The Welsh Coast Pioneer and Review for North Cambria

Hotels. THE COACHING HOUSE. The Victoria Hotel LLAN RWST. FIRST-CLASS FAMILY, COMMERCIAL, and POSTING ESTABLISHMENT. Jr ESTIRELT UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT. Visitors at this Hotel will find it the most central Hotel in the Conway Vale for Tourist purposes. The Hotel is most admirably situated for health seekers, having a southern aspect, and being situ- ated amid grand mountainous and picturesque scenery. Replete with every Comfort, and containing COFFEE, DRAWING AND DINING ROOMS, COMMERCIAL AND WRITING ROOMS, STOCK AND SHOW ROOMS, SMOKE AND BILLIARD ROOMS PRIVATE SITTING ROOMS. REFURNISHED AND REDECORATED. PERFECT SANITARY ARRANGEMENTS. Electric Light and Electric Bells fitted throughout. WINES. SPIRITS AND CIGARS, Of the Choicest Qualities. „ Banquets, Wedding Receptions, Lan'cbeons Specialities. Suppers, Private Dinner Parties, Superior Stabling & Posting in all its Branches OMNIBUS AND PORTERS MEET EVERY TRAIN. FIXED MODERATE TARIFF. Private Entrance for Visitors staying at the Hotel. .11, FAXCOUUT, Manageress. 1029 LLANRWST. RED LION INN, Corner 01 Denbigh and Watling Streets. ACCOMMODATION for CYCLISTS. Commercials and Visitors will find home comforts, combined with moderate terms. 956 JOHN ROBERTS, Proprietor. Rhos Abbey Hotel, RHOS-ON-SEA, COLWYN BAY, UNDER ENTIRELY NEW MANAGEMENT. Book to Colwyn Bay, twenty minutes' walk from Station (L. & N. W. R.) THE district embraces the mo!'t beautiful and rural scenery in North Wales. The air is aool and crisp. The soil is dry and porous. The whole neighbourhood is bracing and reposeful. It occupies the only site on the main line coast unaffected by the railway, which, as is well known. is the one serious drawback to the pretty coasting i towns in North Wales. 467 For Prospectus apply to Manager. THE NEW! STATION HOTEL LLANDUDNO JUNCTION. Just opened for the accommodation of Visitors & Commercial Gentlemen. The most convenient and centrally situated Hote in North Wales. Capitally arranged & sumptuously furnished. EXCELLENT CATERING. ROBT. J. BLACKWELL, Proprietor 758 (Late of -ilfatwheste)-) LLANRWST. .€. -J,'l _— Eagles Hotel, FAMILY AND COMMERCIAL. I Omnibus meets all Trains. I Coffee, Commercial and Private Rooms. STOCK AND BILLIARD ROOMS. Good Stabling and Lock-up Coach Houses and Posting ApPLY 999 AIISS HUGHES. -u- AT Lampeter on Saturday Mr E. Gray, M.P., addressed a gathering of teachers, and dealt with various aspects of primary and secondary education in Wales.

Sequel to a Rhos-on=Sea Matrimonial Dispute. The Alleged Larceny 0«c\ Extraordinary Conduct of the P/oseearifeM'. Defendant Discharged. Ox Saturday Mrs Mary Travers Morgan, formerly of Devon House, Rhos-on-Sea, who figured as the defer, dant in a matrimonial dispute which was fully reported in last week's Pioneer," surrendered to her recognisances on a charge of having feloni- ously stolen a number of articles, the property of Mr Beiamin Sugden, of Manchester, and Rhos-on- Sea. At the previous hearing of this case last Thursday defendant was not represented, and the case was adjourned for the attendance of her solicitor, Mr Bliss-Hill, who now appeared on her behalf, Mr Francis Nunn being instructed by Mr Sugden to prosecute. The magistrates present were Mr T. G. Osborn (in the chair), Dr Venables Williams, and Mr George Bevan. A large number of people were in court, the case, which was reported exclusively in last week's issue of this journal, having aroused intense interest in the district. Sergeant Tippett, re-called, said he had a letter which prisoner attempted to burn. He could not sav whether the letter was in the handwriting of prisoner or not. She took it out of her pocket, and threw it on the fire. Witness took out the pieces and said, You must not destroy it." Prisoner said, It was only a letter I AYKOTE TO MY I'NCLE." The letter, as far as it could be deciphered, was as follows :— My dear Alice,-I have sent mv boxes on to Colchester station Tuesday, 13th. There are five boxes, large ones. My husband is in debt, and I have to send away the best I could. They belong to me, and they have nothing to do with mv hus- band. The detective police are after them. I have sent them with uncle's name on. Will you t)lease send to Colchester station for them, and I will make it right. Please ask them what they want. I hope you will see that they don't take any away, as 1 they are all my goods. I hope you will not be frightened. I cannot At this point the rest of the letter was unread- able. The Chairman We don't quite see how this letters bears upon the matter, and if it cannot throw any light opon the missing articles, it does not help us in the least. Mr Nunn I have made no comments. I only hand it in in the course of my duty. Sergeant Tippett said on Saturday morning he further charged defendant with stealing an electric cruet and mahogany desk, the property of Mr Sug- den. She replied, I havn't got them." Addressing the bench, Mr Nunn said since the case was last before them further evidence had been obtained with the result that the prisoner was charged with stealing a silver cruet and a desk, as well as the books, table-cloths, and basket, which were produced in court. The additional evidence he intended to call would show that the cruet and the desk, which were the property of the com- plainant, were removed by her from the house when she KXEYY THEY WERE NOT HERS, and after she was warned not to touch them. The defendant's husband's daughter, Miss Emily Morgan, would prove that the articles were formerly in the house, and were not there now, and an independent witness, named Mr Stevenson, who at first was inclined to side with the defendant in her previous disputes also give evidence as to their disappearance. Another witness of absolute impartiality was Mr Parry, the stationmaster, who would swear that he heard defendant say that the basket was Mr Sugden's. Mr Morgan, the husband of the defendant was also prepared to give evidence ztl against his wife. Mr Bliss-Hill said his friend could not call the husband, and asked for his authority if he had any. Mr Nunn said he should press his point, and let his friend submit an authority to prove that he had no right to call Mr Morgan. Mr Bliss-Hill said formerly the wife or husband could not give evidence against each other as to any offence whatever, but now the statute enacted that such evidence could be given by either parties in certain cases, which did not include that of larceny. The Clerk said he would advise the prosecution not to call the husband. Mr Nunn Very well, sir. Proceeding, he said he was at a loss to conceive how defendant could possibly think she had a right to take the articles. He contended that the fact of the goods being consigned to a consignor was evidence that some underhand work was on foot. Mr Benjamin Sugden, insurance broker, 30, Cross-street, Manchester, who gave evidence at the first hearing, was recalled and cross-examined by Mr Bliss-Hill. Witness said he hid charged de- fendant with having feloniously stolen certain goods belonging to him. He I I UNDERSTOOD THE GRAYITY OF THE CHARGE, and was prepared to take the consequences. He had not found one of the goods he specified on the sworn information, but he understood the case must go on. The Clerk said it was not a case of understand- ing. Witness must give a definite answer. Mr Bliss-Hill Can you identify this basket ? Witness It is mine. Mr Bliss-Hiil I say can you identify it ? Witness It's my property. Mr Bliss-Hill That's no answer to my question. You must identify it if you claim it. Witness I furnished the house with everything that is in it, and what is in it is mine. Mr Bliss-Hill You are wasting the time of the court, sir, by your evasive answers. The Clerk It's a simple question, Mr Sugden, and wants a simple answer, Yes or No. Witness How can I identify it among fifty articles ? I know it is mine, but I cannot actually identify it. Then why didn't you say so, and not waste so much time? Now, what about this book? Is it yours? My answer is the same with regard to all the articles. That won't do for me at all. You accuse, this lady of feloniously stealing these goods, which you say are yours. I am, therefore, simply asking you formally to iden- tify them. If they are yours, it's easy enough. They are mine, but I cannot identify them. Did you carefully examine this book to see if there was a name in it? No. I did not. Then you simply say its my book," and you remember having seen it before ? Yes. Then would you be surprised to learn that this book which is a "Casseil's Popular Educator," CONTAINS THE NAME OF THOMAS MORGAN on the fly-leaf. Yes, I should, but I still claim it all the same Do you. Perhaps you claim the whole of Rhos- on-Sea (Laughter) ? Mr Morgan turned over everything that he pos-essed in the house to me. We cannot call Mr Morgan to prove that. I wish we c uld. He would say what I do. You were a party to turning this woman out of the house ? p In what way ? You caused her to clear out. Her husband was my tenant, and not her. I don't know why he gave the house up. Witness would be very surprised to learn that defendant had purchased the tablecloths herself, and would not believe it whoever swore it. The value would be about 7s 6d. He would not give 2d for the book, in fact he would not be bothered with it. It was valueless so far as he was con- cerned. Mr Bliss-Hill You treat this' matter very Sir. flippantly, sir. Prosecutor I beg your pardon, I am not flippant. Witness said he could not say when the articles were last in his possession. He could not re- member seeing them before, as a matter of fact. The Clerk Then do you still charge her with stealing them ? Witness I really cannot say she stole them. I say they were missing from the house. Mr Bliss-Hill You do not allege, then, that she has stolen the things ? Witness No I say they are missing, and that is all I did say or intended to say. (Sensation.) Witness denied that Morgan was his present tenant. The Chairman said they did not know what was before them after that statement. Mr Nunn said his client had had a serious illness, and he was afraid he got mixed up. in what he I said: The basket was found by Sergeant Tippett in defendant's box. The Chairman But that does not touch upon the point. The question has been put dis- tinctly to your client—Is he prepared to charge this defendant with stealing this property, and he has as distinctly replied that he is not. Therefore, if he does not make such a charge, it seems to us that THERE IS NOTHING BEFORE ITS. Mr Nunn: I suggest that what my client means is this Mr Bliss-Hill said he should object to his friend putting any other construction on it. This was a criminal charge, and something else might I make prosecutor change his mind. Mr Nunn said his client lived at Manchester, and let the house to the defendant's husband. He, therefore, could not, of his knowledge, identify everything in it, even if all the property was his. But from the evidence which he has obtained, and will put before you, he knows that these articles, which are his, were taken away by the defendant. Would the Bench kindly put this 'question to the prosecutor, "Do you not allege that these articles, etc., etc., being your property, were stolen by the defen- dant from Devon House?" The Clerk said it was a leading question. The Chairman said he could not put-the ques- tion in the form Mr Nunn suggested. So far as we have gone, the prosecutor says he-does not charge the defendant with stealing the articles. He simply says the things are missing. Mr Nunn: But he means that he has the evidence of other people who can say defendant took them away. Prosecutor (interrupting) said he had no idea that defendant would be taken into custody, and when the sergeant told him he begged kim, if possible to let her out Mr Bliss-Hill: Did you not tell a certain person yesterday that you had bailed Mrs Mor- gan out? Prosecutor: No, I said I should, if I had been the police, have taken her word that she would appear. The Clerk: Is it wise to go on after this? Sergeant Tippett denied what Mr Sugden said. He explained to prosecutor what the situation was, and the consequences. Mr Bliss-Hill: My client was brought across the fields from Rhos through the deep snow, and LODGED ALL NIGHT IN A COLD CELL. It was done at the prosecutor's instigation, and now he states he did not want to do it. Prosecutor said so far as he was concerned he wished to withdraw the case, so long as it was thoroughly understood —5—- The Clerk: Stop a minute. Prosecutor Of course, I am in my solicitor's hands. The Chairman said the Bench were placed in an awkward position. Some of the articles al- leged to have been stolen were not before the court, and those that were prosecutor's could not identify. Mr Nunn said he was placed in an awkward sotiino mm bmbmbmzbzm bzbhmbzhmbz rfgm p6sition after his client's admissions, but as he was in his (Mr Nunn's) hands he thought he was bound to go on with the case, and call his wit- nesses. Mr Bliss-Hill was sorry to hear Mr Nunn say that. It was no part of his to press a case, which he was doing after what had fallen from the Bench. Mr Nunn: I really must protest. I am not pressing the case at all. I only want to pro- duce my evidence to show what I know. After consultations had taken place .on the bench, and between the clerk (Mr George) and Mr Nunn, the latter said After my client has reiterated his statement that he does not charge the defendant with feloniously stealing these things I think it right to disregard the evidence I had intended to bring forward to prove my case, having regard to the fact that it would be entirely neutralised by the prosecutor's state- ment. Therefore, I think it best not to proceed with the case. The Chairman Very well, we discharge the defendant.

Letters from the Seat of War. t "De Aar, "Tuesday, Jan. 17th, 1900. "Dearest mother,-It does seem so long since I heard from you. I told you I did not get your usual mail letter last week, and. this week the mail is very late, not expected until Saturday. All news is suppressed in our papers now, and though we know that serious fighting is going on all around us, yet at present we Can learn nothing. I will enclose an. article describing the Boer method of fighting, and I had noticed myself before I read this how the Boers seem to play "hide-and-seek" with 'our men. I en- close other cuttings, one showing how the Suf- folks came to grief. To-day the Worcesters, Buffs, and Oxfords came through. They only stayed to snatch a hasty meal, and were rushed on to the front at Colesberg. We are a bit hurried over the photography. All sorts of soldiers want. their photos taken, and they all want them to catch the mail. That is all very well, if one had nothing else to do. I do my best to help B- get them done, for I know it will please some wife or mother. So many are Reserve men, and when they come to our house I have long gossips with them. They are all so sick of tent life. One said to me yesterday, 'Oh! how glad I shall be to get back again to' my own fireside.' He had only been married 18 months. We have all grades come to our house. I don't care a button for his rank so long as I can make him comfortable for a short time. It's fun, though, when a private rubs shoulders with one above him in rank. The way they eye one another is a treat. This is especially the case, when you happen to have a private of one of the Colonial regiments' paying a visit, and a sergeant-major of a bona-fide British corps drops in. The private is often a well-to-do man, but the sergeant-major does not take kindly to his company. I am enclosing photos of some pontoons that passed through here. "Thursday. "No time to write much to-day. Got the painters in, and it is our day for the usual monthly meeting of the W.C.T.U. Very dis- quieting news about Prieska. The Boers have taken possession. That is coming. a lot closer to us. How differently the soldiers dress now to what they did when father was in the army. What looks so quaint to me is the way their revolvers are fastened to a cord, and goes round the neck, like a sailor's lanyard, and their sword- hilts are painted. Everything looks odd. "Friday. "A lot of our men have had to leave here and march out to Prieska, amongst them being the Cape Artillery, who have been here so long because they had no horses, and they have actu- ally started these men to meet the Boers with only mules to pull their guns; so I shall not be surprised if they come to grief, and the Boers come on us. We continue to get most awful dust storms, and another immense swarm of locusts passed over here yesterday. B- is sending father this week an army blue book showing all regulations for field service here, I had a look at the various articles the Can- adians were allowed to take. We thought per- haps it might interest father. The 14th Hussars I came last night. They are to stop with us a while. "Saturday. "Have just received my mails. Such a budget! It was lovely. Your last mail letter came with this so I have had a glorious read of home news for an hour and a half. I was shocked this morning to read in our paper what happened to a section of the 60th Rifles at the last engagement at Ladysmith. I will quote it in case you don't see it put in this way. A number of the 60th Rifles were in a gun-pit; their officers were unfortunately somewhere else at the time. The Boers surrounded the men, and called to them to throw up their hands and surrender. This the Tommies refused to do, so nearly every man was shot down by the enemy. Poor brave lads." A number of our men are being sent away from the "Rest Camp" here this morning to go again to the front. One of them-quite a lad— who was wounded in the leg, my neighbour has been very kind to, and he has quite en- deared himself to her youngest child, a girl of three years. Quite early this morning my neighbour found him sitting on a box in her yard with the littl'e girl cuddled up tightly in his arms, and both of them crying; he had taught her to call him Willie. I have just sent D up to see him off from the station, and given her a bag of nuts and prunes to give to the men in his compartment and some litera- ture. I daresay you think my mite was an odd one, but tinned stuffs are no treat to the sol. diers, and I thought the sweet stuff might beguile a few minutes, for you know our Tom- mies are like a lot of brave-hearted children. They are just now shunting a trainload of troops, and I can hear one of them calling to the shunter, 'I say, Jack, how long before we get to Modder River?' I don't think they will get there before this afternoon, and they have already been in the train for two days. They never even got out here for exercise. God bless the men. I call them martyrs. "Just as a curiosity I enclose you a draper's bill I received this morning. The goods are all common. It will give you an idea of the prices we have to pay. This is the cheapest shop I can find, and besides these prices, the carriage on the parcel was 2s 4d. The cotton is exactly double the price you pay. I would send to England for everything; but just at present I feel it's rather risky to purchase much so far away, but when the trouble is over I must get you to buy entirely for me. for it is literally throwing money away to buy the rubbish we get here. I must tell you about the soldiers' pud- dings. Each basin holds exactly a small tea, cupful, for I measured it. Originally I should think the firm intended one pudding per man, but such a lot of troops are here that it has worked out to one pudding between eleven men. Most of the men tossed to see who would get it. -Of course, it wasn't the plum pudding they wanted so badly, but it was because it had been sent out from home. Lots of the people in the camp made puddings and gave the men. I'll tell you about the chocolate when it comes. "Sunday. "Men are now being hurried from here to the front. Some we know, and I hate to see them start, though they are all in good spirits. That gun, of which I sent Daisy a photo, has met with an accident at Modder River;, They were going to fire a shot, and the sergeant in charge forgot to see that the plug was withdrawn. The gun exploded, and the sergeant has gone mad. Fortunately no one was hurt. A poor fellow" in the hospital at Orange River was shot in three places, the worst shot being in the mouth. He was in action for' IA hours, and only moistened t his lips with water from his bottle. He dare not drink it, for there was no more to be had, and when he was wounded and fell down he felt for his bottle to have a drink, but the bottom of it had been shot off and every drop spilled he says the agony of thirst was a deal worse than his wounds. Poor things what they under- go is cruel. An officer spent the evening with us last night, and he said that he had been to look at the scene of the battle at Magersfontein, and it was sheer madness to try and take it, as the place is impregnable. Must cl ose.-Your loving "Monday. "A lot more men hurried from here to-day for Prieska. Rumour in the camp—Ladysmith re- lieved. Hope it is so. I am afraid even 1hen many of the men will have died of fever. It is a bad place for this disease. P.S..I. am sb sorrv about the Kruper penny. We can get none. The officers are offering ten shillings each for them, and they are not to be had at that price. I daresay T could get some Kruger silver, if that would do, at any rate, I will try.

GWYDYR HOUSE, LLANRWST. Annual Sale NOW ON. Fou PARTICULARS SEE OUR CATALOGUE. ¡.r¡ rí"d.;(i GREAT BARGAINS AS DSUAL. L. WILLIAMS & SONS, 85 ESTABLISHED 1876. WILLIAM HUGHES, MONUMENTAL & ARCHITECTURAL MASON AND CARVER, STATION ROAD, LLANRWST. MANUFACTUBEU OF MONUMENTS, HEADSTONES, & TABLETS, In all the British & Foreign Granites, Marble or Stone. TOMBSTONES CLEANED, ENGRAVED, & EE-FIXED Quality of Matei-ia-Is and Workmanship guaranieed. Fonts, Steps, and all Ecclesiastical Mason Work a Speciality. Inspection of Stock and comparison of prices cordially invited. 99-2 ESTABLISHED If Your .Eyesight Troubles You, Go to GREENWICH HOUSE, LLANRWST for a Scientific Test, which will cost you nothing. You can rely upon getting absolute satisfaction. (B. G. OWEN, Fellow of the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers, London. EYESIGHT SPECIALIST (Hy Examination). GRIFFITH OWEN & SON, LLANRWST. 120 D. G. WILSON, Merchant Tailor, 2, Watling Street, LLANRWST, HAS A GOOD SELECTION OF SUITINGS, OVERCOATINGS, AND TROUSERINGS, [In STOCK at MOST REASONABLE CHARGES. Ladies' Costumes, Jackets, Liveries, and Clerical Garments a Speciality. D.G.W. has a competent Staff of Workmen on the premises, and guarantees excellent workman- ship, along with good Fit and Style. IN STOCK ALSO CHRISTY'S LONDON HATS, CAPS, TIES, SHIRTS, MACINTOSHES, DENTS' GLOVES, etc. 2, w^TLiisra- ST. LLANRWST. a E. LLOYD JONES, Agricultural Implement Dealert, FURNISHING IRONMONGER, de., Birmingham House, Watling St., LLANRWST. r- LLANRWST. BERLIN HOUSE, WATLING STREET. DAVID JONES (Successor to J. PARRY JONES) Desires to draw your attention to the BEST CHEAPEST LINES in the Town as a Watchmaker and Jeweller- REPAIRS GUARANTEED. Only Agent for Henry Laurance's Spectaclesio21 :=-=-==-=- SPECIAL TO LADIES. For the Best and Largest Stock of LADIES' AND CHILDREN'S UNDERCLOTHING, BABY LINEN, CHILDREN'S COSTUMES, AND MILLINERY, CORSETS, UMBRELLAS, FANCY GOODS, DENT'S GLOMES F ETC., GO TO Compton House, LLANRWST. ONLY RELIABLE GOODS KEPT. ALFRED T. HUGHES, Proprietor. 6,1