Weekly Mail

SOLICITORS DEFRAUDED. "GREAT EXPECTATIONS" OF AN EX- CAPTAIN. "This case is extraordinarily like the Hum- bert affair," observed Mr. Justice Darling, when, at the end of a remarkable trial at the Old Bailey, he sentenced ex-Oaptain Gordon Macrae Shrot to five years' penal servitude. There was, indeed, a very close resemblance. The millions of "Mr. Crawford" in the famous Paris sensation had their counterpart in the millions of the mysterious and secretive Mr. Baring" who so unkindly left Short to his On the strength of his great expectations j under the will of that rich old gentleman Mr. Baring, Short borrowed from two solicitors, and induced an ex-M.P., Mr. Bainbridge, to guarantee an overdraft of S,5,000 on Lloyd's Bank. But even the wealthy Mr. Baring—who had been represented as a half-brother of Lord Revelstoke—did not exhaust the expectations of the Short family, for there was a title and other fortunes in prospect. All day the ex-officer and his wife laboured strenuously, but vainly, to convince the court of the existence of "Mr. Baring." Smartly dressed in a light tweed suit, with blue chcek wai9tcoat, and with an imposing pile of blue documents before him, Short intimated, as soon as the judge took his seat, that he would cail Mrs. Short. So the ex-captaine wife, a middle-aged womau. in a stylish black dress, went into the witness-box. Her answer to her husband's first question at onee rivetted the interest of the court. Yes," she said, speaking in a low voice, I I BX-CAPTAIN MACRAE SHORT. I saw Mr. Baring on Monday last at Eastbonme. I He was then leaving for the North." Mr. Baring is my godfather," she went on, replying to further queries. "He made his fortune in Australia, sixty years ago. To the family he was known as Baring, but to the outside world as Robinson. His real name was William James Baring Robinson." When the judge interposed with regard to a, question, Short turned to his lordship and observed with great dignity, "I am well instructed in the law. I've been brought up in the law, and know what the law in, as I have often presided at courts-martial; and know the rules of evidence." ''Then, if this is the way evidence was elicited," rstorted the judge, I do not think much of the decisions of those courts-martial. Anything that Mr. Baring said to the witness is not strictly evidence; and if the counsel for the prosecution had objected this would have been exelnded. The-way to prove this is to call Mr. Baring." It appeared from further evidence by Mrs. Short that Mr. Baring was ninety, and that sometimes he said he was ninety-three." "Did Mr. Baring tell you everything should be paid up if I proved I was only a. fool, and bad not defrauded anyone?" queried Short. "Yos," answered his wife. Then rose an incredulous barrister in the person of Mr. R. D. Muir, with uncomfortable questions about the mysterious millionaire. Have you scrap of paper with any writing upon it from Mr. Baring?—No. A wealthy man, I suppose he kept servants, carriages, horses, and so on?—Yes; he had carriages sometimes, and servants. Are any of the servants available to prove the existence of this person?—No. Questioned as to where Mr. Baring had lived, Mrs. Short said it was near Warrior- Square, Hastings. How near?—In Warrior-square. Ah, that is very near. What is the number? —I decline to tell. Our cam is that you are giving perjured evi- dence. You have the opportunity of relieving yourself of that by giving us the means of verifying your statements.—I have been .re- quested not to give the information. quested not to give the information. 't You have told us so mueh about him that ¡ T do not see why you should not now tell us where he lived some time ago," interposed the judge. judge. "I have been requested not to give the in- flation," repeated the witness, firmly. I suggest that you are telling us what is untrue," said counsel. I am not. I have got myself to study as well as Captain Short," declared Mrs. Short, with vehemence. "You may take it from me," remarked Mr. Mtjir, "according to my experience, that your hpsbapd will go to prison unless you give us more information than you have." Oh. ape you going to influence the court, then?" exclaimed Mrs. Short. Is there any living person you can call into court who has ever seen Mr. Baring?—TTiere are maay, but I decline to give their addresses. Referring to the faet that she was a ipefmber of the Soltykoff family," Mrs. Short said she lived in St. Petersburg till she was fiye. and had been to Russia many times since. Next Short gave evidence on his own behalf, being warned several times by the judge "not to waste the time of the court." Short seemed hurt at the reluctance of Mr. r Bering to come forward. "There must be some extraordinary reason for the old gentleman behaving as he is doing," he said; "but, even if I am not honourably acquitted now, I shall have to prpve my innocence afterwards." Protesting against a. close cross-examina- tion, Short observed plaintively, "Mr. Baring will be so angry with me." "I would not trouble about that," sa.id the Judge, in a sympathetic voice; and there was a IjUMt of laughter, in which even counsel joined. Short said he had once seen the retiring Mr. Baring. "The old gentleman was stand- ing by a bathchair at Hastings, and I recog- uiaed him from my wife's descriptions." It was disclosed tha.t Short had once written that, "Next to the Queen, old Baring holds more London property than anyone." It was hinted' that "the Pall Mall end of Regent- street" belonged to Baring until it was dis- covered tha.t the whole of Regent-street from Oxford-eireus to Piccadilly was Crown property, a,nd that there was no "Baring" in the list of lessees. "Yen see," explained Short, "he may have held it in the name of iiobinson. The ex-eaptain could not mention any pro- perty belonging to Mr. Ba.ring, while as to Pollock, who was supposed to be trustee under Baring's will, he was a coal mine proprietor., Where?—Oh, in several parts—Wales and Durham. He is a millionaire, too?—Yes. Where is he?—I cannot say. I Docs it not seem odd that millionaires can hide themselves in this hole-and-corner fashion?—I do not know. I think Pollock had landed estates, amongst other places, in Ireland. "Oh," exclaimed Mr. Muir, with a mock air of disappointment, "then Pollock will not "ome any nearer than Baring." I Further interrogated, Short said that Baron Soltykoff died a month ago. and he and his viife succeeded to the title and estates. "I shall have to re-marry my wife, however, to become Baron Soltykoff," he added. "Estates cannot be held in Russia, unless the inheritors re-marry in the Greek Church." "The barrm was an unconscionable time in dying, was he not?" said counsel, alluding to Short's borrowing qn expectations in 1894 and then reporting the baron as very ill. ."I do not think this should be made a jefc of," rcuiied Short, looking very solemn. I "Well." apologised Mr. Muir, "when people are so long about dying, there must be a joke in between." "Many illustrious persons." observed the judge. have made the beat jokes on their death-bed." Counsel did not address the jury, and Short I then asked for an adjournment (which was refused) in order to "prove the existence of Mr.' Baring." Hie, wife, re-called, averred that the mil- lionaire was in Sheffield, bat that she did not know the address. She declined to give the names of his solicitors. My wife ana been laughed and jeered at by the court," complained Short. If you intend to be insolent. I shall deal with you rsry summarily," said the judge. After Short'bad assured the jury of his inno- cence. f. juror inquired pertinently, Why doesn't Mr. Baring come forward and help yea?" I Because ho says I have got into the mess, | and must jet out of it myself," replied the jwisouer. In sentencing Short—who, it was stated, had "ocsn forced to resign from tb.e Army in 1888 ';)1\. nceonnt of some char gas made against him in connection with finance—Mr. Justice Darling said the fraud was of a most con- tegjptible chnracter. and served to show that if <1. porson was only bold enough to tell an improbable story, he could easily get people tobelimp-hini. If Mr. Baring turns up to-njorow, will that affect my sentence?" inquired Short, before going to his cell. If he does, you must apply to the Home Secretary," aaid the judge. ) 10.'

SHOCKING CRIMES. SHOCKING TRAGEDY AT UPTON PARK. The story of the double tragedy at Upton Park was told in detail at the inquests held by Mr. Hilleary, the West Ham coroner. The jury found that the two children, Grace Florence Folkard, aged seven years, and Joseph Thomas Folkard, aged seven months, were murdered by their father, William James Folkard, at their home in Queen's- road. Folkard, a, labourer, aged 33, who is in the West Ham Hospital suffering from injuries to the throat and thigh, was committed for trial on the coroner's warrant. At half-past seven his wife had seen him rolling up his sleeves ae though pre- paring to wash himself. Then he went into the bedroom, and later their eldest boy, aged nine, came downstairs and said there were "burglars upstairs killing Cissy." "It looks like daddy," he added, "but I don't think it is." The two children were found with their throats cut. The wounds were caused by a penknife. A letter found on Folkard was written on the back of a pi-ece, of an almanac-sheet, the paper being so cut as to show on one side of it a bust portrait of a little girl. The word- ing was as follows: — From St. Paul's Station to Chatham, ditto on to Wouldhan. Stopped two nights, crossed Hailing Cnxton, through Stroud, Rochester, Chatham, Sittenbourne (Sittingbourne), on to Canterbury; from Canterbury home- after. all. between 95 and 100 miles on foot. I should liked to have settled the lot. but they are all very good children, but I think if Willie and Freddie get ten years older they will look after their mother. Gracie's a good girl, but girls at the. best are no good for supporting their parents, and little Tommy is so young. I was all right after I left Wouldon until I got into Chatham. I went there to find some friend, but did not, and was drunk from then until I got home, with the D.T.'s. Mrs. Folkard added that they had always lived happily together. She knew that three or fonr jelatives of her husband had gone wrong mentally. He had worried about get- ting a tombstone for the children who died a year ago. Mary Saunders, a cousin of Mrs. Folkard, living in the same house, said that when she saw Mr. Folkard she asked him where he had been. and he said Hop- ping." When she discovered the children dead she heard Folkard say, Good-bye all; dear little Graeie's gone." Later on he was taken to the hospital, suffering from injuries to the neck and thigh. EXTRAORDINARY MURDER CHARGE. Extraordinary revelations were made at an inquest held at Stamford on Saturday on the body of Jamee Crvunt (17), who had been employed by the proprietor of roundabouts. According to the evidence the deceased was admitted to the infirmary on the previous day in a very swollen condition, and died three hours later. Three fellow-workmen stated that they were all larking with a force pump, and that Caunt lay on his back and placed the nozasle between his legs. Suddenly he began to swell, and as he was obviously suffer- ing great agofiy two of his companions took him to the inarmary. A nurse deposed that the deceased told her that two of his mates held him and inserted the force pump. The medical evidence showed that death was due to peritonitis, caused by rupture of the gut. The jury found that the man met with foul play at the hands of his three com- panions, and that "they did feloniously kill him." The three men were immediately 1 arrested. GLASGOW WOMAN DONE TO DEATH. ( At Glasgow on Sunday morning a ma.n in- formed a policeman that a murder had been committed in his house in Green-street. The constable proceeded to the place, finding Agnes Howie, or Allan, lying dead in a pool of blood. The body WZ\6 unclothed. A lodger below had heard singing and dancing, and then sounds ae though someone was being bumped on the floor. Three persons have been arrested, a maji with whom the deceased is said to have cohabited, another man, and a woman. The body was in a very battered condition. PARAMOUR PUSHED UNDER A TRAIN. The dead body of a man named William James Willsmore was found on the London, Tilbury, and Southend Railway on Sunday near Southend. By his side lay a woman, named Catherine Webster, in a pool of blood and suffering from terrible injuries, both her legs being completely severed above the knee. The woman was conveyed to Southend, and now lies in the hospital there in a critical condition. She has made a statement to the effect that the ma.n dragged her on to the line, and JOISt as the midnight express from Fenchurch-street, London,, was approaching, pushed her underneath the wheels of the engine. Apparently, Willsmore afterwards committed suicide. The injured wotiian is a widow, and, it is stated, has for some time past cohabited with the deceased man. Both of them lived at Shoeburyness. THE HOPFIELD MURDER. Some thousands of people attended the funeral of George White, the victim of the Wrecclesham tragedy, in the little village cemetery. The coffin was borne from Runwick by fellow-workmen of the deceased, and amongst tho mourners was the aged father of the murdered lad. Rain fell in torrents through- out the ceremony. All the hands engaged on the Runwick Farm were preeent, as was also Mr. William Trimmer, for whom deceased had worked. PRISONER BEFORE THE MAGISTRATES. At Farnham Police-court on Wednesday Frank Fry, eighteen, was further remanded charged with the mnrder of Geo. White, six- teen, at Wrecclesham. The press and public were refused admission, but it was understood that no additional evidence was given.

FARMER COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. John Powell, a farmer, of Tarrington, near Ledbury, was charged on remand at Ledbury on Monday with unlawfully shooting his "ouein, Ada Meek, a, single woman, at Sollars Court Farm. The court was crowded. Mr. William Lewis, of London, appeared for the Public Prosecutor, and Mr. Beauchamp, of Worcester, defended. The solicitor for the prosecution alleged that the accused, when arrested, acknow- ledged shooting deceased. He said — My poor woman is there doing all the work, so I have put an end to it. My wife is as good as gold. Mr. Beauchamp, for the defence, pointed out the entire absence of motive, as all parties were living happily in the same house. The accused was committed to Hereford Assizes.

£1,000 DAMAGES. In the King's Bench on Tuesday Mr. P. J. Jackson, an inventor, of Coalham House, Whitley Bay, Northumberland', sued Mr. E. W. Hart, Mr. E. G. Smith, and Mr. H. M. Taylor, of Arundel-street, W.C., his co-direc- tors on the board of the Jackson Patents Syndicate, for damagee for malicious prose- cution. It was stated that defendants paid moneys to the plaintiff as shareholders in the syndicate, and; defendants said this was done on the statement by the plaintiff that he had the letters-patent of a eertain mirror which was to be used for advertising PH- posee, and also <11 the statement that the plaintiff had spent much money on a certain model. When the defendants found that the letters-patent were not complete, and that the model was not plaintiff's property, plaintiff was arrested on a warrant and kept in gaol for several days. He was brought before the magistrate at Bow-street and then acquitted. Plaintiff now alleged that the defendants knew the letters-patent were not complete at the time, but that they were kept back at his own request, and that tho defendants knew, this. The jury awarded the plaintiff £1,(0) damages.

REFUSAL TO TAKE THE OATH. An unusual refusal to take the oath occurred at Hyde Police-court. In a factory prosecution a witness refused to kiss a Testament, with the remark, "If you won't believe me before I kiss that, you won't, afterwards." The Magistrates' Clerk: You ca" swear with uplifted hand. or if you are a Quaker you can affirm, or if you are a Chinaman you can do other things. (Laughter.) What is it you want to do? Witness: I have a conscientious objection to take the oath. A Magistrate: Yeu have to be sworn some way. Witness: I'd rather break a saucer than kiss that book—(laughter}—but I object to taking an oath. The Cl-ark: Then I can't force him. Witnees: If my evidence is not good enough without an oath, it is not good enough with it. He left the court without having given any.

I STUDENTS. WITNESS A SUICIDE. While the Physician at the University Ive College Hospital, London, was going the rounds, followed, aa usual, by the students, a man who was lying in a ward on the eighth floor, and who had been suffer- ing from delirium tremens, suddenly leapt from his bed. Before anyone could divine the man's intentions, he had sprung like a oat on to the windows-ill, and then, ere the students, who rushed forward, could secure him, he jumped headlong out of the window. Shockingly injured, he died four minutes afte*" being picked up.

SPANISH PREMIER SHOT AT. ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO ASSASSI- NATE SENOR MAURA. Senor Maura, the Spanish Premier, was returning to Madrid from the Balearic Isles on Tuesday, when, as his train was passing between Alicante and Enc-ina, a shot was fired at the carriage in whioh he was seated. It went through the top of the carriage It went through the top of the carriage without causing any damage. The Minister of the Interior has made the following statement:—As the train in which Senor Maura was travelling was passing between the stations of Alicante and San Vicente some persons fired and threw stones at the train. The gendarmes escorting, the train returned the fire Neither the Premier nor any other passenger was injured. Two arrests have been made in connection with the outrage. This is the second attempt on the life of ¡ Senor Maura within the last two or three weeks. The previous attempt took place at Barcelona, when a man endeavoured to stab Senor Maura, inflicting, however, only trifling injuries. Senor Maura is very unpopular among the working classes in Spain owing to the severe measures which he has adopted to suppress strikes.

TWO MEN UNDER A BED. Edward Ingram, 40, commission agent, who refused hia address, was charged, on remand, at North London, with stealing .&M worth of jewellery, belonging to Rioha-rd Moore, land- lord of the Middleton Arms, Queen's-road, Dalston. Prisoner was found under the prosecutor's bed, and waa secured after a struggle. There was another man with him, who Derfcective-eergeant Mackenzie, of the J Division, said the prisoner had a. bad record. I He had served two terms of penal servitude. Ingram said he had tried to get an houoft living, but without a character he couid not get a job, even in the market. Mr. Fordham: Why don't you try another II country? The climate might alter your opiniODIS with regard to other poople's pro- perty. Prisoner: I will go to Canada.. :ar. Holmes (missionary): They won't have him there. ¡ Mr. rwrdham: No, I am afraid not. Why not try G-errmany? (Laughter.) Prisoner: I don't want to go there. Mr. Fordham: We receive into this country all the scum of Europe—and Asia, for the matter of that—but our people have to carry a. certificate of character before they can be received on foreign shores. Prisoner was committed for trial.

KIDNAPPING A CHILD. The pretty little three-year-old girl, Beatrice Whittock, who disappeared from Hammersmith, London, so mysteriously, has been found by the police at Luton, in the custody of a man, who has been arrested. After Mrs. Whittock had gone out ill: the afternoon, leaving Beatrice and a lodger, Mrs. Reeves, at home, the little girl followed her up the street, saying she would "Go and meet manuna. That was the last seen of her until the arrest at Luton. The alleged kidnapp^, a respectably-dressed man of 35, named Walter Itidges, who said he was a carman, but gave no address, wao j remanded at West London on the charge of stealing the child. He was said to have made this statement to the police:- There is a woman in this, but I shall not put her away. I came to Luton with her. and I said the child was mine. I lost my wife three months asa. I stopped at Hollaway with the child on Tuesday, and on Wednesday at Barnet, and then came to Luton, where I told the people there the child was mine. This is the second one we have had. I I heard the other one was in the newspaper, but I was afraid to look at the paper. This one is the "spit" of the one in the paper. It cost me five bob for the rig-out for the child. The hat it has on cost me two bob. The kid has been well looked after. I gave it a new-laid egg every morning for ift-eak- fast." The police wttl prove," said Inspector Collins to the magistrate, that the. child has been used for begging purposes. We have not been able to trace acy woman." The child is remarkably pretty, with a: wealth of brown curled hair, and a large oval face.

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ALLEGE D LONG FIRM FBAPS REMARKABLE EVIDEN^ IN SWINDON CASE. I 'rad The hearing of the charges of OOøJP1 and to defraud against Charles Harry BroVrn, recently carrying on s as grocers in Swindon, was Swindon on Tuesday. Mr. Fairfax of Bristol, conducted the case for the P° and Mr. A. W. Boodle defended.. -jjd John Pottinger, manager of the Dorset Bank, Castle-road, Roath,^ stated that he remembered in N 1901, a man named Rees opened an »'c with him in the name of David Rees.. «<>*• account continued till the September fÓffO'Ø1 ing. In May, 1902, he received a Richard Barnett, who, writing from stated that he had been sentenced to servitude, and asked that the money 0f he had deposited in the bank in the David Rees should be retained. At the Pr^je time there was a balance of £6 Ss. 7d. credit of Barnett in the bank. WïtneøS never seen either of the prisoners. Frank Greensiade, manager of the politan Bank of England and Wale3. gave his recollection of a man named i0 Lane opening an account with his •; June, 1902. Lane purported to he a carrying on butiness in Cowbridge-road'. j, diff, and paid in £20. Having only seen *7^ once, witness could not identify him- 1 account extended from June. 1903.$. April. 1903, at which time there v'a J balance owing the bank of £ 1 3s- J The bank* did not trouble to make in<Jfl j regarding their customer, because thei, ^r that he had been gazetted. Cross-exain^ji. j In the short time Lane had traded I ness he had paid into the bank | like £ 3,000. -d Norman Anstice, manager of the WilW*JjJ i Dorset Bank, Swindon, said Johnson ope- an account in September, 1903, and there still £ 1 Is. lid. to his credit. Brown an account in August, 1903, but it was c on February 27, at tffe request of because one or two cheques had returned. The Inland Revenue Officer Swindon stated that Johnson had a licence for the sale of tobacco, but did not hold one. jdt In reply to the clerk. Superintendent son said this evidence was to show tri&t prisoner took out the licence and tobacco, while the other man. who ha.d the licence, sold the tobacco. < ,:i!,1:1 Evidence was given by carters in"Bristol } Swindon to moving groceries for '| [ prisoners in Bristol and Swindon. Alfred Hicks, sen., haulier and farH1^ remover, of Baneswell-road. Newport, that Johnson asked him to remove good3 from Cardiff to Newport Station. Witness despatched his son four horses to the address given at 1 and the latter brought the goods to Ne'jVf Railway Station, where witness assisted^J. unload them. Johnson and another man* a present. 5. Alfred Hicks, jun., corroborated, and that Johnson told him he did not wi6h name on the lorries to be seen, and covered his father's name with paper. prisoners and two women assisted pack the goods, which amounted to a jj« three tons in weight. At Newport StatIon, s was joined by both men. tfr Tho manager of Messrs. Bradbeer, i I and Co., provision merchants, v ictoria-sl^jo | 1 Bristol, said that in August, 1902, his J began transactions with Eofse Lane at i weir and Cowbridge-roaa, Cardiff, and i produced his firm's accounts with her t September, 1902, till April 20,' 1905. invoices for the goods supplied. The ba^ j due to hie firm was £ 19 12s. Id. j Mr. Spoffortli, in reply to the clerk. 1 that the prosecution alleged that eu | prisoner Johnson traded as Eose Lane v' it suited his purpose. Witness added t1!¡\t fot J February 14 his firm received a cheque re: £02 12s. 6d. from R. Lane, which was P tI1 rented and dishonoured. Witness visiting Brown in February of this year presenting an account for £ 50 is. 6d. said a petition had been lodged against in bankruptcy. The case was adjourned until Wedn^ when, j# Johnson, cn oath, stated that be fi baptised Albert Robert Lane at Zjjgf • Chester, and had always used ) name until coming to Swindon. There '^a* ,• secrecy in Cardiff that ho was trading Swindon as Johnson. While in Bristol^ travelled with incandescent gae b some time in 1901 called upon Barnett, *0 had owned a shop at Stapleton-road, so obtain an order, and an acquaintance^/ formed. Barnett offered him the manager in a shop which he opened in M diff under the name of Rees, and he had been there seven weeks when Barnett arrested. Ten weeks later he opened 6} at 193, Cowbridge-road, and another at JP street, Pcmtypridd, while hie wife set$y- small business as a grocer and ch-ap^rt# f: North-road. Owing to large firms op0*^ beside his premises his business fell and he came to Swindon. Bte paid w than £ 3,000 to his Cardiff creditors, «,nd^J' only owed £ 150. He never derived any fit from Brown either in goods or in i He had been adjudicated a bankrupt on day last for a debt of £ 72, and the polii^^J, £ 68 of his money. He had never with Brovrn or any other person to t goods by fraud. He had always traded genuine trader. Under cross-examination, he admitted in an action in Cardiff County-court last y gf, at the suit of Mr. Hawkins, potato imp? j,j« the judge described the case as a disreptf^ff. one. His wife had a sweet shop aA Ca" but it was sold up. Together they badjgi shops in Cardiff, but she and he J* I*1? separately. His eon Walter at that a business in Cardiff. He could not reffl^jji* having told the haulier who removed -■ goods from Cardiff to Newport to oover J name on the lorries. The case was again adjourned. BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS. 'j. Brown was afterwards taken to the ruptcy-court for his public examination øø said that he could not answer queetio11 ^,<1 he was in'custody on a criminal oharge, 18- the examination was adjourned till 11-9/1

GIGANTIC FRAUD ALLEO^' Victf" At Bow-street on Tuesday Albert U$g> Johnson, turf accountant, of Schevc» 0l Holland, and Harold Parker, High Holborn, were committed for trial' being allowed, on a charge of conspi fraSd* obtain money by means of an alleged fifl lent sweepstake on last year's Derby- Detective-inspector Stockley gave that at the time he arrested found upon him three cheque-books on t different banks, viz., at Newmarket, Sbetfl, and Manchester. Counsel then questioned the inspector the result-sheet of the sweepstake, the (p for which, it was alleged, was printers in London on the same day that' jjj draw was announced to have taken V^x:\09' Holland. The officer 6aid that the sheet tained 3,9C0 words. It 6howed that tbire 84,000 competitors. # Evidence was also given that more th million and a quarter tickets were nnIl1. by a firm for the sweepstake. A Post Office official stated that no telw1 of 3,800 words containing the result of ft J sweepstake cam through from Hollar- the day in question. ?

BRISTOL FORTUNE STOJ{1i, The young man who was ior a time 'Vpfl* in Bristol as Mr. A. G. Stephens, but real name is now believed to be A- j, Moore, has been arrested in London ff;¡ Detective Lord, of the Bristol constab^* j# Hoove became the subject of intereSt^j$' Bristol owing to the statement which made that he had inherited a huge f°Vi & amounting to £ 47,000, and a rent-r01 ^1 £10,000 a year. He declined to 11" more particulars than that, but became suddenly possessed of means. 0# he said was money advanced to hi01 accouut of the estate. His story oW^gtl1 very general credence, and on the stf of it it is said'that he borrowed' various fjt) £ of money, ranging from £5 to £400. •. the fi-st week in April he went to 1^ ;Ø;' ostensibly to settle up with his solicitor 011 suddenly was "missing," however, ;111 t }1¡1J April 12 it was announced that a warraO pi been issued for his arrest 011 a chat" obtaining £5 by false pretences.

ENDING A ROMANCE. J off* A tragedy which was the ending .jj&l! j- romance occurred at the little 1 of Hanworth, a mile and a from Hounslow, when a trooper of the Guards went to the house of bis sweetheart, stabbed the girl's father' refused him admittance, and afte attempted suicide. The girl ■' acquaintance of the trooper at where she was at work. When the res v returned to London she followed her but their were afterwards t" off. After the family had retire flJJ:d, rest the g'rl heard a knock> 6lJ believing it to be her former sweet'iie* refused to open the door. Her father, # ever. went down and opened the door. it V refused the man admittance, and alleged that the visitor drew a iM. a.nd stabbed him in the breast. 0flfc-Y then fled, and though the police were s ing all night, nothing was seen of h'™ yi next morning, when he was found ditch by the powder mills cn the Rive' There was a wound in the throat, and was by his side. He was not dead, jj« L taken to Twickenham Hospital, w progressing favourably. The prla fa iV' in an extremely critical conditiosu

NURSE GIRL'S NIGHT OUT. Letitia Gray, a nurse girl, asei -17, was, at Belfast,ou Tuesday sentenced ro two months' imprisonment for neglecting the two-jear-old child or a consulting engineer'named Reeves. The accused took the chilrl out in a basinette last Thursday, and, hot having returned at 11 p m.. the police discovered her some time later, intoxicated, on a soldier's arm, while another soldier was wheeling tha basinette, in which the child was found in an uncon- scious condition, from expos**1* and want of foodL

DOCTOR IN CUSTODY. MYSTERIOUS MARRIED LADY GIVES EVIDENCE. V Mr. Plowden had before him at Marylebone Polioe-eourt the case of Frederick John Hicks, aged 52. a physician, residing at St. James's- court, Buckingham-gate, who stands charged with committing an illegal operation upon Bsatrice Davies, the wife of a late employe I of the Drouet Institute. Mr. Bodkin proaecut-ed as counsel for the Treasury; Mr. Horace A very, K.C., and Mr. Neilson defended the accused. Mr. Bodkin intimated that, although, owing to the illness of a witness, the case before the court could not be completed, he proposed to enter upon a. second charge against the prisoner of a similar character. The lady in this instance visited the prisoner at his flat, at St. James's-court, on two occa- sions the previous year, she being accom- panied on each occasion by a lady friend. Both ladies were married and were living with their husbands in the same large town in the Midlands, where, of course, they had acquaintances. For reasons, however. I that were closely connected with what he (Mr. Bodkin) thought were the true interests 1 of justice, he was going to ask the magistrate to excuse him from mentioning in public court the names of the two ladies or their particular relatives who would be mentioned jn the course of the case. He, therefore, pro- posed to call tho lady operated upon Mrs. A., and her friend Mrs. B. So far as the husband of Mrs. A. knowing of her visit, that was true, but he had no knowledge that there was to be an operation of any kind. Mrs. A. having! vi\ DB. HICKS. explained her condition, the prisoner, it was alleged, used several instruments. In the end he gave her a prescription, and the two ladies returned home. Mrs. A. be- came very ill, and during that illness the lady's brother, a doctor, removed an instrument that the prisoner had used. Eventually she got better, and the prisoner sent in his bill for 15 guineas, pointing out that the usual fee was 25 guineas, and he thought the fee he had charged was justified by reason of the nature of the case. Don't you think I realised that (i.e., the danger) to the full?" he said. Mrs. A. was then called. She was heavily veiled. In reply to Mr. Bodkin, she said the piece of paper handed to heif contained her name and address. I Mr. Avory said he could not consent to this novel procedure, but at the saane time he could not object. Mr. Plowden: You don't object? Mr. Avory No.. I don't object. The witness said she had been married fifteen months, and was in good health up to the summer of 1902. She then proceeded to bear out in substance the opening statement of counsel. The prisoner, she said. seemed quite to understand the object of her visit without asking any questions. He told her she came into the house the most miserable person in the world, but she would go away the happiest. During the operation he gave her an alcoholic stimulant and told her that most doctors would not approve of what he was doing, but it was eurely kinder. She paid him ten guineas. The prisoner was remanded on bail.

BOY DEPREDATOR FINED. A well-spoken youth, named Franklin Wright, "fifteen, described as a schoolboy, re- siding at 23,. HttmiltonTterrace, St. John's Wood, was charged at Lambeth Polioe-court with stealing three ducks' eggs and a swan's egg at Regent's Park the property of his Majesty's Commissioner of Works. John Oliver, one of the park-keepers, said he saw the prisoner and a companion on one of the islands of-the,ornameiital lake before eight o'clock that morning. Boards were erected warning persons from entering the island. He blew his whistle, and the prisoner made for a boat and rowed off, but only to invade another of the islands. Mr. Plowden: Is this Great Britain, Ire- land, or what island are you speaking of? The Witness: The islands in Regent's Park -the water islands—(laughter}—where the ducks lay their eggs and breed. When the prisoner came to shore in his boat the wit- ness saw the four eggs in the boy's cap at the bottom of the boat. The Prisoner: I did not hear the whistle. I wanted the eggs for a collection. The Witness: Yes, but the young ducks were in the eggs. (A laugh.) The Prisoner: We were not told to keep off the island, but the board says you are re- quested not to do so. Mir. Plowden: I am sorry the request has been thrown away upon yon. What offence has the boy committed? The Witness: They are the eggs of wild birds. The eggs are there to keep the park going. (A laugh.) Mr. Plowden: Do you mean to say that Regent's Park depends on eggs? (More laughter.) What have you (prisoner) to say? The Prisoner: I did not think it was steal- ing. We are allowed to take them in the country. Mr. Plowden: But Regent's Park is not the country. The Prisoner: No. But I did not know there was a law against taking the eggs. Mr. Plowden: Nor did I until five minutes ago. A fine of la. for each of the eggs. You won't mind that if you are a collector.

MOTORING LOVER TRAPPED. Mr. Albert Lytton punctured one of the tyres of his motor-car in Walthamstow, and he pulled up at Mr. Albert Charles White- hom's cycle shop for repairs. Mr. Whitehorn had to go some distance to get the necessary articles to stop the puncture, and he left his wife alone with Mr. Lytton. He began chaf- fing her, and they got on very well indeed together. Before he left he went across the road and bought some chocolates, and pre- sented them to the lady, with his visiting card. Strangely enough, on other motor journeys there were more punctures, and they hap- pened in the neighbourhood of the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Whitehorn. Later, Mr. Lytton found other means of visiting the lady; and most of his calls coincided with the absence of Mr. Whitehorn. The lady would wire, "All clear; come at once." And Mr. Lytton came. Mr. Whitehorn came home early one day, and found Mr. Lytton with his wife. The cycle manufacturer became suspicious, and wired to the motor man in his wife's name: Come at once. All is well. He is out for the day.-C. He was not altogether surprised to see Lyt- ton arrive, full speed, about an hour later. The motor man was taxed with misconduct with Mrs. Whitehorn. He denied it; but in the middle of his denials the lady came in, looked him straight in the face," and con- fessed it all. The defence of the lady and the co-respondent was condonation and collusion on the part of Whitehorn; but the jury thought differently, and gave a verdict for the husband, awarding him jE75 damages. Sir I Francis Jeune granted him a. decree nisi.

A DESPERATE PRISONER, At Mai ton, North Yorkshire, Charles Hague, alias Sydney Dent, was committed for trial at Leeds Assizes on a chargo of obtaining i£30 I by false pretencer, in selling a horse. The prisoner decampcvl. Hearing that he was at Birmingham, Poliec-sergeant Long went to i that city to arrest him. The man tried to seize a rifle which was in the room, but, failing to do &o, dashed upstairs and jumped through a window, falling 15ft. to the ground. On being arrested the prisoner told the police-sergeant that had he been able to »»cure the rifle he would have dropped the officer. The rifle afterwards fotrad fally t loaded-

A FINANCIAL LAWSUIT. 1 ALLEGATIONS AGAINST CITY FIRMS. In the King's Bench on Monday (before Mr. Justice Lawrance and a special jury) the case of the Lake George Mines (Limited) v. Gibbs. Bright, and Co., and the same versus Keating, was commenced, and is expected to last over ten or twelve days. Sir Edward Clarke, for plaintiffs, said this was an action which involved very grave issues and a very large Bum of moneY-60llie £195,000. The plaintiff company, an Aus- tralian company, was now in liquidation, but the liquidator had been authorised to go on with the action. The defendants were Messrs. Gibbs, Bright, and Co.. Messrs. Anthony Gibbs and Son, Mr. F. A. Keating, and Mr. Charles Edward Bright, and the charge against them was that they had fraudulently manipulated certain companies, known as the Lata George Companies, for the purpose of making gains on the Stock Exchange, and not of really developing the mines for the benefit of the shareholders, and that they had done this systematica!ly from 1-392 till the end 0: the compauy, in 1901. It was iIIIllegcd that they were guilty of fraud 1y.etring untrue reports from men who WEre acting in com- plicity with defendants It was a painful thing for one who knew the City of London to have to open a case involving eharges of fraud against a arm who had held the very highest position in the City. Sir Edward, dealing with the genesis of the mine, said that a man named Trewenack wrote to the firm of Gibbs, Bright, and Co., saying that he had an opijter- tiuiity of purchasing a valuable copper mine in Australia, and r.aking if Mr. Keating, a partner in that firm, was able to find money to float a company when the mine wae developed. The mine was floated with a syndicate, was then worked, and paid the exploiters 75 per cent. on the capital inv-eeted, but it then be- came of doubtful value, and instead of closing it it was floated with a nominal capital of £150,.000. Of these shares 100,000 were vendors' shares, and the exploration company was formed to take over the 40,000 or 50.000 shares which remained. The defendants, or, at any rate, Mr. Keating, knew that the reports which were being sent home as to the produc- tiveness of the mine. and which were pub- 113hed .In the newKpipers III order to SU8cam J the price of the shares at a fictitious level, were inconsistent with previous reports of the mine. The whole scheme came to an end in 1899, defendants having disposed of the whole of the shares, with the exception of 200. which was the qualification of the direc- tors. When the company went into liquida- tion the liabilities of the company were £195,000, and the assets were £5,000 worth of machinery. The caee was adjourned.

MILITARY VERSUS POLICE. RIOTING IN THE STREETS OF SOUTHAMPTON. An extraordinary military riot took place at Southampton on Friday at midnight. Earlier in the evening several members of the 2nd Cheshire ltcgiment. who were to have embarked 011 the troopship Assaye for India next morning, were taken into custody by the local police for minor offences. Their temporary incarcera- tion appeared to have roused the wrath of their comrades, who at midnight, broke out of barracks, smashed the windows of the dock police lodge and Customs house, and, scaling the high dock gates, surged up the town, shouting as they went, and committing fur- ther damage. In Orchard-lane they were met by a force of town police, who had been tele- phoned for by the docks police. The former drew their truncheons, and. after a scuffle, in the course of which several soldiers were injured, tho malcontents were taken back to the barracks, where the ringleaders were placed under arrest. The rioters were mostly recruits- In the melee between the soldiers and police, it is elated, some of the former drew their belts, with which to belabour the officers, and threw any missile they could lay hold of. but no one was seriously injured. In the early hours of the morning a military picket scoured the vicinity, but no further incident occurred. It is understood that about sixteen of the offenders have been placed under arrest on the troopship- POLICE-COURT PROCEEDINGS. At Southampton Poiice-court on Satur- day two privates of the Cheshire Regi- ment were each fined 10s. and costs for disturbing the peace; and another I was similarly dealt with for using r obscene language. In addition to the Cheshiree, the troCYpship Assaye is taking out drafts of tho Durham Light Infantry,, South Lancashire. York and Lancasters, and North Staffords. The vessel' calls at Queenetown to embark further drafts before proceeding to India.

AVER'S CHANGEABLENESS. AMUSING LETTERS IN A BREACH OF PROMISE CASE. At Birmitiirbam tie under-sheriff and a jury aasewwd damage* in an action for breoteh at promise brought by Miss Minnie Goimi. jewettCM finisher, against Richard H. Ormoad. commissionaire at Warwick Vastle. and formerly a private in the Royal Fusiliers. Alitor hearing the evidence, the jury flxad damacea ax £ 25. Counsel related the story of the courtship, pointing out thait the parties mct>t the end of 1902, when the defendant staying a>t the home of an intimate friend a-i Birming- fcara. Tho UUng anemed to have been mutual from the beginning. The defendant e«nt £ 5 ho pfajntfftlor bfrr to bay hereeM a ring, and •aid if she oemld aot get one good enough tor thast amount he .ÓO.ki send her some more. At the MB* he naked her to buy him a curb chain. tor which he also sent £ 5. In yoremoer the oonple nxed the date for the weddtng. which was to take place in the following February. and at Christmas defen- dant rpeaf most of his t4me at the girl's house. Then they came to realise his extra- ordinary vecatMiUty. After -going a.way for hie Chriatmas holiday he wrote on December 29, snddenly, without having breathed a eos- ticion of it before:- Dear Minnie,—I take pleasure in writing to you. I don't knowwben I ehall eome over to Brum again, because I have got sick of it. I will let you know all about it when I see you again in Brum. whea I shall be eoming for my clock. I tell you honestly and straight, I don't think we shall get mar- ried. I have had it in my mind a long time. I am not in a bad mood, and manage to sleep the clock round. —(Laughter.) This, said counsel, was the beginning of the end. The clock had been bought for the house it was proposed to take when the couple were married. The defendant had evidently signed his name to the letter at first, but subsequently he cut his signature from t'he letter; appa- rently, said counsel, he was ashamed of it. The communication naturally created con- sternation in the mind of Miss Cohen. After this there was another example of his ver- satility. Defendant had apparently been suffering from a bilious attack, but by January 7 this ht-d passed off, and he then wrote another remarkable epistle. He irrote:.— My dear,—I hope you have forgotten all about my mad action. You must have known I did not really mean what I said to you in my last letter. You must buck up, and you will find everything will go on very nicely with us again; that is, if we can get on to best terms again. From the bottom of my heart I am right down sorry for what I have done. I know it was very foolish on my part to do such a thing. You most forget all about it, and I assure you I shall never do it again as lonir as I stand on two legs. CuaughterJ On January 23 he wrote that he had caught another chill—(laughter)—and should not be coming over to Birmingham for a. time, because he did not feel inclined to go over. Defendant added tltet he "hoped the girl was not spending her pocket money in buying articles, for one never knew how things would turn out." Defendant added: "I am quite independent of Brum or anywhere else." The plaintiff W'1"Ot6 back to find out what the defendant meant, and, receiving no reply after sending two letters, she decided to go to Warwick and see him. When they met there was a little soreness on both sides, but after a walk they tetMned to be on good terms with each other, and the defendant went to the station to eee Miss Cohen off. After this the defendant dropped, writing to the girl, and the matter was plaeed in the hands of the solicitors, and a writ was issued. Then the defendant— whether prompted by love or fear of eonae- (uences. he did not know—wrote again:— Dear Minnie,—I hope you will accept an apology for the trouble I have brought upon you all. It will never happen again. This is to ask you a questioh, whether you are willing to carry out your marriage with ate, because I have changed my mind once more to get married, that ie. if you are wil- ling.—With fondest happiness, your affec- tionately, B. H. Ormond." Plaintiff replied, asking if he had the same affection towards her as before the upset. She addedr "Don't do this to save your skin, as we should always have to be together." As usually happens, counsel went on to say, the eting pi this correspondence was in the tail. Defendant then wrQtè: TOil ask me if I have the same affection. I shall speak the truth and shame the devil. All tb« -affection and-love I had I have com- pletely lost; but anyhow I shall be all right wben I get over it again, dear Minnie. No doubt when we do get married it will be altogether against my will, but I shall have to get over it, as it will be altogether eom- puleory. Plaintiff, a neatly-dressed girl, then went ittto the box and gave evidence bearing out counsel's. opeaiDg. statement. She caused some amusement by saying that in one of hia letters defendant, referring to the crosses after the signature, described them as "kisses fresh from the lips, all sweet as the cherry." She said they had often had little "tiffs." She started to prepare for the home, and defendant stated that he was willing to spend £ 150 on furniture. In cross-examination, plaintiff said she eotjId hardly say whether she at the present time thought defendant a desirable man to marry. She admitted that at one time she herself desired to break off the engagement. In re-examination, plaintiff stated tha.t she had spent between JB20 and £25 in providing a trousseau and furniture for the house. Hr. Mirward: You don't mean to remain, a spinster? Plaintiff: There's no knowing. When the happy day comes the clothes will be u good as new?—It depends. You will not have to keep them long, I Imagine?—Yes, a. long while from what I can see. (Laughter.) Mr. Milward: I think yam are not doing yourself justice. (More laughter.) Mr. Joy: The moths may get at the trous- seau before it is wanted?—Yes. (Renewed laughter.) The fact remains that you have lost a hus- band?—Yes. Mr. Milward having urged upon the jury that the defendant's post at Warwick Castle was not necessarily a permanent one, the Tinder-Sheriff addressed the jury, and sug- gested that the young lady in this case had not suffered very much from wounded feel- ings. The jury then assessed the damages as åated.

REVOLTING PRACTICES. The. most revolting discoveries have been made recently in Philadelphia, which have exposed the atrocious traffic in human life which came to light with the discovery of the malpractices of the Aahmead crematory. The coroner is on the track of a former employe of the Ashmead household, from whom he expects to get important corrobo- rative evidence concerning the feeding of the cellar furnaces with living fleah. TJiis woman was engaged without knowing the character of the place, and fled one night after witnessing some terrible scenes in the Twelfth-street cellar. Another witness, who in the beginning gave the coroner much evidence regarding the conduct of the baby farms, has disappeared entirely. There is a suspicion that the man behind the farms has placed her beyond the reach of a subpoena. Knowing the character of this man and the desperate plight he is in at present, detectives are working on the belief that he has saddled upon himself another crime. In the Ashmead house have been found records of patients and of physicians who practised there. These the coroner has. He has a)so secured another batch of clues where bogus babits were palmed off on men for purposes for blackmail.

ASSAULT BY A PRIEST. Fattier John Foley, of the Chapel House, Kirkcaldy, was convicted of having assaulted William Fagan in the vestry of the Roman Catholic church at Kirkcaldy. Father Foley pleaded guilty under great uroroeaiaon, and the evidence showed an extraordinary state of affairs. The defendant aid that Fagan. his wife, and another ■woman came to the vestry at the time when he was teaching a class in the adjoining chapel, and he heard Fagan making remarks of a very grave and scandalous character regarding himself. Fagan had no justifi- cation for the remarks, and they were not rtrti £ The remarks were such, 3.8 would have veined his position as iliclergyman. and, overhearing them, he rushed into the vestry, and, unfortunately, rushed also at this man :raca.n. The BailHe fined Father Foley 10s.. or three tttyw* imprisonment.

THE OLDEST PEER. lord Gvrydyr. the oldest member of the Boose of Lords, who has lived in no fewer than five reigns, and has been present at foar eoronations, celebrated his ninety-fifth year on Wednesday. His lordship, who is in the enjoyment of remarkable health, at.tribateehis longevity mainly to a good eolistittltion, but amo. to -the fact that he is a non-emoker, a moderate eater and drinker, and takes plenty of outdoor Merciee. Gwydyr House is still a familiar mmteiB Whitehall; and it was from the well- known stairs that Lord Ghvydyr, as a boy of ten, -was taken in his grandfather's state barge to the Speaker's steps at Westminster ..tb8 morning of Gearipe IV:. coronation.

i. r.. ,r;. .i. CHARGED WITH MATRICIDE. EXTRAORDINARY CONDUCT OF THE ACCUSED BOY. Seldom in the chronieles of crime has each a sad story been told as that of Frank Rodgers, the Meldrith schoolboy, who, (as we have already briefly reported) murdered his mother for Queenie's sake." Frank is the eon of Mr. W. A. Rodgers, a London solicitor, whose country home, The Gables, is in the delightful little Cambridge- shire village of Meldrith. "Queenie" is the boy murderer's little sister, aged six, of whom Frank was inordinately fond. Unhappily, their mother was a slave to drink. She brought unhappiness and misery to her children; and Frank brooded over it until he imagined a. mysterious Voice urging him, for the sake of the little sister whom he loved so dearly, to get it over quickly." So on April 12 he stole upstair* aiter sapper, brought down his brother's revolver. and in a moment. when his brain was clouded, shot hie mother in the | neck. She *iied immediately, and her son, with the anmeing coolness that goes with a mind diseased, walked aerose the road to the British Queen opposite, and sat down and read a newspaper until the poliee came! In the adjoining village of Melbourn the hoy was brought before the magistrates and committed for trial for murder at the next assises for the county. Most of the villagers assembled around the tiny polic«-court to see him come. Between two stalwart, kindly polioemen, Frank Rodgers walked slowly out of the sun- shine into the prim little court, and sat down before an array of bearded and bronzed country magistrates. He heeded nothing and nobody; and only once or twice raised his dark, full eyes as the tale of his erime was told. The boy's elder elater, Winifred Rodgers. was the first witness called. She answered quietly the painful questions which were, put to her.. No, she said, there had been bo quarrel on the night of the tragedy. I Winnie said, -in a sad little *oios, that .on the night of the murder her mother was "the worse for drink." After supper Mrs. PyOdgers was sitting in an armchair, half asleep and half awake. M-r. Williamson, the Treasury solicitor, asked her what kind ot life the family had been living during the last few years. "A very unhappy life," was the reply. "Through what?" "Through my mother taking to drink. Frank was very sorry about her, and it seemed to worry him a great deal." "Had your mother ever ill-treated Queenie?" "Oh, no—never!" Mr. Lowe, K.C., who defended the bey, was told by Winnie that Frank was very fond of his mother. He was her partienlar favourite —hence his nickname, "Mother's boy." His- demeanour, had changed very noticeably daring the last few mouths. He wani very quiet, and sometimes very irritable. He had complained of very violent headaches, -and almost every morning for the last six weeks be had suffered from excessive bleeding from the nose. Dr. Bnnion, who was called to the Gables a few minutes after ttra. Rodgers had been shot by her son. told a curious story. He j said that dnring the laet few months Frank's growth had been phenomenally rapids He saw the lad a. few minutes after the ourdcr. and he did not appear to be at all sorry for what he had done, or to realise the gravity of his position. At this time thehoy was quietly reading a newspaper. "When did you see him again?" a«ked Mr. Williamson. "The next morning," relied the doctor. "And then he gavs me quit^A voluntary statement. He said that after* he had had supper with his mother, he' went upstairs and fetched a revolver. He came down with it into the breakfast room. Then he I felt a sudden impulse to shoot his mother. I But he conquered it, and went out of the | room. The impulse returned—strongej? fchft! time. He retraced his steps to the breakfast i room, and a voice distinctly siid in his ear Do it quickly!' After a little pause the doctor went Oft. He doee not remember firing or pointing the pistol; but he says he felt giddy, and remem- bers hearing a muffled repott. Then he found himself stumbling (Lgainst the door; and that is all.. "He told me that during the laat two 6r three months he constantly thought his! mother appeared behiad hini. Then he would look over his shoulder suddenly, and oateh a: glimpse 9f her. Then, just as suddenly, ahe; would vanish." In cross-examination, Dr. "Rnriion said that Frank's nncle on his mother's liIid.. "ied in an asylum in Australia from epilepsy, His maternal grandfather was very intemperate. William George Rodgers (Frank's elder! brother) said that. for weeks .the lad had! moped about the hbuse, unable to settle his! mind to anything. Three weekri before the tragedy, when Mrs. Rodgers was ;very intoxi-1 cated, Frank said at the breakfast, U,bl<it. 1. r i dreamt last night that I had strangled mother." But the bey's love for his mother was so unselfish that one day in January last he risked his life for her by saving her from being cut to pieces by a train at a level-, crossing near Royston Station! The last of the evidence was pifen nor Mrs. Thurley.. the homely landlady of the British Queen. She was dressed. eymnathetieaHy. in deep mourning. She said that uist before nine on the night of the murder -Frsril? par"* j in with little Queenie in hM arnta; He said, Mrs. Thurley, would t<TO mind taking rnrt of Queenie to-night. There's fceen a !itt<le II up^et at home. I've shot mother." What!" cried the good lady. "I've shot mother," he repeated. ".Don't worry; it will be all right. I shall go over to Melbourn to-morrow." He left Queenie with Mrs; Thuriey. arid asked her when she had p=ut the child to bed to go in to the Gables. The servants are afraid," he said simply. 1 A few minute* later- he wa# read in- a *aner. iust as if nothing had happened- He was reading for aeuly fin hour—until, the poliee- ¡ serreant came and took him away. TVnt is the ease for the Treasury," said Mr. Williamson. Do you wish te sar anything?" asfoed the chairman of the bench. Do you wish te sar anything?" asfoed the chairman of the bench. Frank Rodgers stood up and, looked his 1 questioner full in the bee. No," he said, and phook hi" head. And so the Bench formally committed him for trial, and he was driven off in the biasing sunshine to Cambridge Gaol. H,

THE CAPTURE OF BOER BRIGANDS. The trial of the seven men arrested in the Lydenburg district on a charge of high treason was begun at LydenbuTg. ITae prisoners were eautioncd that they were treason was begun at Lydenburg. ITae prisoners were eautioncd that they were liable to be sentenced to death. They made no statement, and after eridence of their arrest had been given they were remanded. Durand, the alleged leader, and his com- panions are mere yonths. The following is a summary of tft-s events The following is a summary of tft-s events which ended in the arrest of the severt reputed I brigands: — The authorities were informed that a gahg of undesirables was in the neighbourhood; and a report was circulated that they intended to hold up the banks and loot the town on the night of the lTth. 'I The commandant called for volunt9-?rs 10 guard the drifts, as an attack was probable; and the arms and ammunition in the town were removed to the new fort. l, The constabulary then numbered from 70 I to 80, and additional detachment?-) wer? arriving. Civilian volunteers relieved the con- stabulary as town guard. On the 19th about 70 civilians were supplied 'with guns and bandoliers. The gang of brigands is calculated to num- ber two hundred. It is supposed that it was recruited from the riff-raff of Johannesburg and Pretoria. The remainder has split into! small parties and departed ipto the back country. Rumours were rife that certain Boers were mixed up in the matter, and those at first eansed some little anxiety, -btit that feeling seems now to have passed. J

RESCUE SCENE AT A FIRE- There was an exciting rescue s<*ne at a I fire whioh broke out at ZS. Crescent-road, Clapham Park-road, a private hou-^e tenanted by two families named Reevs and Gillett. Mr. Gillett discovered that the'gi'oinid fioorj was on fire, and after arousing hfs wife and the lodgers, and telling them to follow hira, made his way out of the building'and van to an adjaeent fire alarm. The lodgers escaped, hut his wife waited to put on some clothes, and the firemen, making their w>iy'to the' back of the house, found her insensible. Amidst much excitement they, brought her safely out of the place, and 8iu'(:e3?fuliv- applied artificial respiration.

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