Weekly Mail

CONSTABLE'S STRANGE STORY The prisoner M'Guire, at his own request, ATln?'t PTfv^eii.t on Wednesaday. }ii^nrile M'Guire. the mother of the young MtnJ^ed with the crime, was the first a woman of respectable tha(. a/ance. In a sobbing voice she stated ^*e t. an^ M'Guire was her eon. and that tijj^kad not seen him for a considerable to January last-, when Miss showed her a letter from him, tK witnass had forgiven him for yinp tr°uble he had caused her, ajid to g that he was quite willing to come Ollirne <>uth if witness and JMiss Sherriff "Of like him to do so. Witness replied, I forgive him, and tell him I Very to see him." Mias then wrote him to oome. She eug- tha.t he should stay at Mm. Lane's, deceaøed lodgvd. aad witness cusked whether that would not give rise to talk. Miss Sherriff replied, "I don't care; I am a woman." She arranged with Mrs. Lane for him to have lodgings at her house. The result was that M'Guire took up his abode there on the 7th of February. He and Miss Sherriff visited witness, who lived at Boscombe. "AUNTIE IS BREAKING HER HEART." Deceased visited her on Monday, the 17th of February, and had tea. She was not looking very well, and witness said, "You have seen, the dear boy off, then?" and the deoeaeed replied in the affirmative. Witness did not see her afterwards. On Wednesday, the 19th of February, at about a quarter to two in the afternoon, Mrs. Lane's niece brought her a telegram, which was addressed to Miss Sherriff. As the girl was not there, the niece said, "Oh, where is she? Auntie is at home breaking her heart, as she fears something has happened to her." The tele- gram which the nieoe took to her was from her son Frank, and was addressed to Miss Sherriff. It read, "Meet me at three o'clock." Witness went to Mrs. Lane's at once, and at about three o'clock in the afternoon her son came in. He was told the deceased was missing, and owing to that he burst open the bedroom door, and found ,the deceased's bed had not been laid upon. Her eon went out to make inquiries, and whilst he was away Miss Lily Hatch remarked, "There is more going ori, between Frank and little Emma than we know of." HAVE I BEEN HARBOURING A THIEF?" Hatch then stated that Emma came to her on the Monday evening, and said, Oh, Lily, I must tell you some- thing in confidence; all my money is gone, my best bracelet, and other things. I have thought to myself, Have I have been har- bouring a thief?" Witness told her son what had been said by Miss Hatch, and he replied, "No such thing. ,Afr-e. M'Guire then told her son that evi- dently Miss Siherriff had gone to London to find him, and that she would put detectives on hint. The deceased had told witness that if anything happened witness must take charge of her things. On the day following the finding of the body witness found a will made by deceased, but the nature of the will was not disclosed in court. A WILL IN M'GUIRE'S FAVOUR. Mrs. M'Guire then explained that a letter wa« received from her son on Wednesday morning, the 19th of February. It was dated from his lodgings in Denbigh-street, Pim- lico, and bore the postmark, "8.30 p.m. Lon- don, S.W., February 18" (this being the date deceased disappeared). The letter read: — Just a line to let you know I am. all right. Minnie wants to go to Bournemouth Theatre on Wednesday evening. I am run- ning down either Wednesday or Thursday. Will look you up as we come into Christ- church. Further questioned by the coroner, Mrs. M'Guire stated that the deceased had always told her that she would see Frank all right in her will, and that witness would always be well provided for. The deceased between 1903 and 1904 made a will, in which she left wit- ness CI50 and son E100. Witness did not 'know it at the time, but had subsequently ascertained that the will had been left with a Bournemouth bank manager to act ts executor. Witness, cross-examined by MT. Malim (who appeared for the relatives of the deceased). said the reason she did not communicate with the mother of the deceased earlier was because she had it in her mind that the girl was in London looking after Frank M'Guire. She wired to the mother as soon as possible after the body was found. In answer to the coroner, Mrs. M Guire said she knew deceased had no male friend with whom she used to go walks. CONSTABLE'S STRANGE STORY. A police-constable of Bosoombe stated that on the Wednesday afternoon Frank M'Guire 'called at the Bosoombe Police-station and said, "Excuse me, have you had the report of an accident?" The officer said, "Has there been one? M'Guire then said: Woll, it's like this. I eent a wire froon London to a lady friend of mine to meet me to go to the theatre, but she is missing." M'Guire then gave his address as the Salisbury Hotel, Boscombe, for that night, and also his address in Denbigh-street, Pimlico. The constable added. "The man looked rather nervous, and was shaking as anyone would do under the circumstances." Mrs. Effie Saunders, who had known Frank M'Gnire for some time, said she met him in the neighbourhood of Southbourne on the evening- after deceased was missed. She said it seemed very strange that Miss Sjxerriff didn't leave a meaeage. He replied. "It will be all right." She then said, Oan you give us soane.olue as to where ehe is?" and he didn't answer. He told witness that he went to London by an early train on the. Tuesday morning. A lady friend informed witness that when she said to Mrs. M'Guire that it seemed funny where Miss Sherriff had gone Mrs. M'Guire remarked, "Yes, I believe my, son is at the bottom of iti The hearing was adjourned until Thursday.

SUICIDE IN LUCK-UP. BUTE-STREET STATION SENSATION Shortly after two o'clbck on Thursday an Italian seaman, named Dona-ta Felita, walked into Bute-street Police-station and asked Polioe-constable Craddock to be allowed to go to the back premises. The constable allowed him to go, and later on proceeding to the rear found Felita. hanging from the oietern, he having utilised a belt as a noose. Police-sergeant Ben Da.vies was promptly on the spot, and the body was taken down, the sergeant and Police-constable Craddock resorting to artificial respiration, but with- out any success. Dr. J. J. Buist was summoned, but pro- nounced life extinct. A broken neck is supposed to be the caoise of death. The police, it is stated, found coins amount- ing to nearly X35 in deceased's poaseissiou. A sailor's discharge-book was found on Felita, which showed that he had been a con- siderable number of voyages as A.B. He was 43 years of age, and a native of Miesaina (Italy). DID HE FEAR ROBBERY? Sergeant Ben Davies has been concerned in many ourious and trying cases in the Docks district, but to a "Weekly Mail' repre- sentative the officer admitted that Felita's was one of the strangest he had heard of. "The queerest part of the whole affair," said the sergeant, "is the fact that we found nearly £.J5 upon the deceased. He evidently suffered froon delusions, and was under the impression that someoine was going to rob him, for the moowjy, composed of -• i*iouK coins, was sewn into deceased's underSown- ing. Felita visited the elation om Wednes- day, but he seemed aM right, but them was nothiing in has manner to arouse suspicion. He was not intoxicated, a-nd 4) only motive the sergeant could offer was that .1ho deceased feared robbery. Felita had been lodging for some time in Borinetiti's lodging-house. Bute-street. In American money there were 140 dollars— six 20-dollar pieces, one ten, and two five- j besides JB20 in English momey. •

ST. MELLON'S SENSATION. WELL-KNOWN FARMER MISSING. Mr. Tom David, of the Oaklands Farm, St. Mellon's, has been missing from home since Tuesday morning. Mr. David for many years past has acted as the agent for some of the largest cattle and horse dealers in the county, and, in consequence. is known throughout South Wales and the West. As far as can be ascertained, Mr. David on Tuesday morning left homo to meet a Midland cattle dealer. At the time he was very unwell, and Mrs. David endeavoured to get him to remain at home. He persisted, however, in leaving the house, stating that it would be unkind to disappoint after his visitor had journeyed so far to purchase cattle. Since that time no tidings, despite every i inquiry by his family, police, and dozens of neighbourins: farmers, have been obtainable of the missing man. Late on Wednesday night a hat, which has since been identified as the property of the missing man, wae found on the bank of the Rumney River," just below the ford between St. Mellon's and Llanedarne. The discovery has filled the country side with dismay, for it is feared that in some way Mr. David must have got into the river. Mr. David was between 40 and 50 years of a.ge. medium height, and da.rk com- plexioned. Few farmers were more widely known in Wales. He was most temperate in all his habits. Much sympathy is felt for Mrs. David and the large family, who are greatly distressed. The Rumney Rive, if to be dragged, and all the farmers between Cardiff and New. port are out searching the country side.

TROUBLES OF TYNEMOUTH RIVER IMPROVEMENTS ARE DESTROYING THE TOWN. Mr. Justice Warrington in London on. Wednesday granted the Tynemouth Cor- poration an injunction restraining the Tyne Improvement- Commissioners from dredging the Tyne beyond their statutory limits, but suspended its operation until the end of the present session, so as to enable the Com- missioners to obtain further Parliamentary powers. The corporation alleged that the dredging operations admitted heavy seas to the river, and damaged the fish quay. An inquiry into the extent of the damage was granted. The defence was that the work was necessary for the passage of large ships.

MESMERISED BY EX-CLERIC. » LORD TOWNSHEND'S STORY. WEEPS BITTERLY OVER HIS WRONGS. LEFT EVERYTHING TO ROBINS. In the Chancery Division on Monday an application was made to Mr. Justice Swinfen Eady in re the Marquess Townshend's settled trusts. Counsel who appeared for the marquess and his committee in lunacy said the relief asked for was the removal of Mr. Arthur Geoffrey Robins and Mr. John Abercrombie Holesworth from the trusteeship. No charge was made against Mr. Holesworth except that of standing by and allowing Mr. Robins to deal with the property. He had offered to retire from the trusteeship whenever asked do so Against Mr Robins it was alleged that he had been a party to the removal and sale of heirlooms, and had himself received the proceeds of the sale or the greater part thereof. His (counsel's) case would be that everything was done under the control of Mr. Robins. The defence would be that the heirlooms were taken and sold by Lord Townshend himself, but he (counsel) did not think it be disputed that Mr. Robins was cognisant of what was done. A GRAVE CLERICAL SCANDAL. The things that had been dealt with and had disappeared were removed from Bails Park, Rainham, and subsequently to the house were Lord TOwnshend was living. They comprised all sorts of valuable china, glasses, vases of all sorts, old docks, crested plate, and so forth. Counsel proceeded to trace the connection between the marquess a.nd Mr. Robins from the mutual introduction in 1892, when the latter was ourate at St. Mark's, Chelsea. The marquess went in 1894 to live with Robins at St. Barnabas', Leeds, and it appeared from his banking account that he constantly paid him large sums of money for his maintenance. Lord Townshend kept his account at Leeds open from 1895 until I November, 1897, when it was closed, and from that time all his moneys were paid into Robins s own account. The marquess at the time was receiving £500 a year from his mother and £250 from Lord St. Levan, an executor of the late marquess. Lord Towne- hend came into his title on November 17, 1899, and in March, 1900. he appointed Mr. Robins to the family living of East and West Kainham. In the next year a very grave soamdaj arose—&i intimacy formed by Mr. Robins with the daughter of a neighbouring clergyman. Proceedings by the bishop fol- lowed, and ultimately, in November. 1901. Mr. Robins took advantage of the Clergyman's Disability Aot and became a layman. EX-CLERIC HIS FIDUS ACHATES. In November. 1901, Lord Townshend took a house at Westhover, Shoreham, and Rob'ns, his wife, and family, and the lady went there with the marquess. From that time onwards .until Lord Townshend's marriage he provided for the living of Robins and family and the lady and her little boy, and they all lived together at different places. Lord Towns- hend was advised in everything by Robins, and the whole of his money went to Robins or was distributed by his directions a.nd request. The sale of the heirlooms was ordered by Mr. Justice Fàrwell in December, 1903, and it took place at Christie's in March, 1904. and realised a net sum of £36,000. SIR REDVERS BTJLLER A PLAINTIFF. Counsel sketched the personal history of the marquess till the hearing of the lunacy petition, when Lord Townshend was found incapable of managing hiaffairs, and on November 5, 1906, Sir Ztedvers Buller was aippointed manager of the c^taite. The distinguished general, who is also a plaintiff in the action, was in court, and occupied a seat in front of hi. counsel, having on his right the marquess and marchioness. Reverting to the heirlooms which were at Rainham, oounsel said that when the tenant who took the house entered in 1892 an inven. tory of the china was taken, and there was then above 1.000 pieces of great value. The tenant declined to have them in the house, and they were stored away, and subsequently they were removed to the rectory, where they were set out and displayed. Dealers were invited to inspect the china, and some pieces were sold, and what was left was removed to Brighton. The court adjourned.

LORD TOWNSHEND'S STORY WEEPS BITTERLY OVER HIS WRONGS. On resuming on Tuesday, Lard Townshend said he remembered an agreement of May 24, 1904, appointing Mr. Robins his secretary and businesB manager for ten yeaars, at a salary of .;I;;50u per annum. Witness was carrying on no busAtteea at tfra/t time. The mortgagees 'then in possession of Raynham House, and mtoese Was entertaining Mr. Robins and his family at Hove. He remembered borrow- ing £1.200,but he did not know what he bor- rowed the money for. On the same date he gave Mr. Robins £300. Witness was accus- tomed to give him everything he asked for. Lord Townshetad next spoke to the prepara- tion of a will by him, leaving £1.000 each to Mr. Robins's three sone and the residue of the estate to Mr. Robins. On one occasion when Mr. Robins left home he gave witness a sovereign. Counsel: Were you, with the exception of that sovereign, hard upp Witness: Yes, I was constantly hard up. MARQUESS WEEPS BITTERLY. Witness was also questioned regarding other financial matters in which Mr. Robins was concerned. Asked why. in a will which he made after his marriage, he bequeathed the whole of his estate to Mr. Robins, the witness said it was because of certain allegations made against: his wife, which he had since dis- covered to be slander. At this stage Lord Townshend was over- come with emotion and wept bitterly. The marquess, Continuing, said that the removal from Raynham of heirlooms and their sale were initiated and controlled by Mr. Robins. With the exception of 100. wit- ness received nothing from the china that was sold. As to some vaees discovered in a shop at Worthing, he was urged by Mr. Robins, to allow them to be add. At the time he did not know they were heirlooms. Asked as to whether some pictures from Raynham had been sold with his atoval, Lord Townshend replied in the negative. Counsel: Was Mr. i^bins in America with you, and did you study mesmerism with him?—Yes. Do you attribute any part of his influence over you to mesmerism?—Entirely. Ar6 you now free from his influence or con- trol?—Free from his control, hut not from his influence. Cross-examined: Mr. Robins told witness to destroy all draft letters, as he wished to prove that he. Lord Townshend, could write a good letter without assistance. The sale of heirlooms was carried through by a. Mr. Davies, who said it was better to part with them than to let the whole estate go. The evidenoCeof Dr. Crawford was inter- posed at this juncture. He said that in April, 1906, he visited Lord Townshend, and considered his intellect was undeveloped, and that for the time being he was under the control and dominating influence of Mr. Robins. Cross-examined, witness said he found he had made a note to the effect that Lord Townshend had told him that unless he were removed from the influence of Mr. Robins he would die of 1\ broken heart. It was not necessary to see Lord Townshend in Mr. Robins' presence to enable him to make his report. The hearing was again adjourned.

MR. ROBINS INDUCED HIS MARRIAGE. BREACH OF PROMISE EXPENSES COME HIGH. There was a large audience of fashionably- dressed ladies on Wednesday. La/dy Town- shend was dressed in black, but wore a white boa and mu- and a bouquet of violets. The marquess went into the witness-box for further cross-examination by Mr. J. M. Gover. He admitted that his first agreement with Mr. Robins was witnessed by a friend of his, a life insurance agent, and was pre- pared by aftrm of Bradford solicitors. He could not say whether .£1,250 borrowed from H S. King and Co., in July, was arranged through the solicitor then acting for him, Mr. Davis. The marquess said he did not remember this. He never thoroughly understood his position with regard to his finanoes. His Lordship: There was £1.250 drawn out and £740 re-paid. The question is what became of the odd JE500. The marquess said that during this time he was paying Mr. or Mrs. Robins sums for the upkeep of the household, ALWAYS TRAVELLED FIRST-CLASS. Mir. Gover: You did not Mint yMraeM with regard to your own personal expenses in any way?—I did to a certain extent. You were constantly travelling to London a.nd elsewhere in good style, first-class ?-Yes. And constantly went to theatres ?-ChiefLY in Brighton; rarely in London. Do you remember any occasion when you refrained from going to a theatre, or luncheon, or up to London from wamt of money?—I do not remember ever going to London except on business. He had dined at the Metropole, Brighton, two or three times. He could not specify the number of times exactly. He often went as a guest. Counsel read from the marquess's diary:- On Monday, January 2, 1905—Went to Lon- don. Lunched at Scott's. Saw Little Black Sambo and Little White Barbara at the Garrick. Took mv eodson. January 3—To London again on business. January 4—Saw Veronique at Brighton. January 9-Tea at a place in Brighton. January 11—Went to London. Lunched Gatti's. Drury Lane, "White Cat," in evening. January 14-Went to the Grand Theatre about seats. Saw Little Red Riding Hood in the afternoon. January 19—Saw .bluebell in Fairyland." -1- I The marquess appeared to oe greatly amused as these items wpre read. BREACH OF PROlllSE EXPENSES. Questioned again with respect to the large sums which he said Mr. Robins had from him, the marquess admitted that a breach of promise action brought against him, but which he won, had cost him a lot for legal expenses and private inquiry agents. There were also premiums on life policies. Even since you came into the title you were anxious to make 4 wealthy marriage in order to restore the family fortunes?—I hoped so. Do you suggest that you entered into your marriage agreement under the influence of Mr. Robins?—Yes. In 1900 he believed the heirlooms were his to do what he liked with, and he had no reason to doubt that Mr. Robins also thought so then. The chirsa, said counsel, further cross- examining, was sent to Worthing by your instructions ? I wrote the instructions. It was not my own idea that it was sent. You received £100 for the sale of some of the articles?—I was shown the cheque. (Laughter.) I had the money, continued the marquess, in a formal way, but never enjoyed it. With regard to the miniatures taken from Raynham, I put it to you that you yourself took these miniatures?—I did not take them. And that it is wholly inaccurate to say that Mr. Robbine took them and put them in his pocket ?—I remember seeing him put them into his pocket without saying any- thing. I questioned him, and he said he admired them so much that he would have them copied for himself, and immediately returned to the hall. I have never seen the miniatures since. The case was again adjourned. The case was again adjourned.

DOWAGER EMPRESS ARRIVES. — MET BY THE KING AND QUEEN AT VICTORIA. The Dowager Empress of Russia arrived at Dover at 11.35 on Wednesday morning on the spewal steamer Empress. Special precau- tions were taken, only officials being allowed on the pier, while members of the press were also excluded. The railway line from the pier was guarded by the civil and military police. All the bridges were also guarded. Lord Hersehell, Sir Oondie SteP-, Mar- quess Camden, and the Russian Ambassador were on the Admiralty Pier to meet her Majesty. The journey across Channel was a rough one, snow falling heavily. The train left for London at 1150, a.nd the impress reached Victoria, at 1-58, where she was received by the King. Queen Alexandra, ijirteess Victoria, the Prince and Princess of Wales, Princess Louise, and the Duke of Argyll. Tne King and Queen greeted the Empress most affectionately. The King kissed the Empress on each cheek, and she returned the salutation. His Majesty also bent low ana kissed her hand. Other members of the Roval Family having welcomed the Royal visitor. a. series of pre- to^>k Place. The Royal party then to B>»-kinebam Palace for luncheon. were taken at Vioto™* dena £ tur« ? utmoet Possible privacy. The arrival Tkin5 tfQrm was converted into an to In ^tform- and was absolutely, dosed Yard tho^o^m representatives of Scotland a.rd, thOSe 'OffiCia.LlY concerned in the recep- tion, and the holders of permits signed hy the railway authorities or the Russian Embassy. A large section of th* platform was covered with red carpet, and barriers were erected around the space reserved for the Xing and Queen and the other members of the Royal Family. The route from the station to Buckingham Palace was lined throughout by the police. The public loudly cheered the Royal party. The Empress spent the greater part of the afternoon and eveniftg quietly resting at Buckingham Palace. In the evening a banquet, was given in her honour at the Palace. The King and Queen and the Prince and Princess of Wales and other members of the Royal Family were present, and invitations were issued to the Russian Ambassador, the Foreign Secretary, representatives of the Government and Oppo- sition, and others. It is probable that a con- siderable part of the Empress's English holi- day will be spent in London.

FEWER VACCINATIONS. ALARMING POSITION IN CARDIFF UNION.' The application of the vaccination officers for a revision of their emoluments in conse- quence of the anticipated fall in the numbar of vaccinations following the new legislation to enable conscientious objectors to obtain their certificates more easily, was considered by the vaccination committee of the Cardiff Guardians on Tuesday. The Clerk (Mr. A. J. Harris) reported as to the decrease in the vaccination and registra- tion fees because of the increase in the num- ber of exemptions grpited. It was resolved to put the question on the agenda for the next meeting. Some interesting figures were supplied by th* clerk to show that from January to June, 1907, there were 2,853 births in the city. Eight cases were uneusceptible to vaccina- tion, there were 42 "conscientious objectors," 190 infante died unvaccinated. 62 cases were postponed, 190 removed out of the district and were untra-d, and 264 were unaccounted for. There wero 89 exemptions granted during 1907. The Chairman (Mr. R. Sutherland) said that they got as many exemptions now in a month 80S they did before in a year. The same thing was happening all over the oountry.

PUBLICANS' DIFFICULTIES APPRECIATED BY PONTYPRIDD STIPENDIARY. The adjourned brewster sessions were held at Pontypridd on Wednesday, the stipen. diary (Mr. A. Lewis) presiding. 'I ne Stipendiary announced that the bench had decided to renew all licences in cases where the only objection raised was that the house had been once convicted during the past year. He (the stipendiary) quite appreciated the difficulty which licence- holders experienced, and one conviction, it was regarded, should not jeopardise the licence, as the offence would have been suffi- ciently purged by the fine. He, however, hoped that licence-holders who had been convicted would take warning and conduct their houses more carefully in the future. The following were referred for compensa- tion on the ground of the congested charac- ter of the area involved: —Salmons Arms, Tonteg; Colliers' Arms, Church Village; Railway Inn, Llantwit Vardre; Greyhoftnd Inn, Tonteg; Half-way House, Dinas, and the Prince of Ora,, Dinas; while the licence of the Caesar's Arms, Pentyrch, was reduced to six days A renewed application was refused for a licence for the Coronation Hotel, Ton Pentre. Application for a licence for a pffoposed hotel a.t Tonyrefail was also refused.

OLDEST LICENSED HOUSE IN SWANSEA.. At the licensing sessions held at Swansea on Tuesday an application was made by Mr. Gaskell on behalf of Mr. Wagstaff for sanc- tion for extensive alterations and improve- ments to the Cross Keys Public-house, St. Mary-street, which was stated to be the oldest existing licensed house in Swansea. It was the property of Sir John Llewelyn. The plane were approved.

BURGLARY iAT PENARTH. A burglary has taken place at the house of Mr. Terry, Cwrt-y-vil-road, Ponarth.1 Entrance was effected from the dining- room by forcing the catch of the window. A visit was then paid t> the front bedroom, where the thieves took a considerable quantity of jewellery, including two lady's gold bangles, a gold necklace, and several gold rings. A cash-box containing silver and a few farthings waa also taken. The police waro communicated with, amd axe making active inguisieh

DISASTER AT A SCHOOL. « PANIC FOLLOWS A FIRE. YOUNG CHILDREN PERISH. HEARTRENDING SCENE OF RESCUE. One hundred and seventy-eight (some returns put the number of deaths at 165, with twenty fatally injured) children, with at least two teachers, were burnt to death at a public elementary school at Lake View, North Collingwood, Cleve- land, Ohio, 0,11 Wednesday. The main doors opened inwards, and when the fire broke out the frantic chil- dren broke beyond control and choked the exits. The back doors were locked, and the passages were soon piled up with masses of the dead and dying. When the doors were finally burnt from their fastenings piles of twisted, blackened corpses, flame covered, tumbled into the street. The teachers made heroic but futile efforts to stay the panic, and two at least sacrificed their lives in vain. Outside the school the scene was one long agony. Strong men wept and women were frenzied, for they saw through the windows many of their little ones die before their eyes, while they themselves were utterly powerless to help. The very deeps of human sorrow were reached, and the stories given below of heroic mothers paint the pathos and despair of the scene in lurid colours. The fire originated in an overheated furnace. CAUGHT IN A TRAP. CLEVELAND, Ohio, Thursday. The doors of the school opened inward, and the one at the back was locked. To this fact must be attributed the awful holocaust which ensued. A hundred and sixty-five blackened and twisted little bodies lie at the morgue and thirteen are missing. It is believed they are buried beneath the wreckage close at hand. There are many others in hospitals hover- ing between life and death, and some, who are not so seriously injured. One hundred and eight bodies have been identified, but the remainder are shockingly mutilated arms, legs, and heads being miss- ling. Hardly one family in the vicinity of Collmg- wood has escaped bereavement. The scenes at the morgue were most pathetie, especially when mothers and fathers recognised fragments of human ity by means of some scrap of clothing still adhering to the body. The screams of broken-hearted women were continually heard, and strong men wept in despair. DIED BEFOIRE MT EYES. The most harrowing tales are told of the struggles of little ones to reach' a place uf safety. Mrs. Sprung reached the school when the firrt floor was a mass of flames. At one of the windows she saw the face of her son pleading for help. Rushing across the street, the woman returned with a step-ladder and, climbing it. reached the boy and caught him by his hair, which, however, was burnt off in her hands, and the lad fell backwards and perished in the flames. Mrs. Phillips said: — I found my daughter arpong the crowd penned round the front door, and ca-ught her by the bands, but could not pull the child out. I reached in and stroked her hair, trying to keep the fire away from her. I remained until a heavy piece of glass nearly cut off my hand. Then I fell bactk, my child dying before my eyes. WEE THINGS PLEAD. Mise Gollmar, one of the teachers, declares she will never forget the wee things holding out their tiny arms and pleading for help. When the alarm bell rang, she started her pupils marching out. When they reached the front stairB they were confronted by a solid wall of fire, and forced to retreat. The panic- stricken ohildiren choked the staircase. Miss Gollman rushed to the door a.t the baok, hoping to help those who were near the door. She found that the children eo choked tne passage that she could not extricate a single one. "Those behind" (she says) "pushed forward, and, as I stood there, the little ones piled themselves upon one another. Some stretched out their arms to me, but I could not assist them, and the flames quickly covered them all/ The most horrible scene occurred when the back door fell outwards, under the weight of the children behind, revealing a pile of white- faced struggling little ones. The flames immedia.tely swept over the passage way, ajid out a.t the door, enveloping the children. Many women who were watching the scene fell fainting with horror. Miss Weiler, a teacher, perished while stand- ling amidst her pupils, evidently urging them to keep order and not to crowd. Misa Fiske, another teacher, died while trying to escort the children to the fire- escape.—Press Association Foreign Special. PATHOS AND DESPAIR. The corpses are laid out in long rows, a.nd the work of identification is still proceeding. The sights witnessed surpass description in their utter pathos afflid despair, and it is feared that in many cases insanity will follow on the frightful mental strain to which the fathers and mothers of the dead children have been subjected. The town is in a state of mourning, and every shop is closed. It is stated that the locked doors, which were primarily the cause of the disaster, were not finally burst oprti by the rescuers, as at first reported, but remained immovable almost to the end. Then they collapsed with a loud crash, and the heap of piled-up corpses tumbled out into the street in view of the half-frenzied crowd. THE DEATH-ROLL. The work of extricating the dead bodies is now almost completed, a.nd only six bodies are unaccounted for. The victims number 165, but a large number of the children rescued are so terribly burnt or mutilated that it is estimated that at least twenty more victtms will be added to this total. It is impossible to identify many of the poor little victims, and in numerous cases children have been recognised through some portion of their clothing, or more often by gome small article, such as a knife or other plaything, wihich the all-endeavouring element I was unable to destroy. The majority of the children on the top floor were quite small, and to this is attri- buted the fact that the majority of the vic- tims are aged between seven and nine. Three teachers are badly injured. teachers are badly injured. More than a score of the victims were killed by leaping from the windows, though a goodly number escaped unharmed by the help of blankets and mattresses held out by those below. A much larger number would have been saved had not the floors collapsed. Wheu this happened scores of unfortunate little creatures could be seen orowded round the windows, on to which the firemen maintained a steady stream of water. ALL OVER IN 30 MINUTES. The entire building was consumed in a little oyer thirty minutes, and the fierceness of the fire precluded any work being done with the ladders, though a few were rescued by this means from the lower floors. It is not denied that the piled up mass of bodies behind prevented the locked doors being opened, but proper work with axes would have brought down the doors in a few minutes. The scenes witnessed during the brief period of the tragedy were of a terrible nature, the efforts of parents to rescue their own little ones regardless of the sufferings of those around them being horrible to witness- One pathetic incident may be cited. A poor womaff, forcing her way through the crowd, cried out that she saw her child- at a window. The window was only a few feet above the ground, but in the opening was piled nearly a score of children, most of them dead from suffocation. The frenzied mother mounted upon a ladder, and, seizing the hair of her child, whose head was just visible under the mass of bodies, pulled with al her strength to release the poor little creature. But the flames were now leaping all round, and a fork- shot out and burned off the child's hair. The woman fell back into the road with some tresses still in her hand, receiving in her fall severe injuries, and the child was never seen again. Many parents lost all their offsprings. The school janitor's three children were killed.—-Central News. An Exchange message states that 165 bodies have been recovered. Six children are miss- ing, twenty are expected to die, and two teachers perished. DEATH-ROLL INCREASING. In all 178 lives are believed to have been lost in the terrible fire at Lake View School, Collingwood, yesterday. The majority of the victims were aged from six to fourteen. Three hundred pupils attended the school, and of these only 80 escaped uninjured. PREVIOUS DISASTERS. The following are a few of the most de- structive fires in recent times: — Ring Theatre, Vienna, Dec. 8. 1881 447 1' Opera Comique. Paris, May 25, 1887 131 Theatre Royal, Exeter, Sept. 5, 1887. 127 The Theatre, Oporto, March 31, 1888. 1-70 Charity Bazaar, Paris, May 4. 1897 130 Iroquois Theatre, Chicago, Dec. 30, 1903 557 Boyerstown Theatre, Pennsylvania, Jan. 13, 1908 150

LASCARS' QUARREL AT CARDIFF. + WOULD BE PEACEMAKER STABBED. A serious stabbing affray of a nature seldom met with even in a port like Cardiff, where seamen of all nations are to be found, took place at the Cardiff Sailors' Home on Wednesday evening. The parties were lascars, who formed part of the crew of the steamship Hydra, and who had been at the Sailors' Home since February 19. Mahomed Reassudullah, the serang, or headman, the only one of the 22 able to speak English, was eo seriously stabbed by one of the others that his life is almoet despa-ired of. The fact that none, of the eye-witnesses could speak English made it an extremely difficult task to unravel the story, or even to accurately obtain the names of the parties to the un- fortunate affair. The best account of what happened is, probably, that of one of the officials of the Sailors' Home. In the course of an inter- view with one of our representatives he said:—"The 22 men forming the lascar crew of the steamship Hydra were brought to the Sailors' Home on February 19 to await transfer to another steamer, or pending arrangements for their conveyance home. The Cardiff representatives for the steamer were Messrs. Trechmann, Carrksk, and Co., and upon the remova.1 of the lascars their places were taken by white sailors. "The lascars, as is customary with men of this kind, were housed apart in a large hall, surrounded by the usual sleeping bunks, on the upper floor. They were in charge of their serang, or headman, who managed the affairs of the whole crew. Thus the officers of the Sailors' Home knew very little of the lodgers occupying this part of the build- ing beyond the fact that they behaved in the usual quiet and seemly manner in which the men of this race usually do. "HEARD A PECULIAR SOUND." "Their stay at the home had been unevent- ful until Wednesday evening. Shortly after four o'clock I was in the inner office, when I heard a peculiar sound, some- thing like a muffled groan. I could not understand it, and then, hearing a further noise like a scuffle, I went to the lascars' quarters. Here I saw the serang lying on the floor, bleeding profusely, and several lascars endeavouring to wrest a large single-bladed clasp-knife, which was bloodstained, from one of their number. I spoke to the man, and he quietly gave up the knife to me, and I then called the super- intendent, steps being taken to do every- thing possible for the wounded man, who was evidently very badly hurt. I sent for Dr: Chave. and within a few minutes, first Dr. Walker (Dr. Chave's assistant), and then Dr. Chave himself, were on the spot. The police were next called, and Police-constable Price was fetched from the James-street crossing. Upon his arrival the alleged assailant, Abdul Moizdn, aged 25, who had in the meantime been locked in one of the rooms, was arrested. The doctors did all that was possible for the injured man, and ordered his removal to the Royal Hamadryad Seamen's Hospital, where he was conveyed in a cab by the constable. The alleged assailant was then removed to the Bute- street Police-station." ACTING AS PEACEMAKER. Owing to the inability of the men to speaii English, there was a great deal of difficulty In finding what happened. It appears, how- ever, that two of the lascars were qtjarrol- ling when the serang interfered. Moizdn made signs that he waa hit on the head by the serang. In consequence of this, it is alleged that the accused drew his knife and stabbed the eerang in the ear. SERIOUSNESS OF THE INJURIES. Dr. Whelan, who is in charge of the Hama dryad Hospital, in describing the nature of the wound said it was ot a most serious nature. It extended from the'left ear to the throat, outting the carotid artery and caus- ing the serang to lose a very large quantity of blood from the ear and the throat. But for the promptness of the arrival of Dr. Walker, the man would quickly have bled to death, as expert medical knowledge was required to deal with a wound of this nature. As soon as possible after the man's reception an operation was performed, and he was made as comfortable as poseible under the circumstances, but his condition was still moot precarious. POLICE COURT BROCEEDINGS. At Cardiff on ThurardaiT (before the Stipen- diary Magistrate, Mr. T. W. Lewis) Abdui Mod j dm, 25, was charged with attempting to kill and murder Mahomed Reaseudallah bj cuittimg him on the head with a knife at t^^tors' Home, Cardiff, on Wednesday .Prisoner was both slight and short. The witnesses were sworn on the Koran. Their evidence in Hindustani was inter- preted. One of the men said that about 4.20 the prisoner and a number of others were in the sitting-room at the Sailors' Home, when the serang asked prisoner to go and em);)ty a bucket of ashes. Prisoner refused, and told the serang to do it, suggesting that it was his work. Subsequently the serang pushed prisoner by the arm and said, "You must do it." The serang stood back a bit. Prisoner put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a. knife and stabbed the serang by the aide of the left ear. The serang fell. One of the other men held the prisoner and took the knife from him, and he was held until the police came. The big knife produced was the one used. At this stage the Stipendiary ordered an adjournment until three o'clock. Witness, continuing his evidence, after the adjournment, contradicted the story as to the refusal of prisoner to shift the bucket of ashes, at the behest of the serang. "I am in, the Sailors' Rome now," said accused, "and not on board ship." "Never mind," was the serang's rejoinder; "you must do it; it is your job." Then prisoner produced the knife and stabbed the serang, and the weapon was taken from him, and he was forcibly held until the police came and took him away. Prisoner made vehement ejaculations to indicate that he wished to say something and the Stipendiary assured him that wheii the case was completed he would have every opportunity. His Worship (to Superintendent Hayward) This is as far as you are able to proceed to-day, Superintendent Hayward?-It is, stir. Prisoner was then remanded for a week. SERANG'S DEPOSITIONS TAKEN. Mr. W. T. Lewis, the Cardiff stipendiary. aid Mr. Nash, magistrates' clerk, went to th Seaman's Hospital during the adjourn- ment of the police-cioTirt on Thursday, and tool4 the injured man's depositions. He was able to give his statement through an inter- preter, which was taken down by Mr. Nash I

STOP PRESS. =; -1 t ,nA.~ V SEDUCTION OF LICECES: OFFICIAL FIGURES. Official statistic &how that on January 1, 1907, there were in Jtogland and Wales 97,554 premises licensed by justices for the tY"le of intoxicating liquor for consump- tion on or off the premises, and 25,143 premises licensed for sale for conaumption off the promises. In the year 1906-7 the number of on licences was reduced liy 1,300. For the y(i;tr 1907 the decrease will probably prove to have been about 2,010, or an annual average for the three years since the Act of 1904 came into operation of about, 1,310. I

MEN IN A BLAZING PIT. t TWENTY-TWO MINERS IN GRAVE PERIL, r A serious fire broke out on Wedncedlay night at Hamstead Colliery, near Birming- ham. < The fire is located at the bottom of the mainshoft, and it is stated that 22 men are in the pit. Probably there is sufficient air to last 24 hours. A few years ago the colliery was entirely, stopped owing to an underground fire, and nearly a thousand men were thrown out of employment. Only on Saturday the under- ground manager was killed by a fall of earth while spraying water on an over-heated coal surface. A message on Thursday states that the pii. is like a raging furnace.. A WEARY VIGEL. The Press Association Birmingham corres- pondent, in a later message, says that throughout the night large numbers of people waited at the pit-head in the hope of gain- ing some news of the entombed miners, but so far not a sound has come from below. beyond the occasional ringing of the electric bell, which, it is thought, is cause4 by falls of earth somewhere in the workings. About 30 men originally deeoended. but when the fire broke out nine of them managed to get through the smoke to the edge, and were drawn up. A further attempt is to be made to enter the workings. There are plenty of men ready to risk their lives in making the attempt. OFFICIAL STATEMENT. On Thursday the following official state- ment was issued:— All we know is that the fire originated at or near the bottom of the downcast shaft from some cause at present unknown. There are 21 men down the pit. We we unable to reach the bottom of the down- cast shaft on account of the volume of smoke. We have been to the bottom of the upcast shaft two or three times, but he have not been able to reach any of the men at present owing to the air being unbearable. We are, however, now taking steps to con- fine the smoke with the idea that the a.ir will become less obnoxious, and that we shall be able to reach the men. TWO MEN BROUGHT UP. Two men have just been brought op in. semi-conscious condition. They had endeavoured to make their way from the bottom of the shaft into the dense smoke, but were overcome, and had to be carried back and brought to bank. Both, however, have recovered. They had managed to shut some of the doors to prevent the smoke finding its way into, the workings. It is hoped the imprisoned men will have made their way into the mine, and that they will be able to sustain themselves until they cam be reached. Doctors and ambulance men are in atten- dance ready for any emergency. Mr. Waterhouse, in a conversation, said he was hopeful of being able to reach the imprisoned men, but no one could esti- mate the extent of the fire. He attributed the outbreak to gross carelessness on the part of some one. From what he could ascertain a fire occurred in the candle-box, and it was probable that the flames spread to other boxes of candles, and set the pit timbering on fire. There were a number of expe colliers among the men. and they would make most of any means otf safety that were available. THE BARRIER OF SMOKE. RESCUE PA&TY AWAITING SPECIAL APPARATUS. As the day proceeds hopes of rescuing the 21 entombed colliers become less strong. No steps are left unturned to reach them, but efforts are frustrated by dense smoke. The rescue party are now anxiously ing the arrival of a special apparatus, which nas been telegraphed for to Barnaley and Northampton. It is saad to consist of a head- piece with a supply of oxygen, and wearm* this, it is believed it will be possible for a man to penetrate the smoke garner. The last rescue party which descended took with them a bird in a cage, but whon withia a few yards of the bottom of the shaft the bird showed signs of collapse, and the me were soon reluctantly forced to retire When previous attempts were made the men were able not only to reach the bottom, but to proceed a few yards into the workings, ana the experience of the last party tends tO show that the fire is spreading- The workings extend for a mile and & hail in one direction and a mile in another, and it is hoped that the colliers have made tnedx way into the distance-where the air is purer. The majority of the entombed men are Tiilf- ried.

FORGED "PROMISSORY NOTE, + PENAL SERVITUDE IN THE PEMBROKESHIRE CASE. Before the recorder (Sir forrest Pulton) at the Central Criminal Court on Tuesday Cadwallader Edwards (45), a tall, well-dressed man, of no occupation or fixed address, pleaded guilty to indictments charging him with having personated Mr. J. F. Lort Phillips with the object of obtaining £ 1,000, with forging that gentleman's name to a promissory note for LI,000, and obtaining. sum of E750 from Mr. Mark Wolfe. trading as J. King, in Cork-street, W. Mr. Curtis Bennett, who prosecuted, said the prisoner, had been guilty of a bold and audacious fraud. Towards the end of January he sent a letter from Pembrokeshire signed "J. F. Lort Phillips," who was high- sheriff of Pembrokeshire and a landed gentle- man. asking for a loan of £ 1,000. On January 27 a telephone call came to the offioe, and Mr. Wolfe spoke on the wire to the man, who said he was Mr. Lort Phillips, and asked for an appointment at the Great Western Hotel. That evening the prisoner called upon Mr. Wolfe, and, personating Mr. Phillips, said he was about to start to San Remo and was temporarily short of money. His income, he said, was £15.000 a year, and his wife had an income double that amount. He added that he vu high-sheriff for Pembrokeshire, and Minted two packs of hounds an4 owned practically the whole of Haverfordwest. It was arranged that a sum of C750 should be advanced on the prisoner signing a promissory note foi .Cl.DDO, to be, paid in two instalments. Priso- ner signed the note in the name of Mr. Lort Phillips, and was given a cheque for £ 750, which he cashed. Before the cheque was given him he promised to write out a. small cheque on a Welsh bank to establish his identity. Two days later, as the cheque did not come to hand, Mr. Wlolfe wrote to Mr. Lort Phillips, and then the fraud was discovered. To show the man's audacity, he went to Mr. Levine, of Old Bond-street, and induced that gentleman to draw a cheque for El,ODD, which he crossed and marked "Not negotiable." It was pre- sented to an Ostend bank, but was not paid. Detective-inspector IJowen, speaking of the man's antecedents, said he was by birth and education a gentleman, but his wife divorced him some years ago. He gave way to drink. and had fallen from bad to worse, till he had become a criminal. There was a pre- vious conviotion against the prisoner, with five years' penal servitude for forgery. The Recorder: Is the prisoner related in any way to Mr. Tort Phillips? Counsel: The only way in which he ss related is that he married- the half-sister of Mr. Lort Phillips, but she divorced him. The Recorder, in passing a sentence of five years' penal servitude, said it was clear that the prisoner had made up his mind to lead a criminal life. "In. adtlition to having broken the law," the Recorder remarked. "you have brought discredit upon your order."

SOCIETY MARRIAGE. t CAPTAIN VAUGHAN AND MISS LISTER-KA YE. Westminster Cathedra.1 wis the scene of a. fashiona-ble wedding on Tuesday, the con- tracting parties being Captain Vaugha-n (eon of Oolonel Vaughan, of Courtfield, Hereford- shire) and Miss Florence Lister-Kaye, the niece of the Duke of Newcastle. There was a. large gathering at the cathedral of the Roman Catholic aristocracy, while a, number of working people from the East and South- east of London, in which districts the bride is well known on account of her charitable work, were assembled in the vicinity of the grand entrance and heartily veered the bride and bridegroom. The bride was given J"wa.y by her uncle, Sir John Lister-Kaye The marriage ceremony was performed by Father John Vaughan, assisted by Dr. Hetbert Vaughan. Father Bernard Vaughan delivered the sermon. Subsequently a reception was held at the Rjtz Hotel, where the many valuable presente of which the bride and the bride- groom were the recipients were on view.

ENGINEERS' BALLOT. The Manchester Dispatch" states the fol- lowing are tbe figures of the engineers' ballot For accepting Mr. Lioyd George's terms 2,699 Against 5,481 Majority against ".m. i X > 4