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PEACE TERMS REJECTED BY BOTHA. BOER TRAIN-WRECKERS SHOT. SURPRISE FOR A BRITISH PATROL. Lord Kitchener's terms of peace have been rejected by General Botha, and there & now nothing to do but to prosecute the War with unabated energy, until the Boers left in the field are brought into a state cf subjection and the whoie country tran- quilised. However disappointing this *Gws may be, there Li no doubt that Lard kitchener is quite prepared and able to c4rry on the war to its natural end, and c4rry on the war to its natural end, and has already given evidence that he is 111 a position to resume operations so as to convince both sides that hostilities must end, and that quickly. In the eastern Transvaal General French will continue his Operations with relentless vigour; in the Orange River Colony a British move- ment on a big scale is pending, and the few marauding bands left in Cape Colony being harassed and chased about, doing Do damage, and enjoying no peace by night or day. I In the House of Lords on Tuesday, Earl SPENCER said: I wish to ask the noble whether he has any information Íl'om South Africa with regard to the negotia- tions between Lord Kitchener and the Boer leaders. The Mtrquesa of SALISBURY: The informa- tion is rot fully satisfactory, but such as it is I am glad to give to your lordships. General Botha. informed Lord Kitchener by letter that e is not disposed to recommend the terms of ifcace which Lord Kitchener was instructed to J«ter to the earnest consideration of his government. General Botha has added that fj(s Government and chief officers agreed with viowB. Papers connected with nego- tiations will be laid on the table at once. it, the House of Oommona Mr. Chamberlain •Blade a. similar statement.

THREE TRAITORS SHOT. i DE AAR. Tuesday. s-fEtcnre? <\F deafli tvliioh were passed on petr»is Ninabe_, Sarel Ninaber, and Jan ari«.g Nieuwondt, who were convicted of and murder by the Military Court *st week in connection with the wrecking of a Ijfain, with a loss of five lives, near Taaibosch Siding havo been confirmed by Lord Kitchener, the sentences were carried out to-day. Tile men were shot at sunset. The garrison was paraded under General Settle. The proceed- IngS were quiet, and death was instantaneous. The minister of the Dutch Reformed Church reramined with the prisoners to the end. The Inen were also visited by their relatives. The two men concerned in the affair, Her- Inann Nieuwondt and Frederick Nieuwondt. lave been sentenced to five years' penal eer. t.itude.-Reutcr.

SURPRISE FOR A BRITISH PATROL. ADELAIDE (Cape Colony). Tuesday. A patrol of 25 of the District )efence Force, who were out scouting, rode into the arms of « large body of Boers, mistaking them for ritish. One of them escaped, but the other? Were captured. They were subsequently released after their arms and horses bad been taken from them. The Boers are supposed to be hastening north, with Colonels De Leslie and Gorringe in hot pursuit. The sound of big guns was heard yesterday, to the south of Tarkastad.—Press Association War Special.

SHOOTING OF PRISONERS AT WOLMARANSTAD, PORT ELIZABETH. Monday. A private letter has been received here from Xlerksdorp, dated the 14th inst., describing how the four Englishmen were shot by the Boers at Wolmaranstad on the 9th inst. The Boers, says the writer (who is a lady). have 40 of our men prisoners here. Eight out of ten have been condemned to be shot. They Were tried by the late landdrost of Klerksdorp, a man named Neethling, in conjunction with other members of the court. The sentences were confirmed by Generals 8muts and Delarey. who sent the men to carry them out. The four who were shot were Mr. Theunissen, his son, his son-in-law, Mr. Mac- lachlan. and Mr. Boyd. From first to last they were most brutally treated. The execatioii was a. sad spectacle. The prisoners, on being taken out. of gaol, grasped one another's hands. They were placed in a row and shot down one by one. Mr. Boyd received three bullets, but was still alive when put in the grave. The Boers then fired again and all was over. "It was nearly being my husband's fate, but. thank God. lie escaped." Mr. George Savage was also condemned to be shot, but he has been insane since bis trial. Bis wife has gone with Mrs. Pienaar to try to Cet tha sentence commuted. Mrs. Pienaar being with her may possibly have some influence. Mrs. Maclachian, who lives at Hartebe-estc- fontein, has made a statement narrating how she took coffins down to bury the bodies. She was nearly out of her mind. after losing her father, brother, and husband all in one day in such an awful manner. She was unable to reach the place of execution until the Wednes- day morning following. Mrs. Maclachlan had been married only two years.—Press Association War Special.

BOERS IN CAPE COLONY. EXCITING CHASE OF KRITZINGER'S COMMANDO. MAGERMANSBERG. Sunday. Commandant Kritzinger, who is fleeing before Colonel Gorringe, camped at Palings- kloof last night, and this morning crossed the Elands River, About ten o'clock the Boers were fired at from across Vlekpoort River by Captain Lund, who bad come from Cradock with a squadron of the 9th and another of the 17th Lancers and a pom-pom. The Boers, on finding their progress barred in that direc- tion, turned north towards Magermansberg, but were astonished to find a British column extended for several miles in front of them. This was De Lisle, who by &, magnificent march, performed in torrents of rain, had come up. and fairly faoed them. This march will be long remembered by those who took part in it as the most arduous of all their long and hard experiences. The wagons were left at Garkastad, and no impedimenta Were taken. The column left the town at clark amid a terrific storm, the men singing as they rede, and confidently expecting a fight. The blackness of the night was intense, and the column groped a.long, depending on light- ing flashes to show the road. At two o'clock they halted for a few hours, and then took up Position on the kopjes skirting Magermans- herg. During the night, in consequence of a terrible downpour of rain, the rivers had become impassable, and De Lisle from the top of Magermansberg quickly saw tha.t if the other column came up before the rivers fell the enemy must be comptetely^ammed and

A Popular Song with Music Appears in Every Issue.

helpless, and that their surrender was merely a matter of time. Measures were accordingly taken. The force wad ordered to extend from river to river, a distance of eight miles, an enormous front for barely 400 rifiet3 to cover. The artillery consisting of two 12-pounders and two pom-poms, was posted in the centre. The troops started ahelling the ridges which the Boers had occupied and their vings were gradually pushed forward The manry. under Captain Moore, elated at fig lit- ing on St. Patrick's Day. took a kopje in front under a hot fire in dashing style. Lord Fingall had his horse shot under him. Colonel Knight led the 6th Mounted Infantry on the left and seized a kopje, which he held all day, though exposed to a heavy cross fire. Unfortunately, 100 of the defence force, who were ordered to hold the extreme left near the bank of Elands River, mistook their orders, and wandered in another direction. The error thus caused was irreparable, as events proved. First of all a party oi 40 Boers, who had detached themselves from the main body early in the forenoon, managed to cross the Elands River, and got away in a north-westerly direc- tion. Kritzinger's whole force was estimated at 690. and Do Lisle, with only two-thirds of that number, could only play a waiting game until Colone' Gorringe came up. The artillery did good practice, shelling all day. At four in the afternoon the Elands River, which had been falling as rapidly as it had risen, became fordable. The enemy. who had fought with remarkable tenacity, and had displayed their usual mobility, streamed eastwards, and in the absence of the defence force succeeded in getting across. One hour later Colonel Gorringe came up. but only in time to give them a few parting- shots TAEKSTAD, Monday. Commandant Kritzinger, after breaking away across Elands River last evening, came round the south of Elands Kop, within a few miles of Tarkastad, and crossed the main road at Mundell's Farm at nine o'clock this morn- ing. Colonel De Lisle was in the meantime marchinsr back from Magermansberg to Tarka- stad, and the two forces, to their mutual sur- prise. bumped into one another at right angles. The main body of the Boers succeeded in getting past first, and the short action which ensued was a rearguard one on the part of the enemy. Our guns shelled them heavily, and they were followed from ridge to ridge by the mounted infantry. They succeeded, however, in getting away through Elandpoort. the nature of the country rendering it impossible to bring them to a standstill. Colonel De Lisle gave them a few farewell shots, and then resumed his march to Tarka- stad. There were no casualties on our side. The enemy had with them three Cape carts, and it appears certain that two of them at least contained wounded-the result of yester- day's fight. The Boers whom we encountered this morn- ing numbered less than 400. A detachment of 100 men is reported to have not yet gone north. Previous to the engagement Kritzinger cap. tured two Cape carts belonging to the Colonial Defcnoe Corps, and shot a native driver who attempted to run away. The quartermaster-sergeant in charge anrt the two men with him were robbed of their watches, and then released later in the day. The Boers abandoned five horses near Mun- dell's Farm. A farmer Jiving near the scene of yesterday's engagement states that one of our shells killed eight Boers. Whil». at Mundell's Farm the Boers captured thrio horses, which were just going to be taken into the towr., i-ud tool a qnamity of. provi. gions. They then shot in cold blood a Kaffir, who they alleged was carrying dispatches for the British. The Boer treatment of the natives is the darkest feature of this second invasion of the Colony. The Boers evidently mean to terro- rise them. as on every possible occasion the sjambok or the bullet is brought into use. A scout this evening brought in two prisoners who had belonged to Kritzinger's commando. Their horses had been knocked up. The 6th Mounted Infantry had a man killed yesterday. After being shot he rushed a hundred yards down a kopje with a bullet in Lis heart. In Colonel Gorringe's fight with the Boers on Friday evening, the enemy, who held a strong position in a defile, reserved their fire until our men got to close quarters, and then poured in a heavy fusillade. The British, however, continued their advance, and secured the defile. We lost one Idl'cd and ten wounded. The Boers had eight killed. Tuesday. In their hurried flight across Elands River on the evening of the 17th the Boers aban-1 doned 70 horses, beside some saddles and cloth- ing. which Colonel Gorringe captured. After a short action, which took place just befce darkness supervened, two of Gorringe's 1 11 men were killed and four wounded. From reports of local farmers, it would ap- pear that the total Bo.-r casualties for the day numbered someth ng like 40. Caapel. an intei-; ligence officer, who was captured by the enemy on the 11th, has escaped, and is now here. He reports that Kritzinger's commando is magni- ficently mounted, and that the man are alV armed with Lee-Metfonds and Lee-Enfields, while they have plenty of ammunition. Every- thing they have, including arms, clothing, and horses, had once been the property of the British Government or of British subjects. A picquet of eight men, which was missed after the fight on the 17th. turned up safe lest iiight. When th° Boers attacked the two carts belonging to the Queenstown Volunteers yes- terday they galloped to within 50 yards of our men. firing from their saddles and killing a Kalnr. Three of the escort got away. but five were captured. Of these three have been released, the other two being detained aa prisoners. The shooting of Captains Rennie and Rose near Baxauans River is reported to be the, result of a vendetta, a local rebel being con- J cerned in the affair. Twenty-four men of the Colonial Defence; Corpa were captured on Friday near Winter- berg. They thought the. approaching Boer: wfere comrades, and did not discover .e m; take until they were hemmed in by superi' numbers. Two were wounded, and the rest were for-- to throw down their arms. Colonel Gorringe sent seven suspect., I- this morning. They will be tried by martial this afternoon.—Press Assooi. War Special.

PHILLIP BOTIIA KILLED, The following dispatch from Lord Kit was issued by the War Office oil Thurs i y PRETORIA. Wednesday (4.30 ;»ru ■ j I General P. Botha, brother of t mandant-General, was killed o; '? berg. His two sons were wounded. The Boers in the Orange Rive: t j- have disbanded and scattered De Wet is in the neighbor.;o Hl > Heilbron. I >

A MOTOR MAXIV. CAPE TOWj, Tu -"d; •. A motor Maxim, invented by a 1 Koe- of the Oape Town Town Guard, has "err :Ir inspected, and approved for v/-re. rht invention consists of a. Maxim f jn'ec on q, j motor ca.r.-Rellter.

RAND MINES RE-S T i NG CAPE TOWN. iV ly A definite beginning has bee a < i re- starting the Rand Mines. Sink 1 > -ttfh-' ing have been commenced on < i-oaie in the Simmer and Jack, Jub1 aflt Suburban, and Salisbury propert; v hers hope to resume work shortly.—].< u't.,

FATAL SHELL EX: R-,ON SEVEN DEATHS From particulars of the fatal v < ent at Trimulgherry, India, it appez? Ime men of the 9th Heavy Battery son Artillery were unloading 70-po lis, when a charge exploded, killin 'on, one of whom was blown to atoms. ers died on their way to the hospitt ler man. Sergeant Atkins, died on Ti 'ht, Serjpeaat Parry waa slightly injur er,

SITUATION STILL CRITICAL. BRITISH MUST RETIRE OR r' FIGHT. v, The latest news from the scene of the dispute between Russia and Great Britain is to the effect that the deadlock still con- tinues. The British and Russian com- manders have both received instructions from home, but in neither case lias any aggressive action been taken. Reinforce- ments are being scut to Tientsin by both the British and Russian authorities, the British reinforcemeuts including the Welsh rubbers. The Russian commander, Generai Wogack, complaius that Bengal Engineers insulted the Russian flag and encroached on Russian territory untii th2Y were expelled by Russian guards, and he has intimated to the British that they will have either to retire from the positions they have taken up adjacent to the dis- puted territory or tight. A Heater's telegram from Tientsin says: —Instructions ot the most uncompromising kind were received on Tuesday from St. Peters- burg, and as General Campbell had not yet clearly defined the attitude which he intended to assume, the Russians gave him to under- stand that the British would have to retire unless they preferred to fight. Disquieting rumours are prevalent. It is difficult to veniy them, but it appears probable that the Russians are sending troops to Tientsin via Port Arthur.

WALDERSEE'S MEDIATION. UNSUCCESSFUL OFFERS. The "iNew York Herald" (Paris edition) publishes the following dispatch from Tientsin, dated Tuesday, 6.55 p,m. Field-marshal count Von Waldersee arrived here at four o'clock from Kiao-Chau. He was received at the station by General Lorne Camp- bell, General Wogack, and other general officers, lhe fieid-marshal had long private interviews with the British and Russian com- manding officers. General Wogack, on behalf of Russia, refused to discuss the question of the right of ownership a-s long as the British troops were not withdrawn from the territory claimed by Russia and occupied by the force under his command. General Lorne Campbell, on the other hand, stated that, according to the instructions which he had received from his Government, he could not abandon his position. The deadlock, therefore, continues. Count Von Waldersee appeared visibly affected by the non-success of his efforts to obtain a friendly settlement of the difference, and seemed fully to appreciate the gravity of the position. After a stay of one hour the field- marshal left for Peking. During the day numerous collisions occurred betwsen French and British soldiers but so far they have not had any serious consequences. Count Von Waldersee'a —osal, which Gene- ral Wogack refused to as that the guarding of the disputrr: y should be entrusted to a neutral f Ing a formal inquiry into the claims > parties. Negotiations on the now entirely broken off, and all 00;) ions are being exchwgM direct betw or c,abinets of St Petersburg a.ud Locd<> • ¡

STATEMENT II -'it G RUSSIAN GEN Fj.¿ ,\L. A PLAUSilCE TALE. General Wogack, he F .sian commander-in- chief, has made the f.' '1 -v,ng statement:- "The question 'YO « h we are divided is not whether t> f red belongs to us, or whether it belor; -? die Chinese Govern- ment or to t' r .r.ay company, but whether the B7 > ;) make reparation for their encr.- ,.r' vy ;,i "At the moni,?: p ■ the British tried to obtain posa he ground in qaea- V"" tion it w&s pot the Russian flag, and its limits rly defined by posts. Russian flags •-< iwed to remain until they were tb ^one side by a party of Bengal rer,3. with their coolies, who carried eir .fork until they were expelled by guards. Before we can discuss t')..Motion of ownership the Britis still occupy a por- tion of or ust withdraw. Once this retire "I fected I am convinced that the I i assian Government will forget aJ ceding regrettable vio- lence, an friendly ear to all that the Brit iment can put forward in regar 4 jfini'tive occupation of the disputer ■vv. No one can doubt that had tl si requested authority to constrr ? g.dit g on our territory their -E )' requse w;.>a:d have been immediately grantt L UmoTtunately, they tried to attaii this eid by vioient methods. The Britif t.roof-" must be withdrawn from Russ -r-r:• -ry. There is no other settle. men Eeuter.

BR I t I REINFORCEMENTS THE WELSH FUSILIERS. B: ,J 1 rent at Tientsin telegraphs on "e > -A special train with the Aua- tr ntsent left Peking for Tientsin at U": odcr this morning. Ninety British Y., t) rived last night from the Taku fo t? t' )-place the Indian guards on the d" < iltfd iand. The Welsh Fusiliers are .ctc'i :ere to-day. One French, one Italian, a au" German warship are outside the bar. jir- iun-'iout the whole of yesterday a dust ¡;i{,rm fopt over the Russian and British troop* K their trenches, but they remained at ,oir yosts. t xty Australians and two companies of native infantry have been suddenly ordered Ti atsin. and left Peking on Wednesday *or>> ng. Orders hav, also been sent to T" a'.i for 100 marines to proceed to Tientsin. movements are due to a fear lest any -int arising out, of tile Russo-British land ion should cause th, French troops, v e conduct has given muoj, trouble, to pre- ate a collision. The hritish cornman- I i, therefore, desire to have 8tSBacjent and t.tworthy force at Tientsin to maintain o: er in the streets.—Press Association K reign Special.

LORD WATERPARK IN THE BANKRUPTCY COURT. LOSSES THROUGH THE IRISH LAND ACT. At Burton-on-Trent Bankruptcy. court on Wednesday Lord Waterpark. of Doveridee, Derbyshire, appeared for b: s public examina- tion. Accounts filed Bhow liabilities cxpected to rank for dividend as £ 26.000. and a=sets -E3.000. After deducting mortgages on estates in England and Ireland, it was asserted the debtor's estate would realise £ 40.000. The debtor etatert that his present position was Uiainly brought about by the compulsor; .sale of his property in Ireland, under the Irish Land Act of 1S81. When that Act came into operation his income was practically reduced to £ 6?0 a year. He had to wil)6 out all arrears, otherwise the land courts would no' listen to any question of sale, and he cleared off between 26CO and JE700 arrears of rent whilst the. redemption of the whole of the tithes rent-charges cost him between £ 5,000 and £ 6.000 at 25 yeare' purchase. He had lost by Mr. Gladstone's and subsequent Act* in Ire- land no less than £ 35 000. He had nearly always been handicapped, but had made strong efforts to economise, and some years ago disposed of a house which he held on the Thames at R,160 a year, enlarging hie house it Doveridre to accommodate his family. The examination was closed.

DISORDERLY STUDENTS IN DUBLIN, At Dublin on Tuesday two students were cch Qned 40s., and ordered to give bail to h) of good behaviour for two years, for throw- iig missiles at the lord mayor's carriage in Mmday'a civic procession, the bagistrate observing that, as far as he could, he would pu'. down this scandalous coaduot on the part of itudenta.

WOLSELEY VERSUS LANSDOWNE. I JOHN BULL: "A plague o' both your houses! Between the two of you I've got hurt!" 1

I CHILD MURDER CASE AT CARDIFF. TRIAL AT THE ASSIZES. A YOUNG MOTHER SENT TO AN ASYLUM. At the Glamorganshire Assizes held at Cardiff m Wednesday (before Mr. Justice Bruce) Minnie Frances Webb, 22. was brought up on a charge that she feloniously, wilfully, and of, malice aforethought did kiil and murder Wil-j liarn George Webb on the 14th of December, 1900, at Cardiff. The prisoner, who waa attired in a black j dress and accompanied by a lady warder, j looked much depressed. Tbe prosecution was looked much depressed. The prosecution was conducted by Mr. W. Denman Benson and Mr. s Lewis M. Richards, and Mr. Ivor Bowen and j Mr. Merlin (instructed by Mr. J. Morgan Reea, solicitor, Cardiff) appeared to defend the j prisoner. When the prisoner took her place in the dock, Mr. Ivor Bowen rose to address hifc lord- ship upon the question of whether the prisoner I was able to plead. The Judge: I would rather hear no discus- sion now. I Mr. Bowen: If your lordship pleassa. I have had certain information given The Judge: Yes. I know. But if that plea in 11 taken here she may be set aside and the case j taken again. t I I On Irjuis charged with the murderher, •;hild lb? prisoner replied, hi a £ li a'scilS-i Not guilty." Mr. Denman Benson briefly detailed the casts. The prisoner, he said. had lived with her husband at the Mumbles, near Swansea, until June last, when they came to Cardiff to reside. They had a little child-a boy-and there was no doubt but that the prisoner was very fond of him. The life of the prisoner and her husband had not been a very happy one. The husband had often used threats against husband had not been a very happy one. The husband had often used threats against the wife, and evidence would be given to show that on the morning of the 14th of September they had a quarrel. The husband went to worK, and the prisoner remained at home sad and dejected. In consequence of what trie prisoner had said from time to time, tte husband entertained fears that she might attempt to destroy herself, and he bad bidden ) away hie razor in a box. On the morning of the 14th of December the prisoner went to the box. took out the razor, and cut the throat of the child. She then left the house, and later in the evening she was found wandering near the banks of the Taff River by a Mr. Sheldrane.) a relative of the husband. To him she told: the story of what had occurred, and further stated that she had tried to cat her own throat, but her courage had failed her alter she bad put the razor to her neck. She had made up her mind to drown herself. Mrs. Catherine Baker, who occupied the same house as the prisoner in Bradford-street, was then called, and, in answer to Mr. Benson, spoke of the quarrel in which the husband and the prisoner had participated on the morn- ing of the murder. About two o'clock witness took the prisoner a cup of tea. At about five o'clock the prisoner left the house. Shortly afterwards the husband entered the house ana i went into his room. He immediately came out. saying, The child is dead." In reply to Mr. Benson, witness said the prisoner was very fond of her home and her child. She was also kind to witness's children. The Judge: Was she fond of her own? Witness: Oh. dear, yes. Dr. Oajrtiilon gave particulars of the muti- lated condition in which he found the child at the prisoner's home. The neck of the little one had been cut. he said. from ear to ear. and the cut extended into the spinal column. almost completely severing the head from the body Albert Sheldrake, stationer and bookseller, who found the prisoner leaning against a window-sill near his shop in Emma- street, Grangetown, a few hours after the murder, stated that the woman appeared to be depressed when he first eaw her wandering about. He invited her int.) his house, and asked her why she had committed the crime. She replied, "1 was, driven to do it; I have not a friend in the world. He (the husband) beat me this morn-, ing before he left, and is always tormenting me about the child. He is always on to me." She made this statement in a "far-otf-away" style The Judge: Far-off-away what? The Witness: Aa if her mind was wandering. Mr. Bar son: Did you see her throat? Witness: Yes. She further said that when it was done (meaning the murder of the ohila) she had tried to cut her throat, but failed. Were there marka on her neck or not?—Yea, j very slight. What sort?—An abrasion of the skin. Any blood or not?—No. none. Witness further said that when he asked the prisoner if she knew her child wa,s dead, she replied that it was dead before she left the house. Mr. Benson:—Did she seem to know bow tne child died?—She said she had cut its throat. In cross-examination the witness stated that the prisoner said that the husband had been quarrelling with her, and that "the cou'd not stand it any longer." Inspector Butler, of the Cardiff Police, I deposed that he found the child dead on tne bed in the middle room upstairs. Tho child's neck had been cut from ear to ear. Behind a tin trunk in the room he discovered the empty razor case (produced), He had the body conveyed to the Bute-street Mortuary, and afterwards arrested tne prisoner at Mr. Sheldrake's shop on the charge of the murder of her infant child. William George Webb, at No. 3, Bradford-street, on the 14th of December. In answer to the charge, she said, "I have nothing to say." After a pause she said, "Yes; I admit I done it, and here is the razor I did it with." at the eame time producing a razor from inside her right stocking. She added. "I tried to do it to myaelf. but failed." She drew witness's atten- tion to her throat, and he noticed a slight scratch on it. Witness said he found a little blood on the point of the razor. Maria Webb, a sister-in-law of the prisoner, and wife of B. Webb, a commercial traveller, residing at 122, Paget-street. was the next witness called, and said the prisoner and her husband. lodged at her house I from Auguat to October. She gave them notice to leave because of the husband's ill-treatment of hia wife. He often struck the prisoner in the face when he came home. On a morning in November the prisoner came to her house with a discoloured eye. She said she had told her a discoloured eye. She said she had told her husband that she would put an end to herself and tho baby in the Kiver Taff because of his, ill-treatment. In cross-examination, the witness said that in May last the husband was convicted at Swansea for brutally assaulting the prisoner. Mr. Bowen here called the attention of the court to the conduct of the prisoner's hus- band, who stood at the back of the witness- box. "Is that the man?" asked learned counsel of the witness, "who assaulted her— that man who ia laughing and twirling his moustache?" Witness: Yes. His Lordship looked at the man, but did not make any observation. Mr Bowen: I don't think he should laugh. In answer to further questions, the witness said she knew that the prisoner had beea granted a judicial separation from her hus- band. She afterwards went back to live with her husband Webb also assaulted his first child at Swansea when witness visited them there. Mr. Bowen: Was she (the prisoner) a good mother?—An exceptionally good mother. Mr. Ivor Bowen, for the defence, said he only intended calling such evidence a3 would prove that the prisoner, goaded by the cruelty she suffered, did net know the nature or quality of the act or the difference between right and wrong. Dr. H. T. Pringle, medical superintendent at Bridgend Asylum, said be had charge of 1.700 patients at the asylum. He examined the prisoner on the 17th and 24ch of January and that morning. From his examinations he had come to the conclusion that at that time she waa suffering from melancholia, with great diversion cf the emotions. There was a sus- pension of the natural love of the mother for her child, and of the love of life itself. She was callous and indifferent, and did not seem to realise the enormity of her offence. The prisoner confessed to him that she had no fc.3nn^ for Hie child, Uir.t wished 'J die. and would go to the rope when they wishrd. In hia opinion, the prisoner was insane, by reason of the mental apathy ond from the nature of the deed itself. The Judge: Tell me. doctor, if a yonng mother murders her helpless ch ild in this way. you say she is probably insane? Dr. Pringle replied that that was one of his reason 3. Mr. Ivor Bowen: As a result of your exami- nations, are you able to say whether prisoner was at the time of the offence in a condition to distinguish the difference between right and wrong? Witness: I don't think she was at the time she committed the deed. Mr. Bowen: What other* reasons have you?- My reasons must, of course, depend on the statements she made to me. She told me, "I don't know what I was doing at the time; I could not help myself; I had no Intention; I went to bed with my baby." The Judge: And you base your opinion upon her statements? Witness: I must take into consideration her statements, my lord, to a considerable extent. I believe she spoke to me w.:b the utmcal sin- cerity. Then the ill-treatment from wh.ch she suffered might have produced depress on an! it might have, in fact, produced melancholia. ¡ By Mr. Benson: He considered that he had devoted sufficient time to the exa.iaina:ioTs to justify him in arriving at a conclusion ae to her state of m'zii. There was ev dence of delusions in the statements of the prisoner. She alleged that if she did not kill her child her mother-in-law would do so. Mr. Benson: Is it your opinion that if any young person commits suicide it is evidence that he is necessarily iusane?-Not neces- sarily; many people commit suicide when they are sane. I believi- Then what induces yon to think that this woman was insane?—By her continued depres- sion for months prtviousiy; her utter callous- ness and indifference to the enormity of the crime, and in her weakness and distress the impulse came suddenly upon her to commit sue!, an act. Dr. Llewellyn Trehame, medical officer of Cardiff Prison, said he had had the woman under observation since her admittance to Cardiii Gaol on the 15th of December. When the-" fisst examined her thev found that she was not responsible for her actions. She had a hunted appearance. The prisoner was enceinte. Cross-examined by Mr. Benson: On the 10th of January be examined the prisoner, and reported that there was no evidence of insanity and that she was sound in mind. Mr. Benson: How do you reconcile your statement to-day with that report? Dr. Treharne: That was as to her ability to plead. The circumstances of the case were not known to me when I then examined her. The Judge: Taking the evidence of Sheldrake, I wish to ask you whether the circumstance of the woman not attempting to c ,o.jtpe and freely admitting what she had done-does not that lead you to a conclusion? Dr. Treharne: Yes. my lord. Mr. Ivor Bowen then addressed the jury on behalf of the prisoner, and urged them to return a verdict in accordance with the evi- dence. viz.. that this woman—beaten, thrashed. and pummelled, not once, but day after day-* was goaded to take the life of her child and tS try to take her own. This ill-treatment of the prisoner by her brutal husband, in whom, even now. there was no shadow of repentance, had brought her to a state of mind in which she was certainly not responsible for her actions, and rendered her unable to appreciate the aifferance between right and wrong. Ile. therefore, contended that the prisoner could not be held responsible in law for the dread- ful act. Mr. Benson. in his address, quoted state- ments to show that the voman was in a sound I! mind. and that she premeditated the crime. The court then adjourned, and upon resu- ming his seat Justice Brnoe briefly summed up the evi- dence. and the jury. without leaving the box. returned a verdict that the prisoner was guilty of the act preferred against her. but that she was not responsible at the time she did it. The Judge directed that the prisoner be con- fined in a criminal lunatic asylum during hie Majesty's pleaeure.

LORD SALISBURY'S RECORD, From to-day Lord Salisbury will hold the record as having been Prime Minister longer than any other statesman since the Reform! Act wa.s passed. Mr. Gladstone's four Premier- ships extended over a period of 12 years and 137 days. Lord Salisbury's terme of office up J to Tuesday reached the same level, viz.:— June 24, 1885, to Feb. 6, 1886. 227 days. Aug. 3, 1886, to Aug. 18. 1892. 6 years 15 „ July 2, 1395, to March 19, 1901 5 „ 260 „ I ( 12 yeare 137 days.! The figures are based upon tbe dates given in "Whitaker's Almanac." With the exception of Lord Palmers ton, who wa.s Prime Minister 9 years 156 days, no other statesman of the Reform period haa a reoord of eo much as seven years, I

FUTURE OF Tin: LIBERAL PARTY. Lord Rosebery. who took the chair at the City Libera! Club dinner on Tuesday night, made an interesting speech (says the Westminster Gazetto") in responding to i the toast of his health. There were no reporters present, but we gather that he expressed entire disagreement with those who heid that the Liberal party would come back on the mere demand to the British public to pay for the war. The public would pay foi any cause that was great enough. But, at the same time, on other grounds he thought that the Liheral party never had a better oppor-. tunity than at the present moment. He did not wish the Government failure. The nation was pasting through a great crisis, and all; must join in hoping that it would be extri-' cated by its rulers. What a contrast there was. however, between the successes and the failures of those rulers! They bad an un- rivalled majority, recently renewed. They might have reformed the House of Lords, and made it into an Imperial Senate. They might have dealt moderately, but firmly and thoroughly, with the temperance question, with all that was best in the nation behind tham. They might have dealt drastically with the housing question, and others that were cognate to it. But. instead of t". they had allowed the nation to become in vol vsd I in a great and coatiy war. That m<?h" have been merely their misfortune—he would not discuss the point-but it was the fact. All the reforms he had referred to har) been left neglected. Tnere was unrest and dissatisfac- tion everywhere. Never had the Liberal party such a chance. The cause of its loss of hold on the City and on tlhe nation was. in his I -rial opinion, its disregard of the sense of Imntrial responsibility. But to-day it was given a new opportunity. It had given no pledges. It had a new standpoint. It had the tradi- tion of a glorious past to look back to. and bo^nd'^Ro work to look forward to. Let it learn the lesson that loyalty to its readers was essential :f it was to win in the fight, and he did not fear for its future, for it was once more free to continue its great work.

THF MURDER IN A TRAIN jfiXEOUTION OF PARKER. At Wandsworth Gaol on Tuesday George Henry Parker, 23. was executed for the murder of Mr. William Pearson, gentleman farmer, of Winchester, last January, on the London and South Western Railway while traveiliug to London. Parker shot Mr Pearson dead with a revolver near Surbiton and Mrs. Rhoda King, of Southampton, the only other occu- pant of the compartment, was also shot. but 6-ie recovered. Parker at'empted to e=ea?e at Vauxha'l, but he was captured with the property of the deceased in his possession. Parker rose at seven o'clock in the morning, tlna was provided with a breakfast of tea, bread and butter, and eggs, but he made a poor meal. Billington entered the cell a few minute? before nine and pinioned the convict, who betrayed no fe-ar at his approaching doom and offered no resistance to the operation. He walked the whole distance to the scaffold without assistance, and when the drop fell death is stated to have been instantaneous. FAREWELL LETTER. Parker sent on Saturday the following letter to his mother in Birmingham: — "H.M. Prison, Wandsworth, March 15, 1901. "Dearest Mother,—Just a few lines to you, which will be my ,Iast on earth, hoping they will find you in good health, as I am myself at present- thank God for it. I hope and trust that you will not let this hurt your feelings in any way. Bear D" as well as you possibly can. I am sorry that you should ever have heard of this trouble of m:ne, for I know how you will suffer; but, still, thing's cannot be altered. Am condemned to die next Tues- day. That I am not afraid of. There is One above Who knows whether I am guLty or net of wilful murder, it was a pure accident, and I shall die with that expression on my lips, for I am not guilty of the crime which they brought against me. But. never mind. God's will be done. Have made my peace with Him. I am under His protecting care- It will soon be over now, and my soul in Heaven. I hope to meet you there some day. "Dearest met her. I was a great denl of trouble to you in my childhood. 1 have crown from that to manhood. I have had good luck with the bad. I have not troubled you for years. I have seen less cf borne than anyone in the family, but all the more for that I have always loved and honoured you an ? father and shall up to the last minute. I have prayed to God day and night to ask Him to be with you and help you to bear this great, trouble. Cheer up; you will soon forget all a1,out it. Try and forsret that you ever bad a eon like nie. Please give my love to and tell him from me to lead a straightforward life and leave the drink alone. It is that wlvcb has been my ruin. It is no gone? to no one—everybody can do without it. I w:ll draw to a dose. now, hoping to have an answer to this letter with your blessing—I remain. your affectionate but unfortunate son. GEORGE H. PARKER,

THE SOUTH AFRICAN CAPI- TALISTS. M.P. SUED FOR SLANDER. The Press Association learns that at the instance of Messrs. Wernher. Beit, and Co., Mr. Bourchier Hawksley, solicitor, has issued a writ against Mr. A. B. Markbam, M.P. for the Mansfield Divisicn of Nottingham, claiming damages for slander in respect of the speech delivered by him in the House of Com- mons on Tuesday.

A Sheffield te!ecram says railway coal con- tracts expiring on March 31 are now being renewed in South Yorkshire and Derbyshire on much lower terms. The Midland Company have contracted for supplies of Yorkshire coal at 9s. per' ton, and the Great Central are offered supplies at the same figure. A year ago the price was 16s. per ton Several ocm. panies, including the Great Northern, are oon- tracting to the end of June at 12s. 6d per ton.

SMALL-POX CASES AT CARDIFF. AN OUTBREAK REPORTED ON THE MOORS. ACTION BY THE MEDICAL AUTHORITIES. An alarming outbreak of small-pox haa occurred at Cardiff. On Friday afternoon Dr. Walford, the borough medical officer, was notified by Dr. J. D. Williams to the effect that a seaman, named Thomas Fitzgerald, aged 35, was suffering trom small-pox at 29, Bridgend-street, -ast Moors. With all promptitude Dr. Walford visited this address, and found, not one case, but three. The place is kept as a boarding-house by a- Mr. and Mis. Suckle, and Dr. Walford, after tyamining Fitzgerald, received intimation that two of the children were also ill. In each instance he discovered that the malady waa the dreaded smail-pox. The children were Jane Suckle, aged fourteen, and George Henry Suckle, aged years. The circumstances leading up to the outbreak are peculiar. Some time ago, it will be recollected, a vessel arrived at Barry amongst tne crew of which there were four casea of emall-pox. One of the other members of the crew, a man named Storer. subsequently went to Blyth. in the North of England, and upon returning to this neighbourhood went to lodge at 29. Bridg- end-street. He left there on February 2s. apparently quite well, and went to sea, but, a,3 his papers have since been re'urned, he has seemingly been seized with illness. The presumption, of course, is that Fitz- gerald contracted the disease from Storer. Whether they slept in the same bed or not we cannot say. A strange fact in con- nection with the C:lz,6 is that the parents were summoned for neglecting to have the younger child vaccinated, and the child is now afflicted with the disease in a. most virulent form. Indeed, so seriously ill is he that his recovery is extremely doubtful. On the other hand.Wthe girl of fourteen, who had been vaccinated, has only been slightly attacked. We understand that this girl has been at servioe at Cathaye, leaving her employ- b ment recently because she fell ill. Fitzgerald, however, is also. very ill. All the cases have been removed to the small-pox hospital ad- joining the Sanatorium. MEETING OF THE HEALTH COMMITTEE. A special meeting of the health committee was lieid on Saturday morning, when the Chairman (Alderman Jacobs) explained the circumstances connected with the outbreak as recorded above and the steps which had been taken to cope with it. When the infected vessel from Blyth entered Barry with fonr ca,se-s of small-pox on board some of the crew were re-vaccinated, but others refused to submit to tbe operation. They distributed themselves over the district, and one of them went to lodge at Bridgend-street, Splotlands- where the three cases had since been dis- covered. Two of the patients wv-re children 01 the occupin of cl.c li;vvu,e., iho third f tha man Fitzgerald. '<; matter was a serioua one, because they did uot know how many centres of infection had been created by theee three persons coming into contact with others. He felt that drastic steps shouid be taken to prpvpnt spread of the disease, which waa lurking somewhere in the town. It was easy to deal with cases: of this kind when they came from a'ship. because the patients could be taken direct to the hospital without being allowed to mix with persons on shore, but when t'n £ disease was discovered in a house the clan- ger of its spreading was f-r greater. lIe sug- gested that the 'O"se where the patients were discovered be placed under quarantine regu'ationB. so that the inmates cou'd hava no intercourse with the outside world until the period of ;neubation had passed He thnugh t it would be well rIbo if the vaccina- tion officer were communicated with and asked to make a house-to-house inspection, r.«s'sted by the officials of the corporation. People should be reminded that there waa snia'pox about, and tha" they should get va'-oina+ed. for which no charge was made. Mr. Evans: What about the house where the g'ir! was in serv'ee? T') > Chairman I surest that- it be placed under quarantine regulations and thoroughly dis nfec ed. The Mayor remhrk-ed that the tioptal !lu"-co'r.mittt' were a«ton:»hed to fin-I that three case* bad been brought from one boras in Br'{igond'street. and tl,at no o^cial noti. ficat.ion of fh?se cases bad been received. It was a Rsr'ous m :t er to have three casrs from a thicklv-noiiulated district l'ke Splott. Dr. Walford eaid be was glad this meeting bad been called ;n order that the faets miiht be made known to the members. About 1.30 on Friday Dr. Williams, the parish doctor, noti- fied him that there was a case of small-pox in Bridgend-street. Fe at orce drove there, and an going round the rooms he found two more c^sts. The nat.ients were removed to the small-pox Lnap'tal. Dr. Treharne. re* vaccinated tbe inmates of the house, which was thoroughly disinfected. A houas-to-houae visitation of the district was also made but no fur her cases had been discovered The Mayor: Have you taken precautions to prevent visitors entering the house? Dr. Walford eaid moral pressure had been brought to bear upon the oeaunants of the house not to receive visitors, but the com- mittee had no letgal povser to prevent persona going there. They could prevent the h^use being used as a lodging-ho'ise. They could. rlsa print handbills and distribute them in the neighbourhood. It was unfortunate that the earlier cases were not reported sooner. Dr. Williams only attended Fitzgerald, and the two other cases were discovered through him (Dr. Walford) going round the house. The Mayo is. What about the bedding? Dr. Walford: The worst things were des- troved and the others disinfect-Ed. The Mayor said that fire was the only cure, and the committee decided that all the clotuing should be dos royed. On the motion of the Chairman. the com. mittee resolved to issue placards informing the ratepayers that every facility was r.ff-=re1 for vaccination and re-vaccination fr-e of cost. Mr. John Jenkins thought there should be a. more systematic inspection of common lodging-bouses than was now made. Mr. Crossman suggested a weekly inspection (- n the proposition of Mr. S. A. Brain, a vote of thanks was pasied to Dr. Williams for his promptitude in communicating pith the medical officer when he found that Fitzgerald was suffering from small-pcx. CASE TERMINATES FATALLY. The man, Thomas Fitzgerald, who had beei conveyed to the Cardiff Small-pox Hospita. suffering from small-pox, died on "ondaj morning shortly after nine o'clock from that disease.

"A SPLENDID BANKRUPT." Under the above heading the "Daily Mail" of Tuesday gave an account of hov, Mr" Hooley lives at the rate of £::5,(;oJO a year. Mr. Hooley, it is stated, besides bavin? his suite of roome at Walsinghani House, has two country seats. Papworth Iral1 and Rieley Hall. Ho pays in wnge-j to his servants, male and female, and his gardeners, grooms, and the rest, more than ^.OOO yearly. He has a score of gardeners at Papworth alone, and has every hind of vehicle. Mr. Hooley obtains hi,* income by the financial operations he eonducu .as the agent of his wife.

GUARDIANS RESIGN EN BLOC A curious deadlock has occurred in rurehoe Union, Norfolk. The guardians recently resigned by resolution, with one dissentient, as a protest against the Local Government Board declining to confirm a notice of dis- missal given to the workhouse master, but the department has notified the members indivi- dually that their resignations cannot bt accepted, the reason tendered being inade- quate. On Monday the fortnightly meeting should have been held, but all the g-uardiana excepting three were absent. Consequently uo business waa transacted.