The Cardiff Times

AGAINST THE MULLAH. Appointment for Major Forestier- Walker Paris, Saturday.—A telegram to the Temps" Jf°Q» Jibqtil announces the arrival there of two *JnRlish and two Italian officers, who are to *^companv the Abyssinian force which is to "^•operate with General JCgerton's columns in impending advance against the Somali «oi!ab. —Renter. ia Central News telegram says 2,000 Abyssin- j. Os will leave Harrar in a few days to take the „ against the Mad Mullah. ^antain Turner, 2nd Bengal Lancers, has appointed to command the Ekka corps, Woceeding to Somaliland. Captain H. N. Dunn, .A.rtny Service Corps, has bean selected for special g^ployment with the Abyssinian contingent in ^pialiiand, and ordered to embark immediately. Major Forestier-Walker, R.A., baa been appointed Assistant-Quartermaster-General for "^telligence with the Somaliland Field Force.

MR ROOSEVELT'S PERI L. Lunatic at White House. Washington, Monday.—A desperate encounter incurred to-day in the vestibule of the White 5*ouse between a lunatic named Petei; Elliott, 7^° had come from Minneapolis determined to *6e President Roosevelt, and the policeman on Jl'Ti whom Elliott unsuccessfully tried to «hoot. The man was ,finally forced into a police van *nd removeS. jThe receipt of a letter from Elliott at White ^ouse, enclosing a photograph of himself and nn interview with the President, rj^ed as a warning to the secret service officials. i°e latter yesterday foiled an attempt mad9 by to approach the President when entering

ALLEGED WILFUL MURDER. An inqnest was held at Bootleon Tuesday on the Margaret Donoghue (25), in connection J'Hh whose death James McQuirk, fireman, and IS sister Elizabeth Watson, widow; are in •Oatody. The evidence showed that the two ,a«nilies had an old standing quarrel. De- based accompanied the female prisoper to the telJa.r where sbe lived, ahhoogh warned not to 8o as the McQuirks had been drinking all the and were on for a row." In the cellar i«e women had more drink, and when James ?*cQuirk entered he sprang at deceased and and kicked her to death. Her body pre- a shocking appearance. Prisoner was ^^ifnitted for wilful murdar. -1

TWO MEN DROWNED. Boating Fatality on the Trent. ^Pfae second double drowning fatality which has furred on the Trent at Nottingham during the few weeks happened on Sunday evening, «*hen two men. whose names are at present un- sown, were drowned. One wore the uniform of in the Royal Navy. Acompanied by a tl\>ilian friend he hired a boat, which was rowed short distance, when an upset occurred through one of them rising suddenly. The civilian, who Apparently coold not swim, caught at the other, j^d both were drowned, people on the banks P°ing powerlesa to render effective aidl. Tfce have not yet been found.. *■.•

SAILORS CUT TO PIECES. TERRIBLE AFFAIR AT WEYMOUTH. j. A. terrible accident occurred before daj- ''ght on Monday morning on the Weymouth Portland Railway, by which four seamen Pronging to the fleet were instantly killed. The j**en were walking from Weymouth to Port laud the line when owing to the heavy head wind did not hear the approach of a iight engine, ran into thetn, killing them on the apot. ••heir bodies, which were terribly mangled, were onveyed to Portland. Tbe men were able seamen, •^ee belonging to the Aginccurt and one to the It is now stated the driver saw the and whistled when near them, but could ?°t pull up in time. The accident happened :11 II. catting through which a heavy wind ruabed, .btls preventing them hearing either the whistle r'he approach of the train. A-later telegram gives the names of the sell- Sidner Pierce |20>, Alfred l?helps (23), iam Nicholas Page (20), of tbe Agincourt, Henry Gay, of the Seaflower.

SHOCKING MOTOR FATALITY. Second Victim Seriously Injured. A. fatal motor accident occurred at Albonrne, on the Brighton road. on Saturday. Three girls endeavouring to avoid a car belonging to R. L. Dawson, of the Coldstream Guards, ^hen two of them were knocked down. They were to d neizbbouring house,where Florence °niface, aged 11, died lialf-an-hour later, while L 6 other child remains in a precarious condition, thigh being fractured. The deceased girl L^s so badly cut that her features were almost recognition

THIRTEEN LIVES LOST. Disaster Off the Hook of Holland. j Rotterdam, Monday.—Last night tbe French gRRer President Carnot sank off the Hook of 3°lland. Nineteen of the crew jumped into the rjT'P's boa:, which capsized, and 13 were drowned at e Other-six were saved. Three bodies have ready been washed ashore.—Renter.

PLEASURE BOAT DISASTTR. Reamer Captam's Certificate Suspended Board of Trade inquiry into the loss of the 'Mng boat New Skylark and six liven off Yar- tb conclnded on Monday. The Court found ^Capt. R. Ling, of the colliding steamer I ke ^'ebb, did not take proper measures to SOs*1 0ut t*'e way *^0 New Skylark, and "tjpended his certificate for six months, but q owed him a chief officer's certificate. The also recommended that all such boats as Hvi Skylark ahould carry sufficient life- appliances.

DEVASTATING TORNADO. 'b,1.iew York, Sunday.—News haa reached here Jj 'he little town of St. Charles, Minnesota, tj," teen almost wiped out by a tornado, and in? persons have been killed and 28 in- Reuter.

VENEZUELAN ARBITRATION. Great Britain's Arrogance. Monday.—At to-day's sitting of the H ^'coelan Arbitration Tribunal Mr McVeagh, j, Venezuela, continuing his statement, declared oj the question before the tribunal was one tyj^^ic^narnely, whether war against Venezuela 3nst and necessary or not. He main- that the complaints of Great YCr*a'n were merely a pretext for war. \vj, had much more right on her side she complained of the despatch of a 1 vessel from London to the Oarribean to deliver to the insurgent chief Matos a ftj,of arms. Through the intermediary of at: Trinidad Great Britain, however, bad c0h refused to take these complaints into s'^eration. Mr McVeagh declared that the Srte action had been undertaken by Britain and Germany in order 10 protect te JQterests of the railway companies in Mki 1and of the bondholders who com- lled of the fall in Venezuelan securitiea.

3EQUEl TO A RHONNDA ASSAULT. O^.fotther sequel to the midnight scene at *he Saturday, the 19th of last month, when e were badly assaulted, was heard j at J'ith 011 Monday, when Wml Booth was charged Wj]].n'otfering with the police, ana Charles r'»keilfns' George Baker, Henry Fear, and J. H. ■flijQ wete summoned for disorderly behaviour. tbe interference of a hostile crowd, '0c'nc'ed the defendants, S6rgeant W. 'htjj, and P.O. Church lost their prisoners fr,es- Booth endeavoured to get one pri- as^*y by putting bis arms around him. The Booth £ 2, Fear £ 1, aud tbe re- 10s each. A

SENSATIONAL LETTERS. The New Cabinet. MR BRODRICK" PROMOTED." The Duke of Devonshire has resigned from the Ministry, and the King has accepted the withdrawal—this was the outstanding feature of Tuesday's official news, and outweighed in importance even the official announcement of Mr Balfour's new Cabinet. The reasons why his Grace has taken this momentous step are published, and the reply of Mr Balfour to the Duke is of such a piquant nature as to lend zest even to an already over- wrought situation and to fully justify the term sensational." On one point there has been practical unanimity in Press and public opinion- that to elevate Mr Brodrick would be a public scandal. Mr Brodrick, however, becomes Secre- tary of State for India, ail Mr Arnold Forster goes to Pall Mall; whilst the new Secretary for the Colonies is the Hon. Alfred Lytteltsn. It will be remembered that the following resignations immediately followed the Cabinet meetings of Sept. 14 and 15 Mr Chamberlain. Colonial Secretary. Mr Ritchie Chau. of Exchequer. Lord G. Hamilton Secretary for India. Lord Balfour of Bur. leigh Sec. for Scotland. Hon. A. Elliot Financial Secretary After a pause of 18 days Mr Balfour has succeeded in securing the following sub- stitutes Secretary for India .Mr Brodrick Secretary for War .Mr Arnold Forster Colonial Secretary Hon. A. Lyttelton Chan. of Exchequer .Mr A. Chamberlain Secretary for Scotland..Mr G. Murray In consequence of this rearrangement Lord Stanley is to becone Postmaster- General. The vacancies in the ranks of the non- Cabinet list have yet to be filled. The New Cabinet. The Ministry therefore stands thus :— Mr BALFOUR. Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury. Lord HALSBURY. Lord Chancellor. Lord President of the Council. Mr. A. CHAMBERLAIN Chancellor of the Exchequer. Mr AKERS-DOUGLAS. Home Secretary. Lord LANSDOWNE. Foreign Secretary. Hon. A. LYTTELTON. Colonial Secretary. Mr ARNOLD FORSTER Secretary for War. Mr BRODRICK Secretary for India. Lord SELBORNE First Lord of the Admiralty. Lord DUDLEY Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Lord ASHBOURNE Lord Chancellor uf Ireland. Mr GEORGE WYND- HAM Chief Secretary for Ireland. Mr GRAHAM MURRAY Secretary for Scotland Mr GERALD BALFOUR President Board of Trade. Mr WALTER LONG President of Local Government Buard. Lord ONSLOW President of Board of Agriculture. Lord STANLEY Postmaster-General. Lord LONDONDERRY. President Board of Education. Not in the Cabinet. Lord Wiadaor First Commissioner of Works. —— Financial Secretary to the Treasury. Sir A. Acland Hood Patronage Secretary. Mr Pretyman Civil Lord of the Admiralty. — i Secretary to the Admiralty. Mr Cochrane. Under Sec. Home Office. Lord Saliabnry Under Sec. Foreign Affairs. Duke of Marlborough. Under Secretary Colonies. Lord Hardwicke Under Secretary War. Lord Percy. Under Secretary India Mr Bonar Law Secretary to Board of Trade. Mr Grant Lawson Secretary to Local G.B. Financial Secretary to War Office. Sir W. Anaon Secretary to Board of Education. Sir R Pinlay Attorney-General. Sir E. Careon Solicitor-General; — Lord-Advocate. Mr 0. S. Dickson. Solicitor-General for Scotland. Mr Atkinson. Attorney-General for Ireland. Mr J. H. Campbell Solicitor General for Ireland.

PREMIER AND THE DUKE. Sensational Correspondence. The following is the text of the letter in which the Duke of Devonshire tendered his resigna- tion Privy Council Office, Oct. 2nd, 1903.- My dear Halfoor, I have since we last met felt an increasing doubt whether I had been well advised in consenting to separate myself from those of our colleagues whose resignations were tendered and accepted last month. But until some new development of the situation should have taken place I have not thought it necessary to trouble you with these doubts. The speech, however, which you delivered last night made it necessary for me linally and definitely to decide whether I am so far, in agreement with yourself on the question of fiscal policy as to make it possible for me with satisfaction to myself or advantage to the community Lo remain a member of your Government. I must, especially as the representative of the Government in one of the Houses of Pariiament, in foraging this decision, have regard not only to the definite statements of policy contained in your speech, but also to its general tone and tendency. As to the former, it was possible to arrive at a clear understanding by previous discussions. but, as to the latter, no judgment could be formed until the declarations had been actually made. I was prepared by our discussions for yo,,c statement that you desired to obtain the sanction of tbe constituencies for a reversal of the doctrine that taxation should never be imposed except fo: purposes of revenue, and thia is no doubt the principal and most definite Btatement in your speech. But you may remember that I told you that I thought it would be very difficult to make this statement the foundation of a great announcement of policy, inasmuch as I was not aware of any law or constitutional prin- ciple in which this doctrine was embodied. I admit that you have succeeded in making this declaration the oabis of a great political announcement, but in my opinion that announcement has been extended very far beyond the necessities of the case. It was unnecessary, in my opinioh, for the purpose of the statement to which I had VerL assented, to assert that the controversy cf 1846. which you describe as the great law suit between Free Trade and ProtectioIloj is of no interest whatever to us except from an hiatorical point of view. rifor can I think that it was necessary to asaert that you desired to reverse the fiscal tradition, to alter fundamentally the fiscal tradition, which has prevailed during the last two Kenerations. I had hoped to have fonnd in your speech a definite stateuenc of adherence to the principles of Free Trade as the ordinary basis of our fiscal and commercial system, and au equnlly definite repudiation of the principle of Protection in the interest of our national industries. Bat in their absence f. cannot help thinking that such declarations as those which I have quoted cannot fail to have the effect of materially encouraging the advocates of direct Protection in the contio- versy which has been raised throughout the country, and of discouraging those who, Mke me—atad 1 bad hoped youiself— be.'ievto that our present system of free imports, and especially of food imports, is on the whole the most advantageous to the country, although we do not contend that the prin- ciples upon which it rests possess any such authority or sanctity as to forbid any depar- ture from it. For sufficient reasons I have only ventured to make these criticisms as illustrations of the different points of view from which we regard the whole question, and I am very far from wishing to enter into any personal conuoversy with you. You have in your second speech said that this subject could no longer be left an open question among members of the Government, and I think I have said enough to prove to you that there is no such agreement between U8 on the general question as to make it possible for me to be a satisfactory ex- ponent of your views or those of the Govern- ment in the debates which muat inevitably take place in the next Session of Parlia ment. I cannot adequately expresa the deep re- gret wbich I feel in separating myself from I cannot adequately express the deep re- gret which I feel in separating myself from the Government-with wbich I believe my- self to be in sympathy on all other mtttersi of public policy-or the anxiety with which 1 anticipate the wide division which I fear irmst result from the unexpected scope and strength of your declarations of yesterday in the rarks pi the Unionist party. But hold- ing the opinions which I have endeavoured to express no other course is open to me but to ask you to place my resignation in the hands of his Majesty. I am, yours sincerely, DEVONSHIRE. The Premier's Startling Reply. The following letter of acknowledgment was addressed to the Duke by Mr Balfour :— Whittinghame, Prestonkirk, N.B., October 3rd, 1903. My Dear Duke,— I received this afternoon two telegrams forwarded in quick succession by my private secretary in London, the first from you ask- ing how soon your resignation ipight be announced, the second giving a full summary of the reasons which moved you to resign. I am not sure which of these unexpected communications surprised me most—on the whole perhaps the second. The first, how- ever, was sufficiently strange. Remember the circumstances. It waa on Wednesday, the 16th ofSeptember that you informed me of your resolve to remain in the Government. I This decision was preceded by much confi- dential correspondence, much intimate con- \er6fttion. There was no phase of policy wbich I was not prepared to discuss which I did not, in fact, discuss with perfect frank- ness. Men and measures were alike sur- veyed from every point of view which had a II bearing on the present course or future for- tunes of the party. I A decision arrived at after these prelimin- ari9S I had a right to consider final, and final 1 certainly considered it. Accordingly I consulted you 85 far as circumstances Qf time and place permitted on the best mode of filling up the vacancies in the Government, of which you were the most distinguished member. You were good enough to express some weighty judgmenta on the delicate matters submitted to you. Yon even ini- tiated proposals of your own, which I gladly accepted. Our last communication on these subjects was in a letter I dictated during my journey to Sheffield on Thursday after- noon. In less than 48 hours 1 received in Edin- burgh the telegram which first announced both your intention to resign and your desire to see the process of resignation consum- mated without delay or discussion The principal occasion of this singular transformation was (you tell me) my Sheffield speech. This is strange indeed. In intention (at least) there was no doctrine contained in that speech which was not equally contained in my notes on insular Free Trade, and my published letter to Mr Chamberlain. The first of thesa documents you had in your pos- session (before the generality of the Cabinet) at the end of July. The second you saw in manuscript before it appeared in the news- papers. With both, therefpre. you were intimately acquainted during the whole fort- night in which you lent your countenance to the Government after tbe recent resigna- tions. I must suppose, therefore, that it is some unintentional discrepancy between the written and the spoken word that now drives von to desert the Administr3>tion you have ao long adorned. Such unintentional dis- crepancies are no doubt hard to avoid. Not everyone, certainly not I, can always be sure of finding on the spur of the moment before an eager audience of 5,000 people, the precise phrase which shall so dexterously express the exact opinion of the speaker on a diffi- cult and abstract subject as to foil the opponents who would wrest it either to the right hand or the left. Rut tilll o'clock this afternoon I had, I confess, counted you, not as an opponent, but as a colleague-a colleague in spirit as in name. To such an one it would have seemed natural (so at least I should have thought) to take in cases of apparent dis- crepancy the written rather than the spoken word BS expl essing the true meaning of tbe author or (if this be asking too much) at least to make inquiries before arriving at a final and hostile conclusion. But after all, what and where is this dis- crepancy which hils forced you in so unex- pected a fashion to reverse a considered policy ? I do not believe it exists, and if any other man in the wotld but yourself had expended so much inquisitorial subtlety in detecting imaginary heresies I should have surmised that he was more anxious to pick a quarrel than particular aa to tbe sufficiency of its occasion. To you fortunately no such suspicion can attach, yet am I unreasonable in thinking that your resignation gives me some just occasion of comulaint and perhaps eome occasion of special regret to yourself ? Am I, for esanipls, not right in complaining of your procedure in reference to the Sheffield speech ? You fear that it will aggravate party division. If there is anything certain it is that the declaration of policy then made produced and is destined to produce &0 greater harmony of opinion than has pre- vailed in the party since the fiscal question came tc the front six months ago. Had you resigned on the 15th, or bad you not resigned at all, this healing effect would have suffered no interruption. To resign now, and to resign on the speech, is to take the corrse most calculated to make yet harder the bard task of the peacemaker. Again, do yon not feel some special regret at having at this particular juncture to sever your connection with a Unionist Ad- ministration ? Doubtless there is no imagin- able occasion on whi<f1 you could have left it without inflicting on it uerious loss. At the moment of its most buoyant prosperity your absence from its councils would have been sensibly felt, but you have in fact left it when, in the opiniop of our- opponents, ite fortunes are at their lowest and its perplexi- ties at their greatest. It may be, bowever; that you are spared this aggravation of the inevitable pain of aeparation by holding, as I hold, that your opponents are m this mistaken. I firmly believe they are. I see no difficulty in suc- cessfully carrying out the policy which for a fortnight you weie ready to accept by the help of the Administration which for a fortnight you aided me to construct. On this point I feel no disquiet. I cannot pretend to view with a like equanimity the loss of a colleague whose services to the Unionist party nn changes or chances of political fortune can tempt any Unionist to fosget. Yours \ery sincerely,' (Signed) ARTHUR JAMES BALFOUR. The Press Association says No announce- ment is yet possible respecting the Duke of Devonshire's succeasor as Lord President of the Council. With regard to the new Ministers outside tbe Cabinet there is every reason to believe that some at least of them have been chosen, but a few days are likely to elapse before the Prime Minister announces his selections. "J.'he Gazette "contains the following official announcement Mr H. O. Arnold Forster, M.P., has accepted the office of Secretary of State for War; the Hon. Alfred Lyttelton, K.C., M.P.. the office of Secretary for State for the Colonies and Lord Stanley, M.P., the oEBce of Postmaster-General. New War Minister in Bed. Mr Arnold Forster, telegraphing to the Bel- fast Evening TelegraDh," bays he has received many kind ongratulations on his new appoint- ment, but being confined to his bed he fears he will not ba able to visit Belfast at present to thank the senders personally as he would like to doi He trusts that his enforced absence will not lead bis friends to withhold their support from his Election Committee. Writing to Mr James Johnston, J.P., Mr Arnold Forster say a he trusts that he will be able to get up vary soon, and after a few days rest at the seaside hopes to be fit to start work at Belfast. It is believed that the Nationalists will not contest the new War Minister's re-election. The writ is not expected to reach Belfast for eight or ten days.

PRESS OPINIONS. Unionist Party Once More Adrift. The leading article in the principal Minis- terial journal, the Standard," on Tuesday was almost scathing in its criticism. To memof all parties, to the Moderate mem- bers of both Houses, and to the great business community throughout the kingdom tbe uresence of the Duke of Devonshire in the Cabinet," the "Standard" saya, "was regarded as a guarantee against dangerous innovations and ill-considered measures. With his departure much < of that confidence disappears, and the Unionist patty finds itself otce more adrift on a I sea of uncertainty and anxious speculation. The Duke of Devonshire's position js vindi- cated in his letter of resignation, aad it is per- fectly consistent with all that we know of his honourable and distinguished public career. Already we have been told that tbe Prime Minister and the late Colonial Secretary are really working together for the turae object, and that the separation between them is merely a clever piece of tactics. We have been asked to admire them as they play the game with the perfect mutuul understanding and the consum- mate skill of a pair of accomplished whist players. But straightforward Englishmen do not appreciate that particular kind of accomplish- ment in their' public nieu, and it is easy lo understand tba,t a statesman witn the Duke of Devonshire 8 character and record will have nothing todo w^th a policy which has to be carried out under such conditions." The "Standard" then turns and rends the reconstructed Cabinet, which is declared to be strangely inadequate." We can only wonder," it says, "whether Mr Balfour really means to face Parliament with a Cabinet so grievously weakened. The apDointment of Mr Alfred Lyttelton to the great Imperial Secretaryship, which has been raised to. an unprecedented importance! during the past few years, will be received, we are afraid, with blank amazement. To JJ^SS from Mr Chambetlain to Mr Lyttelton seems a stroke of fantastic irony.. • Why this agreeable rising barrister, with uo administra- tive experience and 110 commanding position either in Parliament or even in the Law Courts, should suddenly be selected for one of tbe greatest offices under the Crown and in the Em- pire, we have not tbe faintest idea." I The Break-up of the Unionist Alliance. The Yorkshire Post (Unionist) Bays the Dnke of Devonshire's resignation is tbe one which will most weaken Mr Balfour's Adminis- tration, not only in Parliament but in the country. The Manchester Guardian (Liberal) in its editorial says The Dnke of Devonshire's character and high integrity of purpose have for editorial says .—" The Dnke of Devonshire's character and high integrity of purpose have for the past twenty years been one of the mam sup- ports of the Unionist party, in Opposition and in office. Having taken his Stand on Free Trade aa the poticy. broadly speaking, necessary for the welfare of the country, be wiH, it is certain, hold to it, and from being one of the chief supporters of the present Government he must, if and in so far as its policy is developed on thf) line of Pro- tection, become one of its chief opponents." 1 There were four pillars of the Liberal-Unionist allionce with the Tories which was established in 1886 (the "Chronicle" recalls) Of these, Mr Bright has passed away. Of the others, Mr Chamberlain has Darted from Mr Balfour in one direction the Duke of Devonshire and Lord Goscheu have broken with him in another.

A DRUNKEN CLERGYMAN. Vioar's Extraordinary Conduct. At a special Consistory Court, held at Chester, on Tuesday, charges were heard against Re. Henry Edwards Smith, vicar of Weston, near Crewe, of alleged drunkenness and attempting to I obtain money by false pretences. According to the evidence called in support of the case against the rev. gentleman, the police were on one occasion called at midnight to the vicarage, where it was alleged defendant and bis sou were both drunk. It was further slated yiat on another occasion defendant and his son were under the influence of drink at a garden party, at the Vicarage, and that defendant was often seen in the Streets of Crewe the worse for liquor. For the defence a complete denial was given to the ehatges of drunkenness and it was alleged the prosecution was instigated spitefully. With reference to the allegation that defen- dant had attempted to obtain money by false pretences, the prosecution alleged that in a series of begging letters to philanthropic persons in London, Brighton, York, etc., he drew a harrow- ing picture of the desperate straits to which he was reduced by the critical illneas of members of his family, although their condition was never so setious as he described. It was also alleged that in these letters be understated his income. For the defence it was contended the state- ments in the letters were substantially true and mere); overdrawn. The,Court found the defendant guilty both of drunkenness and attempting to obtain money by false pfetonces. Sentence was deferred.

THE BATTLE OF THE GUNS. GENERAL HUNTER APOLOGISES. The following was issued from the Admiralty on Tuesday evening :— Th& Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty haviner (fcawn the attention of the Seeretary of State for War to the evidence given by Lieut.- General Sir Archibald Hunter before the Royal Commisfvcn on tbe late war in South Africa, have receded a notification that Lieut.-General Sir A. Jupter has officially intimated that, though bit opinion regarding the shooting of the naval funs at Ladysmith was honestly given, and though he cannot alter that opinion, he nevertheless very sincerely regrets having allowed Himself to be betrayed into using ex. pressions vhi«<Li he frankly admits should not have beenjised, and which he now withdraws. He greatljjdeplore* the incident, the more so as he now reilises that it was calculated to wound the feelings of the brave officers and men of the Royal Navy who served at Ladysmith. He further adds that if any opinion he may have expressed or the language be used should be the oanse of diminisbin £ the good feeling which has happily existed for generations between the Navy and Army, it would ever be to him a matter for the deepest regret. Lieut. General Sir Archibald Hunter having apologised oa bis part, Rear-Admiral the Hon. Hedworth Vtmbton has withdrawn the letter he wrote to the Admiralty (a copy of whish he sent to Sir Archibald-Hunter), and has expressed his regret for tht personal remarks made about the Lieutenant-General in hig evidence before the Royal Commission.

MURDER-MUTILATION HORROR. A Revolting Crime. Kidderminster was on Suuday shocked by an awful and gbtstly tragedy which tODk place in its immediate vicinity. About half a mile from the centre of the town, 150 yards or so from the Corporation pumping station, is a lane which leads from the Worcester Road to Aggborough Farm. It is only an occupation road, on one side being the Kidderminster Golf Links and on the other a precip;tou4 bank of considerable height. On Sunday morning one of thecowmen, Frederick Perry, employed by Mr Walter Whitehouse, the tenant of the farm. was horrified to find, about 125 yards up the lane, the dead body of a woman, who lie could see at a glance had been horribly- mutilated. He ran to the farm about 300 yard* away and aroused the household. Mr Whitehousesebt his san on a bicycle to the County Police Station—the lane being just out- nide the borough boundary-and Perry to the Borough Police office. Mr Whitehouse himself went to the atatte of what undoubtedly was a most cruel mnrder. He fouud that in a spot where there are hawthorn hedges 14 feet high on both sides of the 16 Met wide lane, there had evi- dently been a struggle, and just three or four yards away was the body of the woman. It was evideut that the body bad been placed in the position in whitii he found it after the murder, 1 and the brutality oi the murderer, in the way in which he had arranged the victim of hfS horrible crime, is of too rffosjs a character for d&titiption. Horrible Sight. The poor woman's hand, with the face covered with bruises and ftabs, was against the stump of II the hedge, and her feet stretched out into the roadway. All the lower part of her body was un- covered, and presented a ghastly spectacle. On her breast Jay a pocket knife, quite a small one, on which there was blood. It seemed at first as if the horrible and extensive mutilation of the body could not have been done with so small an instrument, especially as it was blunt, but the medical opinion afterwards obtained was that the knife was of sufficient strength to have inflicted the injuries in the bands of a powerfnl man. Dr. Miles made an examination of the body, and expressed the opiMoartbat tbe woman had been dead for some hours.'—probably six. This was not Quite the opinion of some of those present, for where the body was covered by clothing it was warm, despite the facts, that the rain bad beeu heavy, and that the clothes were very wet. It had been a bright moonlight night before and after the clouds which broke into a heavy down- pour. After the doctor's examination the body was removed to the Viaduct Inn, Hoobrook. Frightful Mutilation. It was found that the woman, who was appa- I rently of the tramping class, was about 50 or 55 years of age. She was short—about five feet in I height—but weH buHt, and apparently a strong woman. Her bodice was torn, her corsets un- fastened, and all the lower part of her body exposed. There wfcs a wound on the right side of fbe neck which had severed the jugular vein, the wound being an inch deep, and being about in inch below the )tow.er iaw. This wound iu itself would speedily iresult in death. Tbe woman's left breast MasimutHatcd, there being a circular incised wound of 12 inches in length. Ou the lower part of the abdomen, on the right side, was a terrible wound, se.'en inches long, and penetrating down into the abdominal muscles. There was a cut ton the 16ft thigh, and several gashes on the body and on the.legs, On the forehead were ten punctures by a knife, as if an attempt had bees made to force tbe knife into the poor woman's head. There were other wounds upon the neqk .and throat, in close proximity to each other- The back of both bands were bruised and blackened, as was also the face. I Upon the woman was found a shilling in money, and near to ber were scattered about her personal belongings, which included such things for daily use as are taken iftto the hophelds by pickers. Amongst these were some hop pickers' cards. One had upon it tbe name Mary," with the surname torn off, and upon another was the name, 'vlary Swinbura," kind it indicated that the person it belonged to had been working for Mr Watkins, of Tunbriclge, Snckley, some miles from Worcester in the hop country in the Terae valley. Another card bore the name of Mr Depper, of Clifton ou-Teme, and also the name Annie Joyce," of Walsail.; A careful examina- tion of the woman's clothing, showed that some of the underclothing was marked with the Wal. sall Union stamp. Amongst her other posses- sions was a Roman Catholic BIble, in which was the name Mary Swinburn." The woman's clothing was fairly tidy. She wore a black bonnet, a black dress, and a black skirt. When the Walsall marks were discovered Inspector Brazier at once went to< Walsall, and ]ate on Sunday a message was received from him which leavq^ very little doubt but that deceased is Mary Swinburu, of Mill-street, SValsall, who was lately an inmate of the Walsall Workhouse. The police were very active in their inquiries all day Sun- day. By the woman's right hand as she lay was a new white alay pipe with the name of a Ten- bnry firm upon it, and inquiries 'were at on"e set on foot at Tenburv. Infoirnation has been sc- cured between Worcester and Kidderminster that aw oman answering the description of the de- ceased was seen in company with a man, and that they applied for lodgings. A Great Wyriev Humour. Thousands of people visited the scene of the tragedy on Sunday, but a gatp bad been placed at the entrance to tbe lane, and police officers pre- vented anyone entering. The^potvyiiere the body was fouud had been railed oil. There were roarks of a struggle, aud pools of blood were found a few yards away from the body. It could clearly be seen how the body had beeu dragged in a half- circle to the place where it was found. The wildest rumours were afloat, in Kidderminster on Sunday, and many 'people believe that the I affair is associated with the Great W yrlev out- rages, but this is altogether discounted by the police. It is said that anonymous letters have been received stating that the authors of the Great Wyrley outrages intended to tnrn their attention lo women, and staoijld give Kidder- minster and Stourbridge a "turn.' It is also reported that a letter was received at £ 5toorport on Sunday to a similar effect, and stating that there would te a murder at Kidderminster that day. t

A NEW RAT DESTROYER. Marseilles, Tuesday.—The new vires for de- stroying rats, called Danysg, and discovered u; the Pasteur Institute at Paris, has been tested here bf Dr. Cbautemesse, and had ■ proved highly successful. Fragments of bread impreg- nated with the virus were scattered about the ships in the harbour, in the depots, at the sta- tion, and in a certain number of schools, and the next ncorning over a thousand ratu were found dead. The experiments with the Danysg virus are to be continued. An inportaht feature of i tbe poison is that its effect on domestic animal a it hajrmlesa.

SPEECH AT GLASGOW. Food Tax Essential. FREE IMPORTS COMBATED. Mr Chamberlain delivered his keenly- anticipated anti-Free Trade speech in Glas- gow on Tuesday night. I am not afraid," he declared, to combat free imports still less am I afraid to preach to you preference with our Co'onies." With that skill in debate for which Mr Chamberlain is famed he emphasised from his own standpoint that the country's trade is practically stagnant; that it needs a broader basis that it must pursue other and more effective measures than it has hitherto adopted to fight the fight of com- merce. He then went on to reveal his sketch plan." He did not propose any tax on raw mate- rials, but if we wished to prevent separa- tion we must put a tax on food. He pro- posed- (1) A duty on foreign corn not exceed- ing 2s a quarter. (2) A tax of 5 per cent. on foreign meat and dairy produce (excluding bacon). (3) A substantial preference to our Colo nies on wines and fruits. (4) To take off three-iouiths of the duty on tea. (5) To take off half of the whole duty on sugar. (6) To make a corresponding reduction on cocoa and coffee. The result of his propositions would be that the agricultural labourer* would gain 2J a week and the artisan 2^d a week. The Exchequer would lose £ 2,800 000 per annum, but it would gain JE9,000,000 by retaliatory duties, amounting to 10 per cent. on manufactured goods.

SOME STATISTICAL DETAILS. A.-The Corn and Flour Duty. As bearing upon these proposals, it is interest- ing to note that the priucipal importations of corn into the United Kingdom, excluding maize, in 1902, were as follow :— From From Foreign British Countries. Possessions. cwts. cwts. Wheat 58,301,000 22,700,000 Barley 25,108,000 93,000 Oats 15,262,000 595,000 Peas 633,000 1,356,000 Beans 1,862,000 204,000 101,166,000 24,948,000 A dnty of 2s a quarter is equivalent to 6d a cwt., so that Mr Chamberlain's duty on foieign corn would yield at present about £ 2,500,000. In addi- tion we imported last year whe&tmeal and flour to the extent of 17,411,000 cwts. from foreign countries, and 1,975,000 cwts. from British pos- sessions. If a substantial preference is to be given to the British miller, the corresponding duly on flour would have to be at least lOd a. cwt. This would yield rather less than £ 750,000. Thus the total yield of the foreign corn and flour tax would be about £ 3,250,000 on the basis of last year's figures. This yield would, of course, diminish year by year so far as— (a) Colonial corn took the place of foreign corn. (b) Maize took the place of oats and barley, peas and beans. (c) British-ground flour took the place of I foreign-ground flour. B.-The Duty on Meat and Dairy Produce. In the year 1902 we imported From Foreign FromBritish; Countries. Possessions. •( £ £ Fresh beef.. 7,317.000 588,000 Hams 3,439,000 420,000 Mutton 3,152,000 3,763.C00 Fresh pork.. 1,443,000 5,000 .bullocks. 6,130,000 1,614 000 .bullocks. 6,130,000 1,614,000 21,481,000 6,388,000 Butter 17,992,000 2,534,000 Cheese 1,979,000 4,433.000 Total 41,452,000 13.355,000 ¡ in aaaiuon mere are some minor articles not included in the above table. Allowing roughly for these, it will be seen that a 5 per cent. duty on I foreign meat and dairy produce would bring in about £ 2,250,000 on the basis of Jast year's figures. This revenue would, however, be sub- ject to steady redction so far as untaxed Colonial i supplies were substituted for taxed foreign sup- plies and so far as untaxed bacon was substituted for taxed fresh meat. for taxed fresh meat. Colonial Wine and Fruit. I The only fruits imported i!l any large quantity from the Colonies are apples from Tasmania and Canada, grapes from the Channel Islands, and bananas from the West Indies. A small amount of wine is imported from Australia and the Cape, bnt it does not enter into serious competition wit'i the best French wines. Fea Duty, &c. The present duty on tea is 6d a lb. It yielded last year just under £ 6,000,000. A reduction of the duty to 2d would involve a loss of £ 4,000,000. but possibly part of this would be recovered by increased consumption, leaving the net loss. say at £ 3,000,000. The present duty on sugar is roughly a halfpenny a lb., and the yield is about £ 5,000,000. The loss of revenue by halving the duty would be about £ 2,000,000. The duties on coffee aud cocoa are each 2d a lb., but the two together only yield about £400.000. The teductions of duty on sugar, tea, coffee, and cocoa would therefore involve a sacrifice of about JE5,250,000 of money. It must be added that Mr Chamberlain's scheme is based on the assumption that a benefit would be given to the Colonies by the taxes of foreign foodstuffs. This implies that the Colonial producer would obtain a higher price than he would have obtained if there ha;1 been no such taxes. The home producer would obtain a similar benefit. Therefore the cost to the British consumer is not measured solely by the revenue yielded to the Exchequer, but also by the additional price that has to be paid to the Colonial producer and to the home producer. The amount of this cannot be precisely esti- mated.

MR CHAMBERLAIN'S PERORATION. The special cotrespondentof the Times de- scribes Mr Chamberlain's peroration on Tuesday tOS one of the most powerful and moving flashes of eloquence that even he haa ever uttered." We reproduce it It is because I believe that this policy will consolidate the Empire—the Empire which I believe to be the security for peace and for the maintenance of our great British tradi- tions. It is for all these things, and, believe me, for no nersonal ambition, that I have given up the office which I was so proud to hold; and that now, when I might, I think, fairly claim a period of rest J. have taken up new burdens and I come before you all a missionary of Empire, to urge upon you once again, as 1 did in the old times, when I pro- tested against the disruption of the United Kingdom, once again to warn you, to urge you, to implore you to do nothing that will tend towards the disintegration of the Em- I pire, not to refuse to sacrifice a futile super- stition, an inept prejudice, and thereby to lose the results of centuries of noble effort and patriotic ende-tvonr." Mr Chamberlain's Journey. Mr Chamberlain left Birmingham ou Tues- day by the 11.15 a.m. Scotch express for Glasgow. He arrived at New-street Station shortly after the hour, and there was an immense crowd awaiting him. A large body of police assisted the railway officials in keeping the platform clear. As soon as the right hon. gentleman was recognised there was an outburst of cheering, which was kept up until the departuie of the train. saloon was placed at the disposal of Mr Chamberlain, who was accom- panied by Mrs Chamberlain, Miss Chamberlain, and Mr Austen Chamberlain, but the two latter had come down specially with Mrs Endicott, Mrs Chamberlain's mother, who was returning to Liverpool by the same train on her way home to the United States. Mr Chamberlain intended to travel in the saloon alone until Crewe was reached, Mrs Chamberlain and lVfJss Chamberlain and Mr Austen Chamberlain riding in a first- class compartment. ¡ The right hon. gentleman looked exceedingly well and in very good spirits. An old lady pushed her way through the crowd and presented Mrs j Chamberlain with a bouanet. A number of local citizens shook hands with Mr Chamberlain as he stood in the dooiway of the saloon smiling on the cheering crowd. Alderman Jarvis congratulated him upon the appointment of his son as Chan- celloi of the Exchequer, and expressed the hope that he would have a successful career. Mr Chamberlain replied by saying that there was a lot of difficulties before the party, but he thought they would get through them all right. While I' this and other conversations proceeded the crowd shouted, Good old Joey," The country is with you," and "Just one word." &c., but the I light hon. gentleman only smiled and shook his head. The train left punctually at 11.15 amidst a roar of applause, which rang all over the I station. The train arrived at Crewe at 12.38. As soon as it came to a standstill Mr Chamberlain alighted from his saloon and walked to the rear of the train. He was vociferously cheered by a large crowd on the platform, the right hon. gentleman repeatedly raising his bat in acknow- ledgment. The people surrounded him, and there were repeated cries of "Three cheers for I Chamberlain." He was asked to make a speech, but he smilingly declined. After exchanging a farewell with Mrs Endicott Mr Chamberlain, accompanied by his wife and sou, returned to his saloon. The cheering wasdeafening as the train continued its journey to the North at 12.45. The train reached Preston at 1.40. There waa a great outburst of cheering, which tbe right hon. gentleman acknowledged by raising his hat. hon. gentleman acknowledged by raising his hat. He was cheered again aa the train hit. t

High Seas Tragedy. _°- STABBED IN THE FO'CAS'LE. A Barry Man Charged. James Lewis, from Barry, was charged on remand at Bristol on Monday with the mprder of Demetri Zadaki, a Greek fireman, on the high seas. Both were employed as firemen on the s.s. Bristol City. Prisoner was also charged with wounding Manuel Andros. another Greek tire- | man, with intent to murder him. Mr W. H. Wise prosecuted, and MrE. J. Watson defended, Mr Wise explained that while 011 a voyage to New York, and when the Bristol City was about 500 miles from the coast of America, it was alleged that prisoner killed Z\daki with a knife, and with the same weapon assaulted Andros. Fritz Lohenfink. a German seaman, said that on the 24th August he saw prisoner go into the fo castJe and stab Zadaki and Andros. Under cross-examination witness said he bad heard Zadaki threaten prisoner. It had appeared to him then that prisoner was the quiet man and the Greeks were threatening him. Manuel Andros, the injured Greek, said he was in the fo'castle at 7 a.m. on August 24th when prisoner eutered and stabbed him with a knife Prisoner also struck Zadaki with the knife. By Mr Watson The night before prisoner and the Greeks were having some cross words and someone entered the fo'castle to complain of the noise. Witness had never raised bis shovel to strike Lewis. He did not see prisoner's head bleeding. Before Lewis stabbed Zadaki witness took the broom, but he did not strike Lewis. Thomas Stone, another member of the crew, said there had been trouble between prisoner and the Greeks before. Andros had threatened prisoner with a shovel. On the morning of the j 24th August, he saw Andros strike prisoner with a bucket. Zadaki had a copper kettle in his hand. Prisoner from first to last did his best to get away from the two men. I Thomas William Barclay, master mariner, in command of the Bristol City, said that on the 24th August he siw Zadaki lying on the deck t with a ivound on the left breast. He was uncon- scious and died about half an hour afterwards. When he saw prisoner he had a knifoin one band. and a piece of wood in the other. Witness asked him what he was doing and he said that the Greeks were trying to kill him. He asked if witness would protect him, and on his promising to do so he gave the knife up. On the 26th August witness asked him if he had stabbed the two men and he said I sunpose ao. By Mr Watson There had been no reports made to him of trouble between prisoner and the Greeke, but he found out afterwards they had been on bad terms. Detective-inspector Powell said that on Sep- tember 25th be went to the Bristol City, lying in King Road, and received prisone into custody. Prisoner Raid be should like to make a statement. This was to tho effect that the Greeks had previously assaulted him, and that on the day in question, when he was called to go on watch, Demetri aud Andrq.3 started to fight him. Andros slashed him over the head with a razor, making a big gash, and Demetri struck him on the bead with a bucket. He backed out of tbe forecastle witl. I' a water can in his hand, and left it outside the door. He went back and asked them if they were not going to atop it, saying. I won't be cut to pieces by rats like you." He pulled his- knife from his pocket and struck both of them, and then went aft, and gave the knife to the cap- tain. They were kicking when he struck them. The prisoner, who reserved his defence, was committed for trial at the Assizes.

THE ISLE OF MAN AS A NAVAL BASE. There are rumours of a proposal to establish an Admiralty station in the Isle of Man. It is said that the coastguards have been required to furnish the authorities with full information with regard to Douglas aud liamsey, the chief ports, and details as to anchorago and landing accom- modation for men and guns, postal and tele- graphic facilities, engineering works, and foun- ill in i> nmirtfBf ,L 1 The Two Suggested Ports. N I dries, water supply, and victualling have been supplied. Since tlioge details wcreceived the Admiralty have commissioned AtTutiral Rice to inspect and report upon'the two ports. Ramsey has the best anchorage of any Manx port, and is sheltered from all but north-east winds, while Douglas is the Jargest town, and is only exposed to south-east winds. Douglas has aho daily communication with England throughout the year.

YACHT CAPSIZED. Two Waterford Men Drowned. On Monday afternoon wbile the Waterford yacht Mona with three occnpants was sailing up the river she was struck by a. sudden squall and rapidly filled and Hank off Cheekpoint, Waterford. Captain Parle, the harbonr master, and Captain LaWlor, two prominent citizens of Waterford, were drowned.

SHOT AT A RANGE. North Wales Volunteer Injured. During the progress of Volunteer shootiug contests on Abbey Range, Llangollen, on Satur- day evening, Sergeant Jones, of Coedpoeth Volnnteer Company, whilst-superintending firing operations, was shot through one of his legs by a stray ballet. The occurrence caused much con- sterna>t&Jb,as the cabins were considered impenet- rable. laoes was removed to Llangollen, and on Sunday was reported to be in a somewhat pre- carious condition.

OUR THREATENED CONSUL The state of affairf in the Balkans, instead of decreasing in horror and importance, seems each day to grow more shameful aud alarming, and it is an anxious subject of discussion not only amongst all humanitarians, but also'amongst all politicians. Bulgaria each week seems nearer to war on behalf of its massacred and ill-treated relatives across the border and now it is said that October 12th will actually see a declaration of war on behalf of that State. Monastir aJ)- pears to be the centre of the troubled district, and life there can hardly be pleasant for the more civilised European. The Russian Consul was murdered some time back, and it was an- nounced that the Anjerican^representati ve had met with a similar fate, but fortunately the atory turned out to be unfounded. Now comes the Mr McGregor, Our Consul at Monastir. j news that Mr Macgregor, the British Consul at Monastir, has had his life threatened. Such an event could only precipitate our action as a nation in the matter, and it can hardly be worth the while of either party to bringdown vengeance upon themselves by such a deed. Mr Reginald Wyon, a newspaper correspondent, hae been or- dered out of the country for letting us know too much into the secrets of the situation but he, at what may ultimately prove the risk of his life. has refused to go, and has been backed up by the British Embassy at the Porte. He points out that it is not the rebels who dislike correspondents, 1 but the corrupt Turkish officials, and between the two the Powers are between the devil and the deep blue sea. The only satisfactory point in the outlook is the fast that tbo Powers all appear to be in complete harmony on the subject, and ¡ ready to act in unison, or to support passively any joint action of Austria and Russia. If V'

JUMPED INTO THE CANAL. Cardift Woman's Act. A woman named Annie Thomas, aeed 39, wife of Thomas Thomas, described by the police at of no fixed abode," attempted on Tuesday about 11 n. m. to commit suicide by jumping into the Glamorganshire Canal near North and Lowe's bridge in Bute street. Fortunately she was frustrated in her design by E. Jenkins, who was working on the canal banlt at the time, and who got her to bank with the aid of a boat book. She was then taken to the Bute street Police Station by P.C. Thomas Bennett, of the Docks police fofee. Thomas, who appeared to be ill, wore Union Workhouse clothing, and after be- ing examined by Dr. Buist was sent back to the Workhouse, where she had latterly been ttnin- mate. She loft only-that aiosaiaft*

Weston Brake Disaster, SMART IN THE DOCK. The Charge of Manslaughter. Edward Smart, driver of the wagonette in 'hc Worle disaster, appeared before the Weston- super-Mare magistrates on Tuesday on remand charged with the manslaughter of Martha Bid. discombe and Isabel Hannon. of Ferndale. Mr Chubb, of Wells, appeared for the Director j of Public Prosecutions, and Mr Rogers Ford de- fended. All witnesses were ordered out of court on the suggestion of Mr Ford. J Mr Chubb said there were only one or two points he would like to touch upon. The duty laifl on him was to put the evidence before them so as to see whether there W*B a prima facie case on which prisoner could be committed for trial. Smart was a man who plied for hire with & pnblic conveyance, and it was to be assumed that he had local knowledge of the circumstancee and conditions surrounding the journey, and was aware of any particular danger on the road which he w&s about to travel, and bis duty was to take even care of the lives of his passengers on the fateful 31st of August. After having some little refreshment at Worle Inn, he returned to Weston via the road over the light railway cross- illf-{. Mr Chubb produced a plan for the assist- ance of magistrates. No doubt Smart thought h8 could clear the line, but he (Mr Chnbb) had no instructions on that point. Smart, however, had driven over the road many times, but whether it was a. case of familiaoty breeding contempt or not, he did not know. Smart apparently thought he could clear the line in front of the engine but was the driver of apuhlicconveyance allowed to exercise his judgment in a matter of that kind and speculate on thclives of those he was driving? He submitted that tbe man could not commit aa error of judgment of that sort with impunity. Such negligence amounted to gross culpability. Supposing Smart did not see the red flag, there was evidence that the sign&lman shouted "Stop." so that the driver must have known there was danger. As to the suggestion that the horse bolted, Smart was the only man who made it. After hearing the evidence the magistrates muat say whether Smart had been guilty of Bach culpable negligence as entitled them to send him for trial before a jury. Joseph Sperring. signalman, recapitulated the evidence given at the inquest. Both red and green Hags were unfurled, and he signalled to Smart when he was at a hundred yards distance. Smart did not stop, but went faster. Cross- examined by Mr Ford, witness said his Bight was good, bearing fair, and memory sometimes not very good. He began signalman's work four years ago at the age of 67. He did not signal to any other vehicle, and did not remember seeing one. He first signalled the engine, then opened the gates. Witness said when he saw the accident was certain he got much flurried and hardly knew what he was doing. Dr, Kemm said the death of both women most have been instantaneous. Henry Davey, the guard of the train, said the driver blew the whistle 100 yards from the crossing. He saw the gates were open and Sper- ring standing in the road with both flags un- furled. As the train came near tbe crossing the driver blew the whistle three times for brakes to be put on, and the train pulled up 100 yards the other side of the crossing. His first intimation of anything wroug was feeling a bump after the whistle had blown for the brakes. John Jones, the engine-driver, repeated the evidence given before the coroner, and said he saw some vehicles JD tbe road stationary, but Smart's being in motion he blew the whietl* again. The ensine was well over the road when the accident happened. It was not unusual to stop tbe train if several vehicles had p088e8sion of the road. It was also usual for vehicular traffic to stop when the red flag was shown. He would have stopped if the red fla» had been waved 10 him. When be heard the shouting the engine was just going to cross the-road. Smart's statement to him after the accident that he thought ho had time to get by was beard by several people. Charles Giles, carter, Worle, said he was cycling near the crossing on the day in quee- tion. He heard the whistle blown, saw Sperrins wave his red flag, and heard him shout Stop. Witness was 50 yards behind Smart when th, accident happened. Smart could have pulled up and avoided the accident. William Hunt, coachman, Worle, and Ernott Fry, of Cleveuon, gave evidence, the lattei saying be beard Smart say he thought he haé. time to pltSS. The boy Curry (10.' repeated the evidence he gave before the Coroner, and said Smart said to Sperling as he neared the crossing, I think I can clear it." This remark was madf quietly, but he knew it was Smart who made it. Smart wt<s committed for trial at the Assizes, bail being allowed.

JEWEL ROBBERY AT SWANSEA. £800 Worth Stolen. The jewellery robbers who have for some tim( plied with such success their nefarious calling at Cardiff would now seem to have tnrned theii attention to Swansea. At any rate a most daring robbery was found to have been perpetrated at a shop in one of the principal thoroughfares of the town. On Saturday morning when Mr Daviee, the manager of the jewellery and pawnbroking establishment carried on in the nwtneofH. Freed- man and Sou at /the corner of College and Waterloo-streets, went to open the premises be was astonished to find a padlock on the door. He gained admission, however, and then his suspicions wereconfirmed that the place bad been brokeu into during the night. On the floor ha found near the door a jemmy, ana strewed all about was some of the cheaper jewellery. On g^mg to the window in which the gold articles were displayed he found that a clean sweep had been made of the watches, rings, brooches, a.nd everything ot gold. The burglar or burglars had evidently yone about their work in a most systematic manner, and with a determination to tllkf nothing but what would he easily converted intfr cash. All the cheaper articles being left behind. The premises were left locked and shuttered at usual at 9 o'clock on Friday night.and some time in the interval between then and morning they were entered by the front door. This door if situated on the corner right opposite the King's Hall, and on a four-cross road, one of the most prominent situations in the town. Nevertheless the door must have been forced open by the jemmy-a highly-finished artiele—wbich subsequently found on the floor. The door mtBt have then been closed, and tbe tbieves leisurely went about the work of selection.Quite JE800 worth of eoods were taken. On leaving it was found impossible to relock the door, and, as if il were fornd only closed, the police mieht get quickly on tbe scent, the thieves apparently decided to defer the hue and cry as long as pos- sible by securing the door, and they deliberately fixed a padlock on to the double door, and thee went oft with their boqty. Before doing to, how*' ever, they made an attempt on the strong-room, as there are traces of candle grease on the tocic but it proved too much for them. The police are, of course, now actively engaged in foHowing up such clues as they have been able to obtain, but the thieves have the advautage of having a iong start. Had the establishment been one which was kept closed on Saturdays-tbe- Jewish Sabbath—it is likely that the start would have been much longer. How the robbery wat managed in a spot Jike this, right under a big public lamp, at a four-cross road close to th< Central Firo Brigade Station, is a mystery, but says much for the daring of the robbers. The value of the stolen jewellery is £800 at cost price, and none of the misting property i. insured. Messrs H, Freed man and Son, whose premiser at Swansea were, between Friday night and Satu1" day moraing. broken into, with the result thatgold watches, chains, &c., to the value of JE800 weie stolen, have offered a reward of JE50 for informa- tion which will lead to the conviction of the thiel or thieves and the recovery of the property, or in proportion to the amount recovered. The missing property includes 50 gold waches, 150 gold alberts, 140 seals, 30 18 carat keeper rings, 50 brooches, 130 9-caret keeper rings, several diamond rings, brooches, bracelets, aLd studs.

COMPENSATION CLAIMS. „ Conflicting Medical Opinion. At the Tredegar County Court on Tuesday (before Judge Owen) Kate Allen, widow, claimed against the Powell-Tillery Steam Coal Collierief Company, Abertillery, for JE247 2s 6d in respect of the rteathofher husband. Mr Sankey (%t structed by Mr T. S. Edwards, Newport) was foe the applicant, and Mr Parsons (instructed by Messrs Kenshole, Aberdnre) for the respondents. Deceased was a sawyer, and on April 7th last a large piece of timber tell upon his right leg. causing an abrasion, and he died on June 3rd. A post-mortem was held, and it was discoveied that deceased died from meningitis, accelerated by the accident. Respondents held that the man died from natural causes. Dr Sergeant, Abertillery, said deceased had suffered from softening of the brain, meningitis, and loco- motor ataxia of some standing. There wat nothing in his condition, however, to lead him to doubt that he would be alive to-day but for the accident. Dr. Stephens, Cardiff. fur tbe respondents, said that from the information given him by Dr. Bird he was of opinion that there was no connection between the accident and the cause of death. His Honour said he Was disposed to go more upon the evidence of the medical man who attended deceased and saw him from the time of the accident, and whc stated that in his opinion the accident at anj/ rate accelerated his death. Up to the time of the accident deceased could do his work, and after it be could not. He made an award in favour of the applicant £127 2" 61 to the widow and £2( to each of the six children, with coats nndef Scale C. Several oases from Abertillery of men who hat. been receiving compensation were referred to the medical referee, there being a conflict ol evidence as to their fitness to resume employ ment.

MERTHYR POLICE SUMMONS INVALID. At the Merthyr Police Court on Monday (befort Mr T. Marchant Williams and Mr John Evan" Dd. Thomas, herbalist, was summoned fot acting as a pawnbroker without a licence. M, F. P. Charles, for the defence, raised at thn outset a technical objection, that the m&ttef could only be dealt with, if lieceosarrr by tbe Excise authorities, and -~>t by tbt: police, who were the prosecutors. rioe Ktipen diary said be thought the point raise- was good oue, and he would not troubla Mr GhaTl* further intDi.. casa.