AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 December 1927, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(By Telegraph—l’er Press Association. SYDNEY MUItDEB TRIAD. VERDICT OF NOT GUILTY. SYDNEY, Dec. 11. The trial of the three 'brothers Higgs on a. charge of murdering Robert Lachlan Leslie at Valley Height* an October 12, was continued. Counsel for the accused, before opening his address to the jury, asked for n direction from the Chief Justice which would end the case at once in favour of liis clients and dispense with the necessity of his having to address the jury at all. He argued that no case had lieen established against the brothers Higgs, and advanced the theory that the man who murdered Leslie came back later and robbed the body. . , . , The Chief Justice ret used to Ink. the ease from the jury. After a retirement of two hours the jnrV returned with a verdict of not guilty, and the accused were dis-

charged. AVAR PENSIONS. CANBERRA. Dec. 10. < The report of the Reparation Com- ' mission, tabled in the House ot Representatives shows that during the year ended the thirtieth of June lad, the cost of war pensions was gieatei than in any other year, ami that more ex-soldier’s received medica ‘ ment. The report states dining • year 133,323 new fusions were gnu - «i.i«..,di„ e number of pensions « t»rce kOth was 259,820. Ibe annual Uah f iHtv was £7,372.000. The number of ' patients under going treat men < increased by fifty per cent The number of cases treated duung the year was 26,180 compared w U 22 742 in the previous year, lhe vo r tal payments during the year nmount- . ed to £8.303,000-