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Tilt BANK NOTE MYSTERY. P, AGAINST A RETFORD EX-MAYOR; The v lit charge against Mr. George Marehall, i ^'Wca -^tford, and agent to the Duke h?vestiea5.^e> formed the subject of an official • kf. Retford on Thursday, l" enest interest -was manifested „ event. The accused, in January h h Used a sensation by declaring i tr? ^ad been robbed of bank- j"S at tv value of i12,000 while stay- £ v6 Hotel Metropole, London, follow- 'went into bankruptcy, and -was p^ira tJ0 a Public examination as to his in *>■ *las not been -very much seen of t S town of Retford, having ? *"° re6^'e iQ London after his serious jr€ eSan, but at Redford his name has rs been a household word. He en- r^&Ular- Position of great prominence and ViB i In the local council-chamber **ll, g/r31" shown the portrait of a fine, a *y man- wearing Court drees, and til oral chain around his shoulders. tlQIl :11 is a brass-plate, with the inscrip- 1> J.pr€^r|ted to Alderman George Marshall, 'Wiv ayor East Retford five times (in- J>Ubije °f the Diamond Jubilee, 1897), by Subscription, in recognition of his O,v Dilblic services to his native town.— N i? r*1898- *it w^r was Edwin Ward, and the per- ilr the in the Academy, and won v i*in ftrtist commissions from Mr. Cham- r?cttire and Sir Henry Irving. This fine by a portrait of the late eari and ^y busts of dukes ^hiC},8, hangs just opposite the high chair the eubject of it was wont to sit ^iDoraf^ding over the deliberations of the 4, rltiOn. Not only did Mr. Marshall V he GREAT CIVIC POSITION", Ji ^orn^48 trusted in a managerial capacity rj<iition the highest in the land, for, in ih having been until recently legal J 81 lit the Duke of Newcastle, he acted \r6 capacity for the Duke of Portland, 4 of v0verK> and Lord Galway, Tales are Of hIS almost v ^INCELY HOSPITALITY. c f-hafi eave balls and parties in the local h^e'8 p ttle servantB from the Duke of New- the SK^te came over to Retford to deoo- ballroom and make the necessary the man whom inquirers at the D Iice-gtation this morning found an ordillary felon's cell, within a lj the court in which for many hT^tion ^^istered justice. A curions tion arose owing to Mr. Marshall's long 9 in. the town, and the extent of his V^bodv mTtanceshiP and friendship with vfthjjj y* It ia necessary to bring to trial ec.lfie^ period after arrest any Sist ItCcused of 1111 offence, but the local nTw^SifS^m'e(^ reluctant to sit in judg- }>^o ^eir old colleague. ayor of Retford (Major Herbert So* comparatively a newcomer, and hNed same intimate terms with the if8 °tber looal people, so that he, a, ly, would not have such delicate ] hut, unfortunately, he was away in Welbeck, with the Sherwood Rangers, < uld not be easily got at. Hence there < ot^Sed01116 delay in formally charging the ] t tha t> However; Superintendent Thomas, ] tvi^hin tford police, entered into tele- aeoznmunication with the mayor, as < result f lb which the case was fixed tf) < Vl!9 afternoon. It was stated, inci o'^{ an°ther delicate situation ha< t t0i.the fact that a relative by th J accused is magistrate? tav y 51 is- of course, to assist is 6 th6 r1lnary trials of prisoners and to • fci„0i* fcio eposit'ons. The Duke of Newcast]. ije «v;,)„Jiray home, and will be called U the e' The public were admitted } fQh0)>t]y „f,°°urt about a quarter past tw<. which Mr. Sims, the solicitor eaeury, arrived. t THE CHARGE. against the accused was af th va at Retford, received certain Ji^Sfco or. and °n account of a certain bp'tif ^t the Duke of Newcastle, and » 28th Gfn °' September, 1902, and i. January, 1904, fraudulently con- and KS °wn uae and benefit, and to the ^nefit of a certain other person or ^he said property. ih°^.of ftf1?'111 wag granted, on the deposi- John Ward, Official Receiver ap^. f°r the Lincoln district. vhetlt3r &illSecl waa conducted into court at >vTQbahi-llutes to three. He is an aged man vpii ,ah°ut 70—with a mass of greyis? There is an expression of ^°ck *Q pale blue €yes- On entering Cr flied at once took a fieat. and kept hif npon the ground. He rose upon being read over, and said, j^r, g. "I AM NOT GUILTY." on opening the case, said the ><0 l9oj nT took place nnder the Larcenj 0f /t was a very serious charge by Of ./he sums of money involved, and *?>e^tly the position which defendant until ^o^tor ^eupietl, and the fact of his being i: Up to June, 1902, the defendant, a^ ship .by himself and sometimes in part- t(0 ^licj^th his brother and another, actec! flf^t for the Duke of Newcastle. No that time he enjoyed the fullest oon- a dnie, who, in June, 1902, wat- house on Hill-street, Berkeley- hd the defendant acted as solicitor w^f.6 j~"ansaction. On June 23, 1902, Mr of n,es. a London solicitor, acting on 0 the purchaser, paid to the defen of |^c°nnt of the duke, £ 3,000, one sum Vh?° Vra 000 a,r!d the other of £ 1,000. The ^Qih' tipa*5 depc^ited by defendant in the tiJ;v-'n upon by himself, and converted tlfjg to time and approprited to his and bad entirely disappeared. The th fit c of the house was completed on the W*1 fp^ptsmber. 19C2, and the defendant tjj/S balance, total aqiount toifth?'*95' cn<?! half in bank notes. By L of the duke he paid to the 1)^ 5' the Dowager Tvnrhess of Nevrcastlp f0r efendai!t was badly pressed by the ^livv ^2nrv?a3rment an overdraft, and he j'j with the duke's money in two That took place on the 9th of to ^On r> 1902, and was a clear ease of con- IV18 oJL^16 ^uke s money by the defendant turn,Us,& or that of his firm. her hearing was adjourned. lp_ > -M.V C F 71111 ALLEGED BOBBERY. Sta?1 the 5.80Tiption of the bank-note robbery 4ce e<i tbat°tel Metropole at the time, it was ^r- Marshall arrived at the hotel, Vrj.^ty rj!*1 by his wife, on Thursday, it) this year. With him he ifcn of* i?e told the hotel manager, £ 12,000 England notes, locked in a brown th De Case> and £ 6,000 in notes in an il th 0hge of ti?ext day he left the money in the t, hotel cashier. 'y ba«tiday morning he asked for his Wi?01*! Mtu-' and then deposited it in his vr' f 11 he 6 he went to get a shave. returned, after a few minutes, een fche bag in which the oaee was ad\ The and that the £ 12'°°° was 017 envelope containing the £ 6,000 ^looked, and was still safe. i. iioe -o,%l waa unable at first to supply « of numbers of the notes, as 1 "S to ? 8 wa,s missing. r/a l,in the numbers of the notes, °* the „ f their investigations, and no notes has been found.

AiiEN FOR SOUTH AFRICA. ^yfir-fWG6df-Ie Bailed fron Hong ^a] ^'055 civ, on Wednesday for Durban ^h« 0(_, ese labourers for the Trans- Thev _les ape Jubilant at their pros- acoomi>anie^ by Surgeon

ANNUAL MEETINGS AT BRIDGEND. Members of what has been styled the Welsh National Liberal Council and a small number of the adherents of that body held their annual meetings at the Town-hall, Bridgend, on Wednesday' afternoon. A preliminary meeting of the general purposes committee- which was private—was held in the morning. At one o'clock the members of the committee were the guests of Alderman T. J. Hughes at luncheon at his residence, Elmsfield. At 2.30 a meeting of delegates was held. To elect a, president" was the first item on the agenda, and Mr. Lloyd-George being the only nominee of the committee, Sir Alfred Thomas, in proposing that the member for Carnarvon be elected, found no opposition. The motion was seconded by Mr. W. Brace, supported by Colonel Ivor Herbert and Alder- man T. J. Hughes, and carried unanimously. SPEECH BY MR. LLOYD-GEORGE. Mr. Lloyd-George, who took the chair amid loud applause, said the Welsh National Liberal Council was the result of a struggle for Welsh unity, and personally he was very devoted to it. He had never felt any interest in the supposed conflict between North and South Wales. It was their business not to b3 satisfied with the mere achievement of nominal unity, but they must put their machinery into motion, and the time had come for doing it. The wheel of fortune had turned at last, and Liberalism and Liberal ideas were promised. It was not the fault of Wales that reaction had been supremo for the last nine years. Unfortunately, the "pre- dominant partner' had gone abroad, and in his travels had been looking after everybody's business except hie own. He was conducted by his worst enemies-Mr. Chamberlain and Mr. Balfour—who had induced him to act upon all sorts of mad ventures. He had neglected his home affairs, and Mr. Chamber- lain and Mr. Balfour tried to palm off on him some of the old stook properties which had been neglGcted in the past, such as clerical control of education, taxation of food, and compensation of publicans. But they had made a mistake. Now these gentlemen were under suspicion, and the grand ministry had been found out. What concerned them was this—What had Wales got to look forward to? Wales during all these years of Tory government had displayed political perspicacity, a clearness of vision, and a steadiness of purpose which no other nationality, with the possible excep- tion of Ireland, had displayed. In 1895 the country was taken in by promises of old-age pensions and social legislation of all kinds. Wales was distrustful, and said, "We'll have nothing to do with you." Not one of those promises had been realised. In 1900 the same thing happened again. He (the speaker) did not mean to say that Wales took a view of the war which he did. He was sorry to say it didn't. At any rate, whatever the Welsh view of the war was, Wales put no money into the "South Sea Bubble." (Applause.) They might have had their own views about the merits of the controversy which were probably not his, but when it came to a ques- tion of ro-electing them in the interests of white labour—(laughter)—Wales said, Wait a minute; we are as good patriots as you are, but we distrust your motives." What was the result? Wales returned a bigger Liberal majority in 1900 than in 1895. What Wales thought in 1895 and 1900 was exactly what England and Scotland were thinking -to-day. What did yellow labour mean? It meant tjwt the suspicions of Wales had been realised. Had it ever occurred to them to reflect upon what would have happened to this country if the judg- ment arrived at by the Welsh constituencies had been endorsed by the English constitu- ,,ncee? They would have saved 360 millions money to begin with, 250 millions of which had been squandered upon the war. Ono hundred millions had been squandered in increasing the normal expenditure of thie country. They would have kept the normal expenditure of this country less by 30 millions "ban it was at the present moment, and he nade allowance for educational and adminis- rativo purpo&ss. They would probably have lad old-age pensions carried, and even then hey would have had a saving of twenty nillions upon the annual expenditure. They "ould not have had tho Education Act. Laughter, and applause). They would have lad some Education Act, but it would have )"n a democratic one, It would have )een an Act that would have settled ,he controversy upon the principles of airplay and justice. They would have had temperance reform, and not a Bill setting up vested interests as an insuperable barrier to temperance reform in the future. They would have had greater powers conferred ipon municipalities for housing and land storms. What about Ireland? They vould have had self-government in Ireland. They would also, probably, '1a'\e had some measure of fixity )f tenure, and they would have had the ques- 'ion of reliErioiis eouality settled once and for •>11 in Wales. The English people hnrl 13 they did, not because 1hey were agaBst emporance reform or clerical contro^^in Mucation, but because they hd been misled iy great Imperial problems into returning to lower a party reactionary in local affairs. It ";as important that they should withdraw hes-e local affairs from the Imperial ■arambling-table, where they were always at fhe mercy of chance. They talked about Free Trade as if it had been won without iifficulty. It was won by the starvation of millions. Protection simply meant a chain -ound the ankles of a nation, with the pad- 'ock and the key in the pockets of somebody nlse. For five years, because a number of gold syndicates in Johannesburg wanted to increase rhe value of their holdings and worked and :ntrigued and plotted for that purpose, 'he education of hundreds of thousands of ^.relsh children was suffering. (Cries of Shame.") The sobriety of thousands of 'Velsh parents was affected, and the comfort and happiness of myriads of Welsh homes vas impaired. The first demand of any man dlO had the real interest of his countrymen it heart was for the separation of these lomestic concerns from the greater and wider Tmperial concerns. A question in which he was deeply interested was the re-afforestation if the Welsh hills. They did not want an Imperial Parliament to plant trees.. It would be a degradation for a big intellect like that if Mr. Chamberlain. His business was to destroy. The real Imperialist was the man who could adjust, not the conflicting, not the competing, but the varying claims of nation and Empire. Mr. Chamberlain forgot how bo weld the Empire by not forgetting the traditions, characteristics, nay, even the prejudices of every little people. every little race in every corner of the Empire. When a statesman arose in Britain who statesmanship was of that colour then would be the beginning of a greater history for this Empire than had ever yet been written; and in that story he ventured to predict that his. little country-Wales-would take a shining and an illnstrous part. (Loud and prolonged applause.) Alderman Edward Thomas (Cardiff) was declared to have been elected chairman of th3 general purposes committee. THE EDUCATION ACT. Then came the resolutions, the first of which was proposed by the Rev. Towyn Jones, condemning the Government's Education Act. Colonel Ivor Herbert seconded, and said that if they were going to apply the closure in Parliament, they could not apply it in Wales. He pleaded for religious toleration. The resolution was carried. THE LICENSING BILL. Alderman S. N. Jonee moved the next reso- lution, condemning the Licensing Bill and re- affirming the claims of the Principality to separate treatment in temperance legislar tion. Principal Edwards, Mr. Herbert Roberts, M.P., and the Hon. Ivor 6uest, M.P., supported, the latter repeating what he bad previously stated in one of his speeches at Cardiff in regard to the new Mrensing Bill. This resolution was also carried. A GENERAL RESOLUTION. Mr. William Brace next moved:- That this meeting emphatically condemns the extravagance and administrative ineffi- ciency of the present Government; declares its disapproval of the recent utter- ances of Mr. Balfour and Mr. Chamberlain advocating fiscal reform and preferential tariffs, and its adherence to the principles of Free Trade; and repudiates the sanctioning by the Government of the i importation of Chinese slave labour into South Africa. Further, that this council affirms its strong opinion that the Church of England in Wales should be disestab- lished and disendowed; that the land laws of the country require drastic reform in accordance with the recommendations of the Welsh Land Commission: that there is a pressing necessity for the rating of land values, royalties, and wayleaves, for the extension of local self-government, the reform of the registration laws with the extension of the franchise to women, the passing of the Trades Disputes Bill, and of such other social and domestic legislation as will be calculated to promote the general well-being of the people. Alderman Raffan seconded, Mr. Clement Edmunds supported, and again there was a unanimous vote. Thanks to the chairman ended the after- noon meeting.

THE EVENING MEETING. MR, LLOYD-GEORGE AND FREE TRADE. There was a crowded attendance at the evening meeting, which was held in the Town- hall, under the presidency of Alderman T. J. Hughes. who was supported on the platform by all the prominent Liberals who attended and took part in the afternoon conference Mr. Lloyd-George was the principal speaker, and it was found necessary to hold an over- flow meeting at the Congregational Chapel. The Chairman said that the record of the present Government was as black as any since tha Stuarts. Meddlers in peace, muddlers in war, raising new taxes on coal and corn, this Government had created a record for itself. But the sands were ia the gla-ss. Wales would pick its own bone with the Government, and it would pick it clean. Sir Alfred Thomas, M.P., moved the first resolution, which condemned the administra- tive policy and the extravagance of the present Government. It also protested against the attempts to revive Protection and tax the food of the people, and to force a coercive measure through Parliament designed to dragoon the conscience of the Welsh nation, also condemning the Licensing Bill. Sir Alfred, who was in good form, deprecated the very suggestion of Protection. He believed that the strength of a country lay in the wisdom and justice of its adminis- tration. Mr. W. Brace seconded the resolution. He denounced the Education Act and criticised the Chancellor of the Exchequer for finding fault with alleged extravagance on the part of municipalities. He believed that the intro. duction of Chinese labour into South Africa would be the ulcer that would eat into the vitals of the Government. Mr. Lloyd-George, who was given his second ovation of the day. referred to his favourite topic-education. Reforms were wanted, he said, and the first waer fair- play in the schools. Let the children be thero on terms of perfect religious equality. They were waiting for the great fight of the county councils. Some of the Tory papers were crowing over the resolution of the Car- marthenehire County Council. Their laugh wa* premature. Be (the speaker) was perfectly satisfied with the situation, if they (the Tory papers) were. There had been too much dis- position to write a menu for Wales without asking its wishes. They must insist on Wales being placed side by side with Scotland. Why he rejoiced in this education fight was because it would teach the Government to consider twice before they attempted a similar thing again. Turning to Free Trade, he said they wer,, willing to judge the issue at the next. general eleiction on Free Trade, and Free Trade alone. It was a sudden discovery on the part of Mr. Cham- berlain that the prosperity of this country was waning, our industries failing, trade going to the dogs, the whole commerce of the land ansemic-no health in it. There was no need for worry; there was less dumping than ever. They could wait for another year, or two or three years. If they found that trade was going back, the best remedy was to get rid of the Tories. (Laughter.) There was Ia. means of ascertaining the national wealth which was above suspicion, and that was through the Income-tax Com- missioners. In 1885 the National Income was 631 millions. After seventeen years of this ruinous fiscal system the national income had gone up from 631 millions to 900 millions. Wages in this country had gone up at a higher percentage than in any other country, and the hours of labour were shortened. Free Trade was not altogether a matter of national prosperity; it was a matter of national pride. Nothing made for the peace of the world like Free Trade. (Applause.) They owed peace in this land during the past five years to Free Trade. The mission of Empire was not the mission of Cham- berlain-eye for eye and tariff for tariff. He believed in the mission of Bright and Cohden. (Applause.) They believed that Britain was the King's herald to proclaim throughout the markets of the world the Divine message of "Peace on earth, and goodwill towards, men," and what- ever troubles and difficulties might be in the way, and whatever the sacrifices, if Britain persevered in that course she would ultimately triumph, because she would have the blessings of Rim Who made war cease to the ends of the earth. (Loud and continued anplause.) Mr. Ivor Guest followed, and again criti. cised the reckless expenditure of the Govern- ment. and said there never was a more dis- graceful case of interference with harmless, primitive people than the attack upon the I Tibetans. English soldiers ha,d gone there on a "peaceful mission" armed to the teeth. The Government now found that they were -J ™nddLe- Speaking of himself, Mr. Guest Su v P°sition was peculiar. He hoped that before long it would be far from unusual for him to be present at a Liberal meeting. (Applause.) Colonel Ivor Herbert and Mr. Arthur Wil- Iiams also spoke in smmort of the resolution, which was carried with acclamation An overflow meeting was held in the Eng- lish Congregational Chapel, Alderman Jones of Abertillery, presiding, and similar resolu- tione were passed to those carried at the main meeting. The speakers included Principal Edwards, the Hon. Ivor Guest, the Rev Clement Edwards, the Rev. J. Herbert Roberta, Mr. Lloyd-George, and Mr. Brace.—Mr. Guest in the course of his speech said a great many had been driven out of the Conservative party by the violence of Mr. Chamberlain. He did not think the Liberal party would lose anything in the long run by opening its arms to such men as himself, because he supposed that members who had taken what was, after all, rather an extreme step in politics did so upon their convictions. (Applause.)

A SAVAGE ASSAULT. At Ebbw Valo Police-court on Thursday Paul Bucke, 29, labourer, Victoria, was charged with assaulting Mary Ann Desmond, with whom he lodged.—Complainant said she came from town on the 21st with some presents for the children. While showing them to the neighbours Burke, who was leaning on the table, asked her what she was saying about him. She denied saying anything. lie sprang up and struck her in the eye, knock- ing her and a young baby in her arms to the floor. She feared the blow had injured her eyesight— Ptolice-constaMe Warburton said the woman showed him the gash on her eye. —Prisoner admitted he had been drinking Jl day.—The Chairman characterised the assault as a savage one, and a, fine of.EIO was imposed, or two months' imprisonment.

ARMY LASS ATTEMPTS SUICIDE. Emily Marshall, nineteen, described as a domestic servant and a member of the Salva- tion Army, was charged at Marylebone with attempting to commit suicide. On Monday afternoon the prisoner took poison at her lodgings, but no reason was assigned in court. MT. Kennedy, on learning that the Salva- tion Army authorities were prepared to look after the girl, bound her over to come up for judgment if called upon.

ALLEGED MISAPPROPRIATION. Frederick Hurford Jones, a solicitor, who has practised at Bristol for a number of years, was remanded at Bristol Police-court charged with converting to his own use a cheque for E460, received on behalf ot a client.—Mr. Wansbrough, who represented the Treasury, said it was further alleged tba,t the acottseft had misappropriated two other lumo of iS DO and CI.40- I

VERY EVIDENT. The Church doggie must not go to sleep or he will lose his bonef

AB E RTIL L ER Y COLLIER'S SUDDEN DEATH. The painfully sadden death of James Jones, a married collier, employed at the Gray Pit, Abertillery (Messrs. Powell's Tillery Colliery Co., Limited), was the subject of an inquiry at the Police-station, Abertillery, on Wednes- day by Mr. J. B. Walford (coroner). Mr. J Martin, his Majesty's Inspector of Mines, Bristol, was present, as also was Mr. W. Brace, C.C., miners' agent, the latter on behalf of the relatives and workmen. Dr. Powell (managing director), Mr. W. Stewart, J.P., agent, and Messrs. J. Laxab, and A. Frowen, managers, were present on behalf of the colliery company, who were also legally represented by Mr. W. J. Everett (Everett and Jones), and medi- cally by Dr. Greer, Newport. Mrs. A. Jones, the widow, said that last Friday Jones came home from work and told witness he had home from work and told witness he had fallen down in work and jerked himself badly. In the early morning witness rv awakened by hearing her husband making an awful noise, like a rattling in his throat or chest. She raised him up and then ran out to fetch a neighbour, and when they returned in a few minutes her husband was quite dead.—Robert J. Wheeler, collier, said deceased came to help witness and a boy to push an empty tram up to his (Wheeler's) heading. Deceased slipped down on his knee on the sleeper, and com- plained to witness that he hurt himself. lie soon became alright, however, and assisted witness to take the tram the remainder of the way, and afterwards went back to his stall, working till his usual time.—Dr. Rocyn Jones stated that in the presence of Dr. Greer he had made a post-mortem examination, and they were quite agreed as to the cause of death. which was heart disease. In his opinion, the injury to the knee had nothing to do with the death. At the same time, with the heart in such a bad state, death might have been accelerated.—The jury returned a verdict of Death caused by heart disease, accelerated by over-exertion at his work in the colliery." FATALITIES DUE TO DRINK. Mr. J. B. Walford, district coroner, held two inquests at Tredegar on Wednesday. The first was on the body of William Davies, lodging at Coronation-street, Tredegar, and the evidence showed that Davies came home in a "muddled" state of intoxication, and while going upstairs to bed fell backwards to the bottom of the stairs. He sustained a fracture of the skull, and died two hours afterwards. It was stated that Davies was greatly addicted to drink. A verdict of "Death from misadventure whilst under the influence of drink" was return(-,d.-The second inquest was on Thomas Elias Lewis (60), haulier, Sirhowy, who fell from the shafts of his cart. and the wheel going over his body fractured his thigh and injured his spine, which caused death. The medical evidence I showed that Lewis was very drunk when he was brought home after the accident. A similar verdict was returned in this case. DEATH FROM EXCITEMENT AT MERTHYR. An inquest was held on Saturday at the White Horse, Inn, Twynyrodin, Merthyr, upon the body of Mary Rachel Jones, aged 3!i, of 26. Twvnyrodin. who suddenly fell down unconscious at Pontmorlais whilst watr-hin, the May Day procession, and who died almost immediately after being carried into thp Owain Glyndwr Inn. The jury, upon the evi- dence of Dr. Biddle, found that death was due to heart disease. The deceased was a married woman, and leaves five little children. Lile youngest, which she had in her arms at the time she fell, being only four months old SUDDEN DEATH AT BURRY PORT. Mr. Martin Richards, deputy coroner, held an inquest at the Commercial Arms, Pembrey, on Saturday, when a verdict of "Death from natural causes" was returned in the case of Mr. John Jones, 67, Bankyffynon Cottage, Pembrey, who was found dead on the Stanley Embankment by a dockgatesman.- Dr. Owen Williams said the cause of death was heart disease. PONTLOTTYN LADY'S SUDDEN DEATH. Mrs. Owen, wife of County Councillor D. B. Owen, Lord Nelson Hotel, Pontlottyn, has died suddenly. Mr. and Mrs. Owen had been on a visit to the residence of Mr. W. W. Morgan, stationmaster, who Wa. married to their eldest daughter recently. They left Southend-terrace about half-past ten, and near the police-station in Farm-road Mrs. Owen was seized with apoplexy and expired almost immediately* FELL DEAD ON HIS DOORSTEP. Whilst Mr. D. B. Thomas, newsagent and hairdresser, was standing talking to a friend on his doorstep at New Dock-road, Llanelly, about eight o'clock on Tuesday he fell down dead. Deceased was very well known and popular in the town. DIED IN A FIT. On Saturday an inquet was held at Swansea on the body of Mrs. E. Joy, aged 54. a widow, who died in a fit on Friday evening at the house of her son-in-law. The verdict was "Natural causes." WESTON LADY'S SAD DEATH. The wifo of Mr. Herbert Wansbrough, manager-secretary to the Weston Grand Pier Company, died suddenly on Saturday at Weston. Deceased: who had been unwell during the night, suddenly got worse, and Dr. Fraser wis called in. Despite every effort, however, she passed away early in the morning. DIED DIGGING A GRAVE. William Price, the Pembroke county coroner, held an inquest at Pembroke Dock at noon on Thursday on the body of James Davies, 75. Deceased was assistant grave digger at the cemetery. On Wednesday even- ing he had filled one grave. ard was Clling in a second, when he fell fornam and on being picked up was found o be dead. Dr. Saunders attributed death to heart disease, and a verdict accordingly; was returned.

EDNA MAY'S DIVORCE ACTION. Miss Edna May some years ago sought for a divorce from her husband, Mr. Fred Titus, an American actor, but the proceedings were unsuccessful. She has, however, commenced another action, and she hopes that this will be effective. "I was married in New York when I was quite a girl, only seventeen," she told a representative at the Prince of Wales's Theatre. "It was a secret affair, and when the ceremony was over I went back to school. Six years ago I came to London in The Belle of New York,' and I have never since seen my husband. Last summer a relative of mine, Judge Rich, of the Supreme Court, was over here, and he told me tJlat I ought to resume proceedings for divorce, and these proceedings have been started. My husband appears to be quite agreeable to this action, judging from statements he has made to the representative of a New York journal. So it is hard luck if we cannot be formally separated, and go our own different ways in future, without any legal union. And I do want to be free. "Mr. Titus is now playing in 'The Red Feather' company in Canada, and his tour closes next week in Toronto. My engage- ment here finishes on Friday weeli, and I then undergo an operation for the removal of something in my throat, which worries me. A few days later I go to New York, and there, I trust, the whole business will be settled. At least, I hope so. The public, in watching players on the stage, very rightly pay little concern to their private troubles, but the poor actor or actress often appears with a heavy heart, and not infrequently she would prefer to cry right out loud than to be outwardly merry and endeavour to make others laugh. "I suppose it is right to keep your troubles to yourself, but those who know the ups and downs of stage life will understand and ap- preciate my meaning. And here I have had to appear night after night under a delightful management, but my heart has often been heavy when I have given my marriage a thought. 'Marry in haste and repent at leisure,' you English people say. Well, I guess my repentance has been as rapid as was my marriage. "Now, let me ask you a question," added Miss May. "Why do the English newspapers, which have always been so kind to me, make such blunders over my age? I was born on September 2, 1878, so oblige me by putt ng your colleagues right on this trifling matter."

MADAME NORDICA'S DIVORCE. After Mme. Nordica, the famous singer, recently obtained a decree of divorce, her husband, Mr. Zoltan Doehme, appeared in the New York Supreme Court with the object of having it set aside, asserting that the courts had no jurisdiction, and that the judgment had been obtained by fraud and collusion. courts had no jurisdiction, and that the judgment had been obtained by fraud and collusion. I I Mr. Justice Maclean on Saturday granted Mr. Doehme's petition, ordered the case to be re-tried, and appointed ex-Judge Daly as referee to hear the evidence. In his decision the justice severely criti- cised Mme. Nordica and her husband, and strongly hinted that their matrimonial dif- ferences should never have been brought before the court. He also intimated that there was some question whether they are actual residents of New York within the jurisdiction of the New York courts. The justice said that Mr. Doehme had con- fessed that a proposition was made to him by his wife's counsel that if he permitted her to obtain a divorce and would consent to her receiving £4,000 from money and securities of hia which she had "attached," she would then consent to the attachment being withdrawn. Mr. Doehme, adds the justice, in accordance with this collusive arrangement, did not attempt to interpose the substantial defences that he might have set up. In view of these facte and of the denials made by Madame Nordica and the other parties interested, a thorough investigation was ordered.

DIVORCE APPEAL COSTS. The case of De Lisle v. De Lisle oame before the Court of Appeal on the wife's applica- tion for security for costs of the husband's appeal. Mr. Le Riche. in support of the application, said that the respondent on the appeal was the wife, and she obtained a decree nisi for the dissolution of her mar- riage on the ground of the misconduct and cruelty of her husband. The case was tried before the President of the Divorce Division, and it occupied some days, and the wife's costs were taxed at £ 2,561. The husband (the appellant) was not in a position to pay the costs, and, as the costs of appeal were estimated to amount to over £ 4C0, the wife asked that her husband should be ordered to give security for the costs of the appeal. Mr. Barnard asked the court not to make an order on tho husband for security, or, at any rate, if an order were made, that it should be only for a. small eum. The hus- band had a substantial case to put before the Court of Appeal. It was true that the has. band was a poor man, but the lady had an Income of between £ 2,000 and £ 3,000 a year. Their Lordships directed that the appellant should give security in the sum of 975.

FARMER'S TERRIBLE DEATH. A shocking affair was reported on Wednes- day from Draperstown. County Londonderry, While a farmer named Laird was on Tues- day night driving home the horse bolted, and, becoming entangled in the reins, the farmer was thrown from the vehicle and dragged n'one the road for a considerable distance, t-ome men working in a field stopped the runaway, but when Mr. Laird was picked up he was found quite dead. One of the shafts had pierced his lungs, itad his ribs, arms, and legs were fraotmred,

THE BRECONSHIRE TRAGEDY. 'FATAL SEQUEL TO A FISHING EXPEDITION. Three lads, named Lewis Davies, William John Morgan, and David James Gibbs, of Ystradgynlais, sons of colliers, set out on f Whit-Monday for a day's fishing at the Van Pools, in the Black Mountain Range. They took with them but a slender provision of food, having arranged to return to their home early in the afternoon. The morning was fairly fine and quite clear. During the afternoon, however, a thick fog came on. Hour after hour passed, and, as the boys did not return, their parents became alarmed, realising, as they did, the dangers of the mountains in bad weather. The night passed, and still no sign of the wanderers. On Tuesday morning all the collieries in the neighbourhood stopped work, and hundreds of col- liers turned out to look for the missing boys. They searched the mountains all day long. Late at night they found Davies in an utterly exhausted condition, suffering from cold and erpoaure, and quite unable to say what had beoome of his companions. He was taken to Dorwen Farmhouse, at Cwmtwrch, and given food and restoratives. He lay in a semi-conscious condition until Wednesday morning, but then could merely say that he ha dlost his two friends. GIBBS'S RETURN. In the meantime, however, Gibbs had found his way home, having followed the stream and struck the main road near Craig-y-Nos Castle, the residence of Madame Patti. He then said that when the mist enveloped them a discussion arose between them as to the direction in which their homes lay. They we re unable to agree, and Gibbs, convinced that he was right. left the others and determined to make his way home alone. The others, he said, had gone off in a different direction, but he was unable to indicate their whereabouts at all clearly. Two boys were thus accounted for. Morgan was still missing on Wednesday morning the search was resumed, though, knowing the dangerous nature of the country, without shelter, covered, only with brush, cut up by dangerous precipices and streams swoollen br heavy rains, the searchers had little hopes that they would find Morgan still alive. Their fears were only too surely realised, for on Wednesday afternoon Morgan was found dea don the top of one of the peaks. He was lying on hie back, with eyee wide open, and one hand inside hie waistcoat and th" other covering his breast. There was no evidence of his having been in the water, and all appearances went to show that death waa due t-o exhaustion and exposure. A SAD PROCESSION. The party, which at th's time numbered about a score, took immediate steps to convey the body home. about fifteen miles away, and as they went other parties learnt the sad fate of the lad and formed part of the procession. When the cortege had marched some three miles over the mountains thev were met b:v a nsrtv conducted by Police-constable Smith a-nd Police-constable Pembridre. who examined and searched the bodv, findinit in a little basket a number of small trout. 2s. 8;d. in money, a diary, a pamphlet entitled "The History of Jesus," and a. letter. A rough stretcher was improvised, and the procession, which became a thousand strong, resumed the long march to Ahercrave. At his home T Danes was attended hv a doctor, who ordered, in view of hie condition, that he must be kept ouiet. for he got to Dorwen Farm, where he was found, he mnst have walked a considerable distance. His companion died, some seven miles from the spot where he found safrtv.

THREE IMBECILE CHILDREN. Elizabeth Straight, 59, of Richmond, appa- rently a woman of gentle birth, was charged at Marylebone with attempting to commit suicide. A police-constable saw her near Baker- street, leaning against a lamp-post. Thinking she must be ill, he asked her what was the matter, and she told him she had poisoned herself, at the same time handing him a phial whioh contained some dark-looking stuff. He conveyed her to a dispensary, and afterwards to St. Mary's Hospital. It appeared she was the widow of a member of the Stock Exchange, and it was stated that this was the second time she had attempted suicide. A solicitor representing the family said the accused was well-connected, and he was anxious that a home should be found for her. Proceedings were being taken in Chancery. and allegations of drinking habits were being made. She had three imbecile children, and the question before the court was the care of those children. The Magistrate further remanded the accused in custody for a week.

"INSULTED MY YOUNG GIRL." Joseph Walter France, a coalminer, of Spring Hill. Essington, near Wolverhampton, was charged at Ksnilworth Divisional Ses- sions to-day with the wilful murder of Charles Smith, farm bailiff, at Cubbington, near Leamington, on Thursday. Police-constable Butcher stated that France said:- I did not kick him. What I did do was with my flat. He insulted my young girl last night in a public-house and pinched her, and deserved all he got. Witness added that Smith died in the wit- ness's presence without regaining conscious- ness. Accused was remanded.

AN INDISCREET MARRIAGE. Henry Wright, 23, a clerk, drawing a weekly salary of 27s. 6d.. was charged at the Mansion House with embezzlement. In pleading guilty, prisoner said he was driven into dishonesty by poverty. He was married at eighteen, and had a wife and four children. He told his employers he was Bingle because he thought that otherwise he would not get the situation. He was sen- tenced to fourteen days imprisonment ia the seoond division.

THE HARBOUR OPEN FOR WARSHIPS, A Japanese fleet, consisting of eight vessels, bombarded Port Arthur on Tues- day. The attack lasted about an hour. According to one of the special corre- spondents of the "Morning Post" and Western Mail," two of the vessels which the Japanese sunk in the channel have been removed, and the harbour is, appa- rently, now open to warships. There is every indication that a land assault on Port Arthur is imminent. The Japanese are in force at Pi-tse-wo and at Kin-chau, and are ready to march upon the port on both sides of the peninsula. CHI-FU, Wednesday. A Japanese fleet began to bombard Port Arthur at eleven o'clock yesterday morning. A Frenchman, who left Dalny on the night of the 22nd inst., and who arrived here to-night, witnessed the attack. He says that eight large Japanese vessels circled round the entrance to Port Arthur for an hour, firing broadsides at intervals of ten minutes. Up to the time the Frenchman left Dalny everything was quiet there, but a Japanese attack was hourly expected. The military and civil officials were ready to leave, and, only a few non-official civilians still remained. The attempt made by the Russians some time ago to destroy the docks and piers failed. After the news of the Hatsuoo disaster General Stoessel gave orders that no further attempt should be made to destroy these works. The Japanese are in force a Pi-tse-wo and at Kin-chau, and are ready to march down on Port Arthur on either side of the peninsula. The German steamer Chi-fu was fired upon by a Japanese cruiser in the Gulf of Pechili to-day, the cruiser having misunderstood the Chi-fu's signals. The Swedish steamer Karin was also fired upon during the night off Liao-ti-ehan. It is not known by whom. ST. PETERSBURG, Wednesday Afternoon- According to reports from Ohinese sources the Japanese are now ready to attack Port Arthur. It is persistently stated here that the Japa- nese will advance upon Liao-yang only in the event of their assault upon Port Arthur being successful. If it should fail they will act merely on the defensive for a consider able time. CHI-FU, Wednesday. Junks arriving here from Taku-shan, on the south-west coast of An-tung. report that 6.000 Japanese landed there on the 21st inst. A. junk which has come from Pi-tee-wo reporte that the Japanese arc landing a small nnm. bei of iroops there every day, and building temporary barracks on the Elliot Islands, where 100 ships, including men-of-war and transports, are assembling. Only small sikirmishes had taken plaoe along the western shore of Liao-tung up to the 22nd, but heavy firing was heard near Port Arthur yesterday, indicating that a land attack had begun, as the Japanese fleet was not seen off Port Arthur. [There are two Talra-shans in Liao-tung, one south-west of An-tung, and the other midway between Pi-tse-wo and Ta-lien-wan.] Refugees from Dalny state that General Stoessel has seized all the cash in the Port Arthur and Dalny banks, and that depositors a.re unable to cash cheques. JAPANESE DEFEATED AT KIN-CHAU, ST. PETERSBURG, Wednesday. According to a dispatch from Liao-yang, the Japanese forces have evacuated their posi- tions at Feng-huang-cheng aad retreated to the villages to the north-east. A Russian officer, who has returned to Liao-yang from the neighbourhood of Feng- huang-cheng, says that five Japanese bat- talions, while reconnoitring near Kin-chau, encountered, in a narrow pass. a strong Rus- sian force under General Fock. Holding a magnificent position, the Russians opened a tremendous fire. The Japanese retired with. serious losses There is no confirmation of this report. PARIS, Wednesday. The St. Petersburg correspondent of the "Petit Parisien" telegraphs as followe:- "The defeat of the Japanese at Kin-chau by General Fock is confirmed. The Russians lured the enemy into a defile commanded by two guns, which decimated them. The Russians lost one captain and 140 men. The Japanese losses are reported to have been much heavier. "The War Office to-day received dispatches from General Kuropatkin reporting yarious strategic movements. He appears to have decided to take the offensive. A Vlftdivosrf-ok ^i=r>ateh states that Admiral Skrydloff has left for a cruise on the 'Rossia. accompanied by the 'GromoboL'" ST. PFTETISBURG, Wednesday. A telegram from Li-n-vang says that accord- ing to reports from Chinese sources another Japanese warship was sunk near Dalny on Monday. ANOTHER RUSSIAN NAVAL MISHAP. PARIS, Wednesday. The St. Petersburg correspondent of the "Echo de Paris" says that ill-luck continues to dog the Baltic fleet. The battleship Borodino has now net with an accident. She fouled a shore, which dented her side at the stern and caused slight damage to the shaft. Though not serious, the work of repairing the damage will be a delicate matter, and will take some time. The Borodino is a bat- tleship of the Czarevitch class, and carries » crew of 750. ( I THE LOSS OF THE YOSHINO. TOKIO, Wednesday. Of the complement of the cruiser Yoshino which was rammed by tho Kasuga on the 15th in a fog off Port Arthur, 63 petty officers and 220 bluejackets were drowned, and 48 petty officers and bluejackets rescued. No details of the disaster have been re- ceived. The Navy Department is still awaiting a detailed report of the loss of the Hatsuse, which is expected hourly. The department has despatched a naval constructor to examine the survivors of the disasters and mclte a thorough technical investigation. ANOTHER JAPANESE CRUISER REPORTED SUNK. PARIS, Monday. The Petit Parisien publishes the follow- ing from its St. Petersburg correspondent:- "I learn that the second Japanese cruiser of the Shikishima type which was damaged in the fighting off Port Arthur on the 15th inst., and which was towed away, sank four miles off Port Arthur The crew was saved." Another report says that tho Kasuga, one of the cruisers bought from Chili by the Japanese, is stated to be out of action. having been very badly injured off Port Arthur on the day when the Hatsuse was blown up. The Kasuga. is supposed to have been towed to Sasebo.

THE RATE-CUTTING WAR. GLOOMY STATEMENT BY MR. BRUCE ISMAY. Mr. Brnce Iemay, president of the Morgan Shipping Trust, stated on Wednesday that the outlook in regard to the rate-cutting wltr in Atlantic steerage passengers was most serious. The fight was between the Cunard Company and the Continental lines, the Shipping Combine not being in it. They would rather be left alone, but if cutting -a.8 persisted in they would have to do something to protect themselves. The result of the present struggle would be that all the ^Atlantic lines would lace ht&Viiy.