MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 11 June 1928, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

(United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.- -Copyright.) Pit AY Eli BOOK REVISION. LONDON, June 8. Sir Wm. Joynson Hicks announces that, in the event of the rejection of tlie new Prayer Book in the House of Commons, that a competent Committee has already been engaged in the task of producing a Prayer Book covering a, noh-eontentious enrichment and variations iu the deposited Book, which, lie had reason to believe, will be generally acceptable if the Bishops’ goodwill is secured. He says it will quickly be presented to the Church Assembly. Therefore, the House of Commons, if it rejects the deposited Prayer Book, will have an opportunity of dealing with obsolete rubrics and other points to which the Archbishop of Canterbury has referred.

SPANISH PREMIER’S ENGAGEMENT. MADRID, June 8. It is officially announced that the Director of Spain, General Do Rivera, has broken oil'his engagement announced on April 21st. The announcement lias caused considerable surprise in Spain. A Royal license had been issued a month yesterday, when it was announced that King Alfonso would attend. His fiancee, Castellancos, is stated to be greatly affected, and left for Paris on Thursday, hut it is understood that difference of opinion arose on Monday about the wisdom of certain financial transactions by Castellan tos. After this, General De Rivera decided on an irrevocable rupture. PRUSSIAN DlfcT SCENE. BERLIN, June 8. Heated argument regarding the im prisoninent of Communist Deputies who are members of tne Prussian Diet developed into a pitched battle at the inauguration of the new Chamber. The Communists demanded an immediate vote for the relase of the Communists in prison. Herr Poll si ok objected. Thereupon a number of Communists beset him, and beat him until he wa* unconscious. The Diet then adjourned. LEAGUE OF NATIONS RADIO. GENEVA, June 8. The League of Nations Council has concluded. Sir A. Chamberlain made a statement questioning the utility of the propsed League Wireless Station in times of a crisis. He added that i' would normally be run at a loss. It was decided to refer the matter to a technical committee. PARIS MURDER TRIAL. PARIS, June 8. Sensationalism attended Mestorino’s trial (on the charge of murdering Trupheme) to the end, when the jury returned a verdict of guilty undei extenuating circumstances. A .sentence was imposed of imprisonment with hard labour for life, probably on Devil's Island.

When tlie jury were retiring, Mestorino threw up his arms and cried “mercy!” He again went into a dead faint.

the jury called the judge to their room for an assurance that the death sentence would not be imposed, in the event of extenuating circumstances being found. The Trupheme family were also awn rded £IOOO. After the verdict the Judge issued a warrant for the arrest of the woman Charnaux on a charge of aiding to conceal the body and of receiling the stolen jewels. She was arrested in the street, and was locked up. Mestorino recovered somewhat when he learned lie had not been sentenced to dentil. His wife, on bearing the sentence, attempted to commit suicide by taking poison in an anteroom. She was sent, to the hospital, and is now recovering.

JAP SEA.MEN’S STRIKE, PROVES SUCCESSFUL. TOKYO, June 9. A compromise lias been reached on the dispute whereby three hundred non-Confereneo steamers have been held up waiting a decision on a wages issue, the shipowners having refused the seamen’s demands. The compromise is considered to bo a victory for the seamen. MURDER. CASE. LONDON, June 9. In the Court at Edinburgh, where Oscar Slater was condemned to death for the murder of Mi.ss Gilchrist in 1909, an appeal lias begun against the conviction of Slater, who was reprieved after he had served eighteen and a-half years. Counsel asked leave to recall Miss'Gilchrist's maid servant, Helen Lambic, who, before the crime, told her former employer, that owing to Miss Gilchrist’s fear of murder, admission to the house was only possible by signal. She later denied this .statement.

The Lord Justice General pointed out that Helen Lambic might be dead. Counsel: “We have been informed that she is hiding.” Counsel said that the police had arranged for identification, taking Slater handcuffed Though a corridor in the presence of witnesses. Slater also desired to call a woman who at present he refused to name, hut who had been a fugitive since leaving Miss Gilchrist’s house. Slater was also, calling Sir I. Spilsbury for evidence regarding description of injuries, upon the photographs of which Doctor Adams, who was now dead, had opposed the Crown’s case, stating that" Miss Gilchrist was murdered with a hammer. Tlie Lord Advocate urged that the ease could not be retried, as would result if-Slater gfive evidence.