Weekly Mail

I————itmmmmwansa—a—mmamfommmmmmM—w——1—» ALLEGED ASSAULT. CARDIFF WOMAN'S STRANGE STORY. Alfred Best, a respectable-looking, middle- v aged man. was charged at Cardiff on Tuesday with attempting a. criminal assault upon a woman of 48. named Mary Thomas, early oa Sunday morning. Mr. J. T. Richards defended.—Prosecutrix alleged that she met the defendant about midnight in Salisbury-road. They went to a lane at the back of Ruthin-sardens, and there he attempted an assault. but she screamed, and a policeman appearing he tried to run away. The constable, however, "made a emart run" and caught him. Witnees was too upset to say anything and laid her head on the breast of the uoliceman.-Police- constable Ursell corroborated, but. on cross- examination, admitted that at that hour if a woman, had been taken, as prosecutrix alleged. down to the lane against her will, it would have been very easy for her to obtain help. All the shops were still open. —The Deputy-stipendiary, who expressed the opinion that consent was first given and after- wards withdrawn, committed prisoner to the quarter sessions.—1Court-officer Gregory said defendant was a. very respectable man, and bail was allowed.

CAPTAIN'S INCOMPETENCE CAUSES STRANDING OF SWANSEA VESSEL. The Board of Trade have published the judgment of the court of inquiry into the Stranding of the Swansea steamship Arahis- tan, at Balembouchs Reef, St. Lucia, on the 21et of August iti-fet, a.nd the court found that the stranding of the ship was due to the improper navigation of the vessel by the maeter, Richard Roberta, and such improper navigation was directly duo to the incom- petency of Richard Roberts as a. master; that there was no evidence of a.ny serious damage to the steamship Arabitrtan; that the court had no power, under the circum- stances of the case, to cancel or suspend the certificate of the master, Richard Roberts, and that no blame was to be attached to Third Officer James Regan. Lieutenant G. Threlfel, B.N., and Captain J. B. Thelwall, harbourmaster at St. Lucia, concurred in the report, but desired to express the opinion that it would be unsafe to allow Richard Roberts. after having gdven such olear proof of incompetency," to proceed to sea in charge of that vessel.

IGNORANT OF THEIR BIBLES MINISTERIAL STUDENTS' FAULTY EDUCATION. The two ministers who were appointed to examine the candidates for admission to the I Presbyteria-n College. Carmarthen, in Biblical knowledge discovered that most of the candi- dates were almost unpardona-bly ignorant of their Bibles, though they bad given satisfac- tion in other subjects. This caused much surprise to the executive of the college, and a. resolution was passed declaring that in future there would bo no mercy shown towards candidates who lacked Biblical knowledge, however excellently they might pass in other subjects.

WELSH LANGUAGE SOCIETY. A meeting of the council of the "Welsh Language .Society was held on Friday night at the Town-hall, Cardiff. Sir T. Marchant Williams presided. A very satisfactory report was received of the results of the holiday course in the instruction of the Welsh language held last summer at Bangor, and it was resolved to accept the invitation of the council of the Cardiff University College to hold similar classes at the college uext year. A sub-committee was appointed to draft a scheme, to he submitted to a general meeting, with a view to examinations in the Welsh language, for which prizes would be awarded, being held in the elementary 8chools of Wale.3. 11 11

BABY QUIRK'S QUICK CURE Of Torturing Eczema by Cuticura When All Else Had Utterly Failed. NOT THE SLIGHTEST RETURN SINCE CURE, I My baby, Owen Herbert Quirk, was afflicted from the age of six weeks with a loathsome running eczema, almost covering his face. I took him to Drs. and ——— of Victoria Road, I Aldershot, and he was treated by them for three months, but got much worse, and was a sickening sight to look at. I saw an advertisement of the Caticura Remedies, and got the Soap, Ointment and Resolvent. We noticed an improvement at once, and within a fortnight the run- I ning had ceased and th3 scales wera nearly all dried off, and in a month his face was perfectly clear, not a spot left. I have enclosed photograph of him when be was thirteen months old. He is now two years and four months, and has never had the slightest return of it. I tm very grateful for the benefits de- ¡ rived from your remedies, and shall feel it a pleasure to make their value known. For corroboration of this statement you may refer any one to Mrs. Williams, 45 Michaels Road, Alder- shot, or Mr. Gunstane, 40 Victoria Road, Aldershot, to whom we recom- mended the remedies for a skin humour, which they also cured. You are at liberty to do what you like with this statement, as I should like all to know of the value of Cuticura." WILLIAM HERBERT QUIRK, No. 1 West End Cottages, Raywood Road, N. Southampton. Bold throughout the world. Csttatn BeiolTsnt, 2*. td, fin form of Chocolate Coated Pills, Is. ltd, per vial of 60), timtmeut, 2*. Sd., Soap, la. Depots: London, 27 Charter- hottM a<).; farii, I Rue de Is Pwx; Boston, 111 ColimtRU nitttr Dract Càem. Corp-, Sate JPMpttttCtt. tFtmAb* "JBw u>

AFTER 24 YEARS. EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE OF WIFE DESERTION. At Spa-rkhill, near Birmingham, on Monday, John Allcock, alias Lewis, horsebreaker, of 73, Romilly-cresoent, Cardiff, was ordered to pa.y 7s 6d. a week towards the maintenance of his wife, who was deserted by him in 1880. In that year, it was stated, he sold up his business as a. cab proprietor, and, under pre- tenca of looking for work, decamped to America, with a girl named Louisa Hall. Some yaars later he wrote to his wife asking her to g«nd him £ 6 to enable him to return to Eng- land, and stating that, as he wrote, his face was wet with tears for his wife and children. One pound was eent him, but nothing further was heard from him until a. little time ago, when Louisa Hall came to Sparkhill, and a letter intended for her got into complainant's hands. A eon and daughter camo to Cardiff, and clearly identified Alloock, who -lad changed his name to Lewis, and was living in a well-furnished hoTrse in Romilly-crescent with Louisa Hall, by whom he had five children. Itofendant at first denied that he knew anything about his son, but afterwards admitted that he was the young man's father. It appeared that the defendant has a family at Cardiff of five, and worked as a horsebreaker, and carried on the business of a horse doaler, living in a well-furnished house. His legitimate wife, it was stated, was 65 years of age, and was unable to earn any- thing, and was living with her married daughter. Defendant in reply said he had alwa,yB been a straightforward man, and ae his wife did not behave light to him, and owing to a lot of trouble, he thought it was best for them to part. He and his wife, he alleged, had agreed mutually to separate. He denied being the author of the letters, and that he had received any money from his wife.

DRAPER IN DIFFICULTIES. UNSATISFACTORY METHODS OF BUSINESS. At Aberdare Bankrnptcy-oourt on Monday John Davies, a travelling draper, Aberdare, presented himself for his public examination. Mr. F. Caldicott (from tha offices of Mr. J. D. Thomas, solicitor, Aberdare) appeared for the debtor, and Mr. William Thomas and Mr. W. Kenshole watched the proceedings on oehalf of creditors.—Debtor said he had taken over the business from a Mrs. Williams, of Aberaman, for whose brother he used to work as a. collector. The lady in question was not related either to himself or to his wife. He bought the business from her for £ 511. He ooald not remember the exact amount which he had paid, because the book which con- tained the sums paid was in the possession of the official receiver. He was certain that the arrangement was that he should give Mrs. Williams gClD a. month. The Official Receiver (Mr. Daniel): How much have you paid her in all? Debtor: The last payment was a. oheque for JEZCO. which was in full settlement of the purchase. How much did you pay in all for the busi- ness ?—About £ 350 to £360.. You stated at the outset that the figure was £ 511. What do you mean?—The amount of the book debts was over JB500. Don't talk to me about book debts. At what price did you purchase the business?—About L350 or £ 360. How much did you pay her before the £200? -About £15D. Was it any advantage to you to act in that manner?—Yes, sir; because I was having the advantage between the JB511 and the JE350. The Official Receiver (to the registrar): Will you please caution him, sir, because I fear I shall have to ask you to mention the debtor to the judge? At this stage the learned Registrar (Mr. Rhys Williams) put a number of questions to debtor, who finally explained that the diffe- rence between the £511. the price agreed upon for ths business, would be reduced to £350 in consideration of his la3t payment of £ 200. Debtor started business in 1895 with no capital of his own. He paid the last instal- ment of £ 10 to Mrs. Williams after the strike in 1900. The Official Receiver: Since then you have been managing the business by the rule of thumb. I am afraid I cannot attach any -reliance to what you eay. The furniture, dehtor said, was claimed by his wife, having been given to her by her mother. The Official Receiver: I see that your son, aged fourteen years, claims the piano and a, musical-box. Will you explain that? Debtor: My son had saved up C15 from his birth. A boy of that age having saved £ 15—how?— Presents given to him by friends. The oansee of failure were given as insuffi- cient knowledge of the business, want of capital, neglect "through losing heart owing to the strike," acd illness of wife and chil- dren. The examination was adjourned till Decem- beT 19.

IMPUDENT THIEF. PENAL SERVITUDE FOR SACRI- LEGE. Arthur Desmonde, alias Holt, a. baker, was indicted at Chester on Saturday for breaking into the Wesleya-n Chapel at Broadheath, near Altrincham, and stealing plate and wine. The prisoner gained access to the chapel from the cellar beneath, drank a bottle of communion wine, made a bed of cushions beneath the pulpit, tore down the pulpit hangings to cover himself, and, after sleep- ing, decamped with the silver plate, leaving behind him the following note:—"Your port wine is remarkably good. Only wish there wae some more. Sorry the plate is not gold.- Bill Bailey." Prisoner, who had been in trouble before, was arrested with the plate and an empty bottle in his possession. He was sentenced to four years' penal servitude.

CARDIGAN COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of this council was held on Saturday, Colonel W. Picton Evans presiding.—The Inspector of Nuisanoe's report was to the effect that there had been four cases of scarlet fever at a farm at Blaen- porth. One had proved fatal, and the other three eases were convalescent. Whooping- cough was reported by Dr. Jones, the medical officer of health, to be rampant in some parts of the district. The Aberporth, Blaen- porth (both National Schools) and Verwig Boa.rd School were in a bad sanitary condi- tion, and should be looked to at once.-On the recommendation of the Chairman, the whole matter was left over for the county education committee.-In regard to the water supplies of the district, the Clerk (Mr. D. Davies) stated that counsel's opinion in legal papers was so precise that he did not go to the expense of taking a special counsel's opinion, a.s it was perfectly clear a well on private grounds, if used by the district at large, became subject to public rights, but the water could not be brought out from a private well through pipes to accommodate the district without the consent of the owner of the land in question.—The whole matter was left over for the chairman of the council to interview the ownena of the wells and ascertain their opinions.

STRANGE WILL CASE. EXTRAORDINARY STORIES OF WITCHCRAFT. VALIDITY ADMITTED BY THE PLAINTIFFS. In the Probate Division (before the Presi- dent, Sir F. Jeune) the case of Rees v. Davies was further beard. The plaintiffs were Mr. Rees Rees. of Allt- wen, Cilybebyll, and Mr. Joseph Evans, of Ynysmudw, LIauguicke. Mr. Deane, K.C., and Mr. Pritchard (instructed by the London agents of Mr. Arthur Hopkins, of Pontar- dawe), appeared for the plaintiffs; a.nd Mr. Barnard (instructed by the London agents of Messrs. R. and C. B. Jenkins, of Swansea) for the defendants. Mr. Arthur Hopkins, solicitor, said that the testator, accompanied by Samuel Rees, came to see him with reference to the making of the will. He had a piece of paper, on which he had written down the names of various charities to which he desired to make bequests. He said he did not wish to bo bothered about leaving money to friends, and he would benefit Mr. Samuel Roes during his lifetime. The will was signed by testator, and attested by witness and Mr. Lloyd, draper, Pontardawe. In cross-examination, the witness said the testator did not tell him that he was bewitched. Mr. Barnard (for the defendants): Listen to the entry in this book of the testator's:— BEWITCHED, INDEED. Morgan Jones, Esq., has been a. slave and nigger and working in the gutter, and bewitched, indeed, I am sure, no doubt. Witness said he did not hear from deceased that he thought he was bewitched. Mr. Lloyd, who attested the will. gave evidence that, in his opinion, the deceased's intellect was good. The witness, in cross-examination, said he had noticed that testator wa.s sometimes peculiar. Witness did not know that if boys made a. ring round him in the street he would not move until someone had broken the ring. He did not know that for months he would not wash himself, or that when he was a young man he was sent to a home for imbeciles. He had seen him marking the road with bis stick, but did not know that he made crosses on the walls because he said they were bewitched. He could not say that there were certain streets he would not go down. Mr. Richard Rees, clerk to the bank at Pontardawe where the testator banked his money, said he conducted his business in a careful and busines.sli1ie way. Cross-exajnined, witness said he identified as being in. testator's handwriting the follow- ing passage in a book: — The history of my life. I was born in Cefnlan, Pontardawe, at a farmhouse, and I did not have any money until I wa.s 40 years of age. I had one half-sovereign about 30, but they did steal it from me tlion. All my neighbours do know about me and my poverty. I have been in bed just all my lifetime, because my father and others did injure me. I do not know what lies and impudence and mockery is talked about me. Dr. Griffiths, of Pontardawe, who had attended testator, said he was intelligent, though eccentric. He was fond of astronomy and phrenology. He had written a book of sermons which showed intelligence. Mr. Deane: Did you read any of them?— I read some of them, and they showed intelli- gence. As to money matters, he was the cutest man I ever knew. He was certainly fit to make a will. HOW A LEGACY WAS LOST. Did he ever want to make a will in your favour?—He said, "I want to leave you some money, and I meant you to make a will for me." I said, "You had better get a. solicitor." He then went off like a bombshell. He fired up so much that I left him there and then and lost my legacy. (Laughter.) Mr. William Williams, living in Chapel- street, Rhydyfro, said that the testator came to his house to read Welsh papers and to talk with him. He conversed about Church, foreign missions, and Dr, Barnardo's Hemes. He showed witness a wiH, and expressed tha hope that his wishes would be carried out. He was a religious man and a regular attendant at chapel. He used to attend literary meetings, was a good draught player. and a sensible business man. Cross-examined, the witness paid that during the time that the testator lived at his mother's house he was eccentric. He sometimes broke cups and saucers, but he did not say he oould not help it because they were bewitched. Did he tell your mother that he was bewitched by some tailors when a boy by being tied round with chains?—I heard some- thing about the tailors. Witness admitted that the testator was dirty in his habits. It was when aaked by witness's brother to subscribe for some charity that he wrote the passage in the book about Morgan Joaea being "a. slave and a nigger." Did he ooce, when your mother complained, threaten to stab her?—Something similar to that. My mother, however, was not a,fraid of him. Witness said that he had not seen testator making crosses when the boys formed a circle round him. Witness was questioned as to whether the testator did not compete at one of the eisteddfod gatherings. The witness said that the testator gave an impromptu address on "The Clock." Mr. Barnard: Is the Welsh word for clock very long? Did it take the whole of his time to translate it into Welsh? (Laughter.) The President suggested that it must have been several syllables. Mr. Joseph Evans, of Ynysmmhr, one of the plaintiffs, was next called. When witness gave the name of the place where he lived Mr. Pritchard said, "I hope your lordship has got that," to which the President replied, "Well, he lives somewhere; that is enodgh." (Laughter.) The witness gave evidence in support of testator's mental capacity, and described him as a capable man of business. Cross-examined, witness said he had not heard that testator I thought he was bewitched. With reference to the testator's lecture on "The Clock," witness said testator gave all particulars, even to the name of the inventor. FROM THEOLOGY TO FARMING. Mr. Rees Rees, one of the executors, also gave testimony as to testator's capacity. He said he would converse on theology, astro- nomy, astrology, and agriculture, and he took great interest in the history of Glamorgan. Witness saw h:m after he was removed from the Swansea Nurses' Institute to the work- house. In cross-examination, witness admitted that testator was eccentric. Used he to bring nute with him to eat in ohapel?—I do not know. He seldom came to my chapel. This concluded the plaintiff's case. Mr. Barnard, for the defendants, Ann Morgan and Sarah Ellis, who were executors of Morgan Davies, one of the next of kin, said the case was that the deceased had been incapable of attending to business. Mr. Richard Jenkins gare evidence that the testator had JE170 a year from his father's estate, and he declined to receive the income under the trust. Witness had paid for tilings for him bat never paid the money direct to him. He did not think he was capable of making a. will. Witness said testator had JE800 in the bank as well as the £170 a year. Dr. Dahne, who had attended the testator, gave the opinion that he was imbecile. Wit- ness could not get him to talk coherently. He imagined he was surrounded by rogues a.nd robbers. He was exceedingly dirty. Witness had great difficulty in getting him to take medicines. He wanted to know if it would not do the same amount of good if he had them rubbed into him. (Laughter.) Replying to the judge, he said that if the testator could repeat over the names of ten charities and the amounts to be left to them he would not be imbecile. Mrs. Walters, with whom testator lived, gave evidence that testator several times refUBed I his food. He said it waa the fault of witch- craft. After he had eaten he would spit out the food, and he would spit on the food that remained. He said it was the tailors who had bewitched him. He said that "Harries had also bewitched him." He used to go into a wood which belonged to his father and try to open a. gutter, to allow the water to run out of the pond. Mr. Deane, K.C., for the plaintiff, said that Jill this evidence related to 30 years ago. Witness said that the testator did not go to bed until the early morning, and he would smash the windows, basins, and earthenware. He threw the crooks after witness, and blamed her for touching his chair. He cut the boots belonging to witness and others in the house, and said he wanted them all to be Idled. He said he cut the boot3 that their feet might be wetted and that they might die. He once attacked the servant with a shovel. He had said to her that his father had done wrong, and the girl told him that his father had not done him wrong. He took hold of a shovel and said he would kill her. Witness ran between them, and he threw the shovel out of the window. He would not go out of the front door because he said it was bewitched. Witness said. that testator would never put his feet on three of the flagstones in the kitchen. because he said they were the stones vn which his sister died. His food and clothing were paid for by his trustee. Ho left her house about thirteen years ago. During the time that he lived at her house she did not think, that he knew what he was about half his time. Cross-examined by Mr. Deane, K.C., witnees said that when her daughter was young and was burned testator gave her warning and threw a coat over the child. Further cross-examined, witness said she I had heard of Dr. Harries, of Cwrtycadno. He had the reputation of being a wizard. Sick people used to be taJtea. to litm. to be healed. It was also said that people who were out of their minds were taken to him to be cured. COULD FORETELL DEATHS. Was he reputed to have a mysterious power over people as a wizard?—They used to say so. It was said that he foretold people's deaths and that he cured by witchcraft. Mr. Deane, addressing his lordship, said there was a book relating to this man. who had a wonderful reputation in Wales at the time. He had seen an account in the Wes- tern Mail which spoke of the book that had just been published, and &poke of this wonder- ful Harries. The President said he had heard that he was a local wizard. Mr. Deane: I am told he died 50 year a ago. Witness added that the testator said two tailors bewitched him, and that that was the reason he could not go out at the front door. If he went that way he ran and shouted. "Black hell and heaven." (Laughter.) He said the failors were a Richard Davies and his son. He said they had caused a farm servant to assault him when he was a boy. He said his father placed the servant to guard him, and compelled him to do things which he did not wiah to do; and he said that the ta.ilors were the cause of it. The President: Is there not some legend connected with tailors and the black art? There is also a popular song about the devil among the tailors. (Laughter.) Mr. Deane: Yes. Witness said that the testator told her that his father sent him to see Dr. Harries. and he said Harries had done him great harm. The testator thought that everything that went wrong with him was bewitched. Was that by Dr. Harries ?—Yes, and the tailors. (Laughter.) Witness said that other people used to say that Dr. Harries had the povrer of bewitching people, but she could not say they believed it.. Witness did not know what business Dr. Harries followed. Mrs. G. Williams, of Rhydyfro, with whom testator had at one time lodged, gave similar testimony. She said the testator would eat a bloater with apple-pie. (Laughter.) He also ate bloater and eggs together, and when she told him to eat them separately he said he would ruu a knife through her. The witness said that testator sometimes talked sensibly. He had spoken to her about the will, and had said he had left money to a number of institutions, which he named. Mr. Barnard at this stage asked permission to consult his clients, and afterwards stated tha.t in face of the evidence given, th:1.t testator knew the contents of the will, he would not further- contest the will. He asked, however, that the defendants should not be condemned in costs, as he submitted they were justified in contesting the will so far owing to the eccentricity and peculiar ideas which the testator bad with res-surd to witch- craft. His Lordship, therefore, pronounced for the will. the executors to bavo their costs out of the estate, and t.he charities and defen- da.nts to pay their own costs. EXTRAORDINARY DR. HAEEIES. His Lordship sa.id he approved of the course which Mr. Barnard had taken. It would have required a great deal to convince him that the testator did not know what he did when he made his will. It was quite true that he was extremely eccentric and enter- tained the views which were the relics, perhaps, of primeval idea-3 as to witchcraft, perhaps more common in days gone by than now. That he had some belief in witchcraft would not, he thought, in the present state of the law have any possible effect in depriv- ing him of the power to make a will. Mr. Deane said the book to which he had referred in reference to Dr. Harries showed that ho did some remarkable things and effected some wonderful cures. There was an instance in which a woman had been murdered, and he succeeded in finding out where the woman was murdered and buried, and pointing out the name of the murderer, who subsequently made a confession and was hanged. Lots of people believed in Dr. Harriet, and he was said to have effected marvellous cures of sick people. It was not strange, therefore, that the testator had that belief. It was said that Dr. Harries lay buried in the churchyard side by side with the minister of the parish, and this book gave a touching description of how the two men worked harmoniously in widely different spheres and at last were laid side by side. The President said the belief in this witch- craft of Dr. Harries was a. strange little bit of primitive barbarism. He quite accepted Mr. Deane's view that there were people in Wales who had believed in witchcraft, so that the testator only shared a view entertained by others.

EXPLOSION OF GAS. EXTRAORDINARY ACCIDENT AT CWMBRAN. An exciting incident occurred at Messrs. Guest, Keen, a.nd Nettlefolds Works a.t Cwm- bran, when about twenty men were tem- porarily asphyxiated. The foundry where the accident happened has been worked upon a seam of old ooaJ. and ballast tips, a.nd of recent years there has been a. sort of a. dead fire, due, presumably, to the moribund slag which waa once tipped over the slack" ooaJ, and this ha.s repeatedly given off some very offensive smells. Whilst the workmen were breakfasting on Friday they were startled to hear a loud explosion, and the flooring was seen to give way. Whilst they were proceeding with the work of repairs it was found that about twenty men were helpless, and they had to be carried out of the works. Dr. Murphy was immediately cent for, and in the meantime first-aid was rendered to the affected workmen by several mem- bers of Dr. Murphy's ambulance class a.t the works, and the men were subsequently con- veyed to their homes. Some of the worst affected workmen were Compton, a young lad; a. man, named Jordan, a.nd William Ber- ridge; and others who were affected were W. Probert, James Salter, D. Cunningham, a.nd J. Tamplin, a member of the Ptmtypool Foot- ball Club. Jordan was oaatmg some molteu matter when he was overcome by the gas fumes, a-nd three men who went to his assistance wera also overcome, and had to be carried out intj the open air. Mr. Whitehouse (the manager), Mr. Thomas (the engineer). Mr. Watlington (the colliery manager), and Mr. Hollingwood (the under- manager) took immediate steps to prevent a. further escape of gas, and for the time being producing work has been suspended in this part of the foundry. Jordan, who is a Volunteer, was walking to tho blacksmith's shop to get the shaft of his ladle repaired, and he carried the ladle a.t his shoulder in soldier's fashion, when Wil- liam Berridge, noticing him coming along. shouted out to him, "Present arms, tire!" and. curiously enough, just as he gave the order the explosion occurred. All the men were reported to bo recovering on Saturday, although Dr. Murphy thinks that it will take some days before they are quite lit. The explo- sion was confined to an area of about sixteen square yards, and it is fortunate that the men were at breakfast at the time, otherwise the result might have been more serious. You could not help but laugh," said one of the on-lookers, as you watched the men dropping off. When the first man dropped down helpless we thought he was shamming, but we soon found out our mistake. J."he effect of the escape of gas was that it gave all of us an intense desire to go to sleep." It should be stated that there were altogether some 350 men at breakfast at the time. The foundry is largely engaged at present in the manufacture of iron railway chairs for exportation to India.

SWANSEA STREET-BETTING. At Swansea Police-court on Tuesday George Nicholas, commission agent, who had been fined on previous occasions for similar offences, appeared to answer seven sum- monses charging him with using the streets for betting. Evidence was given by the police and others as to the acceptance of commis- sions by defendant. In some cases men read newspapers on the churchyard wall, and then wrapped up money and gave it to defen- dant. Sixteen bets were observed on one day. —Mr. W. A. Thomas, who appeared for the defence, urged that the information was sworn by the chief-constable, who only did it upon hearsay; also, that only one offence could be charged on the same date. The first objection waa over-ruled; on the second the bench reserved their decision. Defendant was fined £5 each in three cases, the rema.inder of the summonses being adjourned.

RECKLESS MINERS. At Caerphilly on Tuesday (before Mr. E. Edwards, in the chair) Charles Yirchell, Llan. bradach, was charged with having a matoJi in his possession at the Llanbradach Col- liery, and was fined 10s. and ooste. Edward Lee, Cardiff, aged fifteen, was charged with having a lucifer match in his possession in the same pit. The father of the lad said he did not know that* his boy was working there. He had been enticed to Llan- bradach by other schoolboys.—Defendant was let off on paying the costs—6s. Henry Proxford, LIanbradach, was also charged with sleeping in the same mine whilst having a lighted lamp in his possession, thereby endangering the livie of workmen, and was fined ids. and costs.

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CRADLED IN CRIME A NEWPORT PRISONER'S CONFESSION. A young man, of very smart appearance, told the Newport bench on Monday that he had been brought up to a career of crime all his life, and wished to own up to it. He gave the name of Frederick William Dennis, but had as an alias Povey. He was ea.id to have no fixed abode. The charges against him were stealing a three-guinea silver watch and j- chain, the property of Thomas Madden, a lodger, of 14. Temple-street (where prisoner took lodgings twelve months ago); obtaining food and lodgings by false pretences from 41, Eaton-road; a,nd obtaining 7s. 6d. by false pretences from Mr. John Hunt, of 116, Stow Hill. At this hearing he was brought up on remand, but a week ago, when ho was charged only with the thaft of the watch and was asked why he should not bo remanded, he said thero was no need for a remand, as he pleaded guilty. When the case waa gone into on Monday, and ho was asked to elect whether he would be dealt with summarily or go for trial, defendant said he preferred to go to the swssize?. There were, he knew, other cases ag-ainst him, and he wanted them all to come up against him at the same time. He would then make a petition to the Home Secretary to be assisted to go to Canada. People judged him (he went to say) before they knew. He had been brought up in crime from the cradle. The Mayor (Colonel Clifford Phillips) said he thought the prisoner was taking a very wrong course by wishing to go to the assizes. He could petition the Home Secretary with- out going to the assizes. Prisoner still protested that he was wish- ful to go to the assij.es, in order that all the cases should be brought up against him at the same time. Superintendent Brooks sa.id there were! other caees against him, and he asked for a remand for a week in order to have the evi- dence completed. Beside the cases alleged at Newport, prisoner was wanted in various other towns for crimes alleged to have been committed. The Bench remanded him for a week.

THE CARE OF HER CHILDREN ABERGWYNFI WOMAN'S ALLEGED i BIGAMY. At Aberavon on Monday a woman named Jessie Morris, 51, High-street, Abergwynfi, was summoned at the instance of the Neath Guardians, under the Vagrancy Act, for returning from the Pontypridd Workhouse with her four children after being removed there under a justices' order. Mr. Edward Powell, who appeared for the guardians, said that every effort had been made to persuade defendant to allow her four children to be removed to a place where they would be properly looked after, but she had declined. Through the illness of defen- dant and the neglect of the children it had been found necessary to remove them to the Pontypridd Workhouse. Defendant returned the same day with her children, and after- wards applied for relief to the Neath Guar- dians, which was granted in consequence of the destitute condition of the children. The defendant was prohibited from out-door relief at Pontypridd, she having committed bigamy with a man now in au asylum. Defendant: I did not know it. My children shall never go into the workhouse as long as I have hands to work for them and keep them properly. In giving evidence defendant completely broke down. She begged not to be separated from her children, and gave an assurance that she would look after two of them and her mother would look after the other two. The Bench adjourned the case for a month to give defendant an opportunity to fulfil her premise.

CARDIFF GUARDIANS. INSUFFICIENT ROOM FOR OFFICES AT THE TOWN-HALL. The Cardiff Guardians at tbeir meeting on Saturday considered a report of the general purposes committee as to what jxcommoda- t-ion the board will require il the corporation will let them part of the new Town-hall, tho committee recommending, in the first instance, that no application ba made for accommoda tion for relieving officers, medical officers, and dispensary. The committee visited the Town-hall, and found it obvious that the limited accommodation available for com- mittees will not permit of six relief com- mittees meeting at the same time, as at present. and, therefore, it became necessary to determine, first, whether, in the event of their arranging to hold their board meet- ingsat the Town-hall, they would be pre- pared to hold meetings of some a.t least of the relief committees on another day. If not, the committe-a (in Claule 4 of the report) said it was clear that the accommodation avail- able in the Town-hall will be insufficient for the meetings of the board and relief com- mittees, and in that case the committee recommend "tha.t the special committee appointed to meet the corporation ascertain on what terms sufficient rooms could be let to the guardians for general committee-room and waiting-room and offices only."—It was decided, after a short discussion, tha.t Para- graph 4 should stand as a part of the report. It was reported that Louisa Harries, aged fourteen, an inma.te of the Ely Homes, ra.n away from that institution a. fortnight ago, and since then nothing further hae been heard of her. The Chairman (Mr. O. H. Jones) invited the press to give publicity to the facts. Any informa.tion may be given to Mr. Watton (superintendent of the homes) or to Mr. W. Pritchard (warrant officer to the guardians). Mr. H. J. Owen (dispenser) waa called npon to dispose of his business at Barry by the end of the year, that being one of the con- ditions upon which ho was given the appointment of dispenser.

DISTRESS EXECUTIONS. A cocee was heard at Tetrad County-court on Tuesday in which the conduct of a regis- tered bailiff, named Abraham Pickens. cf Treherbert, was impugned. It appeared that Picken3 had distrained at 25, Bkiencwrn-ter- race, Blaencwm, and that some of the goods had been removed by Miss Ba.ron, furniture dealer, of Treorky. to whom money was owing. —Mr. Rees, who defended Mies Baron, urged that the sale conducted by Pickens was not a hona. fide one, he having sold goods for which Miss Baron had offered dB3 for 7s. 6d.—A crier n-amed Hillmaj) now gave evidence to the effect that the sale was advertised to take place at eleven o'clock in the morning, he having commenced crying" it about nine o'clock the same morning.—Hie Honour Judge Williams said that that would not do—that was not sumcient Such a procedure threw a rather lurid light on the wa.y these distresses were being executed. He non- suited the plaintiff.

THEFT AT COEDPENMAEN. A ticket-of-leave man, na.med John Edwards, was brought up (before the Ysfcrad magistrates) on Monday and charged with stealing £3 15s. from Isaac Caple, Taff View, Coedpenmaen, a county-court bailiff at Ponty- pridd. Prisoner was also charged with fail- ing to report himself to the police. From the evidence it appeared that Edwards, who slept in the same bedroom as Caple, took the money from a. dresser during Caple's absence on the 2nd of July. The prisoner returned to Coedpenmaen last week, and was taken into custody by Police-ser- geant Kavanagh, to whom Edwards admitted taking the money. In reply to the charge in the second case, it transpired that the prisoner was dis- charged from Pentonville Prison in February last, but that his term had since expired. Prisoner was committed to the assizes on both charges.

THE S.W. DIRECT RAILWAY AWARD OF £233,000 AGAINST THE GREAT WESTERN. The award of Sir Benjamin Baker, the arbi- trator acting in the arbitration between Messrs. Pearson, the well-known contractors, and the Great Western Railway, has been published. The claim arose over the con- struction of the new South Wales direct route which was recently opened. The contractors claimed on a total cost of extra work done amounting to £416,00Q, exclusive of profit. The arbitrator gives no decision on a Bum of £130,000, which will be referred to the court on a point of law. Out of the remaining claim of £285,000. the arbitrator awards the contractors £233,000.

LADY AND THE AUCTIONEER At Llanelly County-court on Monday Judge Bishop heard a case in which H. Ellis Poole, auctioneer, sued Mrs. Mary Jones, Handy, Pontardulais, for £ 21 for storage of furni- ture. It was stated that the defendant -waa the wife of Mr. Jones, late landlord of the Neptune Hotel, Burry Port. The owners of the house, Messrs. Buckley, secured judgment against him.—Mr. Poole eaid that he reoeivad instructions from the under-sheriff to sell J,he furniture, which was removed to Llano] ly for the purpose. Half an hour before the sale Mrs. Jones put in a claim ae being owner of the furniture, and he then was told not to Eeil.—In the end his Honour found for defen- dant, with costs.—A oountex-claim by Mrs. Jones for £50. value of the furniture, and twelve guineas damages, was then proceeded vritJv-flntM& JlIdge found in bear fwwJtr.

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