A
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MONDAY AUGUST 4 1924
'BYFLEET "INQUEST:
JURY'S VERDICT.
'SOMEONE IN THE HOTEL."
After an absence of two hours
and a quarter the coroner's jury which has been inquiring into the death of Alfred George Poynter Jones, the landlord of the Blue Anchor Hotel, Byfleet, returned a
verdict that Jones 'died from
il
Strychnine poisoning admin seed by some or persons living In the Blue Anchor Hotel on Saturday, March 29, with intent to cause Jones's death."
[Jean Pierre Vaquier, a French- man has been committed to the
Assizes next Surrey
by the Woking magistrates
on the capital charge in connection with the death of Mr. Jones.
The foreman added: "We can
and the coroner asked: "You can arrive at nothing nearer than that?"
A nuse followed, during which the Coroner again rond over the
COURT STATISTICS./
SUPREME COURT REPORT.,
SOME INTERESTING DETAILS.
In his report for last year the Registrar of the Supreme Court, Hongkong, says inter alia:→→
"Original Jurisdiction. — Two- hundred and seventy five actions
were instituted in this division of..
the Court during the year 1923 as against 229.in 1922. The debts and damages recovered amounted to £1.550,436.35 as against $771.401.97.
y
Summary Jurisdiction. One thousand nine hundred and thirteen actions were instituted during the year as against 1689 in 1922. The
against $310,577.34 in 1921, and the amounts recovered were $127,016.61 as ngainst $127,916.61 as aguiqst $122,8/1,95 in 1922.
CROWN JEWELS.
SEEN BY SIR Martin
CONWAY, M,P.
The Russian Crown jewels,
which have been the subject of many rumours, are not only safe in State keeping but have been displayed before an English M.P.
He Is Sir Manin Conway, the
House of Coramoas several weeks in Russia, finding its how art is prospering under the new regime. He told a re- porter that he had visited Moscow and Petrograd and had been given every facility to study art.
When authorised to see the Crown jewels officials brought
before them. "They are well | marded," he said, "and while
was examining them the room was fall of people who were unmistak ably officials. Their purpose in
THE CHINA MAIL.
VERTICAL FLIGHT,
ACHIEVEMENTS OF A BRITISH MACHINE.
A British aeroplane capable of vertical flight has been constructed for the Air Ministry and has suc- cessfully passed its first open-air
trials.
The machine has been built in Brennan, the
SIR JAMES OLIVE, REORGANISED LONDON
RIVER POLICE.
The "Evening Standard" learns Commissioner of the Metropolitan that Sir James Olive, the Deputy Police, has definitely decided to retire, and his retirement will take place in the course of the next two months.
of its most interesting figures and Scotland Yard will thus lose one a man who knows more and has served longer with the police than any other person.
Some twenty-two years ago be was promoted superintendent, and then took over the charge of the police of the Thames Division. Afier remaining there two years, during which time he was instru of the system under which the mental in effecting a reorganisation duties of the river police were carried out, he was transferred to take charge of the "X" Division, one of the largest and most im portant in the Metropolis.
t
**THIEF'S CLIMB.
THROUGH 3RD FLOOR. WINDOW.
A jewel robbery has been Colonel W. H. Wild, D.S.O.. in committed at the residence of Hyde Park-gardens, W., by a thier who sealed three rain-water pipes running up the side of the house and gained admittance through the bath-room window on the third floor.
In his climb the thief passed the sitting room on the first floor and the drawing room on the second floor without being seen.
Colonel and Mrs. Witd and a
arrive at nothing nearer than that." claims amounted to $355,439:12 at them and put them on the table solute secrecy of the trial. Extra in and has sacrificed so much for associated with most of the core- fore going to bed at 1030 visited
Criminal Jurisdiction. There
up
his
finding of the jury, and then were 146 cases and 209 persons Keeping them? Well, the Russian were examined, bushes beaten, permanent residence in Brighton, exhausted his energies...
ing to the foreman said to don't say person or persons known?"
The Foreman: We cannot say that. We are of opinion that the murder was cominiited by somone at the hotel; living there at that time.
to go further than that? 11
'seuse of national property stems to have increased in the proportion that their respect for private pro- perty has decreased, and I may say that the people there really think that this property belongs to
person.
1)
Rather more than five years ago art authority and Conservative secret by Mr.
Sir James was selected by Sir member for the English Univers designer, in the huge airship shed
Nevil Macready, the then Com sities, who returned to the at South Farnborough, where the
missioner, to fil the post of Chief Starting life as a drummer boy Constable in charge of the north after Gamma, one of the first of the in the Army, Sir James Olive western district of London, com
military airships, was housed. The became a constable in Whitehall, prising the "F" "N" "S" and friend left the house at eight o'clock in the evening and drove. trial flight was carried out at gand from that humble beginning "X" Division of police. o'clock in the morning in, Metropolitan Police
reached highest post in the Since he becamie Assistant Com-to the theatre, and it is assumed
missioner, four years ago, he has that the thief, who had been wait secluded spot on the aerodrome, He has always been known, as a invariably been appointed Acting ing his chance to enter the house, with only Air Ministry experts strict disciplinarian amongst men. Commissioner during the absences did so shortly after they left. If so, present. Extraordinary precau- and yet no man in the metropolitan of the Commissioner on leave. he must have hidden himself, in-" tions were taken to secure the ab- | police has taken a keener interest Sir James Olive has been side the house, as the servants be
guards were posted all over "the the welfare of men of the force. monial and other functions that Mrs. Wild's bedroom from which neighbourhood. A complete and Sir James, who is at present have taken place in the metropolis the jewels were stolen from a case
and found everything in order. systematic search of all the land living in Queen's Park, will, upon for many years past! in the district was made. Hedges his retirement, take
Colonel and Mrs. Wild returned. His busy official life has not
His about 11.30, and It is possible they and ditches scoured. Even trees Sir James Olive, who was recent-association with the Police Orphan. may have disturbed the thief, who committed for trial at the Criminal
were closely searched, to ensure ly knighted, bas charge of the age will always be remembered. made his exit by the same way as. Sessions, as against 93 and 130
that they screened no unauthorised administration and organisation of He was an original member of he had entered. To complete respectively in 1922. The number
the Metropolitan Police at New the minstrel troupe, and for many his escape he must have crossed of persons acully indicted was
HOVERING AT 20FT." Scotland Yard, and has been years, he has been the honorary the gardens, although the watch- 203 of whom 167 were convicted
The sketches which man there, who begins duty at Only when it was satisfactorily connected with the force for nearly manager.
have formed so distinctive a part 18 p.m., sawnothing of him, and 36 were acquitted. Against 6
ascertained that no one was in hid-52 years. persons the case was abandoned.
STARTED AS A CONSTABLE. Ari has probably never been ing in the precincts of the
of the entertainment have for 35 On the floor of Mrs. Wild's'room In 1922 the figures were thought more of in Russia than to aerodrome was the Brennan craft
After serving for some time in yaars been the work of his pen. were found a broken pair of cuff- These entertainments, held in links, some money, and a short Seventeen petitions were filed, g
Bankruptcy Jurisdiction, museums, as against 52 before the ed hangar,
was drafted to the Commissioner's all parts of the Metropolitan Police piece of wire such as expert thieves Offct at Great Scotland Yard, district during the winter season, use for opening dressing, and being creditors petitions, and war, but they are being taken
great care of, and are extraordi and certainty that delighted the years, passing through the various many thousands of pounds for the
It rose straight up with an ease where he remained for a number of have been the means of raising jewellery cases. debtors' petitions, figures for 1922 narily well visited,
One man, known to the police were respectively 13, 10 and 3. The royal palaces and the big experts who were looking on to a grades, finally attaining the rank of orphanage, and there is no doubt as "The Cat" from his agility in The number of Receiving Orders homes of well-known people in for some minutes, and then safely portion of his service he assisted in its well-being and education to the thing else that will give him a height of nearly 20ft. It hovered Chief Inspector. During this that many a fatherless child owes climbing walls, waterpipes, or any- made was 7, being 3 on creditors Russia are preserved as museums descended. All the time it was formslating a scheme of crimina efforts of Sir James Olive and foothold, is being searched for by petitions and 4 on debtors, pett- and are to-day just as they were under the completest control. tions. The figures for 1922 were left. There is, in fact, what you
statistics which is still in operation | those who assisted him. respectively 8, 5 and 3. The esti- would call a craze for museums. Receiving Orders were made and mated assets, in cases, where
not subsequently rescinded, were $39.176.02
abilities $900.254:14 as against $37.715.55 and $356,703.00 respec- tively in 1922.
ther.
The Coroner: You; are unable respectively 123, 101, 22 and 7. day, and not only have they 250 wheeled out from the closely guard the "A" Division as a constable, he
The Foreman: We are unable to go further. We have tested the evidence in all directions and that is the only opinion we can arrive
al,
"The Coroner: Then I crust take that verdict that Alfred George Poynter Jones died of strychaine poisoning administered by come person or persons living at the Blue Anchor Hotel on Saturday, March
20.
Mr. Powell: Do the jury mean by that someone residing at the hotel or someone simply staying
there of the time.
The Foreman: Someone king
there.
The Corner: I think it is dear
what is meant.
CORONER'S' SOMMING UP
and the
estimated
pictures, I saw pictures of our 'On the walls, among other King and Queen in the private apartments of the late Czar in the Winter Palace.
Petrograd
"Everything is in the hands of Registration of Companies.-On experts, who are always re-arrang December 31 there were 560 coming and improving the galleries,
The Hermitage in panies on the Hongkong Regis- ter, of which 35 were in course of must now be the biggest museum Hiquidaton. During the year 87 in the world. There are, they Earlier in the day evidence had new companies were put on the say, 10 miles of galleries. been given by Mr. John Webster Register and 19 struck off. One senior analyst to the Home Offee, company was transferred from who received certain of the ores Shanghai-to the Hongkong Regis of His deceased from P.C
ter. The fees collected in respect of Cranford. He stated that on "China" companies amounted analysis. these were found to to $141,51276 and those in re contain strychnine in the folow-spect of other companies to ing quantities: Starch and $19.51830 Deposits of the total tests, one-fifth of a grain; liver,value of $3.930,000 have been one-third of a grain; small invade by Inenrance Companies testines, une-thirteenth of a gain. under the Fire and Marine Traces of strychnine were also insurance Companies Deposit present in the other organs, in Ordinance, 1917 cluding the brain. The bottle of bromo salts, tambler, and spot also gave definite reactions for
Fees and Commission.-The total sum, rollected during the year by way of fees and commis-,
strychnine. In all 17-30ths if asion amounted to $69,955.20 as
Horizontal flights was not at-
slight modifications, revealed by Brennan is anxious to make certain tempted on this occasion. Mr.
the test flight as necessary, before the fuller tests are carried out, Trials will also have to be made in rougher weather than existed at the early morning flight.
The Brennan helicopter, which is entirely unlike any of the foreign machines, is based on the gyroscope principle. The research and experimental work has been "As to Russia itself, there are going on in secret for some years. everywhere traces of her former The State has given financial as- magnificences. There are scenes.sistance to the inventor-and--the- of stately ceremonial in Petrograd craft is, of course, the property of and also there are big burnt-ou: the Air Ministry. It Is understood houses. Russia to-day is like a thar the total expenditure in. frame without the picture."
volved reaches nearly £50,000.
SEPTUAGENARIAN INVENTOR Mr. Brennan, who is an Irish- man, borg at Castlebar. West Ireland, is 72 years of age. He had achieved fame as an inventor before he turned his attention seriously to solving the problem of vertical fight.
CAST OF ONE.
WOMAN ON THE STAGE ALL THE TIME.
grain of strychnine were found against $60,488.59 in the previous"Erwartung." which has just been A minimum fatal dose woule he year. about half a grain.
..
Mr. Powell: Did you actully and in the organs of the deceased an amount of strychine equalto'a euroner said a party was held in minimum fatal dose?-Yes, I and the hotel, but so far as could be that actually in the organs; in fact, gathered from the evidence, what I found more than a minimum fatal really happened was an entire dose.
Major Watkins, a qualified mili-except so far as to ask the persons ignoring of the licensing laws tary interpreter who translated the in the bar to go into the back charge to Vaquier at Woking Police premises. They remained in the Station, said the Frenchinat in hack room drinking just the same answer to the tharge said. "I as before until the early hours expected it,
All the suspicions of the following morning, some have been against me. but i assure being the worse for liquor and con you that on the tosh of sy maher fessing 10 being in that condition I am innocent, and I will make and one at least. sleeping at the know tomorrow he wliq, ad- hotel that night. The important ministered the poison and he point to note was that Jones was who bad the poison brought. Then the habit after what was ternied statement concluded with the a merry night" of taking a dose phrase: Do not put me in prison of bromo salts the next morning. if you can help, I prefer to dit. The jury had to decide the cause am not guilty On the followingf death, so on the evidence of day witness attended at the Woting Police Court when the accused in Dr Carlé and Mr Webster there answer to the charge said he would could be no doubt whatever that the cause of death was strychnine not make a statement then, but
poisoning. would do so at the proper time. "I have already said too much to the poison having been ad-
He produced the Brennan
the In musical idiom Schönberg's torpedo which, in 1880, was sold to British Government for produced at the German Theatre. £110,000-more than four times the Prague, offers nothing new to those largest sum ever before paid to an who heard his "Pierrot Lunaire inventor by the Government. He in London a few months ago,
also invented the monorail, a having awaited performance sonic research work involved in that It is of slightly earlier date, gyroscopic railway and the fourteen years and the disintegr-production has been of considera- tion inte little bits of sound had ole value to him in the evolution all essentials it is the same musical not then proceeded so far, but in of the helicopter. language as someone has described as "all fits and starts."
tribution to the art of the stage. But it is Schönberg's first con- Everyone knew that he would not garden opera, for he does not do write an ordinary, common-or- such commonplace things.
11
CABIN BOY."
I
NOW A BARONET AND' SHIPOWNER.
* He tells the story of his rise cabin-boy in a simple, straightforward manner.
It is a drama with a cast of one, a What, then, is "Erwartung?". woman, who is on the stage the Runciraan, 1 small boy, walked Sixty-three years ago Walter whole time, while one or Simple transformatious indicate beach. He had run away from two along a sandy Northumberland her progress through a dark forest. home to be a cabin boy. Now Sir She is haunted with foreboding. Walter Runciman, Bart, publishes She knows that she has a rival in his reminiscences in a portly the affections of her lover. There volume after a long life of work is danger-and much "psychology" and success, Everything pointed in the air."
Finally she stumbles against a from body." "Tis "he! dored. More shrieks, Unfaithful Shricks. Mur
He tells of a captain whose ship Still more shrieks He stares so.
was putsailed by a Dutch, galliot. We seem somehow to remember" What are you swearing like that that stare served up to Salome on for?" said the mate, Swearing like a platter. Perhaps that is why we that for!" frothed the captain; "are. are not shown it here. It is un- you blind? Sed where that galliot necessary since we know it. More is now! That's a fine thing, for shrieks Mich hysterical outpour God Almighty to give a leading ings. Then subsidence, in which wind to a Dutchman, and let His the curtain joins.
own countrymen be left on a les shore!"
minstered in the bromo salts on the he added, "I will see my solidor morning of March 29. As regards before I speak... Will you see the, reporters of the Daily Mail and the question of suicide he thought the Daily Mirror" and to ask the jury could at once put the sug them not to speak about as to what gestion out of their minds. On the other hand, they had evidence I have told them."
This concluded the evidence, that Vaquier bought strychnine but before the coroner's summing under an assumed name. They had up Mr. Powell asked to be allowed the Frenchman with a mad infa at opportunity of stating that uation following Mrs. Jones about, neither the solicitor nor the and she refusing to leave her solicitor's clerk who had been suggested, painted to motive for husband to go with him. That, he
the poisoning of Mr. Jones. As to the position of Mrs. Jones, beyond her admitted imorality with the Frenchman, he could not see any- thing in the evidence to point to her knowing anything about the poison,
mentioned in the statements made by Vaquier were in any way con nected with Messrs. Speed and Co, who had instructed him to represent Mrs. Jones, He thought it necessary to make that explina tion in order to clear up the confusion which seemed to exist.
la his summing up the comper Brst referred to what he described as the very sordid state of affairs asked that the statement in which the evidence showed had which Yaquier said he would make know tomorrow he who been going on at the Blue Anthor Hotel." With that he did not administered the poison" might propose to deal at any length, be read over to them.
Before the jury retired to con- adder their verdict, the foreman
of the theme, this is theatrically Now, despite the morbid nature
Those were the days when- somewhat childish. Not thus are captains dressed, when they went our withers wrung in the theatre. ashore, in silk hat, frock coat, and, Also it is a little out of date. frequently, patent leather shoes. thing be regarded as profundity, says Sir Walter.
Only in German could such a Not much of that exists now," for profundity is a matter in which men
Even City have lost the art of most Germans are quite naively ceremonious and sartorial effect." susceptible.
His description of the hurricane Yet musically it is interesting. of 1878 has the power of simplicity. Schönberg, the composer, is far There are no trimmings. On the ahead of his collaborators, who last day of the storm, when every wrote the poem and devised the one was worn out, the fiercest staging. He is a remarkable man, tussle came. and if we have grown accustomed
"Before twelve o'clock that because he felt certain the facts minutes, the jury returned
After an absence of twenty-five to his tortuous mode of expression pight a great blast. fell upon had been made sufficiently public
to that is not to deny that it has con- us... It blew the terrible soa already, and that the authorities inquire whether the
sixtement tributed something of permanent flat for a time, and it lasted two or and the owners of the house would made by the Frenchmen that he value to contemporary musical three hours." take such steps as would prevent lent £100 to Mr. Jones, which he development. His followers are a recurrence of such happenlags sald Mrs. Jones did not know his worst enemies, for they ask too
Such a state of affairs as we have heard of taking place in this house is, a pubila disgrace," added the
соголег.
about, was evidence.
much of us.
1-
But his ship, the Coanwood, of Newcastle, weathered the storm. Sixty years later he left the sea In faimess to a devoted artist and started as, a shipowner. By who spared no effort in performing 1895 he was running 25. steamers. an almost impossible task, a special "I am a survivor, he concludes. tribute of praise la due to Frau 1 sometimes wonder if anything
The coroner intimated that the statement could be regarded as evidence.
There was a further lengthy Dealing with the events the adjournment, after which the Maria Gutheil-Schoder the which still awaits me can be as Blue Anchor on the night preced-verdict as recorded above was ing the death of Mr. Jones, the
given.
singer from Vienna, who sustained real as the past. Anyhow, I love the main burden of Erwartung. the younger generation!"
TYPHOID
IT POURS OUT
detectives.
EPIDEMIC
Copy of advertisement in the local newspapers": -
USE
O
TYPHOID FEVER.
WING TO the above mentioned:
disease belog unusually pre valent in the Colony at present the Public is advised to boil all drinking water and milk hefore use.
W. W. PEARSE, -Medical Officer of Health. Hongkong, 21st July, 1924.
(The indies are our vien)
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