The Aberystwith Observer

:C" THE ARMED BURGLAR. MORE SENSATIONAL LETTERS. The man Whittam, who fired a revolver twice at the two policemen who arrested him on suspicion of being a burglar early on the morning of January 28, and who since his arrest has made daring attempts to escape from the prison-van and from Holloway Prison, still continues to cause a good deal of anxiety to the authorities. After his committal for trial and removal from Soutbwalk Police-court on Thursday of last week, he behaved very quietly on the way back to Holloway, but when once inside the prison, finding no attempt had been made to effect his rescue, he became very violent, and next morning it was found necessary to place him in irons. It appears that he tried to strangle himself, but was prevented, and next endeavoured to open one of the principal arteries on one of his hands by tearing it with his finger nails. In consequence of these attempts he has been placed under special and constant supervision ever since, two warders being told off for the purpose. The prisoner has written several extraordinary letters, addressed to his wife, in the hope of getting them passed out of the prison to her, one of which was published last week, but in each case they have been discovered and stopped by the governor. It will be remembered that at the final hearing, Mr. Sims, who appeared to prosecute on behalf of the Treasury, referred to two of these letters, and called a warder named Duxon to prove the handwriting. It then came out from the prisoner's cross-examination that one of these was discovered concealed in his clothing on the previous Tuesday, and a later one was subsequently found among his bedclothes during his temporary absence from his cell. The first-named letter gives a full account of the contents of the letter already published, and of the discovery of the plot it contained for mur- dering the officer in charge of the prison van, through the letter being opened by the prison authorities in- stead of being forwarded to his solicitor, to whom a letter, with this letter enclosed in it, had been addressed. It then goes on to say Do try and get somebody to do something for me on Saturday. This would not be so bad if I could keep you and Nelly out of my thoughts, but I can't. If I wake up in the night you are there. Oh, if we were only together in some wild country we could make ourselves happy anyhow. I'm afraid I shall do something desperate and make worse still, or else better. I hope you have left York-street; you will be better away. If I'd got out right on Friday on Saturday I'd have been out of the country before this. Something must be done. To stay here means five years at least and a ruined life, or I may say two, for I know it would hurt you as much as it would rrt." on he writes: get s6 melancholy. I was treated all right at first, but tMy seemed to find me out in everything I done, even that letter, you see. I suppose they will warn the solicitor now about taking anything from me besides, I said in it how I was going to act on Saturday morning, so they will act accordingly. I don't know what to do. You try your luck. I said in it if I got out of here now I should have to wait my opportunity, and that I could not tell them the exact day, but that I should want somebody up here with some clothes at six in the morning; but I can't get a file or anything like one. I shall have my own clothes to come to the court in on Saturday. So good-bye, Polly, for the present, and may Heaven bless you. x x x x Kisses for you and Nelly. I thought you seemed cross on Saturday. You can't wonder at me being impatient when you know what awaits me." Notwithstanding that this letter failed to get out, but was discovered, the prisoner, who appears to have been puzzled as to why he received no visit from his solicitor, wrote the following letter with the hope of inducing somebody to pass it out, and which, as has been already stated, was found concealed in the prisoner's bed: Friday, Feb. 7, 1890. Dear Polly,—It seems almost useless trying to get a letter to you out of here. I suppose they sent that short note of yesterday after I went to the governor and begged and prayed. He said if I wrote one without mentioning anything about the prison he would pass it out, but that he could not allow anyone to visit me. I'll tell you how it all happened. It is a long story, and I have written it out for you twice before, but it has been taken away from me each time. You must excuse this writing, as I am writing this on the floor, they Having taken the table and stool away." After recapitulating the contents of the letter already published, the prisoner continues There are special warders to watch me day and night. They have not stopped any of my food that's what I can't understand. I expect they are going to bring it all against me. I had to go before the magistrates on Monday, and they asked a lot of questions, but I don't know what orders they gave about me. I wrote you the longest letter I have ever written on Monday, intending to send it out by the solicitor, but he n6ver came. I kept it till tea time. I did not know the address of the solicitor, and was only guessing at the name (they're not supposed to open a solicitor's letter), when the warder came running with the ink and pen, and said if I put the name he would look in the book and put the address. I wrote solicitor,' and gave it to him sealed up, but directly he shut the door I knew I was done. I pulled the bell and tried to get it back, but it was no use the chief had got it. He came the next morning and said if I was in any other prison in England I should have leg irons for writing it. I'll try and tell you some of what was in it. After telling you all my bad luck, I told you how I thought I could get out. I said that I was then in a cell in the corner of the prison (A2-26) and that if I had a very thin file I could soon be out. I said there was no one in the grounds at night, and that anyone with a rope or rope ladder might come straight to my cell and help me out—about five minutes would do it. Then I said again that I meant to do a rush for it on Saturday morning over an iron gate into the grounds, and that if somebody was there with a rope thrown over at a quarter to eight, it could be done in no time. Then I spoke about the van. I said we should leave here just before eight, and that there was never more than one policeman inside; that if —— or anybody else was to run and jump on the step with an air pistol or a good stick they could easily quieten him, and then I would do the rest my- I self very quick. I said the morning, thinking they might take extra precaution at night. Well that's the letter the chief got hold of I it opened the plot altogether and put them on their guard. I got some foolscap the next day and wrote it all over again, but that night they c,ime and found me with three screws out of my door. The chief was fetched, and there was the devil to pay again, but he seems a very nice man he has been a soldier, and he takes to me like a father. He says he does not want to be hard on me-he knows liberty is dear, but I'm put here for safe keeping, and he must keep me. They can't understand how I keep getting the things to do it with, so they gave an order that I was to be stripped to the skin, have another suit, and another cell that had been thoroughly inspected, and that's how I lost my second letter to you. It went in my old clothes, and before you could say I Jack Robinson' the chief had got it. I asked to be allowed to see him yesterday afternoon, and I was took in front of him. I asked him if my visits were stopped, how long they were stopped for, and he said since he had seen that letter he did not think it safe to let me see you, but that if I wrote a letter without mentioning the prison in it he would pass it. I wrote you one last night, only if I can't tell you more than that it is not worth paying 2d. for. I got this foolscap this morning determined to let you have all the news if I can. There will be sure to be a chance of giving or sending this to you to-morrow. That solicitor has not been yet, although I wrote to him the other night. He's got his money and that's all he cares. If I could have seen you last Saturday morn- ing I should have told you not to give him more than £ 2. I fotgot it in that last letter I wrote to you and at the visit on Friday, although I was thinking of it before. I wanted him about Monday or Tuesday so that I could get his opinion about the army. I wanted to write for an escort to be at the Court on Saturday if that stands first. If I gave myself up I should not get more than 56 days, and then I thought you could come out and I would settle down and soldier. You could do some of the troops washing. I could take up my old job of hair cutting, and I should be sure to be put on some stiff job. So we might do very well. There would be plenty of little girls over there for Nelly to play with, and it would not cost anything for schooling and I might soon get out of debt, but you see he has never been, and I expect it will be too late now after I am committed for trial. I was a good mind to write over myself, only I kept thinking I should see you every day and hear what you said about it. It would have been a suck in for them if it came off all right. I would give the world to be with you no matter where it was. Poor dear little Nplly, she seems to know that there is something wrong-the funny way she looks, but something must be done. If they prove all the charges against me I shall get five years at least and a ruined life-or I may say two, for I know it would hurt you just as much as it would me. I am going to try something else to-mor- row (Saturday), but if that don't come off, see what can be done with the van going back. If I only had a strong iron I think I could get out down there. Try and see —— and ask him to do something. I would do anything for him, and am doing him a good turn now. If he can't do anything on Saturday he might be up at the back wall of all at six o'clock on Monday with overcoat, trousers, and hat. I don't say I should be there for certain, because we never know what may happen, but I would try, and it's no good me coming out in those clothes. He could wear the overcoat—any old one would do—and put that soft hat in his pocket. I forgot-I should want slippers or boots. I should have my own clothes on to come to the Court to-morrow, and that's when it ought to be done. I wish I could post this letter to you to-night. I might be able to get what I want in the morning; a good strong iron like that file would do me a treat for down there. If you send me in anything, doiit bring much. That damned —— has taken all your money. If this that I have on would only come off all right I should have come to-morrow night. Leave word with —— where you are living if I don't see you. This plaee is enough to drive me mad. I think if it comes to the finish I shall put it on you know I can. Then you could send me to the workhouse or to Dr. —— for a week or two and all would be right. "This place would not be so bad if I could keep you and Nelly out of my thoughts, but I can't. If I wake in the night my first thought is you and Nelly and how I am going to get out to you again. If I get out of this I will soon be out of the country. We would just call down to see your poor old mother and father for a day or two and then off of course, I am supposing we could get the money all right. I hope if you have not sold the crocks you will be able to make a good bargain, as it would help you on a bit. Don't forget those things the police have got whichever way it goes. I am glad you have had one friend to stick to you-I mean Mrs. don't trouble about the others, this is the time to find out your true friends. Never mind, old girl, I shall not always be here. We may yet have as many pounds as we have had before, but I'll watch I don't give any more away to the public. If it had not been for York-street we should have had a few pounds by us, and I should not have been here. The same with the Oddfellows; look what we lost over that, but never no more. If we can't have a place that will keep us we won't have one at all. I was thinking how would it be for you to go to Grove's or Tarn's or Peter Robinson's and try to get some work out ? You might get a machine from Jones's, just something till I come out-I hope it is to-morrow. I shall try anyhow or there is the cleaners' jobs ever the water are worth having. This has spoilt me for everything in London. Directly I come out we are off; but whatever you do keep yourself square, and don't let people talk about you. I can trust you anywhere; but it's what other people say. I hope I get out to-morrow. I don't want to come back here again. I don't mean to lose this letter if I can help it; they'll have to take it while I'm asleep to get it. I do øe long to have a comfortable talk to yeu once more without people listening to all that's said. I shall put on a good make-up if I get out, one that no one will know me in. That was very bad luck last Satur- day, I felt so certain that I'd made up my mind to go straight to the Gaiety to see —— or I could have found out opposite at the Lyceum of And get a shilling or two from him, and then went away for a day or two. Do try to see —— or somebody for to-morrow night you'll hear if I've gone before; if so, go straight away home. I suppose the police know where you live now. If I got away you would have to get away quietly and I would have a place all ready for you to come to. I wish I had that iron. What I wanted last week as well as the saw was a plumber's kaife that turns round at the point and would have ripped up the thin stuff in a twinkling, and would not have taken a quarter of the time. If I keep on like this I shall have this as long as the one I wrote on Monday, but I have nothing else to do, and that's why I get so melancholy in here. I have'nt a book of any sort. They would'nt even leave a Bible and Prayer Book in here. This asphalt is very cold and I'm getting cramped lying here on my stomach so long. I wish I could only get hold of a piece of iron to-morrow morning before I started. I think I should be right. Don't you go short you know while there is anything of mine about-clothes or anything else. Keep every- thing that we want packed in the tin box ready for removal at any time. Kiss dear little Nelly for me and tell her her daddy is always thinking of her; bless her little heart. I have just begun to take a liking to her now she was so engaging in her new clothes and bonnet. Keep her clean and tidy as leng as you can. Try and see me to-morrow, if I am there. I hope I'm not, but I could not see you before night if I was away. and then through-. You -1 might come up as a witness, as they searched him and found nothing on him, and my defenee is that I was bidding a friend good night at the door when we heard a woman screaming in York-road, and that we both ran up to see, me slipping on my old coat, forgetting about what was in the pocket; and that then, being a bit groggy, we went to the coffee stall and stopped talking, and that after bidding him good night I went for another cup, and was then going home, when I was stopped and shook about, which caused the pistol to go off twice in my pocket. They are sure to say, I Well, where is your friend that had been to supper with you.' Then there is Mrs. She see me fitting a key to the passage door, and the key is in there now, as is also one of them to the side door, as we never had a proper key. That bag was found one night after tea under the seat nearest the window close to the wall. Dsn't forget; try what you can do or get done to-morrow night. It is the last way out of it. Well, I've got no more paper, so I must say good-bye for the present. With best wishes from your ever loving and affectionate hus- band.-W. WHITTAM. "X X X X for you and Nelly. I suppose the police news looks nice to-day." The police have expressed astonishment that I Whittam, whom they now conclude to have been an I expert burglar, has never before, so far as can at present be ascertained, been convicted of any offence. Inquiries as to his past life have been set on foot, and it has been ascertained that he is the son of a well-to-do country farmer. At 19 years of age he entered the 3rd Hussars, in which be served three years, most of the time doing duty in Ireland. He has since kept a beershop near Camberwell-green, but that venture was not altogether successful. Sub- sequently he joined a pantomime company, and started in business as a coffee-house keeper in York- street, Lambeth, where upon his arrest a number of burglars' accessories were discovered, and a large number of pawntickets, some of which have been found to relate to property obtained by burglaries in South Loudon.

JAPANESE MARRIAGES. At the Sanitary Association of Japan, Dr. Nagayo Sensai recently called attention to the fact that the modern method of choosing a wife in that country was not satisfactory. Formerly the choice of a wife devolved exclusively on parents or middlemen. The antecedents of the girl were thoroughly scrutinised, and care was taken to keep clear of families tainted with any kind of hereditary disease. Whenever men chose wives for themselves, beauty, and not health or property, influenced their choice, and according to Japanese ideas beauty and frailty were in- separably connected with each other. The belle of ancient times had a white face, a long, slender throat and neck, a narrow chest, small thighs, and small feet and hands—a description which corresponded with that of a consumptive person. Dr. Nagayo thought the man chosen should be one careful of his personal appearance, averse to slovenly habits, having good bones and sinews, a broad chest, and a loud voice; his eyes should glisten, and his face be ruddy. In the choice of a wife a man should look for a girl with clear eyes, a distinct voice, a ruddy face, a well-developed chest, and bones well covered with flesh. The paper, it will b3 seen, is something of a curiosity as an illustration of the ex- traordinary absence of romance which characterises t the usual Japanese method of treating such ques- tions.

A GENTLEMAN who was blessed with a musical son- in-law, on seeing a joke to the effect that "the musician, like the cook, makes his bread out of doh, remarked That may be so in some instances, but in my case the musician makes his bread out of me." Is there anything which can be both rare and well done at the same time ?" asked Dobbs, as he con- templated his roast beef. Yes," said Nobbs, a truly generous action is rare, and it is, of course, well I done."

A STEBBING LABOURERS WAGES. A curious letter appears la the columns of the Essex County Chronic„e. It is from the wife of a Stebbing labourer, who draws a picture of how the poor of her class live from day to day. Eight in family, all told, is the sum of the Stebbing labourer's heuseheld-eight mouths that have somehow to be fed out of the bread-winner's wages, which are 9s. a week, as a rule, but often no more than seven." Nine shillings, we are reminded, comes to a half- penny each a meal, and barely 2s. over, leaving 2s. for coal and all the other things that are wanted even in the poorest man's home. Sir," says this humble letter-writer, "my hus- band has to go to work with his feet wet nearly every day, and but a very little to take with him; and my children have to go to school the same." Well may the Stebbing labourer's wife exclaim, They find fault with the workhouses, but they live better there than i do, and have good shoes."

CHEAP POSTAGE. We are so much accustomed to consider the Post Office a certain source of revenue that those who are ignorant of the state of things in Canada may hear with surprise that in Canada the postal service is carried on at a heavy annual loss. The deficit is, in- deed, steadily diminishing, and decreased from 911,031 dols. in 1887 to 854,854 dols. in 1888, and to 761,818 dols. in 1889 but this is a serious burden to the colonial taxpayers. The annual mileage travelled by the mails now reaches nearly 26 millions, and though of the 92 million letters carried last year over 7e millions are dealt with ill Ontario and Quebec, settlements in many parts of the Dominion are so widely scattered and the cost of carrying the mails is in many cases so much in excess of the amount of money received for postage that the less must for a time continue to be excessive. In many parts of Canada there are villages and home- steads far away from the great railways and their branches, and it is even more difficult to communicate with them than it was with the wildest parts of the country in the last century. Nevertheless the rates are lower than our own.

COMMITTALS FOR TRIAL. At Worcestershire Assizes, on Monday, Mr. Justice Hawkins spoke at some length regarding the fact that a number of prisoners were lying in gaol under committal to sessions, when they might have been brought to the assizes and saved a long and needless period of lingering in gaol. This was brought about by the Assizes Relief Act, which was drawn in about as clumsy and unsatisfactory a manner as he ever remembered to have seen an Act drawn. He enjoined magistrates to exercise, as far as possible, their dis- cretion to commit when necessary to assizes instead of to sessions, and to use every latitude in granting bail when there was a reasonable probability that a prisoner would appear for trial.

WHAT is the stuff that dreams are made of ? passionately inquires a poet. In one brief word— pies. Margaret Hayes, wife of a shoemaker at Mallow, county Cork, was arrested on Sunday morning, charged with the murder of her husband. Early in the morn- ing the woman left her house and called a doctor to see her husband. On arriving at the place the medical man found Hayes ly" o '3 upon. the. Lifr&en floor, his body bearing marks of violenee. The woman was aken into custody.