Weekly Mail

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LOAN ON MORTGAGE DEED. + AGENT AND THE SIGNATURE OF A LADY. Before the Hatfield magistrates on Wednes- day Sidney Broughton Pope, la,te of North Mimms, was brought up from prison charged with obtaining from J-fr. Hugh Lerrmitte a banker's cheque for £ 650 by means of a forged instrument. There were also a num- ber of similar charges preferred against the Prisoner. The accused has already been for triai at the assizes in a case in which lie is alleged to have forged the name of Mr. L. Harcourt, his Majesty's First Commissioner of Works. Mr. Travers Humphreys prosecuted for the Treasury, and in opening the first case said that about the end of 1906 Pope went to Mr. Lermitte and told him that Mrs. Gaussen, of Brookrnan's Park, North Mimics, wished to raise money on the timber on her estate and On the rents of certain cottages. He said she wa,s prepared to pay 6 per cent., and re- Day a loan of £65ù by quarterly payments of £50, and to pay £ 200 at a fixed date. Mr. Lermitte agreed to lend the money, and about November 21, 1906. a cheque was sent to the defendant for £65{), and in return he pafcducod what purported to be a mortgage by Mrs. Gaussen for that amount signed in the presence of Pope. There was a failure to ro-ptay the £ 200 on the day agreed, and it was suggested that Mrs. Gaussen's trus- tees should mak-a themselves responsible. Tile mortgage deed having been, sent back to Pope, he returned it bearing the signa- tures of Mrs. Gaussen and bar three trustees. As a matter of fact, the whole thing from beginning to end was bogus, and the money Went int-o Pope's hands and newer came out of them. Mrs. Gaussen did not sign the mort- gage, she did not have the money, and she did not authorise the defendant to obtain the money. Mr. Travers Humphreys next opened acaee Concerning Mr. John Spencer, a solicitor in the fan of Spencer, Chapman, and 00.. of Southampton-street, Bloomsbury- fcquare, London. In 1903 the defendant *"ae articled to him, a-nd told him that he had a friend called Cecil Arthur Harper, a Bom of the late General Harper, who lived near Manchester, and altogether the Prisoner, it is alleged, obtained £1,000 from the firm. Another case opened by Mr. Humphreys one in which the accused was charged ^ith obtaining money by false pretences from Mrs. Burns, of the North Minims Estate, vrhose agent he was at an annual of .t260. After evidence had been called Pope was COInmitted for trial aft the Herts Assizes on all the charges.

DTNAMITE OUTRAGE ON A SHIP. ■ DEATII SENTENCE PASSED i C • AT COPENHAGEN. was passed at Copenhagen on c<w a.T in the c^se of the men charged with thfi 'ty in dynamite outrage aboard kulk Amalthea at Malrnoe on July 12, ei k an attempt was made to blow up eIghty British labourers engaged in loading and discharging ships during a strike there, ne of them, W. Close, of Hull, being killed n the explosion. Two of the prisoners, Nilsaon and Rosberg, were oomdemnod to death. Of the others Stern was sentenced to penal servitude for life, Anderson and Reimer to six months' hard labour, and Nathalie Malmstroem to a fine of a hundred kroner, which, however, yas not exacted in view of the preliminary imprisonment undergone by the accused. In a charge of stealing the dynamite with •which the outrage was committed prisoner Joenaseu was ordered two months' hard labour. Nilsson, Eosberg, and Stern were further rdered to pay a sum of £ 450 damages to Mrs. Close, widow of the murdered British ^Q-bonrer. Prisoners in their defence con-tended that they had no intention of committing inuraer, but had merely wished to frighten the Englishmen. They also denied the' existence of a plo-t,-Reuter. —

A FATHER'S DELUSION. CHARGED WITH SHOOTING A DOCTOR. At Torquay on Monday M. Pierre Zouba- loff was charged on remand with the attempted murder of Dr. Hazeton Cumming, Of Overton, Torquay, on July 26. The accused's solicitor applied to the bench that. with the consent of prosecutor, the proceedings might be withdrawn. It was Unusual, he said, but quite permissible. The ."n Home Office had intimated that, provided cer- tain safeguards that would protect, not only Dr. Cumming, but also the public, were taken, they would consent. M. Zoubaloff's lnind was undoubtedly unhinged at the time of his attack on Dr. Gumming. He was under ml' the delusion that Dr. Cnmming premeditated ill to his child, and. thinking he had a duty to perform, he shot him. M. Zoubaloff made no concealment of his intentions, and even now considered himself Quite justified in what he had done. After medical witnesses had been heard the application was adjourned.

TRAMCAR IN COLLISION. MOTORMAN INJURED IN SWANSEA ACCIDENT. A rather serious collision between a tram- Car and a wagon occurred on the Brynhyfryd action of the Swansea. system on Wednes- ~a7 evening. The tram-line passes near the CWmfeliu Tin-plate Works, and between four and five o'clock a wagon, heavily laden with Jin-plates, was leaving the works. It entered the roadway as a trame-ar wns approaching, f^d for some reason or other neither of the vehicles could be brought to a standstill, 6r,d they came into violent collision. The ^■otormau was struck, and the front part of ■i«e car smashed. The motorman, Lewis ■"overman, was taken to the hospital in the f^otor-ambulance, having received internal Juries which necessitated his detention. Juries which necessitated his detention.

EX-PHYSICIAN'S TICKET-OF- LEAVE. At Bow-street, London, on Wednesday, the a«istrato ordered the removal to Warwick t>h°^ Thomas Millerchip (58), an cx- ^J-sician, his ticket-of-leave having: been cTv«ked. -.Hsp^tor Dew stated that prisoner was ■y-fceed to S'even years' penal servitude a.t 03r*'iek in 1905 for attempting ail illegal juration, and was released last Jaaiuary of ill-health. ^^ace his release, however, the prisoner, ^Vas eLru<k off tlle register, had been tending many women and children, and fc&st su^C3tion having been made with to a woman named Vv'ood or Betisy tv.01^, who died, the Home Secretary had ^Sht fit to revoke his licence. «L.ma STiiStrate dwlined to he.atr WIly rwior explaoation by the prisoner. ld

| MODERATOR'S ILLNESS. 1 T. J. Whcldon, ex-modorator of ritj^ "°lsh Calvinistic Methodist Assembly, ^as I>astor of Tabernacle Chapel, Bangor, 1 another and more severe pa-ralytic am which has left him practically |W ^wileaa and

MRS. J. B. JOEL AND ALLEGED BLACKMAILERS.-Page 7. 0

OBDURATE LADY WITNESS. ♦ DECLINES TO ANSWER THE REGISTRAR. At Greenwich Bankruptcy-oourt on Tuesday the public examination in bankruptcy of Mr. Theophilus William Williams was resumed. Mr. Williams was formerly mayor of the Metropolitan borough of Dewieham, chairman of the old Lewisham Board of Works, a member of the London County Council for the Lewisham electoral area, and chairman of the Kentish Måil" Newspaper, Printing, and Publishing Company, having offioes in Deptford Broadway. He resides at Nigel- road, Foffest Gate. The proceedings on Tuesday took place before Mr. C. J. Treadwell, the deputy- registrar, and were conducted by M. Llewellyn Howell, the official receiver. Mr. Toorqar appeared for the trustee in connec- tion with the estate of Miss Dexter, the debtor's sister-in-law. At the last sitting Mr. Williams informed the court by letter that his wife was dangerously ill and on the point of death. Since the adjournment Mrs. Williams's death had taken place. Debtor alleged that he had not met with proper treatment from the official receiver. He further alleged that every obstacle had' been placed in his way by that official, and that he was being made the victim of a technical objection. The Registrar: There is the question of accounts, which you have beon ordered t<" i file and have not filed. Debtor: Yes, I have an answer to that. On the last occasion the official receiver said he refused to accept my statement, as I had inserted the word memory." The Eregistrar: That statement was amended. Debtor: No. One of my complaints is that the official receiver is misleading the court. That word "memory" was put in precisely I by me because of my defective memory. I called him a coward because of his treatment of my sister-in-law. He then said The Registrar: I cannot hear that. Mr. Williams. You have no reason for such a statement. That is not my view of the matter. The debtor then left the witness-box, and Miss Dexter was called and sworn, the Official Receiver proceeding to question her as follows: Your name is Miss Esther Anne Dexter? Have you been living under the roof of the debtor?" Witness: I deoline to answer any questions. The Official Receiver: During the last few weeks I have received a number of letters from YOlU, Were these letters framed by Mr. Williams ? The question was not answered. The Official Reoeiver: Were the contents of tho6e letters suggested by Mr. Williams? The Witness: I decline to answer. The Official Receiver: I will put the ques- tion .again. Mr. Williams (who had taken a seat at the solicitors' table): The lady says she declines to answer. The Registrar requested the witness to answer the question he put to her, but she doolined to do no, whereupon the JEtegistrar said, Th«re xn&y be aa unjpleaaagrt duty which I may have to perform." The OfHoial Receiver: I will put the ques- tion again. The Witness: I decline to answer any ques- tions. The Official Receiver: Your statement of affairs contains the name of only one credi- tor, Well don's Trustees, JM: Will you teL me if that is a true statement o>f yæUH position? THe Witness: I decline to answer. Official Heeeiwr: And any asserts? The Witness: I decline to answer. The Official Heeeiwr: And any asserts? The Witness: I decline to answer. The Registrar: You have said. Miss Dexter, that you decline to answer any questions tha.t may be pait to you. In spite of the official receiver having put to you perfectly reasonable questions, you have only repeated that you decline to answer. Will you explain to the court what is the reason of this extra- ordinary action on your part? Witness: I have been most shamefully treated, and my letters have been opened, + lne to answer questions that are piix to m-e. The Registrar: The oo<urt has every right in its discretion to open letters, and I cannot accept your statement that you have been treated otherwise than properly. The proceedings then terminated.

UNEMPLOYED RAID. 4 TWO ATTEMPTS TO RUSH A WORKHOUSE. Three thousand unemployed, at a, meeting in Manchester on Tuesday, discussed whether they should approach the Lord Mayor, pro- ceed to turn out of their houses the bailiffs who were alleged to be in possession there, or raid the Manchester Workhouse. They decided on the last course, and walked in detached groups to the workhouse. The police were present in force just before them, and when an ugly rush was made they succeeded in cloeing the. doors. A second rush was made, with no more success. Eventually the officials of the union con- sented to receive a deputation, and the men were informed that each case which, had claims on the Manchester Union would be considered. This decision had a pacifying effect, and the men left the workhouse to hold another meeting. It is stated that the growth of the number of unemployed and their co-operation iA becoming a serious source of danger in the city. £ 2,000 FOR RELIEF WORK. Coventry City Council on Tuesday put in operation the Unemployed Act. and decided to spend £ 2,000 out of current income on new works, so as to find immediate employ- ment, and also an increased amount to be spent on providing free meals for school- children. It was stated that there were 3,000 local men out of work.

A MOTHER'S KISS. BOY BRINGS A CHARGE OF ASSAULT. A boy of eleven summoned his mother at Leeds for assault by kissing him. The woman and her husband had been living apart for some years. She visited the school the boy attended, saw him in the playground, threw her arms round his neok and kissed him. The boy declared that she gave him "a good shaking," and said, "Kiss your mother, love." Mr. Willey (for the defendant): A more cruel, unfounded charge was never con- cocted by a husband against his wife. A common assault for kissing her boy! A witness said the defendant nipped her arm round the boy's neck, and gave him such a kiss! She seemed vV7 glad to see hen- lad." T!he Magistrate dismfoaed the eraranoDS,

A CHEQUERED LIFE. ♦ DEATH OF THE COUNTESS RUSSELL. Mabel Countess Russell died on Tuesday morning at Maideniiea-d. The cieetaeed was, the daughter of Sir Claude Edward Scott. She had been suffering from consumption for three months at her residence, Br-Ay Lawn, Maidenhead. Lady Soott was with her daughter during her illness. In 1890 the deceased la,dy married Earl Russell, son of the famous Lord John Russell. In 1891, and again shortly afterwards, she unsuccessfully eued his lords.hip in the iDdvorce Court. In 1900 the earl formed an acquaintance with a married woman, named Marion (or Mollie) Somerville (nee Cooke), and in America they each obtained a. divorce f om their respective wife and husband, and then went through the form of marriage with each other according to the laws of the State of Nevada. On returning to England they were presently divorced from their former ties by English law, the earl paying £ 1,500 damages to Mr. Somerville. Mabel Lady Russell subsequently went on the stage. ,eppearin.g in such musical comedies as "The Runaway Girl." Five years ago the country heard of the countess's marriage with a coachman's son, named William Brown, who was described in the marriage certificate as Archibald Stuart de Modena. In the same year the countess obtained a divorce from Brown.

YOUNG ARCHITECT'S SUCCESS Amongst the prizes offered for competition at the recent eisteddfod at Llangollen was one of X7 78. for the beat design for a public library to cost £ 2,000. The award. has just been announced, the winner being Mr. Lionel MR. L. W. THOMAS. I Wilioughby Thomas, son of Mr. A. Willoughby Thomas, of Dinas Powis. Mr. Thomas is articled to Messrs. Teather and Wtlson. the well-known Cardiff architects, and seeing that he is only eighteen years of ase, and that the competition was open to Welshmen and all resident in Wales, he is to be heartily congratulated upon his suc- cess. cess.

MAURETANIA IN A STORM ALARMING EXPERIENCES OF THE PASSENGERS. The Mauretania, which was delayed for a. day off Sandy Hook through fog, dooked it Now York at noon on Saturday, and the passengers told of thrilling experiences in a storm last Thursday. About midday, when going at twenty knots in a hurricane of sixty miles an hour, one of the bla.des' of the starboard propeller snapped. The engines stopped, the vessel swung broad- side to the seas, and big waves washed over her. Bulkheads were immediately closed, making the ship as watertight as possible. Fourteen stokers were buried under a pile of coal. The corridors and gangways were soon filled with terrified passengers, many in scanty attire. Mr. Griffiths, United States Consul at Liverpool, said the shaking of the ship lasted two minutes. "The sensation is indescribable. It was the I strangest experience I ever had at sea. The ship seemed to sway end, rhalte with a side- wise twist that was very startling. The pas- sengers acted well, and were perfectly cool when the officers came into the crowded saloon to say that the danger was past." Mr. John W. Gates said that the liner pounced up and down, while the shaft raoed as if going to shake apart. The masts bent like willows, and several stays parted.

BISHOPS TRAGIC DEATH. Dr. Ca.rmichael, the Anglican Bishop of liontreaJ, was stricken with heart weakness while preaioihing in the cathedral on Sunday, and died OlD MoTmiay morning.—Renter,

THE PARSIMONIOUS BOSS. MR. HALDANE: That blessed terrier is costing more than I barga-i-ned for! He's waiting a new kefnnell now, but bainged Jf he have it.

-==.: WOMAN'S STRANGE DEATH. 4 HOTEL SERVANT AND THE JOURNALIST. At Wood Green Town-hall on Monday Mr. A. M. Forbes, ooroner for East Middle- sex, resumed the inquiry into the cir- cumstances attending the death of Comfort Webb, aged 56, a single woman, lately living at Buckingham-road, Wood Green, who died at Buckingham-road, Wood Green, who died on September l suddenly under somewhat peculiar circumstaness. At the opening 0f t*ie jnquiry it was shown that the deceased, ^ho lia<j been employed at the Southampton HoteL Swbiton, left her situation in June and went to reside in Wood Green remaining tl'ere for about eleven weeks. On August 31 she called on a gentleman ic the City whom she bad known. She returned hora. and or, the ^Vwin, day died some- hat Dt, Brenmer attributing: death to septic poisoning- At the resumed inqne?t on Monday Ellen Chandler who lodged at Buckingham-road with the deceased. stid the latter told her that a Mr. oiiff, who was in business in the City, had promised her marriage, and that she was very anxious to get married. She pomplained that she felt keenly disappointed because the marriage was frequently post- Poned. She stated to the witness before her dea.th that she had had a fall. kidney Leslie Elphinetone Oliff, of Putney, ^Journalist, of dignified appearance, said he becarU6 acquainted with the deceased, who an interesting girl, in the autumn of 1907, when she was engaged at the South- ampton Hotel. He had never discussed with k + a ^"Ssestion as to her leaving the hotel, out she told him frequently that she did not like Surbiton. He knew she went to Wood Green when she left her situation, this knowledge coming to him, he believed, by a communication from the deceased. He emphatically denied ever having promised her marriage, and said that any suggestion in that connection wa& a pure invention. .Coroner read several telegrams whieh the witness had sent to the deceased having reference to appointments, and witness gave explanations of them. He said that the deceased had expressed a desire to become his housekeeper, but he told her it was quite impossible. Despite that, Ebe continued to bombard him with communica- tions. He admitted that he might have acted somewhat foolishly in his acquaintance with the deceased, but he strongly denied, in reply to the coroner and the, jury, that there was anything improper at any time between the deceased and himself. The Ooroner said that it bad been neosssary, in order to ascertain what might have led up to the woman's death, to ask Mr. Oliff certain questions, to which he bad given a fuU reply, but it Was not for him or anyone else to suggest anything which would cast any slur upon him. The jury returned a verdict that death was due to septic poisoning, adding that there was not sufficient evidence to show how it was caused.

JOURNALIST AND A DRUG. BELIEVED TO HAVE SLEPT 60 HOURS AT A TIME. Mr. Francis D. Thomas held an inquest in London on Monday touohing the death of Gilbert Charles Hutton Wilton, aged 40, a journalist, who was found dead on Sunday night in his room at Temple-chambers, Temple-avenue, where he had resided for some time. Miss Mary Ellen Wilton, sister of the deceased, said her brother wrote novels and contributed to the press. Thomas Robert Russell, house steward at Temple-chambers, said that the deceased used to work very hard and sometimes very late, occasionally staying in his rooms for two or three days at a stretch, leaving word that he was not on any account to be disturbed. He entered his room about ten o'clock on Friday night, and as his door remained locked until Sunday night witness became anxious, and obtained an entrance into the rooms. He found the deceased reclining on the bed, fully dressed, and appa- rently dead. Jennie Bramw., general servant at Temple- chambers, said deceased sometimes would enter his room and remain there for 60 hours at a time, apparently sleeping all the time. Mr. James Kearney, police divisional surgeon, said that the deceased must ha-vei died very slowly. There was no sign of corrosive poisoning. The appearances led him to believe that he had taken veronal, a drug which produced sleep and subsequent depression. The jury returned a verdict of "Death by misadventure."

DEATH OF SARASATE. Senor Pablo Saras&te, the famous violinist, died at the Villa Navarra. at Biarritz on Sunday evening, passing gently away about eight o'clock. Sarasate, who was in his sixty-fifth year, was born at Pampeluna. He made his first appearance in England at the Crystal Palace when he was seventeen years of age, and has since played regularly in all the Con- tinental capitals.—Central News.

X100 NOVELIST. The competition originated by Mr. Fisher Unwin for the prize of 100 guineas for the best "first novel" drew manuscripts from all parts of the world. The winning novel, entitled "The Woman and the Sword," is by Rupert Lorraine, a native of Devonshire.

UNCONSCIOUS ON A CLIFF. t SEARCH FOR THE PREMIERS DAUGHTER. Mueh excitement was caused at Cruden Bay on Saturday evening, says the "Aberdeen Free Press," by the rumour that Miss Violet Asquith, the- Premier's daughter. had fallen over the cliffs near Staines Castle. She bad gone for a walk aleng the braes on Saturday afternoon, and walked to the north of the oastle. She returned in time for dinner, but had forgotten a. book she had been reading. She acquainted her maid, and said she i would run and fetch the book and be back j in a few minutes. Darkness fell, and she did not return, and' the house party at Staines Castle became uneasy. A eearch was made, and a messags, despatched to the coastguard and the police/ A party was organised, provided with rope, ladders, and lanterns, and worked till 11 P.m. without result. Ae the result of a remark by a young fisherman named Milne, who had seen the young lady reading on the cliffs from his boat in the bay in the afternoon at a distance from where the party were looking, a search was made in that direction. As the party approached they heard the barking of a dog, which ran towards them and then turned as the pa.rty followed. They found Miss Asquith lying unconscious, having fainted. She was carried home wd' a doctor summoned. It is surmised that the darkness of the lonely cliffs had got on the young lady's nerves, and that a faint had come upon her. Mr. Asquith replied as follows on Monday to a telegram from a press agency, asking whether Miss Asquith was any the worse for her adventure:— Port Erroll, Monday.-Many thanks. My daughter is going on w..ell.-Asquith.

EXCITING FIRE SCENE AT SWANSEA. f TWO WOMEN JUMP FROM A WINDOW. About midnight on Saturday a woman' named Ellen Bode, living at No. 2, Beaufort-, place. Strand, Swansea, was carrying a i paraffin lamp downstairs to open the door, for her husband, when the draught caused the lamp to explode, and the stairs were set on fire. Two other women, named Margaret John and Francis Jones, who occupied a front boi- room, being alarmed by t.he occurrence, jumped out through the front window into the street, a distance of about 10ft., but they were not injured. Police-constable Hill was called to the place, and the fire on the stairs was put out before damage was done.

ANGRY BULLS PLAY HAVOC PEOPLE GORED AND TRAMPLED TO DEATH. A great bull fight which had boen arranged to take^place at Moita, Portugal, has been attended by a terrible panic and a serious loss of life through the savage bulls getting I loose before the show began and trampling on and goring the waiting crowds. While some 2,000 intending spectators were waiting at the entranoee to the bull ring for the doors to open, some reckless beings, evidently intent upon a practical jone, opened the gates of the paddock in which tweruty- two fierce Spanish bulls were being kept in readiness for the great spectacle in the arena, The angry brutes at once rushed out atod in amongst the crowds of spectators, who fled in all directions in the wildest terror. The panic-stricken people were pursued through the streets of the little town by through the streets of the little town by the bellowing animals, which tossed those who fell in the stampede or were thrown over in the wild rush for safety. Nearly all who were unah!e to roach places of safety were either gored or trampled over by the ma-ddened bulls. A large fair was being held in the town at the time, and terrible scenes of personal injury and destruction of property occurred here. The thousands of people flying through the streets had their numbers oontinually added to, and the havoc wrought among the fair stalls by the multitude and the maddened bulls is described as equalling that which would have bsen caused by an ava- lanche. Finally the authorities called for the assistance of troops, and a detachment of cavalry was called out. Then a regular bull hunt began, but the endeavour to round them up was not very briUiant. Ten bulls were killed, but the remaining twelve are still at large. When the casualties were reckoned up, it was found that seven people had been billed and forty wounded, many of them very seriously. ==============

LEAP FROM A TRAIN. MAN CHARGED WITH ASSAULTING A LADY. A man named William Walsh, of Han wood, Bolton, was committed for trial at Bolton on Tuesday charged with assaulting Martha Oounsel. a young lady student, while travel- ling from Clayton to Bolton an Monday by train. The prosecutrix, it was stated, screamed "Murder," and the man leaped out of the carriage on to the line, but was followed by a signalman and captured. Walsh received injuries to the head, and his thumb was cut off. r:

RACING MOTORS IN PERIL. + EXCITING INCIDENTS NEAR DOUGLAS. Twenty-four four-men racer cars were out on Monday morning for early practice over the 374 miles course, near Douglas, Isle of Man. A heavy mist prevailed, especially on the mountains, yet racing speeds were made. Happily, there was no serious accident, though there were hairbreadth escapes at Wi.-aston Corner, which is the mc dan-1 gerous place on the road. The driver of the Westinghouse, who had! insisted on changing his number from 13 to 12a, narrowly escaped shooting Willaston hedge. Despite his altered number, he failed to take the ourve, ran on to the footwalk, and barely recovered to return safe to the road. Next eame Capjjer. and ie nearly met with disaster within a quarter of a. mile of the spot where he narrowly escaped with his life on Friday morning. The hill descending to Willaston Corner has a gradient of about 1 in 16. and sixteen yards from the corner Cupper seemed to hesitate, and brought his brakes into play, with the almost instant result that the car took a sudden side swerve. Cupper paled like death, snook his head as if to say. "This is a near go," and then brought his car at a crawl round the corner. Graham's Deasy gave the next startling incident. It was noticed with some surprise tha.t a lady occupied the mechanic's seat. From the oo^ner only 50 yards of the hill are visible to spectators, and, to the conster- nation of everybody, Ward's Scot, with Mr. Newton (the owner) in the mechanic's place, was descried following within twenty yards of Graham. The latter, to the horror of the spectators, made a wide sweep of the corner, and Ward's car was upon him. Only the superb driving of Ward saved a terrible disaster. Wheeling outside Graham and taking the gutter, he shot by the Deasy before it had recovered from its stagger. The lady in the Deasy screamed, and the hearts of the crowd seemed in their mouths. Women screamed, and m.any specta.tors hurried away, resolved not to witness suoh another startling incident. Tom Thorneyoroft made the fastest round on Monday, occupying 48imin. Baxendale, on a Thorneyoroft, also had a narrow escape at Willaston Corner. His car struck the footpath face, sending the earth flying, and the car staggered badly on to the I road. The sensation of the day was the remark. able time put up by Mr. Huntley Walker, the well-known motorist on his Darracq racer. Mr. Walker completed the circuit in forty minutes, an average of about 57 miles an hoar. TWO GIRLS INJURED. Miss Annie Thorp, daughter of the Rev. J. Thorp, vicar of Felbridge, East Grinstead, was run over by a motor-car on Monday while crossing the r )ad, and was removed in a serious condition, to the hospital. As a four-year-old child named Mildred Parkin was collecting disused tramway-car tickets a.t the Bentley-road terminus, Don- caster, she ran in front of a motor-car, was knocked down, and sustained a fractured skull. 1

RECTOR AND HIS PARISH. ACCUSATIONS OF NEGLIGENCE SUSTAINED. The Ecclesiastical Commission which sat to inquire into charges of negligence against the Rev. John Popham Hayne, a Somerset rector, has reported against him. Mr. Hayne was patron of the livings of Stawley and Raddington, and he had pre- sented himself to both. The Commission find that— He has not regularly and duly performed Divine service on Sundays and holy days. He ha.s not searched for the sick poor and impoteat people of the said parishes. He has not instructed the young in the catechism. He has not obeyed the lawful monitions of the bishop of the diocese. It jiow rests with the Bishop of Bath and Wells to say what action he will take.

A FATHER'S CRIME. CHILDREN FOUND STRANGLED ON A BED. James Wilmore Watkins, railway labourer, was arrested at West Bromwich on Tuesday night charged with causing the death of his two children, Cissy and Emily, aged five and three years respectively. Prisoner's wife left him with children three weeks ago, since when he has done no work. He went to bed with the children on Tuesday afternoon, and subsequently asked an elder child to fetch the police, as he had murdered her eieters. The two children were found on the bed upstairs strangled.

COLONIAL DEFENCE. ADMIRALTY AND MR. DEAKIN'S PROPOSALS. Mr. Deakin has received a dispatch from the Admiralty dealing with the proposals which he put forward in outline some months ago on the subject of Australian naval defence. It is understood that in the main the proposals are accepted, but several important modifications are suggested. Mr. Deakin, after a cursory examination of the dispatch, stated that he had no hope of being able to oarry out his own idea. He added that he was well ooatent with the attitude of the- AdmiTaaty.—JtesKter. t

FRENCH NAVAL DISASTER. 1 GUN EXPLOSION ON A CRUISER. MUTILATED MEN BLOWN INTO THE SEA. V Another disaster has occurred in the French Navy. A 19.4 centimetre gun on the armoured cruiser Latouche Tr-evilla. exploded at Toulon on Tuesday, killing thirteen men and mor- tally injuring two others. The gun which exploded was in the after- turret. The accident happened just after a. gunnery recruit class had concluded its firing praotice. At the time the cruiser waa off the Solins d'Hyeres. Some of the men were blown into the sea, terribly mutilated. The news of the disaster produced a pro- found sensation, and further information is anxiously awaited. A later message from Toulon says it is impossible to recover the body of the petty- offic,et in charge of the gunnery recruit class or that of the gunner's mate. Both were hurled 100ft. into the air, and fell into the sea. The bodies of the other victims, most of whom, as in the case of the explosion on the Conronne, are Bretons, have been con- veyed ashore. It is impossible to ascertain how the accident occurred. The authorities maintain rigid silence, even refusing to give the names of the victims. Many friends and relatives of the crew assembled at the gates, and some disorder occurred owing to exasperation at the refusal of the officials to make any statement. HOW CATASTROPHE WAS CAUSED. The French Maritime Prefect has opened an inquiry into the explosion on board the cruiser La Touche Treville at Toulon, and has cross-examined the survivors. It is stated that the accident was due to a premature explosion of the charge, resembling in this way the disaster on the training ship Gouronne. A number of the bodies of the sailors killed have been placed in St. Mandrier Hospital. The corpses were covered with the tricolor. and the mournful procession was closed by a sailor carrying a large wooden bucket containing' a ghastly collection of human fragments. The meu who were on deck at the moment of the explosion witnessed a. terrible scene. The covering of the turret, 95 millimetres in thickness, flew into splinters, and through a gaping aperture a stream of human flesh was thrown on all sides. The deck was littered with dead and m-utilated bodies. The task of identification was exceedingly difficult, and in many cases was only accom- plished by means of service numbers on the clothes and shoes.—Reuter.

EXPLOSION AT A POWDER 5IAGAZINE. THIRTEEN SOLDIERS KILLED OR MISSING. An official dispatch received at The Hague states that a powder magazine at Karangatem, in the Island of Bali, Dutch East Indies, exploded whilst being emptied. Five European soldiers lost their lives, and eight native soldiers were either killed or a.re missing. Six European and seven native soldiers were injured Reuter.

WRECK OF A BARQUE. OVER ONE HUNDRED PERSONS REPORTED DROWNED. Advices from Seattle state that news has just been received there of the total wreck of the American barque Star of Bengal, belonging to an Alaskan packing company. The vessel, which carried 137 persons, pas- sengers and crew, was wrecked a few days ago during a storm on Coronation Isla-nd. which is situated off Alaska, west of the Prince of Wales Archipelago. Of those on board only 27 people managed to reach the shore alive. Among the viotims were nine white men, the rest of the 110 drewned being Indians and Chinese. The survivors reached tho shore by swim- ming.—Central News. BATTLESHIP AGROUND. Whilst steaming in from the Channel during misty weather on Wednesday his Majesty's battleship Illustrious, of the Ports- mouth Division of the Home Fleet, touched the edge of the sands near the Nore. The battleship got off again about half an hour later without suetaining any damage and anchored in deep water. AMERICAN CRUISER ASHORE. The American Navy Department has received a dispatch announcing that the training cruiser Yankee is ashore off Martha'3 Vineyard, a rocky and dangerous position near the mouth of Buzzard's Bay, Massachu- setts. One of the forward compartments is full of water.—Router.

VIOLENT LUNATIC AT SWANSEA. ♦ AMAZING RAILWAY STATION SCENES. Very distressing and violent circumstances attended the removal to Bridgend Asylum on Monday of a Swansea, clerk, belonging to Bristol, who was suffering from religious mania. The young man had tried to drown himself in the morning, and from the time of his departure from Swansea Police-station to his arrival at Dridgend he gave the utmost trouble to the relieving officers and police. He was placed in the cab by force, and at the station scores of passengers looked on in consternation as the madman struggled with those whose duty it was to conduct him by train. He upeet the three one after the other. At Landore and other places en route he renewed his struggles, tried to undress himself, and shouted religious advice to .many persons on the platforms, especially ministers of religion. The officers say he was the most difficult case they have ever had to remove from Swansea, but they quelled him without inflicting the slightest injury on him.

AFRICAN WAR MEMORIAL AT WORCESTER. At Worcester on Wednesday General Sir Neville Lyttelton unveiled a memorial erected to the memory of the Worcester- shire men who lost their lives in South Africa during the war. The monument ooneistB of a colossal group in bronze by Mr. Colton, A.R.A.. depicting a soldier making his last defence, with a figure of immortality holding a wreath of victory. It is 24ft. high. After the ceremony Lord Coventry and General Lyttelton delivered short addresses.

AUSTRALIA AND THE FLEET Replying to a question in the Common- wealth House of Representatives at Mel- bourne on Wednesday, Mr. Deakin, the Federal Premier, stated that no formal invi- tation had been sent for the British Fleet to visit Australia, but successive Commonwealth Governments had conveyed to the Admiralty their desire for a more imposing display of British naval power in Australasian waters, and he sincerely hoped the announcement in the press of a visit to be paid by a modern squadron next year would prove correct Heater.

WELCOME FROM PRISON. SUFFRAGIST PROCESSION FROM HOLLOWAY. Miss Mary Phillips was released from Hollo- way Gaol on Friday after serving three months' imprisonment in connection with the woman's suffrage demonstration in Parliament-square. Miss Phillips is a na-tive of Scotland, a.nd when she emerged from prison she was accorded a rousing reception. She was drawn in a carriage decorated with heather to Queen g-ha.il The carriage was dragged by a suffragist team, and the procession was headed by pipers in Highland costume, while many ladies carried banners. The procession attracted much, attention, and when the sufFagists reached Queen's hall, to the strains of a familiar Scotch air, they were loudly cheered. Mrs. Drummond presided at the breakfast, and expressed the view that the Newcastle election would be another nail in the coffin of the Government. Miss Phillips said she was sure Scotch women would not be behind I in the fight.

STRANGE DEATH OF A PENSIONER. ♦ DROWNED IN TWO FEET OF WATER. The n-ystery of the c'tath of William James Tagg, a waterworks pensioner, of Hampton, whose body was found in the Thames between Hampton and Sunbury on Saturday under circumstances which suggested murder, remains unsolved, and at the inquest held on Tuesday at Sunbury an open verdict of "Found drowned" was returned. Rose Merrin, his m&rried daughter. with whom he lived, said that as he went out on Friday evening he said. "I am going to Sun- bury to try and get some money I have owing me. I lent JE40 on some things." She said, £ 40!" He replied, "Yes, but I have my value." He was carrying a little parcel. and when her little child asked him, Is that chocolate, grand dad?" he replied:- The box contains three gold rings and three gold pins. I will show you them to- morrow. I do not suppose I shall get the money, and I told the men I should not take them over again, but should sell them at Richmond to-morrow at the place where I had them valued. He also told her he had lent the money to two men at Sunbury, but did not mention their names. She thought he had plenty of I money, but none had been traced. He was living on a pension of 9s. 6d. a week. In hifi box had been found a note, dated September 20 of last year, as follows: — If anything happens to me all I possess is for my daughter, Edith. Editli Patrick, a servant at a house abont 50 yards frcm where the body was found, enid she saw the deceased about 9.30 on Saturday night. Two young men, who were strangers to her, and who were in workmen's clothes, were near the spot, and when the old man passed they went away. They had been seen three hours before. Had there been a cry, scuffle, or splash she thought she must have heard it. Other evidence showed that the body was found on Saturday morning in two feet of water seven yards from the bank where the deceased's cap and stick were lying. There was no sign of a struggle, and there were jo marks of injury on the body. The trousers pockets were turned inside out, and the deceased's watch chain was hanging loose. Silver and some coppers were found on the body. In one of the pockets was a newspaper containing the report ot the suicide of General Luard. The police inquiries concerning the jewellery had been fruitless. Th# Coroner said it was an extraordina-ry case. The deceased could not possibly have been thrown where he was found, and it seemed he must havo deliberately walked into the water. With regard to the news- paper containing a report of General Luard's suicide, the Coroner said one thing of that sort very frequently led to another. It was just possible that deceased committed suicide and wanted it to look as if he had been asea-ulted a.nd thrown into the water, so that his daughter should have the insurance money.