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♦ WIDOW KILILED IN A LONELY COTTAGE. ^BBERT THE OBJECT OF THE CRIME. SENSATIONAL ARREST. ^f°ul murder was committed in a > co^tage near the village of St. 011 Saturday afternoon, when an W ^idow was done to death in a <J<er that left no doubt of the mur- K 8 deliberation and determination. aHif ,v^c^^ra waS an old woman named ''v&d Williams, 79 years of age, who 0^ in peace and solitude at Mullen kr^' which is situate in a field off what 3,8 the Began-road, about mid- 30 b^ween St. Mellon's and Cefn two little rural districts about six %°ut of Cardiff on the other side of 'Ojjjj *tonmouthshire border. Nestling 7 in the woods, this little cot looks place in the world f<ar a scene of and yet, by its situation and sur- it is the very spot that would 5^. ivself best to the designs of tiua O1- Hannah Williams, the mur t$j. voman, lived here with her daugh- '^Jizabeth Williams, a spinster, nearly ^tii j_rs a8e- At nine o'clock on y mo'rning Miss Williams left the to pp on an errand to Cardiff, promising ^fcturn between three and four in the Nia 0ru a^one ^as no circumstance in Mrs. Williams's life-, for it was the daughter's In to pay a week-end visit to Cardiff. v^o^r- absence, however, some person, identity up to the present is a ,Nm mystery, entered the cottage and the old woman by battering her a frightful manner with a coal- er, and then cutting her throat. ty*SOOVERY OF THE CRIME. the daughter was away in Car- 4 ^stant relative named Morris Evans, nr-^out 35 years of age, and who lives Mably, called at the Mullen Cot- ^•Ofj^ftd upon entering the kitchen was spectacle of the mur- Pf ty ^oman lying on her face in a pool Wj^' Frightened and dazed by what *t ^<1 seen, he ran to the police-station ^olio Mellon's, and there informed on stable Norris, the constable in of wh»t had happened. Norris at ^mmunicated with Inspector Lewis, ni Import, and Superintendent Porter, who arrived on the scene about o'clock on Saturday evening, and Hen tedljr^ sent for Dr. Shiach, of Llan- ii^n.Iwl!Wij¥fid- conrse) do nothing Hr] that the woman was Miss Williams, the daughter ?4Vlc^im: hsJd returned from Cardiff, V v. ? s|l? received naturally left J°? 'a The whole neighbourhood [V .e news with consternation, and So 1Qdignation that anybody could CaHous as to murder an old woman ^riiTas and tottering with age, iti- 8 the end of life's journey, and as 'WeJ^le injuring anyone as she was of herself. THE MONEY NOT FOUND. W*r little hoard of money was not °wn. Indeed, the surprise is the sum was not a good 0re than JE20, seeing that her hus- b ^ho only died in Mav of last year, a^lv 6-S regularly employed on the Cefn Estate for forty-three years, and "sin ^ad since been in receipt of a from the generous owner of that lL • If there is any satisfaction at all got out of the contemplation of the }j • It is that the murderer failed to s on the money it is supposed he \V'q s¥. the police went over the house they that every room had beien ran- k 4 li' the murderer leaving everything e disorder and oonfusion. The t 1c?u^ not have been very pt, in his search, for in his hurry to Jj wa.y he left the money undisturbed ,'we ]arge wooden trunk where it was kept by Hannah Williams. That 3 have been safely secreted there <<} characteristic of the ingenuity of t th es ^er c^ass in such matters, t extent of that ingenuity may be by the fact that even the police tt, 0 find the little pile of gold. It if daughter who first found it and a tK 0ut from beneath the linen lining ]^k6 bottom of the box. What is more j^eJ^d'nary is that the murderer neg- h altogether the pocket of the kdll,t 4ed, in which tht police found her %tir' containing £ 3 In gold and some

CORONER S INQUIRY. ^IDENCE OF THE VICTIM'S /K DAUGHTER. body at a quarter to three, the sixteen in all, accompanied hy the t*qd ',V'-Mroner (Mr. W. Everett) and Superin- Ile t Porter, assembled in the kitchen of Urymen were sworn in to diligently in- I the circumstance! of the death. lr)tendent Porter entered into conver- > v *ith the coroner, and explained to him ^'ft^tion of the body when found, and out those parts of room where blood stains, particularly those j door leading fro>m the kitchen to the (°°m, the assumption being that the wag struck down near this door. The IK** o» n^ent a^BO made the remark that a Utti 8t'ockin^s were found on the table In J1*} room. It is only about 10ft. square, 88 soon filled by the jurymen, and the 4^ tlTas a we^r^ one' corner stood Miss Williams, the In of tlie and Mrs. Radcliffe, Th*' &rt,ler "bowing signs of distress, whilst consoled her as best she conld. c rJTn«n were ushered into the room where was laid ont- The bead was un- 'or inspection, and it was noticeable Z*6 head and neck were bandaged. The j. a-3 placed on a low, old-faahioned bed- at the foot of the bed was a little bi *Hit ^le' on wllich t)€€n placed a cross flowers, with a little note fastened, the words, "Not dead, but sleepeth.— thear<*8. Elizabeth Williams." Hpfe^tl.en^5r jurymen were shown over ^ises by the police superintendent, and ability granted them to become p with the scene of the tragedy. jj tfj ^oroner questioned the superintendent th ther cnrtains on windows had h Wa,Jr altered. He answered that not,, an(l pointed out the place where hammer with which the old lady was kept. lK*^l>h lns >Tere the jury:— John Porter, Evans, Philip Jones, D. Morgan, Jones. Thomas Roberta, Thomas Mit- 'ed Watkins, E. Moses, J. Reest J. y>es" "• Perry. Thomas Williams, David hi ^a»nd Thomas Jones. nearly 3.30 when the jurymen had all fr°m the soone of the murder to the u itir, t Hotel, m thft club-room of which was lie Id. jn • Everett, the deputy-coroner, lost no Of everything ready for the open- h. inquiry into the tragic affair. Most tVeta' ,jariTnen had the appearance of -ken farmers, hailing from the village of and they; were all placed to Bit together in a bunch on the left hand aide of the room. Superintendent Porter represented the police, and Mr. W. W. Pratt, of the firm of Lloyd and Pratt, solicitors, Newport, Watched the case on behalf of Miss Williams. The intimation was made unofficially that the only witness who would 'be called was Miss Elizabeth Williams, daughter of the deceased. Miss Williams, who was dressed in black, and wore a hat trimmed with crape, was sum- moned by the police to come forward and take her seat near the coroner. Without betraying the least emotion, and in a voice that did not falter in the least degree, Miss Williams gave her story sentence by sen- tence in answer to the series of questions put to her by the coroner. What Miss Williams had to say was of such a nature as not to throw much light on the actual perpetration of the terrible deed, she being absent in Cardiff at the time her aged mother was struck down and mutilated by a person whose identity is still unknown. THE DAUGHTER'S EVIDENCE. Miss Williams, replying to the coroner's questions, said she was a spinster, and lived with her mother at Mullen Cottage, Began- road, in the parish of St. Mellon's. Witness was 48 years of age. and her mother was 78 years of ag?. Her father died in May, 1899. When asked what her mother did for a living, she said that deceased was paid 8s. per week by Mr. Kemeys-Tynte. with whom wit- ness's father worked for many years. Witness often went out two or three days a week as charwoman. The Coroner: Now. you and your mother used to do something else, for your living. You used to keep some poultry or something, didn't you?—That was many years ago. Now, sir, we have not many fowls. The Coroner: To whom did they belong?—To mother, sir. About how many had you?—Eight, sir. Have you a garden?—We have a garden, sir, and an orchard. The Coroner: What did you do with the produce?—Sold the apples. The Coroner: You used to assist her in the sale of apples, and all that kind ofthing?—Yes, sir; she was not able to go about herself. The Coroner: Well. now. you remember this particular day. What time did you get up on oho morning of the day your mother met with her death?—About 6.30. sir. The Coroner: Did your mother get up at the same time?- Yes. sir. The Coroner. How long were you home that day?—I went to town at nine o'clock. The Coroner; What do you call town?—Car- diff. The Coroner: For what purpose did you go to Cardiff?—I had a few aiples and a couple of eggs to sell, sir. The Coronse: Hew did you go to Cardiff?— By walking. The Coroner: When you left the house that morning was your mother pretty weUP-Yes. sir. Sli9 camo cut to send me as far as the gate because I had two baskets to carry. The Coroner: Which gate would that be—the back gate, or the one leading to the front of the house?—The front gate. The Coroner: Did you see yonr mother go back to the house, or was she standing at the gate?—She was standing at the gate looking towards the road. When witness left the break- fast things were on the table and the curtain of the winiw had been raised. She walked home from Cardiff, and arrived at the village at about 4.30. On the road, and not far from her home, she met Morris Evans. The Coroner: You saw men close to your house?—No; a little way from cur house, on the hill. He went for the police. What did he say to you when you saw him? -He told me that something shocking had been found at our house. I asked him what, and he told me that he thought that mother was dead. Did he say anything else?—No; not at that time. sir. He went straight on. Did he appear to ba in a hurry?—Yes, sir, he did. Was he walking or running?—Walking. In which direction was Morris Evans going? —He was coming towards St. Mellon's. About bow far, do you think, from your home to whcr: ycu met him?—A quarter, of a mi'e. From where you met him to the corner of your cottage?—Yea. And he did not say anything more to you then, but walked on to St. Mellon's?—Yes. He did nut tell you what had realiy happened?—No; he didn't. And what did you do then?—I walked oiu. and waited until Mr. Radcliffe came. Went on to your home?—No; not to the house. Mr. Radcliffe overtook me, and I went to his house. Did he tell you what bad happened?—No; not until I came back to the house. %3ut why did you go to his house first?—He asked me to come to his house to have a cup of tea before going. How far is his house from yours ?—About ten minutes' walk, sir Did you have to pass in order to get there?— Yes; close by. Although you heard what Morris Evans said, that he thought your mother was dead, yet you passed by the house and went on to Mr. Rad- cliffe's, and did not go in?—Not at that time. Was there any particular reason why you didn't go in?—Well, he told me I had better not go in. Who told you that—Mr. Radcliffe, or who? —Mr. Radcliffe and Mr Rowlands. I met Mr. Rowlands and a Mr. Bodenham near the house. And what did they tell you?—They told me that an accident or something had happened there. Did thay tell you what it wasP-No; not then. So that when Morris Evans told you your mother was dead was that the first intimation you had of itP-Ycs. sir. You never heard of it beforeP-No, sir. Now, you went to Mr. Radcliffe's house. you say. How long did you stay there?—About an hour, sir. I left in company with Mrs. Rad- cliffe. Although you were told your mother was dead you stayed at Mr. Radcliffe's house for an hour, and did not go to your home. Is that soP-Yes, sir. While you were at Mr. Radcliffe's did yon have any conversation with regard to what Morris Evans had told you?—No; not till 1 went to my mother's house. The question of your mother's death was not discussed at Mr. Radcliffe's?—No; they did not know. When Mr. Radcliffe overtook you did he give you any reason why he wanted you to have a cup of tea at his house?—No. Witness entered her mother's cottage by the back door. and saw a policeman there. The officer said he was sorry to hear of her trouble. (The witness here burst into tears, and for the moment could not be got to answer further I questions.) She stayed in the back kitchen of the house until ten o'clock that night, and wheri the doctor came she went up into the living room. Ths witness when asked what living room. ThE! witness when asked what she then saw again burst into tears. The Coroner: Did you see your mother?— Yes. Was she sitting up?—No answer; and the; witness once more gave way to tears. Ulti- mately the witness said she saw her mother lying down. Had you not by this time been told that she was dead?—Yes, sir. What did the doctor say to you when he got there?-He told me he was sorry to hear of this sad event. Did he say anything to you about the cause of itP-No. sir. You saw your mother on the floorP-Yes, sir; her head was towards the grate. How long did you stay in the room?—Not long, sir. You do not know anything of your own knowledge how the wounds were caused?—No I don't, sir. Have you heard anything since as to the instrument supposed to be the one by which the blows were givenP-Ycs, sir; it was a coal hammer. Was the hammer a big one?-No, sir; a middling small one, which would weigh about a couple of pounds. I used it the night before, but not that morning. You cannot say in any way how your mother's death was caused?—No, sir. Have you seen any suspieious persons about the cottage?—No, sir. Do a good many people pass your house?— Not many. Is there any footpath passing thereP-Yes. Leading to Mr. and Mrs. Radcliffe's house?— Yes. NAnd only to that bouseP-Yes. sir; a good many people pass to pick blackberries in the field towards Michaelstone. Have you seen any recently ?—No, sir; I have not. Which entrance to the cottage is usually used?—The front. In the daytime is the door generally kept unlocked?—Yes. Anyone going in at the back door could see this bammerP-Yes. In answer to further questions Miss Williams said: I go away every Saturday, and I go and return about the same time. Saturday is the only day in the week on which I can go away, except for the past few weeks, when I have gone occasionally to sell a few apples. But I usually only leave home on Saturdays. The Coroner: *\Vas your mother living on friendly terms with all the people round about?—Yes, sir. Did many people come to see you often?—- No, sir; Mrs. Radcliffe used to come to see us sometimes. 1 How about Morris Evans. He came to seo you, didn't he?-Yes, sir. He is related to you?—Yes, air; he married my mother's niece. How often has he been coming to see you? -He has been coming very often during the last fortnight. Who else came to see you besides Morris Evans?—No answer. Previously to the last fortnight how often did he come to sea you?—Not very often. How often?—Once in four or six months. But his wife used to come up?—No; his wife has two children. She could not come. How long since she came last?—About six months ago. Before this last fortnight, did he come before or after his wife six months ago?—Before that. Your mother was on friendly terms with Mr. and Mrs. Morris Evans, I take it.-—Yes, sir. THE VICTIM'S SAVINGS. Have you any idfea what money was in the house when you left that morning?—Not exactly. You know she had some?—Yes, sir; I knew she had some, but not much. Did you know where your mother kept it?- In the chest upstairs. Was it wrapped up, or left loose?—It was itt. a pocket. You don't know how much?—No, sir. Did anyone else besides you know how much?-No, sir. When you went into the house was there anything strange in the house?—It was all up- set upstairs—drawers and boxes. How many rooms ihave you upstairs?—Two rooms. We slept together. Were the things taken out altogether from the drawers ?-Out of the drawers and put on the bed and on the floor. Was this chest in which the money was turned upside down?—Yes, sir. Was this money taken you say was there?— No, sir; the money was not taken. When you went upstairs did you look into the chest yourself?—Ye3, sir. What did you find?—I found the money in a. loose pocket tied up. Did you count it?—The police counted it. How much was there?—No answer. Mr. Pratt then advised the witness to answer the question, and she said there was JE30. Have you heard of any other money your mother had?-Yes, sir; some in her pocket. How much?—I don't know. Had she any other money besides?—No, sir. Are you sure of that?-Yes, sir. Have you any idea or do you suspect any- one who has effected this crimeO-No, sir. You don't suspect anyone?—No, sir. Have you heard how much mor"" was in your mother's pocket?—I don't remember, sir. You cannot give the jury any possible idea. and you don't suspect anyone in connection with the crime?—No, sir. Was your mother insured?—Yes, sir; in the Prudential. For how much?—Threepence per week. Do you know how much that would insure your mother's death for sir. The Coroner then invited Mr. Pratt to ask any questions, and that gentleman replied that he would defer any questions he had to put, as he understood the inquest would be adjourned. A Juryman asked through which door—the front or the back-did Mrs. Radcliffe usually come to the house. Witness: Through the front door. A Juror: And which way did Morris Evans come through-the front or the back? Before an answer was given, the CoroneT said that the question would have to be put later on. Police-superintendent Porter here asked for an adjournment, stating that there were a number of inquiries to be made during the week. Mr. Pratt supported the application. The Coroner said it was most essential that the inquest should be adjourned, and con- sulted the press representatives present as to their convenience. Superintendent Porter suggested that th* inquiry be adjourned until this day (Wednes- day) week. The Coroner: Do you think you will have your evidence completed by then? Superintendent Porter: I cannot say, sir, but I shall try. In order to meet the convenience of everyone, the Coroner then decided to re-open the inquest at eleven o'clock on Wednesday of next week.

CHARGED WITH "WILFUL MURDER." With the almost impenetrable secrecy which has since the arrest especially marked the action of the police, Morris Evans, the accused, was brought before Mr. Thomas Goldsworthy, a justice of the peace for the county of Mon- mouth and of the borough of Newport. Mr. Goldsworthy lives at Gold Tops, literally within a stone's throw of the county police-station, so that even ther*e the circumstances conspired to render the cherished hope cf all police officers -secrecy and artificial mystery—more easy of attainment. The authorities had definitely stated that the time for hearing the official charge and reasons for a remand would be about eleven o'clock, and with that assu- rance the pressmen were- content. Without any apology, however, it may be state?! that the whole case of charge, hearing, and remand was over completely by ten o'clock. Morris Evans was. charged with the "wilful murder of Hannah Williams at St. Mellon's." Whether Evans made any answer to the charge or not would not be divulged by the police officer in charge. Evidence of the arrest was given by Inspec- tor Saunders. who said that, in company with the chief-constable (Mr. Victor S. Bosanquet), Superintendents Porter, of Risca, and James, of Pontypool, he took Evans into custody about 6.30 on Wednesday evening while he was at Mullen Cottage. He had then just returned with his wife from the funeral of his alleged victim. Formal application for a remand for a. week was then made by Superintendent Porter. He informed his worship that there was sufficient evidence forthcoming to justify their request. Evans was then, with equal formality, re- manded until Thursday next, and was re-con- ducted to the cells, wherein he had been incar- cerated for the night. Such is the accoant gleaned by a conple of journalists from the police. Bare, rigid, and formal as it may read, it took a large number of questions to elicit in full. Then there was another little fiction told that, of course, goes to maintain the reputa- tion of the police, "Morris Evans will be taken to Usk at 1.30-" Such was the definite state- ment. It did not require the deductive know- ledge and observation of a Sherlock Holmes, or even the scouting gift of a Baden-Powell, to know that the many activities belied the words. Exactly at 10.25, therefore, Morris Evans was seen, accompanied by and handcuffed to Police constable Robert Bird, being led out of the station and rapidly escorted to the railway station, only some 50 yards away. There he was quickly placed in a third-class compart- ment of the Usk train. and the blinds imme., diately lowered. A considerable crowd had gathered, and were doing all they knew to obtain a glance at the prisoner. As he walked down to the station he kept his eyes dejectedly on the ground in front of him, and even when he tried to raise the collar of his coat with his free left hand he did not raise them. A number of people had gathered and watched his passage. "Oh. dear," said a woman looking at the man's face, "he can't—he can't be guilty." The magistrate (Mr. Goldsworthy) was also seen, but he said that he had been asked by the police to maintain reticence, and was hono- rably bound to do so. He said, however, that Evans looked extremely dejected and pitiable when before him in the police office-for the court-house proper was uot used. THE DEFENCE. Mr. Harold M, Lloyd. solicitor, Cardiff, has been instructed to defend Morris Evans.

PREVIOUS MURDER IN ST. MELLON'S. A ROMANTIC STORY OF TWENTY. FIVE YEARS AGO. It is just over a quarter of a century since the last great crime was committed at St. Mellon's. Unlike the present tragedy, the crime of James Gibbs had in it a strain of romance that lifted it out of the sordid murder wrought for greed of gain. For it was a story which contained two women and one man—a woman tco many. The Squire of Llan- rumney wanted a butler, and the successful applicant was James Gibbs, of Windsor, who said that he was unmarried-a qualification insisted on by Mr. Williams, the squire. But Gibbs was really a married man, and he got lodgings for his wife with a Mrs. Mahoney in a court which now occupies the side of the St. John's square end of the Queen- street Arcade, Cardiff. Mrs. Gibbs was a good-looking woman, amiable in dis- position and industrious to a degree. She was often visited by her hnsband on his frequent journeys into Cardiff, and the time passed as pleasantly as could be expected in circumstances which necessitated the man con- cealing the fact that he was married. But Gibbs lived a double life in a sanse not for a long time suspected by his wife. He fell in love with a young Welsh barmaid in a public-house in St. Mellon's. On her side the affection was purs and faithful, for in the neighbourhood Gibbs was looked upon as a single man. Whether Mrs. Gibbs heard of this love-making or not is not known, but it is certain that she began evincing a desire to live nearer to her husband, and she proposed to take a cottage or a room or two in St. Mellon's. Gibbs objected, and pointed out the danger of such a step, but the wife insisted, and in the end the man reluctantly gave way. So one day Mrs. Gibbs bade an affectionate farewell to the good- hearted old Irishwoman with whom she had lived in Rowe-square, and left for St. Mellon's. A couple of days later Gibbs called for some things which his wife had left in a box. All he took were letters which he had written to her during her stay with Mrs. Mahoney. Gibbs called once again, and each time told Mrs. Mahoney that his wife was well and happy. A couple of weeks later a farmer in St. Mellon's was cut looking for a lost sheep, and was at- tracted to a briary corner of a field where his dog began barking wildly. Here in a ditch the farmer came upon the dead body of a woman badly decomposed. In the subsequent proceedings the identification of the woman was followed by the arrest of Gibbs. who em- phatically protested his innocence. Mrs. Mahoney's evidence was, of course, important, but she was able to testify that during the time Mrs. Gibbs lived at her house the rela- tions of husband and wife were affectionate and of unvarying pleasantness. But circum- stance upon circumstance turned up. till the whole crime was disclosed from its first cause to the final ending. There was no Ehadow cf doubt as to the man's guilt, yet Gibbs pro- tested his innocence all through, and even on the scaffold at Usk his last words were that he was going to an unjust doom.

THE LEEDS MURDER, HUSBAND ARRESTED AT MAN- CHESTER. The Manchester police on Tuesday after- noon arrested Frederick Furley Dawson, who was wanted in connection with the murder of his wife at Leeds. Accused, who is about 25 years of age. is well known in Manchester racing circles. On Monday evening he visited the Wellington Hotel, Manchester, and started a conversation with the landlady about the crime, and described how a handkerchief had been tied round the dead woman's throat. The landlady, however, had not heard of the case, and did not take much interest in the matter. On reading the details on Tuesday she recognised the resemblance of the prisoner to the description published. At noon on Tuesday Dawson again entered the house and ordered a glass of whisky. He seemed greatly agitated. The bar- maid, who immediately recognised him, fainted, and in the confusion the man made off. The police were communicated Tith, and later in the afternoon Da.wson was arrested at the Land o' Cakes Hotel, close by, when he at once admitted his guilt, and said, "She took me in, and I've taken her in." INQUEST. The inquest on the murdered woman was opened at Leeds on Tuesday after- noon.-Dr. Heald, police surgeon, said death had been caused by strangulation. —A painter, named Smith, identified the body as that of his daughter Emily, who was, he stated, married to Frederick Daw- son, a retired butcher, about nine months ago.-A police-constable having deposed that the room which the couple had occu- pied was very much disturbed, the inquiry was adjourned. PRISONER REMANDED. At Leeds on Wednesday Frederick Furley Dawson. 21. a racing man, was remanded on a charge of the wilful murder of his wife at Belgrave-street, Leeds, early on Monday morn- ing last.

RAILWAY COMPANY AND TOWN COUNCIL. A rOPLAB SCANDAL. One of the newly-elected councillors for the borough of Poplar has some reason to complain of the manner in which his success nas been received. This is Mr. F. C. Unwin, a signalman in the eJliploy of th. a Great Eastern Railway Company who, it may be remembered, took a prominent part in the recent agitation for better terms and conditions of service. Acting on an invitation from residents in his ward, Mr. Unwin allowed himself to be put in nomination for the council, and was elected. On this becoming known at Liver- pool-street he was asked to explain why he bad not asked the directors if they would allow him to accept office if elected. His reply was to the effect that he had the right when off duty to hold any public office to which he might be elected. But on Thursday last he had the alternative placed before him of resigning his coun- cillorship or leaving the service. He de- clined to do either, with the result that he received seven days' notice of discharge. The occurrence has caused a great deal of indignation in Poplar, and among Great Eastern Railway men generally. DIRECTORS FIRM. Mr. F. C. Unwin, the signalman who has been discharged from his employment on the Great Eastern Railway for disobeying the company's instructions by neglecting to obtain permission to offer himself for election upon the Poplar Borough Council, had an interview on Wednesday evening with the board of directors, at the offices in Liverpool-street. The board decider to adhere to its decision to dis- miss Unwin. The matter is now under the consideration of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants. The men complain that the dismissal was a. piece of serious tyranny. It is s-iggested that the rule had no trading effect, inasmuch as Unwin was no party to it at the time of his engagement, and it was not included in the rule boon.

LORD ROSSLYN S CHARGES. J PRINCE OF WALES COMMUNI- CATES WITH LORD ROBERTS. The "Times" of to-day (Wednesday) con- tains the following letter from Lieutenant- colonel Audley D. Neeld, commanding the 2nd Life Guards — Sir,—I shall be obliged if you will kindly publish in your paper of to-morrow the en- closed telegram from Lord Roberts, in answer to one sent by Sir Dighton Probyn on Novem- ber 6 with reference to the statement which appeared in Lord Rosslyn's book Twice Cap- tured.' imputing gross misbehaviour on the pa.rt of the Composite Regiment of Household Cavalry and 10th Hussars at Sannas Post. LORD ROBERTS'S REPLY. "Johannesburg, November 10 (3.15 p.m.) "To Sir Dighton Probyn, Sandringham "In reply to your telegram of November 6, please inform the Prince of Wales that I have not seen Rosslyn's book, but I am satis- fled that neither the Household Cavalry nor the 10th Hussars did anything to discredit their grand reputation during the reverse which occurred at Sannas Post on March 31 last. As stated in my dispatch of June 19 last. I personally inquired into the case from the principal actors in it. and I was able to report to her Majesty's Government that the; troops behaved in the most gallant manner.! Not a whisper of misconduct on the part of a.ny of the corps engaged on tha.t occasion has j ever reached me, and his Royal Highness may, I with the utmost truth and confidence, publicly j contradict the false statement.—ROBERTS."

SUMMONED FOR DECEMBER. FUU,T'HJj:R ][INISTE!RIAL FURTHER MINISTERIAL CHANGES. It is authoritatively announced that Parliament will meet for the despatch of business on Monday, December 3. It is understood that this early assembly of Parliament is necessitated for the purpose of passing a vote on account of war expenses. Parliament was ordered, by the same Proclamation which dissolved its predecessor, to meet in November, and on the 19th of last month it was further pro- rogued to December 10--a date which is now anticipated by seven days. This arrangement has the advantage that the regular session need not commence as earl as was expected. The brfcf sitting of Deecmber will clear away thA special business for which it is summoned, and allow the ordinary work of legislation to begin at the usual date in February. When the new Parliament meets for the first time, at the beginning of next month, it will not be able to proceed at once to the special business for which this exceptional sitting has been thus un- expectedlv convened. It will be necessary at the outset to dispo: e of preliminaries which will occupy the greater part of a week. These include the swearing in of members, the re-election of Mr. Gully as Speaker, and the signification of the Royal assent to the choice of the Commons. This will be followed by the Queen's Speech, which will ferm the subject of debate before the vote on account for the Soutls African campaign is discussed. It is not expected that the Speech from the Throne will on this occasion enter with much detail into the legislative programme of the Government, as the Cabinet will not then have concluded the series of Council meetings at which it is usual to deter- mine and draft what measures will be pro- ceeded with. There is reason to believe that the preliminary session which is to begin in the first week in December will not conclude until close upon Christmas. when the further sittings of Parliament will, in all probability, be adjourned until early in February. PROVINCIAL PRESS AND THE ANNOUNCEMENT. The Press Association says -The sur- prise felt that Parliament is to meet on December 3 is mingled throughout the country with a good deal of irritation at the partial and most unsatisfactory limitation of the announcement to a sma'l selected group of London newspapers. The news. although of national interest and importance, was deliberatclv withheld from the whole provincial press. This fact is resented throughout the kingdom, as readers of the daily provincial press are not accustomed to receive official announcements circuitously and a day later than their authorised publication in Metropolitan journals.

NEW CABINET COMPLETE. It was stated officially on Wednesday that Mr. R. W. Hanburv had been offered I and ha.d accepted the office of President of the Board of Agriculture. The new Cabinet will thus be as follows: — Primo Minister and Lord Privy Seal- Marquess of Salisbury. Lord Chancellor—Earl of Halsbury. Lord President of the Council—Duke of Devonshire. Chancellor of the Exchequer-Sir Michael Ilicks-Beach. Home Secretary—Mr. C. T. Ritchie. Foreign Secretary—Marquess of Lans- downe. Colonial Secretary—Mr. Joseph Chamber- lain. Secretary for War—Mr. St. John Brodrick. Secretary for India-Lord George Hamil- ton. Secretary for Scotland-Lord Balfour of Burleigh. First Lord of the Admiralty-Earl of Sel- borne. First Lord of the Treasury-Mr. A. J. Balfour. Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland-Earl Cado- gan. Lord Chancellor of Ireland—Lord Ash- bourne. President of the Board of Trade—Mr. Gerald Balfour. President of the Local Government Board —Mr. Walter Long. President of the Board of Agriculture— Mr. R. W. Hanbury. Chancellor of the Duchv of Lancaster- Lord James of Hereford. First Commissioner of Works—Mr. Akers- Douglas. f Postmaster-General—Marquess of Lon- donderry. THE NEW HOME SECRETARY. The Home Secretary has appointed Mr. J. A. Longley to be his private secretary, and Mr. J. Pedder, of the Home Office, to be assistant private secretary.

REEORM OF THE ARMY. THE GOVERNMENT'S PROGRAMME. The British Army (according to the "Daily Mail") is on the eve of undergoing one of the most radical upheavals it has ever experienced. The labouring work. hitherto performed by the private soldier, is to be done by time- expired men, while the soldier is to have ten months thorough military training every year, instead of a mere routine six weeks. This period is to be divided as follows:- Four months are to be devoted to company training, when the soldier is to be taught how to scout, to build trenches, bridge streams, construct redoubts, and to take cover. Four months are to be devoted to battalion manoeuvres; two months to be given up to grand manoeuvres, carried out under strictly service conditions, and the remaining two months will be taken up by furlough, Ac. Much more attention is to be given to im- proving the shooting of the Army, and marks- manship is to be made the first consideration. Officers, as well as men. have to learn to scout and shoot straight. This condition is to apply to officers of the Militia, Yeomanry, and Volunteers, as well as to those in the Regulars. The training of the artillery is also to be improved. For the purposes of conducting grand manoeuvres, musketry, and artillery practice, Ac., the War Office are acquiring con- trol of huge areas of land, which may be used by the War Office for the purposes of artillery and rifle practice for twenty days in each year.

SERIOUS ILLNESS OF MR. J. M. MACLEAN. We regret to announce the serious indisposi- tion of Mr. J. M. Maclean, ex-M.P. for Cardiff. Having left this country some three months ago to recuperate at a German watering- place, he was taken seriously ill at Frankfort, and when Metz was reached the journey had to be abandoned. An internal trouble deve- loped. and into so low a state had Mr. Mac- lean sunk that in the early part of last week his pulse was barely perceptible. It became evident that the only chance of saving life wae an operation; a specialist was telegraphed for from Paris, and he succeeded in giving some relief. The latest news from Metz, how- ever, was that the patient was still lying in a critical condition.

IRISH LOR-D-LIFUTRNANCY. The Dublin representative of the Press Association is authorised to state that •Earl Cadogan has consented to continue for a further period to fill the office of j Lord-lieutenant of Ireland. His Excel- lency will return to the Viceregal Lodge to-day (Monday). Mr. George Wyndham, jihe new Chief Secretary for Ireland, has arrived in Dublin.

COST OF THE WAR. TRANSVAAL MUST BEAR ITS LARGE SHARE. Speaking at one of the Colston banquets at Bristol on Tuesday evening, Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, said he had had a longer experience than any mem- ber of the Government except the Prime Minister, and he hoped he might have been allowed to retire, but he was not per- mitted to do so, and lie had no alterna- tive bnt to continue Chancellor of the Exchequer. With an unforeseen expen- diture of three millions in China and a prolonged war in South Africa, he could not promise relief from existing taxation, and he would be glad if he had not to im- pose more. They might hope that before the next Budget the South African War would have been brought to a close, and then it would be necessary to provide for the; gradual liquidation of so much of the cost of the war as had been met by borrowed money. They could not pro- perlv leave that cost as a permanent burden upon this country. There was wealth in the Transvaal which ought to bear a considerable portion, though, of course, they must not spoil the future of the country by attempting to impose upon it a greater burden than it could reason- ably bear-that would be cutting their own throats, and, therefore, there must necessarily be a large part of the cost of war to be borne by the taxpayers of this country, and that wouid have to be con- sidered in the next Budget. Our naval power was vital to England. The main- tenance of our naval power must come in our minds before any other conceivable expenditure, and as our naval power must b0 maintained relatively to the naval powers of other countries, our expendi- ture upon the Navy must neces- sarily always increase. Then, there were the demands for the Army. The desire and the intention of the Govern- ment was that lessons drawn from the South African War should be utilised for real reform in the military system. If there were defects in that system, he demurred to the idea that they were due to the timidity of civilian governments and the parsimony of the Treasury. If they wanted more money to make the Army as efficient as it ought to be, have that money, but take care that it was so spent as to ensure an adequate return. (Cheers.)

OPENING OF THE GERMAN REICHSTAG. REFERENCES TO THE CHINESE QUESTION. Berlin. "Wednesday—The Reichstag was opened to-day with a Speech from the Throne. It oegan by referring to the events in the Far East, which had excited a deep emotion •^mong all -lie civ,li«el peoples of the earth, and then continued as followsFanatical hate and dark superstition, incited by the unscrupulous adviser3 of the Peking t-onrt. had driven the mlJguided masses of lhe Chinese people into acts of atrocity against the crt- posts of Western civilisation and Christian worshippers dvelling peaceful' in their midst. My Minister died by the hand of the assassin in a courageous attempt to overcome the rising peril. The foreigners 111 the capital saw themselves threatened in life and limb. These tidings of horror united where otner- wise there was divergence; all the nations against which this unparalleled onslaught was directed drew close together. Their sons fought with one mind shoulder to shoulder, and, even as the standards yonder float side by side, so also the Governments show themselves in council animated by Qjie sole wish to restore an ordered state of things as speedily as possible, and. after the punishment of the chief culprits, to avert a recurrence in the future of Euch a disturbance of the peace of the world." In a later passage the Speech said:—"The relations of the German Empire with all foreign Powers continue to be good. With affaction and sorrow I recall the memory of my ally and dear friend, King Humbert, who. in the -exercise of his Royal office, fell a. victim to a damnable outrage."—Reuter.

ILLNESS OF THE CZAR. SYMPTOMS OF TYPHOID. St. Petersburg, Wednesday.—The attack of influeny.a from which the Czar waa reported to be suffering on the 8th i' usual symptoms of that c r daily and recurrent sweal illness assumed the chara daily bulletins will be i. ,.¡, condition of the Imperial patient, oaiuu Fredericks, master of the Imperial Household, iesued the following bulletin at ten o'clock this morning:—"His Majesty has passed a good r.ight, and his general condition is satisfac- tory. Temperature, 101.6; pulse, 72. The head is cioar, and the strength of the patient is quite satisfactory. A diagnosis of the illnpss shows typhoid, which, for the present, is pursuing a thoroughly satisfactory course.-Signed. Body- surgeon Hirsch, Dr. Ticlionoff, Buron Frede- ricks."—Renter.

FUNFIRAL, OF THETYICTIM. AFFECTING SCENES. Scores of relatives of the deceased old lady arrived at St. Mellon's {luring the morning from distant places. Most of them drove into the village in traps and other conveyances. They were all allowed to go into the little cottage at St. Mellon's and view the body. Among the mourners were Miss Elizabeth Williams and Mrs. Rowlands (daughters), Mr. Philip Edge (adopted eon), Mrs. W. Lewis (sister of the deceased), Mr". Lewis. Draythen; Mr. Lewis Lewis, Mr. and Mrs. Morris Evans. Mr.. Mrs., and the Misses Roaanna and Louise Bordell, Mr. T. Lewis (nephew), Messrs. David and Thomas Williams (nephews), Mrs. Mary Owens. Mrs. James Rees and Miss Ann Davies (nieces), Mr. W. Williams (nephew), Messrs. Christopher Jones and Thos. Jones, and Mr. David J. Allen (grandson). Several beautiful wreaths were sent by sympathisers, and placed on the coffln. Mr. Kemeys-Tynte, from whom the deceased was in receipt of a pension, sent one of white flowers, with the words written on a card, "Deepest sympathy." Mrs. Ladd and Mrs. Adams and family also sent one each, I with appropriate words of condolence. All assembled within the precincts, of the sorrow-stricken home were touched' to the quick by the inexpressibly painful nature of the tragedy, and few came out of the little sitting-room, where Hannah Williams was lying in her last long sleep, with dry eyes. At two o'clock the crowd, which had been moved by curiosity to go down the Began- road to see the old cottage that has now become notorious, was a fairly large one, quite 400 people being dotted here and there over the sloping field in front of the house. All the relative* wore accommodated inside and as the time drew near for the coffin to be removed to the bier these people realised that the final scene in the tragedy was about to be enacted, and that all that was mortal of a good and pious old lady was about to pass out of their sight for ever. Standing at the head of the rough oak table in the room where the old lady was struck down was the Rev. W. Windsor, of Cardiff, who was in charge of the now defunct little Independent caus £ in the village with which the deceased was con- nected, and to which she remained faithful to the end. Whilst the portion of Scripture was being read, and during the offering of prayer which followed, most of the people within hearing gave manifestations of deepest emo- tion. The coffin. which was of polished elm, mounted with brass fittings, bore a brass plate, upon which was inscribed, Hannah Williams, died November 10, 1900." It was borne on a bier by a number of the villagers to the Bethania Methodist Chanel, where a service was held. A portion of Scripture was read by the Rev. James Wheldon Davies, minister of Caersalem Baptist Chapel. Prayer wa's offered up by the Rev. Caleb Joshua, and the hymn, Jesu, Lover of my Soul," was sung with solemn im- pressivenesa to the tune of Aberystwith." In paying a tribute to the deceased lady, Mr. fTindsor said that she was one of the first to be enrolled in membership of the Independent Church, between 50 and 60 years ago, and was the last of the members. They all deplored that a life of so blameless and so exemplary a character should have had such a sad ending. The sincerity of her Christian life was uns^ies- tionable, and was marked by a quiet confi- dence in God. So long as the services were held at the Independent Chapel she was a faithful member and a generous supporter of the cause. The Rev. Mr. Price also paid a tribute to the departed, adding that it was terrible to contemplate that in a quiet country district one so innocent as she should have been the victim of so foul a murder. The service closed with the singing of Bydd myrdd o ryfeddodau." On leaving the chapel the coffin was borne to the burial ground attached to the Independent Chapel, and there lowered into the grave in the presence of the sorrow-stricken relatives. The last sad rites were performed by Mr. Windsor, who read a portion of the Church of England burial service, and offered up a short prayer. This last chapter in the tragedy was the most brief and simple of all, but no one looked into the grave of the innocent old dame, brutally murdered, without feeling intensely with those who were in sorrow and mourning.

MORRIS EVANSI IN CUSTODY. An arrest has been made in connection with the St. Mellon's murder. Morris Evans, the man who first caw the body of the murdered woman, and who was the first to arouse the neighbourhood and to inform the police, was arrested in the 'cottage of the victim under dramatic circumstances on Wednesday night. It was twenty minutes past six. and dark, when. the chief- ccnstable, two superintendents, an inspee- tor, and a constable appeared on the scene and arrested Morris Evans, whose motber-in-la»v is a sister-in-law of the murdered1 woman. They took him along the Began-road to the St. Mellon's Police-station, and formally charged him with the commission of the crime. After an hour's detention at the police-station the prisoner was taken by Superintendent Porter in a cab to the Marshfield Railway Station, and thence by the 8.10 train to Newport. All the circumstances of the day contributed to give a strikingly dramatic interest to the arrest. For the funeral of the paurdered woman had been held in the after- noon. and people from far and near crowded into the rural seclusion of St. Mellon's to pay a last tribute of respect to one who had by long years end dutiful living deserved a more peaceful departure from this world than had been her portion. Morris Evans and hit wife were at the funeral. They were two among the numerous mourners, and must have shared in the impressiveness of the simple sorrow and depth of sympathy and respect which animated the people who had teen brought together on an occasion at once sad and tragic. Somewhat curiously, Morris Evans was tho central figure in it alL As the melancholy little procession slowly wended its way along the country road from Mullen Cottage to the burial-ground small groups on the wayside asked each other, "Which is Morris Evans?«' And, again, when the religious service at the Calvinistic Methodist Chapel was in pro- gress the attention of the majority was diverted from the solemnity of the proceedings to the small, spare figure and the somewhat pallid face of the man who is now under arrest. Many things had contributed to bring this about. His was the voice to raise the alarm after he had made his dreadful discovery in a humble cot that had every right to be a Temple of Peace to its unoffending and aged inhabitant, and his was the story around which every theory of the crime has been woven and spun. In all the mystery of the tragedy the only facts contributed were these told in the tale of Morris Evaus. This brought him into a prominence which has rather oppressed him and distressed his wife. In the little chapel he was evidently impressed by the service and the surroundings, but he was calm and quiet, thongh aware that he was an object of interest to the oongregation, a feeling which seemed shared by his comely and tidy-looking wife at his side. When the funeral ended and the people dis- persed Morris Evans and his wife walked home- wards, and a couple of hours later they and others were in Mullen Cottage, the scene of the tragedy on Saturday afternoon. It was a quiet and- gloomy gathering in that little house, and no doubt there, as in the village beyond, the prevailing feeling was that the murder would remain a mystery, for there seemed no more chance of securing a clue now than there had been during any part of the past five days. Then into the midst of the quietude—disturbing it almost as rudely as did the deed on Saturday—came fiv<9 police officers. They were the Chief-constable of Monmouthshire (Mr. Victor Bosanquet), Superintendent James, of Pontypool, Superintendent Porter, of Risca, Inspector Saunders, and Police-constable Norris. With- out any unnecessary fuss, but to the consterna- tion of the assembled neighbours and the dis- traction of the wife, they arrested Morris Evans on the charge of wilfully murdering Hannah Williams at Mullen Co^+*a.ge on Saturday afternoon, and marched him to the police- station. There he was charged, and what answer Morris Evans made is known only to the police. The prisoner was taken to Marshfield Railway Station and conveyed to Newport. So quietly was the arrest effected that it was some time before the sensational develop- ment became known in St. Mellon's. Of course, it is dark at six o'clock, and the movements of the police had not been observed, or if ob- served had excited no remark, as the coming and going of police officers has been a common occurrence in the village life of St. Mellon's since Saturday. What the new evidence is upon which the police have felt justified in arresting Morris Evans is not known outside the police-station itself; neither is it certain that it will be fully made known at the formal hearing at Newport to-day. When the inquest is resumed at St. Mellon's next Wednesday the police evi- dence will, of course, be gone into fully, and it may be that the public muwt exercise its patience till then. It is stated that when everybody wa.a at the funeral the police made a further and thorough investigation of the scene of the murder, and also paid a visit to the house of Morris Evans. With the wife of Morris Evans the deepest sympathy is felt. She has two small children, to whom she last night had to explain the absence of daddy. Mrs. Evans, as has already been indicated, has shrunk from the public gaze which haa been fixed upon her husband owing to the importance of his evidence in a deeply interesting tragedy. Her cup of sorrow :s now full when she has to feel the absence of her husband in a still more im- portant and grave" role than that of a mere witness in the investigation of a crime.

LORD BRASSEY ON LIBERAL LEADERSHIP. APPEAL FOR THE ELECTION 07 LORD ROSEBERY. Lord Brassey, presiding at the first dinner of the Imperial Liberal Council, held on Mon- day night at the Hotel Cecil. London, said the association was established to advance sound Imperial principles within the Liberal party. and it would be well for the Liberal party that it should be kept alive. They should avoid any action tending to disruption. With regard to a leader, he thought a, combination of circumstances and qualifications, which they did not find in an equal degree in the case of any other statesman, pointed clearly to Lord Rosebery, who could best accomplish the union of all sections. To Lord Rosebery they snould look. To him the whole nation would look for timely guidance on great issues as they arose, and he looked with confidence to the time when the reins of power would once more be in Lord Rosebery's hands to the signal advantage of the country. Alluding to the war Lord Brassey said until it closed and a settlement was effected the attention • of the Government and of Parliament must be concentrated on South Africa, and while guerilla, warfare was still going on it was the part of the patriot to say nothing which would give encouragement to further resis- tance.

EXTBAOBDINABY SURGICAl, CASE Some time ago a thin, pale girl was admit- ted to the hospital Buffering from gradual failure of health and loss of tlesh, accom- panied by violent sickness and vomiting. No clue could be obtained to the cause of her condition, when one day she vomited a gar- den nail ljin. Jong. On being questioned, she admitted having swallowed five others. Although her condi- tion was precarious, the doctors at once decided an operation and opened the stomach. Four surgeons attended, and the foreign bodies v'ere extracted by the forceps. But what was the doctor's astonishment to find that the extraction did not stop at five nails. He per- severed with the forceps, and eventually removed 42 cast-iron garden nails, lSin., 93 brass and tin tacks from iÏn. to lin.. twelve large nails, some brass-headed, three collar etuds, a, safety pin. and a sewing needle. The day after the operation three more gar- der nails were vomited and two tin tacks. The third day following a feather, and within a month 30 other garden nails, eight tacks, a needle, and a J pen. The patient recovered. The nails have been added to the museum of the Royal College of Surgeons.