The South Wales Star

FATAL QUARREL AT MAESTEG. PRISONER CHARGED WITH WILFUL MURDER. POLICE-COURT PROCEEDINGS. At Bridgend on Thursday afternoon week James Price, mason, Alma-road, Maesteg, was charged with unlawfully wounding, with intent to inflict grievous bodily injury upon John Daviea, mason, 10, Company-road, Maesteg, on the 9th inst. After hearing the evidence of Police-sergeant Hill. as reported below, prisoner was remanded on hail xmtil Saturday in £,2û himself, and in one surety of £20. Mr. Daniel, the contractor for whom prisoner and Davies worked, becoming bail in the latter amount. At this hearing it will be seen that a doctor's certificate was put in, stating that Davies was progressing favourably, but, unfor- tunately, this progress was not maintained, and the unfortTInate man died at four o'clock on Friday morning. Police-sergeant Hill, hearing of the death, at once proceeded to re-arrest Price (who is -a. married man afcout 40 years of age), and charged him "lith murdering Davies. At the further hearing on Saturday, as will .be seen from a "perusal of our report, a strong appeal was made to the Bench on behalf of prisoner by Mr. Scale for bail, which was disallowed. EVIDENCE OF PGLICE-SEKGEANT HILL. Police-sergeant Hill said I am a sergeant of police, stationed at Maesteg. On Tuesday night, the 9th inst.. I was sent for. and went to No. 9, "Company-row, Maesteg. I found John Davies lying in bed groaning. He appeared to be in great pain. The lower part of the front was covered with blood. He complained of having- been kicked in his privates. I examined his private parts. His testicles were swollen as large as my two fists, and lJiood was issuing from his penis. I at once went for a doctor, and Dr. Clay (Dr. Davies's assistant) returned with me, and he -examined Davies. He said he could not then state the extent of the injury. I met him at the house the next morning, and he examined Davies afresh, and he said that the man was in a critical state. The same day, at my request, he gave me the Certificate a A." which is now produced by me. and which states that" John Davies suffers from the effects of rupture of the urethra, and is in a critical condition." I arrested the prisoner that morning, and took him to Davies' bedside. Davies said in his presence ■"Yesterday evening, about three o'clock. Price jsrave me sixpence to go and have pint of beer. "There was another man (Vincent), who went with me to have beer. When we came back Price said I had been a long time away. I called Price a liar. and then Price struck me five or six times, and knocked me down on the Hoor and when I was down on the floor he kicked me from behind in the privates." Price said in reply, I did strike you but I did not kick you." I produce another Certificate "B." given me by the doctor this morning, which states that "Davies is progressing favourably, but is not yet out of danger." PRISONER AT THE PETTY SESSIONS. At the Bridgend Petty Sessions on Saturday -afternoon, before Mr. R. W. Llewellyn (chairman), Colonel Franklen, Mr. C. P. Davies. and Major David, James Price. Mason. Alma-road. Maesteg. was brought up again, and as it had become known that the unfortunate Davies had died, the deepest interest was manifested in che case by .all present. The prisoner, who seemed to feel his position acutely, paid very great attention to all that was said, and seemed very much disappointed when the bench refused the application of his solicitor (Mr. Scale) for bail. Mr. Superintendent Thomas prosecuted on behalf of the police. Mr. Scale (Scale and David. solicitors. Bridgend) appeared for the prisoner, Mr. T. Stockwood (magistrates' clerk), and Mr. S. H. Stockwood (deputy magistrates' clerk) also .beingpresenr. The Deputy Clerk enquired whether Superin- tendent Thomas intended to proceed upon the charge originally preferred against the defendant. viz.. that of unlawfully wounding and of doing -grieves bodily harm to John Davies, or to proceed on a charge of wilful murder. Supt. Thomas The charge is now one of wilful murder. The Deputy Clerk Let me have it in writing. Superintendent Thomas I have written out the charge. The Deputy Clerk then formally informed the prisoner that the charge against him was.Xi that he did feloniously and maliciously kill and murder one Joikai Davies." The Deputy Clerk to prisoner You will hear the evidence given against you to-day. Mr. Scale I should like sufficient to be gone into so that I can apply for bail. When .the facts are gone into they will throw an entirely different -complexion upon it. Superintendent Thomas I only propose to offer. ..sufficient evidence for a remand. Poliee-cergeant Hill was then sworn. The Deputy Clerk You gave evidence this week upon a charge against prisoner of unlawfully Wounding John Davies. I will read it ts> you, and you can say if it is correct. The Deputy Clerk then read the evidence given $>y Poliee-sergeant Hill at the first hearing on Thursday v/eek. and that officer then said ke wished to add that Davies died at four o'clock yesterday •(Friday) morning. He received, information, of iis death at five o'clock. Superintendent Thomas: Was the prisoner bailed out'' —Witness Yes. I re-arreste.-l him sifter the man's death yesterday morning- about 5.30 o'clock. Superintendent Thomas What -did you. charge Jiim with then.'—Witness I charged him with murdering John Davies by kicking him ill..his privates on the evening of the 9th inst. Mr. Scale: [I; it not a fact that fee was a man in a. bad state of health, aud a great drunkard Witness I have not known that, nor been told that. Mr. Scale He told you that he had been kicked from behind?—Witness Yes, Sir. He saidtlkat he was knocked down on the floor on his sida, aud that he was kicked from behind. Mr. Scale I believe defendant is foreman of tfce «work where deceased was engaged on *—Witness No, Sir, he is not. He is the oldest hand there. Mr. Scale He is one of the chief men there at the building!—Witness He is there. Mr. Scale He must have been in some authority Ijecause he sent him away I-Witness He is there, and the contractor, Mr. Daniels, was absent, and the prisoner was ic.. charge.. Mr. Scale: Then the deceased told you that he was a long time away drinking this beer.3—Wit- ,nes8 • That he said he was a long time away Yes. Mr. Scale And ke called him a liar .'—Witness Tea. Mr. Scale On Thursday when you arrested the prisoner bail was given, and there was no objec- tion offered to bail .f-rWitnsss No, Sir. Mr. Scale: And the man reemed to be getting on pretty fairly ?—W itecss n s. Mr. Scale: You knew the deceased man before ? The Deputy-Clerk: (Did he say anything after you-charged him 1—Witness He said nothing. I produce the boots which he wore on the occasion, when the row took place, and the shirt and trouset.3 of the deceased man. They are saturated "With blood. The'Ch airman We do not was t to see them. Mr. Scale You kneyr the deceased man, Mr. ;HU1 ?—Witness No, I 4cu't know that I did. Mr. Scale Had you seen him.before ?—Witness J:io, not tt. my knowledge. Mr..Sca'e Had you heard of l £ m !—Witness f.: have heard since of him. I had ,'ieard nothing 4f him previously. Mr. Scale You have no ,,■season te believe that there was at y bad feeling beforehand 1—Witness No. Mr. Scale They were btfth together some hours after this happened at the Ro^al Oak ?— Witness: Yes, sir, I have heard so. Mr. Scale .1' was about four o'clock jvhen this happened, and >1 believe you know and heard that for two or three hours prisoner, and deceased were together drinkiiu ■ It is simply for bailor.urpo3es that I am going into the case novr.—Witness I have heard — The Chairman No, you had tetter not fjo on. It is singly what J..e heard. It is oiofi evidence at all. Mr. Se&Je It is evidence. The Chairman No £ yet. It is only hearsay. Witness r continuing) I have Ko reason to believe that there was any ill-will between them. Mr. Scale Can j'ou-iay of your own knowledge that prisoner and deceased were together after tfeis happened *—Witness I have heard that they j were in the Royal Oak Public-house. Mr. Scale: This man (prisoner) is a respectable man, is he not ."—Witness As far as I know. Mr. Scale The .only thiut. to-day is the question of. bail. The deceased stayed away and called prisoner a liar, but the priso-aer can prove that deceased said something more than that. There are several reasons to Justify baj £ „ and I now ask you to grant bail. I am prepared to offer very snl. stantial bail. I have here a couple of Maesteg tradesmen who will go bail to s.uy reasonable extent. They will give bail—not a niggardly bail, hat bail to a very substantial sum, and J do, Sir, you to ftcoepfc bail in this, ease. Mr. Superintendent Thomas I oppose bail. The prisoner will be required to attend at the inquest on Monday next. It is a serious charge. I don't think it is in your Worship's power to grant bail. The Chairman Bail will not be granted. Mr. Scale To any extent 1 The Chairman No. Prisoner was then remanded in custody. j THE INQUEST. VERDICT OF MANSLAUGHTER. The inquiry was held on Monday morning before Mr. H. Cuthbertson, coroner, at the Police-station, Maesteg. Mr. Superintendent Thomas was present on behalf of the police, Mr. Wm. Jones was chosen foreman of the jury. The prisoner was taken from Bridgend by the 8.45 a.m. to Maesteg, and his arrival at the latter station. was witnessed by a few persons who exchanged nods of recognition with him. There was no demonstration. John Vincent, mason's labourer, 10, Company- row, Maesteg, said that he was working on some new houses in Bethania-street. Maesteg. There were two new houses with people living in them, and two were nearly ready for occupation. Last Tuesday, 0th inst., John Davies, the deceased, was working there too, and James Price (the prisoner). John Davies asked prisoner for six- pence, and as he had not got a sixpence he gave deceased and witness a shilling between them. They asked for the money for beer. That would be about half-past three. Witness and deceased went to the Royal Oak where they had two pints of beer each. They then went back to their work. after being away half an hour and a few minutes. When thev got back deceased went up the ladder, and witness supposed a few words passed between de- ceased and prisoner. Nothing was said until deceased was on top of the ladder—on the joist. Then it was that deceased and prisoner first had words. Witness was at the bottom, and did not catch what those words were. Then James Price jumped down from the scaffold. At that time de- ceased was on the joist. Price jumped on to the joist to where deceased stood, and witness saw prisoner with his hand raised, so he went to them. Witness did not see prisoner strike anybody with his hand. Deceased and prisoner were standing- close together, when Charles iSutcliffe called him up. Witness then went up the ladder, and went between prisoner and deceased. Deceased was then on the joist lying on -his side, and his arm bleeding. Prisoner was standing over him, and threatened deceased that if he did not get up he would kick him up. Witness saw blood on deceased's face, so he took the handkerchief from deceased's neck. and wiped the blood from his face. It would be about fiveminute8 past four when he (witness) went up the ladder. Deceased did not speak, and witness mumbled a few words in Welsh. Deceased lay there an hour and a quarter—until.a quarter past five o'clock. Witness did not speak t.o deceased again until deceased canee down the ladder him- self. After they-had Snished working deceased complained of having the shakes, or shivers. Witness did not see any blows struck at all. neither did he see anv kick. Prisoner threatened to kick deceased up! but he did not do so whilst he (witne*«s) was pre- sent. Deceased was not sober, but a little bit gone. He was not drunk: Prisoner was sober. Witness did not know how deceased came to be lying on the joist. When he (witness) went between thein after going up the ladder prisoner asked him what he wanted there, and witness said that he did not want anything, only that he (prisoner) would not touch deceased while he was there. Prisoner then went back on thescaITold to his work. Blood was coming from deceased's cheek and lip. Prisoner and deceased had some words in Welsh. Suteliffe was on the scaffold at the time and no one else. Witness did not hear deceased fall, -By Supt. Thomas When prisoner said he would kick deceased, his (prisoner's) foot was not raised.—By the Coroner Witness went to lodge in the same house as deceased for the first time on Saturday week.—In answer to a juryman, witness said the joists were covered with boards. There were no stones on the boards. Prisoner and deceased were working on the same scaffold in front of the house. Deceased did not say any- thing to him about how the blood came on his face. At the time he was called up he (witness) was near the mortar. Griffith Davies, mason, Aberavon. said that de- ceased was his brother, and was 38 .years of :-age last April. Deceased was a mason, and died on Friday morning at about a quarter to four. Charles Suttcliffe, mason, G, Temple-street. Maesteg, said that he was working on the same houses as the deceased and Price, in Betkania-street. Aoout thiee o clock Vincent and Davies went up to Price and asked for'the loan of sixpence apiece. Price gave them each sixpence. They wanted to get some beer. The two men then went to wet the beer. When Price gave them the sixpence each he said,Now take this and go and have a pint apiece,. and come back to your work, as we don't want to lose any time." They were away about three-quarters of an hour. When thev came back, Price said to Davies, "This is a ion'hall- hour that you have been away." Davios-then said You are a liar. We have only been avvav the bare half-hour." Price was on the scaffold at the top of the joist, and Davies stood on -the 'joist Price said to Davies, I'm not a liar, and you have a fine principle to take advantage of men when they are away." Price was left in charge while the master was away. Davies then said. I have as good a principle, and arc- as good a man as you They then went -8n talking- in Welsh, whi^h wit- ness could not understand. After that. Price jumped down and hit Davies twice or three 'times about the face. Davies fell down on his ri«--ht side on the boards. Witness went on with hie work not thinking that Price would be a coward to hit a man on the ground. Next witness heard Davies say," Price, you won't killlNe where I am;?" Then Priee said. "No, get up, and I will fight -,you fair." Witness then sar- Price hit Davies while he was or the ground syith his fist. Wiicess could not say where Da vies was strucL as .he raised-his hands to his face to protect it from the blow. Then witness said to Price, Less of that, or else I will interfere," an £ being afraid to <70 down himself as he had heard that Price was a vicious man, he (the witness}i called the labourer —Johu. Vincent- to come up. Vincent came:np. and then Price said something ,to Davies in ;1J,:elsh: ,I Vincent said, "No you won't you won't touch I him while I am hare." Witness-told Price to come ■up to talis work, and what Sr.ey had to settle ) between them to settle it wheu he (the deceased?)'j- was sober. Price tfhen went on with his work and Davies lay on Lis right sid*and appeared to and Davies lay on Lis right sid*and appeared to witness as if he was. sleeping. i-eceased remained I. there until a few rainutes before half-past five v .when they left work. Witness did not see Dmies- -strike Price at all. Navies seemed to be the worse if-or drink. He was not helplessly drunk, but^ if-or drink. He was not helplessly drunk, hut' witness thought that he had had -enough. Price 'I •w.as sober. YVitness ci;d not hear threaten to kick Davier if he did not get up. Witness couild HIST, say thiwuprice kicked Davies at ,all. but it was possible th»-"<,he might ihave done st without him seeing it, as ihis (the wi tness's) back was towards tfeeaa part of the time. Witness saw Price strike Daxses two or three (times witk :his fist in the face. Savies did not fall foeavily, but feU alongside the wrill.—By tfce Coroner: The boards were qv.ite clear, and there; was nothing dhat deceased could Stave fallen: agaiatfit and so hurt himsalf. Davies eame down j the ladder witkaut any assistance, wiseas. he went ■ home, and didn-pt compIai-K to witness anything Davies did not epeak to ipitness at aii.—By the Foreman Witness was present at the «wnmence- ment of the struggle. Whether deceased .was hit down or fell witness could ¡¡;,ot say. Deceased did not show any sijfs.8 .of beiKt.. hurt. The scaffold was 4ft. higher than the -.oist, and woe inside the building. Witeess saw d-jfeased coming- down the ladder, and did jr.ot notice anything pecaiiar. Ann O'Leary, 10. Conipant-row, MaesteK" said her husband was Johsi O'Leary, Deceased did not lodge with Eiler, but came to her ihouse about Mven o'clock on Tuesday evening. Beceased sat down and complained of feeling very poorly. He went out to the back to the eloset. ami was there abwixt half an hour, groaning very badly. Witness w-oafc to him and found him with lus trousers dowE. Mrs. McCarty, who lodged with witness, was witk her. She saw two pieces of blood on the closet seat, which she wiped up with a piece of paper and threw into the eloset. Witness asked him what was the matter, and decease! said that James Price had kicked him in the privates. They put him to bed, and he kept calling for the doctor.' They sent for the police, and the doctor was sent for about ten o'clock. Deceased died in her house on Friday morning about four o'clock. She could not say whether deceased had been drinking before he came to her house that night, as she had not taken any notice. He complained directly be came in the house. He was able to walk.—By a Juryman: Witness was present at the time deceased died, and s/as holding him up. lie was screaming with pain, and threw up several times. She could not say where deceased had been from five o'clock until seven o'clock, but she heard him saying that he had been in the Royal Oak, and it was from that place he came to her house. Dr. Thomas William Clay, physician and surgeon, assistant to Dr. Davies. Maesteg, said that about a quarter to eleven o'clock on Tuesday night Sergeant Hill called up the tube that there was a man at 10, Company-row, whom he should visit. Witness found deceased upstairs lying on some bedd/n^ tftat WW pn the floor. He appeared to be J sober at the time. There were marks of blood about his face. which seemed to have come from two or three very slight abrasions on his fate, and had stopped bleeding before witness saw him. De- ceased complained of pain about his privates. Witness then examined him, and found that there was a good deal of blood about his clothes. He noticed that blood was oozing from the urethra, and deceased said that he had .lost a great deal of blood, but that it was better then, and was not run- ning so much. Witness then found a dark coloured swelling, or bruise, extremely tender, and running traversely. Witness complained of pain across the scrotum and the testicles, but they were not at the time swollen to any appreciable extent, or discoloured. Witness concluded that he was suffer- ing from a ruptured urethra. Witness was not drunk, but under the influence of drink. He had been drinking as witness could tell from the pulse, but he answered every question. Witness attended him up till his death, and had since made a post QlLortnn-viz., on Friday, at 4.15, the body appeared to be fairly well nourished. The height was about 5ft. 8in., age about 40. There were several marks of violence—viz., two abrasions, one over the left cheekbone, and the other one on the forehead about half an inch above and to the out- side of the upper border of the eye socket or orbit. Witness also noticed that the mucous membrane of the mouth, gums and cheek were very pale and bloodless. The genital organs were swollen and discoloured. Witness opened the chest, and found both lungs healthy. The heart was normal in size. contained very little blood, was flabby, and the muscular fibres were pale. The valves were perfectly healthy. On making an incision •in the abdomen witness found over the pubic bone. and extending upwards for about two inches blood extravasation. That was not to be seen externally. It was confined to the deepest part of the skin, the loose tissue, and the muscular fibres. The peritoneum was healthy, the liver fatty, and the stomach healthy except that the mucous membrane was very pale. It contained three ounces of what appeared to be a curdy whitish fluid. The intestines were healthy. The left kidney was normal in size, the right kidney was also healthy. The spleen was enlarged and con- gested. The bladder was normal and contained about five ounces of turbid wine. Witness then pro- ceeded to open the skull cavity, and found on dissecting the scalp that blood extravasation cor- responding with the abrasion near the orbit, extending about two inches upwards and down- wards. Witness found that the brain membranes were congested, particularly about the base, the brain being otherwise healthy. The left testicle was injured. The right testicle was healthy. Dissecting the urethra, he found a rupture imme- diately in front of the triangular ligament. That seemed to be healing. The Coroner "What in your opinion was the cause of death Witness The cause of death was due to the constitutional effects of the injury, accelerated by loss of blood, and the previous history of the man's mode of life, which he (witness) gathered from the post-mortem appearances. The injuries to the head, and chiefly the injuries to the genital organs produced a severe shock. This was followed on the third day by an attack of alcoholic tomatic delirium, and that he died from heart failure or syncope during a violent paroxysm of delirium, being predisposed to heart failure caused by the loss of blood. The Coroner Can you account for the injury to the genital organs Witness It might have been caused by a falling astride of a fence. The Coroner It would not be caused by falling on a plain board ? Witness Oh no, it could not possibly be. It might have beec caused by a blow or kick. The Coroner: You have heard the evidence as to where this man fell. Could his falling on those boards have caused the injury to the genital organs. Witness It could not possibly have done. The Coroner: Might it have been caused by a blow with the list.' Witness It would have to be a very, very severe blow. The Coroner Could it have been caused by m, kick ? Witness Yes. The Coroner If done by a blow from the fist it must have been a very severe blow ? Witness Yes, very severe. The Coroner You do not think it ..w.as at all likely that it was done by the nst ? Witness No. The Coroner You think in all probability it was done by a kick Witness I would not say that. The Coroner .But it was more likely to be done by a kick than atlow W Witness It could have been done by a kick. The Coroner: You did not gather anything by the p-oxt-viortcm appearances as to any kind of disease that would terminate this man's life ? Witness Yes. ;I think from the few signs that this man might have led rather a rough life, that he had been a dnunkard-in fact, addicted to alcohol. The Coroner: If lie had not received these in- juries there was norireason to believe that he would have died 1 Witness No, thera is no reason to suppose that he would have dietl. By a Juryman -Deceased told witness that he had been kicked. The Coroner He-told you so ? Witness Yes. The Coroner: He w.aa quite sensible when you asked. him Witness 0 yes. Hew/as perfectly sensible. As sooira: I got into the cocm I was told that. The inquiry was then.adjourned for an hour— until two o'clock—for luncheon. Whffil the inquiry-Avas .resumed the Coroacr said I just flsrant to ask Dr. Clay about the blow on the head immediately above the orbit, was that a severe t-low ? Dr. Clay It was. Suva very severe blow. But I did noti;fiud anything one the post-mortem inside the skull cavity. Not<jff-asion ,of any sort. The (coroner The blow might have rendered ) him partially insensible. Witness It might. The Coroner How-eacyjM&i account for tis not complaining of the injury,,to the testicle for so long a tin: e ? Witness:- The influence of drink, Sir I believe he must have :felt pain there at the time. I de not believe that,ik.o was in such a state of intoxication that he would not feel the injuries according io the witnesses.who said that he was not druuk, ibut under the >uMBixence of drink. I ivould expect him to complain of the injuries to ohe testicle. .Police-sergeant Hill s&id that he went t-o" the høuse. 10, Company-row, aboait; SJ.30 at night. He saw the deceased lying OÄ. a bed .upstairs on vihe floor. He «r/as groaniifeg, acfc. appeared to be suffering great pain. Witness asked what was t-1e matter with bini. He sa-ill: "fl.ixve been kicked in the privates." He threw the clothes off, ag i wi<Kiess examined him. He founfl deceased's ta: ticies very mtulh swollen, aa&d his&twer parts wevo covered with bitod. the frowbjpart t?f his shirt war: satyeated witk blood, and .Also "Site seat of his tromers. He s4:iir;. he felt great p&ic^ and wit-nest: went for Dr. Cuuy. Witness -saw the doctor at the, house about 11 clock, and afterthefiiad left spoke to tht deceased. About 10 o'iack ei Wednesday morning witness-BMt Dr. Clay .a.t.the:house again, uvhen&ie saidcha10 the man apgKsaxed s«rorse than he waeitike night be £ c&e. and was its. a bad condition, j VVitnese then we»t«down to iib? new houses in ] Eethacia-street, wSiere the prisoner w&s working, j R:e called Price down from tfce ..scathfding, and tqild him that in consequence of What had hap- pened the previous evening betw.eati Mm and John Dai/ies ie wanted Jsiui to go »isth hb*a before Dairies ic see what lie Jiad to say against?*:im. He said, I ,will come with you nov," Witness took him to Navies' bedside.and repeat wh;ii; he hr.d previously told him. De- ceased tkfesi said About three o'clock yes- terday evening me Vincent. labourer, asked Priae for sixpence each to get some beer. He gave us a siril&iKg and told us not to be long away. We returned An about haif an hour. When I wc-jB-t up to my work Price said to Hie, You have been a long time away." I cabled Price a liar. We had a few words afterwaids, and Price jumped down aa¡:.d. struck me several times. He knocked me do&'n, and kicked nt«e when I was oa the ground, from behind, on tine privates." Priee said, I did £1"rike you, Jack, but Ididn'tkiok yon." Deceased ^cid. You did kick me when I was on the groujj.cL" Witness then j brought Price to the station and charged him with ■■ doing grievous bodily harm to John Davies by ) kicking him the previous evening- He made no reply..and witness then conveyed bam to Bridgend. where he was admitted to bail the next day. On following morning (Friday) witness received in- formation of the death of Davies. and went to the prisoner's house and called him up. He told him that Davies had died, and that he mwt go with him to the station. At the station witness cau- tioned him, ttnd charged him with the murder of John Davies. He appeared to feel it very much, but did not make any answer or reply. Witness produced the boots which prisoner wore at the time of the assault, and also produced the gl1Írt a.nd trousers of deceased. Mr. Supt. Thomas That is aU the evidence. The Coroner thenfmmmedup, and say it was for the jury to say by what means deceased came by his 'death. There wan no doubt at all as to i the cause of death. That had been distinctly given by the medical witness. Death had resulted from the injuries received, and the question was how did he come by those injuries ? There was no doubt, because the man admitted it himself that he struck deceased two or three times. It must have been a severe blow upon the*|head which made him insensible for some time, and probably in consequence of being a little in beer, he might not perhaps have been able to feel the effects of his injuries. The question was whether the deceased had been kicked. He did not know what opinion they might 1have about it, but one witness said he did not see any kick, nor any blow. The next witness said he saw blows but no kicks, adding that deceased might have been kicked without him seeing it. Next, the man lying on the ground called out to Price not to kill him. Whether Price kicked him or not that witness did not know, but they had the evi- dence of Police-sergeant Hill, who took Price to the bedside of Davies, who said that Price had kicked him. Price denied it, but afterwards when charged with causing grievous bodily injury by kicking Davies, he did not deny it, but made no reply. If the jury were satisfied from the evidence that Price kicked deceased, and in kicking him produced the injuries which caused his death, it was for them to say whether it amounted to murder or manslaughter. Of course they were not trying the man then, but they were simply ascer- taining the cause of the man's death, and saying whether Price was responsible or not. As to whether he was guilty of murder or manslaughter, that was a question for the jury who would have to try him all they had got to decide being whether it amounted to murder or manslaughter that he should take his trial for. Justice Keating on March 11th, 1857, laid it down in the case of Benjamin Jones, of Aberdare. that if a prisoner without intending to kill, inflicted bodily harm sufficient to cause death he was guilty of murder. The law was not changed from that time to this, and if prisoner had kicked the deceased so as to cause his death he did not see how the jury could reduce it to manslaughter. There must be some provocation to reduce it to manslaughter, but in the present case the provocation was very slight, and was to the effect that when Davies was told by Price that he had stayed a way longer than he ought, Davies said You're a li?ir." It was for the jury to return a verdict of Wilful murder or "Manslaughter." and if he could give the jury any further information he would be glad to do so. They had heard the evidence, and it was for them now to consider the verdict. The room was then cleared, and the jury de- liberated in private for half an hour. The Coroner then announced that the jury returned a verdict of Manslaughter" against James Price. Prisoner was then committed for trial at the next assizes, the Coroner intimating that he would accept bail. „

I ASSAULTS UPON YOUNG LADIES AT BRIDGEND. ARREST OF THE ASSAILANT. The Bridgend police have for sometime been engaged looking for a man who had assaulted two young ladies during the past month. Their efforts were crowned with success on Sunday evening when Sergeant Row and Police-constable Thomas Brown acting on information received went to search for the culprit who was arrested by Police- constable Brown at Mile-ertd. It appears that the officers decided to separate, Sergeant Row going down the Merthyrmawr-road, and Police-constable Brown taking the road to Ewenny by which means it was hoped they would catch the accused which ever way he took. It was whilst Polsoe- constable Brown was going down the road from Bridgend, in accordance with this plan, that he met a man whom he arrested on suspicion. It was then about ten o'clock p.m., and the saian stoutly deried all knowledge of the offence alleged against him—viz., of attempts to in- decently assault Miss M. L. David, of Watertown, on Sunday evening. 7th inst. With great difficulty the prisoner was conveyed to the police station, still persisting in declaring that he was innocent, and saying that tha police should take the right man. On Monday morning the prisoner whe gave his na.me as Henry Summers, and said ke was lodging at 40, Park-street, Bridgend, was con- fronted by Miss David who at once identified him. Prisoner was also identified by Miss Jenkins, of Ewenny Pottery, as the man who had indecently assaulted her on Sunday night, July 31st. Upon being taken back to the cell prisoner admitted his guilt, and asked to be forgiven. On Monday morning prisoner was brought before lIfr. C. P. Davies, when the following evidence was taken:— Miss Maria Lousa David said :—I am a. single woman, and am 29 years. Last Sunday week, the 7th of August, I had been in chapel in Bridgend, and was returning home about 25 minutes to nine in the evening. It was dusk. I was on the public highway in VVatertown-lane. Before I wenttothe lane I had walked along the main read from Bridgend towards Cowbridge. In passing I saw a man standing alone by a gate not farrfrom the mouth of the lane. I had not seen the man before. to my knowledge. As I was walking down the lane -I heard footsteps coming after me. I turned and looked, and found they were the steps of £ man. I thought he was tho same man I had seen at the gate. I first of all took him to be the seuvant man from .Waterfcown Court. I looked back ,-J:, second time, and the man was within two yards of me. He leoked as if he was going to attack me, and he said to me, I. Good night, Miss." I told him not to insult nse on the road, and that I didn't wishidir -to speak to me. He walked a. few paces alongside of me, and, without a word. flung medown into the ditch. It was a dry ditch. I fell on J.cy side, and I screamed. He tried to put his hand on my mouth. I struggle-i, and got free out of his grasp, and .1 got right out of the road and got hold of a stocie—a small stone—and I knocked hixc. in the faoo with it. I ran away towards home. After goieg a little distance I met Miss Emery and a young gentleman with her. I asked them why they didn't come to help me. They 8'Àoid they didn't think there was anything particular the .matter. They came back with me. The man was tlier gone. The saaii didn't do anything indecent to He didn't, do anything to his clot.hes. Ee didn't attecqpt anything indecent to me. The HUti was gone, ;,cut.we met Mr. William Thomas ,and Mr. Thomas Lewis Roberts. I complained tc.all of them. I had never seen the man before. The defendant is the man. He was dressed nuich as he is Pressed now. I never saw him after,wards until to-day. when I saw him at the Police-station. I recognised him at once. I havo not tbe. least doubt aiout it. I knew his voice, too. The sergeant asked him to speak tome, and tokl him to say" GaoJ evening. Miss," and he did so. There is a {leeuliarity in Ins walk. He walked before me to-day, aEid I observed it then, and I also observed it when te, jvas walking after me in the lane. I was very iaruck frightened. Thomas Lewis Roberts said 11 i ve at C oy church- road. Bridg-casd, and am a grocer's clerk. II and William Thomas were walking last Sunday week about a quarter to nine or —between two lights —on the Cas*bridge-road. We heard a scream from down the lane—a fenac Ie voice. We -were then about-the mouth of tie Watertowu Lane. .s,nd we sasv a man cooing up the .lane. He was waling rather ^tickly, and hreath- ung heavily,as if he had been running. He was excited. Wirt. Tjsomas asked n&at was the matter town there, He said, Nothing: I didn't fcear anything." AVB;. Thomas auc I went further for wn the lane tc-iee if there Y„S,S anything, and rti out 200 yards down the lane saw Miss Daffid. 3 £ i.ss Emery, and Anthony Powell. Miss David waa crying at theti me. We asked her what was the:matter, an#-she complained ,fe- us to the sucie effect as her statement here to-key. Just as we were near her It picked her umbxslla and hymn booi .up from (fee fiifcsh. and Wm. Thomas picked up her gloves. She appeared maeh-excitcd. The defendant is the man,.end wore the .ame clothes. ] I can't say I had seen him before, but I saw him ;• last rtif lit and recognised him. I fofewed him for ,| about (two miles to see where he would go. On i Sunday week, after whej* William Tiomas and I had seex. we went to tfce police-statice and gave information there and ,a .description. After I saw him last night I went fee the police-station and gave infotsaation there tkav; I had seen ffce man. Prisoner, who is 23 yea>r- of age, 5ft. lOin. in height, and said that he TO married and that his wife and child lived at Exeter, was then remanded in custody mttil Saturday upGu the charge ef com- mitting an aggravated assault upon Miss Dawiù. We are infetmed that the charge for assaulting Miss Jenkins will then be gone into.

OO.VST'MPTIOK CURED.—AN oldf Physician,retired from practice, had placed in hig hands by an East India jlissionary the formub of a simple vegetable, remedy for the spesdy and pemiaueEtfc cure of Con- sumption, -Bronchitis, Catarrh, Aslur.a, and all Throat and Lung Affections, also a positive and radical cure for Nervous Debility and all Nervous Complaints. Hav- j ing tested it-s wonderful curative powers in thousands of cases, and desiring to relieve human sufieriug, I will send free of charge, to all who wish it, this receipt in German, French, or English, with full directions for preparing and using. Sent by post by with stamp, naming- this paper, Dr. J. P. MOUNTAIN, }$, Percy-* crett, Loudon, W.

BRIDGEND PETTY SESSIONS. » SATUBDAY.—Before Mr. R. W. Llewellyn (chair- man), Mr. C. P. Davies, Colonel Franklen, Major David, and Mr. R. K.Pritchard. AN AGED SON AND HIS MOTHER.—William Evans, collier, Varteg-terrace, Cwmavon, near [ Pontypool, Mon., was summoned by the Bridgend Guardians to show cause why he should not con- tribute towards his mother's support.—William Punter, relieving officer, said defendant had been before the Guardians that morning. Defendant's mother, who resided with her son-in-law, was 84 years of age, and received 3s. a week from the Guardians. Defendant was farming a small hold- ing rented at £26 per annum in Monmouthshire. As a collier defendant earned about £5 a month himself, and members of his family also worked.— defendant said he only kept three cows, for which he had to keep buying hay.—The Clerk So has everybody else who keeps cows.—The Relieving Officer We have had a letter from defendant in which he offers his body as a sacrifice for his debts. —The Clerk You are getting altogether about £3 a week.—Defendant said he was 59 years of age. and had an invalid daughter 23 years of age. and this the Relieving Officer said V.TIJ true.—Defendant said his brother was a younger man than he. and being single was better able to pay.—The Relieving Officer said they could not find the younger brother.—The Bench ordered defendant to pay :¡, a week and the costs.—Defendant protested that he was already heavily in debt, and that he could not possibly pay the money. The constables in Court had the greatest difficulty in inducing defendant to be quiet. ALLOWING CATTLE TO STKAY.—Daniel Morgan, labourer. Colwinstone. was summoned for allowing cattle to stray on the highway at Colwinstone on August 6th.—Evidence was given by Police-consta- ble Adams to the effect that four cows and one mare and colt belonging to defendant were straying on the highway last Saturday evening. He saw them on the road for twenty minutes, and no one wa.s in charge of them.—Defendant was fined 10s. ALLEGED THEFT AT BLAENGAHW.—Eiias Weeks, labourer, Nanthir, Blaengarw, was charged on remand with stealing a silver watch and handker- chief, the property of William James, collier, Nanthir.—-Mr. S. C. Tension, pawnbroker, Blaen- garw, said that on the 4th inst. prisoner came to the shop in the evening, and wanted to pawn a watch. Witness advanced him 6s. on it. The next day Police-constable Hurford called with prisoner and the prosecutor. They gave witness the ticket and asked for the watch. Prisoner then admitted having stolen and pawned the watch.— Mary Ann Jones. 28. Blaengarw-road. Xanthirjsaid that on August 4th she bought the Handkerchief from prisoner for 2s. 6d. Prisoner asked for 2s. 6d.. and stated that he had bought it that week new for 4s. lid. Witness gave it to PoLce-coHstable Hurford the next night.—Police-constable Hurford said that on August 5th Wm. James came to him. and subse- quently he (witness) arrested prisoner in the Blaengarw Hotel at six p.m. He took him to the pawnbroker's shop, and received the watch there. He charged prisoner with stealing the watch and a silk neckerchief from the bedroom at 28, Nanthir- road, the property) of Wm. James. Prisoner said I took the watch in drink. I did not mean to steal it, and I sold the neckerchief for 2s. Gel, to Mrs. Jones, of Blaengarw-road." Witness received the handkerchief from Mrs. Jones.-—Prisoner who did not say anything was committed for trial. UNFRIENDLY NEIGHBOURS AT NANTYMOEL.— Sarah Jane Radford, 7. Park-street, X antymoel, was summoned for assaulting Edith Hale, wife of Thos. Hale, timberraan, Park-street, Nantvmoel.—Com- plainant stated that defendant on the 8th inst. got hold of a knife, and threatened to rip her open. and show her entrails. De- fendant had only lived there a few months.— Mary Lawrence, 4, Park-street. Nantymoel. said that, hearing a noise, she went out. and saw defen- dant with a knife in her hand. Witness thought defendant was a very dangerous woman to live by. —Cross-examined She did not hear defendant being accused of stealing a- sovereign. She went away, and left them quarrelling-.—In answer to the Chairman, witness said she had never seen defen- dant going about with a knife in her hand before. Witness had never heard of defendant striking anyone.—Defendant called John BNJok. labourer. 18, Park-street. Nantymoel, who said that Mrs. Hale was told by her 'husband to -go and smash Mrs. Radford's face. Defendant then said that if complainant went in there she would not leave without a mark. Defendant stayed in her own house.—The Bench ordered witness to stand down, as he evidently did not know anything about the assault,—The case was dismissed. A DANGEROUS DOG AT TYNEWYDD.—A sum- mons issued at tha instance of Henry Worthy, ostler, 20, Church-terrace, Nantynioel, against William Walker, collier. 33. Tynewydd-row, Ty- newydd. was heard.—Complainant stated that defendant kept a dog which was allewed to be at large, and every time he passed flew at him. On one occasion the dog seized hold of a bag containing seven bottles, which he had over his shoulder, with the result that one was broken and four were cracket:.—In reply to defendant, complainant said that when he on one occasion attempted to hit the dog with a hatchet. he so acted with the approval of Police-sergeant Roberts, to whom he had complained about the dog. Opon nearly every occasion of his passing defendant's house for the last eighteen months the dog had attempted to attack him.—Defendant alleged that the dog would not have taken any notice of complainant if he hi»d lefc it alone and not have attempted to hit it with a hatchet. —Police-sergeant Roberts saiid&e knew the dog in question very well. The dog was a savage one. and had attacked him several fames, and was quite unfit to be at large without a muzzle. It had attacked the constable and soii^e children, but. had not done any serious harm.—The Bench ordered defendant to keep the dog under proper control in future, or it would have to be destroyed. STEALING COAL AT MAESTIXT.—-Mary Mansel Hughes, Park street, Maesteg, and 'Margaret Brien, aged 10, Maesteg rew, Maesteg, were charged with stealing coal, the property of the North's Navigation Colliery Company, Limited.— Police-constable Charles GriSLe., Maesteg, said that at 6.40 p.m. on July 25th, at Xc. 9 Colliery, Maes- j teg, he saw two girls with a bag each full of coal from the incline earning from tfce colliery. They were 80 to 100 yards from r«-e pit, but .when they saw him they threw the bags down and ran away, He knew the girls. He opened the bags, and j found that they contained ab(Hrt 40 to.'VO lbs. of j eoal in each. He went to the girls' houses in the evening and spoke t<i Mrs. BrieE. He aeked her < why she sent the child stealing coal, and she said | that she did not know she was-ctealing coal. The child cried, and said, she waialtl not go again, Mary Hughes was eot present when he epoke to < Mrs. Hughes.—Mrs. Hughes, whs was present in court, kept denying tie accuracy .«f the constable's j statements, and was repeatedly warned by the Clerk that she would be put out of court unless she kept quiet, the Ckrk aildiiig that siie was irrepressible.—In answer to the Clerk the con- stable said there was no where eL*e in that neigh- bourhood where defeadants could ge* the coal except they got it from the trusts.—In reply to Mrs. Hughes the officer said he ootikl swear that the defendants had taken the coal from the incline. —The girls pleaded guilty to stealing the coal from a meadow, but denied taking it from tb*! pit incline as stated by the. officer.—Ihe Chaimnan said the Bench thought that in cases like that of children .stealing coal there could be doubt &iat they had been sent out to steal it by ti'.eir pares ts. and tliey thought the poliec should -endeavour in future to trace the crime the real offender*— the parents. If any such parents were breught before them the Bench would deal severely (with thesi. In ;the present cases the defendants wo&Id be dealt with under the First Olfeaders Act. tad woulrf. have to come up for judgment within the next sis months if required. .ASSAULT AT MAESTEG. —Gregory Hamilton, r! labourer, Maesteg, was summoned for assaulting Patrick Dempster, labourer. IG- Temperance-street. J; Maesteg.—Complainant said that on Saturday, ( July 3&. about 8.30 p.m., he was; going ho«:e past diie Town-hall, Maesteg. when he met defendant aud his lather. Defendant asked him to boc with MMt, and he decVned. teLling defendant to go about hi<s business, lie proceeded home. when defendant eaaie up and strl!t.k him to the ground, ant hit hist several times on the fide of tne head. Same one then dragged defendant away, and he (com- plaisant) went to the police statioj:.—The Beach imposed ajfine of THEFT AT PORTHCAWL.—Robert Giles, labourer, Cardiff, was charged with stealing knives, the property of the landlord of tite Espi&uade Rote! Porthcawj^ on the 11th August.—Poiiae-constable j Charles liees stated that on Thursday afternoon. 11th inst., about 4.15 o'clock, he saw defendant, who wa.s drunk, driving a horse and e:llt.. He was beating the horse severely, and witness spoke to him about driving so fast, when defendant said that he had bought the horse for 5s. (Laughter.) Just then the owner of the horse and cart. came up and asked defendant what right he had to take his horse and cart away. Defendant said, I have bought it." Witness then got the defendant out of the cart and took him to the police-station, where he was charged with being drunk. Upon j being searched the two knives produced were found upon him.. Witness asked him how he accounted for them, and he said that he had got them at Newport. Witness said, You came from Cardiff ? and defendant said. il Yes, I did." De- fendant was then locked up, and from enquiries it was found that they belonged to the Esplanade Hotel.—Thomas Green, waiter at the Esplanade Hotel, identified the knives as the property of Mr. Brogden. They were worth 3s. 6d.-Defendant. who said he did not remember anything at all about the matter referred to by the offioer, as he was intoxicated, was sent to gaol for 14 days. ALLEGED COAL THEFTS AT BLAENGARW.— Catherine Thomas. 56. Marian-street, Blaengarw. Margaret Haines, 55, Marian-street, and Margaret Davies, 51, Marian-street, were charged with stealing coal, the property of the Ocean Colliery.- Mr. Scale appeared to prosecute.-Defendants. who did not appear, were represented by their mothers, but the Clerk intimated that cases of felony could not be heard without the defendants being present. The Bench decided to issue warrants to ensure the attendance of defendants on Saturday next. THE PUBLIC-HOUSE CASES.—In the case of Thomas Williams, Llanharran Hotel. Ponty- cymmor, summoned for selling beer csntaining too much saline matter. Mr. Plews appeared, and said that it had been suggested to him that it would be most convenient to the magistrates to take that case, along with the other two cases in which land- lords were summoned for similar oSences.—Mr. Superintendent Thomas had no objection to this. and the magistrates, intimating that they would prefer to take the three cases altogether, it was decided to postpone the hearing for three weeks: The others charged with selling beer containing too much saline matter are T. D. Beavan, Blaengarw, Hotel, Blaengarw, and D. Grif- fiths, Pontycymmer Hotel, Pontycymmbr. It will be remembered that at the court last week, when the cases were adjourned, Superintendent Thomas stated that the beer sold by these defen- dants was not inj urious, and that he thought the public would sustain no harm through the hearing of the cases being adjourned. THE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY SUMMON AX OLD SERVANT.—John Edwards, painter, Bryncoch, was summoned by the Great Western Railway Company for trespassing on the line. Mr. Ensor appeared for the Company.—De- fendant stated that he used to work for the Com- pany, and seeing some men on the line with whom he used to work he went to speak to them.—Thos. Jenkins, relief man in the employ of the Great Western Railway, said that on July 14th he was on duty on the Pencocd Branch when he saw defen- dant on the line. He was going towards Bryn- menin. Defendant went past witness, who spoke to him and charged him with trespassing, and told him that he would be prosecuted. Defendant said that he considered the Company ought to give him a warning. When asked for his address, defendant said that he should have that again. Defendant went on in. the direction he was first going although the nearest way off the line would have been for him to turn back. There was not much in it.- Defendant said that seeing witness on the line he went to speak to him, as they used to work together on the line.—Alfred Williams, railway inspector, stated that there was a notice on the nearest cross- ing warning people not to trespass.—The Chair- man said that taking into consideration the fact that defendant used to work for the company, and perhaps thought his old comrades on the line would be glad to welcome him, they would only fine him 5s. including costs.

"ATTACK" ON A SCHOOL- MISTRESS. On Friday lasu our Bridgend contemporary, the Central Glamorgan Gazette, contained the follow- ing :— DASTARDLY OUTRAGE AT ST. MARY HILL. A SCHOOLMISTRESS ATTACKED BY RUFFIANS. Last week information reached us of an outrage of which the victim was the lady who acts as schoolmistress at St. Mary Hill. Two men, it appears, made a dead set on her as she was return- ing from Toudu after visiting her friends a few days ago, and, despite her struggles, left the poor lady with shattered nerves and torn raiment—to use common parlance, her clothes were almost torn from her back." It is full time that these Jack the Ripper attacks were stayed. Is there no means of keeping such outrages under check The authorities are, doubtless, on the alert, but as yet no capture is recorded. Upon making inquiries into the matter, our reporter was informed that the lady referred to in the above paragraph has been at Llanelly (about 40 miles away from the scene of the alleged out- rage ") since July 29, and that nothing is known of such an occurrence at her St. Mary Hill address, No information of any such outrage has been given to the authorities, so that the statement that they are, doubtless, on the alert, but that no capture is recorded," is void of foundation. A sensational paragraph like this, unless it contains a full and particular account of the event to which it relates, is of little Value. Two other cases of violence being offered to females in this locality have been re- ported to the authorities, and the arrest of the culprit has been effected, as will been seen from a report of the police court proceedings in another column of this issue.

THE BRIDGEND SEWAGE ¡ SCHEME. I The various efforts to dispose -af the sewage of j the tfswn of Bridgend have beeR numerous, and j muck time, labour, aud some amount of money j have been spent without, so far, bringing any single scheme to maturity. The processes of filtration and irrigation have, however, been set on side, with the view of ultimately adopting a met&od of carrying the sewage te the sea. Tlte majecity of -tiie members of the Bridgend Leoal Boardsome tijne age, to this latter mode, and have more recently -I:vd under consideration a plan, received in con- sequence of a premium of 20 -guineas, offecod by tfce Locail Board oonjoiatly with the Rural Sanitary Authority, the latter body also desir- ing co convey -the sewecc^ge of AberkelÍégo district to the sea. The laat3 .referred to were reported on ;JJy Mr.. Chatterton, C.E-, who, how- ever,-disapproved of thhe ;proposal to store over- flow in pipes, as being kkely to raise .dififculties for Lajck of capacity. Tfc-.is scheme .probably remains in tbbeyance c-atil ,a.Bi4ither tLLii,p shall be sentircm the .office of the Local Covera inent Board. In ,tihe meantime public attention h.as just t;een directed to an alternative plan for providing storage-for tewag3 when the natural fleav is checked by .tidal infinerces. 'rk-e.ineth,Ll be. mcaiii., of an inter- mittent tank a lieu. ■« £ pipes; the retaining taclc to be constructed on Plorin Island ill the .iiiver Ogmnee, and tofck; haw, been demonstrated by Me. David iLewis, enae of che members ni the Local Itoard.cf Bridgmd. to jhis coadjutors. The model hekas designed illustrates tile metfc-od by which Mr, Low is proposes to u-edaceiie cost of one portion of the works by .at lease one-half. In the complete scheme submitted to tihf authorities two sets cf pipef: are consented with the retaining tank oG:ne h-, i, for carrying away tae sewflge. the othsc for temporarily disposing of the overflow wfea .the tide .checks tÚe natural I ftow. M-c. Lewis prqpates to io away with one set of di;-3ii pipes; and thus reduce tke cost, as I already stated, by :#!le half a&- this means a big j fig-ure because o:' -the great circumference of-j piping aied the leagth to be covered. about 1$^ 4 miles. Msr. Lewis jwopoees to eenvey tbt; sewage into » retaining tank- otter it h:1.ti been deprived of 5 all floatie-g substattc.es by being screened in a subsidiary wink. Tfce latter can be easily relieved of the aoeemulated substances oci all necessary occasions. From this subf/diary tank the liquid sewage is passed into the retaining tauk. jjowing- thence into A pipe of krgeduimeter. This sewage thence into A pipe of krgeduimeter. This sewage would retnaiii in suspense so long as the natural c'low was blocked by the tide. When the tide recedes, the outlet would be automatically opened &nd the sewage again discharged with the flowing tide. Under Mr. Lewu*# scheme., provision is nsnde for any overflow or storm water. It only deals with a difficulty which Mr. Chatterton has raised in his report, but as it is a matter which involves a safeguard, is self-acting, and. as is claimed for it. gu-eat saving in the o-utlay. it is a I inetVod which deserves the consideration of the authorities which it will no doubt obtain.

•* 1- BRIDGEND NOTES. The reports of the proceedings at the last meet- ing of the Bridgend Local Board were read with a great deal of interest, and many were not at all reluctant to express their individual opinion as to the action of the various members. One cannot help thinking what different sentiments the speakers would have expressed had the result of the action of Miss Talbot against the Board been different. Then, instead of certain members try- ing to disclaim all responsibility, and trying to saddle the clerk with the responsibility which really belongs to themselves, they would be con- gratulating the Board and the ratepayers for the energetic action brought about by their votes and support. It is not a pleasant thing to come out of an action in any court second best, but seeiug that whatever action was taken by the Board with a full knowledge that it would result in an action at law, those gentlemen who thought it a generous action to try to throw all the blame (if there is any blame) on their executive officer were, in our opinion, very much mistaken if they thought that the ratepayers would approve of such conduct. Perhaps, however, the discussion, heated though it was, will have a good effect if the members take that lesson from it which they might derive. If it has the effect of making the members more careful what they say at the Board, the time spent will not have been wasted. It is a fact, which cannot be disputed, that at most Board or Committee meetings there are one or two members who are m"re to the fore than others in making statements of a general nature, which, when subjected to a close inspection, turn out to have been made on wrong premises. Doubtless, had the Board been fully aware of the nature of the evidence which those members said they could rely upon to prove that the site in dis- pute belonged to the public, they would have paused before acting in the manner they did, and certainly the clerk, from his experience and know- ledge of legal matters, would have been the first to have so advised the Board but when one or two members stated that they could prove certain things, and then asked their Clerk that if they could prove those things, what was their position in point of law, then the Clerk was perfectly justified in advising the Board that they had good ground of action, and that an action for trepass brought by Miss Talbot would probably result in favour of the Board. It is wonderfuld how universal is the tendency of all Boards and com- mittees when they have taken a false step to turn round and accuse their servants of having caused such a decision to be arrived at, and apparently the Bridgend Local Board is no exception, but possesses- this tendency in as marked a degree as. similarly constituted bodies. But there was one allegation made by Mr. Powell which deserves special notice. He asserted that instead of the Clerk being- the servant of the Board he acted as if he wished to master the whole lot of us"—to use Mr. Powell's elegant language. A careful perusal of many reports of past meetings of the Bridgend Local Board does not. by any means, give one the impression that, the Clerk has in any way exceeded or neglected his duties, and the only explanation which can justify the serious allegation to which we refer, is that it was made by Mr. Powell in the heat of debate. Perhaps, at a future meeting, he will see fit to substaniate his statement or to withdraw it. as it is certainly calculated to injuriously affect the clerk in the eyes of that section of the public who take the words of a member of a representative body to be accurate statements of facts, and who do not make allowances for the heat engendered in debate. The Chairman also made the remark, ó, We are supposed to be guided by the Clerk," to which the Clerk promptly added, On points of law," and this view of the clerk's duty is one which most unbiassed ratepayers will entertain. When gentle- men are elected upon public bodies, such as a Local Board, they are assumed to be capable of forming their own opinions on matters of public business. Had the clerk entertained the opinion of his duty which the chairman seemed to have, and supposing he had carried such an opinion of his office into practice, then we should imagine there would soon be some ground for such complaints as those of Mr. Pewell, to which we referred above. Mr. McG-aul seemed to think that the lessons of this incident would speedily be lost sight of—an opinion which it is to be hoped will not be realised, and the Chairman wound up the dis- cussion by pleading that credit should be given to the members who had visited the spot in ques- tion for having acted as they thought would be best for the public. Probably the ratepayers will be quite willing to accord those members the credit to which they are entitled, but the members should not be quite so ready to cast stones at each other, and make allegations and insinuations which are personally offensive to any present. > JL— J'lLIP,

WELSH DISESTABLISHMENT. LETTER FROM THE NATIONAL LIBERAL FEDERATION. The Welsh Disestablishment Campaign Com- mittee, which met a.t Shrewsbury, unanimously passed a resolution in favour of Welsh Disestab- lishment, aq.d expressed a wish that it should be second in the coming Liberal programme. A copy of the resolution was sent to the secretary of the National Liberal Federation, London, which has elicited tht; following, a copy of which waa received by the Rev. W. Thomas, Whitland. as member of the Welsh Committee, on Tuesday :— National Liberal Federation, 42, Parliament-street, "London, S.W., Aug. 9. 1892. "Dear Sir,—Replying to yours of July 28tli. we beg to say that your letter and the resolution that accompanied it have been placed before the General Purposes Committee of the Federation, and we are instructed to congratulate your Committee upon the remarkable results of the election in Wales, re-affirming, as they do with increased emphasis, the demand of the Welsh people for the Disestablishment, and Disendowment of the Church of England in Wales. We are desired to assure your Committee that the Federation will take every suitable opportunity to promote the carrying into effect of the declaration in favour of Welsh Disestablishment which this Federation has re- peatedly made.—We are, yours faithfully, •UF. SCHNADBORST, Secretary. ROBT. A. HFDSON, Assistant Secretary. G. 'Llewellyn Jones, Esq."

THE SEASON AT PORTH- CAWL. A correspondent writes :—The season at this popular watering-place has only one fault, it is too short; but this summer, thanks to fine weather, golfing, yachting, steamship trips, &c., added to its other attractions, has been, and is now, being greatly enjoyed. Several families f com Newport, Cardiff, Xrjnmouth, Pontypridd, and other centres, having besti making long stays, and visits to the various interesting attractions in the vicinity are daily organised. The author of the now well- known history of Porfchcawl and neighbourhood. "Porthcawl as a Health Resort" (Dr. Hunter), has received a kind letter of thanks from Princess Victoria. Mary of Teck, who speaks of her charm- ing visit two years ago. It will not be out of place to repeat what we stated in these columns a few weeks ;iigo, that the second edition of Dr. Munter's book is handsomely bound, full of inter- esting readieg. and can be added to the library or placed on the drawing-room taole as an interesting IWaveuir of a happy and enjoyable seaside sojourn.

PUBLIC BAPTISM AT ABERCARN. S5 CANDIDATES IMMERSED. On Sunday, following the revival services con- ducted in the Baptist Chapel, Abercarn, by the Rev. E. Aubrey, 85 persons were publicly baptised in a stream near the Old Chemical Works. Aber- carn. The ceremony was witnessed by several hundreds of people. The Abercarn Baptist Choir w.as present, and with the RJv. E. Aubrey, the pastor, were the Rev. T. A. Thomas (Welsh Baptist) and the Rev. Samuel Williams. Service was con- ducted near the stream, and the Rev. E. Aubrev delivered a short address on baptism. The rev. gentlemen then entered the stream, and the whole of the candidates (18 females and 67 males) wer in turn immersed. The whole service occupied ibout an hour.

Whenever I have symptoms of Hoarse • >n, I always fly to my favourite rpmo 1 cornm £ PECTORAL BALSAM, take a DOSE 0^+^' gui again."—1*. l^d. aad 2* 84.