AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 November 1924, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

itJHTHALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. AN AAVFCL TRAGEDY. BRISBANE. Nov. 17. A pathetic tragedy is reported at AA’ilcorton, a suburb of Toowoomba. Mrs Trap]) visited the home of some relatives, two miles distant, and informed them that she had cut the throats of her two children, Ethel (aged four) and Jane (aged three). She added that after washing the bodies and handaging the throats, site put the dead children hack in bed. placed a wreath upon them, and then attempted suicide by cutting her own throat. The woman is apparently sufi’ering from dementia. BRISBANE, Nov. 17. Mrs Trai>. after she cut her own throat, went to hoi- husband at a farm two mi’es away, where she informed him that she had cut the throats of James, aged three (not Jane) and Ethel aged four. The husband returned home with her and found the children’s heads almost severed. There was no indication of a struggle. Two older children who were in the house at the time were not touched by tlie mother. The latter is now in tlie hospital, hut her injuries are not serious THE GRAFT CASE. SA’DXEA’, November 17. There was an unexpected development of the Cropley Inquiry to-day. When the Commission met, Mr AA’att, counsel for Alderman Walker, announced that he had obtained a Supreme Court rule nisi, pirohihiting the inquiry from proceeding. Jle said lie had taken tin’s step in consequence ct " ci'itain statements made on Friday regarding his client, when the latter was absent, lie took- it as a fundamental principle of justice that, if charges are made against a man, they should he made when lie is present, and rMe to answer. Mr Watt entered a proto 1 1 against these proceedings being kept *.- tin* records of the case. The Cioaissioner adjourned the in--I,a.- until the writ was dealt with cn Thursday.

In support ot the itile nisi, it is (•Piinied the Cropley Commission is illegal. and contrary to Jaw inasmuch as its real purpose is to inquire into a criminal conspiracy to obtain a bribe, such crime being properly eogiiisaiilc hv a court nf law, amt that tho Commission is not such a court. MOTOR FATALITY. SA’DXEA’, November 17. A motor car containing Mrs Bollard ami George Ellison was run down by k train near A’ass, both occupants being killed.

A MURDER CASE. * SYDNEY. Nov. 17. Alfred AA’illiam Mclnnes was committed fur trial on a charge of murdering Winifred Foley, a barmaid, at a Sydney hotel, on September 21st. Evidence was given that the couple bail Ik'l'H keeping company until the deceased discovered that Mcltmos was a married man. The girl then sought for police intervention to prevent him from pestering her. On the morning nf the tragedy, they quarrelled over tlie return of the engagement ring, which Mclnnes gave her. Subsequently their quarrel was renewed in the street, and shooting by accused followed.

The police gave evidence that McInnes said that he shot Miss Foley, because she hail tantalised him. and be was not going to let anyone else have her.