The Cambria Daily Leader

     RAN INTO KNIFE IHgUEST STORY OF NEATH CLERK'S DEATH. PURE ACGiBEHT" A further -stage of the Xeath tragedy was reached on Thursday evening, when 1 Mr. L. M. Thomas, district coroner, and a jury of which Councillor J. R. Morgan was foreman, investigated the 6aid cir- cumstances connected with the tragic death of George Arthur Venables (18), a junior clerk employed at the Neath Steel Sheet and Galvanising Works, Melincry- than. Mr. Edward Powell appeared for Ircr Bees Duties, of Gnoll Park-road, Neath, who was previously remanded on bail by the local magistrates on a charge of causing Venables" death. ""GREAT FRIENDS." Gilbert Venable, County Court Clerk, Eritonferry-road, uncle ot the deceased, gave evidence of identification, and in raply to Mr. Powell, witness said he knew his nephew and Ivor Rees Davies were very great friends. Morgan Morgan, Gnoll Park-road, clerk ui charge of the Neath Steel Sheet and Galvanising Company's offices, said Venables and Davies worked in the same office. < The Coroner What terms were they on ? Very chummy, I should say. "Were you in the office on the 21st June? —Yes. Did anything happen about eleven o'clock?— Yes, they were playing with each other, and I told them to stop, which they did. Continuing, witness said they occupied a stool in the office close to each other. After dinner they pitched into their work, but about three o'clock they commenced playing about again. He rebuked them rather sharply, and they ceased playing. Shortly afterwards, Venables handed him the wages book to check, and whilst doing so he heard Venable say, By Gosh, Ivor; you have done something." Thereupon the two boys ran straight out of the office by the front door. Witness, thinking that the bovs were gone out for another lark, followed them. A few minutes later, a man named Richard Vaughan, employed in the packing (1c, partment, came into the office, and asked for a drop of brandy, adding, Venables has had it." There was no brandy in the office, and he telephoned for Dr. Morris, who arrived in about ten minutes. Davies return-pd to the office, appearing very ner- vous, and said, Arthur's cheet is bleed- ing," The Coroner: Did Davies say anything? I can't remember. The Coroner: Think, now. Did you ask Davies what had happened?—Oh, yes. THE TRAGEDY DESCRIBED. Well that is an important point?— Quite eo I had forgotten. Davies said, Arthur came across and nudged me in the side. I was in the act of scratching out a mis-spelt word with my pen-knife. I turned round sharply, and Arthur came against my knife." Mr. Rees, the cashier, vfdSj in the next room and witnees 0011- bulted him and afterwards went to the police station, where Davies gave him- self up. The Coroner: Did you IILNO V enables. Ye. when I took out my overcoat to cover him. What happened to the knifo ?—I found that on Davies's desk, and I handed it to the Chief Constable. A PURE ACCIDENT. In reply to Mr. Powell, witness said in his opinion it was a pure accident. Eran Lewis, Cimla. a paeker employed at the Galvanising Works, said Venables and Davies came towards him. Venables was holding open his shirt, and said, "Mr. Lewis, can you do anything for this?" Tie saw that he was bleeding from a slight wound in the chest, and gradually he be- came faint. He (witness) called to some men to carry deceased out into the fresh 4UY. P.C. Watkin Jones spoke to visiting the works by the instructions of the Chief Constable- On arrival he saw Venables lying on a stretcher. He wa-s dead, and Captain Siorrir. removed the covering and showed him a wouad caused by a knife In the chest, about three-fourths of an Snch above the heart. Witness produced JJjjb blood-stained waistcoat, shirt, and W' t, which showed a hole corresponding yith the statement tha.t it was caused by (oj fcnife. He subsequently taw Davias at 4t-e police station, where he had volun- "^rily surrendered himself, and charged itim with "that he on the 21st June, at the Neath Setel, Sheet, and Galvanising Works, did cause the death of one Arthur See. Venables, and he replied, It was I pure accident, and I had no intention of doing it at all." P.C. Will Hopkin said that on Wed- nesday afternoon, whilst lie was on duty outside the police station, Ivor Reee Davies came out of a taxi cab and sur- rendered himself. As he was going into the office Davies said, "Isn't this awful?" He was very much upset, and explained how it had happened. I I THE HEART PENETRATED. Captain J. Mudie Morris, R.A.M.C., of the Neath War Hospital, said he went to the works in answer to a telephone message. He saw Venables lying 011 his hack on the ground. There was blood on his chest, and he found a punctured wound over the heart. He then examined the clothing, and found corresponding holee in the two shirts and waistcoat. These was not much external bleeding. I As a result of a post-mortem examina- tion made that day, he found that the wound extended into the l-eart- There was a large tlUan- tity of blood surrounding the Iteart- I and the left lung. lie was of the opinion that death was due to hemorrhage, due to a perforated wound of the heart. The direction of the wound was slightly down- wards, and could not have been self- inflicted. And it was not sufficiently downwards to be definitely aimed. With such a sharp knife as the one produced, he was of the opinion that if there had been any force it would have been driven into the posletia wall of the heart. In reply to Mr. Powell, witness said that the point of the knife got on the spot, and the least shade downwards the point would have struck a rib, and the boy's life would have been saved. The depth of the wound was only three-quarters of an inch. DAVIES GIVES EVIDENCE. Ivor Rees Davies elected to give evidence. He said he worked side by side with Venables in the office, and were on the best terms of friendship. When Venables took his book to Mr. Morgan to check, he came by his (Davies's) side and gave him a playful poke in the ribs. At the time he was erasing with his penknife a mistake in the word Gloucester that he had writ- ten on an invoice. He (witness) turned round sharply with the knife in his hand, expecting another poke in the ribs, and Venables ran into the knife. He was sit- ting on the stool at the time. Venables nut his hand up and said, You have done something now; you had better come outside." Venables ran out as fast as possible, and he followed him. It was a ?reat hock to him to know he had injured his friend, which was quite an accident. "A PURE ACCIDENT." I Summing up the evidence, the Coroner I said the circumstances were extremelv sad. It was perfectly obvious that Davies had no intention of fatally injuring his friend, and he had done all that an innocent lad would have done. The evidence of the doctor was sufficient to establish the fact that it was a pure accident. The jury. after a few moments delibera- tion, said they were all a.greed that it was a pure accident, and returned a verdict of Accidental death." A vote of con- dolence was passed with the relatives of the deceased.

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TO PREPARE FOR TRADE WAR. -& SWANSE AROUSE. I UNIVERSITY RANK SOUGHT FOR THE TECHNICAL COLLEGE. COMMISS.Oa'S ViSIT. I The coming of the Royal Commission to Swansea on Friday stands as one of the most important functions in the educa- tional history of a town which possesses such magnificent material and the possi- bilities for higher educational systems to work upon. During the past week the Commission has been in South Whiles s reviewing tho machinery and work of the universities and its colleges—a feature which has rather surprised some holding high posi- tions in educational circles that after 60 brief a history the University is in. need of reform—but the object of their visit to Swansea was to hear views upon the ad- visability of the local Technical College being recognised for the granting of degrees. The movement to give greater scope to the splendidly-equipped institution at Mount Pleasant signifies a marked ad- vancement in the technical education system of the district, and from it has emanated an universal wave of in- terest, and support from all phases of edu- cation and commerce in and around Swan- sea. Hitherto, it must be admitted, the town has been much lacking in its ap- preciation of the development of its tech- nical education department. The renais- sance has come at an opportune moment, for to-day the necessity of the furtherance of chemical and metallurgical research is more vital than ever before. CHEMICAL AND METALLURGICAL RESEARCH. It was only a. couple of months ago that the decision was arrived at by the Swan- sea Technical Committee to approach the Royal Commission, and, composed as it is of foremost educationists and works man- agers who have been co-opted, there was very little difficulty in drawing up such a strong and forceful case as was submitted at Friday's meetings. The terms of the draft of representation are being kept strictly private, but, as has already been mentioned, what the committee is aspir- ing to is to secure full recognition of the college as a constituent college of the Welsh University, and urges that a full course of tuition at the local institution shall qualify as residence within the Uni- versity regulations. IMPORTANT INDUSTRIAL CENTRE. The draft is a lengthy document of many pages, in which the Committee draw the attention of the Commissioa to the vast importance of the Swansea, district as the centre of an important industrial area, its natural advantages for the suc- cessful teaching of all phases of technical education and applied science, and the prominent part such education pluys in the development of the town and district. Upon the inseparability of manufac- turing progress and technical research there are strong views, and the eornmit- ee emphasises how lack of recognition in the past has greatly hindered the work of the college, and that if it continues as at present, however efficient the stall and work might be, it must remain in a state I of absolute mediocrity. AMBITION OF STUDENTS. I As the college stands at present, it im pointed out, if the students desire, as many do, to proceed to a degree, only those of the London Uni- versity are open to them. and in this respect they are at a great disadvantage compared with the technical institutes affiliated to universities, and able to grant degrees based upon their own work and adapted to local requirementa, With- in the last few years every day technical institute, with one exception, located in a university town has been either ab- sorljed by, merged in, or affili- ated to the local university, to the mutual benefit of both. As a proof of the great hampering in the work of similar colleges as the Swansea one through lack of recognition, it is em- phasised that the numljer of provincial technical institutions of non-Uni d.;i':y rank, now recognised by the Board tf ducation. was 18, and of these onl,' f( ur had in 1912 to 1913, the last session i -.r which statistics were ava" as n i ry as 50 day students, where.ts the avenge number of applied fienie students :11 I'x' provincial c<>l!e;<is "f 'Jn)'s*y rank ex- ceeded 120 ea h ar, r,ot a University toFU it ivi-s iu a o > ;ntv possessing a national University, ARRIVAL OF THE COMMISSION. I It was 11 o'clock on Friday morning when the Commission nrrived a.t High- street Station from Cardiff, and they were accorded a civic welcome. They were officially greeted by Sir Alfred Mond, Bart, M.P., Mr. John Williams, M.P., Mr. T. J. Williams, M.P., Ald. W. H. Miles, J.P., the Deputy Mayor of SJyea (who substituted the Mayor, who was de-I tained in London on important Corpora- tion business); Messrs. Ivor Gv.ynne? J.I\ (Chairman of the local Education Com- mittec)? D. Matthews (vice-chairman), T. J. Rees (Director of Education), H. A. Hield, M.A. (Deputy Town Clerk), and W. P. Roderick (of the Town Clerk's office). There were also present on the platform: Col. Arnallt Jones, Captain Alf Thomas (Chief Constable of Swansea), Supt. R. Roberts (Deputy Chief Con- stable), Mr. William Crocker (Liberal Agent for Swansea Borough), etc. Lord Ilaldano, the Chairman of the Commission, was the first to step on to the platform from a specially reserved compartment, and he was.warmly greeted by Sir Alfred Mond, who introduced mem- hers of the awaiting party, and Lord Haldane chatted with Sir Alfred, Mr. John Williams, and other gentlemen. He was followed by the other commissioners, who immediately proceeded to the Technical College in Mount Pleasant, where they had an informal conference with the local committee, viewed the college premises, and discussed various matters with the staff as to the development of their respec- tive departments. In addition to Lord Haldane, the Com- mission comprised: Prof. W. II. Brag^r. F.R.S., professor of phvsics at the Univer- sity of London; the Hon. W. N. Bruce. ("D., principal assistant secretary to the ?o'?rd of Education; Sir Owen M. EdwanJ 9, Chief Inspector of the Welsh T)f>nartJf'ntof the Board of Education; Principal W. H. Hadow, Mus. Doc., prin-! cipal of Armstrong College, Newcastle; Dr. A. D. ITall, F.R.S., a Commissioner under the Development Act; Sir Henry •Tones, professor of moral philosophy at Glasgow University; Professor Osier. F.R.S., Oxford University, and Miss Emily 1 Penrose, principal Sommerville College, Oxford. THE CONFERENCE.  NEW TYPE OF U IVERSITY HINT.1 At the conference at the Technical Col- lege, Lord Haldane introduced the pro- ceedings by remarking that they as a Commission, were in Swansea on a voy- age of discovery, hut they were groping ahont amid unlimited possibilities in the search for information in regard to the best means of dealing with university education in Wales. He discussed at length the advantages and disadvantages of the federal universitv. and said they as a Commission had at present an open mind on the question, and it was possible there might be a need for the establish- ment of a new type of university, which would appeal more unanimously than any- thing now in existence to the Welsh senti- ment as a whole. Alderman Miles and Councillor Ivor Gwvnno welcomed the Commission to the town in the name of the Council and of the Education Committee. BOROUGH MEMBER AND SPECIALISATION. Sir Alfred Mond placed before the Com- missioners views on the specialisation of functions of different parts of the Univer- sity, and on the irnportiace of a technical training being associated directly with industry. Lord Haldane: You know, Sir Alfred, science must not be the handmaid only of industry, but it is the wife. Sir Alfred: I think it should be the creator. SWANSEA'S OPPORTUNITY. I Sir Alfred emphasised that Swansea '?li?ht have the first and hfs? ('ollpqe in ] the country in respect of metallurgy and applied science, and if "-0, they would not only get more anf1 better students, but they would get a better tone, and might be able to afford better salaries to the profession. Sir William Osier said he thought there were opportunities in Swansea becoming not merely the metallurgical centre for Wales, but it ought with proper'assistance and encouragement within ten yfars to be the metallurical centre of the world, if they were prepared to spend the necessary money. A WARNING NOTE. Lord Haldane expressed the hope that the education authorities in Swansea would not, in their zeal for university technical education, overlook the desira- bility of encouraging the continuative side of elementary education, particularly with regard to trade subjects, but they must not confuse the two branches. They should run parallel and not interwoven one with another. SWANSEA'S SYSTEM. I In reply to an enquiry, the Director of Education explained nrsi of all the system by which Swansea selected the best material at present for scholarships in connection with the secondary schools, and naftsed them on to the technical college, and how, at the outbreak of the war, the Swansea, authority nu-rchaged a plot of land for the purpose of establishing a trade school, which would be partly a day school and partly an evening continuation school. THE DISCUSSION. I An exceedingly interesting discussion I was taken part in by Messrs. John Wil- I liams, M.P., Richard Martin, J.P., Roger &ck. and C, H. Eden. and at the close the Commission were entertained to lunch at the Hotel Metropole. In the afternoon the Commission visited, for the purpose of obtaining an insight into the industrial needs of the district, the Mond Nickel Works, Mannesmann Tube Works, Swansea, Vale Spelter Works, Morfa Copper Works, Messrs. Vivian's Works, and Cwmfelin Tinplate Works, i "VERY GOOD IMPRESSION." [ in answer to a question by a Cambria Daily Leader reporter at the close of the conference, one of the officials re- marked, "1 think we made a very good impreeeion upon the Commission; in fact it was evidenced by the way Lord Haldane spoke at the end."

STORY OF ZANZIBAR. :1 Speaking, at the. Mansion Houss on Thursday, AdnuralSir E. Fremantle said that many years ago he was in command of a ship engaged in a blockade off East Africa. He invited to dinner a Consul, who happened to be a German. A good i dinner was enjoyed and the ship's band played. At the end of the entertainment the German remarked: Der are two things you want in Zanzibar-~die musik and die feminine."

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I DEAD MAN'S SHOES. I Mumbles Undischarged Debtor's Auitiissions. It Running Up Small Accounts. At Swansea Bankruptcy Court on Fri- I day, before the Regisirar (Mr. Frank P.! Charies), Alfred Uwyther, of 1, 13ayl V lew-terrace, Mumbles, timekeeper, but formerly commission agent, iiur6ery stock dealer, seedsman and dealer in English and foreign iruits, etc., appeared for his public examination. His state- ment ■of affairs • showed -liabilities- -ex- pected to rank amounting to Jt313 18s., and assets, after satisfying preferential creditors, of £50 Ss. td., leaving a de- uciency of £ 263 96. 7d. iu reply to the Official Receiver (Mr. Hy. Rees) debtor said he had a previous failure at Newport (Mon.) in December, j lJ, his liabilities then amounting to £ 557, and deficiency £ 555. No diyidend I was paid, and he had not obtained his, discharge. He attributed his failure on that occasion to securing bills for a com- pany with which lie was connected. Damages were- also obtained against him as a co-respondent- • in divorce proceed- j ings. After his first bankruptcy he kept: a livery stable business at Newport for about seven years, and for six years sub-; seQuently carried on a nursery business | and that of a commission agent, with a stall in Newport Market. Proceeding, debtor said lie came to Swansea in AL.u'L'h, 1910, and started sell- ing goods on commission from his lodg- ings. He went to the Mumbles four years ago, an! before going to Bay View-ter- race resided at 43, Castleton. He had .no' shop at either place. There were 81 ('J.('di-l tors in his present bankruptcy, of. w?ich 77 were for goods supplied totalling £ 284 17:; 7d. He had been sued at intervals for the past five yeare, and 30 creditors had obtained judgment against him. Debtor eaid ho was expecting 1:200 to be left him, which would have helped him out of bis difficulties. The Official Receiver: That was a case of waiting for dead men's shoes. Debtor: I didn't think I should be waiting very long under the circum- stances I was aware of. He admitted that, although the business had not been paying for the past j ear, he drew £3 a week for personal expenses. The Official Receiver: Putting it in an- other way, it means you were living at your creditors' expense?—I didn't think that, sir. The Official Receiver: Where did you get the money from then--No answer. The Registrar: There is no other ex- planation. It. is obvious. Debtor admitted he did not inform any of his creditors that he was an undis- charged bankrupt because he understood lie was allowed to obtain credit up to £ 20, and nolle of his debts were over that amount. The Registrar: Is that why you traded with so many creditors for small amounts P Debtor: That is partly the reason. Mr. iiees: When he mentioned JE20 you were thinking of the Bankruptcy Act of. 1883? Debtor: Thai. is what I always under- 'Debtor: That -is -what I always uiider- Mr. Rees: Unfortunately for you there has been a law enacted since 1883. Section 155 of the Bankruptcy Act, 1914, the Official Receiver pointed nut. said that an undischarged bankrupt who obtained credit to-the extent of tio or upwards without disclosing the fact that he was a n bank ru P t. was guilty of Viisdemeanour. Debtor: I done it unknowingly. After- further questions the examination wad POosed.

SWANSEA SOLDIER MISSING. I -Mrs. Ferger, of 13, Cliapel-street, Swan- t c?ea, has been notified officially that her j son. Pte. J. FergerA tie missing