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STRANGE CHARGE OF A THREAT. + ACTION BY A FRIENDLY SOCIETY OFFICIAL. At Birmingham Poli-ee-court on Tuesday H. Plaisted, insurance broker, 80. Queen- street, Cardiff, appeared on a summons on a charge of a threat to publish, the plaintiff being J. E. Tattersall, divisional superinten- dent of the Liverpool Viotoria. Legal Friendly Society, Birmingham. The defendant was represented by Mr. C. F. Willett, solicitor, Card iff. Mr. Joy, in stating the circumstances, said the case was brought under Lord Campbell's Act..jir. Tattersall, he said, occupied a posi- tion of trust, and had under his control about 500 collectors and agents in the Bir- mingham district, although in this particular case the effect of the letter was wasted because it had only brought about these proceedings. In the case of a nervous or susceptible man in a similar position the consequences might have been disastrous. In Cardiff a few months ago a magazine was started, edited by the defendant Plaisted. He described himself as an insurance broker in the paper. In September last year a man named Hawkins severed his connection with the Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society, and subsequently after being in different occu- pations he sought re-instatement. He was apparently unsuccessful, and Hawkins seems to have gone to this magazine. On the 25th of September Mr. Tattersall received the following letter from Mr. Plaicted Dear Sir,—Mr. E. Hawkins, of 12, High- bury-road, King's Heath, has written me with regard to his unsuccessful application to your society for re-instatement as a col- lector. He has sent me a long statement of his career with your society, whioh, if you do not mind my saying so. appears to have been a successful one. The circum- stances under which he thought it neces- sary to resign his position with the society have been fully dealt with. and also the cause which he assigns for the bringing about of these circumstances. You are, doubtless, correct in your statement in your letter to him of the 21st inst., viz., that no one has a right to employment in your society, but your peremptory refusal to re-accept the services of a man who has for go many years served your society so well is certainly open to coin-meat and gives support to his statement as to the causes I have referred to which led up to the termination of his servioes with your society. He says he knows I cannot do anything for him in the matter, but thinks that good may come of the matter being ven- tilated with the next issue of this paper. The matter certainly lends itself to com- ment, and, seeing that Mr. Hawkins himself was quite willing to work under you again and to overlook any feeling that may have hitherto existed, it seems to me most regret- table that you did not accept the offer of his services in the spirit with which they were tendered. I propose, therefore, with the aid of the papers before me to deal with the matter at length in the next issue, but being anxious, £ £ posaittfcei to avoid ^ny mischief that may result from this case, thought I would write you first to see if you felt inclined to re-consider your deoision. The reason of that letter, said Mr. Joy, was perfectly obvious. Here is a man who has come to me with a grievance. If you do not see your way to re-consider your deci- sion and give him the post he is applying for look out for the shot that is going to come from the next number of Insurance Truth." Mr. Tattersall took no notice of this, and on October 1 the defendant gent this further letter :— I have not heard from you in answer to my letter of the 25th ult., and am now put- ting the matter in hand for the next issue. You will, of course, understand that in a case like this I shall be bound to ignore any comment that is not made in writing, no matter by whom it may be made. Mr. Tattersall went into the box and proved the receipt of the letter. Mr. Willett asked that the summons be dis- missed, but the stipendiary (Mr. Morton Brown) held it -was for the jury to decide whether the letter oould be construed into a threat. Mr. Plaisted was thereupon committed to take his trial at the November assizes. He was liberated on bail.

KIDNAPPING IN AMERICA. PARENTS PAY RANSOM FOR RECOVERY OF CHILDREN. NEW YORK, Saturday. That money is more effective than the police in cases of kidnapped children has been demonstrated onoe more in the reoovery of the Viviano children, a boy of five and a girl of three. They were the offspring of two prosperous brothers, and disappeared from St. Louis on August 2. The parents received a demand for £5,000 as ransom, which the police urged them not to pay, as there was a distinct clue in the simultaneous disappearance of an employe of the brothers. Rewards aggregat- ing £2,000 were offered. Trunks containing the children's clothes were soon recovered in Chicago, but the expectation of finding the children was not realised until yesterday, when the youngsters were found in Chicago. To-day they were restored to their parents The police a t St. Louis say that the parents were almost from the time of the abduction in communicatdian with the kidnappers, finally freeing to pay the ransom. The fathers recently saw the children at Carlinsville. The children were removed from the room on pretence of preparing them to go home, but they were spirited away. Their parents made a substantial payment on account of I ransom, and the children were apparently drugged and turned loose on the streets of Ciiioago.—" Observer."

A WIFE'S SUICIDE. STRANGE REALISATION OF A HUSBAND'S DREAM. A remarkable story of a dream that was realised was told on Monday before the West Sussex coroner. After dreaming he saw his wife crouching behind a hedge waiting for a train to pass, Mr. George Oox woke suddenly to find his wife had disappeared. Soon after- wards her mutilated body was found at a level crossing half a mile away, where she had walked clad only in her nightdress in the pouring rain. A verdict of Suicide during temporary insanity was returned.

A SUICIDAL THREAT. WOULD-BE RESCUER KILLED BY A TRAIN. Early on Saturday morndng a man named of Barrow-road, Lower Winoebank, Sheffield, quarrelled with his mother and left the hou^o for the railway, threatening to commit euiedde. A number of men who were in the vicinity followed to attempt a rescue. Whilst thus engaged a passenger train dashed into the party, of whom John Holding, i2< armed, was liteially oat to pieces, hie head being severea.

CONFESSION TO A MURDER IN CANADA. William Bedfort (26), was further remanded at Bow-street, London, on Tuesday charged, on his own confession, with having murdered ¡ a young lady in Canada last year. The police stated that the papers had not yet arrived from Canada,

DIVORCE FOR WIFE OF A BARONET. COMPLAINT OF NEGLECT BY LADY STIRLING. In the Divorce Court on Monday (before Mr. Justice Bargrave. Deane) a oaso was heard in which Lady Emily Frances Stirling, for- merly Lady de Lisle and Dudley, sued for a divorce from Sir Walter George Stirling, Bart., of Lennox-gardens, London, on the ground of cruelty and misconduct. The suit was undefended. Mr. Barnard, K.C. (with whom was Mr. J. Harvey Murphy), appeared for the petitioner, and in opening the case said that the marriage took place on the 21st of Feb- ruary, 1903, at St. George's, Hanover-square. The parties afterwards lived at Lennox- eardens and other places. The petitioner at the time of the marriage was the widow of Lord de Lisle and Dudley. From the date of the marriage the husband had treated his wife with the greatest cruelty and neglect. On the day of the marriage, on leaving the church, he said to her, "You have a cold, ——- you. I am going abroad for my health, and shall start to-morrow. If you are not well enough I shall go alone." On that day they travelled down to Dover, and he refused to speak to his wife. The next day they went to Paris, and he still refused to speak to her. They stayed there a few days, and he absolutely neglected her. When she tried to make her- self pleasant ho simply ignored her. They went to other place* on the Continent, where the same kind of conduct took place, and oil two or three occasions he told his wife he should leave her. On the 9th of June, 1903, after they had returned to London—they had been to a wedding reception together—Sir George Stirling told his wife that be wanted to speak to her. Ho said that if she did not leave the house he should put her into a room at the top of the house, and keep her there, and tell all her friends that she was mad. The effect of his conduct was that Lady Stirling's health was affected, and Dr. Beresford Riley, who had known her for years, would say that he knew her when she was a strong, healthy woman, twelve years ago, and that he was shocked at the change in her. On the 10th of June, 1903, Lady Stirling left her husband. There was a deed of separation in July, 1903. Subsequently Sir George Stirling was watched, and he was traced to the Great Central Hotel, where he stayed with a lady, and they passed as Mr. and Mrs. Stirling. Mr. F. E. Smith, K.C., said he held a watch- ing brief for the respondent. EVIDENCE BY LADY STIRLING. Lady Stirling, in her evidence, said at the time of the marriage she was the widow of Lord de Lisle and Dudley. After the mar- riage to Sir Walter Stirling he had treated her with great unkind ness and neglect. On leaving the church after their wedding, he said to her, You have a cold, ——— you; I am going abroad for my health; I shall go to-morrow. If. you are not well enough I shall go without you." Afterwards they travelled down to Dover. Mr. Barnard: How did your husband treat you? Lady Stirling: He hardly took any notioe of me at all. He did not speak to me. Did he speak to you at all when you spoke? —No, only to make sarcastic replies. Did you ask him at Dover what was the matter ?—Yes. he said he would not tell me then, but he might tell me later. On the way from Dover to Calais he said that marriage was very bad for him, that it would be better for him to go his way, and for me to go mine. At Paris he went out all day, and I hardly saw anything of him. When he came in to lunch and dinner he did not speak to me. I tried to make myself plea- sant, but he would not speak to me except to say very insulting things. As a rule, he never spoke at all. Did 'this upset you?—Very much. About a fortnight after the marriage, said Lady Stir- ling, she was not well, and stayed in bed to breakfast. Sir George Stirling went down to breakfast, but came back soon afterwards. He burst into the room, and was very angry. He took hold of the bed and shook it violently, and said, What horrible disgust- ing things women are." After they returned to Lennox-gardens he asked if she had sold the house in Pwrk- street, where she formerly lived, a.nd he said, "I wish you would go back there, because I don't want you here." Very often at meals he said you; I don't want to hear your row." She wished to invite some lady friends to the house, and he said, "I don't want to have any of these ———— women here." On the 9th of Jane they had been to a wedding reception, and on the way back her husband said he wished to speak to her. They went into the study. What did he say?—He eadd. "I don't think you seem to realise what I mean. I wish you to understand that I mean what I say If yon don't go I shall lock you up in one of the attics, and tell a.11 your friends that you are mad." On the next day he said. "Are you going to leave to-day?" I said, "I am afraid I must if you want me to." He then came up to me and stretched out his hands as though to take hold of my throat. He did not touch me, but he looked as if he was going to do so. and he said, "You are no better than the people who walk in Picca- dilly." Lord Stirling said that her brother spoke to him about his conduct, and he then said to her, Your brother had the ———— impertinence to say I have neglected you. If he says anything more I shall neglect you ten times more." Lady Stirling said that her husband's conduct had the effect of making her very ill, Dr. J. Bere6ford Riley, of Wimpole-street, spoke to the condition of health in which he found Lady Stirling. She was emaciated and haggard, and exceedingly worried and broken down. It would be unsafe for her to return to her husband. Evidence was given in support of the alle- gation of misoonduct, and a. decree nisi was granted with costs.

==- -J "THE CURSED GAMBLING." WORKHOUSE MASTER'S FARE, WELL LETTER. Dr. Porter, the North Yorkshire ooroner, on Friday evening held an inquest at Mal- ton Workhouse touching the death of the master, William Sherwood, who on the pre- vious day had been found in a storeroom at the point of death, having taken carbolic acid. The following letter, which was found by the deceased's side, was read by the coroner:— My dearest Wife,—This will be the last you will hear of me in this world. I yielded to temptation, and now I am going to take the whole upon myself. Look to my two fine boys, and do entreat upon them never to start the cursed gambling. This has been the only thing between us, hasn't it, my dear? I cannot face out what hangs over my head, but I can say some- thing about one of the heads, who poses as a great gentleman in Malton, bit my blood be upon him. Good-bye, and God bless you all, and if there is a loving Saviour, may He have mercy upon me.-Your miserable husband, W. S. The jury found that deceased committ#! suicide during temporary insanity.

A DAUGHTER'S LOVE. TO SHARE THE LOT OF HER EXILED FATHER. Mdlle. Lopukhin, whose father, the late chief of the secret police, was recently sentenced to five years' transportation to Siberia, will leave here a.t seven this evening for Moscow, accompanied by the family's English governess, Miss Russell, en route for M. Lopukhin's place of exile. Miss Russell has decided to share the lot of the family in Siberia.—Router.

THEFTS BY BOY SCOUT OFFICERS. Samuel Paget (25) and William Henry Riloy (18), respectively captain and lieutenant of the West Bromwich Boy Scouts, and members of the local Territorial Artillery, were at West Bromwich on Monday each sentenced to twentr-ono days' hard labour for Stealing nine coata from the Territorial stores.

BRUTAL ATTACK ON A NURSE. + TERRIBLE STRUGGLE WITH AN EX-SOLDIER, An exceptionally revolting case was heard before the county magistrates at Leicester on Monday, when a bootmaker, named John William Glenn, of Melton Mowbray, was charged with criminally assaulting Mary Jordan, a hospital nurse, at Melton Mow- bray, on September 13. The circumstances of the case had aroused so much indignation in Melton that it was decided after several adjournments to hold the magisterial proceedings in Leicester, to prevent a hostile demonstration against the prisoner. The prosecutrix, an attractive young woman of 23 years of a,4, appeared in court apparently still suffering from the effects of ill-usage. She informed the bench that after leaving Melton Cottage Hospital shortly before nine o'clock on September 13 she wen* to meet another nurse, who was coming from London. On the road she was accosted by the prisoner, who seized her. She fell to the ground, and when she screamed he struck her several times on the head. Then he attempted to put his hand over her mouth, but she bit it. She continued to scream as the prisoner dragged her along the road. and remembered something being thrust into her mouth. Sbe Was pulled through a gate into a shed in a field and thrown on a heap of straw. The prisoner then tore off her shoes and fetock- ings and most of her clothing and proceeded to assault her. She struggled violently, and the prisoner thereupon seized her by the throat and tried to strangle her. He told her he intended taking her into another 'hovel two fields away, but shortly after a policeman entered the hovel and rescued her. Owing to the brutal treatment she received she did not remember all tha.t occurred, but she recollected in the course of the struggle some of her underclothing being forced into her mouth to prevent her screaming. The deplorable condition in which Miss Jordan was found was described by Police- sergeant Smith. On approaching the hovel he heard a most pitiful moan coming from the inside. On entering he turned on his light and, climbing over a partition, saw Miss Jor- dan and prisoner lying on some straw. They were lying side by side and the man bad his arm round the woman's waist. She was nearly naked, and her clothing was scat- tered about the hovel. On raising Miss Jordan the officer found both eyes blackened, and the face discoloured with bruises. She looked more like a black woman, remarked Police-sergeant Smith, and seemed very exhausted and dazed. When he asked who she was, she faintly replied "A nurse from the hospital." The prisoner remained on the ground until Miss Jordan was taken away. Then he leapt to his feet and struck the sergeant a violent blow on the mouth. With the help of others he was arrested, and on being placed in the cells observed, "I have been drawn into this. According to the medical evidence of Dr. Nutman, Miss Jordan was in a state of col- lapse when he saw her. The lower part of her body was injured, the eyelids were bruised, arid the lips were swollen and dis- coloured, and there were numerous scratch- ings on the face and neck. The shoulders and arms were also injured. Superintendent Hinman deposed to finding on the read where the assault took place a nurse's bonnet and some lady's torn under- wear. A search was made in various directions, and on going towards the hovel in question witness met a polioeman coming out with they-irnrse, who was taken to the hospital. On tho way to the police-station prisoner was exceedingly violent. Prisoner now admitted striking Miss Jordan, but denied criminally assaulting her. He w.as under the influence of drink, and acted under a sudden impulse. He added that he was discharged from the Army with a good character, but he had lost it through his wife. Prisoner was committed for trial at the assizes.

"BOMBS BY POST." 1-. SWEDISH SCIENTIST CHARGED IN LONDON. There was a startling sequel at Bow-street. London, to the recent Bombs by post out- rages in Sweden. About ten days ago parcels containing bombs were sent by post to Mr. John Hamman, manager of the Swedish Export Association, of Stockholm, and Mr. John Sjoholin, a fa-otory owner. That received by the former exploded, blowing off two of his fingers and a thumb, but the other bomb failed to go off. Dr. Martin Ekenburg, a prominent chemical scientist, and a member of the Swedish colony in London, appeared in the dock (before Sir Albert de Rutzen, sitting in the Extradition Court) on a charge of attempted murder. Dr. Danielson, the Swedish Consul-General, was among those in court. Accused is a hewvily-bmlt man, with dark 'hair turning grey. He was provided with a seat in the dock, and followed the proceed- ings intently. When formally charged he made no reply. As the necessary papers had not yet arrived in England, a remand was ordered for a week. Prisoner's oounsel asked for bail, but the magistrate said it was against the rule of the court to do so in such cases. In reply to another question Sir Alfred agreed to prisoner being visited by a doctor in prison.

MARRIAGE PETITIONS. --L ENGAGEMENT OF THE MAR- CHIONESS OF ANGLESEY. It is announced that a marriage has been arranged, and will shortly take place, between the Marchioness of Anglesey, daughter of Sir George Chetwynd, and John Francis Grey, of Honington HaJl, Shepaton- on-Stour, Warwicl^hire. The ma.rohionetB was married to the late eccentric Marquess of Anglesey, who was her cousin, in 1898, at the Roman Ca-tholic Church at Cadogan-street. In November, 1900, she petitioned successfully for the nullity of 'the marriage, the case being heard in camera. In the following May an extraordinary application was made on behalf of the marchioness thrfc the decree of nullity should be set aside. Evidence was again taken in private, and the nullification was nullified, the marchioness and marquess becoming man and wife, but they soon sepa- rated again, this time without the aid of the court. It was only when the marquess lay on his deathbed at Monte Carlo in 1905 that a final reconciliation was effected between them. They had no children, and the title passed to the ma.rquess's cousin.

SISTER-IN-LAW'S DEBT. MAGISTRATE FREES HUSBAND FROM LIABILITY. To what extent is a husband liable for his wife's hotel expenses ? This was a poinit tha.t came up on Saturday before lLr. Justice Walton. Mrs. Emily Eileen Barnett, formerly of Folkestone, and now of Kensington Palace- mansione, was the defendant, and she was sued by her brother-in-law for £100. It appeared that after helping to nurse her husband (with whom she no longer lives) through an illness, she felt run down. She came up to town by motor-car and stayed at a West End hotel. It was at this time that fhe borrowed from her brother-in-law jElOO, part of which she devoted to paying the hotel bill. She claimed tha.t her husband ought to repay" the loan. Mr. Justice Walton said he would not lay it down as a general principle tha.t a husband was not liable for his wife's hotel bills. In oertain circumstances a trip to London might be as much a necessary as a smart frock. He considered, however, tha.t in the present instance Mrs. Barnett—who has a private income of JB800 a year—did not pledge her husband's credit, ami must, therefore, repay the loan herself. DIRTY WEATHER.

MANY FRAUDS ON BANKS. ■ ♦— PRISONER'S REMARKABLE CONFESSION. William Eugenio Nye Marlinuoci, who described himself as an English subject, was charged at Bow-street on Saturday witn forging and uttering a cheque for JE10 at the Union of London and' Smiths Bank, Bedford- row branch; and, further, with obtaining the sum of js45 by means of a trick, the moneys Of the London City and Midland Bank. B loo ros bury branch. Mr. Harry Wilson, who appeared for the prosecution, said that, in addition to the two charges in respect of which the prisoner was arrested, there would be many other castas preferred against him. Divisional Detective-inspector Gough stated that the prisoner replied on being charged. That's quite right. I admit being the man, and, if you like, I will teLl you all about the other cases I have done. I would like to have all the cases oleared up. and I will give you every aosaatance." lie then wrote ihu. statement:- This is a voluntary statement made by me to facilitate proceedings against me with reference to the undermentioned offences, of which I acknowledge myself guilty:- March, 1909.-Qbtaining jE15 from the Ken- sal Rise branch of the London and South- western Bank by means of a forged exchange slip on Mr. S. E. A. Pooock. April.—Obtaining £25 from the Totten- ham Court-road branch of the London City and Midland Bank in like manner on Mr. Alfred Moore. April or May.-obtainin.g £54 from the Notting Hill Gate branoh of Parr's Bank in like manner on Mr. L. Hart. June.—Obtaining £ 63 from Mr. James Howells, of Henry-street, St. John's Wood, by means of A triok. June or July.-OBTAINING JS73 10B. from the Bayawater branch of the National Bank in like manner on Mr. L. H. Salmon. August.—Obtaining £ 75 from the Pall Mall branch of the London Joint Stock Bank in like manner on Mrs. M. Clark, August. Obtaining JESZ ICe. from Messrs. Hoare, Fleet-street, in like manner on Mr. Charles Greenwood. August. Obtaining zelo from the Union of London and Smiths Banks by means of a forged cheque on Mr. F. S. Holoombe. Obtaining £ 20 from the Fleet-street branch of the London and South-Western Bank by means of a forged endorsement on Mr. G. 8. Daniel. September 23.—Obtaining zC45 from Miss Butterworth, of the Tollard Royal Hotel, by means of a trick. October 15.-Qbtaining £52 lOe. from Mr. J. P. Pickford by means of a trick (London County and Westminster Bank). On this evidence the prisoner waa remanded, in oustody.

ENGAGEMENT BROKEN. YOUNG COUPLE WHO WERE LOST ON THE MOUNTAIN. The marriage arranged between Lady Margaret Sackville and Mr. Edmund Sellar will not take place. This announcement in the "Morning Post," appearing, as it does, within a fort- night of the day fixed for the wedding, will cause surprise, for both parties are well known, even outside the ranks of high society (says the Daily Sketch "). A strikingly beautiful woman, with a pale complexion, dark hair, and dresuny exes. Lady Margaret, the youngest of the three daughters of the Dowager Countess de la Warr, was, like her mother, perhaps even better known for her'intellectual gifts than her beauty. She has written several volumes of prose and poetry. She is president of the newly-formed Poetry Recital Society. Mr. Edmund Sellar, who is the youngest son of the late Professor Sellar, is also afflicted with a taste for writing, and recently published a novel which was favourably received by the critics. Such a similarity of tastes, it was thought when the engagement was announced, promised well for a happy union. It will be remembered that a few weeks ago Mr. Sellar and Lady Margaret had an exciting experience in the Mourne Mountains, losing their way in the darkness which overtook them as they were descending Slieve Donard. Anxious search parties set out, but the oouple managed to reach their destination safely, though they were in a verj exhausted condi- tion, having wandered many mile3 out of their way. The news of the breaking of the engagement has come as a great surprise to a large circle of friends of both families, for Lady Margaret and her mother were already in Edinburgh preparing for the ceremony, which was to have taken place on the 28th inst.

DARING ROBBERY. SAFE REMOVED FROM A POST- OFFICE. A policeman found the door of the branch post-office in Dean Stanley-street, West- minster, unlocked early on Saturday morn- ing, and upon examination a^^jertained that the post-office safe and its contents, weighing about Zowt., had been removed. Later the safe was discovered on a rubbish heap in Sotmers Town. The back had been broken and the contents removed. The 1afe contained, according to the official estimate, .E245 in cash and L470 in postal orders—a good haul. The room in which the safe was kept is or the ground floor of a printincr and book- binding establishment, and is reached from the street bx way of a onridor and a second door. Jwmnty marks were upparent on both outer Qud inner-doors. J

A CONFESSION TO A COOK. STORY OF WIFE'S DRINKING HABITS. The President of the Divorce Division on Monday heard a divorce petition by Mr. John Edward Barnett on the ground of his wife s misconduct with David. Croall. The suit was not defended. Mr. Barnard, K.C., said the petitioner and the respondent were married in 1900 at the Holborn Registry Office, and afterwards lived at various places, and latterly at Underlea, Sandgate, Kent. Two children were born of t,he marriage. Husband and wife lived happily until May, 19G1, when the respondent gave way to drink, and the husband did all he cculd to save her. Towards the end of 1908 the petitioner was ordered to Scotland, being ill, and during his absence his wife was frequently away from home. In the spring of this year he decided upon a separa- tion, and the respondent made a confession to Mrs. Brown, her cook and housekeeper, of j her misconduct with the co-respondent while in London. I The petitioner in his evidence said be had chambers in Jermyn-street, Piccadilly, and his wife had stayed at Prince's Hotel in that street. It was while negotiations were going on for a separation that he learned that the confession had been made by his wife to Mrs. Brown. Mr. Croall was a member of his club, and was introduced to Mrs. Barnett by his (petitioner's) doctor. Mrs. Daisy Brown said she became house- keeper to Mrs. Barnett while her husband was in Scotland in October, 1908. Mrs. Barnett told her that she had met a gentle- man at Prince's who had taken her to dinner, and that he adnlired her and she liked him. In February, 1909, the respondent was at the Royal Palace Hotel, Kensington, and the witness was summoned there by telegram. She found Mr. Croall in a sitting- room, and the respondent, who was hope- lessly drunk, had been put to bed in her clothes. A decree nisi was granted.

"GONE TO CARDIFF." WIFE RETURNS TO FIND THE HOUSE CLOSED. In the Divorce Court Division (before Sir John Bigham), a case was heard in which Mrs. Henrietta Kate Pullin, residing at Bris- tol, sued for a divorce from Mr. William John Pullin, a house furnisher, who had of desertion and misconduct. The suit was resided at Kingswood, Bristol, on the ground undefended. Mr. Weatherly was counsel for the peti- tioner, who said that the marriage took place on the 17th of April, 1900. They lived happily until 1903, when her husband took i to drink and neglected his business. They had one child. Her husband was not able to support her and she got assistanoe from her mother. In 1904 her mother was going to the seaside and she went to take charge of her mother's house for the three weeks she was away. When she returned to her husband's house at Kingswood she found it closed, and on inquiry she discovered that her husband was living at Staple Hill. On going there she found her cradle was there, and that it was occupied by a child of the woman who kept the house. Her husband was unable to find a home for her, and she returned to her mother. After that time she made inquiries for her husband, but could not find him. He had not contributed to her support since 1904. Other evidence was given to show that the respondent had lived with another woman at a house in Bristol, and that he had since gone to Cardiff. A decree nisi was granted.

BURGLARS IN DISTRESS. CHASED BY A DOG AND FELL THROUGH A SKYLIGHT. Finding a burglar at the window, a Brixton- road resident named Sidney Ash, on Mon- day morning seized a sword and made a lunge at the would-be intruder. Then he released his dog, which chased the burglar out of the garden. Other burglars were heard, and the police formed a cordon and waited till daybreak. In an adjoining garden they found Michael Donovan, aged 60, who in consequence of a badly sprained ankle was practically unable to move. When arrested the prisoner had a jemmy. He was remanded later at Lambeth Police- court. A story of an intruder being found injured was also told on Monday to the Bow-street magistrate. Having climbed a wall and broken through a window, Henry Williams is alleged to have helped himself to eighty- three rings and other jewellery from Mr. Thomas Hoskrey's shOlJ) in the Strand, and was decaanpuHg with the booty when he fell through the skylight. The result was 4e broke his wrist. He was remanded. f

TUG FIREMAN'S 'JEALOUSY HUSBAND AND WIFE FOUND WITH THEIR THROATS CUT. A couple, named Mr. and Mrs. Wells, living in Parrock-street, Gravesend, were admitted into Gravesend Hospital on Saturday with serious throat wor-nds. It appears that shortly after midnight the woman, according to her statement, woke up with a pain in her throat caused by a wound. ffie raised an alarm, and, the police entering, found the husband lying in the bed with a deep wound ir the neck. Four children sleeping in the same room were unmolested. The man, whose name is Arthur Wells, is a fireman aboard a Gravesend tug, and is 27 years of age. He has made a "t.a.t.e.trn.ernt which leaves no doubt that he committed the crime thracSh. jeafcmajr. I

SMASH UP ON THE RAILWAY. V RUNAWAYTRUCKSWRECKED NEAR ABERAMAN. An accident of an alarming nature, which might have had serious consequences, occurred on the Taff Vale Railway near the Powell Duffryn Colliery's temporary coal- washeries at Abercwmboi on Saturday night. The 7.20 p.m. down passenger train from Aberdare was just due, and a Taff Vale Rail- way engine and nineteen wagons had been shunted into the washeries siding to allow the passenger train to go by. The driver and fireman, who were waiting In the darkness were aroused by the noise of wagons rush- ing along, and were abruptly thrown vio- 'r lently across the footplate of their engine. Fortunately, however, both escaped injury. An examination revealed the fact that a Powell Duffryn Company's engine had been shunting a train of wagons on the con- pany's siding at Aberaman. It was, of course, very dark, and when the engine reaches the spot vhere the end of the train was supposed to be no train was to be found. The engine was taken quickly down the line in search of the missing train, but before it could be overtaken the detached wagons had dashed at a furious rate into the end of the standing Taff Vale Railway train. Considerable damage was done, for the im- pact had been terrific. The line was twisted for some distance, about 30 wagons were damaged, and coal was strewn about the line and the adjoining fields. A breakdown gang was engaged throughout Sunday in removing the debris. It is fortunate that the Taff Vale Railway coal train had barred the way of the run- away wagons, otherwise they would have run into the stop-block near the main line, and would most probably have been thrown across the oourse of the passenger train then due

PROFLIGACY A D LUXURY. NOTTINGHAM MAN'S FORTUNE OF £ 12,000. Having got into finanoial difficulties, although four years ago his father left him £ 12,000, John Marshall, a well-known Not- ting-ham tradesman, hanged himself. It was a sad story that was told at the inquest on Saturday Marshall attended a meeting of creditors in the week, when the official Receiver said he should apply to the judge for a committal crder, debtor having furnished no statement of his affairs. The official receiver stated that debtor had lived a life of profligacy and luxury, and that little reliance could be placed on what he said. Next morning he was found hanged at his box-making works. A son said that though working for his father he was not in the latter's confidence. For some time he had been irregular in his habits, and had got into financial difficulties. Asked if his father had got through a lot of money, witness said he had heard so, but had not seen it. The jury returned a verdict of Suicide whilst temporarily insane."

GREAT FIRE IN QUEBEC. ENORMOUS QUANTITY OF WHEAT CONSUMED. QUEBEC, Sunday. A disastrous lire oocuxred here last night, cca.sing losses estimated at £ 300,000. The Canadian Northern Railway grain eleva- tor, with 200,000 bushels of wheat, the Quebec Custom House, four rail- way cars, four barns, four Harbour Gcmmit £ >ion sheds (one of which was 1,000ft. long, and full of freight), and a cold storage warehouse with valuable oontents were destroyed. The cause of the outbreak is un- ktjown. The Empress of Ireland had a narrow escape. One fireman was killed and two others badly injured. Only about £ 50,000 of the damoge is covered by insurance — Reuter.

BREAK OVERTURNED. FOOTBALL PARTY INJURED IN MOTOR COLLISION. The members of the Seaham Albion Foot- ball Club and fnends were proceeding in a break on Saturday from Seaham Colliery to Newbottle. when a collision occurred on the road with a motor-car. The break was over- turned and the oar badly damaged. Several members of the party were thrown over the hedge, but were unhurt. Those thrown into the road were not so fortunate. Christopher Hardy, miner, a club official, had a com- pound fracture of the leg, a.nd Edward Smith, another official, an injured spine. Both were taken to the Sunderland Infir- mary after the leg had been set by the club ajnbulanco man. Others sustained minor injuries.

LORD ROBERTS'S AVOWAL BRITISH SOLDIERS NOT SKILLED RIFLEMEN. Lord Roberts's experience in various parts of the world, and particularly in South Africa, he stated on Saturday at the iiarylev bone Rifle Club, is that our soldiers are not sufficiently skilled in the use of the rifle. A second visit to the scenes of the conflict con- firmed his view that the lack of skill accounted for many of the "regrettable incidents" that marked the campaign A man required to have a good nerve who found himself being "potted at" by good marksmen directly he showed his nose above oover, and unless he felt absolutely sure of himself and of his weapon he would not use his own rifle effectively in such circum-1 stancco. <

— — A MISSING BANK MANAGER. ♦ LAST LETTER TO FIANCEE 17 YEARS AGO. The strange disappearance of Mr. William Robertson Lidderdale, formerly roanaser of the Ilminster (Somersetshire) br<».nc> of Stuckey's Bank, formed the subject of 6-n application on Monday to Mr. Justice Bar- grave Deane in the Probate Court. An application was made to his lordship in November, 1907, to presume Mr. Lidder- dale's death in or after the month of Janu- ary, 1892. and it was then stated that he had been engaged to be married to a Miss Chapman, at Newbury Berkshire, on the 14th or 16th of January, 1892, and had made his will on the 5th of January, 1890. leaving a life interest in his property to her. On the 8th of January, 1892. he drew a cheque for £ 1,000 on the bank of which he wa,s man- ager, and left Iimmster by train, taking no luggage with him except a. small hand- bag. His books at the bank were in perfect order. He was believed to have proceeded to Paddington to meet a surveyor there, but a telegram awaited him there stating that the surveyor could not meet him. The last that was heard of him was that he sent a letter to his fiancee, which ran: Arrived safely. Am sending this to you in case I should not see my darling to- morrow. As they do not tell me particu- lars, I fear the will is not signed. Do not be disappointed, my darling, if we are out of it. I promised you if ever I saw Miss Vining again I would tell you, and I do so, dear. at once. She has found out her old lover ia dead, and those old duffers, the Pawleys, must tell her they expected me up. So the first person I ran against getting out of the train was her. I soon told her what she wanted, and got rid of her. She knows we are about to be married, but does not seem to know the date of the wedding. Now, my darling, just be happy about this. It will be all right. Excuse this haste, as I want to start ofL-Yours for ever, WILLIE. AN OBITUARY NOTICE. The letter bore the Paddington postmark. In the February following an obituary notice appeared in the London pe..pers:- Lidderdale.-O,n the 30th January, oe. board Miss B. H. Vining's yacht Foresight, William Robertson Lidderdale, of Ilmin- ster, as the result of an accident on the 8th of January alighting from a carriage in motion. It was said that no such yacht as that was registered. In February Miss Chapman received by post a registered letter in a handwriting she did not know enclosing bank- notes for £500, and among other things & card on which were the words in Mn Lidder- dale's handwriting, "Was true to yon." No further trace of Mr. Lidderdale could then be discovered. His lordship on this adjourned the case sine die for further inves- tigation. When the ease was called on now Mr. Gween, who appeared in Bupport of the t, }.Kn.(, the that the rase might further stand over. It was a case, he said, in which a bank manager had disappeared under somewhat remark. able circumstances. Mr. Barnard, K.C., who appeared in opposition to the motion, said he would not oppose ab adjournment. His Lordship: I have no further informa- tion before me at present. It is rather hope- less to come before me without further in- formation. Mr. <^ween: We are in hopes we shall get it. As late as last week we got further hope of information. His Lordship: At present you have failed to give me further information. Mr. Gween: I hope we shall get it. The case was ordered to stand over for A fortnight.

A SUICIDAL FAMILY. MAN AND WOMAN FOUND DEAD ON RAILWAY. An inquest was held at Slade Green, Kent, on Wednesday on David Charles Holland (21), carter, of Cray ford, and Ellen Matilda Day (20). also of Crayford. Their mutilated bodies were found on the railway on Monday. The evidence showed that the woman regarded everyone as being against hal because she had had an illegitimate child, a.nd bad consequently threatened suicide. Holland, to whom she was to have beer married at Christmas, was described as eccentric, and worried by threatened punish- ment for not attending the Territorial camp. Four members of his family had drowned or hanged themselves, and hiJa mother is in an asylum now. When the bodies were found the man's arm was round the womaji's waist. The jury returned a verdict of Suicide whilst temporarily insane in both caaw.

—■ —— » DEATHS AFTER BATHS. WORKHOUSE NURSES DISMISSED BY GUARDIANS. The Board of Guardians of Hemel Homp stead on Tuesday concluded their inquiry, into the deaths of three inmates of the work- house after being bathed. They decided to dismiss immediately the three nurses. The porter having already resigned, no further action was taken with regard to him. It was decided to have fuUy certificated nursea in future. A sub-oommittee wa-s appointed to draw up fresh rules and regulations. The master and matron were told to continue as before.

A BOTTLE OF HOP ALE. SHIP'S RIGGER AWARDED L300 DAMAGES. In the King's Bench on Tuesday Thomas Paten-son, ship's rigger and boatswain, of North Woolwich, was awarded jESOC damagri in an action against Messrs. R. White a.Dd Sons (Limited) for alleged negligence. Plaintiff alleged that he was made ill through drinking a bottle of defendant's hop ale, found to contain an irritant poison. which defendants declared that plaintiff placed in the bottle himself.

MYSTERIOUS FIRES AT A SCOTTISH HOUSE. An outbreak of fire occurred last Friday night at Luffness House Eos!/ Lothian, the residence of Mr. H. W. Hope and Lady Vary Hope, Lord Rosebery's sister, wben dajjia. £ r« to tbe extent of £ 1,200 was done. On Friday night- the building was again discovered to be on fire. It was a much more serious one, and was not subdued until the roof had fallen in and the greater portion of the building reduced to rains. As tfc* fire broke out in another portion of the house from the first, it is believed both arc the work cf an ineendiary, aud the police are mokirg inquiries.

HAVOC OF THE CYCLONE. JUNKS FOUNDER AND HOUSES COLLAPSE. HONG KONG. Wednesday. A dispatch received here from Marcoo iL states that several junks have feender^d, pwing to the typhoon yesterday, and numerous bouses have ocilapaed. Matir oaaaaJtaee are reported. The French gunboat Argus and the Portogueee gun beat M&oao were carried into a paddy-field up URe river at S*mL—Beuter.