Weekly Mail

MYSTERIOUS CRIME. ENGLISH LADY MURDERED IN PRUSSIA. The English lady murdered at Essen-on- Rhur on Monday evening has been identified Bis Miss Madeline Lake, aged 39 years. She is the daughter of a British officer, and had been staying at EsseTi at Villa Gruenweiler since July 1 with the family of & journalist named Kienast. Miss Lake intended returning to England to-day (Thursday), and on Monday afternoon she went into town with another English lady to make soma purchases. Having finished shopping, the ladies set off for home on foot. When they separated Miss Lake, disregarding the warning of her com- panion, decided to take the path through a gloomy wood, called Stadtwald, and it was in this wood, not far from Langenbrahm Mine, that her body was found. The murder was clearly perpetrated with revolting brutality. Robbery was not the motive, for a purse, with some £6 in it, was found on the body. On her right arm are distinct marks of the- murderer's hand, and they ehow that his grip must have possessed terrible force. Finger marks on the throat indicate that the assassin, attempted to throttle his victim, but fearful wounds on both temples were the immediate cause of death. As soon as the murder was discovered the Public Prosecutor proceeded to the spot, and his investigation left no doubt of the brutal purpose of the murderer. Miss Lake was a lady of great refinement, and possess- ing a graceful figure and fascinating manner, she gave the impression of a person far younger than her years. From particulars published a.t Essen it seems that after the death of her parents Miss Lake lived with her sister at Richmond, Surrey, and both ladies usually spent their summer abroad. Another sister is said to be the wife of a clergyman holding a benefice in Somersetshire.—Reuter. REWARD OFFERED. The district public prosecutor at Essen has offered a reward of 1,000 marks for information leading to the capture of the murderer of Miss Lake.—Reuter.

SWINDLER'S DEVICE. A bold attempt at swindling a London firm of furriers has just come to light. On Wed- nesday of last week a well-dressed man called at the Knights bridge branch of the Wholesale Fur Company and asked to inspect some expensive sables, which, he said, were for his wife. Choosing about £150 worth, he asked that they should be sent to Mr. Dawson" at the Carlton Hotel. A girl was sent with them, with instructions to inquire as to who Mr. Dawson was and whether his cheque could be accepted. She found that the man was unknown, but on leaving the hotel she wais stopped by a man dressed like a chauffeur, who claimed the furs. and said he would take them to his master. The girl refused to give them up, and reported the facts to the firm. The chauffour" had evidently meant to inter- jept tll, furs oof ore the girl had time to nake inquiries. Detectives stats that another firm has been jwindled out of £40 wortth of funs by the janie device.

TRAGIC INCIDENTS CHIL MYSTERIOUS DEATH I AT NEWPORT. A case with a mystery surrounding it was further inquired into by the Newport coroner (Mr. Lyndon Moore) on Friday, when the resumed inquest was held respect-, ing the death of Mary Howe, the five-year- old daughter of Caroline Web-ter, by her first husband, William Webster. The, child, it appears, died suddenly on Tues- day, and the death could not be accounted for in any way by the parents. The police U, made inquiries regarding the presence of any poison in the house, which the child might; have inadvertently taken, but could not J obtain any clue. A post-mortem examination was then ordered, but this did not discloso I the cause of death, and on Friday the coroner said the symptoms wore peculiar, and that it had been resolved to further adjourn the inquest in order that an analysis of the contents of the stomach might be made. The inquest was accord- ingly further adjourned for a week. CARDIFF LADY'S DEATH AT PORTHCAWL. Mr. Howel Cuthbertson, district coroner, held an inquest at the police-station, Porth- cawl, on Thursday touching the death of Mrs. Mary Ann Fowler. Mr. W. Henry Fowler, Easton-place, Car- diff, engineer, said that the deceased was his wife, and was 57 years of age. She went to Porthcawl in September. Deceased had i. been complaining of heart trouble, and had been under the doctor's hands for many years. Her life was given up two years ago by the doctor. Miss Lewis, daughter of Mr. Evan Lewis, 7, Esplanade-terrace, said that Mrs. Fowler was a friend of theirs. She went to bed on Sunday night about 9.30, when she seemed very bright, and had been so aJl day.-Eva Lewis, sister of the former witness, said she went to the bedroom of Mrs. Fowler about 7.30 in the morning and found her lying on her back. She then went to her mother and told her Mrs. Fowler was fast asleep. Dr. W. B. Wooding stated that he saw deceased on the 21st of September and attended her until the 27th. He was called on Monday morning about 8.30, and found the deceased in bed dead. Her appearance was natural. He had attended her for a slight touch of pneumonia. She had been a sufferer for years from heart disease. a verdict in accordance (with the medical evidence was returned. DEATH IN A CAB AT MERTHYR. A painfully sudden death oocurred a.t Mer- thyr on Saturday night. Hopkin Lewis, 1, Evans'e-terraee, Gilfachcynon, Twynyrodin, who formerly kept the Barley Mow Inn, went to the Locomotive and Railway Inn, Lower High-street, and called for a glass of beer. Immediately he was supplied he complained of feeling ill. and was allowed to lie down on a seat in the tap-room, Mrs. Morgan, the landlady, placing a pillow under his head. Presently he became unconscious, and died in a oab on the way home. CHILD'S BODY FOUND AT NANT- GARW. An inquest was held on Tuesday at Upper Boa.t concerning the death of a newly-born child found in a field on the Tymaen Farm, Nantgarw. Dr. Riseley, Taff's Well, expressed the opinion that the child had had a separate existence, and died from want of attention at birth. There were no marks to suggest foul play. A verdict was returned in accordance with the medical evidence. WIFE'S TRAGIC DEATH AT DOWLAIS. Margaret Davies, aged 40, wife of John Davies, 11, Francis-street, Dowlaia, died sud- denly .on Sunday morning. She called her I husband at 5.30 to go to work. Half a-a hour! later the husband took her up a cup of cocoa, and found her dead. GASPED AND DIED AT PORTH- CAWL. Mr. Howel Cuthbertson held an inquest at Porthcawl on Monday on the body of the late Mr. Robert Griffiths, of Garth, Maesteg, who died suddenly on Friday morning.—Miss j ,s, A. Griffiths identified the body as that of her father,. who was 52 years of age. and was a carpenter by trade. He entered the Rest on Wednesday. He had been ill for four months previously, having suffered from influenza, which affected his heart. David Rees, another inmate of the Rest, said deceased sat next to him in the day room. Deceased complained of the heat, and shortly after gasped once or twice and died. Sr. Alexander attributed death to heart troupe, and a verdict accordingly was returned. SAD DEATH OF A WOMAN AT LLANDILO. Mrs. Mary Griffiths, aged 30, the wife of Daniel Griffiths, of Preswylfa, Towy-terrace, Ffairfach, Llandilo, was found on Tuesday morning head downwards in a cask of water in the backyard. The body was discovered by John Brick, a railwayman, a lodger living next door. It appeared that the body had been in that position for several hours. Deceased had recently been delivered of a child. She had intimated to the doctor that she would rather die than live. An inquest will be held.

POSED AS A HERO. Some remarkable additional evidence was given at Kettering Police-court against Alfred Topham, the Dcsborough railway porter who is charged with attempting to wreck the Manchester express by placing obstructions in the catch-points, which he had professed to discover. The Midland Railway Company's solicitor read a letter from the prisoner to his mother. It ran: I have had a. bit of luck on the line. I am going to be awarded a life-saving medal and a bit of silver for stopping a passenger train when in danger—an express from London. Somebody has been putting a lot of iron between the metals. It was a good job I was there. I gave him a red light and pulled him up within seventy yards, or else the lot would have been smashed up. Thomas Bradsaw, of Kentish Town, the engine-driver of the Manchester express, denied that he pulled up, or that he saw a red light. The evidence of Signalman Lacey and Station master Orchard showed that the prisoner told the former that he had removed the obstructions, and the latter that he could not do so. Orchard, however, moved them with little effort. Expert evidence showed that the express had a narrow escape. When arrested, the prisoner told a police- man, I meant to get a good character, and then join the police." He was committed to the assizes for trial.

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ALLEGED BETTING OFFENCE I At Pontypridd on Wednesday Mr. Harold Lloyd applied that a charge ag-ainst Alex Rosser, Coedpenmaen, of frequenting a studio at Cilfynydd for the purpose of betting should be adjourned. Mr. Lloyd stated he was instructed the principal in this case wan con- victed a, week ago, and was now serving a term of three months' imprisonment, in default of a fine. It was essential this man g.hould give evidence. He had applied to the Home Secretary for permission to see the man, but had not yet received a. reply. The case was adjourned for a. week, a.nri accused wae liberated on bail. f I

QUEER SWANSEA STORY. I -4 HUSBAND, WIFE, AND THEIR CHILDREN. At Swansea Quarter Sessions on Wednesday Mary Ann Spring (38), married, was charged with wilfully neglecting her five children so as to cause injury to their health, in August and at previous times. Mr. L. M. Richards .rL appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Ivor Bowen for the defence. This was the case in which the evidence of the children caused such a sensation at the police-court, their precocity when testifying to their mother's alleged violence being remarkable. Dr. Hanson, house eurgeon at Swansea Hospital, testified to the condition of the children when examined by him. They were I verminous, and some bore bruises and burns. They showed no evidence of want of nourish- ment. Albert Edward Spring, husband of defen- dant and son of a, past mayor of Swansea, said he was a stores manager, earning £2 10s. a week. He and his wife formerly lived in South Africa. She had been addicted to drink. His household was always badly con- ducted. and he did not allow his wife to expend any money for the household. Out of ten years they had lived for three or four separate from each other. The condition of the children and her ill-treatment of them were unknown to him till June last. He had called the attention of the sanitary authori- ties to the state of his house. In cross-examination witness was asked: — You were fined 40s. and costs for an assault upon her?-Yes, and I'm only sorry that my case was not tried here instead of in the police-court. You think you could deceive a jury?—No, sir; I say the bench went against the evidence. I rose my hand in self-defence. He had assaulted her before in defence of the children. Counsel here produced a sword and pistols, but witness denied that he broke the sword on his wife's back and attempted to shoot her. Continuing, he said the first child was born in South Africa. His wife subsequently became demented. She was not charged with causing the child's death, but she was in hospital and under police supervision there. Mr. Bowen: Did you not leave your wife in Newport without money to obtain parish relief?-No, sir. I paid it. She obtained parish relief for how long?— For four or five months, but I paid it. When you were obliged?—No, I sent it from South Africa. Did you leave your children by your first wife destitute in South Africa.—Witness; No. Absolutely no. It is infamous; it is cruel. I lett JE50 there for them to be looked after. The witness, in reply to the recorder, stated that he understood from the special doctor who had seen his wife that she had at one time sustained a severe blow on the head, and that when she was excited or in drink it caused a condition of things which made her irresponsible for her actions. She at other times, he admitted, was a devoted wife and mother. A private conference then took place, but subsequently the case was proceeded with. The evidence of the children was given with remarkable volubility, and cross-exami- nation did not shake them. Lilian, asked if she had anything more to say against her mother," thought a moment, and then added two or three circumstances. They all denied having been "coached." At the conclusion of the case for the prosecution the court adjourned till Thurs- day, A POPULAR VERDICT. The case was resumed on Thursday, when The defendant, an intelligent, but sad-look- ing woman, gave evidence in her own defence. She absolutely denied any acts of cruelty, and said she had never been drunk. The children were naughty at times, and she had had to cane them. She did not bruise them, and the burn on Lilian's hand might be accounted for by her fondness for playing with fire. She admitted that her house was dirty, but it was not filthy. She explained the neglect to wash their clothing by the fact that her husband never allowed her anything for washing or anything else. The husband had brought this case on because she summoned him for assault. He sent an inspector of the society to the house, and she was crying about it, and he said if &he would withdraw her summons the inspector would not come again. The Recorder: You say that you have treated the children kindly, and that your husband treated them badly. Yet they gave evidence against you. It is right that you should have aiD opportunity of explaining it to the jury. In reply to this defendant said that for months the husband never gave the children a kind word, but when the row commenced between her and her husband he bought them over by buying them clothes and cake. It was roast meat and ham in the house for meals since she had left them. Two neighbours, named Mrs. Morgan and Mrs. Davies, gave evidence for the defendant, saying she was not given to drink, and her husband had not a-cted kindly to her. For the defence Mr. Ivor Bowen said that the evidence had been grossly exaggerated. It was a pitiful and unnatural eifTht to see these children giving evidence against their own mother. The husband, unquestionably, was morally guilty also, and ought to be in the dock. (Applause in court, which was instantly suppressed.) The in spec-tor of the society was biassed, and ANXIOUS TO GET A CASE. He had said nothing in the woman's favour, and had read the children's evidence over to them carefully two or three times, thus exceeding his duty. Coaching of this kind was an improper thing to do, and, perhaps, the society would take notice of it. The Recorder, in summing-up, said the suggestion that the case had only been taken owing to the summons issued by the wife against the husband for assault was not borne out by the evidence. As to the respon- sibility of the father, even if he were equally guilty with the wife, that did not exonerate her. He (the reoorder) did not see any foun- dation for the suggestion that the children had been reached by their father for their evidence, but if they thought so they would discard that evidence. There was other evidence in the case. If they thought that the condition of the children was such as to cause them suffering, and if the mother, who was legally in charge of them, was responsible for that condition, they must pass a verdict against her. A POPULAR VERDICT. The jury, after retiring for twenty minutes, brought in a verdict of not guilty, the fore- man stating that the jury desired him to say that they considered the father very much to blame. This statement was received with applause in court, which was suppressed. The defendant on leaving the dock seemed almost frantic with excitement, and in the corridor she kissed her lady friends and, mo6t fervently wringing her hands, exclaimed: God has been good to me. God has ¡. answered my prayer. S'he also shook a juryman by the hand as he was leaving the court, and thanked him heartily, and she went away, both she amd her friends being in tears.

EXTENSIVE BOOT BUSINESS AT CARDIFF. LEICESTER FIRM'S SUCCESSFUL WHOLESALE TRADING. Few people in Cardiff have any idew of the extensive character of the wholesale business carried on at 89, Bridge-street, Cardiff, by Messrs. James Lulham and Co., the well- known Leicester firm of boot manufacturers and dealers. They opened in Charles-street seven years ago, but found it necessary to remove to their present premises in Bridge- street, where there is a floor area of 7,000 feet, and there is not an inch of waste space. Mr. Reynolds, under whose management the branch has made excellent progress, was good enough to show one of our representa- tives round the building on Thursday, and an interesting hour was spent. simply in making a general inspection of the huge and remarkably varied stock of goods in the various departments. The basement is used for packing and stocking polishes, while on the first floor is the general office and a com- plete stock of gentlemen's goods. On the second floor is the sample-room, the ladies' goods, 'and the private office. Then the third floor is wholly occupied with nailed boots and also all kinds of slippers. Going up higher still to the fourth floor, one finds himself surrounded by leggings and all kinds of children's footwear, and right up on the fifth floor there are over a thousand lines of nursery good- There is also a large stock of sea boots, deck shoes, and pegged blncher-i. Messrs. Lulham make a speciality of their very fine Centurion boot, and one leaves the building with the impression that Cardiff is all right for the winter in the matter of being well shod. -I.

SMALL THEFT AT CARDIFF. FIRST OFFENDER GETS FOURTEEN DAYS. I A first offender, named Ann Harwood, was put into the dock at Cardiff Police-court on Wednesday charged with stealing 3id. from the person of John Gillinan in a Caroline-street restaurant, whither the pair repaired for refreshment. The Magistrates (Dr. Taylor and Mr. Hallett) agreed that the amount was small, but considered the guilt was the same as if the amount had been £3. So the woman had fourteen days for the 3id.

WELSH CLERGYMAN VICTIM OF DEPRESSION. Archdeacon Thomas Williams, of Merioneth, who had been suffering from depression since last March, was on Saturday morning found by a servant suspended by a rope in an olltbuilding of the Llanystum- dwy Yioarage, near Criocieth, where he re- sided. The archdeacon's eon cut down the rope, but death had supervened. Deceased was 55 years of age, and enjoyed wide popu- larity. Tho late Archdeacon was born in the neigh- bourhood of Cowbridge. He was educated at Cowbridge Grammar School, and from there went to Oxford. He was admitted to Orders—deacon 1874. priest 1375. He became Archdeacon of 'Nle Merioneth in 1891, and Reotor of Llan- ystumdwy in the eame year. THE FUNERAL. The mortal remains of the late Venerable Thomas Williams, archdeacon of Merioneth, were laid to rest on Tuesday afternoon in the little churchyard of Llanystumdwy, in the presence of an assemblage representa- tive of all classes and sects from far and near. Many Nonconformist ministers and dea.cons were present. The short service at the Rectory was taken by the Rev. G. F. Hodges, of Broughton, Hawarden, a cousin of the deceased, and the cortege then made its way to Llanystumdwy. Mr. Lloyd-George, President of the Board of Trade, was repre- sented by his uncle, Mr. Richard Lloyd. On all hands there were eigne of reverence a,nd mourning. The congregation gave a most sympathetic rendering of the hymn, Art thou weary, art thou languid," and the singing of "0 Fryina-u Caersialem followed.

I AN APPRECIATION. [By SIR MARCHANT WILLIAMS.] The tragio death of my life-long friend has been a terrible shock to me and my family, and likewise to many thousamds of his fellow-countrymen. His absence from the National Eisteddfod meetings at Car- narvon early in September had greatly dis- quieted me, and upon ascertaining the cause of his absence I naturally became appre- hensive as to his ever being able again to return to public life. Little did I dream, however, that his end was so near, and tha,t I should never see him again. No person living, save, perhaps, the members of his family, knew him as well as I did, and when one remembers his absolute and transparent sincerity, his unswerving and fearless truth- fulness in all matters great and small, the loftiness and purity of his aims as a man and as a priest, no one can cavil at my description of him as "the man that I knew best. and the best man that I knew." He was the son of Thomas and Gwenllian Williams, of Cowbridge, and was born in that town in the year 1850. Both his parents were on terms of closest intimacy with my cwn parents, and there was, accordingly, LATE ARCHDEAOON WILLIAMS. I a constant interchange of visits among us children, from our early childhood, to Cow- bridge and Aberdare. The archdeacon greatly resembled his father in character and in temperament, save that the sense of humour which the archdeacon possessed in such abundance came to him from his mother. Our pairents were devoted CailvSniBtic Methodists, and Thomas Williams, as deacon of the Calvinistic Methodist Church at Cowbridge, was an inflexible disciplinarian, and enforced the laws of the Church against all evildoers, wholly regardless of their position and power in private life. And it was in consequence of the treatment his father received at the hands of &ome of the easy-going and frivolous mem- bers of the Church that the two children, Anne and Thomas, left the Calvinistic Metho- dists and attended the services at the Parish Church. The archdeacon was at that time in his twelfth or thirteenth year. His parents remained Calvinistic Methodists to the end I of their days, and dearly did their son love to talk about the giants of the Calvinistic Methodist pulpit who used to visit his parents' home. especially Edward Matthews, John James, and William Evans, of Tonyr- efail. The hymns of Williams of Pantycelyn, too, were ever in his mind, and of some of them he has given us beautiful translations. In a word, his careful upbringing in hie beautiful Christian home was visible in all his words and actions throughout life. His parents, being in easy circumstances, were able to send him to the Cowbridge j Grammar School, where he greatly distin- guished himself. In due course, having won a demyship at Magdalen College, he went up to Oxford. His taking a second class in Moderations was a great disappointment to him and others, for he was a very accom- plished classical scholar. He went out in theology with another second class. For some time he was a curate at Llan- dudno, and subsequently he was one of the minor canons at Bangor Cathedral. But [' it was as the vicar of Llanidloes that he made his mark in the diocese and in the r Church. No Welsh parish priest ever did his work more thoroughly, more devotedly and effectively than did Thomas Williams at this important North Wales town. Whilst he was loved and venerated beyond words by all the Churchpeople of the town and district, he was at the same time deeply respected by all sections of the Nonconformists of the I place. It is true that his views on Church doctrines and Church polity at this time were, when compared with his views on these subjects in after life, exceptionally narrow, and he hold to them with such scrupulous tenacity that he was frequently looked upon by many of his Nonconformist friends and neighbours as obstinate and tactless. And obstinate he most assuredly was. Tactless, obstinate he most assuredly was. Tactless, too, he could be, very often. Perfectly truthful and sincere persons are usually r tactless. A diplomatist he was not; in fact, in his heart of hearts he literally loathed what passes for diplomacy 111 puonc me. This brings me to the consideration of the gentle strictures passed upon him in Saturday evening's "Express" on account of his controversy with Archdeacon Morgan and of the circular which he, with others, drafted and forwarded to the Prime Minister and the Archbishop of Canterbury, and in which he prayed for their assistance in securing for the Diocese of Bangor a succes- sor to the late Bishop Lloyd who should not be an upholder of what is described as "the St. Asaph policy." Let me first deal with the controversy with Archdeacon Morgan, who was at that time the rector of Llandudno. I have the utmost respect for Mr. Morgan, but I maintain that his letter to Bishop Lloyd, in reference to the appointment of the Rev. Edmund O. Jones to the vicarage of Llanidloes was wholly unjustifiable in its terms, and was, moreover, a clear breach of ecclesiastical discipline. I take no account of the fact that the letter was based on the erroneous sup- position that Edmund Jones knew no Welsh, or, rather, that he did not know Welsh sufficiently well to be able to preach a Welsh sermon. The rector, in Archdeacon Wil- liams's sight, was a recalcitrant priest," as technically lie, doubtless, was. As one of his bishop's subordinates, the archdeacon felt it to be his bounden duty to tell the rector so. According to the archdeacon's theory, the bishop ought not to enter into public controversies with his clergy. This theory may be right or it may be wrong. It was I the archdeacon's theory. I am not aware that he ever regretted the terms of his reply to the rector. Many of us, however, did I regret them, as we knew the two men to be J among the very best of the clergy, and it was painful to us to &eo them at cross- pur poses. I do not believe that the archdeacon lost either power or influence owing to this correspondence or to his hostility to the advocates of the St. Asaph poicy." Bishop Edwards and he were at Oxford together; the two men knew each other well.- Tho archdeacon's conception of the duties of a bishop was not the same as the bishop's own conception of them, nor was it the same as that of most people, probably. Anyhow, it, was not the same as mine. Still, it is per- fectly obvious that the archdeacon's efforts to secure for his diocese a bishop that would work on lines which he held to be the highest and the best for the Church were as sincere as they were legitimate. Those of hia friends with whom he freely and frequently corresponded were not in the least degree! surprised at the power he displayed as a controversialist. He wielded a most facile j pen, and had a masterly command of pure, forceful English. Church preferment he never sought. The Deanery of Bangor was pressed upon him by the late Bishop Campbell. The arch-1 deacon had no hesitation in refusing it, although he had a wife and a large family f, dependent upon him at the time. He felt that he had a wider and a deeper sphere of usefulness before him as an active parish priest. Deaneries were for the older clergy, in his opinion. He was only thirty years of age, and was, therefore, unqualified for) the restful seclusion and quiet dignity of a, cathedral administrator. It is refreshing to find in the Church or anywhere else men who decline ecclesiastical or worldly advance- ment on conscientious grounds. Such people are often regarded by the worldly-minded aa tactless and foolish faddists. It was at the Festiniog National Eistedd- fod that he decided upon giving the national institution his unqualified and enthusiastic support. At one time he was looked upon by many people as the best possible suc- cessor to the late archdruid. This was not to be. He is now no more. Everybody that knew him well dearly loved him. He was so genial, so affable, so free from oant, so full of quiet humour, so gentle, sympathetic, and altogether delightful. He bore his character in his strikingly beautiful face, his firm step, and his manly bearing. His last days were days of sleeplessness and overwhelming depression. This is now all over, for— "He giveth His beloved sleep.

"COME DOWN QUICK." TRAGIC STORY OF A FATHER'S DEATH. Frederick Clayton, the son of William Clayton, of Shaftesbury-street, New North- road, Hoxton, who, it is alleged, was shot by his landlord, Frank Wade, on September 26, described his father's death to the Shoreditch coroner. His father and mother, he said, lived in W ade s house, and occasionally were back- ward with the rent. At midnight on Sep- tember 26 a quarrel arose about 9s. which Clayton owed Wade, but after a heated argument the latter went into his room and shut the door. Then a loud report rang out, and Clayton called to his son: "Come down quick; he has shot me through the heart." The boy ran downstairs to the passage, and there saw his father lying on the floor. Wade was standing near the door. "What did you do?" asked the Coroner. I rushed at Wade. He had a revolver in his hand, and held it to my face and pulled the trigger. I heard the click, but it did not go off. He fired again, but I dodged. The bullet struck my mother, and she i?craAmod and fell across my father's body. I then ran out and brought a policeman." Clayton added that at the time the passage was in darkness, and that the 9s. rent which his father owed was only four days overdue. A policeman said that when Wade was arrested he made the following confession:- Clayton caime and ba,nged at my door, and my wife and I put him outside. He banged again. I told him to go away. I picked up the revolver from under the drawers, and I fired through the door to frighten him. I do not care if I have killed the old rat." Wade added that the Claytons were drunken people, and that he had to do it to save myself, as Clayton came down like a. tiger." Gentlemen, he said, turning to jury, I only did it in self-defence. He would have killed me if I had not killed him." The jury returned a verdict of "Man- slaughter," and Wade, on the coroner's war- rant, was committed for trial. Mrs. Clayton is lying dangerously ill at St. Bartholomew's Hospital.

BRIDE'S TERRIBLE FATE. HACKED TO DEATH BY "THE GIPSY QUEEN." Another of the tragedies of insanity has occurred at the Mattawan Asylum, where Mrs. Lizzie Halliday, a gipsy woman and a criminal patient, murdered her young nurse, Miss Nellie under circumstances of cun- ning and fiendish brutality characteristic ning and fiendish brutality characteristic of the crimes of the insane. Halliday lived a roving life for years in the Hudson and Mohawk valleys, and was queen of a gipsy tribe. Then (says the New York correspondent of a contemporary) she married a farmer, and after a few years com- mitted a series of atrocious crimes. She firod the homestead, burning her imbecile son alive, murdered her husband, and hacked two women-a mother and daughter —to death, after luring them to the farm. It was proved at her trial that before she married Halliday had committed several other murders. In the asylum she had come to be regarded lately as a model patient, tranquil, tract- able, and very grateful and responsive to kindness. She was especially attached to her young nurse, by whose intercession the severity of her confinement was relaxed, and she was permitted to enter the "harmless" ward. The nurse, becoming engaged to be mar- ried, resigned her position. The resignation should have taken effect on Friday, and the marriage this week. The prospect of parting greatly excited the woman Halliday, who wept and implored her to stay. Then she fiercely said, "Do not leave, for I'm a gipsy, and can read the future, and if you leave there will be blood." Nonsense, 'Lizzie," said the nurse, I am going tc* marry a man who loves me very dearly, and I shall be very happy." At that moment she unlocked the door of an adjoin- ing small room. Like a flash, before the others in the ward realised that there was trouble, the mad- woman, who had been grovelling at the nurse's feet, sprang up, dragged her victim into the small room, seized her keys, and locked the door behind them. The other patients and the attendants beat helplessly on the door, from behind which came the mingled shrieks of the nurse and the fiendish laughter of her assailant. When the door was burst in, Halliday was sitting chuckling in a corner, and the nurse was lying in a pool of blood 0n the floor. The maniac had seized the nurse's scissors which were attached to a chain at her waistj and with incredible fury had stabbed her more than two hundred times in the neck and face. Miss Wicke died a. few minutes later, just as her intended husband arrived to remove her boxes.

DODGING THE DETECTIVES. There was an element of romance in a case which before Mr. Fordham at North London Police-court. Effie Margaret Trip- low, 22, bookkeeper, of Holloway, was charged on remand with stealing on April 3, 1905, the sum of £6, which she had received for and on account of Williams Brothers, I grocers, at Stroud Green-road. Binney Milne, assistant to the prosecutors at their Stroud Green-road branch, said that on Monday, April 3, 1905, a lady named Agar paid him £ 6 on her account. He handed this sum to tho prisoner, and gave him an official receipt. Edward Ashton, manager paid him £ 6 on her account. He handed this sum to the prisoner, and she gave him an official receipt. Edward Ashton, the manager at tho shop, said that he failed to find an entry of the £ 6. When questioned, the accused said that she believed she had tho accused said that she believed she had the money, but could not tell what had become of it. The accused now pleaded guilty, and her mother said that the girl was not living at home at the time, and she did net 600 her I for some months after. Every time she heard that the detectives were after her she disappeared for months at a time, and nobody knew where she went. I The accused said that when she had to fleo from the police she was with relatives. Her young man had the money, and when he I knew the police were making inquiries about him he threw her over and had married ¡ someone else. Mr. Fordham sentenced her to two months in the second division.

I AN ABANDONED WAIF, FOUND WANDERING IN LONDON. A pretty little dark-eyed child, described as Isabel Rosewell (seven), of Holloway, was charged on remand at Tower Bridge with being found wandering at Tabard-street, Borough, without proper guardianship or settled place of abode. Mr. Wm. Westcott, industrial schools officer, stated that he was sheltering from the rain in a fried fish shop, at 11.0 p.m., when a lame woman, the worse for drink, came in to inquire for a, lodging, and left the child out- side. The woman had a begging petition and a bagful cf tracts. She said the child was hers, and that she ha.d just come from Bir- mingham, where her husband had died, and she had "pressed his cold hand for the last time." Afterwards she said her husband had been dead ten years, and that she had never been to Birmingham. During the remand the witness had made inquiries, and had discovered that the address which the woman gave at Holloway was a common lodging-house, where she and the child had lived for five months, but had been turned out because of the woman's drunken and disorderly conduct. Her husband was alive, but a confirmed invalid, and the witness found him at the Isling- ton Infirmary. He said he was glad some- thing was to be done for the child, with regard to whom he had received a. written warning from the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. The_ £ hild was not related to him at all, but was adopted in infa-ncy by his wife. The father was a captain in the Yeomanry, and the mother was a lady of position, who wanted to be rid of her unfortunate offspring. It was registered at Clapham in the name of Rosewell, which was the name of the lame woman and her husband, and latterly the woman had been using the child for beg- ging purposes in the West End. Her story usually was that she was the child's grand- mother, that the father was a, soldier who was killed in South Africa, and that the mother died of a broken heart. In that way she got money and clothing from the chari- table public, but there was no doubt she was a,n imposter, and unfit to have charge of the child. The magistrate said he had received a letter from a lady offering to place the child in the Sharman Orphanage, West-square, Southwark. Mr. Westoott respectfully suggested that she would be safer from the woman's inter- ference at-the Princess Mary Village Homes, Addlestone, Surrey. The Magistrate; Let me hear what the woman says. The pseudo-grandmother came forward, and strongly protested against the child being "tore" away from her. She declared that the child was her deceased son's daughter, and that she was a respectable woman, whom Mr. Westcott had slandered. Questioned by the Clerk, she said her name was Mary Ann Rosewell, and that she lived at Leytonstone, but could not remember the name of the street. Jler memory was very bad since she got lamed by an accident, and she could not remember the address in Clap- ham where the child was born, nor what regiment of Yeomanry her son belonged to. The Magistrate: It is quite evident to me that the child ought to be taken from you. Tho Woman: Why? She is all I have to love. The Magistrate: She will stay at the Prin- cess Mary Village Homes until she is sixteen. The Woman: I think it is disgraceful that she should be tore away. Ths Magistrate: And I think you are very fortunate in having no proceedings taken against you. The little prisoner was then removed, and the woman shook her fist at Mr. Westcott, exclaiming, "You shall pay for this, eir." ——

LADY LODGERS FRIGHTENED DANGEROUS MAN SENT TO GAOL. Before Mr. Chester Jones, at the Clerken- well Sessions, London, Thomas Harry Lewis, 56, decorator, was convicted of having maliciously wounded Arthur Chapman, of Little Queen street. Knutsford-place, Edg- ware-road. Mr. Wynne prosecuted. Prisoner lived in the prosecutor's house for a few weeks, but in consequence of his mis- conduct Chapman told him, on the evening of September 14. that he would have to leave. This exasperated the prisoner, and after some argument he assaulted Chapman, who ran into the street. Lewis followed and catching him, stabbed him in the back. They fell to- gether on the the pavement, and two wit- nesses named Henry Duffey and John Thomas Hunt rushed up, and seized the pri- soner's arm, and wrenched the knife a-way. Detective-sergeant Pttilen said that the reason the prisoner was given notice was that the previous night he had broken into the room of a lady lodger and, armed with a poker, had stood over her as she lay in bed. After a time he left the room, and re-appeared with a knife, which he flourished and threatened to use on her if she dared to say anything to the landlord. The lady was so frightened and upset by her experience that she had to remain in bed for a week. The prisoner, the officer added, was a most dan- gerous character, and had threatened to murder policemen on many occasions. Inspector Blackburn proved that at the Central Criminal Court, in June 1898, prisoner was sentenced to nine months' hard labour for the manslaughter of a man with whom he quarrelled in a public-house. Since 1891 prisoner had also been seventeen times con- victed for drunkenness, assaults, threats, wilful damage, Ac. Mr. Chester Jones said tho prisoner was indeed a dangerous man, and, what his ultimate fate would be no one knew. Prisoner would have to be imprisoned and kept to hard labour for two years.

MAGISTRATE & GUARDIANS "A MISERABLE STATE OF AFFAIRS." At the GuildhaU, London, a little girl, aged ten years, and her eight-year-old brother were charged with begging in the city. The poor little mites were barefooted and exhibited many signs of neglect. Once more the question was raised as to who was responsible, the children having been kept at the union since Saturday night, for sending them to the police-court with neither shoes nor stockings on. Alderman Hanson said he supposed Mr. Harrold (the casual ward supermtendeat) had more than once heard expressions of disgust* from that bench at such a practice. Mr. Harrold: Yes, I have. The Alderman: Then why do you take no notice of them ? Mr. Harrold: I have to obey the lawful orders of the guardians, sir. My instructions are to send the children to the court in the same condition as when they are appre- hended. children were admitted on Saturday night, bathed, and put into house clothing while under our care. When we hand them back to the police do so in same condition as when received them. Then the police are responsible. them. Then the police are responsible. Mr. Savill (chief clerk): Supposing thej weather was cold or wet? Mr. Harrold: I should have to send them up just as they were. The Alderman: It is a miserable state of affairs, and I should like the guardians to be informed of what I say. Mr. Harrold: I have no doubt the guar- dians have good reason for what they do. The alderman ordered the children to be taken to the Remand Home in a cab. ¡

OVER THE CLIFFS. Another Beachy Head tragedy is reported. A gentleman noticed a dark object in the cliff at the Great Fall, and upon climbing up to ascertain what it was saw the body of a young man. Owing to the high tide the police were unable to reach the spot until morning when they found deceased lodged about 180ft up the cliff. With considerable difficulty he was got down and placed on the stretcher. The police, however, were again cut off by the tide, and it was not until afternoon that the body was brought back to Eastbourne, where I his parents live. Deceased was Ernest James Barrow, aged sixteen. He had been employed as a clothier's I assistant at Sutton, Surrey, and came home for two or three days' holiday. Last week he left? home with the intention of returning to Sutton, and was not heard of again. It is believed that the body had been on the cliffs five or six days. In his clothing was found his photograph and that of a young lady.

CARDIFF SENSATION. WARRANT OUT FOR A SECRE- TARY. A painful sensation was caused in Cardiff on Thursday when Mr. George F. Willctt, so"- citor, of Church-street, applied before the magistrates for a warrant for the arrest of George Matthews, late secretary of the East v Splott Ratepayers' Permanent Financial association. The warrant was asked for on the ground that Matthews was alleged to have misappropriated a large sum from the association, and also to have obtained secu-' rities by means of false pretences from per- sons who had deposited them in the Splot" Bank, of which he was the sole proprietor. As soon as the warrant was granted Detec- tive-sergeant Isaac Dicks a,nd Detective Rosser took the matter up, and are now actively engaged with other officers in endeavouring to trace the whereabouts of the man, who left home on Monday, and has not since been seen or heard of. Many thousands of pounds are said to be involved, and persons of various stations in life, the majority, however, of the poorer c'asses, are stated to be sufferers. Mr. Willett is already acting on behalf of depositors of JESOO, £400, £ 360, £134, L120 £1)0, and smaller suras. The depositor of the X90 received the money as compensation for the loss of a leg, and he invested it in George Matthews's East Splott Bank." The missing man is alleged to have told some of the investors that. he had £2,000 in the clearing- house to his credit and £2,000 invested else- where. Among his acquaintances he repre- sented himself as the Roumanian Consul, and he also styled himself the Count of Jersey and Sir George," whilst to some it is alleged that he claimed relationship with Mi". Charles Mathews, the eminent lawyer. Regarding his title of the Count of Jersey. it is asserted that he has shown photos of Jersey Castle to friends, and even one of aI room there in which he was supposed to haim slept. He had a slight foreign accent. Mr. Willett, it is stated, intends communi- eating with the Public Prosecutor in order to obtain an extradition warrant, for it is assumed that the man must have left country. As recently as Friday last Matthews, it is alleged, persuaded two local gentlemen to hand over to him securities to the value of about £ 1,500. These unhappy1 persons visited the bank on Monday morninU and found the place shut up. THE. DISCOVERY. How the alleged fraud was discovered cast be told in a few words. Two gentlemen con-* cerned consulted Mr. Willett on behalf of the association. It appeared that about a month ago the society found they were short of cash, and Matthews was suspended, and gentleman named Bright placed in charge as acting secretary. Mr. Willett immediately recognised that the matter was of a sensar tional character, and as following upon this depositors in the bank sought his aid, a. warrant was applied for on the advice of counsel. When the police visited the bank at 112. Carlisle-street, only the unfortunate wife and children were found, whilst the property in question had disappeared. ODDFELLOWS CONCERNED. Matthews during his period of bank man- agement did not, it seems, comfine his business to Cardiff, for a letter ha., been picked up which proves that he has had dealings with the St. David's Oddfellows Lodge, Tredegar. Perhaps the contents will better explain the position:— Independent Order of Oddfellows (M.U.). 6, Prospect-place. Georgetown, Tredegar, February 13, 1906. Mr. Matthews.-Dear Sir,-I beg to call your attention to the fact that the half-year's interest due to St. David's Led are, 12th Novem- ber lasit, has,not yet been paid, which is noW a. month over the time. according to your promise, and have to inform you that unless it is remitted before Monday evening next, our lodge meeting, the lodge oontemplate calling the whole amount in. Yours faithfully, "CHARLES BEVAN (Secretary)." The latest items alleged to have been mis- appropriated amount to about £ 800, the moneys of two business men in Carlisle-street. IS MATTHEWS DEAD? Something like a scene occurred outside the bank on Thursday evening, when Detective Rosser was noticed dismounting from his bicycle and entering the house. Later on one of our reporters entered, and discovered a sad state of affairs inside. The floor of the passage was dug up, but a. plank laid across enabled him to enter the kitchen to speak to Mrs. Matthews, whose face betrayed poverty and suffering, and was in keeping with the abject surround- ings. She plaintively declared that her husband told her on Monday that he would be back at noon, and that was the last she had seen of him, but she feared he had taken his life, for he had threatened to do so more than once. She has no alternative, she says, but to apply to the relieving- omcer for aid, as she is destitute. The furniture, which lay huddled up in con- fusion, is said to have been sold to a local dealer last week. Among the few documents left in the house is a writ, dated September 4, 1906, issued against the missing man at the instance of Daniel Crawley and Evan Jones* trustees of the society. HIS CAVALIER ANCESTRY. George Matthews, the banker, late of Splott, was a genius of many parts. Amongst other things he was a keen purchaser of oil paintings. He was a constant visitor a.t the, salerooms of Mr. William Fowler, auctioneer* Duke-street, Cardiff, and Mr. Fowler haS known the Roumanian Count" for many years as a connoisseur in pictures. Within tho last eighteen months he has purchased, under tho hammer, from Mr. Fowler, nearly 50 old oil paintings at the periodical sales, and paid above z625 for them in the aggregate. The wa,lls of his principal room at the bank" were covered by these paintings. He once pur- chased a portrait of a cavalier who flourished in the Cromwellian period, and wore ruffles, &c., to match, and he claimed the cavalier as one of his ancestors. One picture purchased from Mt. Fowler was "The Corn- fields" (Pulincks), and this picture covered one side of the wall at the bank office. The original value was from JB70 to £ 80. Matthews bought the picture in the auction room for J53. "On tho day he was said to have dis- appeared (on Tuesday last)," said Mr. Fowler. I saw him in Cathedral-road, walk- ing towards Tlan-daff. I asked him about the safe I had sold to him pri- va.tely, and he said if I would keep it for a few days he would pay me interest on it. The next day, it was alleged, he had gone.

GIRL CAB-BILKER. STORY OF AN ADVENTURESS. The adventures of the sewing-maid May Gelder, 24, were further described bv" Detective-sergeant Barehaia at the Guild- hall, when the woman was brought up on remand charged with defrauding the Great Eastern Railway Company by tra-velling without a ticket. The detective who since the last hearing liart been making inquiries about the woman said that her relatives included a J.P. and a banker. She had had several good situa- tions, was a clever needlewoman, and was considered respectable until the Torrey- Alexander Mission camc to this country. She joined the mission and followed it, and when at Plymouth she was charged with theft from a draper's. The charge was not pressed, and she was set at liberty. Tho next day she returned the stolen pro- perty. She continued to follow the mission, and at Birmingham7 she incurred no end of debts," which were subsequently liquidated, by her uncle. She then stole a purse from a lady wlw had befriended her, and was sentenced to two months' imprisonment. On her release she came to London, and spent her time riding all over the place in cabs a.nd then. bilked" the drivers. She put up at the best hotels, used their notepaper, but rarely paid her bills. Since phe came out of prison last, after stealing or being in the unlawful possession of passengers' luggage, she had been troubkeome. She took two rooms at the Devonshire Hotel, which she never paid for, and then wrote letters to herself on the hotel pa.pe.r. porting them without stamps, and leaving the hotel people to pay postage? The Cambridge police also reported tha* she had obtained ornaments for her ha.tr by false pretences from a local hairdresser- Her friends thought her insane, and she had been examined by several doctors, who declared her quite sane. Alderman Howse fined her 20s. for the rail- way fraud. The Accused: May I wire to my father for the money? The Alderman: Oh, yes.

BY APPOINTMENT TO H.M. THE KING., | IS t 6