NEWS FROM EVERYWHERE

Otaki Mail, 27 February 1922, Page 3

NEWS FROM EVERYWHERE

PLYING MOTOR CAR. Rapidly convertible from motor-car to aeroplane and back again, a novel machine, invented by M. Tumpier, lias been tested before a French technical commission at Bleriol aerodrome at B.uc. In the air it is a two-seater biplane with 300 li.p. Hispano engine. The wings fold back along the fuselage. When working as a motor oar it uses an ordinary 10-12 h.p. automobile engine, which can also be employed for starting the aeroplane motor. The machine first flew for 20 minutes and then, after its wings had been folded ba«k. it ran into Paris as a motor ear. The idea is that motor airmen will be able to keep the machine in their garages and motor out to the lying ground, where, after setting their wings, they can take to the air. Lied to Save Lover. How the loyalty of a woman for the man who supplanted her husband in her affections led her falsely lo confess to murder rather than endanger his life was disclosed at Davenport, lowa, by the confession of Antonio Silva that he killed Pedro Mejin. Mrs Mejia, arrested after the discovery oC her husband's body, said she killed him. Although her story did not wholly corroborate the i'aets. a charge of murder ■jrns made against her. Silva, however, was also detained as a suspect several days after Mrs Mejia's arrest, and finally made a complete confession that he killed Me.iia in order that he might marry his widow. Mrs Mejia. confronted with lids now confession, admitted that she had tied to save Silva and to diver' suspicion from him. Discharged Convict "Starts Afresh." Ernest Savy, who has just served 15 years in a penitentiary in Central France, was recently called to the office of the chief gaoler and invited to sign a liberation form and receive 85 francs to enable him to "start afresh" in the world and seek an honest living. -Savy noticed that the safe in the office was open and contained a. packet of bank notes. This was too much for him. llt> worked so cleverly that the pile of notes found their way from the safe into his trousers pockets. Then he departed after shaking hands with the chief gaoler", who an hour later discovered that the scamp had made off with £2Utii.) belonging to the prison and about £l2(jm the chief gaoler's personal savings.

Wrong People Agitate Tor Big Families.

Some curious evidence was given at a fitting of the .National Birthrate Commission in London by Mr O. E. Poll, author of "The Law of Births an.fi deaths." Ho sa'. 1 that of 445

ried couples in Paris, who were

iKoinesi in a campaign for larger families. 176 were childless. The average number of children in those cases worked out tit one and n-third a family. Another example from France, he •aid, was provided by a nutional committee of 25, including ex-President Poincarc, senators and other prominent men. "These 25 persons who preach to their fellow-citizens by word and pen," said- Mr Pell,, "havo between them 19 children, or not one''child on an average per married couple." In the case of Quakers, well-known as earnest Christians, the birth-rate has fallen to eight per thousand.

Boy In names

At Stratford ("Essex). William Hurst, of Crownfield road, Leytonstone, was summoned for assaulting Arthur Cos. aged 14. According to the prosecution, which was instituted by the N.S. P.C.C, it was stated that Hurst found Cox on a motor-lorry in his garage. He was allegad to have smeared green paint on the boy's body, and after saying "Wipe it off. it might do you some harm," to have poured petrol over the

paint. Hurst was then alleged to have remarked "Let's see if it wall burn." and to have set a light to the boy, afterwards putting out the flames with some clothing, but not before Cox hud been terribly burned. The boy was taken to the hospital and remained an otit-patient for 'tSmi days. Afterwards septic poisoning 3ftt in. Hurst expressed a desire to compensate the boVj ftttd