Weekly Mail

LIVERPOOL BANK: FRAUDS. ,1. I r « i GOUDIE AND OTHERS AT BOW-STREET. Richard Barge, Thomas Francis Kelly. and Thomas Peterson Goudie were brought up 'before Mr. Fenwick) at Bow-street Police- court on Monday charged with feloniously uttering cheques of the total value of £170,000, knowing the same to be forged. Keen public interest was shown in the pro- ceedings. and the demand for admission to the court was much greater than could be accommodated in the available space. Mr. C. F. Gill, K.C.. and Mr. C. Matthews appeared to prosecute on behalf of the Bank of Liverpool; Mr. Mellor appeared for Kelly. Mr. Horace Avory, K.C., and Mr. Biron for Burge. and Mr. F. E. Smith for Goudie. Mr Harold Lloyd, solicitor, of Cardiff, attended to watch the proceedings on behalf of certain interested parties residing in that town. Mr. F. E. Smith made a preliminary appli- cation that the whole or part of the JE280 found in possession of Goudie should be retained for the purposes of his defence. It was within the discretion of the magistrate to grant this. if it was thought fit to be con- sistent with the interests of justice. Mr. Gill, for the bank, adopted a neutral attitude, and the magistrate refused the ap- plication Mr. Gill proceeded with the opening state- ment on behalf of the prosecution. He said the prisoner Goudie was a ledger clerk in the Bank of Liverpool, and it was his duty to enter in these ledgers the accounts of cus- tomers. ranging alphabetically from H. to K. He had to enter to their debit cheques, which we.-e paid out by the bank. and to mark cor- responding entries in the customers' pass books. Goudie had an opportunity of handling the cheques, and apparently made a careful study of the signature attached to tho, chequee of a large customer named R. W. Hudson. He stole &ome of thoae cheques to practise the signature until he became able to forge it with great facility. He shortly afterwards forged cheques which were cashed to the amount of £169.000. When these forged cheques came back to the bank they went in the ordinary course into the hands of Goudie, who destroyed them, and others of them were afterwards found in his lodgings. The methods by which Goudie was able to carry out his plans would involve an exhaustive and elabo- rate explanation. The prisoner Goudie ad- mitted some of the forgeries, but there was some question on his part as to the amounts. Although skilled and trusted as a bank book- keeper. Goudie showed extreme simplicity— and, indeed, amazing credulity—in his belief in certain betting men with whom he became acquainted one day towards the end of 1900. when he was returning by train from New- market. One of these men was the prisoner Kelly, and the other was a man named Styles, with whom, at their invitation, he played a game of solo whist. Their acquain- tance rapidly ripened on the basis of racing types, and within a few weeks Goudie was communicating by letters with Kelly and Styles, remitting them from time to time sums amounting to many thousands of pounds for bets on horse races. Goudie seemed to have believed everything they told him. Kelly and Styles appeared to have been acting together in concert instead of acting separately and independently, as Goudie seemed to have believed. In October of this year it became known to the prisoner Burge that Jxelly and Styles had a source from which large sums of maney could be obtained. Burge had a close, intimate, personal friend named Mances, and he knew a man named Laurie Marks. It was determined that Goudie should not be left entirely to Kelly and Styles. Consequently Goudie waa interviewed at Liverpool by Mances between the 24th of October and the 14th of November. A sum of £91.000 was paid in six cheques by Goudie into Marks's account the arrangement apparently being that Goudie should suppose that the money was to be used on his behalf by Marks in backing horses at races, but no bets were made. and as soon as the cheques were obtained the proceeds were at once divided in the proportion of one-half to Burge, one- third to Mances. and one-sixth to Marks. Ae loon as the frauds were discovered Styles and Mances absconded. Marks was alleged to have committed suicide. The evidence was then proceeded with. The first witness was a book-keeping clerk employed by Marks, and he gave evidence with some detail as to Mances and Burge having almost daily frequented Marks's office and transacted business there. The books did not contain a record of any betting transactions with a man named Scott. On the 2nd of November a telegram, signed "Marks," was sent to "Scott, Liverpool": — I am doing no business to-day. Will arrange for next week, so you are not on." Witness saw from reference to the books that Marks was doing business on that day. A further telegram was sent to Scott on the 11th of November, viz.Marks is very sick. I cannot do business without him.—Gargled." The signature to the telegram, viz., "Gargled," was Marks's telegraphic address. Mr. Marks was doing business on that day. but witness did not know of any customer of Mr. Marks's having £10,000 on the horse Samson, which upon that day won the first race at Leicester Witness gave similar evidence with regard to a. further telegram. Mr. Marks's average bet might be a sovereign, but he tooV iiany at half-a-crown and 5s. His average _«.kings on an ordinary da) might be about £20. out of which payments had to be made. Witness had no knowledge up to the time that Marks went away that he had any customers of the name of Goudie or Scott. Cross-examined by Mr. Avory, witness said he had seen telegrams to and from Scott, but he did not know that Scott was a customer nor had he any idea that Scott was a bank clerk. Marks was often late in arriving at the office on account of the state of his health. Burge did not at the office open any letters addressed to Marks, but only telegrams, which they often opened in the absence of Marks Burge was at the office on Saturday, the 23rd of November, the day the bank case was pub. lished. and asked witness where Marks was. and why he had not turned up at the office. He introduced Burge to Marks's brother, who was then at the office. Marks was an American. Mr. R. W. Hudson, Liverpool, the next witness, said that for many years past he had an account in the Bank of Liverpool. A list of cheques was produced, not one of which had been signed by him, although purporting to be signed by him. He identified a small packet of his cheques, which were genuine. He also identified several cheques, which, although no- signed by himself, bore a very good imita- tion of his signature. He saw upon the back of a cheque produced some efforts to imi- tate his signature. He had no transactions whatever in connection with the turf. Mr. Shanwood, manager of a branch of Lloyds Bank in Liverpool, said that on the 6th of December, 1899, the prisoner Goudie called upon him, and introduced himself as John Styles, oil and colour merchant. He asked the witness to collect for him a cheque, which he produced, purporting to be drawn by Mr. R. W. Hudson upon the Bank of Liver- pool. Witness had it collected, and Goudie got the money three days later. The prisoner Goudie called upon witness next on the 22nd of March. 1900, and desired to open an-account in the name of J. Styles." For that purpose Goudie presented first a cheque for £ 300, and afterwards a cheque for £ 400 and one for £ 600. all purporting to be drawn by E. W. Hudson upon tne Bank of Liverpool. Other similar cheques for £600 followed. In November. 1900. a similar cheque for £1,400 was handed in by Goudie, who obtained a draft for £1.300. payable to T. F Kelly. In like manner on the 16th of November Goudie handed in a cheque for £3.000. obtaining at the same time 8 draft upon the London office of Lloyds Bank in favour of- Kelly. On the 30th of November a similar transaction for upwards of £2.000 took place. The examination of witness was continued with reference to like transactions in large amounts in 1901. One of the drafts early in that year was in favour of W. H. Styles. On the 13th of April Goudie paid in a cheque for £5,000, and shortly afterwards got a draft in favour of Kelly for upwards of £4.000. There had been no alterations in the account since May, 1901. when there was a credit balance of £176 18s. 6d. That remained in the hands of the bank under an injunction. All the cheques to which he had referred purported to be drawn by R. W. Hudson. Witness was examined by Mr. Mellor on behalf of the prisoner Kelly. and stated that he had no suspicion about the cheques. A cheque being credited by the bank upon which it was drawn would naturally disarm any- body's suspicion. The increasing magnitude of the transactions had not excited the mis- givings of witness. Mr. Thomas Glencross, of the General Post Offioc, gave formal evidence as to the pro- duction of telegrams. Mr. G. E. Steel, a cashier in Lloyds Bank London, also gave formal evidence, producing the drafts already referred to from their branch at Liverpool. Most of these were pre- sented by the prisoner Kelly. The prisoned were then remanded for a week. Before the court adjourned Mr. Biron pleaded that Burge should be admitted to bail. The Magistrate said he would give the appli- cation every consideration, but he could not accede to it at present. TWO MEN CHARGED WITH BEING ACCESSORIES. At Liverpool on Tuesday (before Mr. Stewart, Stipendiary magistrate) John Aitken. of Liver- pool, and John Roberts, of Seacombe, were again charged with being Accessories after the fact in the charge against Thomas Peter- son Goudie, the Liverpool bank clerk. After some discussion the accused were remanded for four weeks, bail being accepted1 foTMMhinjESS

A NIGHT ON A ROOF. STARTLING ESCAPADE AT PENTONVILLE. As briefly reported in Friday's "Western Mail," a remarkable affair occurred on Thurs- day at Pentonville Prison, when one of the convicts managed to elude the vigilance of the warders, and escaped from his cell to the roof of the highest building of the prison. At breakfast-time cha convict was missing from his cell and a thorough search was made throughout the prison, but ail efforts to trace the missing man proved futile. After some considerable time the attention of one of the warders was attracted to the roof by hearing loud laughter, and on looking up he saw thb escaped prisoner sitting on the roof of one of the highest buildings. He shouted to him. telling him not to move, .but the escaped man ran along the slates in a most reckless fashion, laughing derisively at the large num- ber of persons who had by this time assembled in the street watching his antics. The warder: in the yard fetched a number of ladders, and. lashing them together, managed to make one of sufficient length to reach the parapet, but immediately it was placed against the wall the man threw it down. He then slowly drew off his boots and stockings. which he threw at the warders. The ladders were raised time after time, but at each attempt to place them against the building he threw them down, and this was continued till dark. his bitterly cold position not seeming to affect him in the leaat. The prison officials first tried persuasion and then threats, but to no avail, ana portly after four o'clock in the afternoon t?iey droke a hole through the roof large enough to admit a man's head and shoulders. A warder then put his head out and spoke to him. but he was answered with shouts and laughter from the convict. Even- tually the man was left, in the hope that cold and hunger wo aid compel him to come down. At night be was heard shouting appeals for food and drink and said he would die for anyone who would bring him a pot of four- half: He appeared to be as active and alert as during any part of the day. The man still held his position at ten o'clock on Friday morn,'ig A" that hour he was sitting in his shirt sleeves, with his feet on the coping of the slanting roof facing the Cale- donian-road He had a heap of slates by his side in readiness for any advance on the part of the wa-d^rs. A large crowd was anxiously watching his movements. SUCCUMBED TO A TEMPTING BAIT. The convict was lured down from his perilous position at noon by some warders, who, after placing a long ladder against the prison wall. held out a tempting dish of roast beef and potatoes. It was too much for the famished man. and in a few minutes he commenced descending the ladder, and, taking the food from the warders. ate it ravenously He said he was mad when he climbed th" roof. and that be was starving and suffering from exposure. He has been a soldier ana served two or three years in India.

A DOUBLE EXECUTION AT NEWCASTLE. John Miller. 67, dealer, and John Rohert Miller, 37. musician, his nephew, were executed at Newcastle on Saturday for the murder of Joseph Ferguson, proprietor of roundabouts at Cullercoats. Deceased was the second hus- band of the elder Miller's mother. The men bought a sheath knife, and went to Fergueon's house. Ferguson was stabbed in the head and neck, and Mrs. Ferguson heard the younger Miller say to the elder, "You tanta- lised me; you irritated me; you gave me drink; you gave me a knife. The elder man was hanged at eight o'clock, and the execution of the younger took place at 9.30. When the under-sheriff formally demanded from the governor the body of tho elder prisoner for execution. John Miller said. Gentlemen, I die an innocent man!" This was the only statement "he made. He walked quite briskly to the gcaffold and showed no signs of faltering. He followed the Roman Catholic priest in the prayers until the lever was drawn and he was launched into eternity. Death was instan- taneous. When the same formality was gone through later of demanding the body of John Robert Miller, the younger man was observed to be listening to the ministrations of the prison chaplain. He made no statement. Although nervous, the younger prisoner walked to the scaffold without assistance. On stepping upon the scaffold he, turning to the chaplain, said, What are all these people doinf here?" No reply was given, as the next instant the bolt was drawn.

EXPLOSION ON A SHIP. THREE GENTLEMEN BLOWN TO PIECES. Details have arrived of the fatal explosion that occurred on board the steamer Para off Barbados on the 21st ult. Mr. A. W. Lawton. the inventor of a patent fruit refri- gerator, was on boju*d for the object of testing his invention, and had with him two com- panions, Mr. J. E Telstwood and Mr. R. E. Hamilton. On the evening of the 21st ult. Mr. Lawton and his two friends went to the refrigerating chamber to take the tempera- ture. They had not been absent many secon .s when a terrific explosion occurred. which was felt all over the ship. and which caused injury to several of the crew. The captain and mate went to the refrigerator. which was situated aft under the saloon, and found that the three gentlemen had been blown to pieces by the explosion, which was apparently due to the ignition of some gases which had accumulated in the refrigerator. The explosion caused considerable damage to the ship, and the passengers and mails bad to be transferred to the steamer Esk. The Para has been sent to St. Thomas for tem- porary repairs before proceeding to England to be docked. The cabin boy, who was badly injured by the explosion, is in a critical condition, and others of the crew are still suffering from shock.— Central News.

THE WESTBURY TRAGEDY. Richard Higley, a. butcher, charged with murdering Mary Eliza Bowen, barmaid, at Westbury. was brought up at the Shire-hall. Shrewsbury on Friday.—The sister of the de- ceased said tha latter had been annoyed by the prisoner, and she was afraid of him.—A 3ervant named Richards, employed at the inn where the tragedy occurred, said when they were at breakfast last Saturday Higley entered, and had some drink. He afterwards seized the deceased and drew a knife. Wit- ness ran out crying "Murder." Robert Rogers, a-blacksmith, said* he went to tne inn and saw the deceased with a terrible wound in the throat. Wigley cam £ tQ the door and said. "I've done it. lads! I've done it for love. She's dead enough." Accused was excited, but sober. When arrested the prisoner made a statement incriminating him- self. and gave the police a letter from the deceased on which he had written "a confes- sion." Prisoner, who reserved his defence. was committed for trial. The deceased was a native of Penybryn, Llanfair, near Welshpool.

EXTRAORDINARY ROBBERY AT CHELTENHAM. An extraordinary robbery has taken place ill Cheltenham. A well-dressed man entered the shop of a firm of photo- graphers, which is situated in the centre of the town. Mrs, Tuck, wife of the manager, was the only persoi on the premises at the time, all the assistants having left for the day. The visitor was an entire stranger to her. and when she asked him his business, he some- what rougkly replied. "You," and. seizing her by the shoulders. levelled a revolver at her head, and ordered her to show him to the safe in the ante-room at the rear of the shop. He forced her along, threatening her with terrible consequences if she gave an alarm. and when once in the ante-room he compelled her to give up the keys of the safe. While he was unlocking the safe Mrs. Tuck managed to escape, and rushed into the street for assis- tance. hut by the time this was obtained her asaailant had abstracted £30 in coin and paper money, and disappeared by a back door. The boldness of the thief is rendered the more extraordinary by reason of the fact that a police-Bergeint was at the time only about ten yards from the front door. and could not fail to have heard any cry of alarm from the shop.

LADY GUARDIAN AND HER HUSBAND. An extraordinary deadlock has occurred in connection with the business of the Derry Board of Guardians. A merchant named Mr. Morris, the husband of a lady guardian, appeared in the board- room recently, and claimed the right to sit and vote as a member of the board. The board asked him to withdraw, but Mr. Morris refused, and the meeting had to be adjourned without traAacting any business. The Local Government Board has now written suggesting that, in case of a repetition the scene, the police should be called in to remove Mr. Morris.

£2 000 WORTH OF JEWELLERY STOLEN. At Bristol Assizes a man named George Willis was sentenced to five years' penal servitude for the robbery at Messrs. Chillcott's, in Park-street, by which £2.000 worth of jewellery was stolen. The evidence disclosed a carefully laid plan, and the prisoner was said to be one of a dangerous gang of criminals, of which several are under. line Ions terms of imprisonment.

A DISASTROUS FIRE SOUTHSEA HOTEL BURNT TO THE GROUND. Between four and five on Sunday morning, while a stiff south-westerly wind was blowing and rain falling heavily, the Queen's Hotel at Southsea, one of the best-known residential hotels facing the Solent, was found to be on fire, and so rapidly did the flames spread that by the time the fire brigade arrived the place waj a veritable furnace. The hotel is very' popular with week-enders, and Saturday night's visitors included some of these, as well as a young honeymoon couple. Several of the guests aild members of the hotel staff made their escape unaided, attired for the most part only in their night clothes, and found shelter in adjacent boarding-bouses. Others, however, who had their escape cut ofF. appeared at upper windows, uttering heart- rending screams to attract attention. The firemen concentrated their efforts on anj firemen concentrated their efforts on anj endeavcur to rescue them. and were fortunate in bringing down the ladders seven persons in safety. When a roll was called it was ascer- tained that all the visitors had been satis- factorily accounted for, but that two servants employed at the hotel, namely, Mrs. Cooper, head chambermaid, and another, whose name has not been ascertained, were missing, and no trace of them has yet been discovered. Having creditably effected the rescues men- tioned, the brigade turned their attention to the building, though no hope of saving it was entertained, as the flames were already through the roof, which later fell in with a crash. Some alarm was felt for the adjoin- ing premises, but after several hours' hard work the threatened danger was averted, and the outbreak was confined to the hotel, which was completely gutted and all its contents burned, only the bare outer walls remaining standing. Later inquiries show that there were some 40 guests stopping at the hotel when the out- break occurred, in addition to 40 servants. Miss Rickards, the manageress, was the first to notice something wrong, and finding the place full of dense smoke at once set to work with the night watchman to call up the occu- pants, the majority of whom escaped by the front door in their night clothes. Three at least sustained injuries in making their exit. One lady, who returned to her room to rescue some photographs, was badly burned about the face. A gentleman had his head cut and his eye burned, while another lady sprained an ankle in jumping from the window. One fireman was injured, and is now in hospital. Some of the visitors lost valuable jewellery in the fire. It was impossible to salve any of the con- tents, which are said to have comprised pro- perty of considerable value. The whole of the building and the hotel contents are said to be covered by insurance. Four persons were injured in the ftre-two ladies, a gentle- man. and a lady's maid, who was seen to run along the roof of the premises next to the hotel, from which she was rescued by the police. The two persons missing ar° Charlotte Cooper and Kate Harper, the head and assistant chambermaids.

A FORTUNATE WELSHWOMAN GOOD STORY FROM ABERTHAW. A good story was gleaned a few days ago by a. "Cardiff Times" reporter when on a visit to Aberthaw. On calling upon Mr. William Hop- kins, who has lived in the district all his life, he secured the following particularsMrs. Margaret Hopkins is the wife of Mr. William Hopkins, who is employed at the celebrated Aberthaw Blue Lias Limekilns, and is the mother of three bright and bonny children. "Some time ago," said Mrs. Hopkins, "in fact, directly after the birth of my youngest child, I suffered from extreme weakness and exhaustion which completely prostrated me The weakness was so great that had I not been obliged to be up to look after the children I would have taken to my bed, where I really ought to have been. The worst part of it wat that this weakness w,s accompanied by othei serious complaints. To begin with: I had most severe pains in the back and right side. which were so acute as to quite double me up and when I went to bed at night I could only lie on my right side in order to secure a little sleep, generally disturbed. Then, again, my heart was very weak, and I suffered badly from palpitation and shortness of breath. I had also entirely lost my appetite, and what I ate gave me severe indigestion pains across the chest, and, indeed, at times my stomach would not retain food at all." "Oh, yes, a doctor attended me for some time, and told me I suffered from weakness through lack of blood, but his medicine did not appear, to touch my complaint at all, although I took seven or eight bottles alto- gether. I also tried stS^ral advertised reme- dies with the same unsa\^factory result." "How, then, did you ultN^ately recover?" "Well, a pamphlet was put "1.der the door one day. and on reading it through I saw the testimonial of a woman who had suffered ic the same way as I had suffered a nd had been cured by Dr. Williams' pink piiis for pale people. I at once determined to give them a trial. But as we are living in the country, and MRS. HOPKINS. (From photograph by J. Osborne Long, Cardiff.) asl had not seen the pills before, I doubted whether I would get the right article, so 1 sent to London for a box to make sure of getting them. Of course, I have since found out that I can get them in the next village, and get the right things, too." "Yes," said Mr. Hopkins, she was in a very bad state, indeed, and was not fit to be on her feet, and was able to do very little more than see to the children that they did not get. into mischief." "Well," continued Mrs. Hopkins, "I tried Dr. Williams' pink pills, and, to my great joy. I found an improvement after the first few doses, more especially as regards my appetite. I, therefore, decided to continue taking them, and took four or five boxes in succession. All that time I was improving in health, and I found the pain in my back and side gradually -leaving me. My heart became regular in its action, and I no longer suffered from the dis- tressing shortness of breath, and now instead of being tired before I begin my day's work 1 can attend to my household duties with the pleasure of re-established health and vigour. "Yes. I am pleased to give this testimonial, and am quite willing for it to be published to- gether with my photograph. It may catch the eye of someone who is in the same plight aao I was. for had I not seen a similar testimonial myself I might not have given Dr. Williams' pink pills a trial at all, and my suffering might have been prolonged indefinitely." L1156

POETICAL ADVERTISER. Benjamin Rolfe was charged at the Thames Police court with being drunk and disorderly. In answer to the charge defen- dant said. "Your worship, I am what is known as a poetical advertiser, and, unfortunately, often get more drinks than money. Yester- day I was only giving good words and poetical effusions about the butchers and bakers of the di-striet. j will give your worship a sample." Mr. Mead: No. thank you. Defendant: If you send me to prison it will give me pain; and if you will let me go I'll pledge my word not to offend again. T-Tn- happily. I consumed too much ale. and that is why you see me this morning looking ao pale. (Laughter.) Mr. Mead: Your verses seem very appro- priate, and it is a great misfortune a man with your abilities should give way to drink. Five shillings, or five days.

CHARGE AGAINST AN IRISH M.P. A special court of petty session under the Crimes Act was held on Wednesday at Bally- glasa, a village near Claremorris. for the pur- pose of hearing a charge preferred by the Crown against Mr. Conor O'Kelly, M.P.. chair- man of the Mayo County Council; Michael Horan, rural district councillor; Martin Staunton, chairman of the Castlebar Board of Guardians, and two other men. named Long, for having been concerned in tho holding of meetings in the county of Mayo at which speeches calculated to intimidate holders of evicted farms were delivered.—On the application of the solicitor for the defence, the hearing of the case was adjourned until Saturday next.

WELSH LABOUR NOTES. HINT TO THE LEADERS OF THE TIN-PLATERS. [By WILLIAM BRACE.] There are other questions to be con- sidered—whether the workmen have broken the sliding-scale agreement by adopting the stop-day policy; whether the stand they have taken can be justi- fied; and the questions relating to what has unexpectedly taken place since the sliding-scale agreement was last signed- but I regret to say I am precluded from touching any of these questions owing to the steps taken by the owners to have the matter settled by a legal tribunal. Need I say how sorry I am for this? For I recognise that, whatever may be the out- come of the cases now entered for hearing in the law courts, I have still to be con- vinced that it will help the Sliding-scale Joint Committee to settle the greater question now under consideration. A correspondent, who, if I mistake not, is Mr. Vincent, the labour correspondent, is contributing a series of articles to the "Times" headed "The Crisis in British Industry." In these articles Trades Unions are being attacked with a great deal of vigour; statements are made which, I am informed, are quite inaccu- rate, and upon these false premises Unions and Union officials are being charged with doing all they can to injure the industries of Great Britain. In a future article I may discuss some of the points raised. I, therefore, do not pur- pose dealing with the matter this week other than to call attention to the fact that there seems to be organised method in these attacks, and I cannot help feeling that ere long Trades Unions will be face tc face with a crisis which may imperil theii very existence under the present form oi constitution. That Trades Unionism wilj not be destroyed may be taken fo granted, and it can only be damaged after a severe conflict, which is likely to do more to injure British industry than any- thing else. This word of warning would 1 offer, not that I think it will have any influence with those who are determined to force a conflict, but so that it cannot be said that the responsibility for what may happen will be upon the wbrkmen and their leaders. There are quite a number of cases before the courts which will have an important bearing upon the future of Trades Union- ism. These articles may have the effect of prejudicing the legal tribunals that may have to decide these cases, and I tremble to think of the future in view of the clasy prejudice that may be raised. Responsible Trades Union officials endeavour at ali times to create opportunities for settling disputes peaceably and honourably, but once bad feeling is engendered between Capital and Labour all idea of compro- mise will be swept away. The Miners' Federation of Great Britain executive meeting held at Derby last week finally agreed upon the Federation representation scheme. It would be im, proper to enter into details until the con- ference has confirmed what the executive have done, but, so that the funds may be ready for the next general election, the financial part of the scheme will be pu! into operation forthwith, and by the enc of this month the first payment under thi scheme will be made by every district affi- liated to the Miners' Federation of Great Britain. Cannot something be done by the leader- of the Tin and Sheet Millmen's Society and the Steel Smelters' Society to make the prospects of amalgamation brighter? There is a good deal of feeling betweer the members of the respective societies but it does see- to me to be an idea worth a great deal of sacrifice. So long as these two societies are kept apart, ant are, in a measure, fighting each other, there cannot.be that unity that makes for power among the workmen of these kin- dred trades. If the Steel Smelters' Society could see their way to make a substantial grant towards the debt in curred by the old Tin-plate Workers' Asso- ciation, it would, I think, go a long way to help heal the breach, and as a number of the men for whom this debt was in- curred by Messrs. Phillips, Benjamin John, and others are now members ol one or other of the above societies, I cannot think it unfair that both associa- tions should bear part of the liability. although neither Mr. Hodge nor any other prominent leader of the Steel Smelters' Association may have been parties to securing the overdraft from the Metro- politan Bank. The Steel Millmen's Society haw in Mr. Phillips one of the best-informed men in the trade, and in Mr. Hodge the steel smelters have a gen tleman equally well-informed, a good fighter and a careful leader. If thes^ leaders and their members would but amalgamate,4 how much stronger would they be in defence of the rights of laboui- This note is written not with a desire to give offence, but solely in the interest cf unity among the workmen engaged in this important industry.

RATING OF COLLIERIES. Pleliminary to a "round-table conference" with representatives of the coalowners with a view to coming to an amicable arrangement respecting the rating of the various collieries of the union in order to put a stop to litiga- tion, the Merthyr Union Assessment Com- aiittee met on Tuesday for the purpose of taking counsel with Mr. Eve, the expert valuer. The proceedings were conducted in private, and lasted for about an hour, when the com- mittee had an interval for lunch. The "round- table conference" took place at two o'clock. The whole of the members of the committee vere present, namely, Mr. T. Williams, J.P. i chairman), the Rev. W. S. Davies, and Messrs. H. W. Martin, J.P., E. Edwards. J.P., J. Rogers, Rees Evans, N. F. Hankey, D. Evans, Augustus Davies, J. Aurelius, D. Hughes, and D. Hopkins. The owners were represented by Messrs. E. P Martin (Guest, Keen, and Co.), J. Sliaw (Powell Duffryn Company), H. E. Grey (Nixon's Navigation Company). W. Jenkins (Ocean Company), W. Evans (Crawshay Brothers, Cyfarthfa), W. W. Hood (Hill's P:y- mouth Company), W. Smith (Rhymney, Mon., Company), A. P. Jones (the trustees of th* Marquess of Bute), R. Llewellyn (Bwllfa Company, Hirwain), Hope (Llwydcoed and Waynes Merthyr Companies), R. Wallace (Cwmaman Company), Humphrey Davies (agent), and W. C. Beddoe (Gelligaer). Save the clerk to the committee and his assistant, no one else was permitted to be present at the conference. Mr. C. Kenshole. Mr. G. C. James, and Mr. J. M. Linton solicitors, were in attendance in an adjoining room ready to be consulted by any of the owners, for whom they appeared, if necessary. and Mr. Eve was also within call. It was deemed advisable that the dis- cussion should be conducted in the absence of the press, and the reporters were conse- quently excluded. The conference lasted upwards of three hours, and ultimately the following resolution was passed :That this assessment committee revert to the old system of rating collieries, as appears in the previous valuation list in this union, namely, on the tonnage basis, pro- vided the colliery coippanics agree to pay a percentage of 10 per cent. on large and small coal in addition to the tonnage rate, this to be for a period of one year ending September (29. 1901, including the October. 1901, rate, and shall supersede Meesrs. Eve's valuation. The alcove resolution is passed subject. to all out- standing colliery appeals being withdrawn and all arrears of rates paid forthwith." Mr. Shaw. on behalf of all the owners repre- sented with Lhe exception of Nixon's Naviga- tion Company, who dissented, stated that they agreed to the resolution.

¡- HEALTHY HOMES j BY REGULAR USE OF MALVER I ti No. 5 CARBOLIC SOAP. A pure Soap, combined with the strongest Disinfectant known, and its regular use for all ordinary household purposes will prevent Infectious and p o Contagious Diseases. 120Z. 4 1 LB. BARS AT GROCERS CHEMISTS, STORES, fiC. F. C. CA F. C. CALVERT & Co., Manchester.

INQUEST ON A MUMMY. 1 LUDICROUS PROCEEDINGS IN LONDON. A remarkable case was heard in the King's Bench Division. Mrs. Ailken, a lady who had travelled a great deal in South America, brought home a mummy, which, she alleged, had sustained injury whilst in the care of the London and North Western Railway Company. She, there- fore. claimed damages. After being conveyed from Liverpool to London, the case containing the mummy was opened, and the man who opened it became frightened and went off to the coroner, who, instead, counsel said, of treating it like a sensible man, held an inquest I upon the mummy. (Laughter.) Under the coroner's direction the jury found "That this woman was found dead at the railway goods station. Sun-street, on the 15th of April, and did die on some date unknown in some foreign country, probably South America, from some cause unknown. No proofs of a violent death are found, and the body has been drfed and buried in some foreign land. probably sun- dried and cave buried. The jurors are satisfied that this body does not show any recent crime in this country, and that deceased was un- known and about twenty-five years of age." (Loud laughter.) Mr. Justice Darling: Where do you say this inquest took place? Mr. Kemp: In London. Mr. Justice Darling: Who was the coroner? Mr. Kemp: Dr. Wynn-AVestcott. Mr. Justice Darling: And the jury found that verdict? Mr. Kemp: Yes; a very intelligent jury. (Laughter.) Continuing, counsel said the mummy was between 300 and 400 years old. Unfortu- nately. the mummy had been broken into pieces. Of course, it was difficult to assess the value of a mummy, but some wit- nesses would state that the destroyed mummy was worth between JE200 and £300. Mr. Justice Darling: I suppose the defen- dants are prepared to hand over the remains? Mr. Lawless (for the railway company): They have been offered. They are buried in Belgium at the present moment. When the remains arrived in Belgium the police ordered them to be buried. Mr. Kemp: I believe that is the fact. Continuing, counsel submitted that the •nnmmy was broken while in the custody of he defendants, who were liable as insurers of goods. Mr. Justice Darling: I suppose a mummy is "goods"? (Laughter.) Mr. Kemp said the defendants accepted the packing case as goods." Mr. Justice Darling: I do not know much tbout mummies. Was this mumy in a case, !ike the Egyptian mummies? Mr. Kemp. No; they are not buried in the same way The Incas were buried in a sitting posture. After hearing some of the evidence for the plaintiff the case was adjourned.

\NOTHERSPANISH SWINDLE ATTEMPTED FRAUD ON A WELSH CLERGYMAN. The Press Association Is asTced by the police luthorities to draw attention to the work of It Spanish swindler, who is devoting himself entirely to clergymen. There was recently brought to the notice of he Criminal Investigation Department. New Scotland Yard, the following case:—A Priest" wrotf, to a clergyman in Wales raying that a British subject had just died at iarcelona leaving the "priest" the gum of 67.200. part for charitable purposes and part or piayers for the peace of his soul. He lied a true Christian after confessing to a Jishonourea life The priest" had placed lie matter in the hands of a notary, and the ■lergyruan should send £5 for a copy of the estament. For JE33 to cover the taxes of the tribunal he would be placed in possession of he whole amount without further difficulty. The objects of the swindle is simply to gain "jossession of the £ 5 or the £ 33.

BURGLAR'S TERRIBLE FALL. An exciting occurence with a tragic ending ook place in the early hours of Monday near the Angel Hotel at Islington. About me o'clock a watchman discovered that the premises under his charge in High-street, Islington, had been broken into by two burglars. Blowing his whistle for assistance, t number of constables were quickly un the ipot, and soon satisfied themselves that the housebreakers were still in the building. The 'louse was surrounded, and the malefactors, iriven from their concealment, made for the roof, closely followed by the constables. In his haste or excitement, one of the burglars ither fell or jumped from the roof to the ground, and. as the building was four storeys high. the unfortunate man had his head injured. He was taken to the Royal Free Hospital, where l^e died shortly after admia- sion. A jommy and Bome silent matches were found on the body. The name of the man who fell from the roof, is John Quinin. aged 21. of St James Gardens. Chapel-street, Islington. Hia accomplice has not yet been fcaptured.

KAISER AND DUELLING. The Berlin newspapers report that on December 1 the Emperor ordered all officers of the First Regiment of Foot Guards to assemble at their quarters. There were also present he Minister of War and Lieutenant-General Von KeMel, aide-de-camp general to his Majesty. The Emperor had heard that the sons of the War Minister-and of General Von Kessei, vho are both lieutenants in that regiment. had declared that. notwithstanding the Impe- rial Cabinet Order relating to duels, they would fight if their honour were attacked. The Emperor directed the colonel of the regi- ment once more to impress the Cabinet Order most strongly on the officers of the regiment, and to exact unconditional obedience to it. The two lieutenants were then ordered to come forward, and in the presence of their fathers, the Minister of War. and General Von Kessel. who were standing behind their sons, the Emperor warned the young officers that, though the father of one of them was a dear friend of his, and the father of the other a general of great merit, he would, if necessary, remove them from the Army as uncere- moniously as any other officer in like cir- cumstances.—Reuter.

EXCITING SCENES AT A HYDRO. An inquest was held at Matlock on Saturday night on the body of a London estate agent named Battam. who died at a local hydro llnder painful circumstances. He arrived on Friday night, accompanied by a clerk, and at three o'clock on Saturday morning the hydro staff was called to his room, where a violent scene was enacted. The visitor was smashing the ornaments around the room, and when tackled be fell to the ground, and was badly cut by the debris. He still continued to struggle until, after a terrible scene, he fell dead. A verdict was returned in accordance with the medical evidence, which showed there had been excessive drinking, pro- ducing delirium tremens, and that the imme- diate cause of death was heart failure.

DECREE NISI RESCINDED. In the Divorce Court on Monday it was stated that a leather cutter, stated to have I been a professional cricketer, living at Old Trafford, Manchester, formerly of Leicester, had obtained a decree nisi for dissolution of his marriage on the ground of his wife's adultery with James Phillbon. I The King's Proctor now intervened, alleging that petitioner himself had committed adultery. It was stated by counsel that a letter had been received admitting the King's Proctor's allegations.—Mr. Justice Barnes rescinded the decree nisi, and dismissed the petition with costs.

LUCRATIVE PALMISTRY. Paul Perriere. 32, described as "the" long- haired man," and hie wife. made an appear- ance at the Mansion House Police-court to answer a charge of pretending to tell fortunes at premises in C'heapside. Mr. Vickery, who prosacuted, said that according to the defendants' books in five days they had taken £20. Inspector Holmes stated that the couple also held themselves out to be doctors, and a large quantity of drugs was found on the premises. The defcndantB-who said they came from Australia—gave an undertaking not to carry on palmistry or any other illegal practice in England, and the case was adjourned until December 31. to enable them to make arrange- ments for leaving the country.

PROOF AT YOUR DOOR.—There is con- clusive evidence in every part of Wales that Dr. Williams' pink pills for pale people are recommended by all classes of people for the way in which they have cured paralysis, loco- motor ataxy, rheumatism, and sciatica; also those diseases arising from impoverishment of the blood, scrofula, rickets, chronic ery- sipelas. consumption of the bowels and lungs. anaemia, pale and sallow complexion, general muscular weakness, loss of appetite, palpita- tions. pain3 in the back, nervous headache. and neuralgia, early decay, all forms of female weakness and hysteria. These pills are a tonic, not a purgative. They are genuine only with the full name. Dr. Williams' Pink Pills for Pale People, and are sold by chemists and by Dr. Williams' Medicine Company. 46. Holborn Viaduct, London, E:C., at 2s. 9d. a box, or six boxes for 13s. 9d. Pink Pills sold loose or from glass jars are not Dr. Williams' Pink Pills. Accept them only in the pink closed wrapper as above described. In another colnmn of this issue the emphatic statement of a remarkable cure at Aberthaw U described in detail. L1156 I "DR. e> ,r P, t-I L S I ARE I THE ONLY MEDICINE I THAT DID ME ANY LASTING GOOD." j I Thus testifies Mr. W. J. Masters, who at one time was so reduced by weakness and U wasting that he looked to be in the last stages of consumption, but is now I 29 healthy, active, and strong. Mr. Masters, who lives in Murel-street, Barry H H Dock, and is vrell known in this neighbourhood, adds:—"About eighteen S ■ months ago I began to feel below par. I had acute pains in my chest° and B g back, I lost my appetite, and became altogether run down. {50 bad was I 1 ■ that I did not seem to have a spark of energy or strength left. Every 1 B little effort fagged me out utterly. Walking up Westcn Hill, fur I ■ instance, made me 'pumped' and dreadfully dizzy. What with the B H wasting of flesh and strength, my body and limbs grew terribly S ■ thin. Many of Illy friends remarked how bad I looked, when g I they saw my pale, sunken cheeks and weakly, faltering walk. I Two doctors failed to cure me, the good effect of their medi- | cine passing away directly I stopped taking it. Not so I with Dr. Slater's Blood Tablets, which I saw adver- II m 1 •. tised, and tried them. The first box seemed to do me B H a great amount of good, and before I had finished ■ the second the pains in my back and chest dis- I appeared entirely. At the same time, I H began to rest better at nights and could ■ B get up refreshed in the morning. Bit by 'flB | bit I picked up my strength again, the 13 headache and dizziness left me, and, after I I H • } taking the fifth box of Tablets, I was s- l& H restored to health again. I am now put- BH B ting on flesh rapidly, and feel better and BB| B stronger in every way than I have done BV m for a long time. Dr. Slater's Tablets are II H the only things that have done me any | I I lasting record. THEY ABE I 3 I EFKRY a TABLET S TAKEN" S MEANS S FOR a YOU SO I TABLET S MUCH S MORE I. A iPfinius SONIC MH FOI. j§iiRED Jj^OILERS EVERY I TABLET 1 TAKEN TAKEN I MEANS FOR YOU I SO MUCH MORE I R-iclvRed;Blood I I r.a. a a Dr. Slater's Blood Making Tablets—which is the FULL protected name on every box— I J are unrivalled for curing Anajmia, Nervous and General Debility, Paralysis, Locomotor B si Ataxia, St. Vitus' Dance, all Ladies' Ailments, Neuralgia, Sciatica, Kheuinatism, Gout, R M Lack of Vital Force, and the Effects of Bad Blood. I |j Price 2a. 9d. per box; Large Size, lis. (5 times the quantity for only 4 times the H Jj price). Of all Chemists, or direct for same price from, the Sole Proprietors, the Slater ■ S Medicine Company, Greek-street, Leeds. 9 ,g L2240

CARDIFF SEAMAN SENT TO I PRISON. At Southampton Police-court on Tuesday Henry Fisher, able seaman on the steamer Nyassa. belonging to Cardiff, was charged on remand with being guilty of continued wilful disobedience to the lawful commands of Jame3 Leslie, the master, from October 5 to the 7th of December. Mr. W. L. Bell prosocuted. and Mr. C. A. Emanuel defended. Mr. Bell. in stating the case for the prosecution, said that the vessel was owned by Messrs. M'Clay and M'Intyre, Glasgow, and she sailed from Cardiff on the 27th of SepterDbcr for Key West. Prisoner shipped at Cardiff as an able seaman on October 5. When the ship was on the high seas something went wrong with the wheelhouse clock. The captain asked the prisoner if he had touched it. and he replied in the negative. On the captain making a further observation prisoner abused him and threatened him. On the 2nd of Decem- ber, when the Nyaesa was at Middleburg, Hol- land. the prisoner and two other men. named Roach and Harvey, went ashore without leave and returned on board the worse for drink. He refused to return to duty on the following day. Captain Leslie gave evidence bearing oat the advocate's statements. Prisoner had worked a bad influence, among the crew. John Williams, watchman on board the steamer, said that prisoner returned from sbore at midnight on December 6, and remarked that he would break the old man (the captain) np. If he could not do it, he would get the "boys" to do it at Cardiff.-The Bench considered the case a very bad one, and sentenced prisoner to eight weeks' impri- sonment.

HEALTH OF CARDIFF. Dr. Walford, the Cardiff medical officer of health, presented his quarterly report to a meeting of the "health committee of the Car- diff Corporation on Tuesday. He dealt at considerable length with the prevalence of scarlet fever, the number of cases having reached 298. of which 63 per cent. were treated at the sanatorium. For the most part the disease had assumed a mild type, and the deaths only amounted to 2 per cent. of the cases. No district had been exempt from tha disease, which had been aggravated in some instances by the carelessness of th £ parents, and cases that had not been notified were discovered at large in the streets. There were two matters in connection with this out- break of scarlet fever which he desired to bring to the notice of the committee-first. the question of hospital accommodation and also that of disinfection. The ward accom- modation had been taxed to the utmost, and Dr. Broad had been obliged to refuse several applications for admission. During the quarter upwards of 170 cases of infectious disease had been under treatment at one time in buildings which, allowing a cubic space of 2,000ft. per bead. should not receive more than 116 patients, but by various means the accommodation had been extended to the extent named. The health committee had now practically decided upon this much- needed extension. He (Dr. Walford) had on needed extension. He advised, as a matter of urgency, the construction of a disinfection station in the town. 'the general design and requirements of the building had already been submitted to them, but as yet no suitable site had been found. The report al-jo stated that for the last five quarters the average death-rate of Cardiff had been considerably less than that in the 33 large towns, the Cardiff death-rate being 13.4 per 1,000, calculated upon a popula- tion of 165.308. as compared with 19.2. the rate in tho large towns. The number of deaths recorded was 5,530, and the number of births registered during the thirteen weeks ending September 23, 1901. was 1.334. Of these-650 were males and 684 females. The births corre- sponded to an ajinual birth-rate of 32.4 per 1.000 of the population, compared with 29.2, the rate in the 33 largo towns in England and Wales.

ESTATE OF MR. THOMAS J. HARHIES. ¡ Letters of administration of the estate and effects of Mr. Thomas Jones Harries, of 3, Mandeville-place, and of 264, Oxford-street, London, draper, a native of Pilroath, Carmarthen, formerly in the service of Thomas Wallis and Co., and afterwards lace and ribbon buyer for D. H. Evans and Co., who died on November 20 last, aged 44 years, and intestate, have been granted to his brothers, John William Harries, of Llandilo, the heir-at-law, and David Jones Harries, of Penllwynau, Carmar- then, administration having been renounced by the late Mr. T. J. Harries's mother. His estate has been valued at £19.852 lEg. 4d. groas, including peraoflalty of the net value,, pf £ 3,507 16s.. 4A <

GLAMORGAN CORONER'S FEES. A meeting of the Glamorgan County Coun- cil Finance Committee was held at the County Offices, Cardiff, on Tuesday, Alder- man Hughes, Bridgend, presiding. It wa* reported that the total cost of the recent elections was £1.33.3 17s. Id., which also includes the cost of the elections caused by the appoint- ment of aldermen. The fees paid at present to coroners for the holding of inquests were referred to. and the Chairman remarked that the eub-committee who had considered this matter had found that the average cost of each inquest held throughout the county was £1 15s., 8s. of which covered the cost of mileage. The method of calcu- lating the mileage had caused a good deal of unpleasantness between the coroners and the committee, and it was, with the view of doing away with this disagreement, that the com- mittee now desired to offer to pay a fixed sum in respect of each inquest. He (the Chairman) moved that the coroners be asked to accept this offer. Alderman Powell asked if, in the case of » colliery explosion, that sum would be paid in | respect of each body. I The Clerk: They get one fee for holding the I inquest, but they also receive 6a. fid. for every ] body after the first. The motion was seconded and adopted.

A NEW TREDEGAR NOVELTY. At Tredegar Police-court on Tuesday Ann Morgan, married woman. New Tredegar, was summoned for causing an obstruction on the footpath by exhibiting in the window moving figures and causing a crowd to collect. The police evidence was to the effect that a large crowd had congregated outside the defen- dant's window watching the antics of a mechanical contrivance representing a monkey on a wire. Tho toy was produced in court, and caused much merriment.—Defendant wafl ordered to pay the costs.

IS BABY TEETHING ? THE fatal effects on Infants frequently following the use 01 soothing medicines, as is proved by the large number of in- guests 011 children dy.ug after taking ■bse dangerous remedies, make it incum- bent or. purchasers to be very particular to distinguish. DOCTOR J^TEDMAN'S RPEETHING poWDERS From all others, sinrHr or dissimilar. Tho dangerous ingredient in all soothing remedies is the opivi-n or morphia which they contain, but from which DOCTOR JGTEDMAN'S '^EETHING POWDERS Are entirely free, as witness Dr. HassaU's cer- tificate. Hence for the welfare and safety of the child, purchasers should insist on seeing the Registered Trade Mark, a Gum Lancet, on every single powder and packet, and should reitisa to have others imposed upon them. DOCTOR GJTEDMAN'S | RJULETHING POWDERS CONTAIN NO OPIUM. The Analytica; Institution, o4. Holborn Viaduct E.C., Liuidou. Nov. 29th, 1877. Report on the Teething Powder prepared bv Mr. Jamee Stedman. lluxton. "I herebv certify that I have put chased sample of Stedman a Teething Powder, and have, at the request of the proprietor, sub- jected it to analysis for morphia or opium i# «»2}V fOi'Dl. "I am enabled to state that I found the samnle in question to be absolutely free from morphia or any other alriaioiii or constituent °f' Thus^tedman's Teething Powder is favoitf* fthlv distinguished from similar preparations- ARTHUR H HASSALL, M.D." ASK FOR DOCTOR, STEDMAN'S TEETHING POWDERS [ Observe Traile Mark on every Packer, alld Powder without which none are genuine. f1 la. lid and 2s. 9d. per Packet,, of ma Chemists. DEPOT:— 18& HEW NORTH-ROAD, HOXTON. i