AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 May 1928, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(Australian Press Association.) WOMAN MURDERED. (Received this day at 10.15 a.m.) SYDNEY, May 21. Miriam Merrimnn, aged 56, residing at Middle Harbour, North Sydney, was found shot through the head.' apparently with a pea rille, which was found m the house, recently discharged. Frederick Lawrence, aged (12, a painter, living with deceased for 20 years, and claiming to be her husband, was' arrested and charged with murder. He denies the charge and told the police deceased .must have committed suicide, but the police found the pca-ritle in another part of the house entirely apart from the body. Lawrence’s sister, living a mile away, paid a chance visit to the House. When she learned what had happened, she fell on her knees on the front verandah and prayed aloud, for her brother and the dead woman. A curious crowd gathered with bared beads. 1 The police last night searched a long time before they found the ten year old son nearly frantic, at his aunts. He told the police lie saw his father creeping along the passage towards Ins mother with a pea rifle. His father gave him a two shilling piece to clear out quickly. The police learned that Lawrence was mostly unemployed lately and wanted his wife to shift to another suburb, but she was so attached to the place that she declined.

LIQUOR LAW. SYDNEY, May 21

The Minister of Justice (Mr J. I.ee) states the Government is not unmindful of necessary liquor reform and intends, if Prohibition is defeated on September Ist. to review the whole 0 f the ramifications of the liquor traffic with the object of trying to minimise evils.

SHIPOWNERS’ ATTIT U DE. SYDNEY. May 24

The shipowners are watching closely the trend of events in the Cooks Strike, and if the strike extends, immediate steps will he taken to organise means, whereby essential services can be maintained, with protection from the Federal Government civil and military forces. . „ t . Fear was expressed overnight that the Aorangi, due M-day, which is on the Australian Articles, will become involved, but the owners have given an assurance that no such action is intended by the owners.