LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Kumara Times, Issue 1115, 27 April 1880, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Dunedin, April 2G. The Minister for Justice (The Hon. W. Rclleston) has telegraphed stating that he is of opinion, after careful con* sideration, that under the existing circumstances it would be advisable to enter a nolle prosequi in the murder case, reserving the right to prefer a fresh indictment at the next sittings of the Court should fresh evidence render such a step advisable.

It has been stated, on what appears to be good authority, that the police have fresh evidence that Butler was seen near the premises of the murdered people on the moring of the murder. Wellington, April 26. The following information relative to the movements of the San Francisco mail steamer have been received by the Secretary of the General Post Office. The Australia left San Francisco on Monday, the 12th inst.,and under the recent arrangements for shortening the period of transit between London and Auckland, the mail steamer should have left San Francisco on Saturday, the 10th inst., but for some reason unexplained in the telegraph advices, she did not get away on the paoper date. It is anticipated she will make up the two days on the voyage down, and reach Auckland on Ist or 2nd of May. The s.s. City of New York, with the March homeward mails, araived at San Francisco on Wednesday the Ist inst., one day in advance of contract date. '

At an inquest to-day, on the body of Jane Angus, found dead in the Bay. the jury returned a verdict of “Found drowned.”

New Plymouth, April 26. The steam that was being emitted from a fissure in the “ Sugar Loaves” has entirely subsided, and there is now no presence of heat. A TOTALISATOR SWINDLE. Auckland, April 24. The circumstances under which the seizure, yesterday, of two totalisatora and the men connected with their working was effected is stated to be as follows:—Daring the morning it was rumoured that one of the totalisators had been tampered with, and in the afternoon the police were informed of a great swindling transaction in connection with one of the machines. They were informed that in the St. George’s Handicap four tickets had been taken and four numbers registered on the totalisator, and that when the four people who put their money on King Quail came to the totalisator for their money, they found the numbers had been altered to fourteen. Messrs Richards and Corbett offered them onefourteenth instead of one-fourth of the net proceeds. These two gentlemen are accused with having put the total up to 107, to make the numbers tally, but the four speculators, backed-up by au indignant public, refused to have it, and there was a great row. The stew, ards were called for and the police sent for. As Inspector Pardy was seen approaching, the totalisator proprietor offered to pay the four their fourth and proper share of the pool, which was £53. Thus, by alteration to fourteen from four, it left the institution the nice sum of £36 over and above the commission they were entitled to. Mr Felton, with Messrs Richards and Corbett were at once arrested, and incarcerated in the little lock-np. After the Selling Race another totalisator storm arose., Mr Adams was alleged to have adjfed two to his numbers. The police made another raid, and took possession of the instrument and its manager, who was unassisted. A respectable looking man turned up last night with a fifth ticket on King Quail, so that it makes contusion worse confounded for the.

totalisator. The ticket was taken in hand by Detective Jeffrey, and deposited with the other relics. Mr Corbett explained the change of numbers as follows ;—He says there were four numbers up showing that four people had invested. After the race there was number 14, and he thought that number had made investment, but some one outside must have turned the barrel round and made the four come out 14 instead of the proper number. There were only four tickets shown up, and he paid them all. After it was disputed, when they came for the money he first of all offered onc-fourteerth, which would have .left him £36 over and above his commission, and he added how could any man do such a thing as that. It was a mistake altogether. Mr Adam declares he acted fairly with Lis own instrument, and is forming a committee of those who took tickets in the Selling Race.