AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 November 1924, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[dy telegraph—per press association.] LOVE TRAGEDY. SYDNEY, Nov. 7. A sensational shooting affair occurred at the Northern ltivers Hotel, in Sussex Street, Sydney. William Kirkwood, employed as useful hand at the hotel, shot and dangerously wounded Bertha Linger, another employee at the hotel. Then he shot himseli dead. According to the police evidence, Kirkwood was in love with a third employee, Mary Russell. He met her on the landing, and attempted to kiss her, at the same time brandishing a revolver. The girl Russell rushed into a room where Miss Linger was. and bolted the door. Kirkwood then flung himself against the door, and partly forced it. and fired the revolver through the opening. Then he shot himself, and fell into the room.

The girl Russell managed to escape, and brought the landlord and other help. Kirkwood held them at hav. threatening to shoot. Suddenly he bolted to his own room, and locked the door. When the police entered, they found him dead; shot in the temple.

GRAFT CHARGES. SYDNEY, Nov. 7. In connection with the extension of the terms of the Croplev Commission, it was stated on behalf of the Crown, that the Crown would allege that the terms of prospective tenancy required the landlord to erect a petrol pump outside the promises, and the Chief of the Traffic Department opposed this. Alderman Walker was then interviewed. and subsequently the City Council’* approval was given. Alderman Walker was given a cheque for £25 by an estate agent concerned with the propertv which lie endorsed and paid into the Bank. This, the Crown alleges, was for using his influence as an aiderman in securing the erection of the

pump. The Commission, owing to difficulty in securing witnesses, adjourned till Monday.

TRAGEDY I’ARTICULARS. MELBOURNE, Nov. 8.

In eonnee lion with the Dandeiumg tragedv. a Melbourne firm received a letter ’ from Marklv. which goes to throw light on the affair. Afarkl.v wrote:—l have a mentally afflicted wife and I cannot leave. I am a nervous wreck on the verge of madness, having lost C 1.500 sterling in two years, with the collapse of my own and mv. wife’s health aiul mortgages on four horses. Unless my son. who is car only support can get work T must go into an asylum with mv wife and lose my home on which I have paid £lO9. lam ruined with my home gone forever, and lile in a madhouse before me.

SERIOUS CHARGES

AGAINST ASYLUM DOCTOR

• Received this dav at 9.25 a.m.)

MELBOURNE. Nov. S.

Remarkable evidence was given before the Royal Commission of Enquiry into the allegations hv members of the staff of Kew Asylum, against the junior medical officer of maladministration and cruelty to patients. One nurse gave evidence that this doctor extracted patients’ teeth ill the open air without anaesthetics or other necessary rrccautiou. for the sake of obtaining dental experience, lie also experimented upon unwilling patients in order to demonstrate to nurses th« use of surgical instruments. In order to show her how to do it. he got her to draw a tenth.

Another nurse gave similar testimony. She added that, hypodermic injections were given patients as a punishment. not as a sedative, because they were naughty. "I ho patients a I towards complained of sickness and soreness. The witness declared that both nurses and patients were afraid of the

doctor. Other allegations involved are the .bringing of liquor into t.bo asvliim. ronpving the fence dividing the male anil female patients, want of proper cleanliness regarding clothing, insnflioieiicv of clothing, cruelty in forcing patients to bathe ill the open in wintry weather and the telling ol indecent stories to noises.