AMERICAN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 December 1923, Page 3

AMERICAN ITEMS.

LATEST CABLE NEWS

Australian and n.z. cable association. AIKXICAX MORTALITY. VAXCOFVFR, Pec. 21. According to a report received at Colonia Morelos, the earthquake in Sonorn, Mexico, took a heavy toll of lives in the town of Granados, and ffausapas. Persons who had retired for the night constituted the major proportion of fatalities. They were killed fvlien three ’houses, collapsed. Opoto is reported to have sulfered hut slightly, having no deaths and few injured. Reports from Maeudcnri and Marceriehiee are anxiously awaited. Tlc-.-e are small towns, cast of the volcanic range of mountains which is helme d to he the centre of the disturb,a me*. AIR ARM AMP. NTS. (.Received this day at 8 a.m.) WASHINGTON", pec. 22. The quest,ion ot an inUM national conference am the limitation of air armaments was discussed at a meeting cf President CY.didge and Sir William Sutherland alter which the latter stated that the Piitish Government’s position was well known. Sir William said: “We are in favour ol ft conference. I do net believe, however , in view of general conditions existing in l'hirn|o. France would agree to any reduction in aircraft ond consequently a conference would lie fruitless.’' Sir William Sutherland added that he informed Mr Coolidgc concerning Brit Nil's air [dans, including the proposed dirigible .service from Fnglarid to India.

IiITXARD. fltpcnived this day ;it R a.m.) XKU' YORK, I U■<■(■],!l l* ■ r 22. Before railing for France .M. Wertheimer. the fj'iVij'!', stated that F.pinard, the French ihuroughbred clkim;>io:i. Hill compote nitli the pick of next year’s American IVriir-y ear-olds in three inces, in September and October. RFAI-R I'XXIXO. Received this day at Ibid a.m.') WAKHTNGTI I.X. December 22. Tile illicit liquor scandal is threatening to toucli the most exclusive and -highly connected circles. It has heen disclosed that the Federal Grand Jury inis heen asked to investigate and return indictments against three men already a nested and a large ntimher of others, Imtli sellers and purchasers of intoxicants under the conspiracy section of the Volstead !a>v. which provides lor the punishment, of both jiarties in such transactions. The police report that part of the stock of liquor being i-old was under the protection of a foreign legation and preliminary iitteni|..ts tit. seizure were negatived by protests claiming diplomatic immunity. 'ldle syndicate of bootleggers had a central ( hire, at which tbev received telephone calls which were relayed to awaiting automobile.- which sped to a supply station and thence made their deliveries. This lias been for a long time baffling the police.

A TRAGF’DY. 'Received this dnv at 9. Id arm.) XF\V YORK. flee. 22. A. telegram from C’uopers’ .Mills. Maine, says driven to desperation and madness h.v separation from his wife. John Snow, a Polish lumberman. 2d. killed five persons and himself. .Mrs Snow was living with an eighty-year old mother, as a result of a quarrel with her husband. She was entertaining friends, including a neighbour's wife and the hitter's son and Mrs Snow’s sister. Snow wl.o worked in the wood nearby told a friend earlier’ in the day that he missed his wife very much and wept. Snow apparently proceeded to his mother-in-law r house, and came upon a group of women. An altercation occurred and Snow procured a revolver and shut four women, a hoy and himself. I’assersby discovered the tragedy.

A DA I! INC ROBBERY. XEAY YOU K, Dec. 23. A bandit, clivssed as Santa. Clans, strolled into a jeweller's store in Alollne, Illinois, and eomptdled the proprietor 1 o hand over a thousand sterling in rash and five thousand worth of diamonds. KLE KEEN KI, AN ST IK. Hlece-ivod this day at 9.0 a.ni.) NEAV YOUK, Dee. 23

Philip Fox has be<*n sentenced at Atlanta City to life imprisonment lor the murder of William tohurn. Ihe trial caused a great stir amongst the Ku Klttx.Klan organisations througliout the Southern States as Cohurn was the lawyer who directed a legal light with the object ot wrestling the control id' the Flan from the Evans group and replacing it in the hands ol AA illiant Simmons, the lonnder ol the organisation. Cohnrn’s investigations involved Fox in criminal actions and Fox, who was publicity manager for Fvans, fearing exposure declared when hi 1 shot Cohurn that he would rather he hanged than ruined. The jury ignored the plea of insanity.

NEW YORK EVEN I NCI POST. NFW YORK, Dee- 23 Curtis, owner of the Philadelphia Lodger, has purchased the "New A ork Evening Post ' lor lour thousand stoiling.