Weekly Mail

SPRING CLEANING. | 0 W. E. Vaughan & C DYERS, DRY CLEANERS, AND LAUNDRY PROPRIETORS, CARPET BEATERS. SJIND POST-CARD FOB TAN TO OALI. T. Llandaff-road, CARDIFF. Nat. Tet. 2035 I "StrocgestaodBest." -R8ALTH. I Fry's I tttF Par* Caacestrated y Cocoa j -As Over 300 Gold Medals and Diplomas. I

— _— DRAMATIC SPEECII BY A PRISONER. • » INCIDENTS IN CRIMINAL'S CARE Eli. Charles Williams (64), *vrho was described in the calendar as 0, journalist of superior education, was indict-ed, and pleaded not guilty, at Middlesex Ssions on Monday to breaking into the house of Augustus Percy Rice, of Bloomfield-avenue, Wood Green, and stealing jewellery value £ 90. The prosecutor was 011 holiday at Herne Bay, and the house was left in charge of a servant. She was away for a day, and on returning found the place in disorder and the articles gone. V. h?n the police arrested Williams a metal watch, identified by the prosecutor, was found in his hod room. At the close of the case for the prosecution the prisoner r-aad a statement to the jury. He explained how ho caine out of hospital suffering from -p-n incurable disease on 31 ay 12. and that he was in a condition which prevented him leaving the house except occa- sionally. I have fought hard for an honest liveli- hood, but because I have a past which 6ticks to me I am charged with this. I had the misfortune 30 years ago to be sentenced to penal servitude for life. During my twenty years of incarceration I never got the slightest remission. I have done that twenty years, and the police know it. I have got over my head at the present time that life sentence, and if you find me guilty of this crime J will have to go back to prison for life. I am not supposed to tell you this. but I wish you to know it. If I am convicted I ruin my home, my wife and children. For the eight years I have been °ut I have fought hard for a living, and out I have fought hard for a living, and no one can bring anything against me. God knows, I would not commit a burglary. I have done. The prisoner called three witnesses to show that he could not dress himself at i.imes, but, on the other hand, the prison dootor stated tha,, although ill he could movo about. The jury found him not guilty of burglary, but guilty of receiving T etective-iisp-ector Neil sravo an account of prisoner's career. His first conviction was in 1367. At the Central Criminal Court on March 23, 1881. he was charged with feloniously wouEding, and sentenced to peual i-rvitude for life. The officer explained that in that case the prisoner was being pursued by three persons and he turned round &nd shot at them. wounding one. The record stated that he shot at the three persons. The Chairman: Did he bring only one of them down? The Prisoner (interrupting): I. only wounded one. 5 The Officer: Two others were wounded but not seriously. The officer added that, on May 12, .901,; prisoner was released on licence, and the next thing heard of him -was that at thai Middlesex Sessions he was' oonvictod for stealing money from gaa meters and sen- tenced to a month and his licence revoked. When Jabez Balfour was released and wrote his prison recollections the prisoner v^ote articles correcting him, and giving his own "or atecs o* prison ine. vVitnoss saw a deal of what Williams wrote, and it was very much exaggerated. For instance, he related how on one occasion he evaded the police when frost and snow was on the I ground by getting into a butt of water and covering himself with the lid. Sentence was postponed.

NOT A LEGAL MARRIAGE. STRANGE STORY OF WOMAN'S SUICIDE. An inquiry was held at the City Coroner's- conrt on Monday into the death of Susannan Ma.rv Simmons, 32, of Boundary-road, West Ham, who was found hanging in the laditO" room at the Bank Station of the City and South London Railway Mrs. Ilillier, of Dorset-street, Baker-street, said SammoTis went through a form of marriage with a man named Pennington six- teen years ago, but Bennington was already married. Eight weeks ago Sammons left him, and started proceedings in the Divorce Court. On j.iiesday last, the witness ad-dod Bennington gave him.-If up to the police and it was on .he following day that Sam- mons committed suicide. In reply to the coroner, the witness said Sammons knew some years ago that she was not properly married. rrs. Cooper, of Boundary-road, West Ham. said she lived near Sammons, who eio-lr weeks ago went to her in a fainting condi- tion, with her arm torn and bleedin- and with bruises, and eaid her husband had been So^^roLi?1-' .A'Vltnoss added that Sara- nioiih probably did away with herKolf SUthP ^T1TlinCt0'- c™f°ssed to bigamy to stop the nivorce. proceeding's. Kobf>rt .Tn.mipta t^ken vntl>;n arH! he was altogether by surprise when she left him in August. She took some furniture with her. At the time of the marriage she knew that it was not a legal one, but she wanted to to through the ceremony so as' to tell her friends that she was married The C;>mner.Wh,t an out these allegations that you ^1-T.sed i<* n+^wur tYlt chi!dr«n can testify how I have treated that woman. she once tried io commit suicide by drinking ca-boli- acid Jury returned a verdict of Suicide

"CHECKPJATHD" HIS WIFE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST CARDIFF MAN. PoIi^-conr'rS m:,ch in evidence at Cardiff \'ice ecmesday, when Mrs. Hetta Charles F UfV> hi-9' ?ud<>J"str,e,6t' summoned *• .Coehlin, her husband who is « A W TWopt'1.clan- for persistent cruelty Mr (for the oif dfendod' *'• Sydney Jenkins Sckm'tcd T,nailt] d€fendatl- had r <> n:t 0 r>er cent, commission t'nkinc- Yo» -lorS ttt Doc,ks- Mr- S Ym, °uga to do wc]1 the ^'loJkiyc •- are You wer<) iOOKll.3 f0r Jt in b&d most time, werent you? (A Voice: He is lazy) Defendant. No;j wag thi:<1.wa out through » threatened coal strike. Mr. Jeiiktns hreatened strike! Surelv, the con- mtions ok> the now! Mr. Milner Jones made an OTftti lOs. per woek and co=ts with custody of the children.

HAPPY IN THE WORKHOUSE. PATHETIC STORY OF A LAMPETER! NONAGENARIAN. the age on S3, 1>amPeter, at naaied Mart ret Dav'4 la ll,;<Iry 'voman, cv.-mere ,11' a nGtlv» of Khyd- kno'.rn by h!r f sho Was bc.it Marged ih apfiu«.intances as and much respected ago. whet 1Ue tmt;1 fc'lir buildings, and wi°Und r69t ,Gt happy after 3"tabte <iml On the morning Cf ^< xistence,. £ oo the » ail71' to and thanked him it L /'lU' him wished him lon<? life kindness, and was buried at Abber^v,/ wl,ne6ti S(n'e show the respect in which she «"ubS„S 6um to provide a saitable coffin of polifhed oaJc« |

NEATH MAN'S TERRIBLE INJURIES. An Exeter correspondent wires:—A singular railway mystery concerning a Neath man and a dead soldier is engaging thd- attention of the railway authorities a.t Exeter and else- where. About three on Sunday morning a man was found by a policeman wandering about Exeter streets with severe cuts to his head, which was covered in blood. He gave the name of Lewis Lewis, aged 29, of 3, Leonard'e-terrace, Park-road, Neath, and said ho had fallen from his cycle near Exeter. At the hospital it was found that he was ter- ribly knocked about. A large cut on th side of the face necessitated twelve stitches, and cuts in other parts of the head had to be I sewn up. He was in a very dazed condition, and made a rambling statement. Meanwhile, when the football excursion I train returning from Plymouth to Neath arrived at Exeter Station, the door of the last compartment was open, but the occupants told the railway officials that everything was all right, and the train proceeded. Another excursionist who alighted at Exeter was left behind, and when a telegram was received from Bristol that a, mau was missing from a train the Exeter officials concluded it was the man whom they knew had failed to re-join the Neath excursion. The Exeter police ascertained from the Neath police that Lewis had gone to Ply- mouth on Saturday by a football excursion, and had not returned by it. A further com- plication was added by the news that the driver of a goods train following the Neath excursion had founa on the line eight miles above Taunton the dead body of a soldier. He is at present unidentified, and it is not known whether he wa-s an excursionist or was walk- iug on the liue. Lewis was very dazed, and says he cannot remember anything after leaving Plymouth, but there is little doubt he fell out of the train just before reaching Exeter.

INQUIRIES AT NEATH. Lewis is a painter on the Neath and Brecon Railway. He has been in indifferent health for some time, but he travelled by the excur- sion to Plymouth on Saturday, leaving Neath shortly before one o'clock. Our Neath reporter writes that altogether 382 were booked Dy the same train- The crowd was so great that there was very little chance of sleeping. After a busy day at Plymouth, the return journey was commenced at midnight. At North-road, Plymouth, Lewis and Mr. Jim Jenkins, a retired engine-driver on the Neath and Brecon, of 23, liosser-street, Neath, got into the last compartment of the last coach on the train. The only other occupants of the compartment were two strangers. All were tired, and went to sleep just after I leaving Plymouth;-in fact, Mr. Jenkins slept all the way to Newport. It was then ho missed Lewis, but, the train being a corridor one, he gave only a passing thought to his fnend's absence. As a matter of fact, it was not until tome time after Neath was reached that Mr. Jenkins heard anything about the accident. At Newport the two strangers were still in the compartment, and they, having been sleeping, were also ignorant of what had happened. It appears, however, from inquiries that a woman told the station officials at Taunton that a man had walked out of the train. Asked why she did not pull the communication cord, she said she was too frightened, and did not leally known what to do. Directly the information was received the officials set the wires m operation, and Lewis was found lying on the metals unconscious near Exeter. He was at once conveyed to the Exeter Hospital, where the injuries to his head were found to be serious. He was able shortly after arrival at the hospital to disclose his identity, and his brother at Neath, Mr. David Lewis, manager of a local clothiers' shop, was at once communicated with. The injured man is 27 years of aee I and single. On Sunday his brother-in-law, Mr. Owen, left Neath for Exeter.

CARDIFF MAN'S DEATH. MUTILATED WHILST TRESPASS- ING ON THE RAILWAY. Dr. E. M. Grace, coromer for the Thornbary Division of Gloucestershire, held an inquiry at Downond on Saturday into the death of George Oram, aged 34, a coaltrimmer, of Car- dlif. Deceased was the victim of the railway tragedy at Mangotsfield on Thursday. The body waa found on the Midland Railway in a terribly mutilated state. Anme Oram, of Cosham, aunt of the deceased, identified the body. Evidence wa.s given to the effect that deceased had been depressed of late. He had been strange in his manner and absent- minded. lie had lately gone to reside at Short wood for a rest. The Coroner stated that the jury would have difficulty at arriving at a verdict, as there was no evidence to show how decea-sed got c'n the railway. The jury returned a verdict of "Acciden- tally killed whilst trespassing on the Mid- land Railway."

UNCLE AND NIECES. AMAZING STORY TOLD BY A GIRL. A sensational case came before the Willes- den magistrate (Mr. W. n. Luke) recently. I Arthur Wade (35), master coachbuilder, of Harlesden, was charge on a warrant with taking his niece, Roeetta Suatt (17), from the care of her mother for an unlawful pur- pose. Mr. C. Groebel (solicitor) defended. I Miss Sratt, a dark, attractive-Looking girl, fashionably attired, told tjie court a remark- able story. Her elder sister Emma, she said, had lived with prisoner (her mother's tjrother) as his wife for some years, ODd had had two children. At the request cf her sister and uncle she ¡-?ft her mother's home at Kilburn and went to live at their house. A week or two later, after she had retired, her lister came to her and persuaded her to sleep with her and her uncle. Slip did so. This was repeated oil several other occa- sions. her sister, she alleged, being present. Mr. Groebel: Why did you not run away after tVe first occasion ?—Witness: Because my sister threatened disturbance towards me. Do you remember after a. party at your sister's house making improper suggestions to your unGlc ?-Xo. Were you not very troublesome even in your schooldays? No. I won the King's medal for good conduct. Mrs. Suett, the mother of the girl, said I prisoner was her brother, and she knew that her daughter Emma, had lived with him as his wife for several years. 8-01116 weeks ago he and her daughter in- Z" ;.e duced Rosetta to leave home and live with them. She strongly objected from the first, and tried to get her back, but had failed to do so. In the presence of prisoner her daughter Rosetta told her all that had taken place, and prisoner admitted it was all true. She then gave information to the police. In reply to Mr. Groebel witness said Roeetta had always been a good girl, but Emma. had disgraced the family. She admitted that on one occasion, many years ago, she and her husband had stayed with prisoner and her daughter Emina at their house. Prisoner, who denied the charge, was it- manded, bail being allowed in C50.

BIHDS BLINDED BY RED HOT NEEDLE. At Lambeth on Monday Frederick Collins (56), a labourer, was sentenced to throe months' hard labour for blinding chaffinches. The prosecution alleged that the blinding of chaffinches was a regular trade, which involved great cruolty. the method being to destroy the sight with a red hot needle. It was done with the idea that the birds would sing better, and that it would enhance their value. A veterinary surgeon declared the needle caused very acute suffering when the nerves were severed. The defendant denied he had blinded the birds. ]

STRANGE AFFAIR AT NEWPORT. f YOUNG MAN RECEIVES BAD INJURIES. Mr. Malcolm Vaughan, second son of the late Alderman Daniel Augustine Vaughan, J.P., or Newport, lies unconscious at the family residence, Dan-y-rhiw, Maindee, from injuries received under circumstances which at present are very mysterious. He has 'a fracture of the base of the skull and con- cussion of the brain. Mr. Vaughan, who is 25 years of age, was found in an unconscious condition at the back entrance to Dan-y-rhiw about three o'clock on Friday morning. All other theories except that he was attaoked by an intruder on the premises have been exhausted, and appear to be found wanting. Mr. Vaughan, after attending to business all day on Thursday (including some travel- ling in the potato trade), went to meet some friends in the evening. As he did not return very early the rest of the household went to bed, leaving a light burning in the 'hall. Between two and three o'clock on Friday morning the attention of the old nurse, who had been in the family more than 30 years, was attracted by hearing heavy groaning. Mrs. Vaughan was aroused, and on a search being made it was found that the groans came from Mr. Malcolm Vaughan, who was lying unconscious at the foot of a flight of half-a- dozen stono steps inside the back door, which njwnc frwm nmm.p,1'11.r.an'll1), nir, L" ._A" A"& u. J.J. UV.1-.1..1., n",jr'1 S" stick, in an upright position, and mackintosh were* a few yards away from him against a wall. Dr. P. J. I'Ginn (his brother-in-law) and Dr. Jones Greer have been in constant attendance, but up to Sunday evening Mr. Vaughan remained unconscious. The only external injuries that could be found about him were some damage to the mouth (which was bleeding) and a grazing of the knuckles of the right hand. Mrs. Vaughan has sought the aid of detectives. On Thursday night Mr. Vaughan was seen in the neighbourhood of Summerhill-avenue at half-past eleven, but from that time he was not seen until he was found unconscious at the foot of the steps between the wall door and the back door of the house. For the present the whole matter is full of mystery, but those who have investigated it incline to the belief that when Mr. Vaughan entered the backyard he encoun- tered an intruder. If that be so, it is easy to />nnstnipt a ni/>tlire of what ha.nn.ønAii Mr. Vaughan, who is a steady, well-set-up young man, would, no doubt, put his coat and stick against the wall (where they were later found) -and challenge the intruder. The marks on his right knuckles possibly indicate that he got in a blow, but he received such heavy punish- ment from a fist or blunt instrument about the face that he was knocked out and had the base of his skull fractured. Additional colour is also lent to this view from the fact that the door from the avenue into the backyard was not fastened when the house- hold were aroused. Mr. Va-. ghan's habit was to shut it fast when he got inside. But if an intruder had been there he would probably make his escape that way. and the door -would be left unfastened.

ABUSIVE POSTCARDS. SWEETHEART'S SISTER AND MAX'S SUICIDE. The Deptford coroner has held an inquest On the body oI Frederick ftobbs (24), a general dealer, Greenwich, who hanged himself 1 a,bt Saturday morning. His mother said that Nobbs had been considerably worried by some postcards from his young lady's sister. Did he ever keep company with the sister?- Not to my knowledge. The Coroner read several of the cards, one of which was as follows:— You must speak to yourself. You have got back to Greauwich with a collar on your necx, but the two 01 you had to run for it. I was near her house at 9.35. I saw her wicked head through the window. I did not want to get her the sack, for she. is not everyone's servant, for no one with sous will employ her. I will wait my time and give her more than she wants. She will not come it with me, as she did with my sister, and betray her behind her back. She is not worth owning as a sister. You yourself a.re a snake in the grass. You would not have gone home with a collar last night if I had met you. 5*11 pother postcard addressed to her sister, the young woman wrcte: We a-re very Pleased to hear some good news of obbs. We called out to him the bai ^^ht- Don't be downhearted, as he had a face as long as a wet Sunday. Bur f°r!e ,ace rabbit. We hear that he his debts SiV6 pay solne of lias he sent his collars to the wash, or is he waiting for you to buy him some? a domestic servant with D VVd,& keeping company, said that she had known him for eighteen months, and t>b a- wafs ^PPeared to be happy with her. Previously he had kept company with her sister Lucy but, the latter broke it off. Ho had shown the witness the postcards. The Coroner: One bears the date October 5. It is a piüt.1.lre posteard of a judge a.nd jury, with the legend below: "Now tell the u°,W-" Wh*~ did write these brieve she was jealous She 7 wl seemg us together. T ^Cy J ""1' a machimst. said that she 5!1tae fngapinent, and Nobbs after- wrfrtnJ rn er ftistc1'- She admitted wxitiag tne postcards. The Coronor: What induced you to write home1 trouble, not want my sist-er to bring home trouble. diT/1^ 18 a e?°d deal of ab'ise in them. Why paper W °n postcard? I had no him°,riff8n&e'n. Y°" ffG that Ile has hanged minY" i V Posvcards is, in my t-,™ slanderous, and on action might be Shed you. It looks to me a.f; if you f iriln 0 t6^ and worry tho man. You riu y acted out revenge J3& thRt she did «* I-ttml A verdict of "Suicide during temporary ia&an»ty was returned.

ARREST IN BUENOS AYRES RATE COLLECTOR CHARGED WITH EMBEZZLEMENT. At Belfast on Saturday David Porter, late the Bel as? r1' 1° Ul6 rateS ^tment of ii.e bei.ast Corporation, was charged with the embezzlement of the city rates to the amouiu of £ 5,700. The accused waa arre«t<vl In ajenoa Ayres on an extradition warrant and arrived on Saturday. Detective Costeiio stated that when AV^L0T1 a Bl'itish Stearner at B^nos A}res the accused said he had nothirg fur- ther to add to what he had alreadv ftated in his etter to the city accountant. The prosecuting solicitor intimated that in this letter Porter oonfess-ed the offence. Detecti.e Costeiio, continuing, said that when searched the prisoner had in hi* possession four paper dollars, 210 cents and nineteen bonds. The accused was remanded.

METAL IN A BARGE. SENTENCE FOR THEFT FROM CHATHAM DOCKYARD. At West Kent Quarter Sessions on Saturday TTiomas Edgar Vasy, con of a metal mer- chant, was sentenced to six months' in the second division on a. charge of stealing a quantity of railway metal from Chatham Dockyard. f'n-1- iae prosecution alleged that prisoner's father purchased a quantity of old iron at Chatham Dockyard, which was OOllr- veyod to Nore Marsh, adjoining the Medway. At the same time the prisoner, who directed the removal of the goods, had loaded into a barge a quantity of metal which had not been purchased, and which fdrmed a part of the railway. Vasy went into the box and stated that he only took away what ho thought his father ad bought.

"OUR HEARTS' DELIGHT." —With acknowledgments to the picture by Mr. Joseph Clarke.

WOMAN'S BODY IN A SACK. DISUSED PIT MYSTERY IN SCOT- LAND. Sheriff Orr, sitting in the Edinburgh Sheriff's court on Monday, presided over an inquiry concerning the death of Georgina Burnett (24), whose dead body, caked, tied neck and heel, and enclosed in a sack, was found in a disused pitshatt in Musselburgh on the ,15th of September. John Bell,"a labourer, who had been in custody three weeks in connection with the case. sat in court. The story of the tragedv, as already reported, was told by witnesses and th" sailor. Bell, who had been deceased's sweet- heart, gave evidence of living with the i deceased from April last to June 17, when she left their lodging, intending to return He told of meeting the deceased on the same day at Porto-bello, Edinburgh, in com- pany with a coliior. He never sa.w her again. In view of the negative character of the evidence furnished by a post-mortem examination, the jury declared that the cause of death was unknown, and there was no evidem.ce to connre-ct anyone as being to blame for death.

DEATH FOLLOWS ATTACK OF SEA SICKNESS. 1 A man named Charles Richards, a native of Saltash, Cornwall, died at Cork on Mon- day. Richards was a passenger by the steamer Lismore, which' arrived at Cork on Monday morning from Plymouth, and during the voyage suffered from a severe attack of seasickness. On arrivaJ he was attack of seasickness. On arrival he was conveyed to the infirmary, where life was found to be extinct. Deceased was the only _.&1 _1 son 01 a wiuoweu mouier, and was on the way to Haulbowline for employment. ■" =

THE WAlt IN MOROCCO. A Tangier telegram to t.he "Gaulois" st,ates that 4.000 men of the Onto, garrison embarked for Melilla. on Friday. The Spanish army in the Riff country now comprises 52,000 men.—Central News.

A BOARDING-HOUSE ROMANCE. WIDOW AWARDED DAMAGES FOR BREACH. The breach of promise case in which the grocer wrote lovingly to his former land- lady on butter has finished in the King's Bench Division. The lady in the case is Mrs. Minnie Muir, l a boarding-house keeper, of West Kensington, and the man whom she alleged to have pro- fessed the great passion for her is David Weir, junr., provision merchant. The pro- mise was said to have been made in April, 1908, Weir at that time being one of the boarders at Mrs. Muir's house. Mr Weir admitted that the promise was made, but pleaded that it was cancelled by mutual consent. Since the engagement between the parties terminated he had mar- ried another lady. w Evidence was given by Mrs. Trelfell, a neighbour of Mrs. Muir, who said that she was called to Mrs. Muir's house on Septem- ber 3, 1908, when Weir was leaving. She over- 'heard the following conversation: — Mrs. Muir: David, why are you leaving my house like this? David: If you want to speak to me we will go into the dining-room. n"r1 ..1.J ..1. _.L 1 iiey aaopteu tint suggestion, but Mrs. Trel. fell said she could still hear what was said. It was this:- Mi's. Muir: David, what abo-ut our engage- ment? David: That remains the same. In the witness-box, on his own behalf, Weir said he was engaged to Mrs. Muir about the beginning of May, 1908, and things proceeded satisfactorily until the beginning of August when she commenced accusing him of all kinds of things which were unjust and untrue and practically made his life unbearable' She complained of his coming home late, although he was detained by The wedding- had been deferred until'Octo- ber, buit before that time he reoeived a solicitor's letter inviting him to make an offer of damages for breach ff promise This he contended, justified him in marrying Cissie Davis-ho was manageress of his busi- ness) on November 9. He asserted that he proposed to Cissie ten days before he married her. "I couldn't marry a woman like that proposed to Cissie ten days before h-e married her. "I couldn't marry a woman like that he said, referring to Mrs. Muir. "She rushed at it lilte a mad bull." (Loud liu^hter ) Weir stated that his business ^had been turned into a company. He had qualifyin,g shares as a director and received £100 a year as fee. He was now living in Loughton, Essex. He did not buy his wife an engage- ment ring. "Because there was not time?" suggested counsel. "Nor funds either," retorted Mr. Weir. The jury returned a verdict in Mrs. Muir's favour, awarding £ 25 damages. Judgment was entered accordingly. I

INCAUTIOUS DHIVING. INQUEST ON VICTIMS OF A MOTOR SMASH. I At the resumed inquest at Exmouth on -fonclay on the victims of the recent motor smash, Mr. Andrew Gibson's solicitor said that, in view of the statements made at the ^ast inquiry, he would swear that Gibson, one of the deceased, was a temperate and sober man. Evidence was called to this effect. The police swore that Dymond, one of the party, was drunk, and Dr. Beesley deposed that he was under the influence of drink. A publican deposed that he refufsed Gibson, the driver of the car, drink, as be considered it unwise to serve him, but he was not drunk. Thomas Dymond, commercial traveller, swore that all three occupants were sober. Mr. Crossby, motor expert, said that he had made further examinations, and wished to retract his previous statement that the car was travelling 35 miles an hour, and to eay that it was going eighteen miles at the time of the accident. A verdict of "Accidental death, due to inexperienced and incautious driving," was returned.

j GOVERNMENT OF TWO DAYS DEFEAT OF THE TASMANIA N LABOUR MINISTRY. Renter's Agency learns that it was not expected that the Labour Ministry formed in Tasmania last week would enjoy a long lease of power. Its majority in the Lower House was six, and these six votes were not con- sidered stable. There was no member of the party possessing the legal qualifications for the post of Attorney-General, nor was there a member of the Upper House entrusted with the portfolio. News, however, of the defeat of the Labour Ministry came sooner than was anticipated— after it had enjoyed but two days of power. The Labour Government, though its career was brief, created an interesting precedent in the history of Tasmanian politics. Port- folios, instead of being distributed after delicate personal negotiations, were allotted by ballot among members of the Labour party, each member voting for his own par- ticular candidate for each portfolio.

RECORD SHOOTING. MELBOURNE, Tuesday. At the Victoria Rifle Association's annual meeting at Williamstown the shooting was unprecedented in Australia, possibly in the world. For the King's Prizs, at 200, 500, and 600 yards, 58 scored a hundred o** more, and seven 103 out of a possible of 105.—Reuter. )

MOTHER & CHILD'S DEATH. 4 DISTRESSING SCENJS AT AN INQUEST. There were some dramatic scenes in the Shoreditoh Coroners-court the other after- i noon at an inquest on Rose Ivy Beatrice lallen, aged 13, a, cripple, whose death from natural causes (suffocation from convulsions) at her home in Edge-Wharf-rood, Islington, was alleged to have been caused by the mother smothering her with a pillow. The mother said the child, who Buffered from epileptic fits, had one last Thursday evening. She laid her on the bed and sent for the dootor, but the girl died in few minutes. Mrs. Florrie Reynolds, a neighbour, alleged that deceased's sister, Daisy, said to her, What's mother holding the pillow over her face for?" The Coroner: Did you think the mother was mu-dering the child?—Witness• I hardly knew what to think after what Daisy said. I only know I could not rest until I bad told somebody about it. Daisy Lydia Allen, a bright girl, about 16 years of age, asked by the coroner as to the I pillow, dramatically raised her hands, and, I bursting into tears, excitedly said:— I never said it, as God is my witness turn wui ue my juage, 1 never saifl it; you know I did not, Mrs. Reynolds." Mrs. Reynolds: You have gone beyond yourself. It is the first time you have denied it. Witness: I deny it; I deny it. The Coroner: You must tell the truth, you know. Witness s I Gppeal to God if it is not the truth. Police-constable John Meitner (the coro- ner's offloer) said deceased's younger sister told him that Daisy bad spoken of the pillow. The Coroner: It is a mystery that is diffi- cult to clear up now that the daughter denies it. Dr. Ed. Taylor, who said the child died of suffocation from convulsions whilst in a fit, stated that be had known the mother for fifteen years as a steady, loving house- wife and mother. The Cororer: The suspicions part is that the daughter now < nies the matter. Did you ever use a pillow? Mrs. Allen (frankly): Frequently to pre- 1 vent the child knocking itself, but only as a pad. The Father: A better mother never breathed. I oan' swr that. The jury found that death was "positively natural and no blame to the mother." The Coroner: There is no doubt a great in- justice has been done to the mother through this talk. I The Father (kissing his wife affection- ately) They say no blame attaches to vou. Mrs. Allen (brrsting into tears): Thank God. Thank vou so kindly, you don't know what your words mean to me.

SHOP GIRL MURDERED. TRAGEDY BEHIND THE COUNTER IN BERLIN. B ERLIN, Saturday. The police are investigating a caee of brutal murder which again raises the question whether the authorities should continue to permit the leaving of young girls aione in charge of shops where the till is likely to be of sufficient value to attract burglars. The present crime was committed in a baker's shop-a. branch of a large establish- ment-where a young girl named Alice TLikow ski, who was alone in the place during the evenings, but was accustomed to return to the head office and deep with other girls at night, was found dead on the sbop floor yesterday morning in a pool of blood. Ou the back counter was found a cup nd plate marked with bloodstains, from which the murderer had evidently taken a meal after the girl had been killed. The police believe that the affair was not wholly due to motives of robbery.—Central Xews.

ON BRIGHTON BEACH. STRANGE STORY OF SUIT OF CLOTHES AND A £ 1,000 POLICY. A strange story of a suit of clothes found on Brighton beach and of a £ 1,000 insurance policy was incidentally related at Marylebone on Tuesday in a, case in which a young man, John E. Hardy, was remanded on a charge of theft. Inspectqr Tappenden mentioned that 25 pawntickets had been found upon Hardy who said they were given to him by his brother, who committed suicide at Brighton on October 1 last. The officer discovered that some clothes were found on the beach at Brighton on that date, but that they belonged to the prisoner himself. The Magistrate: Is he insured?—Yes he is insured for zEl,000, a.nd has paid two instal- ments. The District Inspector to the Sun Life Insurance Company at 'Brighton explained that the insurance policy for £ 1,000 was taken out at the end of August last by the prisoner I in the name of Robert-Henry Hardy. The Magistrate: Has any claim been made under the policy'-No, sir. I am afr-ud we saw him too quickly after the finding of the clothes on the beach.

DEATH OF A VICE-ADMIRAL The death is announced at Eastbourne of Vice-admiral Arthur Charles Burgoyne Bromley, of Leath Vale, Ockity, Surrey, Nan I of the late 8ir Richard Madox Bromley, K.C.B.

VICTIMS OF PIT BLAST. — ♦ THREE MEN SUCCUMB TO SHOCK. OTHERS IN A SERIOUS CONDITION. REMARKABLE FORECAST RE-CALLED. A serious explosion of gas oocurred on Fri- day at the New Coed wen Colliery, owned by the Trxmsaran Company, at Trimearan, near Kidwelly, whereby eight colliers were severely burnt. Three of the victims have succumbed to their injuries, and the remain- ing five are suffering so severely from shock that it is even fea,red the death-roll will eventually be greater. The names of the deceased are:- Owen Thomas, aged 30, Glasfryn House, Trimsaran-roa,d, collier. John Williams, aged sixteen, 15, New Oat- tages. Trimsaran, collier boy. Edward Andrew Da.rk, New Cottages. The names of the injured who still survrw are: -Navies, fireman. New House; William Evans, shotman; William Williams; John Henry Griffiths, pumpman; and David Sparry, boy. It is difficult to obtain ATQM. infm-mnlfAn as to the explosion, since the men affected were the only ones at work at the time. The colliery had recently been flooded, and these eight men were employed in cutting a new airway through the coal. It appears that when the explosion occurred-between three amd four o'clock in the w-orniilg-tiioy were working over the top "hole in the new slant, It is presumed that an vlccumulation of gas was ignited by an electric spark from the pumps. INQUEST ON THE THREE VICTIMS FORMALLY OPENED. The inquiry into the deaths of Edward Andrew Dark, New Cottages; John Williams. New Cottages; and Owen Thomas, Glasfryn Houses, Trimsaran, was formally opened at the Tabernacle vestry, Trimsaran, on TutlE- day by the district deputy-coroner (Mr. W. W. Brodie, Llanelly). Mr. Randell (of the firm of Rondell, Saunders, and Randell, Llanelly) was present on behalf of the Miners' Federation, and Mr. Graham and Mr. Albert Jones on behalf of the company. The inquest was subsequently adjourned tiU December 14 in order to enable sufficient time to elapse for the injured men to recover. MINERS' PRACTICAL HELP FOR INJURED COMRADES. A meeting of the men employed at Trim- saran Colliery was hold to consider means vf helping the doctor and alleviating the pain of the sufferers in the recent explosion. The outcome was that a trained nurse was at once sent for, and engaged for a sufficient length of time to enable those injured to be well on the road towaj-ds recovery. A stronz oommittee has been appointed to raise funds to pay expenses.

DISASTER FORETOLD. CLAIRVOYANT'S EXTRAORDINARY "PROPHECY" TO DEAD MAN. News of the death of the two men vividly re-oalled to Llanelly people a strango .1 prophecy" which was made by a clair- voyant living in the town about two years ago. Quite a sensation was caused by this utterance at the time, and a painful feeling was created at the extraordinarv ooinci- denoe or whichever it might be of the actuality. This olairvoyant fore- told to Owen Thomas, one of the dead men, that a disaster would take place at the New Caederen Colliery either in two tiays, two months, or two years from tha, time. She was brought before the magis- trates for telling fortunes, being heavilv fined, and all this came out in evidence Su^h consternation, it was stated, prevailed that the workmen feared to descend the pit, and considerable difficulty was experienced in netting them to do so. One of the men now injured said what this woman had foretold was exactly the experience which he had gone through m the explosion of Friday.

WORRIED ABOUT A OFRT _£.#.&. YOUNG BRIDE AND HUSBAND'S SUICIDE. ♦ fi bi?deT,°# only six week«. Mrs. Tread gold toi«i the Hampstead coroner on Wednesday of her husband's suicide by taking poison. Deceased was a builder, aged 3L He came home said the widow, cn Friday night, and told her he was worried about a, debt. He took up a table knile and threatened her, Say!nf. either going to kill himself or kiH her. He afterwards put the knife under his pillow, and witness went to another room to sleep. Next morning deceased went to work as usual, but afterwards visited the place where she worked, and showed, her a, packet containing poison. ,1 he said, is what I am going to tane but she persuaded him not to do eo. un the way home he said to her, "Take this letter, and when I am dead read it. I have only two hours to live." When they got home he mixed the acid in some water, and put it too his lips, saying, 1 am going to drink it." Witneeie. however, just managed to dash the glass away before he drank it. She then left the house fo get assistance, but on returning she found that her hus- band had been taken to the hospital. A verdict of Suicide during temporary insanity was returned.

"WANTED ONLY HER." COGAN MAN'S ALLEGED VIOLENT LOVE-MAKING. A serions charge of attempting to commit, an assault was preferred against William Richard Thorne, & young Cogan man, ait Penarth Pcnce-court on Wednesday. Th-a complainant, a smart young domestic servant, named Prife, in service at Wind- sor-road, Cogan, buu whose parents keep a haardreesing esta-Miehment in Pill-street, stated that on Monday morning she was in the kitchen ironing when, unknown to her, prisoner entered the house. She aaw him standing in the doorway of the kitchen. He was diunk. and asked what he wanted, he replied that He did not want anything but her." He made a grab at her and attempted to assault her. He said he would hit her two peepers into one." Mr. Sydney Jenkins, who was for the prisoner, applied for a r- mud in order to secure evidence on his bohalf, and prisoner was remanded in custocy till Friday, at Barry.

PENSION FOR A CRIMEAN GUNNER. Ex-Gunner William Wilding, of Old Newton. Stowmaxket, aged 84, on Wednesday received an intimation from the War Office that the King has been pleased to grant him a Xio annuity and a silver medal for meritorious service. Wilding holds the Turkish, Long; Service, and Crimean medaJs.

SWEETHEARTS IN CHILDHOOD. FICKLE LOVFIJIS VISIT TO AMERICA. Miss Abbey Seroka, a skirt maker, of Oswald-street, Whitechape.1, brought an action (before Mr. Justice A. T. Lawrence and a I common jury) in the King's Bench Division on Friday for damage,3 for alleg-ed breach of promise of marriage against Asher Webber, who is, like herself, a member of the Jewish faith. According to the statement of Mr. Evans, counsel for Plaintiff, the parties were acquainted from childhood, and even in the early stage of their life were known as sweethearts. The defendant made her fre- quent presents of$w&ete then. As they got older the naturo of the presents developed into bottles of scent and the like. At length, in 1903, he asked her to marry him, and gave ncr two rings—an engas-cEient ring and a true-lovets, knot. Subsequently he intro- duced her to his family as his intended wife. th„ aJ^reWCli fPfrty g've* *> <tef«ndant on i lm for America she rewSSt^ti"■ ™a,K«l_.w.fe. His mother with the assuram UP', aud her back for h«r she i'Y ♦ t °°m& one of the defcX?, ™,Uld J° In he expressed h £ lette^°^ew York he his n ]"Q" .h. mast b*°S if VVITH ANOTHEIt LADY hiJfat^er W told her that had no need to V'eek^o that she added, had got afraul. f'f, Slst^ he marriaare. and he ™ ,°m °n her Defendant, she'ui her since his ret £ n° Upon 1908, but she h^i Z ymAm(T 'ln August' saw him on more^h"m m thestre«*- She out until a youn. oocaSlon diking fin one occasion °c^~tl,he younf lady Sie and a friend 8aw I theatre' young lady. 8aw blm in a bus with a His Lordship- with you? ad you a youn^ sentleman Witness (emphatically).- No. (Laughter! Cross-examined h,- A "V r appeared in person w,+ ° def^aln- who father had a taiC' I f v Sald def«n<lant'3 property. S Workshop and plenty of Defendant: Didn't when I was i„w?tmS to me several letters after v^' f wrote you me. xou said y0u stopped Wntl°S to and come to me but d SaVe y^ur m^ey ter.) you never < Laugh- -YS'^b^you^w^M am 1 n°t? fLau^hter.) pose there's £ woman"01 '^k 1 SUP" laughter.) man in the case. (Great A WA. 71 TTTILU hi* Tord^hin marry him now? asked wa, TO,mS *• His Lordship Ito defendant): She says she is willing to marry you. Are you willing? What, exclaimed the defendant, after this action? In the witness-box the defendant said he was not successful in America, and he thought it wa.s for that reason that the plain- tiff refused to see him when he came home. He had never refused to marry her. The jury awarded the plairitiffE75 damages, a,nd- judgment was entered accordingly. -—————