GENERAL NEWS ITEMS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2564, 7 April 1923, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS ITEMS.

The death of a man while being taken to his home in Hayes, England, after voting at the general election was discussed by the Hayes Urban Council. Councillor R. W. Gunton said bis information was that the man, though ill, was taken to vote. Councillor Rawlings: It was a most wicked and disgraceful thing to take him out of his lied to vote, and those responsible are very much to blame. “I understand,” said Councillor Gunton, “that another man who was taken to the poll was so -ill that he did not know the names of either of ,the three candidates, and that the booth had to be closed until lie recovered somewhat,”

A young married woman, Violet Gore, was acquitted at Higliam Ferrers, Northamptonshire, of a charge of attempting to murder Ethel Turner, who was a fellow-servant with her at Campbell House School. It had been alleged that Mrs Gore put rat poison in a cake, part of which was eaten by Turner. Mr G. R. Paling, from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, said that analysis showed that there was enough poison in the unconsumed portion of the cake lo kill anyone who ate it. On the other hand, the evidence showed that GofC and Turner were friends, and lie could suggest no motive for any attempt at poisoning. The evidence olso showed that for a time dining the cooking Gore was away from the kitchen. Having called nil (lie evidence prepared by the local police, Mr Puling- sai<l that ho eoulfl not conscientiously ask for a committal and the magistrate dismissed the case.

There is in Dover Infirmary a Frenchman who is over 103 years old. He is Jacob du Gray, a Crimean veteran. He lias been married five times, and his fifth wife,' who is seventy-nine is still alive. Ho is a teetotaller and non-smoker, and attributes his great age to lemon drinking.

George Godwin, a plumber, was working on a gas pipe in St. Thomas’ Church, Colnbrook, when a spark (lew from his chisel, ignited the gas, and caused an explosion which hurled him across the chancel. Choir seats were thrown ifi all directions, stained glass windows were damaged and the concrete floor was cracked and torn, but strangely enough, the altar was not injured. Built with a displacement of 1,325 tons, 300 ft. in'length, and fitted with machinery of 27,000 horse power, the new destroyer Wren, designed to steam 34 knots per hour, has been completed tov native service, mid is to join the Fourth Destroyer Flotilla, Atlantic Fleet. The Wren has been equipped with four 4.7 inch guns and two pompoms. Eastbourne’s only centenarian, Mrs Maria Podgrift, has died in her 101st year. She once had the honour of cooking a Norfolk dumpling for King Edward, then Prince of Wales, when he was (he guest of the East Norfolk Regiment during annual training at Great Yarmouth.