Weekly Mail

"CHARLIE'S MURDERED." GRIMSBY WOMAN MAKES A TERRIBLE DISCOVERY. A strange tragedy is reported from Clee- thorpes, near Grimsby. Some eight weeks ago a young fitter, named Charles Smith, who lodged with a young married woman, named Prior, at 27, Danbury-streot, New Cleethorpes, married, and the oouple took the house oocupied by Mrs. Prior. Since the wedding Mrs. Prior had been in the habit of making friendly calls on the Smiths, and all appeared to be on amicable terms. On Wednesday Mrs. Prior appears to have called at the house, and later both Mr. Smith and Mrs. Prior were found shot. Mr. Smith was dead, and Mrs. Prior was so injured tha.t she expired at three o'clock on Thursday morning. In the man's case the bullet had entered the left eye and. passed out through the right temple, while in that of the woman it is thought the bullet entered the right temple and passed out at the left. The affair is- sur- rounded with the greatest mystery, and none of the neighbours seem to have heard any unusual noise. When Mrs. Prior called at the house both Mr. and Mrs. Smith were at home. After some conversation Mrs. Smith went to a shop close by to purchase some fried fish and potatoes for supper, and on her return she was hor- rified to find her husband divested of his jacket and boots lying dead on the floor in a pool of blood. His feet were towards the fireplace, and his head was under the kitchen 8Jble. Between his legs lay a six-chambered revolver, whilst a few feet away, with her head towards the door, lay Mrs. Prior, groan- ing heavily and bleeding profusely from a wound in the head. Mrs. Smith rushed fran- tically from the house, and gave the alarm, shouting, Charlie's murdered." A later message states that Mr. Prior is a fisherman, and is now on a voyage to Iceland. There is one child. It is suggested that Mrs. Prior held some secret which Smith feared she would divulge to his wife, for a neigh- bour states he overheard Smith and Prior talking together the day previously, and he heard the man say darkly to the woman, "If you do tell, I'll do it."

PENARTH LADIES' PERIL. EXTRAORDINARY BRAVERY OF A CARDIFF MAN. It seems that Donoghue, who stopped the runaway horse on Canton Bridge on Thursday, was almost madly reck- less in his gallantry. The horse had travelled through Queen-street, Duke-street, and Caetle-street at racing speed, with Mrs. Moxey and her companion in a terrible state of fright in the closed carriage. As the run- away reached Canton Bridge the rescuer uf the imperilled ladies made a desperate spring at the animal's head and caught the bridle. So great was the speed of the horse that for a moment his speed was scarcely checked, but the man clung courageously to the bridle at extreme per- sonal risk, and after being dragged fifteen or twenty yards succeeded in bringing the affrighted steed to a standstill. The ladies were almost in a state of collapse when assisted from the carriage. Subsequently we understand the rescuer received a substantial reward from Mrs. Moxey. While the runaway was passing through Duke-street Mr. Mathews, of the Rummer Hotel, also rendered useful service. At the time the street was crowded with vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians, but seeing the horse coming, Mr. Mathews shouted and waved his hands, and thus obtained a clear route. There was another moment of great danger at the top of High-street. A Canton car was just turning the corner into Castle-street, and with this it eeemed the runaway must collide. The car- riage actually came in contact with the oar, but so great was the speed of the horse that the vehicle bonncod off from the tramcar like a football, and, fortunately, did not upeet.

CASHIER'S BROKEN PROMISE. At Leeds (before the Under-sheriff of Yorkshire) Miss Mary Annie Kendell, aged 30 years, a dressmaker, living with her mother at Crossgates, near Leeds, was awarded JE100 damages against William Albert Warren, about the same age, living at 41, Darfleld- street, Bradford, and engaged as cashier at a West End clothing establishment, for breach of promise. The parties had carried on a. oourtlhiP for eight years.

MISSING BANKNOTE CASE. SOLICITOR EXAMINED IN BANKRUPTCY. Tuesday being the day fixed for the adjourned examination in bankruptcy of Messrs. George and Charles Henry Marshall, solicitors, of Retford, the Registrar of the Lincoln County-court arranged again to attend at the Sessions-house in that city for the purpose of resuming the proceedings. It will be re-oalled that on the occasion of the first public examination in connection with the bankruptcy of the firm Mr. Charles Henry Marshall was too ill to attend. and. therefore, only Mr. George Marshall, the senior partner, was called into the witness- box. The latter, who is an ex-mayor of Ret- ford, attributed the failure to the loss of £ 12,000 in bank-notes belonging to the Duke of Newcastle, whose agent he was at the time, the assertion being that the money dis- appea.red during a visit paid by him (Mr. Geo. Marshall) to the Hotel Metropole, London. About five weeks after this examination there was a sensational development, Mr. George Marshall being arrested on a charge of appro- priating the £12,000 and other money to his own use, the representative of the Public Prosecutor declaring tha,t no robbery from the accused had taken place at the Metro- pole. Mr. George Marshall was charged at Retford, and remanded in custody on his failure to find the necessary bail. Thus. while on the former occasion he submitted himself as a free man, now he attended from Lincoln Gaol for the purpose of answering any questions which the trustee (Mr. J. N. Derbyshire, accountant, of Nottingham) might have to put. The statement of affairs in the joint estate showed the total liabilities expected to rank for dividend to be £25,796 17s. 10d., the assets being estimated to produce £1.601 14s. 10d., leaving a defi- ciency of £24,195 3s. The Official Receiver intimated that for the present he would not examine. The debtor was questioned as to a piece of land acquired in 1895 and 1896 from Marsden's Trustees at a oost of over dESOO. with a lodge to be built at over £300. He mortgaged it to the Starr-Bowkett Society, and he was not aware that the mortgage was still running. He thought he had made the last payment. CHARLES HENRY MARSHALL. I Mr. Stephenson: The deeds got separated. The title deeds and mortgage deeds were with the society, and the conveyance and abstract in your possession?—I was not aware of it. Did you not three days before the receiving order hand the mortgage to Dr. Houseley, one of the mortgagees of Mount Vernon? And why did you do so?—Houseley called upon me and saw me in my billiard-room. He said that he had heard something, and that some further security must be given him. What did he say that he had heard?—He had heard that there was an. execution from the Duke of Newcastle. Was there one?—I almost think there was. No, I think it was a little later. You expected one?—Yes. I do not swerve from the truth. At that time you know that you had not enough to pay your creditors?—I never was insolvent up to the time of the robbery. If my estate had been properly realised everyone would have got everything. Your statement of affairs shows a deficiency of JE25.000?—Yes. but that is inclusive of the duke's. Well give the go-by to the duke, then it leaves' £ 13,000. How could you have paid that?—Mount Vernon would have fetched it. Directly after the robbery did you believe the firm solvent?—I could not say, for I never went into the accounts. I must have been a ——— fool not to look into matters, inasmuch as at that time the firm were owing me very nearly .Ell.OOO. I had a cashier to look to the accounts. I was perfectly astonished when I saw them. I had a letter from the duke sympathising with me in regard to the robbery, and voluntarily giving me an appointment in London. That appointment was frustrated by two gentle- men. Counsel: It would not be fair to talk about the duke's matter to-day. Debtor: I should have been perfectly solvent to-day if it had not been for the robbery. I do not think I have gone into the firm's affairs for thirty years. I had undoubted confidence in my partners. The Official Receiver wanted to know why be kept such a large sum as £ 27,000 in notes. He said that he had contemplated retiring from the firm, and he wanted to make pro- vision for his wife. It was principally his own money. Asked whether the account had not been cast up £ 14.000 wrong, debtor said he was the worst accountant in the world, and he had had no assistance. The further examination was fixed for the 26th of July. The debtor was then conveyed back to Lincoln Gaol to await the resumption of the magisterial proceedings at Retford

MARSHALL AT THE POLICE- COURT. George Marshall, solicitor, Retford, on Thurs- day again made his appearance at the local police-court on the charge of having received certain property for, and on account of his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, between the 9th of September, 1902, and January 28, 1904, and. having fraudulently converted to his own use or benefit, or for the use and bene- fit of certain other person or persons, the said property, with parts thereof. Mr. E. J. Sims prosecuted for the Treasury, Mr. Neale, of Sheffield, defended, and Mr. H. M. Leman appeared for the trustee, in bankruptcy. The accused was earlier in the day brought from Lincoln Prison, in charge of a couple of warders, and conveyed to the Retford Police-station in a cab. At this time a number of strangers to the town. lovers of curios and bric-a-brac, were hurrying to the house of Mr. Charles -Marshall, the defen- dant's brother and partner, whose effects are being sold by auction. The accused was conducted into court a few minutes before .ten. He took a seat in the dock, and pro- ceeded to peruse some legal documents. His demeanour was very composed, though he looked pale and a little feeble. His fellow- townsmen were collected at the back of the court. The mayor (Mr. Peake) was the only magistrate on the bench. The magistrates'-clerq of Worksop (Mr. Van de Gucht) officiated in the absence of the Retford magistrates'-clerk. who is a relative by marriage of the defendant. Certain formal evidence of bank clerks, whose affidavits were read, was put in. the same having relation to the numbers of bank notes. Mr. George Thomas Wills, solicitr Lin- coln's Inn Fields, London, stated tha a Sep- tember, 1902, his firm acted for the Dowager Duchess of Newcastle, and on the 9th of the month he received from the accused a sum of money on her grace's account, there being eighteen notes of £1,000 each, and on the same day witness paid them to the credit of his account at Barclay's, Pall Mall. The exact amount he had to receive from defendant was jS17,362 14s. 8d. Therefore, he changed one of the £ 1,000 notes and gave Marshall the difference. At this time Mr. Neal had not arrived. Defendant rose in the dock, and said that, in his SOLICITOR'S ABSENCE, he would suggest that the figures given by witness were not quite correct. Mr. Neal he're came into court. There wa.s a hurried consultation between him and his client, after which the legal gentleman asked that/the accused might be be allowed to sit by jim at the solicitors' table. The Mayor gavte his assent, and Mr. Marshall, leaving the dock, took a Seat at the solicitors' table, where he appeared to be quite at home- spreading his papers out before him and scanning them through gold-rammed spec- tacles. The warder from Lincoln Gaol occu- pied a seat near at hand. Mr. John Robert Randall, Kennington, London, a clerk to Messrs. Maple. Tee-sdale, and Co., solicitors. Old Jewry, said that in 1902 his firm acted for the defendant in an action brought by the Midland Counties' Dis- trict Bank against Messrs. Marshall and Bate for £3.168 5s. 3d. On the 9th of September of that year witness received from the defen- dant in respect of that action t11.e sum of £ 2,000, which was in two £ 1,000 notes, and which he paid to the credit of the action at the Bank of England. utter a further sum was paid in settlement of the claim. Evidence was giren to show that accused spent various deposit accounts, and paid in sums consisting of £ 1,000 notes for one day. Fifteen thousai^i pounds was deposited at the hank in this form, and some of it afterwards transferred to. current account, on which accused drew. He was pressed by the bankers, and then, according to prosecuting counsel, paid in cheques received for the Duke of New- castle. Mr. Rowcliff, a Bedford solicitor, gave evi- dence as to conversations .u6 had with Mr. Marshall about the alleged robbery at the Hotel Metropole. Mr. Marshall told him that the lock on the wallet had been cut round and the notes taken. The further hearing was adjourned.

CARDIFF CLERK IN TROUBLE CHARGED WITH THEFT AND FALSIFICATION. Before the Cardiff stipendiary (Mr. T. W. Lewis) on Thursday Henry W. Lacey, 49, was brought up in custody charged with having stolen bank notes for the sum of £24, belong- ing to his employers, Messrs. Spillers and Bakers (Limited). Mr. A. C. Macintosh appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Harold Lloyd de- fended. Mr. Macintosh, in opening the case, said the original charge in tne case was that of larceny, but in addition he had to submit a charge of falsification of accounts, as the result of further investigation of the books. Messrs. Spillers and Bakers (Limited), the prosecutors, em- ployed the accused as ledger clerk in their Irish department. As ledger clerk in that department his duty was to receive such amounts as came bý cheque or notes or cash from their Irish customers. He entered them in his cash-book, and subsequently into the ledger. There were, two ledgers kept to the credit of the customers. Then his prac- tice was to read out these amounts each day to one of his assistants, who made a list of them with the name of the customer oppo- site, and accused himself at the same time made out another list—simply the amounts with the name of the customers. He then called on his assistant to total his list, while accused also totalled his own. After the totals were found to correspond then either the prisoner or the assistant took the cash or notes, as the case might be, or both, with the list which prisoner himself had made, down to the cashier, who would pay the total amounta into the bank. In con- sequence of prisoner being away from the office through illness for about a. fortnight certain FACTS CAME TO LIGHT and as the result an investigation of his books took place. The investiga- tion disclosed certain falsifications which involved the taking by the prisoner of sums of cash which were, undoubtedly, handed to him in due course with the letters from the Irish customers. The methods of the prisoner's falsification, pot uriefly, were ingenious. As a simple instance, on the 28th of February, 1903, Messrs. Spillers and Bakers received from a person named P Cahill the first half of bank notes to the value of £10, and on the 4tih of March they received the second half of such notes, amounting to £10, and, in addition, one whole note for JB5. Fifteen pounds of these nT.es was entered by prisoner in a cash-book under date March 5, 1903, and was also entered by him in his own office list. On the 4th of March the £5 note was passed with other remittances by accused to the cashier, but not the notes for JE10 which had been received in halves. On the 4th of March, 1903, also, the prisoner made out an office list of the remittances received from customers on that date, the total of which appeared in his own report as JE179 9s., instead of £189 9s., which included the JE15 received from Oahill entered in the cash-book on March 15, 1903. On the latter date the firm received a number of other cheques, and these were entered in the cash-book as JE53 18. 6d., instead of JE63 la. 6d., in order to cover the jElO which he had abstracted from the previous £15, for which he had received three £5 notes from Cahill. The other cases were somewhat similar to this, but they varied in different particulars. In order to further cover up his defalcations which would have been discovered when the balances were taken each quarter, when forms were sent to the various 'customers announcing that they owed the firm so much—he put in inflated balances to the credit of the customers. When the balance was over, he put in contra entries, wiping them out. And down to the present time the amount of accused's DEFALCATIONS FOR A TEAR -1.he inquiry had not gone back further than that—up to February 29, 1904. amounted to £114 18s. 6d. William Albert Bougdon, office manager, was the first witness, and produced the firm's certificate of incorporation. Evan Phillips, chief accountant at the Cardiff branch, spoke to accused being engaged five years ago at a salary of £13) per annum. There were, in addition, certain other sums paid every balancing time. On the 9th of April, 1903, prisoner went away owing to ill-health, and during his absence relief was given by other ledger clerks, one of whom came from Southampton. Certain errors in balances were discovered by the relief ledger clerk rendering accounts to cus- tomers. These defalcations were pointed out to witness, and as the result of further inves- tigations the discrepancies mentioned were found. Witness produced the ledger and the office list, in which appeared entries in prisoner's own handwriting. Out of the £15 entered in the ledger and the cash-book, only £5 was handed to the cashier, and it was covered by an entry of £53 Is. 6d., instead of £63 Is. 6d. Eustace Henry Clothier, manager of the Irish department for sixteen years; and J. T. H. Bastard, cashier at the Cardiff branch, also gave evidence. COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. In reply to the charges, prisoner pleaded Not guilty." He was committed to the next borough quarter sessions, and allowed bail in the sum of JB200 in his own recognisances and one eurety of £200, or two of JE100 each.

SHORT-LIVED GHOST. LAYING OF KffiKSTALL ABBEY SPECTRE. The ghost of Kirkstall Abbey has been laid, and residents of the Airl Valley are robbed of a modern romance that promised to rival the many ancient tales associated with the monastic ruins of Yorkshire dales. The nocturnal apparition was fondly imagined by many to be the spectre of some fair lady connected at one time with one or other of the historic mansions in the neigh- bourhood of Leeds. Others suggested that it was the ghost of some Cistercian monk who once dwelt in the neighbouring abbey, recently disturbed by excavating anti. quarians and driven out among the haunts of men to investigate industrial developments and ecclesiastical vandalism. It turns out to be merely the figure of a young mill-girl. Awakening in the middle of the night, the girl discovered that her alarm clock was stopped, and, fearing that it might be near the time for her to start out for her daily work, she proceeded to discover the correct time. Wrapping herself hastily in a blanket, SHE CLIMBED THE ROOF of a low shed behind her dwelling in order to obtain a view of the railway station clock. It was at this stage of her expedition, as she stalked along the roof of the shed. that the railway station porter caught sight of her. The blanket in which she was clad con- tained a red border. That accounts for the porter's description of the spectre as being clothed in a white dress containing "a long streak of red." If the porter had only known, the ghost was as much terrified as he. When the porter caught sight of her, the girl, realising how extraordinary she must appear in his eyes, jumped from the roof of the low shed, and hurriedly returned to bed. When the search party was organised, no sign of the mys- terious figure could be seen. Naturally residents of that part of the Aire Valley regret that an affair so romantic in its promise should end so prosaically. They are forced to fall back on ghost stories asso- ciated with the neighbouring abbey ruins, which readers of Joseph Hatton's "Mary the Mnid of the Inn," will remember. Tfte ruins of the Cistercian abbey are the best preserved in Yorkshire, with the excep- tion of Fountains. The abbey and site were bought by the late Colonel North some years ago and presented to the Leeds Corporation.

BOY'S STRANGE ADVENTURE STRIPPED AND BOUND BY TRAMPS NEAR ABERAYRON. The Cardiganshire police have arrested a tramp, alleged to be one of the two who com- mitted an outrageous assault upon a twelve- vear-old boy, son of the tenant of Rhiwlug Farm, Aberayron. Passing along the road- way on Saturday afternoon the lad was seized by two tramps, who dragged him into a wood a,nd stripped him With the Ia.ce<} from his boots they tied his hands round the trunk of a tree, and then decamped with his coat and waistcoat. About nine 0 clock at night two men beard his cries and released; him. On reaching home he gave a description of his assailants, and the arrest was made the fol- lowing day.

ATLANTIC RATE WAR. The Atlantic rate war is beginning to assume a new phase, which is being closely watched by the Liverpool lines. Hitherto the £ 2 fare has drawn only foreigners, but now British emigrants a.re being attracted by it, and are booking largely by the Continental lines. Re- turning Americans who travel steerage are also taking £2 tickets. These British and American passenger; will have separate accommodation from Continental esaigTaai*. i..

STABBED TO DEATH AT CARDIFF. MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR IN BUTE-STREET. A Spanish seaman, named Juan Saco, nine- teen years of age, was found bleeding to death shortly after one o'clock on Tuesday morning on the pavement at the junction of Hannah-street with Bute-street, Cardiff. Saco was found to have a wound in the chest just below the left shoulder. He had bled very much, and died from haemorrhage some time after being conveyed to Dr. Buist's sur- gery. The police discovered that when Juan Saco, the murdered man, left Mr. Garcia's board- ing-house at 160, Bute-street, about midnight he was accompanied by another Spanish sea- man, named Julien Corcoba, and that the latter had not returned. Several members of the Cardiff detective force, as well as officers in uniform, naturally endeavoured to dis- cover the missing man. It was believed that he would be found about the docks, and the Bate police force were instructed to keep a look-out- About 8.30 Bute Docks Con- stable Albert Jones (23) arrested Corcoba inside the railings at the Pier-head, and Handed him over to the borough police. Cor- coba was identified as the man who left the lodging-house with Saco, and was escorted to the Bute-street Police-station, where he was searched. Nothing which could in any way incriminate him was, however, found, and there do not appear to be any bloodmarks upon his clothing. Corcoba, who is also a Spaniard, aged 25, was looking out for a ship, and has been in Cardiff for about a month. MAGISTERIAL PROCEEDINGS. Corcoba was brought before the magistrates as soon as the police-court opened on Tuesday, and the court was quickly crowded with spectators. The magistrates on the bench were Messrs. J. Herbert Cory (in the chair), T. H. Stephens, F. J. Veall, W. H. Renwick, and John Andrews. The head-constable (Mr. William McKenzie) also occupied a seat in the well of the court. The prisoner was charged with the murder of Juan Saco. He cannot speak Eng- lish, but listened attentively to the evi- dence as it was interpreted to him. He wore a very downcast expression. and his lips were twitching nervously, while his eyes THE ACCUSED (JULIEN CORCOBA.) I furtively glanced round the court now and again. Police-constable Albert Jones, of the Bute Docks Police, said he arrested prisoner at 7.30 that morning at the Pier-head. He told him, through an interpreter, that he should take him to the Central Police-station on suspicion of having caused the death of Juan Saco. Prisoner replied, "All right, sir." He was then taken to the police-station. The Head-constable applied for a remand until next Wednesday, and this was granted. THE INQUEST. The inquest on the body of the young Spaniard, Juan Saco, the victim of Tues- day morning's tragedy, in Hannah-street, Cardiff Docks, was held at Cardiff Police- court on Wednesday (before Mr. E. B. Reece, the borough coroner). The compatriot, Julian Corcoba, who stands charged with the murder of Saco, was placed in the dock. Mr. H. Morgan Rees (instructed by the Spanish Consul) appeared for the defence. The head- constable (Mr. W. McKenzie) was also in court. Before the proceedings opened the prisoner, who wore a pained and anxious look, was permitted by the coroner to have a con- versation with the clerk of the Spanish Consul. Jose Jouro, who manages Pilar Garcia's boarding-house in Bute-street, where Saco and the accused lodged, stated, through an inter- preter, that Saco had been staying there about three weeks. He was about 21 years of age, but the coroner's officer produced a book showing Saco's age to have been nine- teen. Saco, said witness, was an able sea- man. Corcoba, who was also a Spaniard and a seaman, had stayed at the house four or five weeks. Witness stated that about mid- night on May 30 he heard a quarrel between Saco and Corcoba in their bedroom. There had been no row before that time. The bedroom oontained eight beds, only six of which were occupied. When he heard the quarrel he went to see what was the matter. The Coroner: And what did you see? Witness: When I went into the bedroom they had finished the quarrel. Did you see any blows struck?—No, sir. What did you say to them?—I told them to be quiet and go to bed. Did you hear them say anything?—They The corner where the deceased wae found. 1. said, "You can go into bed, and we will go into the street." And did you go to bed?—Yes, sir. Then you did not see the deceased man, Juan Saco, alive after that?—No, sir. Have you identified the body at the mor. tuary as that of Saco?—Yea, sir. Had these men been good friends before this, or have they quarrelled in your presence?—I never saw them quarrel before. Did the deceased man carry a knife gene- rally?—I never saw one. Did Julian Corcoba carry a knife?—No; I never saw one. But it is a very common thing, is it not, for sailors to carry a knife in a sheath?—It is usual on board, but not on shore. Do you not know whether these men had knives in their possession ?—No, sir, I don't. SOMETHING FROM UNDER HIS PILLOW." Miguel- Duena, a cook, stated that he also lived at Pilar Garcia's boarding-house, No. 160, Bute-street. Corcoba came home on Monday night at about twelve o'clock, and Saco came in soon afterwards, bringing with him a friend named Rico. The three men remained together downstairs, but there was no quarrelling. After a while witness, Saco, and Rico went upstairs to bed, Corcoba fol- lowing about five minutes later. The Coroner: What commenced the row in the bedroom? Witness: Corcoba left the door open. Did anyone speak to him about it?—The deceased, f What did he Bay?—He said, "Shut the door, please." What then happened?—Corcoba did not shut the door. They had a few words, and then they began to fight. Did anybody stop them?—Myself and others. Witness added that the manager, Jose Jouro, came into the room, and said that if they didn'ff want to go to bed they had better go into the street. if they didn'ff want to go to bed they had better go into the street. Then what happened after that?—When Jouro went back to his bedroom they went into the street, after putting on the rest of their clothes Before they went into the street did you see Corcoba go to his bed and do anything?— The first to go out was the deceased, and then the prisoner went to his bed, and took some- thing from under his pillow and put it into hip vest pocket. Then Corcoba followed the deceased man out?—Yes, sir. And did he make use of some oath as he went out of the room?—He lifted his bed and dashed it on t-he floor in a rage, breaking the oastor. Well, didn't he make use of some rather bad Spanish oath?—Yes, he said something. I am informed by the police that he told them Corcoba said this (readihg an expression in Spanish)?—Yes, sir. Is that considered a threat?--Tp, bad bath. Did you hear them go out thither ?—Yet, SWmMwv, i The Coroner: Where is the fork that waa found? Police-constable Price produced a. fork, which witness recognised as belonging to the boarding-house. Luis del Gardo Rico, another Spaniard, residing at 22. Patrick-street, said he first met Saco on Monday, when they went for a walk together. At night they went to 160, Bute-street, where he arranged to stay with Saco. Corcoba was in the same room down- stairs as themselves, but there was no quarrel there. A few minutes after they had gone to bed Oorcoba came up and left the bedroom door open. I What was said?—Words passed between them in consequence. Were any blows struck?—Yes, sir. SHIRT SATURATED WITH BLOOD. Who struck the first ?-The prisoner, and then they began to fight. Did you help to stop them?—Yes, sir, and the cook. Did the manager come up?—Yes, sir, a.nd told them to go into the street. Before they left the room did you see Julian do anything?—He went to his bed and took something from under his pillow. What was the thing?—A knife. Was it in a sheath ?—I did not see the knife. I I only saw the handle, which was black and round. Where did he put it?—In his breast pocket. Did he seem to be in a rage?—Yes, he was very bad tempered. Did you hear him make use of any oath?— Yes. Did you or any of the others try to persuade Saco not to go out?-Yes, all of us tried to persuade both of them. Then they were both in a bad temper, I suppose?—Yes, sir. Do you know whether the deceased had a J knife or not?—I can't say, sir. I didn't see him with one. Police-constable Jesse Hayes stated that" about 12 30 a.m. on Tuesday, when passing the corner of Hannah-street, he heard groans, and saw Saco lying on the pavement, with his head against the wall of the Marquess of Bute Hotel. His coat and vest were open, but his shirt was saturated with blood. Wit- ness unfastened the shirt, and saw that the blood was issuing from a wound on the left I breast. He found a fork lying beside his head. Saco spoke one or two words in Spanish, which he did not unc^rstand. The man was in a very bad state. Witness got the ambu- lance from the Bute-atreet Police-station and conveyed the nran to Dr. Buist's surgery. Mr. Morgan Rees: How long before you found the body of deceased had you been in the neighbourhood of Hannah-street? Witness: I had only just come up from the Docks. Did you see any people about?—No, none at all. Dock-constable Albert Jones deposed to arresting Corcoba on Tuesday morning after receiving information from the borough police. He saw him at the Pier-head, near the We-t Basin, and arrested him on suspi- cion. Did he answer in English?—He said, "All right." And you took him to the Bute-street station? —I did. sir. And told him through an interpreter that he would be charged with causing the death of Juan Saco?—That is so, sir. What did he reply?—He replied in Spanish to the interpreter. Dr. Buist stated that the deceased was brought to his surgery about 1.30 on Tuesday morning. He was in a very collapsed state, with a great quantity of blood about his clothes. There was a wound in the left side of his chest. Witness attempted to bring him round, but he died nearly an hour after- wards. The wound was not bleeding much externally when the deceased was brought to the surgery. He revived a little, but died quite suddenly. Later on Tuesday he made a post-mortem examination. Externally there were no marks except the wound, which was an inch-and-a-half long, and a little over an inch deep. The direction of the wound was diagonal, from left to right. Witness opened the chest and found the wall punctured. There was a tremendous quantity of blood in the chest cavity, pushing the left lung backwards and outwards. The haemorrhage was due to blood vessels being separated by the weapon which caused the wound, and which must have been of a sharp- edged mature, such as a/knife. There was a corresponding cut in the waistcoat and shirt. The cause of death was hsemorrhage. The wound must have been inflicted with con- siderable force, and could not have been self-inflicted. A Juror: Would it be possible, doctor, for the fork produced to have caused such a wound? Dr. Buist: No. THE VERDICT. The jury returned a verdict of "Wilful murder against Julian Corcoba.

CARDIFF PATERNITY CASE. YOUNG WOMAN'S CLAIM AGAINST A POLICEMAN. Miss Lydia Louisa Cooper, a pretty, freeh- complexioned young woman of twenty, asked the Cardiff stipendiary (Mr. T. W. Lewis) on Wednesday to declare that Police-constable William Gurney, who has recently married another girl, was the father of her illegitimate child, and to make an order for maintenance in accordance with his means. Police-con- stable Gurney strongly denies the impeach- ment, and put his case in the hands of Mr. George David, Mr. Morgan Rees appearing for the complainant. Miss Cooper, who lives at lZ, Tenby-street, Cardiff, stated that the defendant was unduly intimate with her at Splott Farm on the Wednesday evening in Whit-week of last year, with the result that a child was born on the 26th of February. On the day after defen- dant came to fte!e her. Mr. David: That is scarcely a fair way to put it. Her friends induced the defendant to come to the house. Witness admitted that her mother sent for Gurney, and he saw her in the bedroom. He said, Yes, I know her," and, addressing com- plainant, remarked, "You are placing me in a funny position. It will mean my position, my home, and my wife." Mr. Morgan Rees: Who was present at the interview? Complainant: My mother and Mr. Behenna. Mr. Rees: What did you say. Witness: I said, "If you are innocent you need not trouble about your position or your home, but you know you are not innooent. You are the father and nobody else." Defen- dant said, "I am not." I said, "You are." Then he said, "What do you want me to do. I am not in a position to help yom." I asked him to own up like a man, and he replied, "My wife knows my wages, and I am not in a position to help you. If you had accused me before, I should not have got married." Complainant said she did accuse defendant three or four months after the incident at Splott Farm, but complainant denied that for about four years she used to meet defendant on her way to and from her work, but after Whitsuntide last year, she rarely saw him. When she told him in September what people were surmising, he said, "You need not fear that," and hung his head. Only once after- wards had she seen him before the child was born, and on that occasion she was upstairs cleaning a window and could not speak to hiJII about her condition. In cross-examination, complainant said when defendant came to the house the day after the birth, her mother told him she would tell his wife and the head-con- stable. She denied that her mother said, You will lose your coat if you don't pay a lump sum." She admitted that defendant had always denied everything, and did so when her mother saw Mr. McKenzie. She also admitted that although defendant dragged her into Splott-lane she did not scream, nor did she afterwards complain to anyone. She had never walked out with defendant on any other occasion, and had never misconducted herself at any other time. On that evening the defendant was in uniform. Mrs. Lydia Cooper, the complainant's mother, said her daughter did not tell her of 1 her condition until the day before the child's birth. i The summons waa dismissed for want of corroboration.

PEMBROKESHIRE ASSIZES. SOLICITOR CLAIMS DAMAGES FOR ALLEGED SLANDER. The assizes for the county of Pembroke were opened in the Shire-hall, Haverfordwest, on Wednesday, before Mr. Justice Kennedy, SOLICITOR'S CLAIM. Mr. F. S. Reed, solicitor, Pembroke,, sued Mr. Charles Mathias, Lamphey Court, for alleged slander, and claimed £1,000 damages. Mr. S. T. Evans, K.C., M.P., and Mr. Marlay Samson were for plaintiff, and Mr. Abel Thomas, K.C., M.P., and Mr. Arthur Lewis (instructed by Mr. R. T. P. Williams) defended. The plaintiff said he was an alderman of the borough of Pembroke. In November last a man named William Thomas, who was employed at Lamphey Court, met with a fatal accident, and he was instructed by the widow and daughter to get compen- sation. He wrote to the defendant claiming JE150 under the Workmen's Compensation Act. He afterwards received a letter from the Lon- don Guarantee and Accident Company, inti- mating that a cheque for JElM had been sent to Mr. Mathias, the defendant. Afterwards the defendant told him he had received the cheque from the insurance company, but refused to hand over the money to the plain- tiff. The words alleged to have been used were "he would not pay Reed, and he (plain- tiff) could take what proceedings he liked, as he (Reed) was only roguing them out of the money, and putting the money in his own pocket." The alleged slander was spoken in the hearing of the widow and daughter, and of Lettice Richards. The case was adjourned till Thttrtfdttr,

THE TRAGEDY AT TREHERBERT. ALLEGED ATTEMPTED WIFE MURDER. Chief interest centred in a crowded court at Yótrad on Monday in the charge against Benjamin Protheroe, collier, Treherbert, who was accused of attempting to murder hia wife, on the 16th of April. It will be remem- bered that on that day the Upper Rhondda was startled with the intelligence that a terrible tragedy had been enacted at Tre- herbert, and at the time the greatest excite- ment prevailed. The prisoner was re- ported to have made a furious attack on his wife, and afterwards inflicted a severe gash in his throat, at a house next door, and, returning to his own home, jumped from an upper window and seriously injured his ankle. Prisoner was taken to Cardiff In- firmary, where he was tfeated, and discharged on Saturday morning. At an occasional court at Pontypridd on the same day he was charged with attempted murder, and remanded. MRS. PROTHEROE'S EVIDENCE. Mrs. Protheroe said that on the 15th of April she attended a prayer meeting with her husband at No. 40, Baglan-street, Treherbert, where h-er father-in-law lay dead, and whoae funeral was to take place on the following day. She returned home about ten o'clock, and retired to bed about eleven. Her husband was quite sober, and no cross wordo passed between them that night. In the early hours of the following morning the prisoner asked her if there was any brandy in the pantry, to which she replied, "I don't know; go downstairs and see." He did so, and on returning said he could not find any. Subsequently he went to the bedroom of Mrs. Lewis, a lodger, and witness heard him ask her if she had any whisky in the bottle, and, on being told there was not, he returned to bed. She (Mrs. Protheroe) then fell asleep, and on awaking saw the accused coming towards her, and im- mediately afterwards felt a knife cut her throat. Continuing, Mrs Protheroe said she got hold of the knife, and he drew it through her hands, cutting them severely. She struggled as much as she could with him and shouted for help. Mrs. Lewis ram from the next room, BEITJAMTN PROTHEROE. and she cried out, Stop it, stop it," upon which Protheroe replied, "Go back." She fell from the bed, and prisoner opened the win- dow. Witness succeeded in getting to the landing, and fell down by the door of the bathroom. Her husband ran after her, and cut her twice on th3 right thigh. The next she heard was Ivor Thomas, a neighbour, calling out, "Where is he?" The prisoner rushed into the bedroom, and was followed by Mrs. Lewis, and witness said to her, My husband has killed me; he has cut my throat." Mrs. Lewis went away, and witness in attempting to follow her fell downstairs. MRS. PROTHEROE'S WOUNDS. Proceeding to describe her wounds, the Stipendiary interposed, and remarked that a. doctor ought to be present to speak as to their nature. Superintendent Cole informed the bench that Dr. M'Kinnon, who had attended Mrs. Protheroe, had left the neighbourhood, and his assistant refused to give evidence. The Stipendiary: You will have to sub- poena him then. Witness 'continuing) said that she had sus- tained a wound on the right temple, three cuts on the throat, an abrasion on the left breast, four cuts on the hands, a cut 3in. long on the right thigh, and several minor injuries. Replying to the bench, the witness said she quarrelled some time ago with her husband, and they had not lived happily for the last two years. The Stipendiary: Has he attempted any. thing with the knife before? Mrs. Protheroe: Oh, yea. What did he attempt to do?-Re held a knife on my neck, and I fainted, and when another woman came in he threw the knife under the bed. Have you left him on eereral oecasionap- Yes. Replying to Mr. Millward, the witness ed. mitted that the prisoner had been a good husband to her. on the whole, during the thirteen years of their married life. lie had given her plenty of money for food. She had noticed his strange manner at times. He had aa accident in 1888, when he was struck on the head. That wa.s before they were married. Mr. Millward: He has suffered evei since?— I cannot say. Mrs. Lewis, the lodger, was then called. The prisoner came to her room and asked, for some whisky. On being told that she had none he went away, and shortly afterwards she heard screams. Rushing to the next room, she saw Protheroe leaning on his wife and cutting at her throat. She told him to "stop it," and he then threatened her. Ivor Thomas, better known as "Ivor Butcher," a well-known boxer, stated that he was aroused at 4.30 a.m. by the crashing of a missile at his bedroom window. He went to Protheroe's house, and found Mrs. Protheroe lying in a pool of blood at the bottom of the stairs. He went in search of the husband, who had jumped out of the window, and was being held by two coloured men. Thomas Clarke, a coloured man, living at Blaencwm, said he wae going to work early on the morning named, when he saw Protheroe jump from. the upper window of 39, Baglan- street. Protheroe tried to run away, but fell in a heap on the ground. Witness and two other men laid him on the ground, and found that he was covered with blood. The accused exclaimed, "My wife has ruined me." Police-constable Ree3 gave a. vivid descrip- tion of the blood-stained room and clothing of Mrs. Protheroe. Superintendent Coles informed the justices that he had no more evi- denoo to call, and prisoner wa.s a9> manded in custody until Wednesday next to Pontypridd Police-court, in order that the doctor might attend. The witnesses were bound over to appear at the assizes. CHARGE OF ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. A second charge was preferred against Protheroe, of having attempted to commit ( suicide by cutting his throat with a carving knife. The evidence given was practically a repetition of that given in the previous caee. Dr. Rees, of the Cardiff Infirmary, remem- bered the prisoner entering that institution and his attending him. He had two wounds in the throat from left to right- one three inches long, but not deep, the other six inches long. The windpipe was practically severed. None of the large blood vessels were cut. Prisoner, on being asked if he had anything to say, replied, in a weak voice, No," whereupon he was committed to take his trial EL-t the assizes. PRISONER AGAIN BEFORE THE MAGISTRATES. At the resumed hearing on Wednesday it was stated that Dr. M'Kinnon was away in Scotland, and Dr Cameron ^r. M'Kinnon's assistant) now gave evidence as to what he saw when in attendance in conjunction with Dr. WKinnon. Witness stated that between four and five o'clock in the morning of the 16th of April last, he was called to 39, Baglan-street, Treherbert, with Dr. M'Kinnon, and there saw Mrs Protheroe on a. couch in the back kitchen. Mrs. Protheroe's throat had been cnt, and the windpipe was partly severed. Witness appearing disinclined to describe the wounds in detail, the Stipendiary re- ma-rked that if he did so it would save a deal of trouble and expense, as Dr. M'Kinnon haa now gone away Witnees then went on to say that in con- sequence of what he was told he went to No. 38. Baglan-street, and there saw the prisoner. Witness then returned and noticed that Mre. Protheroe's right hand had been lacerated on ths palm as if a knife had been drawn through it. There was a wound on the palm of the left hand, her thumb being also cut. whiLst a. wound—a superficial one-about four inches appeared above the right wrist. There was a wound on the left breast and right thigh, and an irregular one on the throat, which had the appearance of having been inflicted by a knife drawn upwards, from left to right. Mrs. Protheroe was then called forward, and at the request of the bench showed her throat and her wrist, and these were examined by one of the magistrates (Dr. E. Naunton Davies). She disclosed some terrible scars on the throat, wrists, and hands. On being asked if he had anything to say, prisoner firmly replied in the negative, and he was then oommitted to take hit trial aa tbt'iniiHi