County Observer and Monmouthshire Central Advertiser Abergavenny and Raglan Herald Usk and Pontypool Messenger and Chepstow Argus

Monmouthshire founty Cricket Club. 4^The annual meeting of the Monmouthshire bounty Cricket Clnb was held on Wednesday at ftbe King's Head Hotel, Newport, the Mayor (Councillor F. Phillips) presiding. Referring to the debt on the club, the Chairman said Monmouthshire was a sporting county, and he had no doubt that the public support would be such as to enable them to carry on their cricket -club. They were only a second class county, but they held their own against many larger second class counties, which had a very much greater chance of getting cricketers than Monmouthshire liaa. The report and balance sheet were adopted. Lord Tredegar was appointed president for the Visaing year, and the present high sheriff, Colonel Wallia, was added to the list of vice-presidents, -avid also Mr Isaac Butler, Colonel Walwyn, and Mr F. T. Bircham. The Mayor Was re-elected non treasurer, an<i Mr K. S. Phillips hou secretary. Mr P. C. Phillips wrote that he could not accept the poat of captain for the ensuing year, and Dr A. L. Tatham, who had previously held the position, was appointed. The hon. secretary was appointed vice-captain. The following was the report The season 1906 has not been so successful as 1905, Monmouthshire taking 11th place out of 20 counties competing in the Minor Counties' Championship, as follows :-Matches played, 10; won outright, 2 won on first innings, 4; drawn, 0; number of points possible 30; obtained 14; percentage, 46.6i. Of the four matches won on the first innings, two would have been easily won but for the interference of rain. while in the other two Monmouthshire held an overwhelming advantage, but time prevented a win. Had these *our matches been won outright, Monmouthshire oUld have been fourth in the Minor Counties' "Championship. Tile receipts from gate-money to £ 49 13s 91, as against £ 51 2s 3d in *905, bnt considering that an ordinary county tnach was substituted for the M.C.O. match, yhich has always proved attractive to the public, J can be rightlyaruerl that a little more interest "'8S taken in the matches than in the preceding years. The accounts show an increased expen- diture of £13 4* 9d. In 1905 the sum of 163 3s Id was obtained outside subscriptions and in 1906 the club, except for ,t26 16a 4(1 from the East v. West match at Cardiff. has received no outride monetary assistance, with ,.Jhe result that the serious deficit of £ 100 15s 7d "has to be faced. In the coming year eight matches "Will be played as against ten in 1906, and it is estimated that there will be a saving of X25 on the dear's working. While the best thanks of the "club must be given to the members who have ""IPPorted the club so well, it is necessary that "here should be a large increase in the member. ,IP to keep the club on a sound financial basis 111 such a time a- it becomes self-supporting by ,lbeane of gate-money. All last season's players available for the coming season, and the young payers who gained expetience last year will, it is 5°ped, prove of great service to the club. The thanks of the club must be given to Mr P. C. "billips for his services as captain and also to the Newport Athletic Club, Mr A. J. Gould, cricket secretary, and Mr F. H. Dauncey, general secretary, for the courteous manner in whioh *«cy have assisted the club.

Monmouthshire Fixtures. I May 31st and June 2nd—Glamorgan, at New- port. June 24th and 25th-Comwall, at Camborne. June 2qth and 27th—Devon, at Exeter. June 28th and 29th—Dorset, at Poole. July 24th and 25th-Devon, at Newport. August 2nd and 3rd -Dorset, at Newport. August 5th and fith-Glamorgan, at Cardiff. August 14th and 15th-Comwall, at Newport. "August 26th, 27th, and 28th-South Africans v. oouth Wales, at Cardiff.

A choice of Cocoa Either the most nutritions and strength-giving EPPS'S Qratefol—Comforting. COCOA A delicious drink and t nstalnliig feed.

Mr McKenna's Education I Bill Condemned. At a largely-attended meeting of the Llandaff Diocesan Cburch Defence Committee the follow- I ing resolutions were passed:- I (1) That this meeting declares its intention to offer a strenuous resistance to any measure which, like Mr McKenna's Bill, proceeds on the basis of giving preferential terms to undenominational religious teaching over other kinds of religious teaching. (2) That this meeting of Churchmen regards the Bill as unjust, in that it proposes to force Churchmen to pay rates for religious instruction which is unacceptable to them, whilst at the same time placing them under the necessity of paying (and, indeed, twice over) for the kind of religious instruction which they require for their own children. (3) That they further regard the Bill as a direct surrender to passive resistance, and an incitement to Churchmen and others to use the same method. Mr O. H. Jones and the Rev Canon Beck were re-appointed vice-chairmen, and Mr W. S. de Winton hon. treasurer. It was further decided to take steps for securing candidates to contest the bye. elections on the County Council, which are about to take place in consequence of the vacancies caused by the appointment of aldermen. Mr McKenna's Education Bill will come before the House of Commons soon after the Easter recess, and it is time that Churchmen began to let their opposition to it be known. It is wearisome work, this continual necessity of reminding the Government that others besides their own extreme supporters have rights. The Standing Committee of the National Society recently passed the follow- ing resolution: That the Standing Committee of the National Society considers the Education (Special Religious Instruction) Bill, 1907, to jbe inequitable and unjust, especially in its retrospective character, and is of opinion that it may seriously affect the position of the schools in connection with the society." I

The Abersychan Charge of Conspiracy. Abel Myers, pawnbroker, High-street, Aber- sychan, and David Myers were again brought up on Saturday at the South-western Police Court, London (before Mr De Grey), to answer a charge of conspiracy in connection with the bankruptcy of their brother Joseph, who formerly carried on business as a furniture dealer at Olapham and Camden Town. Mr A. Gill prosecuted, and Mr A. J. David appeared for the defence. Mr Baker produced some trade acceptances of Joseph Myers which were dishonoured. A list of those bills was banded in in evidence. Cross-examined by Mr David: Eight shillings was the amount of assets received from the estate of Joseph Myers, and that was in the bank, and was all he received from the bankrupt. Con- tinuing, witness said. I realised two businesses carried on by the brothers. I collected a number of book-debts from the Camden Town business, amounting to £ 1,056. I cannot say what the collection cost. I do not remember that in one instance it cost X45 to collect X40. Mr David submitted that there should be no committal, as the material was not sufficient to lead to a reasonable belief that there could be a conviction. There must be community of purpose before a conviction for conspiracy could be obtained—in fact, there must be an agreement to commit fraud. There was not a scrap of evidence from beginning to end to show that Abel had been associated with any of the transactions between Joseph and David. With regard to David, if there should be a committal, it might well be open to the objection that Joseph Myers was not a party to the indiotment. The case stood formally adjourned until Tuesday.

I Polling at Hexham. I Polling took place on Wednesday in the Hexham Division for the election of a member of Parlia- ment in succession to the present Lord Allendale, the candidates being Mr R. D. Holi (Liberal) and Colonel Bates (Unionist). The weather was fine and the poll was an exceptionally heavy one. Many of the voters came from a considerable distance. Both candidates had an enthusiastic reception on their return to Hexham at the close of the poll, but Mr Holt's appearance was some- what delayed in consequence of the breakdown of his motor-ear. The votes will be counted to-day (Thursday). The voting at the General Election was as follow:— W. C. Beaumont (L.) 5,632 S. Clayton (U) 3,547 Liberal majority 2,085

ABERGAVENNY. POLICE COURT, WEDNESDAY, ELDBHLY WOMAN'S THEFT.—Caroline Rowbery, an elderly woman, residing at Grosmont, was charged with stealing china articles, value 6s, the property of Sarah Jones, china dealer, John-street, Abergavenny. When charged by P.C. Fripp defendant said she bought the china from a man for I a. A fine of 20s was imposed PATERNITY CASK. -Alice Amelia Roper, a young woman residing with her parents at Monk-street. summoned Albert Davies, a railway porter, now of Beaufort, to show cause, etc. Applicant said a child was born on the 16th February last. Defendant denied the paternity, and the Bench dismissed the case. BOILER EXAMINATION.—Albert John Price, a local mineral water manufacturer, was summoned for not having a boiler thoroughly examined by a competent person within the last 14 months.—Mr Wolfe, H.M. inspector of factories, gave evidence. A fine of 5s and costs was imposed.

[ NEWPORT. I I POLICE COURT, WEDNESDAY. I THEFT OF BRASS. I Harry Shepherd was charged with stealing a hundredweight of scrap brass from the stores in Albany-street, Newport, belonging to Messrs. Davies and Jones, Evidence showed that the stores were found broken open on Monday. Subsequently the prisoner called at some other stores belonging to the prose- cutors with the brass, and it was there recognised. When questioned the prisoner stated that he bought the brass from another man, and on going outside ran away. Detective Caldicot, however, chased him through several streets on his bicycle, eventually capturing him. Prisoner pleaded guilty, and said he had been hard up. Prosecutors did not press the charge. It was stated that the stores had been broken into several times previously. The Bench imposed a fine of 20s. or 14 days' imprisonment.

PONTYPOOL. I POLICE COURT, SATURDAY. Before A. A. WILLIAMS, Esq., and other I Magistrates. I Before proceeding with the usual business, the Chairman said the Bench regretted the death of one of their colleagues, Mr W. L. Pratt, whom he himself had known for a period of 50 years, and held in the highest respect. He bad led a busy public life, as chairman of the Pontypool Board of Guardians and as a member of the Monmouth- shire County Council. As a magistrate h* bad tempered justice with mercy, and bad also done a great deal of private philanthropy. He moved that the Clerk convey a vote of sympathy to the widow and family of the deceased. Alderman D. Jones also spoke in eulogistic terms of the deceased gentleman, while Mr H Bythway, as the oldest solicitor practicing at the Court, asked that the gentlemen of the legal profession might be associated with the vote, as they considered that they had always been treated with the greatest kindness by Mr Pratt. In his public capacity, he had always shown great intelligence and business capacity, and had given his ungrudging attention and services to the best interests of the affairs of the district. Mr A. E. Bo wen, magistrates' clerk, asked permission to associate himself, and the other officials of the Court., with the vote. They had always been treated with the greatest courtesy by Mr Pratt. The vote was then carried in silence, all standing. WILFUL DAMAGE TO CIOA.RS, AND THIS SEQUEL, Si:QUBL, Percy Jones, school boy, George-street, Ponty pool, was summoueel for doing malicious damage t° cigarettes and cigars, the property of Jaco h Savini, an Italian ice-cream vendor, Poutypo01 to the extent rif 5s.—Maria Jones, mother of the boy, was summoned for assaulting Savini, whil" on a cross-summons Savini was charged with assaulting Percy Jones. Savini, said he left his shop in charge of his son, and while he was away Percy Jones went into the shop and threw a quantity of mud over some cigars and cigarettes, doing damage to the extent of 5s. Witness complained to the boy's mother of the damage, and she offered to pay for it. Witness however, refused to accept the money, aud Mra Jones thereupon struck him in the mouth. Giving evidence on the cross-summons, Mrs Jones and her son stated that Savini dealt him a severe blow in the face on learning that he had damaged his goods. After e xamining the cigars and cigarettes, the Bench dismissed the cases again at the Joneses, and fined Savini 10s. A. WIDOW'S TROUBLES. I Susan Jones, widow, Talywain, was summoned by Henrietta Fellows, for fraudulently removing her furniture so as to avoid distress for 91 9s owing as rent. Defendant admitted the debt, but stated that she was quite unable to pay it, as her solo income was a small allowance from the parish. Mrs Fellows said she would take;Cl in settlement of the claim, bat Mrs Jones protested that she was quite unable to find the money. The Bench made an order for payment of £ 1 within a month, failing which a distress warrant was ordered to be issued. CRARGB OF PERSISTENT CRUELTY. I John Jenkins, collier, Pontypool, was summoned by his wife, Ann Jenkins, for persistent cruelty. Complainant said she married in 1881, and there were eight children of the marriage, four of whom were dependent. The defendant had on many occasions been cruel to her-in fact, he was always disagreeable. On the previous Saturday he beat her and turned her and the children out of the house. Defendant admitted this but said he turned them out to "cool their tempers." The Bench granted the separation order, with I 18s a week alimony. ALLEGED ASSAULT. James Russell, a shopkeeper, of Pontnewydd, who is also the collector of rates under the Llan- frechfa Urban District Council was summoned by Mrs Sarah Richards, of Five Locks Row, Pont- newydd, for assault. Mr W. J. Everett appeared to prosecute, and Mr Lyndon Cooper defended. Mrs Richards stated that at about noon on March 6th the defendant called at her house with some income-tax papers, and she asked him in, so that be might write an address for her on an envelope. After doing so he got behind her, and threw his arms around her, hugging her with great violence. Witness did not complain of the assault to the police until the next day. Russell, sworn, denied the whole charge. At this stage the Bench stopped the case and discharged the defendant. THE ERRAND BOY AND TH8 MIS8INQ I MONEY. I Stanley Burgess, 15, an errand boy, residing in Wainfelin, Pontypool, was again charged with stealing X-55, the moneys of Mr Frank James grocer, High-street, Pontypool, on the 4th of February. The boy was sent from a branch shop with the money to be taken to Mr James in the High-street shop. He, however, ran away to London. Mr Harold Saunders, solicitor, Pontypoel, defended. P.S. Bladon gave evidence of arrest. In answer to the charge the lad replied, Yes, I was taking the money from the George-street shop to High- street. Turner met me near the Crown Hotel, and asked me to go with him to the Clarence- street Railway-station, as he was going to Cardiff." From Cardiff they went to London, ,as On the way io London Turner threw the bag and papers out of the window in a tunnel. On leaving Paddington Station Turner took me into a shop and bought me this orereoat (prodmeed). He gave me 4s to spend, and afterwards gave me three half-sovereigns and took me to a theatre. When we got to the doors he said, You go in, it won't look well for us to go in together; I'll come in later. If you don't see me, I'll meet you at the railway station at 10.30. I did not see him after, so I took a ticket to Cardiff and returned by the midnight train. I slept in the waiting-room at Cardiff. This morning I went out and bought this lamp. Then I came home by train." Witness searched the boy, and on him found two- half-sovereigns and one shilling. Burgess said Turner had the rest. Mr Harold Saunders said the lad had borne an excellent character during the three years he had been in prosecutor's employ, and, no doubt, Turner was the more guilty party. Superintendent James said that efforts to find Turner had proved futile. The Bench bound the lad over under the First Offenders' Act.

GENERAL. DOG LAW. In the King's Bench Division, on Tuesday, before the Lord Chief Justice, Mr Justice Darling, and Mr Justice A. T. Lawrence, the case of Williams v. Richards was heard. It was an appeal on a case stated by the justices of the Swansea Petty Ses- sions, who had refused to convict a man charged under the Dogs Act of 1871, with being the owner of a dangerous dog, which he did not keep under proper control. Mr Jellicoe explained that at the petty sessions a gamekeeper spoke to having seen this dog kill lambs. The solicitor then admitted that be could not prove that the dog was dangerous to mankind, but he had evidence to show that it had attacked and worried sheep. The justices were of opinion that to obtain a conviction there must be some evidence that the dog was dangerous to mankind. They therefore excluded the evidence as to shep. The Lord Chief Justice: Would it be danger- ous if all you could show was that it chased cats or foxes, or things of that kind ? Mr Jellicoe: It is entirely a question of degree. Mr Justice Darling: If you are right should we not have to kill all the packs of hounds ? The Lord Chief Justice: Or keep them under control Mr Jellicoe: The question is whether danger might be reasonably anticipated from the proved facts. Mr Richards, for the respondent, argued that a dog became dangerous not because it attacked sheep, but only if it attacked human beings. The Lord Chief Justice: Then if an impecunious man bad a dog which went out at night and killed sheep, he could not be ordered to keep it under control and the owner of the sheep could get nothing as damages 1 Mr Justice Darling remarked that if a man were sued for damages done by his dog to a human being, it would be a defence to say that he did not know the dog was likely to attack human beings. Mr Richards: It amounts to this, that the dog may have one taste but not a second. Mr Justice Darling: No, my brother Lawrence and I had occasion the other day to correct that heresv. The Lord Chief Justice: One dog one bite is not right. Mr Justice Darling: If there is evidence that the dog is likely to bite human beings, and the owner knows it, that is sufficient on which to found an action for damages. The Lord Chief Justice said he saw no reason why" dangerous" should be confined to danger to human beings. The justices were wrong in ex- cluding the evidence about the sheep, and the case would be sent back to them to be heard. The appellant was entitled to the costs of the appeal. .I

Bath and West and Southern Counties Society. At a Council meeting of the above-named Society, held at the Grand Hotel, London, on Tuesday, among the new members elected were Governor. Perkins, H. F., Hadnock Court, Monmouth. Members. Innes, G. P. Mitchell, Craig-yr-Haul, Castleton, Cardiff. Mansel, Colonel R. H., Maindiff Court, Aber- gavenny. Pilliner, A M., Llanyravon, Newport, Mon. Pullen, W. B., The Ton, Tredunnock, near Newport, Mon. Stratton, F., Machen Plas, Machen, Mon. Stratton, J., Land and Estate Agent, Arcade Chambers, Newport, Mon On the motion of the Marquis of Bath, seconded by Mr C. D Phillips, it was resolved that the Mayor of Newport be requested to honour the Society by at' ending the exhibition in state on the opening day and formally in- augurating it. Mr Phillip", chairman of the Newport Local Committee, brought forward several matters, at the suggestion of his Committee, for consider- ation, including a proposition to hold a work- men's exhibition, at which prizes would be given for naval and engineering models, specimens of handicraft by artisans, and of arts and crafts by amateurs. On the motion of Mr Edwards, seconded by Sir J. Shelley, it was resolved that the Allot- ment Committee be empowered to arrange for such an exhibition if room could be found in the show yard for the erection of a suitable building Mr Phillips reported that the local arrange- ments for which his Committee were responsi- ble were making good progress, and much interest and enthsi sm io connection with the forthcoming exhibition were being shown by all classes of the community in the town and district.. The:Secretary reported that in that section of the Newport show in which were included im- plements, machinery, seeds, food stuffs, and articles of general utility, for which the entries were then closing, the applications for space indicated that the exhibition would be of large dimensions. Also that there was a continuous demand for forms in the other departments of the show in which the entries had not yet closed.

Newport and District Farmers' Association. At a largely attended meeting of this Association at Newport, on Wednesday. Mr Stephen Baker presiding, a letter was read from Mr D A. Thomas, M.P., in which he stated that he was not prepared to go so far as to advocate that farmers losing cattle through tuberCldollis should be compen- sated out of the public funds. Mr Morgan Rosser proposed that the former resolution of the association asking the local auctioneers to discontinue the insurance from April 1st be rescinded, and that the insurance go on as previously.—This was carried. A letter was read from the Monmouthshire Chamber of Agriculture impressing upon the association the advisability of the farmers and butchers continuing the mutual insurance existing to provide for losses through carcases being seized for tuberculosis, pending the passing of some legislation on the subject. Mr William Rosser proposed that everything should be done to induce the Government to compensate farmers losing cattle on seizure for tuberculosis.—This was carried unanimously. '='='=''='='s=s=="=saa!

I A B E It Gi V Y. I Agentgi-Af"-ra !IG"åf!1 ',I),hI:.èl¡'JI INQUEST.—-An inquest was held by Mr J. B. Walford, at Abergavenny, on Monday, as to the cause of death of Mr John Thomas Price, a well- known resident, who retired from the service of the Inland Revenue Office about ten years ago, after having spent 40 years in the service. The evidence was to the effect that the deceased scraped the skin from his shin either in mounting a motor-omnibus or in descending from it on February 8th. He made no complaint at the time, but on March 16th it became necessary to call in Dr Davies, who found him suffering from blood poisoning from the apparently slight injury to his leg. He rapidly grew worse, and succumbed on Saturday last.—The jury returned a verdict of Death from blood poisoning, caused by an accident in either getting on or off a motor- omnibus on February 8th last."

) TOWN COUNCIL MEETING. The Mayor presided at the monthly meeting, on Monday. It was decided to ask Mr Reginald McKenna, M.P., to use his influence with the Local Govern- ment Board to expedite the enquiry respecting the application to be allowed to borrow money for the improvement of the Town Hall, as the Council were now losing the hiring fees The Free Library Committee were given power to keep their own accounts, and to them the bal- ance due was transferred. In replv to a letter from the Free Church Coun- cil, the Town Clerk was instructed to write that the Council regretted they couH do nothing with regard to shop oneuing on Sundays, and to state that the police authority was the proper one to approach on the subject. The Ga* Committee reported that application bad been made to the L.G.B. for sanction to bor- row e 1,000 for new retorts. The resignation, thr mgh ill-health, of Captain H. Powell, of the Fire Brigade, was received with regret, and a minute of appreciation of his ser- vices since 1863 was ordered to be recorded. The Brigade is in an efficient state, and is the h dder of the challenge shield of the South Wales Fire Brigades. Messrs. G Davis, A. Williams, W. Rees, and B. J, Francis were re-elected overseers.

CAEIILEON. Aaenl— Mr Berry, Itwtaarnt. Cross-,treet. MONMOUTHSHIRE EDUCATION SUB-COMMITTEE. —The Newport Radical organ generously pays the following tribute to Mr L. Foster Stedman's value in educational matters:—" Mr Stedman's consti- tuents, irrespective of politics, will regret the action of the Monmouthshire Education Committee in removing him from the Committee."

Rifle Shooting. Newport District Rifle Club met Cwmbran in a friendly at the Cattle Market on Thursday evening week, and won by 26 points. Cwmbran were weakly represented, and Newport also made some changes in the team which had done duty through the League tourney. The shooting was hardly up to League standard, possibly through Newport taking an early lead, and there being no League poiuts at issue. It was a friendly match in every sense, and a very pleasant evening was spent. Cwmbran are to be congratulateed on their sportsmanship in making the journey with a team abort of its crack shots.

A Monmouthshire Appeal Case. The actions in which two farmers of Goldcliff and Nash appeal against the assessments of their properties was continued in the Court of Appeal on Saturday (before the Master of the Rolls, Lord Justice Vaughan Williams, and Lord Justice Buckley). For the appellants, Dr Macmorran contended that even if the whole amount were not allowed a part should be. Mr Ryde said this was a new contention and could not be put forward now, as it was not argued either at quarter sessions or in the divisional court. Part of the Hill Farm was on high ground which was not benefited by the sea wall. Mr Macmorran said this was not the case. Lord Justice Vaughan Williams thought that there could not be a beneficial occupation in case of flood. Mr Ryde said that the amount paid at present by the wardens of Eton College had averaged E360 a year for the last ten years. If that sum were not sufficient to meet the cost of repairing damage by extraordinary flood, the Commissioners for Sewers would be obliged to rate the lands of the whole district that benefited, including those that were free from charge at present. As to the history of the case, he said that what had probably happened was that many years ago lands were sold at a good price on the consideration that they were free from this burden. The position of affairs, if the appellants succeeded, would be that those lands would now have the burden thrown upon them again. The hearing of the case was resumed on Monday but the court reserved judgment until next term.

to suit your taste. Or, a lighter and thinner drink, refreshing and stimulating. to suit your taste. Or, a lighter and thinner drink, refreshing and stimulating. EPPS'S COCOA ESSENCE Welcome at any hour of the day.

I 3,213 J.Ps. in a Year. The Prime Minister, in a written reply to a question, says hat 3,213 magistrates have been appointed since February lar, 1906, in Great Britain. The number of magistrates appointed in the preceding fire years was 6,032.

MOMVIOIJ I'H. loent.—Afr. J. O. Jones, 24, Church Street, Monmouth. A DISTINGUISHED MONMOUTH STUDENT.—Mr Reginald W. Lambert, of Monmouth Grammar Sch ol, has been elected to the Linton Exhibition of Modern History at University College, Oxford. DEATH OF A FORMBR VICAlt.-The death is announced of the Rev George Roberts, who was vicar of Monmouth from October 7th, 1837, to March 10th. 1846, when he left for St. John's, Cheltenham. During his incumbency (1813), the pariah of Monmouth, which included Overmonnow, was transferred from the diocese of Hereford, to which it bad been attached from time immemorial, to that of Llandaff. Mr Roberts identified himself prominently with the Freemasons, and was chaplain of the Monmouth Lodge. After leaving Monmouth, both he and his Ron joined the Oxford I Movement, and became well-known members of the High Church party.

NEWPORT. Aqexu-Mdssrt Greenland and Co.. High Street. j SUICIDE. -John Downs, 37, living in Graham- street, Newport, committed suicide by hanging on Sunday evening. He and his wife had been to the Cemetery in the aflernoon to look at the flowered graves, and on re urning home Downa is Raid to have had a trifling quarrel with his wife. Later in the evening Mrs Downs went out and left her husband alone in the house. While she was away her ion entered the house and found his father hanging by a rope from a hook behind the back kitchen door. The hook was only 5ft 9in. from the ground, and deceased's toes were touching the ground. Downs had apparently mounted a tin box to adjust the noose around his neck, and then stepped off, ad the box was found between his feet. The son obtained assistance, and a neighbour cut the body down while a doctor was sent for, but when Dr McGinn arrived he pronounced life extinct.

PONTYPOOL. I Ageosts-Mr Fieldhouae, and Mr G. H Churchill, The Market I itettrs. Rdvoariis and (;7., and Mr. Nickels, New Inn. DISTRICT RATB.—Mr J. J. Harmston presided at a meeting of the Pontypool District Council on Wednesday. The seal of the Council was ordered to be affixed to, a la 3d rate for the ensuing half year. CONSBRVATISM. -MsIDbers of the Pontypool Couservative Club met on Tuesday,evening. An address on the Conservative party and Labour was delivered by Mr H. Prescott, of Bristol. He advocated, as an alternative, tariff reform. Mr A. A. Williams, J.P., presided. COLLIBR INJURED.—Emrys Bibey, a young collier, living at High-street, Pontypool, was injured at the Elled Colliery. Poatnewynydd, on Wednesday. He was engaged in removing a large piece of coal, and by some means got crushed between a bar which he was using and a pit prop. POLICR INSPECTION. Captain Terry, his Majesty's inspector of police, paid his annual visit of inspection to Pontypool on Saturday. One superintendent, six sergeants, and thirty constables were on parade, and Captain Terry expressed himself as satisfied with the manner in which the men went through their drills. 40 --a AV FUNBRAL OF MR W. L. rRATT. J.P.-The funeral of Mr Pratt took place in Penygarn Churchyard, on Saturday afternoon, and, although of a private character, was largely attended. The officiating ministers were the Rev E. Owen, B.A., of Crane-street Baptist Chapel, and the Rev A. O. Hopkins, Abersychan.

NEWPORT DIVISION W.M.R.A. Shot. Won. Lost. Dr'n Pts. 3rd V.B.S.W.B. 14 13 1 0 26 Usk 11 9 1 1 19 Newport It 9 4 0 18 Cwmbran 13 6 6 1 13 4th V.B.S.W.B. 10 4 6 0 8 Abergavenny 8 1 7 0 2 Abersychan 10 1 9 0 2 at. Julian's 11 1 10 0 a

I The Trial of Bityner. A careful study of the evidence presented against Horace George Rayner must be suf- ficient to satisfy the vast majority of people that the verdict at which the jury arrived, after tea minutes' consideration, was the only one that it was possible for them to re- turn. That the prisoner shot Mr. Whitelejr because he would not give him money was admitted, and the sole issue before the (ourt was as to the prisoner's state of mind. Even that question was dismissed before the trial came to an end, the Lord Chief Justice directing the jury that there was no In evidence of insanity which it was necessary for them to consider. The question of I THE STATE OF KIND of a prisoner is one of the most difficult that can come before any Court, but there io every reason to believe that the learned judge directed the jury rightly, and that if the evidence of insanity had been accepted in Rayner's case there is no murderer who ought to be sentenced to death. Weak as was the defence, there was none other pos- sible to sugge-it. Briefly the plea was that the accused man was the subject of im- pulsive insanity," meaning that he was in- sane only at the moment when he committed the crime, but this defence is one that requires the most careful examination. The principal authority on the subject is to be found in the rules in Macnaa,,hton's case, based upon a direction of Lord Chief Justice Tindal, that the question was whether Mac- naughton was capable of distinguishing right from wrong with respect to the act with which he stood charged. In all prob- ability the learned j'tdge who tried Rayner would have been prepared to adopt a gen- erous construction of these rules if there had been any excuse for doing so, but it can scarcely be denied that the defence broke down altogether in reference to the plea of insanity. As the Lord Chief Justice said, the prisoner's life before the crime, and his conduct at the time, did not leave I ANY GROUND FOR SUPPOSING that he did not know perfectly well what he was doing. In particular there was the document found upon him which stated that Mr. Whiteley had brought about a double fatality. The prisoner's version of the mat- ter was that he wrote that shortly before he shot Mr. Whiteley, but Mr. Muir rightly pointed out that, even if that was so, the- document showed deliberation and inten- tion. It may be that this man, who, accord- ing to his counsel, had a degenerate mind, tainted by at least two generations of alco- holism, took with him a revolver and car- tridges with the sole intention of shooting himself in the presence of Mr. Whiteley. Such things had been done, but generally by women and very rarely by men with such degenerate minds as the prisoner was stated to possess. In all the circumstances, and particularly in view of the writing which was found upon him, it is much easier to believe that Rayner went to West- bourne Grove with the intention of levying blackmail, and of shooting both Mr. White- ley and himself if he were not successful. By a curious coincidence this case was tried simultaneously with 'one very similar at New York. It ia happily true that the case before the Lord Chief Justice was not so unsavoury as that which is proceeding oa the other side of the Atlantic, but in both instances the AFFAIRS OF A MILLIONAIRE were before the public, and in both there were some collateral questions of a some- what similar description. But while the two cases were in many respects similar, there was the widest possible difference be- tween the proceiure, and the Thaw case only serves to strengthen the conviction that, whatever morit there may be in the institu- tions of the United States, our criminal pro- cedure remains beyond all comparison the finest system of its kind in the world.

Lord Rosebery Criticising the Z5 Government. Addressing the Council of the Liberal League in London, on Tuesday, Lord Rosebery candidly criticised the Government. "I will speak quite frankly he said. I owe it no allegiance I owe it no confidence; I have no connectiou, secret or open, with it; I am not sure that I even owe it; the common courtesies of life." Proceeding, he said he feared the Government had made too many impossible promises, and added Only one day last week we saw the House of Commons present to the world the ridiculous, and, I might add, the contemptible spectacle of sitting for more than thirty hours with no issue of principle between any party in the State. (Hear, hear.) It has made no great progress in legislation, though we are hard upon Easter, but it has pledged itself to doing something terrible with the House of Lords—(laughter)—with doing something drastic with the question of temperance; it has pledged itself to reform the land system, to tear it up by the roots and remodel it throughout the length and breadth of this island it has promised and produced a vast Army scheme it has promised a scheme of Irish reform, which by its enemies is called ''Home Rule," and by its' friends is called "Devolution"; it has promised some measures with regard to Irish education, primary and university, besides a mass of secondary measures. My second apprehension about the Government is this, that the Liberal party may- find itself or some of its members permanently connected with I HOSTILITY TO PROPERTY in all its forms. If so I venture to predict that at no distant time it will find itself squeezed out;. between Socialism and Conservatism. (Hear, hear.) Socialism can promise much more to the predatory elements in politics, and Conservatism much more to those who wish to keep things aotually as they are. I do not see how, if the Liberal party is to associate itself with a general attack on property in all its forms, as some predict, and as some see signs of, that there will be any room for its existence in the political arena. Property is much more widely diffused than itr ganerally supposed. You talk of taxing this and of taxing that, and you fancy you are only taxing duties, whereas, as a matter of fact, vast com- munities of co-operative societies of working-men are deeply interested in these very subjects that you propose somewhat hostilely to tax. Therefore I do most earnestly hope that the Liberal Govern- ment will not justify the taunt of its enemies by appearing in any way to express hostility to property on the ground that it is property. Hut lordship then proceeded to deal with land tenure, and the measure promised with regard to Ireland, maintaining that both the Prime Minister and the present Chief Secretary had stated that they thought Ireland should be granted the rights of every self-governing Colony, which practically meant an independent Parliament for Ireland, and which went considerably beyond anything that Mr Gladstone ever indicated in any of his schemes* either ia 1886 ox 1893*

TKBDEOAR WARD. *D. Guy 387 *W. R. Br wn 369 -R.J.Searles 347 OICTORIA WARD. Mrs Little 384 *Rev J. R Jones. 359 William Scott. 326 LISWERRY WARD. James Robinson 323 Benjamin Cort 147 H. Duckbam 129 ST. JULIANS. -*Rev A. r. J(,nee 438 Rev J. A. Cottrell 435 Captain Robertson 367 Denotes old members.