DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 October 1930, Page 5

DOMINION ITEMS.

DOUBLE INQUEST,

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

PALMERSTON NORTH, October 1. The double inquest was held before Coroner A. J. Graham concerning the motor accident near Awahuri on Steptembe 11, when Hebert 'Henry Griggs and his infant grandson Peter Brace lost their lives.

In the former case the coroner returned a verdict of accidentally killed, adding that the accident was due to unfortunate set circumstances. Deceased met two cars and apparently he pulled too far off the,bitumen. In attempting to regain the. road he overturned his car. In the case of the child, the cor,oner returned a formal verdict in accordance with the medical evidence. PETROL PRICES MAY DROP. WELLINGTON, October 2. Inquiries renewed in Wellington today, confirmed the response of Saturday, that no increase in the price of petrol is pending. One authoritative opinion is that the tendency is all the other way. ALLEGED ROBBERY OF / JEWELLERY. AUCKLAND, October 2. Frances McGovern,. 2/3,.., /a jockby,' was arrested in a hotel at an early hour this morning, on :a charge of steak: ing at Point Piper. Sydney, between September 3 and 13, from the .dwelling of John Sydney Bovill, one diamond and platinum broach, with other diamond jewellery, two suitcas.es, two pairs of binoculars, of a total value of £2,400. The accused was remanded till October 9, the Detective saying an escort was coming from Sydney.

Counsel asked that accused’s name be suppressed, saying the charge looked ominous, but his client had a complete answer to it. The Magistrate refused suppression, and also refused to grant bail.

A LAZY POSTMAN

CHRISTCHURCH, October 2

“Owing to. your neglect and laziness you may have caused untold harm and suffering to many people,” said Mr Mosley S.M., when dealing with George Douglas Otten, a postman, aged 18, who appeared on seven charges of wilfully detaining letters, Otten was convicted and fined £5 in default one month hard labour. “There is no suggestion of distonestv.” said chief detective Carroll. “The accused was employed as a postman, and in his locker at tlie Post. Office., 285 letters that should have been delivered, were found. The young man’s explanation is that he put the letters in the locker intending to deliver them, but wet weather followed, and he put it off, until in the end he was afraid to deliver them.”

CHARGE OF FALSE PRETENCES. WELLINGTON, Oct. 2. Tn the Magistrate’s Court, Thomas Henry Barry pleaded iguilty to obtaining from Ernest Anthony,, a motor ear valued at £4O by false pretences. The purchase was made at Grey mouth, and when arrested at Wellington Barry said he intended to sell the car the day lie bought it for £6O. He .had oven round rjbout Greymouth for two months drinking, and had then stowed away to Wellington. Speaking from the dock, Barry said he realised he was technically guilty, hut lie had no intention of defrauding the owner of the ■car. Had he not had an accident with it he would have sold it and opened an account at the bank where his post-dated cheque would have been met. Mr Page, S-M., said lie would take time to consider the case, and remanded Barry.

LADY INJURED.

WELLINGTON; Oct. 2.

It was a- shock to many to find that the lady who was the victim of a motor accident last night was Mesdame James Hannah, a lady of high culture, who had travelled much and whose talents were always at the disposal of charitable and kindly causes of all kinds. She married Mr Hannah some years ago. Deceased was a daughter of 11. E. Nicholls, of Khnndallah.

MOTOR ACCIDENT DETAILS. PALMERSTON NORTH, Oct. 2. In the question into the death of Betty Frances Alberew, aged 7, who died at the hospital on September 23, six days after a motor accident, at Oroua Downs, Charles John Dunbar Skinner of Feilding gave evidence that on September 15 he passed a grader working on the Sandon-Himitangi road, at not more than 23 miles an hour, when the girl darted out right in front of the car. He swerved to the right to miss her, but did not apply the brakes as it was too late, and the bumper caught her. William Gilbert Hope, the grader driver, said Skinner’s car when level with the grader wars travelling at 30 to 35 miles an hour. The girl ran across thirty yards in front of the car which swerved to the night, struck her and pulled up seventv-two yards further on. Had the brakes been applied the accident would not have occurred, said witness. The Coroner returned a verdict that deceased died following a fractured skull sustained through being knocked down by a. car negligently driven by Skinner.