The end of an adventurous career in the world of finance was dramatic in its unexpectedness. Mr. Clement De Gaus gassed himself by the aid of the kitchen stove in his home at Mornington, near Melbourne, early in the day of August 17, while the rest of the family }wore away. He was found by the village plumber, with whom he had made arrangements the pre vious day to call upon him hhis home at 12 noon.
Some considerable time ago Mr. De Gaus stirred great excitement up in the Australian business world, by acting out a fictitious suicide at another seaside suburb, Beau-maris, also in Melbourne. Garments, and a car belonging to Mr. De Gaus were found down th steps of cliff over hanging the bay. Tt was discovered that many Jof the promoters plans had gone Jastray, which involved him heavily with well known firms and. finan-{ciers who had given him backing.' {The influence of these, and that of the insurances companies interest-fed, caused a minute search and his: Jarrest on an alleged charge, which was eventually withdrawn. Although De Gaus experienced much Prosperity at first with his schemes, Imost of which were connected with fland settlement, the tide turned yrainst him and both his domestic ud business life pursued chequer-fed career, The Gold Murder Trio Unparalleled interest being taken by the people of Western [Australia and especially in the mining town of Kalgoorlie at the trial of the men, Phillip Treffene, bartender, Clarke a publican and Coulter mining man for the Imiarder of two detectives Walsh and Pitman, It will be recalled that these detectives were shot, and their bodies rightfully mutilated, found at the bottom of an old shaft. The defence being put forward, by the three men is the most' Femarkable one Tistened to any court of justice for many long day. Treffene admits that Ihe shot the men but say says it was the result of an accident. According to Treffene's statement he twas out rabbit shooting near the illicit gold plant and the detec ives approached him, one calling lout "We want you Phil." He was ferrying his sporting gun on his shoulders and turning his head to seo who had spoken decided to bolt. While running away with the police ater him his gun slipped and makimg a grab at. it he must have touched the trigger for it went off. Glaneing around he discovered the two men lying on the ground. One was dead owing to the shot perctrating his brain; the other had a wound in the neck, - Walsh —the man with the wound in the neck lived about eight minutes. [The bullet had severed the jugular vein. Treffene attempted to stem the flow of blood bat could not.
He apologised to Walsh for shooting him, asserting that it was far accident. Frightened at the result of the shooting he intended to tell the police, but Clark would not allow him, because it would incriminate him upon the gold-stealing business. "Coulter was opposed to telling the police for the ime reason. Neither Coulter nor himself, according to Treffene, had anything: to do with the disposing of the bodies. Clark did that, and was the man who tried to' burn them and mutilated them because he could not destroy the evidence. \The three men concerned sere flit gold traders and stealers, and [make no pretence to being other wise, AN! they desire to do is to rove their fon the. major charge. The firm stand taken by, Broken Hill, the home of Australian silver mining and the pari-Jdise of Communism, suffers from every known temperament that human beings can possess. It-had an Jexample during the last war when bree Turks put up a gallant war for the honour of their country. Excitement ran rife, and the town turned out to a man.~Then for years they fought for the honour heir wages. Strike followed strike with the regularity of elockwork. To-day two strikes are in progress, one, the printers' strike which has compelled the two daily newspapers to produce a small age of typewritten matter as the days news; the other,—the strike of women men and children against the increased price of admission {into picture shows. They will not pay it and thei yeasoned training during past holds them in check from breaking the unwritten law "Thou not attend a picture show price of admission is low-Tu a town like this you jean well picture the frantic and hectic search which is taking place for the six-year old daughter of Mr, and Mrs, Moss Smith, owners lof Poolamaca station. The Yas been missing since 1 p.m. last Tuesday and at first it was thought she had only strayed from her home. The storekeepers put down their blinds and closed their doors and with the other inhabitants set out in search of the youngster. Miles and miles of country have been traced searcely a square inch being left unsearched; while overhead, aeroplanes are utilized experienced men searching every nook and cranny of the countryside for the child. So far no results have been forthcoming except. the finding of a little coloured ribbon the child had bound around her hair. Women have banded themselves into commissary departments. Sheep and bullocks are being killed and whole carcases consumed by the famished searchers. One hundred motor cars or more Jare taking part in the operations which have extended until they almost equal the advance of ai lanny. The service of a blacktraker was secured from another part of the State, and the uncanniness of these men in reading signs, which to the lay mind mean nothing, has been amply shown in this in stance. He arrived two days after tie search began and immediately picked up the child's tracks and fol-Hiowed them for some considerable Jdistance when he desired to know "Whom big feller longa missi?" Upon being told that there was no Jone with the child he stuck to this guns that there was a man with her and his boots were number nine size. From a case of a child being lost, it has turned to ithe more serious aspect of foul iviay, and the incensed inhabitants have renewed their search with more vigour than ever. As there is no man with a number nine boot Jon the station they are bewildered as to whom the stranger can be bhut it is now alleged that he has red hair. A stockman coming [through the mountains states he saw: tracks which were a child's North-West of Poolamacea Station, and the black tracker who had' lost the other tracks in a water-course has left with a body of men to picks up the new trail. The mother, lof the child worked for two days Jand nights before she collapsed, but has recovered and joined in' the chase again. If the now thoroughly angry townspeople come in contact with the man in question his may well be a short and ready The 44 Hour Week In many factories to-day the 44 hour week principle is acting, but those operating under the 48 con-that the'44 will not enable them to balance trade figures as jit would limit the output of their works to something like 200 hours, less work per man per year. One scheme the Unions have always desired to see work amicably is the polishment of what is known as overtime." Their reason for this is to compel the employer to employ men, who would not other-but novene, unless it is the leader the Government in the case of al wise be employed, to work the GUR INDIAN LETTER; The Continued Decay of Swaraj:
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.