Weekly Mail

U MEDALS PRESENTED BY THE KING. • ii, oral on Wednesday, in the presence Alexandra, Princess Victoria, and hi„rei1 of the Duke and Duchess of Corn- V?a's Majesty the King presented war ^Ari-0 26 usen of the 2nd Argyll and kj £ t.i^e Highlanders. The King, in a speech •tatava Assentation, said he was very glad tile i °PP°rtunity of presenting the \<t; b<\q 0 the Highlanders. He had heard Hi both wounded and sick, and he w- Bee them looking so well on I' K Sr-2ie Majesty congratulated Major jji&tMov)-, orLc°mmanding a very smart guard ,^c knew well the history of the '•* jj1' thater, regiment, and he had little a good name it had borne, both y'a as i ftbroad, would always bo main- as tlle regiment existed. As y sin 8t ^Uard of honour to his ^ari,Ct' 1.lis accession, he presented ti?i Cj^o enzie with the Victorian Order. (ivN p~Si'i (-!olo,:ir-sergeantrmajor Lindsay ir- ^r°m the ranks, and received the silver medal of the same \t =====

«OFFICER KILLED BY A I LION. V'Uv v. v V'e riltl tr„ n recelved at Devonport of the CI? Oex nda of Captain Basil Culme- JJJ' the Lancashire Fusiliers, who QIed by a lion whilst, hunting. QIed by a lion whilst, hunting.

MILITARY FREE FIGHT. BAYONET AND BALL CARTRIDGE USED IN A RIOT. The Press Association telegraphs that the long-standing feud between the Durham Light Infantry and the Worcester Regiment came to a head on Tuesday at North Camp, Aldershot, with a free fight, in which the bayonet was freely used and ball cartridge fired. Details of the Durham Light Infantry are quartered in Blenheim Barracks, and recently a com- pany of the Worcester Mounted Infantry were also sent to the barracks pending embarkation on the 25th inst. for South Africa. From what can be ascertained a quarrel in the can- teen was the lorerunner of a determined attack after Light3 out" on one of the Durhams' barrack rooms by the Worcesters, who came armtd with rifles,.fixed bayonets, and other weapons. Every window in barracks was smashed, and for a time the fighting was severe, during which five of the Durliams were seriously injured. Pickets were turned out froifa all parts, and the combatants were sepa- rated and confined to their barrack rooms, but the pickets and special sqnads of military police paiaded all night. The iniured men were taken to the Connaught Hospital, the most serious cases being those of Private Kelly, who received a bayonet wound in the stomach, and Private Hunter wonnds in the head. A couru of inquiry is assembling to investigate the matter. From later inquiries it transpires that four men were admitted to the hospital as a result of the riot. Kelly's condition is causing grave anxiety. Private Gully, Worcester Regiment. is suffering from a bayonet stab in the back, and Lance-corporal Berry and Private Hunter, both of the Durham Light Infantry, have eeriotig wounds in the head. cauapd either by bullets or stones- On Wednesday the Worcesters were removed from Blenheim Barracks to a.ti ether part of the camp.

VERDICT IN COBRA COURT- MARTIAL. LOSS DUE TO "STRUCTURAL WEAK- NESS. The result of the court-martial on the Oobra was announced on Wednesday evening. The Court came to the conclusion that the ship did not touch ground nor meet with any obstruction, nor was her noss due to any error in navigation, but was attributable to the structural weakness of the ship. The court also found that the Cobra was weaker than the other destroyers, and in view of that faot it was to be regretted that she was purchased iriito his Majesty's service. The court further found that no blame was attri- butable to Chief-engineer Percey, nor to the remaining survivors. The President returned Mr. PeToey hb sword, and stated that the court desired to express their opinion that the handling of the dinghy after the accident was worthy of all praise, and that the torpedo- coxswain, Francis Barnes, deserved great credit for the way in which he acted on a trying occasion.

On Saturday afternoon an interesting sequel wedding was solemnised at the Parish Church, Wulkden, near Manchester. The contracting partiee w.ere a young man named Green, of Worsley. and a young lady named Holmes, of Walkden. A short time ago Green's father, a widower, led to the altar bis bride's mother, a widow..

TRAGIC AFFAIR AT MERTHYR. MAGISTRATE'S PAINFULLY SUDDEN END. Mr. Thomas Jenkins, J.P., of Pantscallog, Dowlais. one of the best known and most popular men in the county of Glamorgan, died very suddenly on Monday evening. The sad event occurred in the board-room of the Union Workhouse whilst the deceased was presiding at the meeting of the Merthyr Board of Guardians, of which he has for soma time been chairman. The ro .m was getting heated with the gas, and wt list the board were engaged in voting upon '.Î1e appointment of a relieving officer for the parish of Gelligaer it was observed that he vas rather flushed. There was no excitement, however, prevailing at the time. He slipped "n his chair, and it wa* then noticed that he was quite uncon- scious. lIe was laid tendr.ny upon the floor, and after giving one gasp he died from heart failure. The melancholy incident created in- tense sensation among the guardians present, and tho meeting was at once adjourned until Saturday n'xt. M?dical aid was immediately summoned, and Dr. Welster, quickly followed by Dr. Ward, arrived, and certified life to be extinct. The guardians then took a sorrowful leave of the remains, which were subsequently conveyed to the residence. The sad news became known throughout Merthyr and Dow- late with great celerity, and on all hands there were expressions of the deepest regret front all sections of the community. Being a zealot in his desire to save the public some consolation in this distressful calamity is to be found in the. fact that Mr. Jenkins passed away as probably he would have wished—in harness. Mr. Jenkins, whs bad he lived until next month would have attained his seventy-third year, was born at Pwllywyaid, his father, Mr. Thomas Jenkins, having been contractor for the haulage of stones from the Dowlais Quarries to the Dow- lais Works. His father was a noted peniiliort singer, and last August in the art section of the Royal National Eisteddfod some medals which he had won for this class of musical contests were displayed among the exhibits. After receiving his education at the Dowlais Schools the deceased entered the fitting shop at the Dowlais Works, and subsequently had the superintendence of the stables. He after- wards became a contractor himself under the company, and for many years up to his death farmed on his own account Pantscallog and Blaonmorle.is farms. When he was a young man he was present at the Dowlais Quarries when, in the course of some experiments with some new powder used for blasting purposes, his old friend, the late Mr. Rees Hopkin Rhys, of Llwydcoed, lost the sight of both eyes by an explosion which occurred, and he also received severe iajury consequent upon the accident. No man in the county probably was connected with a greater number of public bodies, and the mere mention of the governing authorities upon which he served constituted quite an extensive catalogue. He was the oldest elected guardian in the parish of Merthyr, and for a large number of years was vice-chairman, he being appointed to the presidency of the board in April upon the resignation of Mr. D. P. pavieS" },lc one of the first members of the old local board, and he continued to serve on the district council from the tiine it was established. When the Glamorgan County Council was brought into existence he was elected a repre- sentative at Dowlais Town Ward, and ne remained a member, having attained the rank of alderman, until he retired and gave place to Mr. John Davies, the local miner a' agent. Mv. Jenkins clectcd a member of the Merthyr School Board upon its foriiiation, and retired about seven years ago. Among other offices which ho had held were those of chairman of the assessment committee of the tJnion, Chairman of the overseers of the parish of Merthyr. high-constable of Caer- philly Highet, chairman of the Dowlais Gas and Coke Company (Limited), and chairman of the Merthyr a,nd Aberdare Joint Farms Management Committee, but this must net be taken as a complete exhaustion of the liet- As an agriculturist he was famous, and he was frequently called in as an expert in the valuation of land. He was reckoned to be one of the flneet judges of horses in the country, and he acted as umpire in innume- rable agricultural shows, not only in Wales, but in parts of England, he having held the honour once of judging at a Royal Show, when it was held at Oxford 30 years ago. He was the founder and the president of the Merthyr May Day Phow. In 1890 he Was chiefly instrumental in bringing the Glamor- gan Agricultural Exhibition to Merthyr, and at a later date a very handsome presenta- tion was made to him and Mrs. Jenkins. The g'fta to himself consisted of an address in album form, containing the names of the subscribers, together with a purse of about £ 150, while' his worthy spouse was the reci- pient of a solid silver tea. and coffee service. The deceased gentleman married Miss Mar- garet Jones, daughter of the late Mr. Howell Jones, Owm. Vaynor, and of the children there are now living Major D. T. Jenkins, of the 3rd Volunteer Battalion the Welsh Regiment; the Rev. H. W. Jenkins, Aston! Clinton, Bucks; Mr- Augustus Jenkins, Mrs. Williams, Risca; Miss Jenkins, and Mies Barbara Jenkins. Mr. Jenkins had been ailing for the last four years, suffering from an affection of the heart. The death of his son Charlie, who was killed in the Battle of Oolenso, had a. most baneful effect upon his health.

A RHONDDA ELOPEMENT. At the Glamorganshire Quarter Sessions on Wednesday, the charge against Thomas John- son and Sara Eliza. James of robbing the husband of the latter of a. sewing-machine, clothing, and money. at Pontypridd. was resumed.—His Honour ruled against Mr. Lloyd Morgan on the point of the alleged flaw in the indictment, and the case proceeded. The defendant Sarah Eliza James, who the previous day had suffered from fits during the hearing, looked very ill when she entered the box. She said she had frequent quarrels with her husband, and he had told her to get away to Newport to her mother's. Be was not in regular work, and slis had a hard life to keep the house going. She explained that she (claimed the articles all as her personal pro- perty. They were gifts or she had bought them with her own money. She remembered -64 6s. being handed her as her husband's wages. She ?ave it to her husband, and he handed her back L3 of it. CrosLR-(-xanxilled by Mr. Parsons: When she took the C3 she intended going away, but she intended sending it back to him. Why did you not leave it when you went away with the lodger?-l didn't go away with the lodger. Well, when you went away to meet him?—I wanted to hand it over to him. But you were not going to see him again after going away with the lodger i'—I was going to send it. She further explained that she eari-ect the money to buy the sewing-machine by sewing whilst at Cardiff, and when she biught the cruet she thought it was her own money. She worked hard enough for it. Mr. Morgan, in defence, argued that there had bean no theft. As for the money, the womrvn had £ 17 of her own, and she wai not in necessity. t The prisoners were both found guilty. Mr. Parsons said the husband bad every desire that the wife should be leniently treated, and her father was in court to take charge of her. The Chairman, in sentencing the female prisoner to two months, without hard labour, said it was an aggravated case, bat, having regard to certain circumstances, the sentenca was a light one. Addressing the male defen- d-ant, he said he had taken advantage of his position as lodger to tempt this woman to steal her husband's goods. He would be sentenced to six montis' hard labour. On the application of Mr. Bertram, for the defence, that the point of law should be reserved, the Chwirman refused to postpone execution of the sentence.

GREAT LONDON VICTORIES. At the recent Dairy Show in London specimens of roots grown from Webb's seeds were awarded all the first prizes in open competition with the produce of seeds sup- plied by other houses, via.First and second prizes, Webb's Mammoth Long Red Mangold, seventeen entries; first prize, Webb's New Smithfteld Yellow Globe Mangold, 72 entries; first prize. Webb's New Buffalo Swede, 52 entries; first prise; Webb's collection of roots, eight entries. The total number of entriea was 149, and the competition waa open to Great Britain. This is a sweeping victory for Messrs. Webb, of Wordsley, Stourbridge.

BLACK GLAMORGAN. STRONG REMARKS BY JUDGE GWIL1M WILLIAMS. At the quarter sessions for the County of Glamorgan, held art Swansea on luesday, the chairman (Judse Gwilym Williams) called attention to a most appalling state of things now existing in the county." They had been recenuy in a position to con- gratulate the county on a. sensible diminu- tion in the number of indictable ofiencee. When he charged tne grand jury a short time ago, indeed, he was under the impression that the state of crime in the county wm improving-that crime was diminifeiung- Bllt he was appalled to find that, whereas the indictable offences had decreased to a certain extent, the non-indictable offences in the county were increasing at an enormous ratio. He used the worii "appalling," for it described what was in his mind wnen he read the figures he was about to give. H& bad read several communications which had been sent to the press with regard to the state of vrime in the county. Whilst in other parts of the kingdom crime was diminishing, he regretted to say they could not congra tulate themselves on the present condition of crime in that county. They ought, indeed, to bow their heads with shame at the vile state of things disclosed by the criminal statistics of that county. He had applied to the chief-cidnistalle of the county and also to the chief-constables J of tho county boroughs for details of the criminal statistics, and although in one or two instances—one or two places—lie found an improvement, yet with regard to the county itseii—tnat part which came under the super- vision of the police of Glamorgan—the crime assumed such vast proportions that he had felt for the past month that he could not sit down in that place-in that position in which lie had been placed by their courtesy—without calling their minute attention to this matter. One turned, of course, to the one great source of crime for an explanation—the drink ques- tion. If one took the figures for the county of Glamorgan, they would not be surprised to find him describing it as appalling. He had read the statements in the papers with a reser- vation—an inclination to disbelieve their truth—and he had laid the flattering unction to his soui that they were exaggerated. But he was sorry to say that tlie official statistics fully bore them out. What figures he had to give) them now were officiaj, and must be taken as correct. The number of indictable offences reported in 1899 were 1,084, in 1900 1,376, and in 1931 1,297, so that they fluctu- ated. This county was great in its popu- lation, great in its wealth, great in its gene- rosity, and great in its loyalty—its generosity and loyalty had been conspicuously testified during the war-and it was, therefore, very sad to have to adopt .the words of some of the London news- papers in regard to this subject of crime. What would they have said if living on the Continent they heard about Glamorgan, that it was onf of the three worst counties for crime, viz., Glamorgan, Monmouth, and Lon- don; that it was in the worst class in respect of violence against persona and against morals; and that in respect of offences against property it was, with Northumber- land and Durham, amongst the worst three? He ventured to think they would have received such assertions with incredulity. But he found those statements were well- founded. The ncn-indictable offences were increasing in a way not justified by the increase in population. In 1899 the number vas 18,877; in 1900 20,933. As to the chief cause of crime—drink—the figures showed that some drastic methods would have to be applied if tbey we;e to hold up their heads. In 1899 the convictions for drunkenness were 7,567, in 1900 8,124, and in 1901, up to the end of August, 9,711. He did not think it was neces- sary after reading these figures to excuse himself for bringing forward the subject. What, 11 3 asked, was to become of them? Could nothing be done? They, as county jus- tices, were hound to etudy the statistics, and he addressed them for the purposo of obtain- ing an expression of opinion, not only from them, but from the public also through the press. He felt they would not be satisfied to let mattirs go on thus if they could do any- thing t^ Ptem th<3 tide. They might help in the suppression of drunkenness by impressing it on the police forces under their imme- diate jurisdiction. As to the power of legis- lation, he was doubtful. There were diversi- fied views on this. Mr. Chamberlain had just deliveied a speech on the question. He did not propose to pass an opinion upon the various views propounded, but he thought it was incumbent upon the landowners, upon the employers of labour, and upon the represen-1 tatives of the men to take counsel together and see whether something could not be done to put an end to tbiB appalling and terrible state of things. He had had considerable experience formerly in the petty-sessional courts of a district not celebrated for it3 sobriety, and he had always considered there was a want of proportion between the number of persons convicted for drunkenness and the number of licensees convicted for supplying them with drink. He could not close his eyes to the fact that, although 9.711 persons had been convicted for drunkenness last year, only twenty-one licensed victuallers were convicted for supplying them. It appeared to him that, considering that the majority of the persons found drunk in the streets had been supplied at public-houses, there ought to be more prosecutions of licensed victuallers. It was said that the trade was a very difficult one to conduct, but that was no answer. A man who applied for a licence pledged himself to be able to conduct his business properly and not to allow the law to be infringed. It was no excuse for him to say, "I did not know the man was drunk." There were the system of Lord Grey and the Gothenburg system for their con- sideration. Those systems ought to be tried, and he had no doubt they would have a fair trial in that county. But, leaving the licensing question out, wa& there not some- thing they could do? One suggestion had been made to him by a large colliery pro- prietor in the Rhondda, and it was that all large employers of labour should try and find some source of amusement for their men. He (the colliery proprietor) was putting it into practice. He had set up a small theatre, and was now about to provide a music-hall, where supervisi. a would be exercised over tho per- formances. Young men coming from country districts earned more money than they ever had seen before, and they required some place for rational amusement. The only place they had now was the public-house. He (the chairman) was not a strict teetotaler, and he thought a man should be able to get a. glass of beer when he liked. Libraries had been advocated, but in those institutions they got only the respectable young men who would not get drunk in any case. They wanted a place for the other kind. The benefit clubs mostly held their meetings in public-houses, and one system of payment for the room was payment for beer. Why should everyone desiring to participate in those benefits have to go to the public-house? In Mountain Ash the working men had built a magnificent hall in which to hold their meetings. It was even used for the county-court and police-courts. j He commended that to the attention of the working population of the county. He thanked them for the opportunity they had afforded nim of bringing forward this subject, and he hoped that what he had said would in some I way bear fruit. INTERVIEW WITH MR. D. A. 1 THCZJAS, M.P. Mr. D. A. Thomas, M.P., who is a justice of the peace for the counties of Glamorgan and Monmouth, when askcl his opinion of Judge Gwilym Williams's address on thè increase of crime in Glamorganshire, said:- "I cannot agreO that the increase in crime in Glamorganshire is altogether surprising and alarming. In the first place, it is not sufficient to know the actual number of offences. What is of greater importance is the percentage of offences to the population at the periods which are compared. In the next place, it must be borne in mind that the great prosperity in Glamorganshire and Monmouthshire during the last two or three years has attracted a number of people from other counties. I don't remember off-hand how the population of Glamorgan at the last census compared with that of 1891, but if I am not mistaken both Glamorgan and Mon- mouth were among the four counties which showed the largest increase during the pre- vious decade, and this should be taken into consideration in dealing with criminal statis- tics. Again, those who are attracted to the coalfields from other districts generally consist of the younger and more unruly inha- bitants of those districts. It is an unques- tioned fact that prosperity does lead to a rise in the criminal statistics, and I have little doubt that the increase is due in a very great measure to the higher wages earned in Glamorgan and Monmouth. Judge Williams points out that much of the crims is due to indulgence in alcoholic drinks, and, going a step further, excessive drinking is due to high wages." "What do you say to giving increased facili- ties for amusement?" "On that point I am entirely with Judge Williams, as I think it will be the means of keeping people away from the public-houses. Free libraries, while they do something in that direction, do not get hold of the people who habitually visit public-houses and drink more than is good for them. Twenty years ago we (the Cambrian Colliery Company) built a handsome library, reading-rooms, and a coffee tavern at Clydach Vale, but although it has, nc doubt, been an assistance to many. I cannot honestly say that it has diminished the consumption of alcohol." "What about licensing reform?" "My views on that subject are pretty well known. I agree with very much that Mr. Chamberlain said a couple of days ago. I very much doubt whether a reduction in the num- ber of licensed houses will produce such a diminution of drunkenness as temperance reformers think. My experience is that drun- kenness is quite as prevalent in districts where there is a small number of public- houses as in places where the proportion to the population is very much larger. For instance, I find drunkenness quite as prevalent in the Rhondda Valley as in Merthyr. Unless you can keep public-houses and the tempta- tion to drink entirely out of the reach of the people a mere reduction of three convenient public-houses to two will, in my judgment, hawe very little effect. I am not sure, indeed, whether the crowding of a large number of men into a few public-houses is not a dis- advantage."

EXTRAORDINARY AFFRAY IN LONDON. WOTUAN SHOT BY HER BROTHER- IN-LAW. An extraordinary shooting affray, resulting in the death of the assailant and serious wounding of a woman, took place at Black- friars on Monday night. Two well-dressed men (brothers), accompanied by the wife of the elder, alighted from the train at Black- friars Station, and while mounting the stair-1 case the younger man fired a revolver at the lady's breast, immediately afterwards turn- ing the weapon on himself, and firing a shot into his body. Almost instantly Mrs. Bunting recovered from the first shock, and dashed, shrieking, along the subway leading to St. Paul's Station, followed by her husband. Arthur Bunting followed in pursuit, firing another shot, which nearly grazed his brother's coat. Overtaking his brother and sister-in-law in St. Paul's booking-office, Arthur again rushed at Mrs. Bunting. Her husband temporarily protected her, but after (a struggle the assailant succeeded in firing a shot into the lady's back at close range. The wound this time was serious, and Mrs. Bunt- ing collapsed, and fell to the ground, while Arthur ran into the street, and, placing the smoking revolver to his breast, shot himself through the heart. Mrs. Bunting was con- veyed to St. Bartholomew's Hospital, but up to a late hour the bullets had not been! extracted, and her condition was regarded as extremely critical. No motive is assigned for the act. Later.-At midnight the condition of Mrs. Bunting was more hopeful. Rontgen rays will be utilised in the morning to locate the bullets, and efforts made to extract them. •

Johann Most, of Chicago, the editor of the "Freiheit," who was recently arrested on a charge of publishing a seditious article in his paper on the day after the assassination of Mr. M'Kinley, has been sentenced to one year's imprisonment in a penitentiary.— Reuter. j — a

COLONEL LINDSAY'S HOMECOMING. DEMONSTRATION IN THE • JiHYMNKY VALLEY. The biggest demonstration ever held in the Rhymney Valley was that whíC;1 welcomed heme Colonel Morgan Lindsay, of Ystrad Mynach, on Tuesday. The gallant colonel. Who had command of a large company of Royal Monmouth Engineers while in South Africa, arrived at Tredegar Junction at 2.30 o'clock from Monmouth, and found a large and enthusiastic gathering on the railway platform and in the precincts of the railway- station. The station premises themselves were gaily bedecked, and when the train was signalled the Nelson Temperance Band (under the leadership of Mr. H. Carl Taylor) struck up the strains of "Home, Sweet Home." The colonel was received by Mrs. Morgan Lindsay and their little daughter. Colonel Lindsay, sen., of Glesnevin, County Dublin, aiid the Hon. Mre. Lindsay (sister of Lord' Tredegar and motlier of Colonel Morgan [Lindsay); Mrs. Thomas, Thames Bank i (mother of Mrs. Mcrgan Lindsay); Miss Thomas, Llwynmadoc (sister of Mrs. Lind- say); Mrs. C. C. Williams, of Coedriglan; Mre. Stourton. of St. Neot; Mr. and Mrs. Walter Lindsay, the Rev. William Lindsay, rector of Llanfairkilgeddin, end Miss Lindsay, Mr. Ccdrington Crawshay, Mr. C. Crawsliay, and Mr. E. W. M. Corbett. The gallant officer and Mrs. Lindsay took their seats in a carriage drawn by nine men of the 2nd Battery of the 1st Monmouth Royal Artillery (under the command of Sergeant-major Brittain, R.A.), and, amid loud cheering, a procession was formed in the following order :-Nelson Band, mounted police (from Glamorgan and Mon- mouthshire), farmers and yeomen on horse- back, cyclists (a large number with decorated bicycles), Volunteers (a contingent being from Risca), boys of the Pengam Schools (some attired in uniforms), children of schools in the neighbourhood, and the public (on foot and in carriages). The arrangements had been admirably carried out by a committee, of which the Rev. H. Thomas was chairman, Mr. A. J. Probert, secretary; and Mr. R. Edwards, Cwmddu Farm, treasurer. At Maesy- Cwmmer bunting was freely displayed, and I there were several triumphal arches. In the square before the Angel Hotel a platform had been erected, and from here several addresses of welcome were delivered in the presenco of an immense crowd. Mr. E. W. M. Corbett, who was chairman, said they were met to show their appreciation of the splendid work Colonel Lindsay had done and the splendid manner in which ho had performed it for, his King and country. .(Cheers.) Colonel Lindsay had done his duty well and unflinchingly, and they were all delighted tohavehimback with them a-ain. (Cheers.) Mrs. Thomas, of The Vicarage. Maesy- i cwmmer, then presented Colonel Lindsay with an illuminated address, and in doing Eo spoke of the noble part played by Mrs. Morgan Lind- say during the colonel's absence. The Rev. H. Thomas said that Mrs. Lindsay had made a plucky fight for her husband at the last election, and perhaps Colonel Lind- say would value her all the more for that. (Cheers.) Colone. Lindsay, who was received with vociferous cheering, said it was quite impos- sible for him to adequately thank them for the magnificent reception and presentation they had given him. With reference to what the Rev. H. Thomas had said of his wife, he assured him that he could not value his wife more in the future than he had done in tiM past. (Cheers.) In South Africa he had not been engaged in a number of pitched battles. He had had to look after the per- manent way and bridges, extending over 430 miles, and, although they were occasionally under fire in repairing the constant depreda- tions of the Boers, he was glad to say that they never allowed the line to be interrupted more than a few hours at a time. (Cheers.) With regard to the war itself, he wished to point out to those people who complained of the time it had lasted and of their inability to catch De Wet and other big | .boer generals that the country they had to operate in was as large as the Empires of Germany and France put together. They would, therefore, see tha.t looking for a Boer general was like looking for a needle in a bundle of hay. (Laughter.) People out there could scarcely believe that there should be persons and papers in Eng- land gloating over disasters to the British in South Africa and spreading lying reports of the inhumanity of their soldiers. Every Dutchman or Englishman they met out there would express astonishment at the moderation, the generosity, and the humanity shown by the British troops. (Cheers.) He begged of them not to believe the lying reports they read of the misconduct of their troops. (Cheers.) He thanked them for their reception of him, and he thanked those of them who found it necessary to think a different way to his wife at the last election for showing that that difference of opinion did not interfere with their neighbourly feeling. (Cheers.) Mr. Richard Edwards, Mr. David Treasure, Mr. J. p. Charles (Llanbradach), and Mr. George Seaborne (Hengoed) spoke of the plea- sure it gave them to welcome Major Lindsay home, and then Colonel Lindsay (senior) was called upon, amid loud cheers, and expressed the heartfelt pleasure his wife and himself felt at the return of their son. Mrs. Lindsay, in response to repeated calls, advanced to the front of the platform and said she thanked them very much for giving her husband such a welcome. "God Save the King" was then sung, Miss Annie Edwards rendering the solo, and the procession re-formed, and, amid the firing of detonators and cannon, moved off to the residence of Colonel Lindsay, at Ystrad-y- Mynach, where the united choir of Maesy- cwmmer knd Hengoed sang "Home, Sweet Home." In the evening there was a. display of fire- works at Hengoed.

f "Strongest and Beat" torn —Httftk FRY'S I Pure Oonoeniratad CO CO A urqo Riolptt in fleah-foroiiiig and Miargy- j prodwoing constituents."Dr- Amdrrm Wilwx, F. R .S* £ E. j 200 Qold Medals 8t Pipioma«

SOLDIER KILLED AT CARDIFF. r -r EXCUSABLE HOMICIDE BY A COSTERMONGER. Private Evan Rees, of the Welsh Regiment, was admitted to Cardiff Infirmary late on Monday night suffering from injuries to his head. The injuries were so severe that he died at four o'clock on Tuesday morning. Deceased had had an altercation in Wood- stre-et after eleven o'clock at night, and it is stated that he was knocked down, and falling against something this caused the fatal injuries. Deceased was a native of Merthyr Tydfil, and son of John Rees, 74, Ynyscoed, Merthyr Tydfil. He only enlisted as a line recruit in the Welsh Regiment thirteen days ago, and had not been out in his uniform more than half a, dozen times since he had joined the Army. He was twenty years of age when he enlisted on the 2nd inst. He was drafted into tht "B" Company, of which Sergeant Parkfs has charge. Several of his comrades, when seen by our representative at the bar- racks. were deeply affected by the news of the kid's death. They all spoke of him as being a quiet, modest, and most harmless young fellow. They could not understand why any man should strike him. He was of short stature, being only 5ft. 5in. in height. A little while before he was found lying unconscious in Wood-street he was in the company of several other recruits. But he left them and went down Wood-street. The oilicers at the depot were informed of what had happened, and Corporal Thomas was sent down to the infirmary to see Rees. John Rees, the father of the deceased, upon being communicated with on Tuesday took the first available train to Cardiff and made his way up to the barracks, where the sad news of his son's death was confirmed by the officers there. Colour-sergeant Parkes was told off to ac-company Mr. Rees to the infirmary, where the body of the deceased man is now lying. Our representative saw the father just as he was going into the infirmary, and he ap- peared to be greatly affected over the tragio occurrence of Monday. Mr. Rees said that his son had come to Cardiff some time ago to work as a carpenter, having learnt his trade with him (Mr. Rees). He had enlisted without his consent, btit, still, he had no serious objec- tion to that, especially when he was told by all of his comrades and the colour-sergeant of his company that he was a very quiet and obedient lad and one who was likely to make a good soldier. The scene in the ward where the body was lying when the father approached the bedside was a very distressing one. Detective-sergeant Gretton on Tuesday art-asted a cOfctermonger named David Connor on suspicion of having caused the death of the deceased. CORONER'S INQUIRY. Mr. E. B. Reece, Cardiff coroner, held his inquiry into the sad affair at the Town-hall on Tuesday afternoon. David Connor, the man supposed to have caused the death of the deceased, was present. Tom Siieppard, fruiterer, of 20, Park-street. said that lie saw the deceased shortly after eleven o'clock on Monday night. He was standing at the time on the door uf 35, Wood- street, and Connor was standing about two yards away looking through the window of a fried fish shop. The deceased man passed along in uniform, and, going up close to Connor, started picking a quarrel. Both appeared to be under the influence of drink. Deceased caught bold of Connor by the arm, and then struck him in the face. Connor turned round and struck deceased in the chest. causing him to fall back and strike his head heavily against an ash-box that was outside the pawnbroker's shop. Seeing that deceased did not rise he (witness) went up to him, and meanwhile Connor walked away. A crowd gathered, and the deceased when picked tip seemed to be unconscious, and was bleeding from the nose and back of the head. Some one sent for A cab, and deceased was taken to the infirmary in the company of two men. The Coroner: Connor only struck the deceased cne blew? Witness: Only one blow. And the deceased only struck Connor one blow?-Yes, sir. The Coroner's Officer, in answer to a ques- tion, said he could not find the two men who took the deceased to the infirmary. Colour-sergeant Parkas, who is in charge of B Company, to which the deceased belonged, gave evidence of identification, and produced the attestation papers of the deceased. Thomas Davies, fishmonger, 44, Rolls-street, Canton, said that he and Connor walked down Wood-street together between ten and eleven o'clock, but they parted for a little time. He saw Connor looking through the window of 36, and his attention was called to a crowd a little distance away. Witness ran up to see what had happened, and he saw a soldier lying in the gutter. He lifted the deceased, and saw that he was bleeding profusely from the back of the head and also from the nose and mouth. Connor had been drinking. Mrs. Selby, who lives at No. 36, was called forward, but she said that she had seen. nothing of the row. Dr. Rees, of the Cardiff Infirmary, said the deceased was brought to the institution about 11.30 on Monday night. Two young men, who gave their names as James Ware, 52, Penarth- road, and E. Watkins, 121, Bedford-street, accompanied him. Deceased was unconscious and bleeding from a small wound at the back of the head. There was a bruise on the left side of the upper lip, one of the front teeth was lying detached in his mouth, and another tooth was hanging loosely from the gum. The poor fellow died about four o'clock on Tuesday morning without having recovered conscious- ness. As a result of a post-mortem examina- tion it was discovered that the base of the skull was fractured, and the front of the brain was also very much lacerated. All the other organs were healthy. The cause of death was fracture of the skull leading to hemorrhage on the brain. The brnise on the mouth and the loss of the two teeth indicated a very heavy blow. which might have been inflicted by a fist. The fracture of the skull was con- sistent with the deceased having, fallen against any projecting object on the road. Addressing Price, his officer, the Coroner said: You told me that the second witness. Thomas Davies, said that he saw Connor striking the first blow, and that he prevented him striking the second blow. Pfice: That is what he told me, sir. Thomas Davies, re-called, said that Price must have misunderstood him. Price: Davies told me that he pushed eo. nor away. The Coroner: It is a very serious thing to withhold tllA truth. It is not likely that my officer would make a mistake. Evidence of arrest was given. Connor, In answer to the charge, said. "He (deceased) let go at me, and I hit him back, and he fell down." Connor was arrested at 15, Eldon- road. In summing up, the Coroner said that it waa a question of whether this was a case of excusable homicide. If it was manslaughter, it was of a very mild type. It was unfor- tunate that Connor had given such a severe blow. The verdict of the jury was Excusable homicide."

THE CECIL ROMANCE. The father of Miss Bain, Belfast, the lady engaged to Lieutenant Richard Cecil, arrived at Belfast on Wednes- day from Edinburgh. He has insti- tuted legal proceedings against a leading English newspaper for uncomplimentary refe- rences to his daughter on the 5th inst. The damages are laid at £ 5,000. In addition to his other commercial business, Mr. Bain is agent for the extensive Irish estates of Sir John Stewart, Bart., and Lord Massereene. Lieutenant Cecil has disappeared. He is said to be apprehensive of an attempt to kid- nap him. Mies Bain knows where he is, but nobody else does. It is said that the date, hour, and place of wedding have been arranged. The ceremony is fixed for Tuesday next, and the lieutenant will probably not be seen that day. The lo-^trs are determined not to thwarted again.

\Y-KRN5TR, PFLETDEKEB, AHB T PERKINS (LIMITED), LONDON. BRISTOL, AND MANCHESTER. IliVBNTORS PATENTisJia o. PATENT STEAM OVENS FOR BAKERS AND OONFEOnONEES.

Hiffbest awards wherever exhl blted. 85 Gold aDd SUv. Medals and DiptomM. II/rentor. and Patenteee of the HelJ-known PERKINS PEEL and "TELESCOCA.R" DliiW- PLATE OVENS.

KUW.&MM' r'MMMHf—

TfaiTtml vouching we 0.- ftlaehiM, "ttpiral Brash" and "Rainbow'' Sifteri, Water )Le. inrinj and Tempering Tanka, Loaf and Ban Dough Dividers, Wruolti, Racks, Caitora, Ii". Water Sapply ApparattM, tu-

District Offices: 2. OOLSTON-ST.. BRISTOL.

11 Strongest and Best" FRY'S Pure Concentrated COCOA 111\1 Richest in llMb-forinifig and enwgjy-1 I lancing constituents. A*ar*w 12lic) Gold Medals a Diplomas

C°MMANDANT SCHEEPERS CAPTURED. EIGHTEEN BOER LEADERS BANISHED. Vfa • *°"0V7i'io message from Lord Kitchener 8 issued by the War Office on Saturday:- PRETORIA, Saturday. French's columns have captured Com- mandant Scheepers. s MIDDELBURG (Cape Colony), Saturday. b" cheepers -was captured yesterday afternoon troop tlie 10tl1 Hussars at Ketting.— c latest reports of Scheeper3, prior to his jj stated that he was seriously ill, that being moved about in a Cape cart, and the British columns were certainly on his y^ck. Seheepers, a few days back, sent to British lines for a doctor. gT^peated attacks have been made <,u c0] eePers during the last few days by the gj ^ttins under Atherton and Kavanagh. The in which Seheepers has been conduct- maraudmg operations during the past Cm Months is the extreme south of Cape almost on the coast, between Port a'3eth and Cape Town. On one occasion W^roached within about 150 miles of the thJ? place, and at another time he tenoned Mossel Bay. One of his lieu- Theron, -with a email following, to cross the main line of railway diat the rebels and raiders in the Calvima W 'ct. Seheepers has steadily avoided fight- 8 Policy being pillage and incendiarism.

DELAREY INVADES THE ORANGE COLONY. fc'le following official telegram lias been t^6jilJed at the War Office from Lord Kit- PRETORIA. Monday (1.30 p.m.). Since the 7th of October columns rfiPort 26 Boers killed, eight wounded, 194 Prisoners, and 42 surrenders; also 102 rifles. 38,2o0 rounds of small-arms ammu- nition, 40 wagons, 2,200 horses, and 4,250 cattle captured. Heavy rains have considerably impeded "Operations and communications on the -Natal frontier. • General Kitchener's columns from Paul p'eterabufg £ nd Utrecht are moving ftt>ainst a. considerable fiumbbr of the enemy, reported between Slangatiesberg and Pongolabosch. Sruce-Hamilton is operating near ■^Sonie Forest. ■Methttin is clearing the afarieo district, elarey and Kemp have retired toward* ^indleypoort. Elliott's columna have heeh wofkiflg 4gainst parties of Boers in the Drakens- bevg. French reports that Scheepers' com- mando has been broken bp, and is much -•cartered about the neighbourhood oi S*ooti<mtem and Blood River; that ^hts' commando lias been divided into O* forces—one to the north of Aberdeen, S °viftg west; the other is south-west of b o!t¡enet East. Each is followed closely •v c>ur column*. Jjj the extreme west a small southward Movement towards Piquetberg is being dealt with by General French. ^CUTION OF COMMANDANT LOTTER. t, MIDDELBURG (Cape Colony), Friday. W ^andant Lotter was executed this moru- s,^K.euter. BOER LEADERS BANISHED. A. fu PRETORIA, Saturday. °^dev.r Iler list is published of eighteen Boer cnl CaPtured since September 15, and wh > °ith quently permanently banished from Africa.—Reuter. V^OSE PURSUIT OF BOTHA. V^av, Llnr?et Durleigh. telegraphing from eIN'Q8 Bridge on October 10 to the "Daily (:13()th bIJ. !ayø with about 1,000 burghers and a few fJ8 now at Luneberg, thirty miles dis- >v 111 ^ere. Considering the difficulties in Colonel Stewart's column made a march hither, bringing up supply ^ich'8 for General W. Kitchener's column, (,;Ha 1,as been dogging the footsteps of Crrobelaar, and other commandants. hundreds of the Boers, with all the jS cattle, wagons, and the wounded from he !I, tala and Prospect, are now heading into i ''hev.)tlSo*a bush district. ^to 's a possibility of Botha doubling back 0ut Vryheid district. /'Jfe iv los9es are killed and under a /?lllided. The enemy have had as many and in addition we took six It' Srs and ten wagons. This refers entirely °Perations of General W. Kitchener. Piij. skirmishes on October 5, 6, and 7, at > 0lH ivV''c-n^y miles east of Vrjheid, at the y 5 "erg, and upon Botha's farm at Water- tl'e 5th inst. the New Zealanders were 3 and had two killed and two wounded. ,e 6th there was a heavy skirmish on I t^r6aine berg, to which the Boers had 1ft tue<i- Ultimately Botha escaped, descend- l\ e mountain face during the night by turning off to the left and getting J^ir, rapicl marching. J to' the rain there seems a good chance 6 vi° g tlle Boers' wagons and cattle in i.heid district. admit that at £ ort Itala they had J BRUSSELS, Tuesday. lnforIE€(i that Mr. Kruger to-day several reports from South Africa Botha's situation, which is con- v! dangerous. The ex-President and $tnC,°,Urage are> c«nsequently, very anxious. ,A •°rnin= Post" message adds:—It is '5t J,.111 Brussels that Botha is so situated LMin "pCan be captured by the British forces. 4 (j.^xpres-s" declares that Botha is cleariy and that he will have no other but to right, and to fight hard. KRUGER SERIOUSLY ILL. 5$itttv,. BERLIN, Tuesday. paper publishes a telegram from j? stating ihat, in spite of reports to arJ". Mr. Kruger is seriously ill.— ■■ ■-—~

MR. ASQUITH AND THE IRISH. THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE LIBERAL PARTY. The Right Hon. H. H. Asquith, M.P., visited Edinburgh on Wednesday. In the afternoon he received a deputation from the Scottish Temperance Legislation Board, the object of r which is to secure legislation on the lines of Lord Peel's Report. In replying to the depu- tation, he said there were two or three points which stocd out in the Peel Report as the basis of any really effective legislation. The first was as to the reduction of licences. and the second was as to compensation from the trade, not from the public funds. The process of compensation, and the length of the time limit, were all matters for consideration, but the compensation, in whatever form or what- ever terms, must be from the trade, and not from public funda. They would never deal justly with this great interest until they laid dov n. and carried out, the principle that the State was entitled to share in the enhanced value which the State itself, with its own action, created. In the evening Mr. Asquith addressed a meeting in the Empire Palace Theatre. He advocated freedom of speech within the party. It had been by the frank and open inter- change (sometimes of actual collision) of honest opinion that they had succeeded— better, he believed, than any other party— in reconciling intellectual independence with political co-operation. (Hear, hear.) He had been taken to task for saying that, in his opinion, the Liberal party ought to be an independent party. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Redmond had claimed for himself and for his followers a complete charter of independence. (Cheets.) That appeared to him to be a per- fectly reasonable demand. Mr. Redmond had intimated that there would be found to be a not inconsiderable difference between the maximum of what he asked and the minimum of what he would be content to get, and he would be prepared to combine for something short of his extreme demands. What was to be the attitude of the Liberal party? They should themselves claim and exercise a like freedom. (Cheers.) He had added that it would not be well to repeat the experiment of 1892. Some very excellent friends of his had thought that an unfortunate remark. He respectfully differed from them. (Cheers.) Although he knew that his opinion was shared by a number of the most level-headed Liberals in the country, he did not pretend to give any pledge for the Liberal party as a whole. He would add that independence was not the came as hostility. (Cheers.) There were many reforms of the highest moment in which the Liberal party and the Irish party would be found fighting side by side. There were other questions, such as those relating t6 elementary education, In which the Irish party were likely to be found on one side and the Liberal party on another. As to the establishment of a university for Roman Catholics, there was a. secticn of the Liberal party which would support them (the Irish), and another section which would oppose. In these matters he was for the policy of the free hand. (Cheers.) But Ireland remained at once the greatest blot and the greatest problem of the Empire. (Hear, hear.) when the leader of the Irish party uttered in the Houae of Commons the prayer for the success in arms of th-3 enemies of the King- (hisses)—that was an incident which, while it excited indignation, ought also to arouse searchings of fcsart. (Hear, hear.) British statesmanship had failed in Ireland. As to the war. his opinions were unaltered. The country had ceased to attach weight to official apologies for admitted miscalculations and transparent mismanagement. (Cheers.) The Rhodes cheque incident was a dlscroditable and tffoteiqtw at.t.empt to injure their party by attacking the personal honotir of two of its most distinguished leaders. None of his colleagues, so far as he knew, ever heard of Mr. Rhodes's subscription. The suggestion that Mr. Rhodes had bought an option, as it were, over the Liberal policy was a falsehood in essence and in substance. There were two safeguards of our com- mercial supremacy and of our national existence—Free Trade and the command of the sea. (Cheers.) The maintenance of these two great national defences ought to be, and he trusted they would be, one of the car- dinal points of Liberal policy of the fntnre. (Hear, hear.) A resolution was unanimously adopted thanking Mr. Asquith for his address, and ex- pressing confidence in Sir Henry Campbell- kBonnerman. Sir Edward Grey, in response to demands by'the audience, said he woitld say "ditto" to Mr. Asquith. The Government was one of surprises. It was surprised that the Boers went to war; it was surprised that they had horses; it was surprised that they had guns; it was now surprised that the war was not ended. (Laughter.) Liberals should con- centrate upon temperance, education, reform of rating, and the housing question. (Cheers.) There was in the Liberal party material out of which to form a strong. onergetic, and sym- pathetic Government to take the place of the present. (Cheers.)

WHEN DOCTORS DISAGREE, WHO SHALL DECIpEP Mr. CHAMBERLAIN: "Totally wrong treatment! Too much law." Judge GWILYM WILLIAMS: "Treatment not correct I Requires more law." He defied anyone to point to any Act of Parliament passed during the last 70 years which had had any effect whatever in reducing drunkenness, although he thought it would be easy enough to point to several which had had the effect of increasing it."—Mr. Chamberla-in at a. temperance meeting in Birmingham. He could not close his eyes to the fact that, although 9,711 persona ha.d been convicted for drunkenness last year, only twenty- one licensed victuallers were convicted for supplying them. It ap- peared to him that, considering that the majority of the persons found drunk in the streets had been supplied at public-houses, there ought to be more prosecutions of licensed victuallers."—Judge Gwilym Williams at Swansea.

At Shropshire Quarter Sessions at Shrews- bury yesterday Phoebe Eva Evans, a smartly- dressed woman, the wife of a farmer near Wellington, was sentenced to nine months' im-j Imprisonment for housebreaking and robbery.