantic City, the resort near here, for instance, the big. hotels are insured against the possibility of rain reducing their gross receipts duiing the holiday period. Vendors of peanuts took out policies of £25, iuany golfers carried policies insuring their holiday games of golf for the same amount. halt the biggest losses suffered by the insurance companies were paid to baseball clubs, some of which collect on even a trace of rain. Premiums range from 8 per rent upwards, the average being 12 per cent.