BRITISH X FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 18 January 1926, Page 3

BRITISH X FOREIGN NEWS

{[Australia & N.Z. C’ablu Association

ENGLISH FARM TRAGEDY. EVIDENCE AT INQUEST. LONDON, January 17. At tlio inquest on Mis Crabtree (cabled on January 14th) it was stated Sharpies was unfit to attend. He had been previously taken from an institution.

The husband gave evidence that he thought Sharpies was a fit person to leave with his wife. Doctor Lately said Mrs Crabtree was struck from behind and he was of the opinion that she fell dead instantly. The inquest was adjourned.

EPIDEMIC OF LOVE TRAGEDIES

LONDON,. January 17

An epidemic of love murders is reported to bo sweeping over Germany. Some of the most beautiful women and handsome men have gone to their deaths recently owing to love troubles. In Merlin alone 57 suicides were reported in one week.

SHANNON STRIKE TERMINATES. THE DOCKERS GIVE IN. LONDON- Jan. 17. The Labour Dispute, which has lasted four months in Limerick, in connection with the big German scheme for electrical power derived from the .Shannon has hoen virtually ttJrminntellarge the steamers carrying the coned by the dockers deciding to diss t rub t iona 1 in a term! s.

NEW YORK’S CRIMINALS. NEW YORK, Jan. If

The State Prison Commission, following on a Survey of llie year's statistics, declares an alarming situation exists. Jt asserts that the criminals of America to-day are its youth, pointing out that whereas the prison population twelve years ago was composed of well-known wrong-doPrs and older men, the entire population of the Tombs prison consists of men under thirty and l.oys of whom large numbers are between sixteen and twenty, 'idle report says:—‘'Conversations gave the impression that these do not possess a tough, sordid nature, most of them being of the ordinary type seen about the streets. Very lew seemed to realise their desperate plight and tfie seriousness of the crimes committed or the outlook for their future lives. The Commission urges the establishment of the foundation for studying the localities and homes from which these youths come, and advocates an organised attempt to improve the surroundings and influences which are driving them to crime, also the building of more accommodation which would ‘ obviate herding young boys with hardened criminals.

OBITUARY. LONDON. Jan. Hi. Obituary—At Florence, the musician Ernieo Toselli.

ATTACK ON DRIEST. PARIS, Jan. 10. The Abbe des No.vers a upon red at the Court in connection with the case at Mclun recently (when he was attacked by ttyelve persons from Bordeaux, who threw pepper in his eyes, and bound, stripped and flogged him. tHI he was rescued by gendarmes, and tlio assailants were arrested). The Abbe des Noyers was examined at the Court for three hours. The Abbe- declared that he had no connection at present with the Bordeaux sect of whom Madame Mesmiii is the head, but he admitted that he had attempted exoicism in the ease ol two young women belonging to that order. He severed his*connection with the order in September ol 1923. when y Madame Mesmiii suggested to him that the time had come to proclaim a new religion, wherein she hoped that he would become one of twelve apostles. She bad offered him the choice of being a new Saint Peter or a new Saint Paul. Horrified at this proposal, the Abbe said that, henceforth, he would have no connection with the order.

A previous cable stated that, behind the attack on the Abbe there is a weird story of a statue of the Virgin, belonging to a Madame -Mesmiii, w.ncb wept, but it ceased weeping when it was removed to a convent. Madame Mesmiii replaced it by a faseiude from Milan, which did not weep, but exhaled sweet perfume. That also teased and Mesrnin began to suffer. She then accused the Abbe of witchcraft, despite the fact that the authorities demonstrated the absurdity of miraculous statues. The Abbe’s attackers dcclaied that they had come expressly from Bordeaux to chastise the Abbe whom they accused of withheraft, and blamed him for family misfortunes. I lie assailants were charged with conspiracy to assault and outraging of morality.

THE “CEASE FIRE.” PARIS, Jan. 16. ’ The French Corporal Collier, who sounded the “Cense Fire” after the par, has been awarded the Cross of the Legion ot Honour.

royal jewels. ROME, Jan. 16

The late Queen Margherita left her famous collection of pearls, uhicu are believed to be the most valuable m he possession of any single person., to he son, King Victor Emmanuel. Hie late King Humbert presented Queen M.ugherita. with a pearl necklace every birthday, and she herself purchased many others. The collection now counts of thirty-two strings, the present value of which is estimated at £l,»-Ub-

°°Qucen Margherita bequeathed her villa at Bordighera to tlie Association of War Widows and Mothers.

SYLE OF COMMONWEALTH SHIPS. LONDON, January 16.

It is reported that the Commonwealth liner “ Cooee,” late the “ New Munster,” has been sold to lumush buyers for nineteen thousand sterling, delivery to be made where she is now lying in Britain. Since the inauguration of the sh p pin" Hoard, seventeen old unsuita de ships have been sold, including eleven since --r Larkin arrived m London in April. , , ~ It is generally admitted that the prices are satisfaetoiy. There remain seven surpuls steamers for sale: The Erkunda, Emit a, Erriba, Delungra, Dinoga, Dromana and Ronral. Negotiations for these have reached an advanced stage. VY lien these are sold, there will remain only ten Commonwealth Line vessels now in commission, namely, the five Bay liners nnd the two Dale liners, besides the Boornra, the Bulla and Carina It is understood that the slupowning and • shipbuilding communities are forecasting an early move m tbe direction of selling the remainder of the fleet, or of supplementing it- with new liners.