The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1915-04-10 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

THE PASSING WEEK.  Christian Yaag, a Liverpool pork but. sent to gaol for a month in the second division by the Stipendiary Magistikte, on Tuesday, for keeping a homing pigeon without having obtained tao permission of the Head Constable.  According to the "Journal Beige,' information received from Maasricht is to die elect that the Germans are midring mperinoents at Hasselt with grenades filled with asphyxiating gas upon dogs in the trenches. The bombs are thrown by hand or by the employment of a specially constructed weapon. It is expected that the Germans will employ tie grenades against soldiers in the trenches.  The Ring has been pleased to approve] the appointment of Mr. Justice Warrinu ton to be Lord Justice of Appeal in succession to Sir Henry Buckley, who has resigned, and on whom a peerage of the United Kingdom nee been conferred.  Pi charging the Grand Jury st thO• Lon-1 dui Sessions, on Tuesday, Mr. R. Wallace said that the calendar was the lightest in the history of the county. Tho number of prisoners for trial was just one-fifth what it was three or tour years rgo. The main cause had been the shortening of the bows during which drink could be obtained. Tlse last two hours of the day were the most fatal in connection with crime in London and the closing of the public-houses at 10 o'clock had undoubtedly produced a wonderful result.  i  L!eut.-Colonel A. G. Ferguson, Inbpector of Constabulary for Scotland, in Ms report for 1914 says: 'An increase has taken plaoe in the number of persona apprehended for drunkenness. In cities and 'burghs the increase amounte to 1,885, and in the counties to 899, making a total Increase of 2,584. "It is to be regretted that enhanced prosperity causes so many to take their pleasure in alcohol. Little improvement can be looked for until drankenness generally is Laid to be °Renew° and degrading, and the drunkard looked upon with disgust." -  11r. William Perkins, of Wiutplode Drove, Lincolnshire, the oldest rNiideut in thsi county, on Tuesday celebrated his Ma birthday, and was the recibient of many congratulations, lie rose at nino o'clock, dressed himself unaided, and partook of a aubetantial breakfast. Asked for a message to the public, lie gave the following :—"lf you are not in the place God intended you to be in, get there as quickly as possible, and do your duty. We are Ighting to win, for Britanma most rule. Among the suggestions put forward by tram union leaders in the recent conferences with the Chancellor of the Exchequer. at which war work and the drink problcbi were discussed, was one that buttons or badges, to be known as the "King's Badge," should be supplied to aU men engaged on war work woo are prepared to sign a pledge to abstain from the use of Alcohol during the war.  The Senate of Edinburgh Unireasity have offered the honorary degree of LL.D. to Professor Hardman, of Liverpool; Sir Robert Nair, London; the Hon. J. W. Flirtation., Windsor Castle; Professor Glom. H. 0., Glasgow ; Dr-Prod Nieoks, IMey Reid Profeasor of Music Edinburgh; Sir Aeza 0. Riddell, Midlothian; Professor Arthur Thomson, Oxford; Charles Whalley, Jesus College, Cambridge; and General Sir Francis Reginald Wingate. Birder of the Roptian Army.  We regret to announce that Mr. Andrew Ernest Stoddart committed suicide by shooting himself with a revolver en Batorday night at his residence in at. John's Wood. Stoddart's name will always live as one of the really great players of cricket and Rugby football—the only mano has ever captained England both in a twit match and a "Rugger" international.  After having held the heavy-weight bor ing championship of the world since Deember