Weekly Mail

SPRING CLEANING. W.E.Vaughan&C- DYERS, DRY CLEANERS, AND LAUNDRY PROPRIETORS, CARPET BEATERS. SEND POST-HARD FOR VAN TO CALL. Llandaff-road, CARDIFF. Nat. Tel. 2035

"NO BETTER FOOD. Dr. Andrew Wilecra, F3 S.E. FRY'S PURE CONCENTRATED COCOA TRY ALSO ."FIVE BOYS" MILK CHOCOLATE. BBCOMITENDED BY THE MEDICAL PRO- FB6SI0N AND PRESS.

A CRIMAEN RELIC. TO BE RESTORED TO THE SON OF A HERO. BERLIN, Wednesday. An interesting relic of the Crimean War wae recently found in Memel Harbour in the form of a sword belonging to Captain John Foote, who commanded the British corvette Conflict, and who, with four seamen, was drowned in the harbour in .April. 1854, owing to the capsizing of a ship's boat. Captain Foote had been on shore in connection with some prizes which he had brought in to Memel. The find was reported to the Emperor William, who ordered inquiries to be made, with the result that the weapon is to be restored to Captain Poole's son. Vice- admiral Randolph F. O. Foote, President of the Ordnance Board.—Reuter.

NOVELIST'S WIFE IN THE DIVORCE COURT.-See Page 2. 0

ADVENTURE IN A RESTAURANT. PROSECUTOR'S STORY OF BEING DRUGGED. The remarkable blackmail charge was again brought up at Marylebone on Satur- day, when Arthur Cecil Stratton and Alfred Graham were charged with sending letters demanding money with menaces. At the previous hearing Mr. Bodkin said that the prosecutor was a bachelor of inde- pendent means and a director of a London limited company. About three years ago he accompanied a lady homo to Bloomsbury. and next morning found that he had been robbed of a gold watch and chain, a sovereign purse, gold penknife, some loose cash, and cards which would make his identification easy. For obvious reasons he decided not to prosecute. On the day following the robbery Mr. Noakes was stopped by a man in the street, who suggested that he had lost some- thing, and he could have the property back by paving" £ 15 This sum prosecutor raid, and the incident was practically for- gotten, until nearly three years afterwards. Mr. XoaIce- than received a not-3 signed "Alfred Graham" asking for money. It was followed by oth(>r letters conveying veiled imputations against the prosecutor. Chief Inspector Bower said that when he arrested the men they were in company with two women and a German, and they all appeared to be associates. At the time of the arrest; witness had in 11¡" possession certain letters upon which the charge was founded. Stratton on September 25 made a state- ment to witness, and part or it had been already given in evidence. The statement continued, I received a reply from Noakes, insulting and slandering me. I made inquiries, and found out the facts of the case and the true relationship between those two. 1 prefer not to go into it here. In conse- quence of Mr. Noakes' visit to my house the house has received a bad name. I consider that Graham was only the victim of Noakes, as Graham was hard up and Mr. Noakes had plenty of money and tempted him. After the prisoners were charged and searched the witness said he picked up a life-preserver Stratton said:— It is most extraordinary. The reason I carry this is for self-protection, because I am threatened. A few months ago I received a letter from a man n2.mad B. Jenkins, Crompton-street. in which he absolutely demanded £5 by return of post or he would make me pay dsarlv for it. The prosecutor, re-called, told an extraordi- nary story. He said that last November fie was drugged in a restaurant in Regent- street at nine o'clock at night. Mr. Plowden: Don't you know where you went afterwards?—I know where I found myself--in. a room close to Drury Lane. Mr. Plowden: But you know how you left the restaurant ?~No. When did you find yourself in the room near Drury Lane?—Next morning. And you cannot give any account what- ever of yourself during that night?—No. You may have been anywhere?—Yes. And you may have been in Queen-street-l mean without knowing it?—Certainly. Do you know in whose company you were in the restaurant?-—I do not. A man addressed me outside by my Christian name, and I think I probably knew him. liut you must knosv if you knew him?—I did not take much notice. I thought he knew me. But surely you asked yourself whether you knew him?—I know so many. I could not place him. Mr. Plowden: It is a most extraordinary storry. A stranger comes to you in the street, calls you by your Christian name, invites you into a restaurant, and you do not know whether you can place him or not among your friends. Surely if anybody knows you should. Prosecutor said they had a drink together, but he did not think lie should know the man again. He had no idea how long he remained with tho man, but so far as he could recol- lect he only had one drink with lum, and that one he enggested was drugged. Atr. Plowden: Are you sure it was a man and not a woman?—Yes, it was a man, Mr. Plowden: Your story is a. singular one. You have been twice robbed, twice robbed of ycur w atoll and chain and of your pocket- knife?—Yes. Mr. Plowden: The first time you got it back by giving £15 to a stranger, and the second time the police recovered it for you? -That is right. Prosecutor, in reply to Mr. Eodkin, said that when he left the house in Drury Lane he was very ill, and it was two or three days o f terwaix^s, when he had juet got up, that the property "was returned to him in a bundle. He assumed that the knife was among the tliing-s. He had never had any communica- tion with the defendants before this case, or with any other man" in that way." The defendants were further remanded.

DISGUISED AS A BEDUIN. TWENTY-FOUR HOURS RIDE FOR LIFE. Mr. Douglas Carruthers, a young English- man who lias just completed an expedition in Central Arabia, being the first European to penetrate to the border of the Great Nafud or desert of the great waste," has given Reuter particulars of his adventures. Dressed as an Arab, he lived for some time as a Beduin with the nomad tribes. It is of great political interest," he said, to know that the reason why Central Arabia is almost inaccessible is tha.t the two rival Emirs of Hail and Riad are in a state of incessant warfare. Since 1907 no fewer than five Emirs have been done a-way with." Every Beduin, however poor, possesses a breech-loading ritle. Mr. Carruthers exa- mined an enormous number of these, and found them to be mostly of English manu- facture. Between the Dead Sea and Nejd the map is a blank. As soon as known country was left the travellers entered upon a black desert, consisting of smooth, rounded Hints, this being succeeded by a region of wasted sandstone hills of every imaginable shape. Mr. Garruthers visited the oasis of Teima, which is famed all over Arabia for its dates. Here he found the natives fairly friendly, but the chief would not have anything to do with the stranger, whom he threatened to turn out. ^Eventually his attitude became so threatening that one night Mr. Carruthers, with his men, escaped, and after a bard ride of twenty-four hours without sfopping, succeeded in getting safely away. In one part of the desert Mr. Oarruthere discovered an old ruin, clearly the remains of an ancient inn. There was no means of ascer- taining; its age, but no doubt it formerly stood on a prosperous trade route, which has long since disappeared in the sand.

STRUGGLE ON ARREST. CONFESSION OF THE THEFT OF A DUKE'S DISHES. Oswald Sheppherd, aged 50, was remanded at Marylebone on Tuesday on a charge of stealing four china dishes from the residence of the Dirke of Teck, at Devonshire-place, on Friday last. The prosecution alleged that the prisoner called at the duke's residence on Fri- day, and wrote a note to the duke. The ser- vant took it upstairs, and while he was absent the prisoner disappeared, the china being massed at the same time. On Monday night Sheppherd was arrested in Maryle- bone, and, being a man of fine physique, gave a dea-l of trouble, struggling violently. At the station he confessed to the theft, and eaid he pawned the dishes. The police l stated the prisoner was an ex-convict, and only came out of prison on September 25.

DEATH OF OCTOGENARIAN MINISTER. The Rev. Thomas Morgan, B.A., Roefcreror. Co. Down, died on Monday, aged 85 years., He wae the oldest minister connected with th.) Irish Presbyterian Church.

THREE WOMEN IN FLAMES. SHOCKING TRAGEDY IN LONDON. As a result of a i-emarkable accident which occurred on Monday evening at a superior hairdresising establishment at 42, Great Wind- mill-street, Piccadilly, London, owned by M. R. Leon, his daughter, Mdlle. Marcella Leon, and a lady customer, Miss Lily Hoch- kerk, of North End-road, Hampstead, died in Charing Cross Hospital on Tuesday. Another victim, Mme. Julia Leon, aged 42, the wife of the proprietor, who was badly burned about the hands and arms, is in hos- pital, but is stated to be progressing favour- ably. It appears that Miss Hochkerk attended at the shop to have her hair dressed and went to the ladies' saloon, accompanied by Mrs. and Mids Leon. Shortly afterwards an atten- dant Tan out of the saloon screaming, and explaining that from* some unexplained cause the special preparation with which the customer's hair was being treated had ignited. Mme. and Mdlle. Leon are sup- posed to have atttempted to put out the fire, and all three became enveloped in the flames. An amazing scene than ensued, and pier- cing shrieks were heard from the hairdress- ing establishment. Policemen hurried to the scene iust as a female figure, surrounded by fiames, rushed out of the side door of the house and across the street almost into the stage do-or of the Lyric Theatre. A dress rehearsal of "Sir Walter Raleigh" Was proceeding at the time, and some of the staff, hearing the cries and the policemen's whistles had run out of the theatre, just 1Il time to seize her. Hardly had one of them taken off his coat to put out the flames when another woman, also in flames, emerged from the house, shrieking wildly, with the lower Plart of her clothes burnt up to her waist. The Lyric staff, including the fireman, two stage "hands," and a member of the orchestra, assisted by a constable, dealt with each in turn, Then a third woman rushed out, burning like the others. A fire engine now came up, and the firemen joined the medley of burning women and theatre ejnployos, and rendered invaluable assistance. The house was surrounded by a cordon of polioe, cabs were summoned from Shaftes- bury-avenue, and the three victims were taken off to Charing Cross Hospital. As she was being removed one of the women cried ont. "Save my mother! Save my mother!" One of the employes of the Lyric Theatre, who had rendered a-ssistaiice, said, "It is almost impossible to describe the scene. I vas one of those \I %,I rushed out from the stage- door. A burning figure ran into our arms. Look at my hands" (which were blackened all over), "and you will see how she must have been burning. It seemed all wild confusion ac another and another woman came out of the house in flames." One of those who assisted had his hands and one side of his face marked with blood; no one eeeoned to know how. One of the women may have fallen on the stairs as she esoaped into the street. Everyone who witnessed any part of the tragedy were enthusiastic as to the prompt services rendered by police and niemen. THE INQUEST. The inquest was opened at the Westminster Coroner's Court on Wednesday. The evidence showed that Miss Hobkirk want to Leon's establishment for a shampoo, the vapotir being used ignited, and Mies Hob- kirk's garments caught fire. Mrs. and Mias Leon, in trying to put out the flames, were both badly burned, and Miss Hobkirk and Miss Leon died subsequently. Mr. Leon, the proprietor of the establish- ment in Great Windmill-street, Piccadilly, said that his wife rushed in crying that there had been an explosion. He found a lady lying in the passage with her garments smoking. He added that the material used in dry shampooing was rectified spirits, which was inflammable. He had a permit to use industrial methylated spirits, but not to use petrol. They used petrol because it dried the hair quickly. He did not know that if the hair was being cleaned with petrol the light in the hairdryer was likely to ignite the spirit. He knew of no form of dry shampoo which was safe, and in which pre- cautions were not necessary. A tin contain- ing petrol wa.s not in the room where the shampooing went on, but in a yard outside. Witness said, in answer to other questions, that the dry shampoo was usually done in the back room, but he had known it done in the front room. Why should it not be done in the front room ? Becaut-e sometimes gentlemen come in with cigarettes and inquire for the ladies, and the ladies themselves smoke cigarettes. Is the door of the front saloon generally open? All the doors are open. Of the front and back saloon ?—Yes. Do you think it safe to have all the doors open, and to have a shampoo in the back room and gentlemen smoking in the front?— I do not think it was. Then why was it done?—Witness did not reply. Miss Helen Hobkirk said she eaw her sister after the accident on Monday, and she told her she went to have a shampoo, and that was the result. Witness asked her how it happened, and she replied that a lamp exploded. Medical evidence showed that death was due to shock from burns. The inquest was adjourned. CRITICAL CONDITION OF MRS. LEON. The labefet report as to the condition of Mrs. Leon, the only survivor of the ter- rible accident at the PicoadiUy hairdreseing establishment on Monday, states that she still remains in a critical state, though a comfortable night was passed.

"A SUBSTITUTE BRIDE." EXTRAORDINARY BIGAMY CHARGE. An amazing story was told at Birmingham Court lu connection with a charge of bigamy again,at Edith Thackwell. It was stated that in 1904 the defendant, being then 19 years of age, was married to Joseph Henry Thackwell. She lived with on and off" for twelve months, when she left him to enter a situation. After several years she met John Blewer, who ex- plained to her that he had been deserted by a young woman named Dora Wilkes on the eve of their marriage, and after the banns had been duly published. It was alleged that Brewer suggested to the defen- dant that she should take the place of the faithless bride, and on her consenting they were married under the banns already pub- lished, defendant posing as Dora Wilkes. But they only lived together one day. The Stipendiary; I don't Fee how this can be called a valid marriage at all; she only went through a portion of the ceremony. Detective-inspector Goldrick: Yes, the call- ing of the banns is an essential portion of the marriage ceremony. Witness added that, when charged, the defendant said her first husband had not been good to her, and as she could not get a divorce from him she thought she would give him an opportunity of obtaining a divorce from her. The girl's relatives told him the affair was only a joke. The Sitipendiary said those who signed the register had committed* an offence, and he would send all the papers to the Registrar, adjourning the case meanwhile. Mrs. Harvey, the defendant's sister, eaid she told Blewer that Editti was a married woman, and showed him her '1 marriage lines."

A FAMILY QUARREL. ALLEGED ATTACK ON FATHER-IN- LAW AND SISTER-IN-LAW. A potters' painter, named John Edward Smith, wae remanded at Hanley on Monday charged with attacking and wounding his father-in-law and sister-in-law, Albert and Adelaide Olarke. There had been family dissensions, and on Sunday night Smith went to Parsonage-street, Tunstall, where his wife was staying with the Clarkes. The inmates bad retired, but Smith broke open the door and entered his wife's bedroom and threatened her with a knife. Albert and Adelaide Clarke interfered, whereupon Smith attacked and wounded both about the head j and fitoo. He afterwards fled, but was arrested on Moccjiy. I

THE GOOSE THAT LAYS THE GOLDEN EGG. MABON (to collier): Hi, my man,, you'd better give the gocse a rest, or you will worry it to death. ————————

EXCITING RESCUE SCENES. AN EXTRAORDINARY STORY FROM MORRISTON. There was a remarkable scene at JforrLston on Saturday evening, and three persons would undoubtedly have been drowned but for the efforts of a fourth, a man named Alfred Mellichap, a sinker, living in Neath- road. The story is a very extraordinary one. It appears that the three-year-old child of Mr. James Parry, landlord of the Globe Inn, Neath-road, Mcrriston, was playing in house of a neighbour named Mrs. Kate il- liams, of 573, Neath-road. The bouse is situated close to the canal bank, the canal ninning at the back. The child wa-s with a cardboard box, and Mrs. W1liiams told her to put it down. Instead, out of mis- chief, she ran away with it the canal bank. Mrs. Williams followed, and, to her horror, saw the child's foot slip, with the result that she fell into the water of the canal, which at that spot is very deep. Although she could not swim, Mrs. Williams at once jumped in and grasped the child. At that moment the father of the child, Mr. Parry, happened to be passing near, and saw Mrs. W illiams jump into the water. Although he, also, could not swim, he jumped in—not knowing that his own child was in imminent danger of being drowed-and grabbed Mrs. Williams. When it appeared certain tha.t the whole throe of them must have been drowned Alfred Mellichap, who lives close by, came out of his house. Looking into the water he then only saw the back of Mr. Parry. He also jumped in, but, being a good swimmer, he got hold of Parry, lifted him to the surface, and, to his surprise, found that he had hold of the woman, and subsequently that she in turn clasped the child. With the aid of t.wo or three other people who then came up he succeeded in landing all three of thern, and subsequently all recovered. The police report states that undoubtedly had it not been for the opportune arrival of Mellichap, and his prompt and heroic action, the whole three persons must have beer drowned.

DIPLOMATIC SENSATION. RE-CALL OF A UNITED STATES MINISTER. NEW YORK, Monday. The Washington correspondent of the Asso- oiated Press telegraphs;- The re-oall of Mr. Crane, who was recently appointed United States Minister to China, and was summoned here on the day he was to have sailed, is due to developments involving the question of his fitness for the post. The State Department has more or less convincing evidence that Mr. Orane was responsible for the publication in a Chicago newspaper of what it considers an Indis- creet discussion of America's attitude towards the two treaties recently negotiated between China and Japan, and regards the matter as still more serious because that attitude was under confidential considera- tion at the time. Mr. Crane arrived here last evening, and unless he is able to clear himself in the eyes of the Secretary of State, the con- ference between the two men to-day may result in the abrupt termination of his con- nection with the Diplomatic Servioe.-Reuter.

LADY MARGARET STUART. DATE OF THE EDINBURGH WEDDING FIXED. The marriage of Lady Margaret Crichton- Stuart with Captain Coim Aiacitae has been fixed to take place on October 26. in Edin- burgh, where her brother, Lord Bute, owns a house in Charlotte-square. Here the Dowager Lady Bute will hold the reception. The honeymoon will bo spent on the Nile (says the "Daily Chronicle"). Satisfaction is felt by Roman Catholics in Scotland that Lady Marguret is marrying not only a member of an ancient Highland family, sharing ail her own sympathies for Scottish and Highland matters, but one who adheres to the old faith. The marriage will also re-unite two members of a family of common descent on one side, as Captain Macltae's great-grandmother and his fiancee's great-great-graudmother, the flftJI countess of Loudoun, were sisters. Captain Colin MacRae's family settled in Kintail in the fourteenth century. and hi^ father, the late Mr. MaoRae, of Kames Castle, Bute, was twentieth direct descendant of his line.

VICTIMS OF LOVE TRAGEDY At an inquest at Birkenhead on Tuesday on Elsie May Nicholas and Robert Nicholson, victims of a love tragedy a week ago, the jury returned a verdict of "Wilful murder" against Nicholson, and that he committed suicide whilst of unsound mind. Evidence I was given that the deceased girl was engaged to be married to an engineer, who was now away at sea. Nicholson knew of the engage- ment, and had threatened to shoot both. Letters were also read, indicating he pre- meditated the act.

QUARREL OVER A DOG. CAPTAIN FINED FOR ASSAULTING A BUTCHER. At Witham, Essex," on Tuesday Captain Claude de Crespigny, son of Sir Claude de Crespigny, was summoned for assaulting Ernest Forrell, a butcher, on the high road on July 26. Complainant stated that he was driving home in a trap, when the captain accused him of hitting his dog, which complainant denied. Defendant would not accept his state- ment, and got hold of complainant and dragged him out of the trap. The captain also struck him in the face, giving him a very bad black eye. When asked for his name the defendant was said to have jumped on his bicycle and rode away, calling out as he went, "You find out." Defendant's mother and sister gave evi- denoe, and the latter lady stated that the defendant's dog was hit by someone in the trap. The defendant admitted the assault, but denied that he struck Forrell on the ground. He was fined E2 and £2 14s. costs. ======

"INFAMOUS SCANDAL." Mr. W. A. Tollemra.che writes from Risby, Bury St. Edmunds, to the "Morning Post" My attention has to-day beeti called, as the oldest member of the family, and the only one who knew Maria Lady Ailesbury in her youth, to an infa-mous scandal res- pecting that weLllknown and much beloved lady. A writer has ventured to publish a book charging her with improper conduct in her early life. I will not repeat the shameful stories the writer has invented except to refute them with indignation. Maria, Lady Ailesbury had one son—Lord Charles Bruce, born the year after her marriage with Lord Ailesbury-a much res- pected and well-known man once in the 1st Life Guards. Would that he were alive to defend his mother's name better than I can against the cruel and utterly false aspersions now cast upon it.

AMAZING CAREER OF SWINDLING. -+- YOUNG CLERKS STORY OF A RICH UNCLE. only nineteen years of age, and described by counsel as a most precocious swindler, an extraordinary story of a youth's career in City was told at the Old Bailey on Wed- nesday when John Oarmody pleaded guilty to obtaining money by false pretences. Prosecuting counsel said that prisoner began as office boy to a firm of stockbrokers in the City about two years ago. He showed great ability, and was promoted to the por- tion of ledger clerk. lie then pretended to have a rich uncie, who was willing to do business with his employers, and in that way got from them commission amounting to £ 66 odd. Then it was found that the rich uncle was an entire myth, and the firm had to close the account with a loss of £ 300 to themselves. Prisoner absconded, but the firm took no steps to have him arrested. Early this year prisoner took an office in Ludgate-hi-1, and there pretended he had a partner or principal, but in that case also the partner or principal was a myth. The circulars ho sent out were of the most ela- borate description, representing that a busi- ness called the Anglo-American Exchange was being carried on. In fact, there was no pnch company at all. By means of represen- tations he obtained from a Miss Kearney, residing in Ireland, JE66. This business came to an end, and prisoner disappeared onoe more. Then he took another office in the City, and started a new firm of swindling. Circu- lars were sent out representing that a firm called "Hoyd M'Gregor" would lend money without either security or inquiries. Extraor- dinary as it might seem, continued counsel, a large number of people believed i:i this and senc money to prisoner, who in false name and address kept an account at Brixton in order to cash remitrances. It. appeared that prisoner, young as he was, had even been clever enough to induce -brokers on the Stock Exchange, and, of all people, outside brokers to open accounts and speculate. It was also shown that Carmody had obtained clothing by fraud at the White City. and that he had posed as a solicitor at the Grosvenor Hotel. The Recorder, in passing sentence of nine fnonths* hard labour, said prisoner had carried out a series of grave frauds, and •could not be treated as a first offender.

SUDDEN DEATH OF M.P. t & VACANCY CREATED IN BERMONDSEY. Dr. George Joseph Cooper, Liberal member tor Bermondsey, died early on Friday morning at his residence, 92, Southwark Park-ioad, London. Dr. Cooper was attend- ing to hi- Parliamentary duties on Wedncs- tLy, apparently m his usual health, and after a late sitting left Westminster early on Thursday morning. It is understood that lie had. a paralytic seizure during the day, i&iid in the evening his condition had become very grave, death supervening. Dr. Cooper displaced Mr. Cust, Conservative member, at the last eleotion by a majority of 1.759 on a 7,791 poll. Previously Dr. Cooper represented Bermondsey on the London County Council. The deceased's son, Mr. Reginald Cooper, Seen by a press representative on Friday, said the strenuous work his fatner had carried out on behalf of the Budget was tho real cause iof his death. Night after night he had held ■Bndgot meetings, and had then returned ihome to a.ttend to his medical practice. Dr. Cooper, who was 65. had fully intended con- testing the seat at the coming election Ho was an authority on asylum control and lunacy. The Bermondsey bye-election will be of especi.al significance not only on account of the Budget, but because of the fact that since its creation Bermondsey has been a barometrical constituency. It was Liberal ?in 1885, but became Unionist in 1886, return- ing to Liberalism again in 1892. At the geno- ixal elections erf 1895 and 1903 Unionists wen the division, but in 1906 it returned Liberal, thus having supported the successful party -at each appeal to the country. Recent elections have resulted as follow:- 1906. 1895. TJ-. G. J- Cooper (E.) 4,775 Mr. Lafone (U.) 4,lg2 311. H- J- c- Cust Mr- Barrow (R.) Z,V22 RadIcal majoriLy.. 1,750S I Unionist majority S60 1900. 1302. JTr. H. J- C. Cust (U.) 4,017 Mr. Barrow (R.) 4,390 jtr. J- w- Benn (R.) 5,717 Mr. Lafone (U.) 3,73:: Unionist majority J00 BadicaJ majority.. 658

THE MURDER OF AN OPERA SINGER. At midnight the jury returned a Verdict of guilty against Auguste Zobel. charged before th3 Guestrow Criminal Court with murdering a promising young opera singer, Fraulein Rartboldt, who was engaged at Rostock Municipal Theatre The prisoner was sentenced to death with perpetual loss of civil rights. While the court was considering the sentence Zobel wa.s seized with violent hysterics, and her piercing shrieks rang through th;) building. The court waited for pome time, and finally the prisoner had to be carried into the dock, where she heard the sentence of death in a state of collapse. The evidence was of a most painful nature, a number of most pathetic letters from Zobel to her false lover ieing rea.d.-Reuter.

RIFLE CLUB FATALITY. |A CLERK SHOT -DURING A COM- PETITION. /■n,, was held at Battersea on 0110 ay oa William Wright (24), a cle\5u,nr.^11<1' member of the Queen's Westminster £ ifles, who was fatally shot tv, Ik am an(j Southern Rifle Glub & Dennis lu'^vveoivey, Civil gervioe £ r stated, that he and deceased ta-king Part in a competition, when som<7thin? went wrong with the cooking--piece of witness s gun. On taking- his hand away the rifle su y discharged, and deceased was shot. A verdict of "Accidental death" wao returned, the jury attoohing. no blame to a,nyono.

SERIOUS BRYNMAWR CHARGE Thomas Turner (49), a navvy employed at €he new waterworks at Beaufort was charged at a special court at Brynmawr on Wednesday with assaulting a little girl ma-med Mary Elizabeth Brown, seven years of &*e, at Brynmawr at night. Prisoner denied, the offence, and was committed for to the Brecocushire Quarter Seeekms. to the Brecocushire Quarter Seeekms.

JEWEL SAFE RAIDED. LONDON MANAGER'S MISSING KEYS. A remarkable jewel robbery from the premitves of Messrs. Airtohison Brothers, of Ludgate Hill, London, was discovered on Monday morning, and the details show several remarkable points in connection with the crime. A large quantity of jewellery, of a total value of was stolen, and J there is no clue to the thief or thieves. I It appears that the manager, on arrival on Monday morning, went to the safe and found his bunch of keys was missing. He sent to his residence, thinking he might have forgotten them, but they could not be found. Finally a duplicate key woe obtained end the safe opened. Then it was discovered that a large quantity of mixed jewellery was missing. Nothing had been taken from the show cases or windows, and it is believed I that the key to the safe was stolen on Saturday evening or Sunday.

INSANITARY COTTAGES. LABOUR MEMBER AND A DUKElS PROPERTY. Mr. ARTHUR HENDEBftON (Laib., Barnard Castle") afeked the President of the Local Government Board in the House of Commons on Friday whether his attention had been drawn to the petty-sessional court proceed- ings against the Duke of Northximberiand in respect of insanitary cottages situate at Walbattle; whether he had had under his notice the mortality rate among the mining inhabitants of theee premises; whether any inquiry had been held respecting the sani- tary condition of this looality durin-g recent years by inspectors of the Local Government Board; or whether he contemplated ordering suoh investigation at an early date. Mr. JOHN BURNS: I have seen some news- paper reports of these proceedings, and have observed statements in them as to the rate of mortality in the premises conoerned. I am not in a position to give the particulars asked for, but I am in communication with the urban district eonmoL.1 on the subject to Vhich the question relates.

A HURRICANE AND ITS DOINGS. + ENORMOUS DAMAGE AT KEY WEST. NEW YORK, Tuesday. Advices which are coming in from Florida aDd Cuba show that the hurri- cane which raged over a very large area 1, f yesterday morning was of terrific force, and in a few hours did damage which can only be estimated in millions of dollars. Key West is practically wrecked, and the damage. done in this town alone is given at -MOO.ooo. The city is now under martial la-w, as scenes of great disorder cecurrf/i after the disaster, the crowds attempting to ra.id the food pho.ps, and numerous robberies ^rid outrages occurring without the police able to do anything to preserve order. 0 fewer than rinctv-five vessels, mostly coasting craft, jj-e reported missing, and the a;np,pmg. at Key West suffered gr«a': damage. ne Florida East Coast Railroad has been Lorn up for miles at a stretch, and otherwise greatly damaged. The losses in this quarter tota' hundreds of thousands of dollars, and some weeks will pass before the per- manent way is restored. In these circumstances it is curious that. so reported, very few fatalities are knowri t.°11ave occurred. Numerous small towns and ^ulages, however, are cut off from telegraphic communication, while a number of the keys, on which it is kncTru that, in all some 2,500 labourers are employed, are cut off from all communication. Grave fears are entertained in this direc- tion, as it is certain that the hurricane was Particularly disastrous to these small islands, ma.ny of which have been swept clean. The gale, which both in Key West and Havana blew 1CO miles an hour. was accom- panied by torrential rain, which in many places fell three and even four inches in twelve hours, and washed out the founda- tions of houses, causing many large build- ings in the two towns to collapse. It has been possible more accurately to gauge the number of casualties in Havana, and the dead are reported as numbering ten and tho injured 25. The 1 o.-p of property is estimated at a injured 25. dead are reported as numbering ten and tho injured 25. The 1 o.-p of property is estimated at a million dollars in the Cuban capital, but the damage to shipping is comparatively smalJ, while all the steamers in harbour are safe. —Central News.

TRAGIC DUEL IN GERMANY HE-CALLED. m, BERLIN. Tuesday. The unaccountable suicide of a certain Captain Von Hildebrand took place in Han- over last week on the eve of his wedding day, when, after a pleasant dinner party at tne house of his prospective father-in-law, he returned to his hotel and flung himself from a bedroom window. The affair is invested with tragic signi- ficance, since it has become known that Cap- tain You Hildebrand was one of the prin- cipals in the celebrated duel which took place in 1901, in which he killed a comrade, First-lieutena.nt Kurt Blaskowitz. The latter on the eve of his wedding day gave a dinner to a party of brother officers at Justerburg. and drank very freely. He was seen home by Captain Von Hildebrand and Lieutenant Eas- mussen. Next day he left for his wedding, but was re-called, and summoned to appear before the Court of Honour to answer for having struck Captain Von Hildebrand on the night of the party. Despite Lieutenant Blaskowitz's affirmation t,hat he had no knowledge of the incident, the court decided a duel was necessary, and 1 Captain Von Hildebrand shot his adversary through the heart at the first exchange of bullets. The affair caused a. profound sensa- tion at the time.—Reuter.

PROMISED GIFT OF < £ 155,000. f—— MISS CHARLESWORTH AND HER STORY. Miss May Charlesworth attended at the London Bankruptcy-court on Tuesday for public examination. The debtor, ques- tioned regarding an article in the "Weekly Dispatch which purported to describe her life, denied having either written or dictated it. She only saw the representative of the paper for about a quarter of an hour, a.nd was paid £ 400 for the interview. A proof was not submitted to her, and as she had not read all the aitiele, she could not say whether it was correct. Her failure was due to the extravagant way in which she had been bving. and, perhaps, to gambling on the Stock Exchange. Questioned regarding the famous motor accident, the debtor asserted that this -really ail take place, though L had been :*x;.i;g,er3- ted in the press. It was not a device to ret her away from her creditors. Debtor admitted that many of the state- ments she had made to various people were untrue, but not the whole of them- She was about twenty-three when she first met Dr. Hugh Jones, who lent her over i5.000, during their engagement. On the Receiver remarking that Miss Charlesworth wanted to marry Dr. Jones, she broke down and sobbed. Miss Charlp-sworth eaid she had been informed by Mr. Alexander Macdonald, whom she met at the Caledonian Hotel, Edinburgh, that he would give her £ 155,000. The Cfil ial Receiver: What was this Mr. Macdonald to you?—He was nothing more than a friend. Was he an old man? The wi;ne.-s was understood to say that he was young and of Scotch family. Where did he tell you of his intention to give you £ 155.000?—At a party at the Cale- donian Hotel in Edinburgh. Where were you staying then?—At the hotel. Without a chaperone?—Yes. Had you seen him much before this?—Not very often. Is there anyone who can confirm this story? The witness admitted that it depended on her word alone. Can you give me the name of anyone who ever saw Mr. Macdonald ?-No. "Mr. Macdonald may be a myth as far as corroborating evidence is concerned," com- mented the Recorder. In reply to further questions, Miss Charles- worth said that two gentlemen, a Colonel Williamson and a Mr. Francis Williamson, represented that they were trustees. She had last heard of Mr. Macdonald at Mel- bourne. Was the money to come to you uncondi- tionally ?—Yes. He was very fond of me. The Receiver: I see in one of your letters you speak of two vanloads of foreign curios going to the home of your childhood in Scot- land. Had you two van loads of curios?—No. You took Calne Hall for zEl89 a year. What was your object?—I intended to breed St. Bernard dogs for profit. Why did you take Flourburn Hall for JE250 a year when you had Calne Hall?—I wanted a little place in Scotland. Passing to the subject of motor-cars, the Receiver said: You had four or five most expensive cars in which you drove about the country ?—Yes. You gave your sister Lilian a car?—Yes. Asked about her jewellery, the witness admitted that she owed one firm £ 379. After some further questions the examiua- tion was closed.

LATE SIR J. A. JACOBYS. ESTATE. The late Sir James Alfred Jacoby, chair- man of the kitchen committee of the House of Commons, left estate valued at £ 52,156 Among his bequests he left £ 1,000, free of duty, upon trust to found a fund for pen- sioning or assisting aged, ill, or disabled members of the staff of the refreshment department of the House of Common*

DEATH AFTER A QUARREL AT A TTORKHOUSE. An Siquest was held at Northampton on Monday on the body of George Fitzhugh, an inmate of Northampton Workhouse, alleged to have been kicked to death by another in- mate, Frederick Olarke, on Saturday. Medical evidence showed the deceased's heart and kidneys were much diseased, and death was due to shock acting upon an en- feebled body. A verdict of Manslaugh' ?" was returned against Clarke.

1 "Strongest and Best." I -HJ:;A.:c.XH. L Fry's | -Ifjpy Pttre Concentrated ^0 jf Cocoa I Oi-er 300 Gold Medals and Diplomats. M

STAYED IN BED FOR SIX DAYS. ♦ SINGULAR STORY OF AN AMERICAN. The circumstances attending the death of a man named Trotman, whose dead body was found in the Thames, were investigated by the Westminster coroner on Wednesday. Edith Payne, of Lessar-avenue, Clapham Common, said that the deceased took apart- ments at her house at the end of September, stating that his name was Edwin Frank Trotman and showing a certificate for his Trotman and showing a certificate for his passage from America, which gave his age a-s 50. He said that his home was at Newark, New York, and that he was a Master Mason of the Camden Lodge, New Jersey. Witness added that the deceased took rooms, and kept talking about" Bob" and getting some money for an allowance, lie said that ho had been staying at Faulkner's Hotel, Villiers-srreet. but he could not stay in bed there all day, and he ranted privacy. For six days he remained in bed," said witness. He was the worse for dnnk when he came, and he did nothing but send out for drink." Continuing, witness said that deceased walked about the house al! night long and he slept all day. The only time she thought he was going to do anything was when he made an awful row in his bedroom. He opened the window, and she asked him what he was doing. He was sitting on the window- Rill, and if the house had not had only two storeys, she thought he would have jumped out. He constantly had her dog in his room, and was never without it on his bed. She thought he was mad, but could not get rid of him anyhow. He would not wash, he would not shave, he would not get up, he would not do anything. On October 4. witness added, deceased left her house and returned on October 9. He told her that on October 4 and 5 he slept at Faulkner's Hotel. On the 6th he went home with a dirty old -man. who gave him a haddock, and that was the first food he had since he left her house. On the 7th be slept on t,he Embankment. The Coroner: Why did you let him in on the 9th?—He was perfectly rational and quite nice, and said he had pulled himself round. The reason I let him in was that I wanted my money. He owed jLlO, with money he had borrowed from me and my housekeeper. Why on earth did you lend money to a man who was drinking, apparently, like a fish ?—He sa;d he had no money, and he left me tickets sufficient for what be owed. You have security, then?—The ticket for a Masonic medal which he had pawned, and which he said was worth .£10. Robert William Hobden, an architect, of West Acton, said that the deceased was his sister's husband. He was in the law, and witness understood that he specialised in searching out titles. His nationality was English. He was not hard up. He had only to come to witness's house, where there was money for him—owing to him. During the six days the landlady said he was in debt they all had letters from him, making appointments to come to their house to get money. but he never came. A letter found at Faulkner's Hotel and dated Monday, the Cth inst., from 45, Lessar- avenue, was as follows :— My dear Frank,—Trusting you are again yourself, from yours as ever, M. Payne. The manager of Faulkner's Hotel said that the deceased enga-ged a room there and went away, leaving his luggage. He returned, and witness saw him in his office. Deceased looked very miserable, and said that he had been lured to Clapham, that he had got in with a crowd and had played cards, and they got everything from him. Miss Payne went into the witness-box again, and eaid that when deceased came to her house on Saturday he cried like a child, and said that she had turned him out and would not give him food. The reason she wrote the letter was to pull him round. She thought that if she wrote him a nice letter he' would see that she was not so hard ac he thought. The Coroner: Why did you call him "My dear Frank"?—He called me Peggy and my housekeeper Lottie on Saturday, and said Let us be friends." He was not lured at all to Olapham. Dr. Freyberger said that a post-mortem examination showed all the changes due to chronic alcoholi-m. The deceased had not had a meal for some time. Death wa.s due to suffocation from drowning, and there was nothing to suggest violence. The Coroner said that, unfortunately, the deceased became acquainted with this house in Lessar-avenue, ani there, according to the- people's own admission, he remained in bed for six days and drank hard with drink supplied by them, though knowing nothing previously about him. There was no possible defence to the impropriety of such behaviour—taking a man in that condition and keeping him supplied with drink. A verdict of Suicide during temporary insanity was returned.

# A BOY'S SUICIDE. CAUSED BY QUARRELS BETWEEN HIS PARENTS. At an inquest on Wednesday on a My aged eleven of Ryhope Colliery, Sunderland, the mother said that she and her husband occasionally quarrelled. After a recent squabble her boy s-aid:- Ma, if my dad fights with you any more I will do away with myself. Later the child was found dead, hanging from a bed rail. There being some doubt whether the affair was an accident, the jury found a. verdict of Death from strangulation."

WEDDING PARTY" BLOWN UP." The Lokalanaeiger" Wochum corre- spondent states that during a wedding feast at the neighbouring village of Rimke the rejected suitor of the bride appeared at the gathering at a late hour, and hurled a. dynamite cartridge amongst the guests, severely wounding eight persons. The mis- creant took advantage of the panic to flee. He was not recognised, but the police have arrested a miner whom they believe is the author of the outrage.—Reuter

MILLINERY SMUGGLERS. NEW YORK, Monday. The "New York American" states tha nearly 70 prominent members of society and 30 leading millinery houses will shortly be, indicted on charges of smuggling. The alleged frauds have extended over many years, and the total sum involved is about £ 1,600,000. It is understood if all the defendants are con- victed that the-fines will reach £ 400,000.—Cen- tral Newlt. »