Weekly Mail

A WOMANS CRIES UNHEEDED. 4 TIMID COLLIER CENSURED AT SAUNDERSFOOT. TOLD CORONER HE THOUGHT IT WAS A GHOST. The mysterious death of a woman who was found in the yard of Moretc-n Farm, Paundersioot. on Monday was inquired into by the deputy-coroner, Mr. T. T. Allen, and a jury on Wednesday. The deceased was Mrs. Esther Phillips, wife of the village I' blacksmith. The husband stated that his wife said she was going for a walk in the fields, and this was the last he saw of her. Coroner: Was she addicted to drum .—Oh. yes, dreadful. By the coroner: Often his wife told him that she was going to see the doctor, but he ¡ found out from the doctor she seldom went to see him. The Coroner: She deceived you?- Yes. William Couzens, a farmer, of Moreton, f5a.id that on Monday morning at 7.30 he found woman's clothing strewn about one of hie fields. He took up the trail, and came across the body in his yard. Her face was in a. conple of inches of mud, and the body I had little covering. John Henry Edwards, a collier, said he passed through the farmyard at 11.35 on Sunday night on the way to work. He saw I someone there all white," but could not say what it was. He went near against it and said Good night," and "it" replied, "Good night." After he had gone forty yards "she" shouted for help, but as he felt a bit timid he' kept on hie way. A Juryman: Did you think it was a ghost?— A ghost I thought it was in the beginning. The Coroner: You deserve to be censured for not going back. Dr. W. C. Evans's evidence went to show that the woman had died from suffocation. He did not think she had had a fit, but was suffering at the time from delirium tremens. Tne jury returned a verdict of Death from exposure," and censured the witness Edwards for his cowardly conduct.

HANGED IN HIS CELL. TRAGIC END OF A HUNGARIAN BLACKMAILER. A disagreeable affair which will probably assume greater dimensions is causing much I discussion in Buda Pesth. A ladies' hair- dresser named Vigyazo has been conducting an organised campaign of blackmail against ladies of the aristocracy and plutocracy, which appears to have been long planned. Vigyazo, a strikingly handsome man of elegant appearance and polished manners, selected the business of a hairdresser for the I sole reason that it would bring him into close connection with those circles in which he hoped to find victims. By degrees he became acquainted with the I intimate secrets of his patronesses. Thus finding himself in possession of sufficient I material, he forwarded various blackmailing material, he forwarded various blackmailing letters, in one declaring that he had entire knowledge of a lady's meeting with her chauffeur, in another giving exact details of I the lady's interviews with an officer of hussars, while other letters of the same character contained scarcely veiled threats. The price which he required for his silence varied from 3,000 to 5,000 kronen, or more. An energetic lady, wife of a millionaire, to whom the blackmailer had written in error, informed the criminal authorities, who arrested the man. It was soon known that he had communicated to the police a number of compromising stories, and it was also to be expected that in the case of a trial be would give the names of those ladies who had yielded to his demands for money. On Monday Vigyazo committed suicide by hanging himself in his cell. He belonged to hanging himself in his cell. He belonged to a respectable family which had formerly owned a considerable amount of property. He lived at one time in Vienna, moving in very good circles.

SMASH ON THE MIDLAND. GOODS TRAINS WRECKED BY COL- LISION. An alarming railway accident occurred early on Tuesday on the Midland Railway. Between three and four o'clock two goods trains were travelling to Cudworth from Sheffield, one an express, which had come on the main line, and the other, a slow, pro- ceeding on the Chapeltown branch line. Out- side Cudworth Station the two lines meet, and the two engines came into violent con- tact with the points. Both were thrown off the metals and several carriages were smashed and empty wagons piled up. Breakaown gangs cleared away the debris, which completely blocked the main line, and traffic was diverted on to the adjoining goods line. The line was clear before noon. The only injury was to a fireman who pro- ceeded home after medical treatment. I.

SEAMAN AND HIS WIFE. ♦—— ASTOUNDING REVELATIONS IN COURT. A singular story was told in Salford Police- court recently, when a seaman named Wil- liam Bradshaw was charged with neglect- ing his wife and children, whereby they became chargeable to the Poor Law Union. The desertion was proved by an officer of the union, and the prisoner's wife entered the witnoss-box to give corroborative evi- dence. In reply to Mr. Desquesnes, who appeared for the defendant, she said she had lived with another man for about twelve years before she marsied the defendant, and she had two children by this man. The defendant knew all about this when he mar- ried her. She denied that she had committed miscon- duct with another man, and said that since their marriage he had always been throw- ing it out at her that her children were not as good as his, because he had been married and she had not. She denied that her hus- band caught her with the man, and that he called two constables and made a charge against her in their presence. She admitted that since their marriage her husband had been at sea for periods of from a month to six weeks. INCREASED BY TWO. William Bradshaw, the defendant, said he was a naval reservist, and he produced his certificates, showing that the entries were entirely in hiB favour. He married the last witness more than a year ago, he said, and she appeared to have had at the time two illegitimate children. Mr. Desqueness: Were you aware of that fact at the time?-No, sir. She wrote a letter to me in Boston that the family had in- creased by two. and I was not aware of this. I was surprised when I got home. I found that they were in my house. (Laughter.) The Stipendiary: How long had you been away when you received the letter ?-EIe\ on or twelve days. « How soon did you come back. —In about a month.. Did you find two infants ?—I could not, really tell you their age. I dare say one of them would be twelve. They could not have been born since you left'—No. (Laughter.) Defendant added that the father of the children was still living. lie later caught his wife in the yard at a quarter past two with a man, and brought two polioe-conetables. Neither she nor the man denied the charge at the time. He said: "i am going to put her out and sell up," which he did on the Monday morning. And you have never lived with her since? '-Never, and dc not intend to. Police-constable Moulds corroborated as to being called to the yard by the defendant. The wife and two sailors were in the yard. Defendant made an accusation against the woman, and neither of them denied it. The constable said he assisted the woman to find lodgings. Defendant was discharged.

CURATE AND A BOY. GRAVE CHARGE DISMISSED. Herbert Arthur Richings (29), clerk in Holy Orders, was indicted (before Mr. Justice Bucknill) at Birmingham Assizes on Satur- day for alleged misconduct with a boy, aged fifteen, on Augilst 1, 17, 25, and 31. Mr. Sand- lands prosecuted on behalf of the Crown, and Mr. Marshall Hall, K.C., M.P., Mr. S. S. Dor- sett, and Mr. Marshall Freeman appeared for the defence. Mr. Sandlands said the case was exceed- ingly distressing, as the prisoner occupied the position of senior curate at St. Mary's Church, Acock's Green, and the boy was one of the scholars at the Church sc2*»l. The defendant was in the habit of attending the swimming bath at Green Lanes, Small Heath, and it was there the offences were alleged to have taken place. The suspicions of the bath attendant were aroused by the pris- oner's behaviour, and he communicated, with the police, whose investigations led to the arrest of the prisoner by Inspector Moxon. Prisoner said to the inspector. Oh, it's all right." Later, he remarked, I know I have been an ass." Prisoner was called by Mr. Marshall Hall, and stated that he had been curate at Acock's Green for the last two and a half years. Previously he was curate at St. Stephen's Church. He was a master of Arts and a classical exhibitioner at Oxford. He denied emphatically that he had ever been guilty of the acts imputed to him by the prosecution. The accused man was given the highest character by a number of witnesses. Mr. Marshall Hall made a forceful appeal for an acquittal, and the jury, after a short retirement, found the prisoner not guilty, and he was discharged.

A WIDOWS CHARACTER. DAMAGES IN^ ± YORKSHIRE d SLA if Ding CASE. i An action for damages for slander was brought at the Leeds Assizes recently by Gertrude Jones. a widow,,of the Gladstone Arms, Bradford, against John Rhodes Watson, a bootmaker. Mr. Waugh (for the plaintiff) said the statements complained of insinuated that plaintiff was a woman of bad character. Defendant made these allegations in May in the Bull Hotel, Thornton, in the hearing of several persons. He had kept on repeating them for months, and as a result plaintiff's character had been greatly injured. Defendant's plea, said counsel, waa a com- plete denial that he made the statements. Counsel could only describe defendant's con- duct as an abominable attempt to injure the character of a perfectly virtuous woman. Referring to defendant's action in instructing a detective to make inquiries for him about plaintiff, Mr. Waugh said there was an old proverb to the effect that you must first catch your hare and cook it. Defendant's idsa seemed to have been the other way about-First make your .slander, then try and get evidence to justify it. Plaintiff, a good-looking young woman. denied having carried on a certain course of conduct with certain persons Several wit- nesses spoke to hearing defendant make the statements of which plaintiff complained. Arthur Fanshaw, in the witnees-box, said that he was not a turf commission agent; he was simply a commission agent. Mr. Waugh. That isn't my fault. (Laugh- ter.) Witness I sell pianos or motor-cars; it doesn't matter which Mr. Mellor: Perhaps you have a good memory?—I don't know whether I have; I may have a good forgettery. (Laughter.) The jury awarded plaintiff £76.

MARRIAGE MYSTERY. CHURCH SENSATION IN CATHE- DRAL TOWN. A good deal of comment has been excited in church circles in Peterborough, by the announcement that the marriage of the Rev. R. E. Roberts, precentor and minor canon of Peterborough Cathedral, to Miss Evelyn Hull, daughter of Mr. E. C. Hull, J.P., of Earls- wood Mount, Surrey, and Queen's-gate, Lon- don, will not take place. The ceremony was to have been performed at Holy Trinity Church, Kensington, on December 1. The banns had been published and all the wed- ding arrangements were well forward, but during the woek-end all invitations were cancelled.

INDIAN VETERAN'S DEATH INCIDENT OF THE STORMING OF DELHI RE-CALLED. The death occurred on Sunday morning at his home at Famborough of Colonel Llewellyn Wavell.an Indian Mutiny veteran. He was one of the first through the breach at the storming of Delhi, and the first to assist the heroic Captain Nicholson, who blew up the Cashmir Gate, when he was laid low with the wounds that led to his death. Colonel Wavell also served in the China War (1860), the Pe-king Rebellion (1862), and the' Afghan War (1879). For yean deceased had been connected with all movement* for j the betterment of soldiers I

GUARDSMAN AND GIRL. COMMANDING OFFICER'S ACTION ON MAGISTRATE'S CENSURE. When Lena Jones, twenty-four, a servant, was bound over at West London Court on a charge of stealing, Mr. Frampton, barrister, said that he had a. statement to make regarding a corporal in the Guards who had been keeping company with the girl. At the last hearing, said Mr. Frampton, the magistrate, on reading some letters from the soldier to the girl, had observed in open court that the man did not deserve to wear his Majesty's uniform because he had been getting the girl to supply him with money. His commanding offiqer had consequently decided to dismiss the man, but deferred his final decision until the man had an oppor- tunity of refuting the accusation. The girl, said counsel, had voluntarily lent the man the money— £ 5. Mr. Fordham, however, after calling Detective-sergeant Baker, intimated that he could not bear anything further on the matter. He would leave things to the commandins officer.

SHOTS AT A SCHOOLMASTER SEPTUAGENARIAN'S ALLEGED STRANGE VENDETTA. On Saturday at the South-western Police- court Richard Henry Chivers, aged 71, was charged with firing a revolver with intent to murder at John Robert Ayris, headmaster of a London County Council School, who resides next to the accused in Dornton-road, Balham. Prosecutor said that four years ago he had a lawsuit with the accused, who objected to the way he had built his house. The prisoner had to pay £150 as the cost of the proceedings. Since then he had been un- friendly, and at half-past ten on Saturday morning, while prosecutor waa mending his front gate, he heard three loud explosions, which he at first thought were fog signals. He looked up, however, and saw prisoner at an open window of his house firing at him with a revolver. When the accused was arrested he said, Quite right; but I only fired over his head to frighten him. I could have killed him if I had wanted to. He is the cause of my wife's death after 45 years of union." Four shots had been fired from the revolver in accused's possession The Magistrate remanded the accused, eand directed he should be examined as to the state of his mind.

DRIVER AND GUARD KILLED FLUSHING, Tuesday. The boat for Queenborough will not leave until one o'clock, owing to the late arrival of the boat train. The delay is due to a collision between two trains near Breda, in which a driver and guard were klUed.— Beater. r*

AFTERNOON BIRDS' IN COURT. 1 SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST MUSIC-HALL ARTISTES Lizzie Noel (18), and Eva Noel (16), both quietly dressed in dark costumes, described as music-hall artistes, were charged at Marlborough-street Police-court as belong- ing to a certain clas.3 and behaving in a riotous and improper manner. A constable said that on Friday afternoon h., saw the prisoners in Piccadilly. They fcpoko to gentlemen, and, as he had cautioned them on a previous occasion, he took them into custody. They told him they were music- ball artistes. Another police witness deposed that he had known the girls since August last as being of ths character suggested, and that recently he had cautioned them about speaking to gentle- men outside the Geological Museum in Picca- dilly. They frequented the West End regu- larly in the afternoon. Both prisoners: That's a lie. The girls also denied the rest of the evi- dence, and said that they were music-hali artistes at present out of employment. They bad been touring as cornet players, and the Inst constablo that gave evidence called thexn afternoon birds." They were hi the habit. between rehearsals and work. of walking into Ejde Park, and were mistaken by the police for the sort of persons suggested. They were leading respectable lives, and were soon going into pantomime. and had professional engagements to .follow that. Mrs. Oliver, their landlady, said the girls had lodged with her for a few months. They Ud respectable lives They 1-ad some visitors, including a professional gentleman connected vith tho stage and a gentleman friend who, she believed, helped ibem when out of work. Their stepmother and father also had visited them. Once they stayed out all night. explaining to her tnat they had been kept v<;ry lato with friends over music, and did i not care to disturb her by going home so late. Mr. Mead ordered the girls to be put hack in order that they might have an interview with Miss Jaggs, the mission woman attached to the court. Later in the day they were again brought into court, and Mr Mead kaddressing them) said that he had considered their cases very carefully It was Had to see girls like them -well brought up-giving way to this vice. He believed what the constable said, but even supposing it were untrue, the girls, on their cwn statements, had not been leading a respectable life. He would bind them over to como up for judgment if called upon.

ACTRESS ROBBED. SERVANT AS DECOY OF GANG OF THIEVES. Mme. Rosa Bruck, a leading actress at the Vaudeville Theatre, Paris, has been robbed of her jewels and furs, which are valued at £ 2,400. The culprit is a young servant, who, it appears, obtained her situation in the actress's home by means of fcrged refer- ences. There are always gangs of thieves in Paris who operate by means of dishonest ser- vants. and the servant of the actress is supposed to be the decoy of a band of inter- national thieves, whose headquarters are in London. When the girl waa engaged by Mme. J{osa Bruck some-weeks ago. she produced eic^ftent references, most of which came from England. Ths actress wrote to the addresses fur- nished, and received favourable replies to her inquiries. When the girl's trunk did not arrive she expressed her surprise, but was informed that the delay was due to the Customs aMthoritie". Last Sunday the girl asked permission to go out and make some purchases. Her re- quest was granted. It seems that the only purchase she made was a chisel. During Mme. Rosa Brack's absence in the afternoon the servant foreed all the closets and drawers in the house. She seized two neck- laces worth £1.040, several rings, a fpr stole valued at £ 600, the actrees's stage jewellery, and jewels belonging to the governess. mmmm

FLOATED A COMPANY. JUDGE REFUSES A DISCHARGE FROM PRISON. Mr. Justice Neville on Tuesday heard a motion by Mr. F. B. Woodruff for his die- charge Irom custody. F. B. Woodruff and Co. were responsible for the flotation of the Weetwood limestone Quarries, and in the liquidation it was alleged that £ 30 odd had been received by Mr. Woodruff and had been misappropriated. An order was accord- ingly made that Mr. Woodruff or the com- pany should refund the money. His brother- in-law ottered to pay, but the liquidator I demanded i;60 for coats. His Lordship asked whether the £80 would now be forthcoming, and counsel said he did not think it would, now that the man had been in prison three weeks. His Lordship dismissed the present applica- tion. with ooete.

POISON IN THE BEER. GIRL CHARGED WITH ATTEMPT TO KILL FATHER. A sensational case was opened and adjourned at the South-Wectern Police-court, London, on Tuesday, when a nineteen-year- old girl, named Jane Elvy Terry, was charged with administering spirits of salts to her father. The latter said he was living at Battersea apart from his wife, but was on friendly terms with his daughter. On Saturday night the girl went to fetch some ale, and after drinking it the man had a burning sensation in the throat, and a strong, acid taste in his mouth. The girl, who denied the charge, was remanded.

CALLOUS HUSBAND. WELL-DESERVED PUNISHMENT FOR WANTON NEGLECT. At Hitchin on Tuesday Harry D. Kempton, Army Reservist, was sentenced to one month's hard labour for neglecting his wife and child. The evidence showed that no arrange- ments were made for attendance upon pri- soner's wife during her confinement. There was neither fire nor food, although Kemp- ton was in regular employment, and during the week following the birth of the child the mother only had one cup of tea, one raw turnip, and two raw carrots.

SUSPICIOUS DEATH OF A WOMAN. LEADS TO EXHUMATION AND PROSECUTION. Salford Police-court was crowded when a young man, named Walter Speak, was again placed in the dock charged with that he did feloniously incite, counsel. procure, and aid one Henry Ilorbury Preston to feloniously and unlawfully perform an illegal operation on Grace Geddes. The charge arises out cf the exhumation of the body of a young dressmaker, named Grace Geddes <25\ wliose death took place eirly last month. The woman had been lodging at a house in Pendleton. and when she was taken ill the prisoner called in the late Dr. Preston. When the girl died Dr. Preston gave the death certificate, but from certain information which came to hand the body was exhumed. Mr. Hockin. who prosecuted on behalf of the Public Prosecutor, stated that as far as possible the police had discovered that the prisoner and Geddes first became acquainted in August, 1908. The deceased was then living at Elgin, Scotland, and she came to visit her married sister, a Mrs. Green, at Macclesfield. She stayed at Macclesfield for some time, and was visited there by Speak. In February. 1909. Geddes returned to her home. and there was a correspondence between the two for some time. In May, 1909. she returned to Macclesfield, but after a. •short stay left, and the prisoner took rooms for her at a house at Old Trafford. TAKEN ILL. Whilst at this house the girl was taken ill, and Dr. Preston was sent for. The occupants thought that this was rather strange for a. doctor who lived three miles away to be sent for. However, the doctor came and saw the girl in bed. Certain things were alleged to have taken place, and eventually the girl recovered and left the house. Afterwards it was found that another room was secured by the prisoner in Cheetham Hill. At a later day Geddes and the prisoner took a room in Pendleton, Speak being described as the woman's cousin. At this house the girl also became ill, and Dr. Preston was again called in. On October 8 the girl's condition was so serious that Dr. Preston called in the well- known specialist, Dr. Helme. Later Dr. Helme was again called, but the woman was then dying. Mr. Hockin. continuing. said that when the difficulty arose as to the death certificate Dr. Preston saw Dr. Helme with regard to the note he (Dr. Preston) was sending to the coroner. Dr. Helme insisted upon certain information being placed on the note, but he (Mr. Hockin) would prove that that ietter never reached the coroner at all. Had it done so the coroner would have been able to make inquiries immediately, but as events turned out an exhumation of the body was necessary. POST-MORTEM. A post-mortem examination of the Body had been made by a well-known specialist. Dr. Gravin Moore, who was accompanied, amongst others, by Dr. R. Pepper, of the Home Office. Dr. Pepper would tell the Court that some little time before her death the woman had undergone an illegal operation. Mr. Hockin said that the prisoner was also charged with conspiring with Dr. Prwston. and at a later 6tage he should most probably make other charge against Speak. Dr. Pepper stated that on November 15 he made a post-mortem examination of the body of Geddes. He formed the conclusion that Geddes had recently undergone an illegal operation. Death was due to septic peritonitis. GIRL IN TEARS. Mrs. Harker, of Nursery-street, spoke to Speak and Geddes going to her house on October 3 and taking apartments for Geddes. Speak was introduced by Geddes as her cousin. Gerides went to bed ill. Speak called on the Wednesday and saw the girl in bed. Speak came downstairs and said, "Mrs. Harker, will you tell me what's the matter; she won't tell me." Subsequently Speak said he was a chemist, and she (Mrs. Harker) advised him to get, some spirits, which he did. Witness recommended Dr Woriey when Speak suggested a doctor, but Speak said that Dr. Preston was a friend and a cus- tomer of his. Dr. Preston came in the even- ing and again the following morning prior to the operation by Dr. Helme. Geddes was in tears, and said. "Oh, Mrs. Harker, it's a coffin they will take me home in." The inquiry was adjourned. DOCTOR'S SUICIDE. An inquest was also held in the after- noon on the body of Dr. Preston, when the jury found that deceased committed suicide. Evidence was given that the doctor was overworked and suffered from headaches and fainting fits, but Dr. W. Mair declared that death was due to prussic acid poisoning.

GRIEF FOR DEAD WIFE. PATHETIC STORY OF YOUNG WIDOWER'S SUICIDE. A strange verdict was returned by a City of London jury in the case of a young widower, named William Henry May (28), who. driven to distraction by grief, poisoned himself. The jury decided "that there was not sufficient evidence to show the state of hi: mind." The Coroner told the jury that in a nicely-written letter the deceased stated that he desired to join his dead wife. and the young fellow's father said "the death of his young wife unhinged his mind from the beginning. At the funeral he lost his head and threw himself into the grave It has preyed cn the lad's mind ever since, and he has not slept for nights. Besides, the cost of his wife's funeral worried him. and he had to dispose of his home to pay the expenses." Deceased went to the office where his sister-in-law was employed, and drank poison in her presence.

IRISH RAILWAY SMASH. HEAVY DAMAGES AWARDED A PARISH PRIEST. In Dublin on Wednesday a jury awarded .£1.100 damages to the liev. Patrick Flynn of Glassan, near Athlone, against the Great Southern and Western Railway Company for personal injuries sustained in the Roscrea accident last July. In Dublin on Wednesday a young eirl named Margaret Mary Gleeson. the daughter of a draper, of Nenagh. was also awarded £ 500 damages for injuries sustained in the Roscrea railway accident. e

THE PARIS MYSTERY. + OFFICER ARRESTED AT THE MINISTRY OF MARINE. PARIS, Wednesday. Captain Meynier, in whose rooms the dead body of his mistress was found a fortnight ago, since when he has been missing, was arrested this afternoon at the Ministry of Marine while delivering a letter addressed to an officer. The woman was the divorced wife of a Earon Olivier, but passed under the name of Baroness d'Ambricourt. She appears to have been poisoned When he appeared at the Ministry of Marine Captain Meynier was dressed in mufti, and had his beard and hair cut in euch a fashion that he was hardly recognis- able. He did not give his name, but asked the porter to hand a letter to an engineer officer, whom he said he knew. The officer in question was out at the moment, but returned almost immediately and received the letter. He at once ordered the doore to bo closed, and the visitor to be detained. The latter at once asked that he should be taken before the Detective Department, admitting that he was Captain Meynier. When he was searched three phials containing poison were found on him.-Reuter.

LOCK-OUT INCIDENT. BOILERMAKER'S BIGAMY WITH MONEYED WIDOW. A strange story of an alleged bigamous marriage was told at the Glasgow Sheriff's- court recently, when David M'Dowall (30), a rivetter, pleaded guilty to deserting his wife and three children. An inspector of the poor, who prosecuted, said M'Dowall was a locked-out boilermaker, and left his wife and family on November 24, on the pretence of collecting money for the distress fund. It was alleged he had bigamously married a widow with five children, who had received JB300 compensation fer the death of her husband. She sold a dairy she owned, and passages were booked for all for America, whence they were to have sailed from Greenock last Saturday. M'Dow&ll'a lawful wife was pre- sent at Greenock. and a scene occurred -vhen the two women met. M'Dowall had gone to Londonderry, intending to board the boat there, but the police arrested him when be was going aboard. M'Dowall was sentenced to three months' imprisonment.

SUICIDE OF LADY I OF TITLE. 1 FOUND SHOT IN WEST END HOTEL. A sad story was told on Tuesday at the Marylebone Coroner's Court in the course of an inquest concerning the death of Lady Isa Gordon Bois, aged 39, the wife of Sir Stanley Bois, a well-known Ceylon mer- chant, who died under peculiar circum- stances at the Welbeck Palace Hotel, Wel- beck-street, W. Lady Bois, who was married to Sir Stanley in 1895, was the daughter of Mr. Gabriel Ross, of Sutlierlanashire. Miss Brenda Ross, of Earl's Court-square, a sister of deceased, said that the latter'H health had not been good since she under- went an operation a year ago. She had ¡ suffered with her nerves, and had had delusions regarding her child, which was about nine years old. Her husband had bean in Ceylon on business for some time. The deceased worried unnecessarily about the child, but she was in no way under restraint, and she had never made any threat concern- ing herself. A REVOLVER LICENCE. Elizabeth Gibson, recently engaged to act a -s companion to the deceased, said they went out together on Friday morning, but did not go near the Winipole-street Post- office. Lady Bois might have gone out in the afternoon alone. The Coroner: She appears to have taken out a licence for a revolver there on Friday afternoon. Continuing, witness said that she assisted the deceased to bed on Sunday night when she returned from Kensington. The. next morning Dr. Polland came to see her, and when he left witness also left the room. She camo back in a few minutes and found Lady Bois dead on the floor, with a revolver near her. Witness had never seen the revolver before. A police-constable who searched the room found four letters in a dispatch-box addressed to various people, and these showed the I intention to commit suicide. He found a spent cartridge and a revolver licence taken out on November 25. Dr. J. Polland said he had known Lady Bois for ten years. Some years ago she had an operation, from which she recovered perfectly well, but last December there was another I operation. There was no suggestion of any- thing incurable. She appeared to be improv- ing until a week ago, when she had her daughter up to see her before she (Lady Bois) left for Switzerland. On the following day she told witness that her child was like herself, not properly formed, and would have the same sort of trouble. ALWAYS HER LUCK. On Sunday afternoon she came to witness's house, and said she would like to telegraph to have the child brought up again from the country. Witness pointed out that the post- office would be closed, and she replied that was always her luck. On Monday morning she again said she wanted to have her child up. Time and again she had said she would not get better, and it was one of her delu- sions.. Witness recognised as being in deceased e handwriting a letter which had been found addressed to him. in which she said:— Dear Mr. Polland,-You will think me wicked; everyone will think me wicked; but I am doing it because I think it is right. I cannot go on spending all this money and upsetting other people's lives. It will be be6t for other people in the end. I cannot ever be normal again. I know that. Nothing wrong with me was discovered; but I can't ever be normal and like other people, or any ¡ use to anyone again, I know. I have written similar letters to my mother and husband. The jury returned a. verdict of "Suicide whilst temporarily insane."

BEAUTIFUL GIRL SPY. WHO FELL IN LOVE WITH A RUSSIAN JOURNALIST. The revelations of M, Menchikoff, for twenty years sub-Chief of the Russian Secret political Police, are shortly to be given to I the world The romance of a beautiful spy named Leonidova is but one chapter of the revela- tions he intends to make. Leonidova lived at Moscow. In order to avenge beraelf on a rival who had taken away her lover she denounced her as a Ter- rorist. The rival was arrested and dis- appeared. The denunciation waa received by Menchikoff, wno enrolled Leonidova among his force of spies; while receiving £10 a month from the Secret Police she acted as secretary to a Socialist organisa-, tion, whose members she stirred up to acts of revolt, at the same time denouncing them to the Russian authorities Then she fell in love with a journalist, to whom she confessed her secret. At this moment M. Menchikoff went over to the I revolutionaries, to whom he gave a list of his collaborators. Leonidova was denounced in the Terrorist newspapers, and she and her lover left Russia for Paris to protest their innocence, but did not go further than Berlin. There they separated, the lover going off to America. She returned to Russia, j where she tried to poison herself, but after a long illness she has now gone to Paris to rehabilitate herself. j

THREE WASTED YEARS. JUDGE'S OPINION OF BREACH OF PROMISE ACTIONS. During his summing up in a breach of promise action recently at Manchester Assizes, where Ethel Fletcher, of Burnley, sued Herbert Draper, a young butcher, of the same town, Mr. Justice Scrutton said some people thought these actions ought not to be brought. While the law allowed them to be brought, however, the courts must decide them. The case before them illustrated one of the reasons why it was contended that such actions should be allowed, for the girl had wasted three years of her life upon the man. Probably in this case, as in others, the young people would have been much happier if their female relatives had left them alone. It was not every idle word spoken in a lovers' uarrel that meant the breaking of ah engagement. The jury found for Miss Fletcher, awarding her JE20 damages. On a counter-claim for the return of the furniture they found for Draper.

MAD MOTHER'S ACT. I At Leeds Assizes on Friday Mary Eleanor Richardson (43), married, was indicted for the murder of her child at Dalton by drowning in the River Don, and being found guilty, but insane, wae ordered to be detained during his Majesty's pleasure.

STRANGE STORY OF THREATS. 1 SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST V SOLDIER. Edward Norris, 20, of Brixton, described as a private in the Army Veterinary Corps, was charged at Lambeth with demanding JB1 from Alice Yates by menaces. The Prosecutrix said that she was married, but was not living with her husband. About three weeks ago the prisoner and another man came to her flat and assed for a woman named Norah, whom she did not know. On the 24th inst. she received through the post a letter addressed to the occupier. As the occupier, she opened the letter, and after reading it took it to the police-station. As she was living alone in the flat she felt rather nervous. The letter was as follows:- Address to J. Parker, Post-office, Brixton- hill, London.—You are to be on your guard. I think I am the only man who would do such a thing, but it is my own back. Unless you forfeit me the sum of Xi to the above address, I will have that flat and all its occupants arrested without delay. Unless I hear from you between now and Satur- day night last post, will take action.— Sincerely, J. PARKER. Mr. Hopkins: Was the name of Parker known to you? The Prosecutrix No, not at all. Did you know the prisoner to be Parker?— No, sir, I did not. On Saturday morning, the witness con- tinued the detective came to me and told me to write a letter in reply. I wrote a letter, £ f it to "J. Parker. Brixton-hill t ost-omce London, S.W." I heard nothing more until they came and asked me to go m « Ce^tation and charge this man. r. opkins (to the accused): Do you want an-y Qllestions ? {<> iho insoner: I can only say this woman immoral woman. She enticed my sister there, 6ir. Replying to a question by the magistrate, !hlLi°^eCUtrix 8aid that she knew a girl, named Pansy Norris. v^teliVe-se^ant Norrey stated that he HlJlnVation upon the post-office at °n Saturday evening and saw a and come out with a letter hich she handed to the prisoner. When the prisoner had partly opened the letter EL JTirIT went up to him and told him „ i +! c^arBed with sending a threaten- ing letter demanding £ 1 by menaces. The1 prisoner replied: I have been silly. I am a soldier on fur-1 ouf rry sister wa* ruined at that flat, and l thought I should get some money irom thftrn On the way to the poUpe-station, he said: ,J. ca", now I was a fool to send a letter like that. ^P.rispner's request, a young girl, an.. Norris, aged sixteen years, who said that she was his sister, entered the wit- ness-box. Asked by the prisoner what hap- pen^*i° er' the girl replied: "I used to w u k 8V"eete at night to keep her and w w ?? and another fellow." committed the prisoner for tnal at the Central Criminal Court, but offered to acoept bail in £ 20 for his appear- ance.

ELECTION COPYRIGHT. LAW SUIT ABOUT A FAMOUS POSTER. In the Court of Appeal on Saturday an appeal was heard in reference to the pending action brought by Messrs. David Allen (Limited), printers, and Sir Thomas Wrightson against Mr. Percy Illingsworth, member for th-a Shipley Division. The company are owners of the copyright of a poster, entitled Free Trade." Their co-plaintiff was the chairman of the National Union of Conservative and Constitutional Associations, the publishers of the poster. They brought the action against the defendant, complaining that at the last election he issued copies of the poster with the words Tariff Reform sub- stituted for Free Trade," thus giving an impression, contrary to the idea of the poster, that the artisan depicted had been reduced to poverty by Tariff Reform. The present appeal was by the defendant against the order of Mr. Justice Lush directing him to answer certain interrogatories. It was contended these interrogatories were of a fishing character, and should not be allowed. Their Lordships held that the interrogatories were. in the circumstances, quite proper, and dismissed the appeal with costs.

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TRAGEDY OF QUEEN'S- HALL CONCERT. I 4 A LADY SINGER'S LOVER DIES SUDDENLY. During the progress of the Queen's-hall concert on Friday night, at which Miss Marjorie Tempest, the well-known New Zealand singer, was the star, a tragedy with which the gifted lady was cioseiy associated was enacted. Among the audience was Mr. Alexander Falconer, a member of a London manufac- ing firm, to whom Miss Majorie Tempest was engaged to be married in a. month. While she was singing he was seized with a faint- ing fit, ana after resting foi some time on a divan decided to go into the fresh air. He became worse, however, and. hailing a taxi- cab. ordered to be driven to Sir Havelock Charles, his medical man. On the way be became so much worse that he stopped at the house of Dr. Wiltshire of Welbeck-street. The physician advised him to at once go into a nursing home, but this he would not hear of. as he had promised to meet Mfss Tempest after the concert at Queen's-hall. He was assisted into the cab, but while it was on its way back to Langham- place he died suddenly. Meanwhile Miss Tempest bad missed him from the audience, and made inquiries. A little later she was informed that her lover was dead. Miss Tempest is completely pros- trated by the shock of the tragedy.

THE CRIPPEN CASE. CONVICT'S WILL TO BE DISPUTED .L BY HIS WIFE'S RELATIVES. We are informed by Messrs. Seymour Wil- liams and Co., soiicitcift, of Parliament- street S W that they have entered a caveat against the will of Dr. Crippen on behalf of parties interested. The effect of the caveat, it was stated by a member of the iirm, will be that the executor or executrix of the will will have to give notice before they can get probate, but it did not necessarily mean at there would be litigation in regard to the will. A Bristol solicitor. Mr. Seymour Williams, has entered a caveat against the will of Dr. Crippen on behalf of a half-sister of Belle Elmore, now living at Rhode Island, United States.

THREAT TO KILL A PRIEST. Father Hopkins. superior-general of the Anglican Order of St. Paul, of the Abbey, Alton, Hants, was stated at the local police- court recently to have been threatened with death by a sailor named White or Wik-va, who was commit ad for tri.,

A LETTER FROM CRIPPEN. HIS SOLICITOR MAY REVEAL MORE IF HE WISHES. This week's issue of "John Bull" con- tains a very interesting letter from Crippen. This communication was in reply to an open letter to Crippen urging him to reveal the mystery It seems that its contents nfffcre brought to Crippen's notice, and discussed by him in his final interview witji Mr. Arthur Newton, his solicitor. At the end of the interview, this reply was sent to "John Bull" through Mr. Newton:— At the end of the interview, this reply was sent to "John Bull" through Mr. Newton:- Pentonville Prison, Monday, Nov. 21, 1910. Dear Sir,-I am extremely grateful to you I for the interest you have taken in me, and I am much touched by some of the passages in your letter. I am not, however, in a position to-day to say much more. As to making any statement which could implicate anybody else in this terrible busi- ness, that is altogether out of the question. I have only just heard the Home Secre- tary's decision, and to-morrow I am expect- ing to see an old friend-to whom I may possibly say more than I can now. I wish, however, to say most emphatically that under no circumstances shall I say anything which would bring trouble to others. Mr. Newton has not only been my solicitor, but, especially during these past few dreadful weeks, has been a sincere friend to me in my trouble. He has 'my fullest confidence, and I am leaving all my attain in his hands. If. when it is all over, he cares to tell you more than I can say to-day, I am sure you will treat the matter in the same broad and sympathetic spirit in which you have written me—and that in any case you will not forget poor Miss Le Neve if in any way you can be of assistance to her. Again thanking you for your kindly expressions, H. H- CRIPPEN.

IMPUDENT WOMAN SWINDLER. ♦ A MYTHICAL ESTATE IN WALES. Alice Muriel Salmon (48) was charged at Birmingham Assizes on several counts with obtaining food and lodgings by false pretences. Mr Hurst prosecuted, and Mr. Wiles (instructed by Messrs. James. Barton, and Kentish) appeared for the prisoner. Mr. Hurst said the prisoner was a woman of some address and good appearance who had variously represented- herself as the Hon. Mrs. Vivian and Mrs. Gordon Hamilton. She contrived several ingenious stories, and created the impression that she was a lady of position in distress, and by this means obtained food and lodgings from five ladies who let apartments in Birmingham. She backed them up by a clever and plausible manner. Of these stories one was that she was a miniature painter, and had studios in Bond-street and Regent-street, one of which she had sold to Mr. Beecham, of musical fame. Another was that her daughter was study- ing medicine, and intended to become a brain specialist. Prisoner also stated her mother was the daughter of an earl, her father a colonel in the Army, and her husband a clergyman in the Church of England. All these statements, of course, were false, but they enabled her to get lodgings from Birmingham landladies between the months I of March and October. Evidence was given by the five landladies who, Mr. Hurst stated, had been victimised by the prisoner. ESTATE IN WALES. Kate Noblett s-ld that when the prisoner called at her house she said she had been recommended to witness because she had learned that she was a well-known woman suffragist. Mr. Justice Bucknill: Is that so?—Yes. I am very proud of it. (Laughter.) The Judge: I asked for mere curiosity. (Laughter.) Witness added that prisoner said her daugh- ter would in time be the richest woman in Europe. (Laughter.) She also promised to present witness with a lodge on her estate in W ales. Miss Chilton said the prisoner told her, among other things, that her daughter had taken her M.B. degree, and was studying "brain science." The Judge: A very difficult science. (Laughter.) She also said, went on the witness, that she was born in India, and was the daughter of a colonel. She told her besides that she had been presented at Court, and described in detail her dress and a necklace that was pre- sented to her on that occasion by her grand- mother. Emma Jones, Moseley, another witness, said the prisoner told her she occupied expen- sive lodgings at Lancaster Gate, London. Mrs. Kell, Sparkhill, said that when she asked the prisoner for the payment of some- thing towards the cost of her keep she replied that she was the Hon. Mrs. Vivian and wit- ness ought to feel honoured to have her in her house. (Laughter.) The prisoner was found guilty and sen- tenced to six months' hard labour.

A RACING APPRENTICE. ACTION AGAINST A WELL-KNOWN WILTSHIRE TRAINER. In the King's Bench on Monday an action was heard in which an apprentice; named Charles Megee, appeared against Mr. W. T. Robinson, a trainer of racehorses, of Foxhill, Wilts, for damages for alleged assaults upon him by defendant. Defendant denied having assaulted the plaintiff, and alternatively pleaded that he only administered moderate and reasonable chastisement. Plaintiff in his evidence said he went to defendant as apprentice when fourteen years of age, and he alleged that defendant in his temper treated him cruelly, and he had to run away, and had suffered in health in conspquence. Defendant had struck him with a hunting crop and knocked him down. Cross-examined, plaintiff said all the apprentices had a good time at the defendant's. Defendant had written his father that the assault which caused the plaintiff to run away was an accident. The defendant had also written his father com- plaining about plaintiff more than once, The defendant, giving evidence, said plain- tiff was sullen and lazy. He admitted striking the boy twice with a riding-whip and also with a cane, but he denied he had beaten him as violently as alleged. On the second occasion he hit the boy on the head by accident, but he never knocked him down or broke a whip over him. Defendant, cross-examined, said the plain- tiff had always been a bad boy, but denied that he had been in the habit of knocking him about the head. A stable lad corroborated defendant's evi- dence, and Dr. Oldfield, who examined plain- tiff a week ago, said he found no injuries to the skull nor any nerve troublo. This closed the evidence, and oounsel addressed the court. The jury found a verdict for defendant on the first assault, and for the plaintiff, with JE20 damages, on the second assault. Judg- ment was entered accordingly.

POKED THE FIRE. SCHOOLGIRL'S REMARKABLE CLAIM FOR DAMAGES. At Leeds Assizes on Tuesday Amy Smith, a schoolgirl, claimed JE500 damages from Miss Emily Ann Martin, schoolmistress, of Hull, and the Hull Corporation for personal injuries. Plaintiff's case was that she was told by her mistress to poke the school fire. In doing so her clothes were ignited and she W83 severely burned. The jury awarded the girl E300 damages, but judgment was reserved pending legal argument.

THE COURT CONFESSION. I MAN WHO ADMITTED THEFT SENT FOR TRIAL. I' At East Ham on Tuesday Owen Gomme (22), who confessed to stealing 32s. from a till, when giving evidence on behalf of two men who appealed gtgainst their conviction for the theft, was committed for trial charged with the offence. Prisoner said that he went into the shop, and while waiting to be served saw the till open and took the box out. He added: "I think that I only done right in confessing. It is what a fellow ought to do when two men who knew nothing about it bad been sentenced."

THE NORTH POLE. ♦ STATEMENT TO BE MADE BY DR. COOK. NEW YORK. Wednesday. Dr. Cook, in an article in Hampton's Magazine," declares he does not know whether he reached the Pole or not. He was. he says, half mad with cold and privation at the time when he concluded he had done so. This, the first, admission of doubt on the doctor's part is accepted here as a virtual confession that he did not reach the Pole.- Reuter.

STABBED THE WRONG MAN. At Leeds Assizes on Tuesday Herbert Brook was sentenced to seven years' penal servitude for the manslaughter of Peter Quigley at Bradford. Accused stabbed Quigley in the street without any quarrel with deceased. He was mad drunk at the time.