Weekly Mail

DEPARTURE OF BERRY. Having partaken of breakfast, Berry, who had meanwhile been talking wholly about the execu- tion, which he described as the cleverest thing he had yet done, rose, shook hands with everybody, and left to catch the Great Western 10.10 a.m. train for the North.

A ROMANCE IN HUMBLE LIFE. Mr. Justice Kay has been occupied for several days in the Chancery Division of the High Court of Justice in dealing with the first of two cross actions in which the litigants were named Brown and Fairbrother. The dispute turned upon the identity of a young man named Henry Richard Brown. Born in 1854, in the neighbourhood of Kdgware-road, London, he lost his father when a few months old, whereupon his grandparents, and chiefly the grandmother, who kept a basket shop at the comer of Earl-street, undertook the s expense of his education. He was sent to a boarding-school at Shoreham, and when he re- turned home (his mother having in the meantime married a cab-proprietor named Whitethorn) he was apprenticed to a hosier in Paddington, whose wife took a fancy to the lad because he was of the same Christian name and had the same coloured eyes as her boy, who was away from home. After a while the hosier missed some money. Young Brown was suspected, and, while denying the im- putation, he resolved not to remain where he was not trusted and ran away in 1872, being then seventeen years of age. From that time his friends never saw him again. His grandmother died in 1571, and bequeathed to him three houses at Not- ting-hill, the rents of which had now accumulated, and a substantial sum of money, all to be paid to him when he was 24 years of age. Rumours subse- quently reached the family that a man answering the description of the missing one had been seen at Goodwood races and was living at Chichester, and Mr. George Brown, his uncle, went to the city to make inquiries. He reported that the result of his journey was unsatisfactory. But his inquiries reached the ears of Mrs. Fairbrother, who took out letters of administration as the widow of Henry Richard Brown, and who told the following story:—Brown enlisted at Brighton in 1875 in the Royal Sussex Militia as Henry Smith, and when the force was called up for training at Chichester in the same year he made her acquaintance and married her in the name of Brown. In 1878 they were photographed together, and the photograph formed a material portion of the case, as it was identified by the relatives as strongly resembling the youth who ran away from home six years be- fore. When Smith was discharged from the Militia lie earned his living as a costermonger until his death, in 1882, after which his widow married Fairbrother, with whom she is now living at Wandsworth Common. She states that the history of his life which he gave her was exactly that of the youth Brown; and he added that there was property coming to him, and he wished he had money enough to go to London and see about it. —In giving judgment his lordship said he was satisfied that Smith and Richard Henry Brown wore one and the same person, and made a declaration to that effect, and ordered the costs of the summonses to be paid out of the estate.

INQUESTS AT CARDIFF. On Tuesday morning Mr. E. B. Reece, coroner for the district, held an inquest at the house of Mr. Maggs, confectioner, Duke-street, on the body of Frederick Woodland. The evidence went to show that the deceased was 25 years of age, and that lie was a confectioner in the employ of Mr. Maggs. On Saturday evening, about five o'clock, the deceased and a young man named William Warren were in a bedroom together, when he complained to the latter that he felt very unwell, and directly afterwards dropped down on a box apparently in a fit. Warren ran down stairs for assistance, and a medical man was called in, but Woodland died before his arrival.—Henry Charles Evans, assistant surgeon t Dr. Edgar Jones, stated that he saw the body a few minutes after death, and in his opinion death had resulted from heart disease.-A verdict in accordance with the medical evidence was returned. At the Town-hall on the same day Mr. E. B. Reece held an inquest touching the death of Johanna Donovan, aged nine months, daughter of Michael Donovan, of 25, Tyndall-street.-Mary Donovan, the mother of the child, stated that on the night of the 22nd of February she was in the act of lifting a saucepan of boiling soup off the fire when a portion of the contents fell upon the deceased, scalding it severely on the right arm and abdomen. She carried the child to the Iofirmary, where it remained until Sunday last, when, at the request of her husband, she took the child home. In reply to the coroner, ,witness stated that when she called at the Infir- mary on Sunday the house surgeon told her that tho child had become feverish and exhibited symptoms of scarlet fever. She removed the child because her husband threatened to thrash her unless she took it home.- The Coroner subsequently called the father, and censured him for his unnatural conduct.—The jury returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased had died from scalds, scarlet fever supervening. Following this inquiry an inquest was held on the body of John Donovan, a labourer, late of 40, Mary Ann-street. — Mary Ann Donovan, the wife of the deceased, deposed that her husband was nken ill on Saturday morn- ing, and could not eat his breakfast. About two o'clock he appeared to be worse, when she sent for Dr. Downing, but her husband died before that gentleman arrived.—A verdict of "Death from natural causes was returned. An inquest was subsequently held at the Roath Police-station on the body of William Davies, aged 61, of 23. Diamond-street, Roath.—The evidence went to show that deceased had been suffering from a cold for some days prior to his death. About 8.30 p.m. on the 2nd instant he complained that he was seriously unwell, and directly afterwards fell down dead.—The jury returned a verdict of "Death from natural causes."

SERIOUS GUN ACCIDENT AT CARDIFF. A serious accident, resulting from the in- cautious use of firearms, occurred at Cardiff on Tuesday afternoon. It appears that three young men, named Henry Allen, John Wride, and Albert Partridge, were out shooting. When near the Penylan hill they attempted to get through a hedge. Partridge went first, and, as a pre- cautionary measure, Allen handed him his gun. By some means, however, the trigger got entangled in the herbage and the gun went off, the charge entering the shoulder of the injured man. He was taken to the Infirmary, where he now lies in a pre- carious condition.

MISSIONARY WcRK IN SOUTH AFRICA. MANY OFFERS OF SERVICE. Partly owing to the sad news of the untimely death of Bishop Hannington, and partly to the February Simultaneous Meetings campaign, the Church Missionary Society has received within twelve days 25 fresh offers for personal service in the foreign mission field, viz., four from University men, three from professional men, eighteen from young men for training, and one from an ex i student,

EXECUTION OF THE SWANSEA MURDERER. FULL CONFESSION. SCENE ON THE SCAFFOLD. rFROllI OUR OWN reporter.] The culprit, Thomas Nash, who was condemned at the last assizes to suffer the extreme penalty of the Jaw for the wilful murder of his child was hanged at Swansea Gaol on Monday morning. An attempt had been made by several residents of the town to obtain a reprieve for the condemned man, who was regarded as a friendless being, and whose case certainly excited no sympathy amongst the general public in consequence of the atrocity of his crime. The Home Secretary, how- ever, after inquiry, could see no circumstances tending to mitigate the case, and could not inter- fere with the course of the sentence for a crime for which a jury of his fellow-countrymen had condemned the murderer. In pursuit of a. public duty. and availing myself of the permission of the High Sheriff, I was one of those who witnessed the last scene of all in the eventful tragedy. Snow had fallen thickly overnight, and the earth was covered to the depth, in most places, of a foot or more. The wind was exceedingly cold, and the town looked as bleak and as miserable as it could well do. As I rose from my bed I could not repress a rising tendency to shudder whilst, as I trudged through the snow on the way to the gaol, I more than once caught myself in reflections eminently to the advantage of Belgium, Holland, Portugal, and some of the smaller States of Europe which do without capital punishment, and to the disadvantage of humane and enlightened England, which apparently cannot. As I entered the gaol at half-past seven a group of people had gathered on the opposite side of the yoad from the gaol gates, which, as I afterwards learnt, increased at eight o'clock to about 4,000 or 5,000, for the purpose of seeing the black flag hoisted. On entering the gaol I was shown by one of the warders into a room, where I found my confreres anxiously awaiting the event. The respected governor of the gaol came to us in a few minutes, and in a conversation with him 1 learnt that the convict had passed a quiet night and was quite composed. He had eaten a good breakfast of mutton chops and eggs. The chaplain of the gaol (Rev. Mr Hudson) was at that time with the prisoner in the condemned cell, which is situated in the B section of the prison, and consists of two cells knocked into one. I was also informed that the prisoner had made a full confession in writing of his guilt, which would be handed to us after the inquest. He deported himself exactly as he had done at the hearings before the magis- trates and at the assizes, and, if anything, looked better than he then did. With me, who had attended these hearings, he always inspired more pity than anything else, as he certainly appeared a miserable, stricken-down specimen of humanity. We mav charitably conclude, from the manner in which he has conducted himself since that terrible night when he, in cold blood, led his child to her doom on the Swansea Pier that he has thoroughly repented of his action. He scarcely spoke at any of the hear- ings, and his guiltiness in my mind was to be traced to the theory of the old poet:—"Light sorrows speak, great grief is dumb." The prisoner's arms bemg securely strapped, he walked firmly out of his cell into the midst of the group, and, Berry taking him by the arm on one side and Chief Warder Box on the other, the procession started, headed by the chaplain reading the Burial Service. In the procession were Colonel Hill (high sheriff), Mr. Clement Waldron under sheriff), Dr. Hall (saol surgeon), Major Knight (the governor of the gaol), and the representatives of the Western Mail, South Wales Daily News, Cambrian, and Cambria Daily Leader. The solemn cortege paraded down the steps leading to the wheel-house, where the drop had been con- structed on a very simple and ingenious plan, which dispensed entirdy with all preconceived notions of grim scaffolds and high, frowning beams. Nothing was to be seen but a black cross beam, from which hung an ordinary rope with a running noose, and the floor, in which a double trap door had been constructed on the principle of the ordinary cellar flap, but, of course, opening downwards. Berry afterwards showed me the principle on which the lever worked. The machinery had been brought from Birmingham Gaol, and was so simple and ingenious as to render failure apparently impassible. The prisoner being placed under the beam, Berry quickly pinioned the legs of the condemned man, who stood up firmly, but allowed a tnubled sigh to escape his lips. The white covering was quickly drawn over his head and the rope adjusted round his neck. The feelings of tie little group assem- bled in the whed-house as Berry ran the noose tightly up mder the left ear of the prisoner and secured it with a running ring may be moro easily inagined than described. Directly the noose had teen adjusted, Berry turned round to the; lever. The prisoner exclaimed in a subdued voic;, Lord have mercy upon my soul," and, as the last word was uttered, the lerer moved, and the body dropped just below the airface of the platform, and swayed to and fro with ,he force of the fall, but death was apparently instantaneous. The body, after hangiig an hour, wag cut down. On the removal of the wiite cap it was found that the face was discoloured, but it bore a placid appearance. As an instance of the ease with which he died, his lianas, which were clasped when he was placed on the drop, remained exactly the same when cut down. THE INQUEST. The inquest was opened at the prison at ten o'clock, before Mr. T. N. T. Strick, deputy coroner. Major Knight (governor of the prison) was first called. He said: The bodj which has been viewed by the Ujury of this inquest is that of Thomas Nash, a prisoner in the gaol. The deceased Thomas Nash was brought to the said prison on the 5th day of December last, aad on the 3rd day of February last was taken by me to the town of Cardiff. The said Thouas Nash was at the assizes at Cardiff, in the aid month of February, indicted and convicted for the murder of his daughter, Martha Ann Naá1, and was at the same assizes, namely, on the 9t, day of February afore- said, sentenced to death for the said offence. On the 10th day of February aforesaid I sent the said Thomas Nash from Caidiff to the said prison at Swansea, and froti that time to the time of his executioi he remained under my charge at the said prison. Judg- ment of death was duly executed and carried into effect upon the siid Thomas Nash for the murder of his said [daughter at eight o'clock this Monday morning, the 1st day of March, when the said Thomas Nash wes hanged within the walls of the said p'ison. where he was confined at the timt of the execution. The said Thomas Nash was hanged in the presence of the sheriff of the sad county of Glamorgan, in the presence of the Uider-Sheriff and that of myself and of the surgeoc of the said prison, and of eother persons. The laid Thomas Nash was at the time of his death a male person of the age of 39 years, and a general labourer. Dr. Hall said: I am surgeon of her Majesty's prison at Swansea. I was present this morning at the said prison when julgment of death was executed and carried into effect on Thomas Nash whose body has been viewed by the jury of this inquest. The said Thomas ash died from disloca- tion of tha neck. caused by being hanged with a rope. I have since the death of tho said Thomas Nash made a careful external examination of his body. There are no marks upon it except that around his neck, caused by the rope by which he was hanged. The death wa: instantaneous.

LETTERS FROM THE CONDEMNED MAN. Going back to the prison Ufa of the deceased, I find that he always ate welI,and sometimes took a pint of soup in addition to the ordinary diet, which, for dinner, consisted a liberal allowance of meat, bread, potatoes, pidding, &c. On the morning of the execution ht rang the bell for a couple of eggs, which had been promised him with his mutton chop. Two days before the execution the prisoner wrote three letters, and handed them to the governor. One of theie is as follows:— To the Chaplain. Dear Sir,—I write you few lines tq let you know I am a sinner saved by beliveing on the Lord Jesus Christ, that He gave His only begotten Son to die as we sinners may live. Dear sir, 1 am happy to say that I can die in peace and be for ever with the Lord. I have cast my burden on the Lord, and I am a new child, washed in the blood of the Lamb that takeith away the sics of the world, and I can goe to the Lord's table to-morrow with a clean heart and clear mind and pertake of the holy sacrament of Lord's Supper. Dear sir, I do thank you from the bottom of my heart for your attending me in my truble, and pointing to me the way to Jesus Christ, and for all the prayers you have offered up to God on my behalf, and through your prayers and mine simple prayers Jests has answered the prayers, and he has saved me )y His grace, blessed be His name forever and for Ever, Amen: and may we meet all in heaven, for Chest's sake. God bless you as long as you live, fer His name's sake. Amen.—Yours truly, Thomas NASH. To the Governor and to the Doctor. I do thank you for your most and kind feeling towards me, and by giving me all the privelege of having anything I watted, md I do pray to God that we shall all meet \1;) in heaven, and that you, Mr. Governor, will please se9 my daughter will have the money from the club, for she wants it bad enough, dear child, anc I hope she will use it in the right way, and not squander it away foolishly. Dear sir, I got no more to say, only I wish you good-bye, and God bless 011 all for His sake.—Yours truly, Tbdmas SH. Swansea Prison, February 27,1886. Dear Friends,—I write these few Hies for you to have them published in the paper to let the public at large know that what has been put in the papers about my life since my coiviction has been all false, for I have paid every attention to the chaplain, and have confessed everything to him, and I am praying and tsking God for mercy and forgiveness foi all my sins, and for that murder that I committed on that Friday evening, December 4,1885, one of the most awful and cruel crimes as could te committed on my dear daughter, Mathur Ann Nash, and God has heard my prayers, and He it His tender mercy has answered them, and Be has taken all my E:n8 on Him, and I am become a new man, a vile sinner washed in the blood of Jesus Christ by believing and trusting in His holy word—that word which says, Whosoever believeth in the Son hath everlasting life," and I am glad to tell you all that I shall on Monday morning, the day of my execution, depart in peace and be for ever with Jesus and with Marthtr Ann, where there is no more trouble and sorrow nor no sin can enter in there, and I hop" I shall see my other daughter, Sarah, up there at the right hand of Christ, who shall be our judge on the great Judgement Day, when Ha will be shifting the gcod out from the wicked. Dear readers and hearers of the papers, I should like to inform you and let you know I am quiet pleased with, Mr. Glascodine, who was defending my case, and allso to the others that had to do with the case, for the sentence that was passed on me was only what I realy did deserve, for I did do it wilfully, and I am happy to tell you all that I can die in the Lord a happy sinner, with all my sins washed in the blood of the Lamb. Dear frends, I would soonner di in the Lord on Monday morning than to have to reprive and live in missery all the days of my life, and after all lose Christ, and be lost for ever. But now I am a murderer, saved by the grace of God, only by beliveing that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, because He has said in His book, All he that are weary and heavy laden come unto me and I will give you rest. What a grand invitetation He gives to the sinner, and I cast my burden down at Jesus' feet, and He has put them away, never more to be remembered. No more troubles, no more trials in this world, but in the world to come there will be gladness and rejoceing over sinners that repentith. And now, before I conclude, let me thank the governor and chaplain and all officers of the prisson for their kind and obligeing and visiting me, and waiting on me, and for all kind words and sympathy to me since I have been here.

THE MURDERER'S FAREWELL WITH HIS DAUGHTER. The interview between the convict and his only surviving daughter was peculiarly affecting. They met under the usual circumstances in gaols. The daughter stood in what is called the visitors: room. Between her and her father were iron bars. In the space beyond was a warder, and then a fresh iron gate, behind which stood Nash. The interview occupied twenty minutes, but during this time very few words were spoken. Why did you do it?" said the weeping girl. "I didn't do it," replied Nash I took her down for a walk and went with her on the pier. She said she was tired, and asked me to carry her." Father," said the girl, father, it is a lie; you know it is a lie; you know Martha Ann would never allow anyone to carry her; she could not bear to be carried. Tell me, father, why did you do it?" Nash hung his head down. He was silent for several seconds. Then, turning round, he said, Go, I am all right; don't come and see me again."

NASH'S ANTECEDENTS. Thomas Nash was born in the year 1847. He was of Pembrokeshire origin, and his early years were spent in that county. When quite young he came to Swansea, and, marrying, settled in the town. For years he seemed to have lived happily enough. Two children (girls) survived the mother, who died shortly after giving birth to the last child. Up to this time Nash had been a steady man, but the loss of his wife affected him deeply. He sought to drown his sorrow by recourse to drink. Towards the end of autumn last year he had become very intemperate, and it is thought that, with a view to check himself in this respect, he sought a second wife. Without apprising any of his friends of his intention, he, on the 16th of November, 1885, married a young woman, 27 years of age, at the Swansea Registry Office.

PREVIOUS EXECUTIONS IN SWANSEA. The executions in Swansea have, happily, been few, and during the past 30 years the extreme sentence has only been carried out on two occa- sions. In 1858 two Greek seamen were executed in public at the west corner of the Swansea Gaol for the murder of a comrade in the Strand. In this case the prisoners and the murdered man had been drinking together, and after leaving the public- house they quarrelled. Deceased was stabbed by the prisoners in several places, and the body dragged along the ground and thrown into the canal. One of the prisoners dropped his cap near the spot, and this led to their subsequent identification The execution was witnessed by a very large concourse of people, and the scene was a most dis- gusting one, although Calcraft did his work with neatness and despatch. The last execution which took place in Swansea was that of Robert Coe on the 12th of April, 1866. This murder—a particularly shocking one—oc- curred in the hills district. Prisoner, whilst walking with the murdered man, attacked him and inflicted upon him such wounds as caused instantaneous death. The prisoner rifled the pockets of all they contained—30s.—and dragged the body to the roadside. The condemned man walked with a firm tread to the scaffold and shook hands with the executioner, Calcraft. The death was instantaneous. Thousands of persons wit- nessed the execution.

THE JEWELLERY ROBBERY AT LORD TREVOR'S. DISCOVERY OF THE PROPERTY. AN EXTRAORDINARY STORY. The jewellery which was missed from Lord Hill Trevor's residence, Brynkinallt, has been disco- vered buried in the garden. A later telegram says:—The family jewellery, of the value of £50,000. which so strangely dis- appeared some five years ago from Brynkinallt, near Chirk, Denbighshire, the residence of Lord Trevor, has mysteriously been found. It appears that on Sunday morning a man servant at Bryn- kinallt, happened togointoa disused cellar,where he saw some glittering object upon a heap of rubbish, and, upon examination, found it to be one of the missing articles of jewellery. He at once informed the Hon. George Trevor of the discovery. Major Leadbeter, chief constable of Denbighshire, and the family solicitor at Oswestry were communicated with, and upon the arrival of Major Leadbeter a complete search was made, and the whole of the jewellery was re- covered. It is rather remarkable that a copy of the Standard for October 18, 1885. was found amongst the heap of rubbish containing the jewellery, and a singular coincidence is that the jewellery was both lost and found on a Sunday morning. Some information has been gathered with refe- rence to the revovery of the jewellery heirlooms, valued at £50.000, which were stolen from Brynkinalt, Denbighshire, more than four years ago. The robbery was perpetrated on a Sunday morning, December 4,1881, while the family were away at church, and the recovery of the stolen jewels also took place under similar circumstances on a Sunday morning, February 28. It seems on that day one of the male servants went for some purpose or other into a cellar which is very little used, when something bright among a heap of rubbish attracted his attention. On making a closer inspection he was surprised to find that the glittering object which had caught his eye was a diamond pendant. He reported his strange discovery to his fellow servants, and, subse- quently, to Lord Trevor. The cellar was re- visited, and a further inspection made, when most, if not the whole, of the jewellery which had been extracted from a drawer in Lady Trevor's dressing-room in 1881 was found lying concealed in the cellar. The police wera then communi- cated with, and Major Leadbeater, chief-con- stable of Denbighshire, made a still further inspection, with the result that every article stolen was found to have been secreted in this cellar, whether at the time of the robbery or since it is impossible to say. Various rumours are afloat concerning the singular discovery, and it is stated that the police have a clue which is likely to lead to the arrest of the persons who removed the jewellery from Lady Trevor's dressing-room and concealed it where found. The dressing-room from which the jewellery was abstracted is in the front of the mansion, and not far from the main entrance. Owing to the fact that the doors of this and the adjoining rooms were found after the robbery to be locked, and that a rope was hanging from the window stanchion to the ground outside, it was presumed that the thief, or thieves, had obtained ingress or egress by means of this rope; but if that were so the question at once arises, How did the jewellery get into the cellar inside the hall where it was found ( The whole affair is a complete mys- tery. and, like many other strange robberies, will probably never be satisfactorily cleared up.

THE BIRKENHEAD TRAGEDY. COMMITTAL OF THE PRISONERS. At Birkenheadon Wednesday Robert Travis, land- lord of the Swan Hotel, Great Sutton, and Eliza- beth Piatt were committed for trial for the murder of Jane M'Intyre, Rock Ferry, a sister of the female prisoner, who is entitled to a handsome fortune, and was about to marry Travis. Mrs. M'Intyre, who had been severely bruised, was found dying in bed, and the female prisoner, in a drunken state, was in the room.

ALLEGED BIGAMY BY A FEMALE SALVATIONIST. A Salvationist, named Dorothy DunniclHfe, was remanded at Derby on Wednesday charged with bigamy. She was only fourteen when first mar- ried, and the reason she gave for contracting a second marriage with a man named Appleby was the unfaithfulness of Dunuicliffe. The husband and wife had frequently met since the separation, and the man had been charged with committing an aggravated assault upon her.

A PENINSULAR AND ORIENTAL STEAMER ASHORE. A telegram from Hoong on Wednesday says that the steamer Thames; belonging to the Penin- sular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, went ashore in Lye Moon Jass during a fog, but afterwards came off without assistance. The mails and passengers were landed. Divers have been employed to examine the vessel's bottom. A telegram received by the owners states that the Thames is now afloat, and will go into dock. The mails and passengers will be forwarded by the same company's steamer Teheran.

GREAT SNOWSTORM. The fall of snow which took|place on Sunday in many parts of England and Wales, but more severely across the centre of the two kingdoms, continued in most districts without intermission until late on Monday evening, when there was a cessation more or less general in the South of England and in most parts of the Midlands and in Wales. But the energy of the snow-charged de- pression was only moved further north, andduring Monday a storm of greatly-intensified severity visited the Northern counties of England and nearly the whole of Scotland, extending across to the most eastern points on the Irish Coast. Snow fell continuously for from 24 to 30 hours, and up to a late hour on Tuesday afternoon was still falling over an area bounded by Northumberland on the south and Perthshire on the north. It was accompanied by a high wind and a heavy sea on the East Coast, and on the prin- cipal railways the snow was drifted into huge wreaths, which entirely blocked the main lines of the exposed districts and tilled the cuttings to a great depth. From all points accounts have been received of paasenger trains buried for hours in these drifts and of great sufferings and incon- venience to the travellers, while mail communi- cation between London and many of the Northern provincial cities has been interrupted for nearly 24 hours. In Wales the interruption of traffic has not been so great as was indicated by some reports circulated on Monday. Only a few of the narrow- gauge mountain railways have been blocked, and in most cases the obstructions were removed by Monday evening, while the mail routes were kept clear without difficulty. The weather at Berwick and neighbourhood during the 36 hours that ended at six o'clock on Tuesday evening is described as fearful, and there were then no signs of a cessation. The drifts were of an extraordinary character, and roads and railways are alike blocked by the ac- cumulations. The herring markets could not be held, as no one could get to them. At St. Andrew's the storm was extremely severe on Tuesday, and on the Flintshire lines railway communication was greatly impeded, there being no less than five railways in Fife and Clackmannan wholly blocked by the snow wreaths. In Forfarshire a similar state of things prevailed, and only two trains—one from Perth, and another from Aber- deen—reached Forfar on Tuesday forenoon. The mineral train blocked the line from the South, and this had to be dug out in three sections. About three o'clock on Tuesday afternoon the wind abated, and the line was cleared sufficiently to aJ10w the mail train from London due at nine o'clock on Tuesday morning to come through. The wind again got up about eight o'clock on Tuesday evening, however, and the prospect of a cessation of the storm became very remote. A train is embedded on the Dundee Direct Line. On the Kirriemuir Branch a train and a snow plough remain fast, and the Montrose Branch is also blocked A cutting between Inverkeillor and Liman Bay is covered with snow ten feet deep for a distance of half-a-mile. The North British line from Dundee to Edinburgh was still blocked on Tuesday even- ing, and the imprisoned trains at Leuchars remain embedded in the snow. The Dundee and Forfar Line remained blocked, but the Caledonian Lines from Dundee to Perth and Dundee to Aberdeen are kept clear by snow ploughs. As far north as Wick the effects of the snow were felt, but the railway between that place and the south was kept open, and the trains got through on Tuesday morn- ing by using snow ploughs. Snow fell heavily during the day, however, and a block was antici- pated on Tuesday evening. In the North-Western Counties of England and the South-West of Scotland the storm of Tuesday was felt almost as severely as in the east. From Penrith northward there were great accumula- tions of snow on the roads and railways, and con- sequently much interruption of traffic. The cross country railway communication was also partially suspended. The traffic between Darlington and Kirkby Stephen was stopped from eight o'clock on Monday night, the last passenger train being snowed up about five miles from Kirkby Stephen, and still remains so. The roads into the dales of Westmoreland are utterly impassable, horsemen being unable to make their way for even a short distance. The wind was still high, and snow was falling at Kirkby Stephen, at six o'clock on Tues- day evening. Huge wreaths were formed on the Caledonian Railway between Beattock and Kirtlebridge, where the drifts were exceedingly heavy, and at Locherbie the mail trains from tha south passed from six to seven hours late. The country roads in Dumfriesshire are quite impassable to horses or vehicles. There has been nothing like this storm for sixty years. The Irish mail train from Port Patrick was twelve hours late when it reached Dumfries on Tuesday forenoon, the snow drifts both in Dumfriesshire and Galloway being almost insurmountably deep. All the trains from the South also were several hours late, and the mail letters and papers which should have been delivered at Dumfries at seven a.m. were not sent out until four p.m. The block on the Galloway lines was serious, the early trains from Dumfries being delayed about six hours. Sheep and other hill stocks are expected to suffer very severely in this county. The storm com- menced early on Monday morning and continued without intermission for 26 hours. The snow was still falling slightly on Tuesday evening. It is feared that great floods will follow the first thaw, which appears to be;imminent, in Dumfries. thaw, which appears to be.imminent, in Dumfries. The losses of hill sheep will also be conside- rable in Lanarkshire, where the flock masters have been feeding them with by and turnips where they were accessible. But in many places they cannot be got at. Snow fell again in Glasgow, but was not so heavy as in other districts. Street traffic was interrupted, however, and business was considerably inter- fered with. In Ireland the storm was experienced in a less degree. At Belfast and on the Down coast a severe gale blew daring the morning, drifting the snow into the roadways and effectually stopping all road communication along the coast. The mail car from Newry to Kilkeel had to return for this reason, and the tramway cars from Warrenpoint to Rostrevor were stopped. The storm is declared to be tha worst that has been experienced for twenty years in the country. At Dungannon and in Tyrone generally there was a heavy snowfall, and the country roads were partially blocked.

DISASTERS ON LAND. On land the effects of the storm appear to have been felt most severely in Northumberland, Durham, North Yorkshire, Berwickshire, Dumfries- shire. Fifeshire. Clackmannan, Forfarshire, and Perthshire, and less severely in Lanarkshire. North-east Yorkshire was visited by a snow- storm on Monday night and during Tuesday, which is declared to be the worst experienced in the district since 1846. The tramways, canal-roads, &c., were drifted to a depth of from 8ft. to 12ft., and all the higher roads are impassable. • At Wharran in the East Riding, and above Burdale, the roads were tilled to a depth of 5ft. for an apparent distance of six or seven miles. The railway from Malton to Scar- borough was blocked near Seamer, and the Scar-I borough and Hull Line was blocked by drifts in the cuttings. In South Yorkshire, including Leeds, the fall was less deep, but traffic in Leeds was greatly impeded by the accumulations of Monday's downfall. Further north, however, the effects of the storm wero more marked. At Durham the snow fell continuously for over twenty-four hours, drifting into wreaths 6ft. or 7ft. in depth. The main line of the East Coast route tc Scotland became blocked in several places.

A MAIL TRAIN DELAYED NINE HOURS. The night mail from the North was stoppod by a snowdrift near Newcastle, the mails being delayed nearly nine hours. The interruption to railway traffic in the Newcastle district was the most com- plete within the memory of the oldest railway servant in the locality. The main line to the North became blocked during the night, and on Tuesday it was blocked at half a dozen places, and com- munication by telegraph was the only means possible between Berwick and Newcastle. The heaviest drifts were in the vicininity of Wid- drington, Bilton, and Annitsford. h .'1 -4fl

A CATTLE TRAIN SNOWED UlV* A cattle train was snowed up at Widdrington, and another at Bilton. EXPRESS TRAINS SNOW-BLOCKED. EXPOSURE OF PASSENGERS. Both night expresses, the one due at Newcastle from the North at 1.32 a.m. and that which left Newcastle at two a.m. for Edinburgh, were stopped at Morpetb, and up to Monday evening they still remained confronted by a deep snow block. The train from Edinburgh due at Newcastle at 10.55 p.m. on Monday struggled through, but reached Newcastle twelve hours behind time, namely, at eleven o'clock on Tuesday morning, the passengers having suffered much through prolonged exposure at Annitsford, where both lines are blocked and the London goods train has stuck fast. A great drift was reported at Longhirst, and four engines were sent to cut through it, but they all became inextricably embedded in the snow. A cattle train stuck fast between Amble and Chevington, a goods train near Monsen Bridge, and another between Beal and Smeafield. Several of the branch lines near Newcastle are also blocked. Every effort has been made to get the line cleared to the North, and trains can run to Morpeth, but at that point the block was, up to Tuesday even- ing, irremovable. The trains which left King's Cross, London, at 8.0 and 8.40 p.m. on Monday reached Morpetb at 3.0 and 5.0 a.m. on Tuesday respectively, and they remain there, with no immediate prospect of getting forward. Snow feU at Morpeth for 36 hours, and the wind blew the light, dry snow into the cuttings, forming deep deposits, which it will take a considerable time to remove. Several passenger and cattle trains are embedded north of Morpeth, and on Tuesday afternoon a snow plough, driven by four locomotives, was despatched to attempt to release them. The local lines in Northumberland were all blocked on Tuesday, and at six o'clock in the evening the storm still continued. A train bound from Morpeth to Tvnemouth became snowed up near Monkseaton, and for the greater part of Tuesday there was no communication between South Shields and Newcastle. The storm con- tinued on Tuesday at South Shields, and no vessels were entering or leaving tha port. Some of the most serious effects of the storm were felt at Sunderland, where the snow had up to five felt at Sunderland, where the snow had up to five o'clock on Tuesday evening fallen for 36 hours without ceasing, while a. strong gale from the north-east accompanied it.

THE RAILWAY SYSTEM DIS- ORGANISED. The railway system is wholly disorganised between Sunderland, and Newcastle, Shields, and Seaham respectively. The first train which reached there from Newcastle on Tuesday left the latter place at half-past six that morning, and took over seven hours to complete a journey of fourteen miles, having been drifted up for six hours near Brockley Whins, where the stationmaster's wife took care of several of the unfortunate passengers. A great block at Fulwell Cutting was cleared by the combined weight and speed-force of three huge locomotives. The trains from Newcastle and Shields are being worked on single lines, and, conse- quently, much late traffic at the Sunderland Docks is suspended, and labour to the value of £600 has been employed in clearing the Sunderland streets.

RAILWAY LINES BLOCKED. A Bangor telegram states that, owing to the heavy snowdrift, the London newspaper train and up Irish mail were unable for several hours to pro- ceed beyond Llanfairfechan. Gangs of labourers and platelayers were sent by train to clear the line. The mail from London, due at Holyhead at 1.20, did not arrive until 3.30, having been considerably delayed at Llandudno Junction by a heavy drift. There was a further heavy fall of snow in Bristol and district on Wednesday morning. The snow- storm, which commenced at an early hour, was heavy for some time. but the fall subsequently lessened, and about eleven o'clock ceased alto- gether. Active exertions were made to clear the central thoroughfares of the city, and very little inconvenience was experienced, owing to a thaw which supervened. In some parts of the suburbs the snow was atone time several inches in depth. Snow was still falling at Sunderland on Wednes- day morning. The railways are ail blocked. Communication (except telegraphic) with New- castle, South Shields, and Hartlepool is cut off. There is a heavy sea, and no vessels have arrived or sailed since Monday. Newcastle is isolated so far as railway communication is concerned. Several trains are snowed up on the North lino, some in the vicinity of Newcastle, and others near Morpeth. Three engines are embedded at Howdon. Large gangs are employed clearing the lines. Very little snow fell in Dumfries on Tuesday night. The railway between Beattock Summit and Carstairs is blocked. Two days ago five carts left Moffat, but as yet have covered only a portion of the twelve miles. In Yeovil and the neighbourhood the storm was the most severe of the winter, and the ground was soon covered to a considerable depth. Dartmoor Hills are covered to a great depth, and the continuous severity of the weather has increased the distress in the country, the work- houses at Totnes and Kingsbridge being full. Snow fell again in Lincolnshire on Wednesday, and the heaths are covered and roads blocked. Snow fell heavily on Tuesday night in Dublin. The Midland Line is snowed up between Skipton and Carlisle, and the North British Railway be- tween Edinburgh and Carlisle.

A MAIL STEAMER DELAYED. The mail steamer Leinster, from Dublin, was an hour hte in arriving at Holyhead on Monday owing to the severe snowstorm.

AN ATLANTIC LINER ASHORE. 395 CATTLE THROWN OVERBOARD. The steamer Missouri, of the Warren Line, bound from Boston to Liverpool, went ashore on the Holyhead coast on Monday morning during a heavy snowstorm, the most severe experienced in the neighbourhood for twenty years, accompanied by a fog. At an early hour on Monday morning the captain discovered that the ship was in a small bay oppo- site a place called Porthdaferale, about two miles from Holyhead. Orders were immediately given to reverse engines, and the steamer soon struck stern on. There were 395 head of cattle on board, and it was decided to lighten the vessel by throwing them overboard. About 100 of the beasts were got to shore after being thrown overboard. A number of bales of cotton were also jetti- soned. It was then found, however, that there was no immediate danger of the vessel sinking An attempt to tow the vessel off was to be made at high water on Monday night. The steamer Missouri, of the Warren Line, which went ashore early on Monday morning in a snowstorm near Holyhead, remained on the rocks until midnight on Monday, when she gradually heeled over as the tide ebbed away and ultimately capsized into shallow water, becoming a hopeless wreck. The captain and crew only deserted her at the last moment, and it is still hoped that her cargo may be saved. She was a vessel of 5,146 tons, and was formerly one of the Guion Company's fleet, under the name of the Nebraska.

A NIGHT WITH THE TENBY ROCKET BRIGADE. GALLANT RESCUE OF SEVEN MEN. A Tenby correspondent sends the following details of the gallant conduct of the local rocket brigade 'The storm that ushered in the 1st of March will be long remembered on the Pembroke- shire coast as one of unusual magnitude and for the gallant rescue by the Tenby Rocket Brigade of seven lives on the most perilous part of that iron- bound coast. It had been blowing hard all Sunday afternoon from the eastward, and the weather was intensely cold. At 5 30 p.m. intelligence was brought into Tenby from Lyd. step that a brigantine was riding to her anchors behind St. Margaret's Island in a very dangerous position, exposed to the full blast of the storm. The weather at the time gave every indication of a dirty night. The wind was increasing in violence, and the lowering sky forebode ill for those who were unfortunate enough to be afloat in the sound (near where the vessel was reported to be) on such » night. The lifeboat crew were summoned, and orders given by Mr. J. R. Rowlands, the hon. secretary of the branch, to launch the life-boat Annie Collin, lately presented to the town by the Royal National Life- boat Institution. The captain, WID, Way, lost no time in getting his men together, and the pre- liminary arrangements were made with an alacrity that promised well for the boat being speedily got into tbe water and away on her mission of mercy. There was a terrible sea on the South Beach, and the blown sand, driven by the furyof the gale. mada itself felt on the exposed parts of the bodies of thoso engaged in getting tbe boat down. Soon after six o'clock the carriage was run into the surf, tbe crew leaped on board, and the order was given to run her out." She slided off the carriage but as she touched the water a. heavy sea struck her which threw her broadside on to the beach. All attempts afterwards to get her off were unavail- ing, and eventually she was hoisted on the carriage and drawn up the beach. When it became apparent that the lifeboat could not be launched the chief officer of the Coastguard, Mr. William Hyslop, summoned the Life-saving Brigade formed in connection witt the Board of Trade rocket apparatus for saving life at shipwrecks. Twenty-one men fell in at the headquarters of the brigade on the South Beach, th< rocket cart was got out, horses were procured, anc at 7.30 p.m. a start was made for Lvdstep, a small village on the coast, about four miles from Tenby. It was terribly dark, but the brigade reached tha village soon after eight o'clock, and communica- tion by means of signals was at once made between the shore and the vessel, which at this time lay some distance from the shore. The chief officer at once set about disposing his men for duty during the night, and a regular system of patrolling the bay commenced. The storm increased in violence, and snow began to fall heavily, but all night through the brigade remained at their posts, and soon after daybreak the vessel parted her anchors and drove on shore. Two shots were fired from the apparatus; the first did not reach the ship, the second was successful; the crew made the whip fast, and the hawser waa afterwards sent across. It was then ap- parent that some confusion existed on board as to the proper mode of working the "breeches buoy," as the crew did not attempt to leave the ship, although the sea was making a clear bread: over her. The dangerous expedient in the face of such a sea was then adopted of sending a man from the beach in the breeches to the vessel. Chief Boatman Hennessey, of Tenby, was selected for this duty. After considerable difficulty, he suc- ceeded in getting on board, and found the crew reluctant to leave without their clothing. Five men were speedily got on shore, with their kit the captain and mate declining to leave until were assured that the vessel would not be inter- iered with and the officer had gone on shore. Or this assurance being given, Hennessey left tin vessel, and was soon afterwards followed by th< captain and mate, thus bringing up the numbei rescued to seven. The crew were taken to Lyd- step House and cared for by Mrs. Protheroe, and the brigade returned to Tenby at one p.m. or Monday. The vessel was the brigantine Johr and Mary, laden with pitprops, and bound t( Cardiff.

THROUGH AUSTRALIA ON WHEELS Mr. J. C. Copland, member of Surrey Bicycl4 Club, England; of the Sydney Bicycle Club, Exe- cutive New South Wales Cyclist Union, writes :-— I feel convinced I should never have been able tc have successfully completed my tricycle journej of nearly twelve hundred miles, from Sydney tc Melbourne and back, without St. Jacobs Oil, anc it gives me great pleasure to express my thankful" ness for the wonderful benefit I received from it- At the end of each day's journey I anointed ay self all over with this restoring balm, and felt completely re-strengthened and refreshed. I at* my food with renewed appetite, slept healthfully and as sound as a child. Once my ankle weakened and gave way, but one application of this sove. reign cure set it right and it did not again troubW me. St. Jacobs Oil is sold by Chemists at 2s. ad.. bottle, or by post 2s. 9d., from the Charles A Vogeler Company, Sola Proprietors, 45, Farringdow road, London. 83850

THE; COWBRIDGE MURDER. EXECUTION OF DAVID ROBERTS AT CARDIFF. PAINFUL SCENE ON THE SCAFFOLD The sentence of death pronounced by Lord Coleridge at the last Glamorganshire Assizes upon David Roberts for the murder of David Thomas at Llanblethian, near Cowbridge, on the 31st of last October, was carried into effect within the precincts of Cardiff Gaol this morning. 'I he culprit, whose stoical bearing was so marked throughout the trial, maintained his composure up to the last moment of his life the only change that bad come over him whilst awaiting his doom was, that towards the close he had apparently be- come a religious man. Although, on his removal to prison, after the dread sentence had been passed, he displayed the utmost indifference alike to his future state and his present condition, the zealous ministrations and the sympathetic interest of the chaplain gradually softened the prisoner until at length he got to look forward even with anxiety to the visit of his spiritual friend. On Tuesday week he had what was then intended as a farewell visit from his father, Edward Roberts, and the distress of his parent at parting caused the first real emotion the prisoner had displayed. His one redeeming feature was his affection for his father, and this was clearly exhibited by the efforts he made to exculpate hun from all con- nection with the crime, and by the satisfaction he expressed when he found he had been acquitted. After this visit Roberts wrote to his friends wishing them good-bye, and requesting them not to call upon him, and he also sent a letter to the wife of his victim asking her forgiveness for the wrong he bad done her. Thenceforward he devoted himself more closely to his religious duties, but maintained a fortitude throughout that indicated an iron nerve. He slept soundly, ate heartily, and invariably appeared in cheerful spirits. Yesterday his father, who had been staying with his sister at Llanblethian, walked nine miles to say a last good-bye to the culprit, by whom he was quite unexpected. The old man said he had not intended coming back again but, as the time drew near, he had felt that he could not stand it any longer, and was compelled to pay another visit to his son. The brief, distressful interview over, the old man left, with tears streaming down his face, and returned to his home at Llanblethian. The condemned man then asked for sausages, and partook of a good meal, and in the evening, after an early supper, retired to rest. Major Knox, the kind-hearted governor of the gaol, visited him about eight o'clock in the evening, and asked him if he had any request to make. He replied, No, sir; nothing." On being asked if he was sure there was nothing the governor could do for him he answered in a placid tone, Quite sure, thank you, sir; very much obliged to you." He had previously, on many occasions, expressed his gratitude for the kindness of the officers and the attention of the chaplain. Up to the last he showed the same anxiety for the welfare of his father, and on hear- ing that the latter had been subjected to con- siderable annoyance since his release by people who still suspected him of complicity in the crime, he at once wrote a letter for publication stating that he wished it to be clearly understood that his father was in no way whatever connected with the deed—that it was committed by himself, and him alone. He did not go to sleep until nearly ten o'clock, awaking at midnight, when he became very talkative. At four o'clock this morning he dropped off again, and slept until nearly six, when he got up and dressed. The Rev. Mr. Davies, the chapiain, arrived soon afterwards and remained with him to the last. Roberts declined to have anything to eat for breakfast, contenting himself with a cup of tea. Having washed, he carefully combed his hair, and remained engaged in prayer with the chaplain until ten minutes to eight, when the bell commenced to toll his death knell. By this time nearly 1,000 persons had congregated outside the prison, some of them on the railway near by, and they remained to see the hoisting of the black flag, when they dispersed in a quiet and orderly manner. As the bell commenced to toll the four representa- tives of the press who had been admitted were conducted from the waiting-room to the north- east side of the prison, where, on the basement floor, the culprit was awaiting the process of pinioning outside the condemned There were then also present Colonel Hill (high-sheriff), Mr. Waldron (under-sheriff), Mr. Davies (the chap- lain), Dr. Hardyman (the prison surgeon), in addi- tion to Berry and four warders. Roberts, who wa3 attired in a striped pair of trousers and a dark-blue coat and waistcoat, both open in front, stood calmly and resignedly while Berry pinioned his arms. He scarcely moved a muscle, and the only indica- tion that he realised his position was the some- what anxious look in his eyes. This painful operation being completed, the chaplain advanced in front of the prisoner, and commenced that por- tion of the Funeral Service set apart for such occasions. A procession was then formed and led by the chaplain, closely followed by the culprit and four warders, and brought up by the sheriff and under-sheriff, the surgeon, and the repre- sentatives of the press, proceeded to the scaffold. This was situate in a small yard on the north-east side of the male prison, alongside of the cook-house, the distance from the cell being only fiiteen yards. A pit 10ft. deep by 6ft. broad had here been dug, and it was considered by Berry, the executioner, to be one of the best in Englanr1, The Dosition was in a different direction to that selected for the execution of Webber, the last criminal, which was on the western side of the debtors' prison. The present gallows was erected according to the Home Office plans, and was precisely the same in every detail as that used at Swansea on the previous day. The cross-beam was of pitch pine, and the framework was that used on the previous occasion, slightly altered to suit the present requirements. The drop doors, which were level with the ground, were those recently used for a double execution at Hereford, whither they will now be returned The culprit walked straight unto the scaffold, and stood firmly with his back to the onlookers while Berry pinioned his le»s Though looking rather pale and haggard, the prisoner never made the slightest sign of unsteadi- ness, and quietly repeated the responses after the chaplain. Berry then took off the condemned man's hat, slipped the white cap over his head, and, without a moment's delay, pulled the lever. The drop was only 3ft. 7in., which, with an allowance of five inches for the stretching of the rope, made a total of four feet. It had been decided to make the drop so unusually short because Roberts was a man of thirteen stone weight, and it was feared that with a greater length there was great danger of his head coming 1 off. Tha jerk of the drop seemed to the onlookers to be very slight, but for the first few seconds everything seemed to be right, as the unfortunate man, whose head was three or four inches above the drop doors, did not move a muscle. All at once, however, to the horror of the specta- tors, his hands commenced to twitch, and he com- menced to heave violently for breath. As this continued, and the struggles of the dying man apparently increased, a look of consternation came over the faces of those around, and Berry crossed over to the governor of the gaol and tha high-sheriff, and had a consultation, on the termination of which the reporters were asked to withdraw. During the whole of this time —within a few seconds of three minutes—the unfortunate man had continued to struggle, and, although as they passed out of the yard some signs of life were still visible, it is to be hoped that the painful scene closed with their departure. The black flag was then hoisted over the entrance gates, and the crowd dispersed.

THE INQUEST. Tha inquest was held. at the Gaol at half- past ten, before Mr. E. B. Reece, coroner, and a jury, of whom Mr. D. Powell, saddler, High-street, was foreman. The jury, having been sworn, pro- ceeded to view the body, whih was lying in the Gaol mortuary. The face had turned slightly purple, there was a discolouration under the left ear, and the neck was considerably swollen. The jury then returned to the room and proceeded with the inquiry. Major Knox, who was the first witness sworn said: The deceased was received into my custody on the 4th of November, on remand till the 12th. On that day he was removed to Cowbridge. On the 13th he was brought back, committed for trial at the assizes charged with murdering David Thomas, Llanblethian, on October 30, 1885. The prisoner was tried at the assizes held in Cardiff on the 20th day of February, 1886, pleaded guilty, and was sentenced by the Lord Chief Justice of England to suffer death, which sentence was carried out in this prison at eight o'clock a.m. this day. I was present at the execution. Mr. Berry was the executioner. In my opinion death was instantaneous. Dr. Hardyman said I am surgeon to the Gaol. I was present at the execution of the deceased at eight o'clock this morning. I examined the body immediately after the hanging was completed, and also after the body had been cut down. Death was caused by dislocation of the neck by hanging. Death was instantaneous, but there were muscular contraction for some seconds afterwards. The dis- location of the neck would produce immediate death. The Coroner then said: That is the whole of the evidence, gentlemen, and what you have to con- sider is whether the deceased was the person con- demned to death, as stated by Major Knox, and whether he was duly hung this morning in pur- suance of the sentence. In reply to the Coroner, Major Knox said the deceased was 28 years of age, and was a labourer. The jury then returned a formal verdict in accor- dance with the evidence.

THE CAUSE OF DEATH. Just previous to the holding of the inquest two of the reporters entered the waiting-room of the Gaol where Berry was taking some breakfast, and the latter remarked that it had been a clever execution. The reporters dissented from this view, stating that, according to the time they had taken, the condemned man had not died for three minutes from the time the bolt was drawn. Berry thereupon became enraged, and threatened to bring an action for slander against anyone who circulated such a report. In view of the fact that when the jury inspected the body attention was called by the warder to the circumstance that the neck of the deceased was then broken, and, according to the evidence of the governor and the prison surgeon, death was caused instantaneously from dislocation of the neck, we consider it our duty to again refer to the proceedings at the execution. In the first place it should be stated that the scaffold was situated at the eastern side of the small yard, and on rising ground, so that the only places from which the death struggle could be seen were on the rising ground close to the pit. When the bolt was drawn the only persons present who could possibly see anything more than the rope and the white cap of the culprit were three of the reporters and the executioner. These were all standing close to the scaffold, the reporters being on an eminence, at a few yards distance, which commanded a perfect view of the body to below the waist. Everyone else pre- sent was standing on the western side of the yard, and, as already stated, could see nothing more than the rope. For a few seconds after the drop the body was perfectly motionless, but the hands then began to twitch and the chest to heave. Observing this, the reporters marked the body more closely; and one of them, who represented the Press Association," pulled out his watch and held it in his hand to see how long the painful scene would last. Berry, observing this. walked across the yard to the governor and the high shr-riff andunder-sheriff, and had a consultation with them, immediately upon the termination of which a warder was directed to show the reporters out of the yard. At the time they left, which was three minutes from the time of the drop, there were still the same indications of a slow and painful death from strangulation. In justice to the executioner it should be stated that, as the culprit was a heavy man, it might fairly have been considered unsafe to give a very long drop. But the circumstarce that he was a powerfully-built man, with a thick and muscular neck, would seem to indicate that a drop of only three feet seven inches, such as was given in this case, could scarcely have been expected to result in dislocation. What occurred after the representatives of the press retired it is, of course, impossible to say but, when the body was viewed at half-past ten by the jury, the neck was broken without a doubt. Whether the cir- cumstance that the face had turned purple might be taken as an indication of death from strangulation or dislocation is, of course, a matter for medical opinion.

HISTORY OF THE CRnIE. Mr. David Thomas, a well-known cattle dealer, residing at Llanblethian, near Cowbridge, met his fate on the night of the 30th of October, 1835, under circumstances of peculiar atrocity. Upon the day in question he had been in pursuit of his usual avocation to the market at Treorky, where he received from different people with whom lie was in the habit of doing business sums amounting roughly to £ 63. Amongst some gold handed to him by a man named Jenkins was a sovereign which had a hole in it, and that sovereign was actually found with other money tied up in a blood-stained handkerchief in a cupboard in the house of the culprit and his father at Llanblethian. The deceased man, David Thomas, arrived at Cowbridge Station at about half-past eight on the night in question, at which time, it appeared, he was more or less under the influence of drink, but not so much so as to prevent his receiving some more money from a man at Cowbridge. This man went with him as far as the Duke of Wellington Inn, where the father of the prisoner was at the time. He had come into the house about eight o'clock, and shortly after that David Roberts also came in, and another man named Thomas. David Thomas came in about nine o'clock, and they all remained at the public-house till eleven o'clock, drinking and playing cards and playing at what was called shaking in the hat for drinks. Duringthat time the murdered man took out of his pocket a bag of money, and, in a somewhat boastful way, said, I am willing to lend anybody here £ 10 £ 50, or £ÔO," and shook the bag upon the table in the presence of the three men. After leaving the public-house the men went in the direction of Llanblethian, a viliage at some little distance from Cowbridge, wherethe two Robertses lived, and in the neighbourhood of which the man Tnmnas and the deceased man resided, tho latter having lived at Stall Court Farm on Llanblethian-hill. Thevall proceeded together down a street called Church- street, Thomas and the deceased man being first, and David Roberts and Edward Roberts coming after them. Persons who saw them came to the conclusion that, although Edwards Roberts was able to walk, he was certainly, to some extent, under the influence of drink. After going down Church-street there was a stile on the right hand side of the road, against Llanblethian Mill, and that stile admitted to a footpath leading to Stall Court Farm, where the deceased resided. In order to go to their homes the three men would have left the deceased at this point and gone past the Town Miil to the left. Upon the following morning a man going to his work discovered the body of the murdered man about half-way between the stile at Town Mill and the Stall Court Farm, the residence of the deceased. His body presented the appearance of his having met with the most frightful violence. He had wounds-incised wounds—at the back of his head two incised wounds on the front of his face, and one wound on the left side of his nose penetrating to the base of his skull-fracturing the skull, an proving instantaneously fatal. His pockets were turned inside out. The place where he kept hia bag of money, and to which he restored it in the public-house, was a pocket inside the waistcoat and the waistcoat was now found open, with the pockets turned iuside out. The deceased was absolutely without any money, and there was found nothing upon him excepting a note-book and one or two small things. An alarm being given to the police, they arrived on the scene in a short time, and the murdered man was conveyed to his home upon a ladder, the culprit actually assisting in the work. David Roberts was arrested almost immediately, and in the presence of hia father. When being arrested he said to his father, This is a nice job, father what do you say Where- upon Edward Roberts replied, I know nothing at all about it; I never saw Mr. Thomas last night at all." The son was taken to the police-station, and in the course of the same day the father and John Thomas were arrested in the Duke of Wel- lington at Cowbridge, and the father then repeated his statement, I know nothing at all about it I did not see Mr. Thomas last night." A search was instituted, and, after some little time, in a dark cupboard in the culprit's house, and con- cealed beneath a number of miscellaneous articles, was found a blood-stained pocket-handkerchief, containing 166 in gold, which must have been, as nearly as possible, the amount possessed by the murdered man when he left the Duke of Wel- lington, and which included the sovereign with a hole in it. Some day or two after the prisoners were taken into custody a conversation was heard in the cells at the police-station by a policeman who was in a corridor. Edward Roberts said, "It is upon Dai they have the most suspicion," and John Thomas remarked, It is a bad thing their finding so much money upon him, and ho having none the night before." Whereupon Edward Roberts, the father, remarked, He can easily say that he was saving that up for Christmas," and David said, "Yes, I will say I was saving it up for Christmas, so as to buy a new suit of clothes or something of that sort." Upon the morning succeeding the murder was found in the house of the Robertses a billhook on which were traces of blood. Edward Roberts was asked about this billhook. He replied, I know it is mine, but I don't know any more about it." He gave no more satisfactory account of it than that. It was wet, and the night the murder was com- mitted was a wet and stormy one. Edward Roberts said lie did not know how it came to be wet. The three prisoners were taken before the magistrates, when the man Thomas was discharged. and David Roberts and his father were committed for trial at the assizes. The case was tried before Lord Coleridge at Cardiff on the 10th of February last, when the culprit pleaded guilty and was sen- tenced to death, but his father was acquitted.

CONFESSION OF THE CULPRIT. Previous to the magisterial inquiry the culprit voluntarily made the following statement in writing:— On the night of the 30th of October, 18S5,1 was in the house in which I live in Llanblethian between seven and eight o'clock. John Thomas came to me and asked me if I would go to Cow- bridge with him. I told him I did not like to go, because it was so wet. He told me if I would come with him I would not stand out in the wet. I knew then what he meant by that. He meant to stand a drink, and so he did in Warren's public- house. We had a "blue" each there, and then left to go home, but when we came to the Duke of Wellington, I said, Let's go and see if my father is in here." so we went in, and my father was in there and David Thomas, and Evan, the harper, and Lewis, and Warren's son and I called for two I "blues" of beer, which were put down to my father. Then we had a few games of cards for beer. Then we shook in the hat for more beer, and the beer that was lost was brought in, and we drank it among the company, and we were in the Duke of Wellington public-house until eleven o'clock. David Thomas, John Thomas. David Roberts, and Edward Roberts left the Duke of Wellington together. We went with David Thomas as far as the Town Mill, and there wo left him. David Thomas went over the stile by the pine-end of the mill, and we went to Llanblethian in a different direction. When we got to Llanblethian Mill John Thomas went in the direction of his home, and my father and me went to our home. I also wish to mention that my father, when he left the Duke of Wellington public-house, was what they commonly call blind drunk." I had to lead him home. I brought him home to his house near Llanblethian, and I put him in bed; but I am very sorry to say that after I had put my father in bed I left the house by myself, took a big stick out of the house, and went to the top of Llanblethian-hill. I went down the footpath leading to Cowbridge and met David Thomas coming up the footpath, and I asked him for his money. He asked me where I came from. I told him I came from Cow- bridge. He said, Go to Cowbridge." I said, I want your money first." I told him he had better zive it me, or eise I'd make him. So we had a little struggle, and I threw him down and struck him with a stick I had in my hand three times. Then I robbed him of all his money, and took all his papers, and took them home and burnt them—the money bag also. 1 also wish to state when I did come home my father was in bed, fast asleep. After I had burnt everythig I went to bed, and got up next morning at seven o'clock. When I got up I went to the garden, and I counted the money. The reason I went to the garden to count the money was I did not want to let my father know I had any money, because he would want to know where I got it from, and I put the money where you found it, and nobody saw me put it there, my father being in bed at the time. Also I wish to say that the weapon that did the deed was that stick that you bad in court, not the billhook. I am the guilty person; nobody else had anything to do with it. John Thomas and my father are innocent. David Roberts is my name. My life I now must part, and for the murder of David Thomas. DAVID ROBERTS, son of Edward Roberts.

ANTECEDENTS OF THE CULPRIT. Very little is known of the early life of the un- fortunate man, David Roberts. 'All that is certain is that he was born in the locality, and was twenty-eight years of age. His mother died when he was very young, and it is stated that in con- sequence no attention was paid to his early train- ing. As is well-known in the neighbourhoo4 the father was of intemperate habits, and it was his custom to take his son with him on most of his dru&kea escapades. As a youth he was employed in the capacity of a labourer in the neighbourhood, and subsequently enlisted.in the army. While in the service he was repeatedly in trouble, and on more than one occasion was committed to prison for insubordination and assaulting his superior officers. Last autumn he was drummed out of his regiment, and returned to his home at Llanblethian, and from that time until the perpe- tration of the crime he led a very dissolute life, doing practically no work and spending most of his time in the public-houses. The character he bore for violence in the neighbourhood caused him to be regarded with very great suspicion, and when the crime was discovered this circumstance, taken in conjunction with the fact that he was one of the last seen with the victim, very naturally led to his immediate arrest.

PREVIOUS EXECUTIONS IN CARDIFF GAOL. Since the year 1854, when the present gaol was erected in Newtown, Cardiff, three executions had taken place prior to that this morning. The first was that of Pritchard Lewis, alias "Die Tamar," a native of Merthvr, who in 1854 was sentenced to death for the murder of his mother. The tragedy was enacted in the culprit's native town, and was one of the most revolting that has ever been recorded. Following this was the execution of John Lewis, in 1858, for the murder of his wife at Merthyr. In this case considerable doubt was felt by many after the dread sentence of the law had been carried out as to whether the deed had been wilfully done. There can be no doubt that after an altercation a struggle took place between the victim and her husband, on the staircase of the house in which they lived, and that the woman fell to the bottom of the flight and broke her neck, but whether she was deliberately thrown down by the condemned man, who was said to have been in a state of intoxica- tion, was never, in the opinion of many, satis- factorily established. The execution of John Webber on the 25th of April. 1876, for the murder of Edward Stelfox at Cardiff in the previous month will be fresh in the minds of most of our readers. It is sufficient to state that Webber, who had undoubtedly received considerable provoca- tion from his victim, went down to the East Moors, where the latter had a fishing house, early in the morning with a double-barrelled fowling piece, and deliberately fired at him, kill- ing him on the spot. The culprit. who had always been known as a quiet, inoffensive man, had the sympathy of a large number of people at the Docks to whom he was personally known. He confessed his guilt, always ^admitted the justice of his sentence, and appeared to be thoroughly penitent.

TRAGIC SEQUEL TO A BIRTHDAY PARTY; A tragic affair occurred in Birmingham on Wednesday afternoon. On the previous night a party was given in the house of a man named Bagley, and a youth named Walters devised a comic sketch which involved the firing of a pistol The weapon was loaded, but on the sketch being played it would not go off and was laid aside. On Wednesday morning Walters, in fun, lifted the pistol, shook it, placed it to his ear and pulled the trigger and his brains were blown out.

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A petition has been deposited in the Private Bill Office of the House of Lords by the Corpora- tion of Newport (Mon.) praying to bo heard against the Newport Gas Bill. The Croydon and Thornton Heath Conservative Club was destroyed by fire on Tuesday morning. The building, a large and commodious one, caught fire about one o'clock, and by nine was completely burned out. Holloway's Ointment AND PILLS.-Diseases of the Bowels.—A remedy, which has been tested and proved in a thousand different ways, capable of eradicating prisonous t«,intd from ulcers and heaiinic them up, merits atrial of its capacity for extracting the internal corruptions from the bowels. On rubbing Holloway's Ointment repeatedly on the abdomen a rash appears, and as it thickens the alvine irrita' bility subsides. Acting aa a derivative, this ointment draws to the service, releases the tender intestines from all acrid matters, and prevents inflammation, dysentery, and piles, for which blistering was the old-fashioned, though sucoessfui treatment, now from its painfulness fallen into disuse, the discovery of this Ointment having proclaimed a remedy pos- sessing equally dtnvalivt, yet perfectly painless powers,

COTTAGES EMBEDDED IN THE SNOW. Very little traffic waa carried on in Sunderland town during the day, owing to the masses of snow which have filled the streets, piled, in many cases in huge banks against houses, and covering the cottages to the roofs, so that the inhabitants have, n some cases, to dig their way out.

AN ENGINE THROWN OFF THE RAILS. Preparations had been made for the conveyance of the mails from the mail pier at Holyhead to the railway station by providing two engines. The extra power was, however, insufficient to perform the work, and in the attempt to reach the terminus the tender of one of the engines and the travelling post-office were thrown off the rails. The passen- gers remained in the train while a large gang of railway men were engaged clearing the line. After a delay of one hour the train was able to proceed from the pier to the railway. Three powerful engines were attached to the train, which then started on its journey, but in a few minutes it had to return, being unable to pro- ceed. A later telegram from Holyhead states that a second and successful attempt was made to get the Irish mail train away at 1.39 p.m.

SHOCKING FATAL TRAMWAY ACCI- DENT AT BIRMINGHAM. TWO MEN KILLED. The fall of snow and the consequent blocking of the tramway lines has caused two fatal accidents in Birmingham On Monday morning, on the Birmingham and District Line, the cars were sent out each with two engines. At the Smethwick Terminus, while shunting the rear engine, a man named George Wall got crushed to death by being caught between the car and the engine, and scarcely half an hour later a second man, named Joseph Purnow, was killed in the same manner, his head being crushed.

CASUALTIES AT SEA. Notwithstanding the severity of the weather off the Tyne, Wear, Tweed, and Firth of Forth on the East, and the Clyde on the West Coast generally, comparatively few shipwrecks have been reported, but the full extent of the damage to shipping in Monday's storm will not be apparent until the sea subsides sufficiently on the East Coast, where the gtVlo atrongcot, tn allow vessels to aDDroach the harbours and the extent of the damage to be seen.

STRANDING OF A CARDIFF STEAMER. During a snow squall the screw steamer St. Audries, of Cardiff (Captain Jones), got ashore under the Foreland, above Lynton, at two o'clock on Monday morning, and remained, all efforts to get her off proving unavailing. The crew, however, got ashore when the tide went down. On Tuesday morning the afterhold tanks and engine-room were full of water, and all hopes of floating the vessel were abandoned, and the steamer is considered to be a total loss. The St. Audries was on a voyage from Bilbao with a, cargo of iron ore for Newport, having left that. port last Thursday morning. She was a. vessel of 500 tons register, built at NewcastIe-on-Tyne in 1877, and owned by Mr. James Ware, J.P., Bute-crescent, Cardiff. The owner is doing everything he can in the interest of all concerned.

A VESSEL ASHORE NEAR WEST HARTLEPOOL. During Monday afternoon the schooner Emily, Pycraft master, of Dover, went ashore near West Hartlepool in a snowstorm. The crew were rescued by means of the rocket apparatus.

WRECK OF ATESSEL NEAR BERWICK. LOSS OF ALL HANDS. A vessel, supposed to be the Eugenie, of South Shields, was wrecked on Monday about half a mile south of Craster, near Berwick, and all hands were lost, in a fearful storm which prevailed during the day. The owner is Mr. J. Knott, of Newcastle.

FRENCH VESSEL ASHORE. The French vessel Jeune et Marie, which drove ashore at Lydstepon Monday, has been got off and taken into Tenby under the directions of the French Consul (Mr. Kelway, of Milford), who on Tuesday arranged with Mr. Frank Mason and the man of the life-saving apparatus to lay out anchors, pump the vessel, and get her off on Tues- day afternoon's tide. This is smart salvage work, as another tide might have determined her fate and that of her cargo. She had several feet of water in her, ana her bottom is chafed right through by having beaten in over the stones.

SUDDEN DEATH OF LADY WILMOT OF THE MUMBLES. The inquest on the body of Lady Flora Mildrec Wilmot, of Liliput House, Mumbles, who died ir a very sudden manner whilst undergoing t surgical operation on Monday afternoon, was held on Tuesday at the residence of the deceased lady's mother-in-law, Norton House, Mumbles, before Mr. Edward Strick, coroner. The body of the deceased was identi- fied by Julia. Browning, her maid, who said she accompanied her mistress on the previous Wednesday to the house of Mr. Scott to have a tooth extracted. Lady Flora was administered chloroform by Dr. Fry, and the tooth was duly taken out. She recovered in two or three minutes, but felt drowsy afterwards, and on coming home went to bed. In the morning the face-ache con- tinued, but she did not suffer frDm the effects of the chloroform. On Monday deceased sent a note to Dr. Fry and Mr. Scott, asking them to come to her house to extract another tooth. The chloro- form was administered as before, but after twenty minutes' insensibility they began to be alarmed. She did not recover. Mr. J. Farrant Fry, surgeon, said he had pre- viously attended deceased at different times for inflammation of the eyes and the effects of a fall from her horse. On Wednesday morning he re- ceived a note from Mr. R. R. Wilmot, her ladyship's husband, requesting him to attend at Mr. Scott's. At her ladyship's request, he administered chloro- form. He gave her altogether two drachms—two teaspoonsful—through an ordinary inhaler. The tooth was extracted, and she quickly recovered consciousness. Witness had had a good deal of experience at Guy's Hospital in the administration of chloroform. Had sometimes given it twelve times a day, and on an average gave it four or five times. Witness was sent for on the following Monday to the residence of deceased, and went in the company of Mr. Scott. He saw no reason why chloroform should not be again administered foi the extraction of the tooth, and he gave her same quantity as before. Unconsciousnesi followed, and the tooth was extracted. Tht breathing continued regularly for two minutei afterwards, and there was sufficient return of consciousness for Mr. Scott to offei her water with which to swill he) mouth. She did not take any. The gums bled showing that circulation continued. Witness thei found he could no longer feel the pulse, although the breathing still went on. Syncope, or failure of the heart's action, had occurred. Mr. F. C. Scott, surgeon dentist said he had practised at Swansea for the past 33 years, and had drawn teeth under the influence of anaesthetics at least 2,000 times during that period. Every pre- caution had been taken in this case, and the deceased on the first occasion recovered from the effects of the anaesthetic in a surprisingly short space of time. The dose was, in his opinion, a comparatively small one Mr. Strick briefly commented on tne evidence observing that it showed that deceased took the chloroform by her express desire, that the medical man had every reason to suppose that the patient might safely be placed under its influence, and that he had had great experience in such matters. He strongly condemned the sensational headings which had appeared in certain papers on the subject, and was sorry the press had lent themselves to such a thing, with a view, he supposed, of getting up a little excite- ment. The jury returned a verdict in accordance witfe the evidence, imputing no blame to anyone.

THE UNEMPLOYED OF BRISTOL. An advertisement appeared in Bristol news- papers of Tuesday, stating that the Mayor (Mr. C. Wathen) had made arrangements with Messrs Meakin, Dean, and Davies, contractors, who art constructing some railway works at Barnstaple, tc take on 50 Bristol men. The advertisement further stated that a foreman of the contractors would be at the Central Police station at noon to. select the men, whose railway fares would be paid by the mayor. These arrange- ments were made in consequence of the mayor finding so many men in the city willing to work, but unable to find employment. In answar to the announcement a. crowd of men, fully 500 in number, assembled long before twelve o'clock out- side the police-station. They were admitted a few at a time into the drill yard, and, bO having been selected, the others were told to disperse. The men who bad been fortunate enough to be engaged were informed that they would be paid from 2s. lOd. to 3s. 6d. a day, according to the class of work they could perform, and also that food would be provided for them before they left Bristol on Wednesday morning. The men who had not found work, instead of dispersing, as they had been ordered, formed a procession and paraded the principal straets of the city, and after- wards marched to the Mansion House. Owing tc the excellent police arrangements, no disturbance took place and no damage was done, When thf mob arrived at tbe Mansion House they found the gates shut and a number of policemen stationed outside, and these constables ,with the help of those who had followed the pro- cession from the city, prevented any disturbance. The men asked to see the mayor, but, as be was attending the consecration of a church in another part of the city, they were told that they could not see him, and were asked to disperse, and this the majority of them did, only a hundred or so marching back to the city, where the police easily broke up the procession.

THE ROYAL LIVER FRIENDLY SOCIETY. The Press Association Liverpool correspon- dent says:—The dispute between the executive of the above society and the Reform Syndicate has been amicably settled. The secretaries, Messrs. Atherton and Liversage, have, with three other members of the committee, resigned, and the three remaining members have nominated five new committee men, on the recommendation of the Reform Syndicate. Litigation is to cease, and a meeting of the members of the society will shortly be called to consider urgent reforms. At the weekly meeting of the committee of the Royal Liver Friendly Society, held in Liverpool on Tuesday, the resignations of Messrs. Liversage and Atherton, the managing secretaries, and of three members of the general committee, were accepted, and a new committee was appointed, consisting of Messrs. T. Saronaons, John Lonsdale, and William Allard. members of the old committee, and the following new members Messrs. James Pearson, Accrington W. Veale, Bristol, and Thomas Gartland, John Winters, and Edward Taunton, Liverpool. Mr. Taunton was appointed managing secretary pending a general meeting of the society called to consider the question of future management.

THE AYLESBURY ELECTION PETITION. The hearing of the petition against the electior of Baron de Rothschild was commenced at Ayles bury on Tuesday. Counsel, in addressing the court, alleged that treating had taken place on the occasion of Mr. Gladstone's visit to the Baron, anc that the Baron's labourers were paid their wagei while absent to vote.