BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 22 January 1926, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

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FUTURE OF LIBERALISM. LONDON, Jan. 21. Rumours that lie intended to launch a movement for a Liberal-Labour Alliance were promptly scotched bv Mr J Lloyd George at Carnavon. II<? said T it was unwise for the Liberals to negotiate for an Alliance with any party. They should concentrate their energies on securing a large Liberal representation in the next Parliament. When that was achieved it would be time to consider co-op oration with men prepared to support the programme the Liberal Unity approved, whether it involved a Coalition Government or not. RANK NOTE SCANDAL. £ COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY. (Received this day at 9.30 a.rn.) 1 , BUDAPEST, Jan. 21. ? ’ As a result of the agreement between the Government and the Opposition a Parliamentary Commi->sion of 25 members is being appointed to investigate the political side of the Bank Note Affair. It will be empowered to summon all persons whose evidence is required. Meetings will he held secretly. The latest arrest in connection with the bank note forgeries, is that of Johann Stix. an engineer, on a charge of collusion with the alleged forgers. PUBLIC DEFRAUDED HALF A MILLfON INVOLVED. (Received this day at 9.30 a.m.l LONDON, Jan. 21. Three brothers, Alexis. Walter and Henry .Mandeville, were each awarded six years’ penal servitude on 51 < barges of conspiracy to obtain large sums of money by false pretences. They pleaded guilty to twelve charges.

The prosecution said the brothers, through advertisements, circulars, and the newsaper “Financial Mail,” which Alexis edited and in connection with which he formed a company, induced the public to buy stocks and shares. The company in 1919 showed a loss of £50,000 sterling, but nevertheless declared a dividend ol 30 per cent, from money paid by subsequent subscribers. During the years 1918-21 the Manderville* received from the public £511,800 sterling, of which £31,200 were paid to the “Mail” Company, the balance being misapropriated to their

own use. All the brothers maintained expensive establishments. It was also recalled that the Manap dervillh*’ bucket shops failed in 1909 with liabilities totalling £121,000, the asets amounting to £OO, Tb was impossible to say the extent to which the public had been defrauded in the present case, but half a million would be a modest estimate.

'LINCOLN’S FRANK ADMISSION. (Received this day at 10.25 a.m.) LONDON. Jan. 22. Lincoln’s defence was a frank admission that he fired the shots. He said : “I can’t say I fired at anything particularly, I simply fired in Richard’s direction. I was terrified because Richards was firing. 1 rushed him. struck him with a bottle, but did not know I had killed him.” Lincoln said he always carried a pistol, because bis father did. There was fascination in the. possession of such a thing. Counsel for the defence urged a verdict should he one of manslaughter, which the jury agreed to. The Judge in sentencing Lincoln said: “You have cut off by a wicked folly the life of a young, happy and man, thereby forfeiting your owli life. Von are also young with every possibility of being happy and useful.” / Stewart was thereupon placed in the '•►dock and charged with robbery and ™ violence. The Crown offered no evidence.

Tho Judge commcnled it. tviml'l be a g-uoss miscarriage at justice if la- did charge Stewart, who was later arrested and charged with simple burglary.

OPTIMISTIC NOTE. POSITION IN BRITAIN. (Received this day at 11.25 a.in.) LONDON. Jan. 2L. The Hon. "Winston Churchill, ad- - dressing the Leeds Chamber of C’om- '' merco, struck an optimistic note in regard to the future of commerce and industry, declaring that there was undoubted though .slow improvement. Moreover, employment had lieen reduced. Apart from the coal miners, the world was more peaceful, the harvests were good and trade was mending.

Mr Churchill said that apart from the coal subsidy there was every probability that tlie Budget forecasts would work out with substantial accuracy, though the coal convention will cast the country an extra twentyone millions sterling, of which thioe i quarters will be used for paying the coni miners’ wages. The Government was entitled to make a detailed survey of expenditure with a view to curbing increases. These were largely automatic such as

pensions. Continuing Mr Churchill said: “All departments have been asked to frame their estimates in the most modern manner; vet, last autumn I was confronted with estimates thirty millions 'above the present year.” Mr Churchill urged that the scheme for economy must hang together and jnmst not he whittled down. DEATH SENTENCE. LONDON. .Tan. 22. Lincoln was sentenced to death . in connection with the murder of Richard s. MURDER TRIAL SENSATION. LETTER. TO SWEETHEART. (Received this day at 11.25 a.m.) LONDON. Jan. 22. Surprise was caused at tho trial of Stewart and Lincoln for the murder of Richards, hv the reading of a letter from Lincoln written in prison to his j sweetheart. In this he said he and Stewart went to Richards’ house for purpose of seeking money. They , found half a bottle of brandy, which they consumed and then left, taking two bottles of beer. Later they returned, expecting to find Richards asleep. Instead, they encountered him and sliots- were filed on both sides. Richards fell wounded. Lincoln said he supported Richards’ head for a time and then hoi ted. He had nurtured no evil against Richards since whose death the writer had “suffered hell.”

TITe letter was intercepted by the Governor of the prison. The Judge held there was no evidence of murder against Stewart, whom the jury' acquitted.

Lincoln’s case was adjourned. [On Dec. 27th. a', message from London said :—A Christmas tragedy occurred at Trowbridge. Edward Charles Richards was found shot in his own garden. He made a statement to the police, who, on Christmas Day, arrested Bombndier John Lincoln at a house where a party was progressing. Lincoln said : “Do not break up the party. I will come quietly.”]