(A look at some of the stories that made the news “back-in-the-day with Clifford Stanley)
DEMERARA RIVER HORROR: MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING WIFE, KIDS
(Daily Chronicle, April 16th 1972).
EDWARD FRENCH, a 30-year-old machine operator of GUYBAU, was yesterday charged with the murder of his wife and two children, whose chopped up bodies were recovered in parts from the Demerara River. He will appear before a magistrate in West Demerara or in Georgetown tomorrow.
The charge was laid yesterday, hours after Senior Government Bacteriologist and Pathologist Dr. Balwant Singh examined the partly decomposed remains of Mrs. Leona French and her sons — Brian, 4, and Carl, six months old.
He found that they died as a result of multiple wounds about the body.

FINED $10 PER YARD
(Daily Chronicle, April 15th 1972)
A MAN who rode his bicycle on the northern side of the Regent Street pavement for about five yards was yesterday fined $10 for each yard he rode when he appeared before Magistrate Rupert Trim.
Mohamed Nazir of West Ruimveldt told the court that he only took “a lil ride on the pave”.
“How far did you ride?” asked the magistrate.
“For about five yards, sir,” replied the defendant.
“Oh, I see,” said the magistrate.
“You’re fined $50. And next time remember the price you paid for each yard you rode.”

DUTCH RELICS
(Daily Chronicle, April 16th 1972)
A team of Government Officials from Suriname is now in New Amsterdam tracing old Dutch relics which still exist since the Dutch occupation of the Berbice area.
They held talks yesterday with New Amsterdam Mayor Errol Alphonso and Councillors.

300-LB BAIT
(Daily Chronicle, April 18th 1972)
A GIANT 300-lb sea turtle which was caught by Essequibo fishermen to be used as bait has sparked off a discussion by several youths on the rights of amphibians to co-exist fully with little boys and fishermen.
The youths have been heard to say that the turtle, a great round female which came up on the Suddie beach to lay (eggs) in the sand, is as entitled to be made soup as any other creature, and it was disgraceful to use such a potentially tasty specimen as fish bait.
As the discussion progressed, several of them advocated the formation of a wildlife conservation organization in Guyana to protect animals from little boys and hunters.
“You see how some dogs pointedly avoid little boys?” one asked.
The turtle was caught by a fisherman of Maria’s Lodge, and was made bait despite the protestations of the majority of Essequibo’s youths.

RARE GUYANA BUTTERFLY IN BRITISH EXHIBITION
(Daily Chronicle, April 8th 1972).
A COMPREHENSIVE collection of Guyana’s rarest herbs and butterflies adorned the exhibition hall of the City Library of Winchester, England last month.
The display, which was described by the Hampshire Chronicle as an exhibition “of unusual interest”, was staged by the Cambridge Expedition, which spent June to September 1971 at Baramita, North West District.
The six young Cambridge graduates who comprised the expedition to Guyana collected, among other things, specimens of plants used medicinally by the Caribs of the area and of butterflies, moths and beetles.
Over 100 different plants were collected, some of which were left on exhibition in Georgetown.
“Of the butterflies found, at least one was so rare it was not represented in the British Museum Collection,” the Cambridge newspaper reported.
The collection also included 30 items of Amerindian craftwork, and some 70 photographs.

“EVIL SPIRIT” MAN JAILED
(Daily Chronicle, May 10th 1972)
Mr. JUSTICE Lindsay Collins yesterday imposed sentences of three years and two years imprisonment on Royston Ellis for offences of theft.
Ellis was accused of having, on December 17, 1971, in Demerara, robbed Jennifer Griffith, a married woman, of a gold ring; and secondly, on the same date, stolen a gold ring from her.
The jury retired for 45 minutes before returning a unanimous verdict.
State Counsel Mr. J.A. Patterson prosecuted in the case.
Ellis was undefended by counsel.
Mrs. Griffith, of Bagotville, West Bank Demerara, told the court that she was robbed of her engagement and wedding rings while on a shopping visit to the city, on December 17th 1972, by Ellis, who told her that she had an evil spirit inside her.
Clifford Stanley can be reached to discuss any of the foregoing articles at cliffantony@gmail.com, or cell phone # 657-2043.