Weekly Mail

\M ^DAK/LL BAY" L||SEGARS. Wholesale: B. KINGSTON and CO., &17564 GRANGETOWN. OARDNPJP, CO-EN,'rRA*rED Not a stimulant merely for the moment, but a Permanent and Agreeable Form of Nourishment.

MEETING OF THE CABINET. DECISION ON THE FISCAL QUESTION, Jfonday's Council was one which, admit- tedly, had grave possibilities as its outcome. it was in this sense, doubtless, that one \the Ministers recently spoke of it as "the fitical Cabinet of the 14th." It is an open ecret that the fiscal problem was that which Resented itself, and in the event of the aUer being pressed to the extent of finding solution of that problem, or, rather, a Jution so far as the personnel of the Cabi- was concerned, it was obvious that a t>a *te ^ne cleavage and, possibly, a **rtial break up of the Ministry might tl> e" ^^ere waB some reason to hope k*at extremes would not have to be resoTted »• whatever the ultimate outcome of the ,j T^sWgation, for the Prime Minister had finitely undertaken that there would be a ,early attempt at legislation on the subject, all that Ministers and the country had asked to do was to countenance and 48bil3t an exhaustive inquiry before coming j. a decision. Even a Minister who had >>n h*8 views on the tariff question in eo a way as Mr. Ritchie could tQry WeIl consent without stultifying himself v., ^gree to an inquiry go long as it did not him to a line of action- 4DDarently something very like a non-com- lolttal approval of inquiry has been reached, th f re *s authority for the statement ^ere was "DO fresh development" at the th lnet, and, moreover, that the business of inn ^ay ^eeri carried to a conclusion, dis w?uld not form one of the subjects of ttt ^ssion at the further Council to be held the Foreign Office to-day, 8explaining why it should be necessary at call Ministers back from their holidays all in reference to the fiscal question, it 0, y be mentioned that at the commencement t ft0 recess an exchange of views, the cir- to i°n of Btatistics, and a meeting in the 1(jdle of September to consider these ^•terials were agreed upon., Ch Ministers were present. As Mr. to j^erlain and Mr. Gerald Balfour walked the Foreign Office there was an outburst of eering from a small knot of people gathered a the quadrangle. There was some hissing Hat ^°oing," also, but the cheers predomi- and the two Ministers seemed quite tl)I>erturbed. The Prime Minister was among OnVaBt to arrive at the Council. Lord V> a.°w left a little before six o'clock, and some Ulf«terB ihcuding Mr. Balfour, did not leave loit abouv ten minutes later. Some of the indulged in the attempt to gather ••r^^ing from the appearance of' Ministers. cjgf?r<* Balfour looks savage" and The Chan- 0r seems a bit glum,' were among the j««>ns ventured; but the emptiness of con- ftrtjUre baBed on such foundations was i0 .^Ptly illustrated by ths almost boipterous 1^, a\ity of Mr. Balfour and Mr. Austen Cham- w^° sto°d chatting for a few momenta clo»!r€ Office steps, with Mr. Brodrick at hand. Mr. Ritchie had preceded w?*' and gone by the private exit, for he the quadrangle while the little group conversation, and passed on to the itiaj Office. Thereafter eeveral of the rtg;d#t**s called at the Prime Minister's official -including Mr. Brodrick, Mr. Gerald and the Duke of Devonshire. The ty tu short, and are probably explained tn ri 'act that another Cabinet meeting lor ^"lay had been spoken of, though not actually ^mmoned. It is highly probable that one of "he concerns of to-day's meeting will with the War Commission's report. There *ill, as already stated, be no return to the ^cal question, on which inquiry, whether by Commission or otherwise, will, doubt- les3. proceed. Another report says that Mr. Chamberlain, 0^cape the public gaze, entered the Foreign ^ffice from the Charles-street entrance. He aas recognised by the crowd, which included EL, ntlmber of disorderly young men. The catr greeted Mr. Chamberlain with long and >i 3?t,inaons hooting, which lasted until the Sht h0n gentlemen had passed through v e archway into the quadrangle. The crowd, 6t,rin.e bv this time recovered from their «uUr*ae' drowned the hooting in a, counter- ^onatration of cheers. ANOTHER MEETING OF THE CABINET. 4 be Cabinet met again on Tuesday, sat for r*t H°h eh°rter time than usual, and sepa- arise w^out any new development having •si? Bpite tbe widely divergent opinions ^Pressed m different quarters, the Press f^J^ation is m a position to emphasise the after Monday's meeting, that the ^'ecnssiou by the Cabinet was then ^or time being, that the meeting r'0t 'or yesterday afternoon wae called for IrelY different purposes, and that the Pr°t>lem would not be before the Council, that both meetiags are over it may be 5,. with absolute assurajace that the foreshadowed was carried out, 8j0„ that there was no further fiscal discus- n on Tuesday. to what the business of Ministers was a ,i'o Cet &ilence maintained, but even apart War Comnission report, the Near fr stern question, and some other subjects so the discussed within the past few days, there are. tioubtle a. many matters on which CQJ. Premier would desire to conmilt his q^aSues on meeting them for a specific and ll- e different purvose. At any rate, there t 8°. far been no startling development of I Coe Ministerial situation, and the second brncil as by comparison fin exceedingly Th °ne- i afi3ertlon' that the fiscal discussion was w uded on Monday does not for a moment that the Cabinet has done with it— the difficulties in the way of settlement j)0ge been permanently removed, or that the inabilities °f serious rupture, and even dis- Ifj/^berment, have been absolutely avoided. th6 firs have met and exchanged views on I „ ^uch-vexed question of fiscal change, and Jijjg signs, short of absolute official assur- SUee> are worth anything, neither side hafi theCeeded in finally converting or convincing >t c otller. Inquiry may go forward, but when (ijjg^es to a definite course of action all the i^cilties may recur, unless, indeed, reaigna- in the meantime shall have eliminated 3arring elements on one side or the other. —r~ T, REPORTET) CHANGES. fea.!f Prose Association telegraphsMr. etr. left his official residence at Downing- t>r0 6t to-day shortly before two o'clock, and tw^ded to Whittinghame. Visitors to ^ng-street during the morning included Qe' -Austen Chamberlain, the Postmaster- and Mr. Akers-Donglae, Home Secre- tjj^" There is reason to believe that both the Ministers will be involved in changes in f«si ^abinet, consequent upon at least one Qjjj.(5riatiGn which may be expected as the 0lr|e of the tariff propoeala.

DISCLOSURES AT AN INQUEST. At inquest at Tottenham, London, c^ii .Wednesday, on the five days' old Ch6^ of the vnfe of John Laughton, of ^It-road, Tottenham, a carpenter thf Joiner, the husband stated that of weeks ago he married the mother ?e child, who was nineteen years of age. V a(i no idea but that she was a virtuous On the evening of the eighth day .» the marriage, when he returned home, 8he had given birth to a child. 6he ed that it was not his child. He left t once, and said he would have nothing do with her or the baby.—Dr. Lyon ? that death wag due to convnlsion«.— jQry returned a verdict accordingly.

DIED AT PRAYER. 1i1:¡res bright, a widower, 64, a carpenter, of ^'foad, Edmonton, London, waa found hi°n Wednesday in the attitude of prayer t K Ihiring the last few d«jr» he ^'Ifer, .°n depressed and melancholy.—Dr. 2le Said that death wa«, no doubt, the of heart failure.

FISCAL FACTS-BOARD OF TRADE- "REPORT.. -See Page 6.

MANIFESTO BY MR. BALFOUR. I FREE TRADE DRAWBACKS EXPOSED. The Prime Minister circulated to his colleagues in the early days of August a series of notes on the subject of insular Free Trade. These he has decided to publish, through Messrs. Longmans. Green, and Co., to the general public in the form of a pamphlet. To the original notes Mr. Balfour has added an appendix, showing:(I) The amount of exports to protected and unpro- tected markets of all articles of British pro- duction, except coals, machinery, and ships, in the years 1880, 1890, 1900, and 1902; and (2) the value of the exports in 1881, 1886, 1891, 1896, and 1901. The importance of the present publication is inoreased by the fact that it is issued immediately after the Cabinet dis- cussed the fiscal question. The Premier recognises in the fight which, so far as Great Britain is concerned, came to an end in 1846, not a fight over an economic theory merely, but a struggle between two opposing ideals supported by two rival interests. Was this eouutry--such was tho question at that time-to become more and more a manufac- turing community, or was agriculture to be maintained at whatever cost in its ancient predominance? His view is that the country rightty decided in favour of the first of these alternatives. The conclusive argument in its favour, to his mind, is that a predomi- nantly agricultural Britain could neither have supported the men nor furnished the money necessary to her Imperial mission. No anxious thought was suggested by these corc-Ilaries to those who worked in the cause of fiscal reform half a century ago; but Mr. Balfour points to what he conceives to have been two mistakes on their part. They failed to foresee that the world would reject Free Trade, and they failed to take full account of the commercial possibilities of the British Empire. > PREMIER A CONDITIONAL FREE TRADER. The line of thought here indicated leads Mr. Balfour up to the salient question whether a fiscal system suited to a Free Trade nation in a world of Free Traders remains suited in every detail to a. Free Trade nation in a world of Protectionists. He repeats that he approaches the question as a Free Trader with the desire to promote Free Trade as far as contemporary circumstances permit, and he throws no doubt on the Free Trade theory when expressed with its due limitations. Discussing the variations of the problem now before the country and citing one or two imaginary cases of economic dependence, the right hon gentleman urges that, in actual fact, Great Britain is seen hampered by foreign tariffs, yet able. in spite of them, to carry On an export trade which increases rather than diminishes, and an import trade of unexampled magnitude. But the reasons adduced why Great Britain holds her place are that foreign .countries owe us a great deal of money (not freights or commissions) which they pay by means of imports into the United Kingdom. Large areas remain which are not protected at all, and existing pro- tected areas are not completely protected. The point to be considered is not the momentary position of trade, but its ten- dency. Absolutely our export trade may have increased, but its rate of increase has on the whole seriously diminished. In some important departments no increase is per- ceptible. In others there are symptoms of decay. If the tide of international commerce is not flowing in proportion to the growth of wealth and population, is it becauee of tho operation of tome inevitable law? Mr. Balfour thinks not; but because it has been made impossible by the operation of hostile tariffs. Exclusive fiscal contrivances have forced cer- tain trades out of co-operative into competi- tive channels. If we exclude coal from the sum of our exports—still more if we also exclude machinery—there are signs not only of a diminution relative to population but of, a diminution absolute. Is there reason to anticipate any improvement? Mr. Balfour sees no satisfactory symptoms while the less- developed Protectionist communities like Russia and some of our own self-governing Colonies are busily occupied in building up protected intereets within their borders— process, doubtless, costly to them, but on that account less hurtful to us. The injury tends to become a double one, and why? For the reason that the effect of any artificial stimulus to manufacturers in a country like the United States of America, or Russia, or Canada, is to ante-date the period when their food supplies will be required for internal consumption. ECONOMIC THEORY UPSET BY TARIFFS. Mr. Balfour glances at another kind of injury which tariffs working in alliance with modern methods of trade combination, may inflict. He instances the case of any manu- facturers who have, with the help of Protec- tion, obtained a command of their home market. They are, he points out, at an immense advantage compared with their rivals in a Free Trade country. Moreover, German steel has been sold in this country at a price for which no English manufac- turer could produce it. He was told the other day of a shipbuilder who was about to obtain contracts solely because he had secured a consigi ment of German steel at a price lower than it could possibly have cost, either to a British or a, German ironmaster. Why should we refuse to our shipping trade a bounty which the Germans are so generously anxious to confer? Mr. Balfour thinks there is a conclusive answer. There is a utilitarian objection, as well as a sentimental one, to a form of competition which most persons would instinctively regard as unfair. In the first place it disorganised industry. The manufacturing capitalist had many risks to run. Add to these his loss (actual or anticipated) through the operation of foreign production, and his burden becomes insensibly increased. Having thus indicated the grounds of his difference with our commercial optimists, Mr. Balfour mentions the injury which foreign Protection is cai- sulated to inflict on a Free Trade country. its need for open markets, the threatened contraction of existing Fres Trade areas, the increasing severity of tariffs in Protectionist areas, the building up of vested protected interests in new countries, the effect of this protection on our future corn supply, the uncertainty and loss which tariff protected trusts are inflicting upon British capital invested in Britain. One and all of these evils, actual and prospective, are due to Protection. FISCAL WEAPONS NEEDED. It seems to me clear that we are bound to Beek for some mitigation, and that in one direction only can we hope to find it. The source of all tne difficulties being pro- tective tariffs, impoeed by fiscally indepen- dent communities, it is plain that we can secure no concession in the direction of a freer exchange except by negotiation, and that our negotiators can but appeal to self- interest, or, in the case of our Colonies, to self-interest and sentiment combined." The only way is to do to foreign nations what they always do to each other, and, instead of appealing to economic theories in which they wholly disbelieve, to use fiscal inducements which they thoroughly under- stand. We, and we alone among the nations, are unable to employ this means of per- suasion, not because in our hands it need be ineffectual, but because, in obedience to "principle,' we have deliberately thrown it away. The "principle" to which we pay this strangely incongruous tribute is, of course, the principle of "Free Trade." By only one i standard can the Free Trade policy be judged, and that is the degree to which it promotes Free Trade. PLEA FO ECONOVIO LIBERTY. "Finally," says Mr. Balfour, "were I proved to be wrong, my opinion on the fundamental question would remain unchanged. Whese we fail, others may succeed. It cannot be right for a country with Free Trade ideals to eater into competition with Protectionist rivals self-deprived of the only instrument by which their policy can conceivably be modified. The first and most essential object of our national efforts should be to get rid of the bonds in which we have gratuitously entangled ourselves. The precise manner in which we should use our regained liberty is an important, yet, after all, only a secondary issue. What is fundamental is that our liberty should be regained." The first edition of Mr. Balfour's pamphlet was sold oat by Wednesday morning.

THE MOORLAND MURDERS. f + MYSTERIOUS TRAGEDY STILL UNSOLVED. The search for the murderers of the two gamekeepers who were shot on a lonely York- shire moor is going on actively, but very little in the way of a clue is available to the police. The only fact which promisee to lead to an arrest is that on the day before the crime young Kenyon (one of the murdered men) and hie father observed a stranger on the moors. This man is the person whom the younger Kenyon set off to catch, a quest from which he never returned, and his old father says he might be able to recognise him. It is also alleged that the gamekeepers had been threatened by a poacher, but this story is not confirmed. Yorkshire has no wilder, no. more desolate spot than the scene of the terrible crime com- mitted on Wednesday night. Marsden Moor is a poacher's paradise, for grouse and rabbits abound. Detection is almost impossible, while the way of escape to the great towns from which most of the marauders come is so open and free that only the worst of luck can result in oap- ture. On the present occasion, however, the poachers were seen by the keepers, who wem- on the look-out, knowing that the present period of idleness-most of the woollen workers in the neighbourhood are taking a holiday—would be a most likely one to tempt the daring spirits to whom poaching is a sport the love of which is born in them. Early on Wednesday a poacher was seen on the skyline of the Bucks tones Moors by Kenyon, a head gamekeeper, and his son, Robert, who was his assistant. "Be was a long way off," said the old man, two miles or so, and he was coming in our direction. My son gave me his gun and then went off to catch the man. I remained out on the moors for a long time, but did not see either of the men again. At length I went home, and at mid- night, as my son did not return, I set out again to find him. All through the night I Jroamed to and fro over the moors." At nine in the morning the old man, weary and spent, saw a dog which he recognised as belonging to William TJttley, a gamekeeper employed on the shoot. Knowing that the master could not be far off, he went towards the animal, and saw, to his horror, the dead body of Uttley lying in a gully or gruff" a mile from the Manchester-road, the clothes being riddled with grouse pellets and badly burnt, obviously by the discharge of a gun at close quarters. The dog must have kept a patient watch all through the night, for the circum- stances pointed to the fact that the man had been dead for hours. The search was continued by some 60 mill hands, who, after an hour's patient and systematic labour, found Kenyon'e body, the clogs alone protruding from a carefully piled heap of earth and stones. The dead man's neck was pierced by a hole three inches in diameter, so the victim must have died instantaneously. The mound of stones was so cleverly arranged that but for the clogs projecting the body might have been searched for in vain for days. The Huddersfield police were soon on the spot, but they are so far totally at fault. What footprints were left by the murderer were quickly effaced by a deluge of rain which fell during the night. Absolutely nothing wae left behind which might act as a clue to the whereabouts of the mur- derer, who had had about a dozen hours' start, and who could have taken a dozen different roads across the deserted moor. Uttley was a. mah as powerful as he was potralnc-ra man standing nearly six feet high, with shoulders in proportion, and the honest, geod-natured face such as one often finds among those who live in the open and breathe the pure air of the fields. It is a curious fact that Uttley's father met a tragic death, while young Kenyon is said to have attempted suicide two years ago by shooting himself through the jaw with a gun. The story of a gun accident was circu- lated, however, and no action was taken by the authorities. The elder Uttley, who was also a gamekeeper, was out shooting with a butcher named Waddington on May 27, 1867, when the latter's gun went off, inflicting wounds from which Uttley died instantly. SINGULAR EVIDENCE BY KENYON'S FATHER. At Marsden, near Huddersfield, on Monday, an inquest was opened on the bodies. of the gamekeepers, William Henry; Uttley and Robert Kenyon. — James Kenyon, gamekeeper, father of the youngest viotim, deposed that when his son and himself went on to the moors on the Lancashire side on Wednesday morning, they heard sev-en shots fired, but could see no one. After dinner thoy again visited the same part of the moor, and saw a man dodge down into a clough. Witness's son wanted to follow him but witness persuaded him to remain, as a terriffic thunderstorm came on. When the storm abated, the poacher was again seen in the open moor, and young Kenyon, whom witness described as a solemn, desperate man, giving his gun to witness, set out in pursuit. Witness again endeavoured to restrain him, as he thought he recognised the fugitive Ap a desperate character. Deceased, however, pro- ceeded to follow the man, and witness followed a little way, but lost sight of the two men. Suddenly witness saw a white, ghastly face peering round a clough. Witness went in that direction, but finding no one went home. He described his lonesome wandering over the moonlit moor in his anxiety to find his son, and the finding by the search party of Uttley's body with his master's dog sitting faithfully by its side, and the subsequent finding of his son's body buried beneath earth and stones. The Coroner asked witness to write down the name of the man he believed he recognised on the moors. This witness did, and the name was handed to the police. Evidence was given as to the finding of the bodies. The jury returned a verdict of "Wilful murder against some person unknown." AN ARREST. The magistrates sat specially at Hudders- field on Wednesday evenuig to hear the charge preferred against Henry Buckley, farmer, of Sholver Farm, Moorside, Oldham, of being concerned in the murder of Robert Keynon and William Henry Uttley, gamekeepers, on Marsden Moor. Superintendent Pickard said the accused was arrested on Tuesday night at his home as the result of information sup- plied by Kenyon's father, who believed that he saw the prisoner on the moor on the day of the crime. He asked for a remand until Tuesday next. Prisoner, aaked by the police to account for his movements on the 9th inst., said that he was at home until noon, and then left to go to Buckstone Moor. Replying to the charge when arrested, prisoner replied: "I am innocent. I admit being on the moora, but I never saw the gamekeepers." He was remanded.

ILLNESS OF SIR T. LIPTON- PATIENT SUFFERING FROM APPEN- DICITIS. The New York "World" on Wednesday pub- lished the following telegram from Chicago: —Sir Thomas Lipton is critically ill witb gastritis. Three doctors are in consultation, and two will remain with the patient all night. -Reuter. A later telegram from Chicago says: -Sir Thomas Lipton's condition is regarded as serious. The illness is officially pronounced to be colitis and catarrhal appendicitis. Chicago, Thursday.—A bulletin issned by the dootors last night state$that Sir ThoAias Lipton's condition remains satisfactory. June of them, however, on leaving Sir Thomas fLip- ton's room, said the patient would be lfacky if he pulled through without having to undergo an oper&Alon.-R-euter. An earlier Central News telegram from New York said:-Sir Thomas is now in the audito- rium annexe of Dr. T. Homer Thomas's home. When the baronet arrived at Chicago he was pale from illness, and his eyee indicated sleep- less nights. Dr. Thomas diagnosed his illness as gastritis. On Tuesday his condition was pronounced to be critical, and Mr. Nicholas, a famous surgeon, and Dr. George W. Webster, specialist on intestinal diseases, were both summoned for consultation. They found that, in addition to gastritis, he had inflammation of the boweli. The two physicians intended spending the night with Sir Thomas Lipton,. all other persons being exclvded from his room.

MINISTER AND MAID. I SERVANT GIRL'S CURIOUS CONDUCT. The Thornbury Police-oourt was crowded on Wednesday when a case in which the Rev. George Robinson wa& the defendant came on for hearing. Mr. Robinson is a Wesleyan minister who has, after many years' service, been granted superannuation, and he resides at Thornbury. He was summoned at the instance of Emily Thorn, a domestic servant, fifteen years of age. The complainant, in the course of her evidence, stated that she was a daughter of William Thorn, of Thornbury. She went into Mr. Robinscu'a service three months ago. She remembered sume time oa.)k, when Mr. Robinson and she were the only oocupanta of the house one night. Mrs. Robinson having at the time gone to nurse her father, who was ill. Witness occupied a bedroom on the same landing as Mr. Robinson, and on retiring to rest she fastened the door, but did not lock it. After she had put out the light, and had been in bed about ten minutes, the door was opened, and MT. Robinson entered. She added that Mr. Robinson was undressed, hav- ing on only his sleeping shirt. Witness after this remained silent for some minutes when told to tell her story. Witness, in reply to questions, said she screamed. The clerk repeatedly asked the complainant to go on with her story, but she once more became silent. The Clerk (to witness): Have you anything more to say? Witness: Yes. The Clerk: Well, tell your story. Complainant remained silent, although pressed to proceed with her evidence. The magistrates remarked that it seemed impossible to carry the case any further. Mr. Taylor. for the defence, observed that he was naturally anxious to get to the bottom of it if possible. His client absolutely denied the whole thing from beginning to end; and a few questions in cross-examination, if the complainant woud give her evidence, would dispose of the matter. If the magistrates had asked her, following up her statement, it she had made any complaint, they would And that there had been no complaint, although she was at the house until September, He did not think she waa compos mentis. He did not think she knew what she was talking about. The Clerk (to the complainant): Do you wish to say anything else to the court? Oomplainant: Yes. The Clerk: Why don't you say it? (No answer). The Clerk: What have you to say now. (No answer). The Clerk: What do you want to Bay now? (No answer). The Clerk, after conferring with the magis- trates: The only thing is to dismiss the case for want of evidence. Is there anything you can suggest, Mr. Taylor ? Mr. Taylor: It is the only course you can I pursue. I cannot cross-examine her. The Clerk: She has done nothing on which; you can cross-examine her. There is nothing to be done. Dr. T. LI. Davie* said that he examined the complainant on September 5, and he found nothing unusual. Mr. Taylor asked the magistrates to dismiss the case, and he hoped they would say that there was absolutely nothing against Mr. Robinson. Admiral St. John, in intimating that the case was dismissed, said to Mr. Robinson- There is notf. ^g gainst- you in the opinion of the bench. I The statement was received with applause by the people crowding the public part of the court, and no attempt was made to check the demonstration.

HALIFAX HOSPITAL SCANDAL CHARGES AGAINST MATRON AND CHAIRMAN. The Halifax Board of Guardians on Wednesday received the report of the investigation committee appointed to inquire into the allegations which had arisen in connection with the conditions prevailing at their new hos- pital. The committee reported that they had found no foundation for the inferences to be drawn from a letter from a nurse regard- ing the personal conduct of Miss Frost, the matron, and Mr. Tillotson, the chairman of the hospital committee, and that any sug- gestion of the kind is cruel and unjustifi- able." They were of opinion, however, that the persons mentioned had shown a lack of discretion which had "given rlee to much ill- founded goesip." Miss Frost, they suggested, should be called upon to resign, and they also pointed out that Mr. Tillotson had done too much of the work of the hospital com- mittee. Mr. Sowood, a Labour member, who had been on the investigation committee but had refused to sign the report, objected to the first finding ,f the committee. Mr. Tillotson, he said, was often at the nurses' home, and the ian-lights of Miss Frost's room had been altered. They had been at Herne Bay and in London together, and, Mr. Tillotson had sent Misa Frost a telegram in which the word love appeared. Miss Frost and Mr. Tillotson had been found in a passage in the dark after a dance at the hospital. Mr. Tillotson, speaking with emotion, de- scribed Mr. Sowood's speech as a most scur- rilous attack. He had only shown Miss Frost the ordinary courtesy of a gentleman to a lady whom his wife and daughters loved as a friend. As to the dance incident, he and Mias Frost went to see if the young people had cleared away, and to turn out the lights. They were in darkness but half a dozen seconds. One of the guardians alleged that the hospital committee were simply dummies, all the work being done by the chairman, but Mr. Tillotson asserted that all the bother had arisen through the guardians gossiping. Eventually, the guardians approved the findings of the committee, and accepted Miss Frost's resignation, which had already been sent in. The clerk at the conclusion of the meeting said, speaking as legal adviser to the guardians, he did not consider there was a thread of evidence that attached the least imputation to anybody in connection with the hospital.

THE LOSS OF THE INCHULVA FULL LIST OF THE CREW SIGNED ON AT BARRY. In connection with the foundering of the Barry-laden steamer Inchulva. of Liverpool, during the recent terriffic gale off the coast of Florida, and the drowning of nine of the crew, a full list of those on board at the time of the disaster, the whole of whom wer# signed on at Barry, will be perused with interest. The list is as follows:— G. W. Davies, Swansea, master. J. Gay, Fifeshire, chief officer. James Gunn, North Shields, second officer. William Bissett, Glasgow, third officer. A. Grongrist, Finland, carpenter. •Thomas Taylor, Waterford, boatswain. T. Lushington, Birkenhead, steward. W. Sherman, Birkenhead, assistant steward. -Samuel Allen, Belfast, messroom Steward. Daniel Japeon, Liverpool, cook. P. Power, Liverpool, A.B. 'John Gosling, Kinsale, A.B. Thomas Darling, Youghal, A.B. Thomas Fleming, Waterford, A.B. Alexander M'Lean, Skye, A.B. John Hollern, Glasgow, A.B. William Cunningham, Liverpool, A.B. 'William Smith, Petershead, first engineer. •John M'GUl, Beal, second engineer. •James Shaw, Glasgow, third engineer. •John WeatheriH, North Shields, fourth engineer. OR. Single, Hamburg, donkeyman. John Macnamara, Ltverpool fireman. James Rudd, Dublin, fireman. George Turton, Philadelphia, fireman. B. Oollings, Armagh, fireman. •Thomas Whitney, Cork, fireman. J. Maloney, Plymouth, fireman. R. Hanson, West Hartlepool, fireman. W. philiips. Sidney, fireman. R. Hewitson, Wigton, fireman. L. Furlay, Wexford. fireman. James A. Tuite, Belfast flrejpan. The names of those drowned are denoted by an asterisk. I OUT OF THE BUNKER.

AN EXPLOSION AT I PENARTH. STARTLING OCCURRENCE ON A BARQUE. Shortly after ten o'clock on Tuesday morning an explosion took place in the hold of the Nor- wegian barque Eliza, at present lying at the top of the Penarth Dock. The Eliza left Swansea with her cargo some days ago, but had to put back to Penarth on account of the bad weather The cause of the explosion is not at present known, but it was of a rather severe character, for, besides doing damage to the ship, four men were severely burnt. Dr. Barry waa soon in attendance, and did what be could to relieve the sufferings of the injured men who were placed on a railway truck and taken at once to the Cardiff Infirmary The names of the injured men are:— H. Hansen, 46, Norwegian. Peter Klappin, 45, carpenter. George Fulton, married man, belonging to Swansea. B. Kriatofor, a native of Riga. Klappin, who was burned rather severely about the head and hands, was able to leave the infirmary in the course of the day, and returned to the barque. The vessel belongs to Fredrickdt, and the master is Captain Berg. She was laden with small coal at the time, a'nd the decks were completely blown up. It is stated that the negro cook was in the galley at the time, and while the deck sur- rounding the cook-house was completely destroyed, that portion immediately beneath the galley remained untouched. Other men in the forecastle were similarly fortunate. It is stated that one of the injured men, a young Russian, named Kristifor, a native of Riga, wae blown into the rigging, but other eye- witnesses failed to corroborate this. Fulton has lived at Swansea for a number of years, and he, Klappin, and Kristofor joined the ship at Swansea a fortnight age. Very soon after the occurrence Dr. Barry, of Penarth, arrived and gave first attention to the sufferers, afterwards ordering their r& moval to the Oardiff Infirmary. The Eliza was constructed at Drontheim, and her owner is A. Hannested, of Fredrick- øtadt. The barque has undergone some stirring experiences during the past fortnight. She arrived at Swansea in ballast last Wednesday week, and, havirigi been laden with 350 tons on anthracite, she proceeded to sea, but she put back to Abertawe, whence she again set sail for Nor- way. Then she got mixed up in lait Thurs- day's terrific storm, and, after dragging her day's terrific storm, and, after dragging her anchors in the Channel, was threatening to become a wreck, when she was picked up by two tugs belonging to Messrs. Daviee and Co., of Mount Stuart-square, Cardiff, and Messrs. Christie and Co., of Bute-street, Cardiff, which towed her into Penarth Dock. She now lies in a battered condition, and making water at tie rate of 3in. an hour. In the course of an interview with one of the victims, who was badly burnt about the boo and hands, he stated that there were nine men on board at the time, including the captain. One of the crew had juat removed the covering of the hatch, when there was a loud explosion, the deck of the vessel being blown high in the air, whilst some of the men were also carried into the air some distance, and the cook was blown into the hold. Not one of the crew escaped without some injury, but only the four mentioned were seriously hurt. The captain was also injured, but refused to go to the infirmary and went on board an adjoining vessel. The lifeboat, he said, had been thrown from its blocks and fell on the back of one man. The cook, a young negro, remained at his poet. What was once his cook-house was little better than a scrap heap. The cook told the following story:- I was sitting in the cook-house peeling potatoes. The captain stood over there (pointing to amidships), and a man was standing near him smoking. All at once the plates and things began to fall about, and I fell over. I remember nothing else, but when I came to I found my foot was badly scalded." We have ascertained from the Cardiff Infir- mary that none of the men sustained any broken limbs, but that all of them were severely burnt about the face, arms, chest, back, and legs. After having his face and arms dressed, Klappin was able to leave and return to the ship, but the other three men were detained. Inquiries made at the Cardiff Infirmary at a late hour on Tuesday night elicited that the men who were injured are progressing satis- factorily. EXPLOSION AT NEWPORT. It was reported on Saturday that Mr. J. W. Watts, yeast merchant, the Old Arcade, was thrown from the footway on Newport Bridge into the middle of the tramway by the force of an explosion from an electric man- hole, situated at the end of the bridge, by the London Wharf. Mr. Watts fell to the ground, and the cover of the manhole fell across his legs. The cover was taken off his legs, and he complained of being injured. A strong smell of gas was emitted from the manhole. Mr. Watts was taken home, and it transpired that one of his legs was slightly sprained. The cause of the explosion is not known.

A LIVERPOOL SHIP LOST. The owners of the Liverppol steamer Inchulva have received a cable from Florida, stating that the vessel had been totally wrecked in a hurricane eighteen miles south of Jupiter, Florida. Out of a crew of 28, nine- teen were saved and nine drowned. The Inchulva was a steel vessel of 4,823 tons gross register, and was built at West Hartle- pool in 1892. Lloyd's telegram from Delray (Florida) states that the nineteen saved include the offioers. The nine drowned included Smith, M'Gill, Shaw, Weatherill, Single, Taylor, Gasting (?Gosling), Whitney (? Whitley), and the steward, Allen. The Inchulva belonged to the Inch Shipping Company (Limited).

A WELSHMAN'S ENGLISH. SEQUEL TO ALLEGED THEFT OF A WATCH. The magistrates at Cardiff Police-oourt on Tuesday were amused and perplexed at what was suggested to be the "cuteness" of one Robert Hughes, a native of Merthyr Vale, who has been in Cardiff since Saturday, and who described himself as a "second-hand timber- man." Hughes appeared before the jus- tices (Alderman Ebenezer Beavan and Messrs. John Jenkins, and Henry White) and charged Ciesie Bevan, 36, with stealing his white metal watch, valued at 12s. 6d., in Bridge-street, oa September 14. Everything was ready for a start when prosecutor began speaking in Welsh, and persisted in so doing. Court-officer Evans explained that Hughes spoke English all right" last night and this morning up till now. Prosecutor kept on talking in Welsh, when the Clerk (Mr. Rees) pulled him up with the re- mark that It's no use to talk Welsh here," Mr. Deverenx (court missionary): Shall I translate? Alderman Beavan: It's kind of yoit to make the offer, but wait a minute. Mr. Henry White: He can speak English if he only would- Mr. Devereux: Hie can't understand certain questions. Hughes, in answer to the missionary, said his conversations with the police previously and in private had all been in Welsh. Court-officer Evans said that could scarcely be, as the officer on night duty was not con- versant with Welsh, and he was not now pre- sent. Mr. Devereux assured the court that these sort of men were sometimes very cute over the language question. Mr. Devereux (speaking in Welsh, addressing Hughes): Do you understand English san- ciently to proceed with the case? Prosecutor (also in Welsh): I understand it a little, but talk it very imperfectly—only a chance word. The Bench remanded the case until to-day (Wednesday) for the attendance of the officer on night duty, who lives in Arran-street, and where, it was explained, he was now in his season of off duty." Court-officer Evans: I have no wish to put the court to any inconvenience, but not a word of Welsh has been spoken up to the present. Alderman Beavan: We understand that. He seems to understand what we have said. Mr. White: Why, he understands the techni- cal word remand." Alderman Beavan: Aye, he knows right enough. He is laughing now. Mr. Devereux: Tell him there is a pint of beer waiting for him on the other Ride of the road, and he will understand that right enough. (Laughter, in which the prosecutor joined.) Wn Wednesday the case was again called upon, and Police-sergeant Skyrme stated that when prosecutor came to the police-station he told them in English what had happened. He could not speak English well; but knew it well enough to make himself understood. There was now further discussion in Welsh between the Mayor, who presided, and the prosecutor. Subsequently, his Worship informed the court that the prosecutor said he was a native of Llanrwet, North Wales, and that he admitted he gave hie evidence in English to the policeman. He (the mayor) had, therefore, informed him that, as he had not told the truth on the preoeding day, the magistrates would not be likely to believe him now. The Bench called upon prosecutor to give his evidence in English. He said his name was Robert Hughes, and that he was a second hand timberma,n, of Mackintosh-street, Merthyr Vale. He was in Cardiff on Monday, and shortly before eleven o'clock at night he met prisoner, Cissie Bevan. At this juncture witness started to epeak Welsh voluminously. Then the Mayor took it up, and the dialogue wa« continued for some considerable time. Ultimately Mr. Devereux (police-court mis- sionary) was sworn as Welsh interpreter, and with his assistance it was ascertained that the lady stopped the North Walian and asked him to pay for a drink. He told her he had no money, and she put her hands in his pockets. She eventually snatched the watch and ran away with it. He followed her into a fried-fish shop in Bridge-street, and demanded the return of the watch. She denied the theft, upon which prosecutor called two policemen, who hauled the woman to the police-station. There, as the watch could not be found, she was released. In about an hour the watch was discovered in a bucket under the counter of the fried fish shop. Cissie had returned in the meantime, and asked the fish vendor if he had found "that," and "thsA"-the watch-led to her aga.in being arrested, the piscatorial restau- ranteur informing the police of his "find" and of Bevan's injudicious remark. The woman asked to be tried by a. jury, and was committed to the sessions on the charge of stealing the watch.

MR. ROOSEVELT AND SIR T. LIPTON. In connection with the rumour that Mr. Roosevelt refused to attend the annual dinner of the Seawanhaka Yacht Club if Sir Thomas Lipton were to be present, owing to a fear on his part that he might appear to be overdoing his courtesies to Sir Thomas, it is announced that Mr. Roose- velt's secretary wrote a letter to Mr. Hoyt, chairman of the club trustees, at the President's request, saying:- It would be a particular pleasure to Mr. Roosevelt if Sir Thomas Lipton were present at the dinner. The President (the letter continued) has a particularly high regard for Sir Thomas Lipton, and high apprecia- tion of the manly sportsmanlike spirit he hae shown throughout the yacht contests. The President earnestly desires Sir Thomas to be present. Mr. Hoyt declares that the President did not name Sir Thomas Lipton or anyone else when he insisted that the dinner should be free from formality if he were to attend.

THE PLYMOUTH TRAGEDY. CHARGE OF MURDER AGAINST A WELSHMAN. At Plymouth on Thursday Robert Humphreys, merchant seaman, a native of Aberystwyth, was charged with the wilful murder of Polioe-constable Edwin George Wilce at Plymouth on the morning of the 30th of August, at 12.40. Mr. Percy Pearce was for the prosecution, and Mr. C. R. Warren defended the prisoner. Mr. Pearce said that at midnight on the 30th of August the prisoner's wife oame home at twelve o'clock drunk. Prisoner was standing at the door. As she came to the door Hum- phreys seized her by the hair of the head, exclaiming, This is a pretty fine time to come home." He dragged her into the passage, and there was a scuffle, a pool of blood being afterwards found there. Evea. tually the parties went up to their sleeping- room, which was on the first storey of the house, which was rack-rented and in a very poor locality. Soon after they got to their room there were loud cries of Murder!" from the woman, who said, Have mercy, Bob I I'm only a poor woman!" Police-constable Wilce was attracted by the woman's scream, and he went and opened the door and shouted up the passage, asking Humphreys what he was doing to his wife. Humphreys replied, I will do for you just the same if you inter- fere between me and my wife." Following wp the threat, prisoner came downstairs, and, addressing the constable, said, I am Bob Humphreys, a Welshman, 45 years of age. Which is the best man, I or you?" The oon- stable caught the man by the arm and tried in a most kindly way to get him to go upstairs and be peaceful with his wife. Prisoner seemed to become more exasperated. He caught the policeman by the collar of his tunic and dragged him into the passage. The door was slammed. The neighbours heard the policeman shouting for help three times in half a minute. The door was re-opened, and the constable was thrust out by Humphreys. The policeman staggered a couple of paces, and then fell to the ground and expired. Meanwhile Humphreys called out of the upstairs window, I have done for you. Yo. won't come up and interfere with me and my wife again." For the defence it wae sought to show that Humphreys used no violence whatever, and that the constable died of heart disease. The medical evidence was to the effect that there were no external marks of violenc. There was a slight effusion of blood on the brain, but not sufficient to cause death. If the deceased had ben struck or roughly caught hold of in the region of the neck, it, would act upon the heart and cause death. Prisoner was committed to the assizes on the capital charge.

A PAINFUL STORY. OFFICIAL'S DOWNFALL THROUGH DRINK. George Montagu Fry, 33, until reeently a district superintendent of the police force of Northern Nigeria, surrendered to his bail at the Clerkenwell Sessions, London, on Wed- nesday, to receive judgment, having at the last sessions been convicted of fraudulently obtaining the sum of 30s. from h illiana Vivian, barman at the Junior United Service Club, Charles-street, W. The money wa. obtained on a worthless cheque drawn ca Cox's Bank on July 25 last. In the course of the trial a very painful story was revealed. Fry was a well-educated and very intelligent man, who was selected by the Colonial Office, on account of his high qualifications, for service on the West Coast of Africa. In July last he arrived in Eng- land, having been invalided home with mala- rial fever. As a cure for this malady he existed almost solely on champagne, and whilst under the influence of drink met with many strange adventures, which ended in his being arrested by Detective-sergeant Mercer for the fraud on the prosecutor. At the last sessions Fry, who declared he would never touch drink again, was liberated on bail, pending arrangements for his recep- tion into an inebriate home. He, however, soon relapsed, and was fined at Folkestone for drunkenness. Yesterday Detective-sergeant Mercer reported that he had received no fewer than 37 dishonoured cheques, purporting to be for the payment of £ 500, which Fry had dis- tributed. Mr. Clarke Hall said that he was afraid it was a hopeless case of chronic drunkenness, and the prisoner was powerless to prevent himself from giving way to his unfortunate and lamentable failing. His friends would make provision for his future at the expira- tion of any sentence ordered, although con- finement for short periods on previous occa- sions in inebriate homes had had no effect upon him. Sir William Jones sentenced Fry to fanip months' imprisonment in the second division.

COURT SCANDAL. SOCIETY LADIES AND UNPAID DRESS BILLS. The Lord Chamberlain, for whom., it may be presumed, Court functions find sufficient perplexities and embarrassments in the normal course of things, is confronted by a problem at once complex and painful. Behind the bewildering beauty of presenta- tion dresses and the glitter and splendour of presentation jewels there lurks at times, it seems, the dark shadow of the unpaid shop- keeper, to whom next morning's catalogue of costumes and adornments which follows a Royal Court at Buckingham Palace brings only a troubled reference to his ledger. Taking their courage in both hands, some of the costume-makers and jewellers who have thus suffered propose to present to the Lord Chamberlain a petition praying for the insti- tution of a black list," on which shall be enrolled the names of those who have been in the habit of attending Court functions at the expense of the shopkeeper. The Lord Chamberlain is to be asked to urge upon his Majesty that such ladies be debarred from attendance at Court. It is understood that the grievance has once before come under the King's notice, and that his Majesty, while sympathising with the tradesmen, felt that there were grave difficulties in the way of finding a remedy. Circumstances have recently arisen, how- ever, which indicate that there is a strong possibility that the King will cause the Lord Chamberlain to give a gentle hint to certain lady sinners The" Sun" states that in one case alone bad debts amounting to nearly £6,000 were written off last year, and that a certain marchioness, much talked about, owes her dressmaker alone £ 3,000. Mr. Barry Cohen, of the firm of Cohen and Cohen, who have received instructions in the matter from several large firms, with a view to the facts being set forth for presentation to the Lord Chamberlain, stated, in the course of an in. terview with regard to the wife of a well- known M.P., that a serious investigation is being entered upon, with a view to criminal proceedings, as she appears to have made away with or concealed the goods obtained in some of these transactions. She should have in her possession some magnificent costumes, purchased from clients of ours who turn out veritable works of art." He added, It is a scandal that those PWRous who are using their position to obtain goode they do not intend to pay for should be in attendance on the Sovereign.

STABBED TO THE HEART. On Wednesday night a miner, named Williamson, aged twenty, quarrelled with an Italian in an ice cream shop in Craigneuk village, near Wishaw, Lanarkshire. The Italian stabbed the miner to the heart, death being instantaneous. The Italian fled, bat waa arreted during the nieht at Motherwell.