The Cardiff Times

The Night of the Party. By FRANCIS GRIBBLE, Author of 44 The Dream of Peace," 41 The Pillar of Cloud," Only an Angel," &c., &c. I heard the story no further away from the centre of things than the court of the Cecil Hotel T Colonel iEneas Washington Higgs, of the Illinois Irregulars, told it to me, as he sat there in a low chair, imbibing American re- freshments through a long straw, in response to my curiosity about certain characteristic American customs. In particular I questioned him about freak parties," and he drawled out in reply 44 Freak parties ? Do we have freak parties in New York city ? Yes, sir, we do. In New York city, and also in otherparts of the Ameri- can continent. And why not t It was, I be- lieve, your Herbert Spencer who put us up to it." 44 Our Herbert Spencer t" 44 Yes, sir—your Herebert Spencer. He took a. trip across the pond, I understand, to preach us the gospel of—of Relaxation," I prompted. 44 Just so—the Gospel of Relaxation. Perhaps we needed it. Any way, we took to it. Our women took to it, even if our men did not—took to it as a duck takes to water. There very soon were social leaders in the Uinted States who. in this matter of relaxation, were capable of giving wrinkles to your Herbert Spencer. They raised the ante on him. They saw him and went one better. They got home in front of him every time." 44 Indeed f" 44 Yes, sir they didso." 44 Many of them ?" Dozens of them—scores of them—hundreds of them. But one of them in particular—Mrs Harvey van Tootler. I suspicion you have beard the name of Mrs Harvey Van Tootler before now." 44 I confessed my ignorance, and Colonel iEneas Washington Higgs proceeded 44 Never beard of Mrs Harvey van Tootler T Well, you surprise me. Why, she was f one of our social leaders for years, and just a gold mine to our social reporters. They wrote her up; they lived on her. There were columns and columns about her—all with scare headlines— in the Sunday editions of the 4 World and the 4 Journal," and the President mentioned her in one of his messages to the women of America. Women like Mrs van Tootler, he said, were a disgrace to the Puritan stock from which they sprang." 44 So bad as that, was it ?" Tbe colonel shrugged his shoulders. That was how the President put it," he re- plied. 44 He likes to put things strongly—that's his way. May be he exaggerated—sometimes he does. Still, I assure you, Mrs van Tootler was a remarkable woman—a very remarkable woman indeed—one of the most remarkable women in the United States. And a thorough- going follower of your Herbert Spencer. And as for her freak parties He paused as i in ecstatic contemplation of the memories. Yes," I interpolated. She and young Charlie Hammerfest used to fix them up together. I reckon you may have heard of Charlie Hammerfest." 44 No, I don't think so." Well, that's curious, too—especially as he's latterly been living on this side, running a socia! newspaper, if I'm not mistaken." 44 The editor of the 4 Social Scrapheap '—is that the man you mean ?" 44 That is the man. You appear to have found some use for him on this side. On our side we have no use for him any longer. In fact, if he wtere to show himself on our side I should not like to answer for the conse- quences." There's a story, then ?" 44 Just so." About a freak party 1" About several freak parties—and about one freak party in particular." And the gentleman's relations with the lady ?" 44 Private secretary—general factotum—call it what you like. He was a Harvard boy. and he'd come away from Harvard in a hurry". 14 The Order of the Boot ?" 44 Something of that sort. Just what been doing I don't rightly know, though it can't have been anything to his credit. Perhaps he'd only been getting into debt. Still he was good-looking, with pleasant manners, and that goes a long way with women—especially with women like with Mrs van Tootler. She adver- tised for a secretary, and he answered the advertisement. She thought him so nice-looking that she«didn't ask any questions. That was how he got into the house, and when anee he'd got into it he knew how to stay in it, making himself usefill, and also making himself agree- able." And Mr van Tootler approved of the ar. rangement ?" 44 Harvey van Tootler wasn't asked. I wouldn't even like to swear that be knew. His business was to earn the dollars for Mrs van Tootler to spend. It took him all his time. He controlled banks and railroads and insurance companies and filled up his leisure in cornering maple syrup and pickled walnuts. He and Mrs van Tootler hardly ever met except sometimes at dinner. Other times, if he'd anything to say to her he 'phoned. I believe they 'phoned to each other even from their bedrooms. So it was easy enough for Charlie to keep out of his way. Besides I didn't mean to imply 44 Nothing of that sort, then ?" 44 Not on her side. Mrs van Tootler wasn't that sort. American women mostly aren't. That's why American husbands 'phone to them instead of hanging around, looking after them. No. I would swear there was nothing of that sort on Mrs van Tootler's side." 14 Bnt on the side of her Secretary ?" 44 Well, I don't answer for that. Mrs van Tootler was a very beautiful woman, and Charlie Hammerfest's record was against him. Probably it was a little difficult to keep him at a disance—»just at the right distance—not too near and not too far away. I rather fancy Mrs van Tootler did it by laughing at him, and I rather fancy Charlie did not like being laughed at. Very likely the laughter rankled. That may be the explanation of what happened. But I don't know for certain. Nobody can say Charlie showed any malice at the time. Indeed nobody can prove that he ever showed any malice at all. To all appearance he was just a model secretary." You mean a model secretary for such a woman as Mrs van Tootler 7" Just so. What Mrs van Tuotler wanted a secretary for was to help her to work the social racket; and that was what Charlie Hammerfest was fit for. He was always polite to reporters, which is one of the secrets of success in life in our country. And he was full of notions—new and original notions." 44 Notions for freak parties 1" Why, certainly." Entirely bis own ?" I wouldn't say. May be the reporters helped him a bit. Our reporters are wonderfully obliging in that way. Naturally, seeing that it's easier to make news than to hunt for it. And Charlie wouldn't have been too proud to take a hint. Anyway, the notions, wherever they came from, were bright. Why, those freak parties, I tell you-" You were one of the guests, then ?" 44 Now and again. But I'm not giving any- thing away. It was all in the social papers at the time. With head-lines too. Head-lines two inches high. Mrs Harvey van Tootler's Latest. She Springs a Fresh Surprise on a Select Party of Friends. ( The Dinner They Got Was Quite Different From the Dinner They Expected. Columns of that sort of thing in the social editor's best style." 4 441 see. And the nature of the surprises ?" Why, there was just every sort of surprise you could think of. At one party, I remember, we had the dinner served backwards." Had your dinner served backwards ?" Yes. sir. Started in with the coffee and liqueurs, and worked through the dessert and the cheese and the ice puddings and the can- vas-back ducks and the terapin back to the soup. A most original notion, you will allow, though not particularly favourable to a middle- aged digestion. Then there was another time when the dining ball was fixed up like a Nevada mining camp, and the guests were re- quested to attend in red flannel shirts and I corduroys. On a third occasion they had a pie full of live canaries that started flying round the room as soon 8.3 the crust was broken. On a fourth occasion they had living statues—the prettiest, lot of artists' models they could get together—as table decorations. Then again there was what they called the water-nymph parties. That was at Newport in August. We all came in bathing costumes, and sat round the garden in bath tubs." Amusing ?" Most amusing until the wind turned to the west and brought along a cloud of mosquitoes Then it began to be less amusing than before. But it was a party that made talk. You can guess what the head-lines were like The Simple Life at Newport. Mrs Harvey van Tootler's Startling Innovation. Fifty Social Leaders Received by Her in Light Swimming Otdpr. Full description of the Costumes by Our Fashion Editor. That was asocial function which took a deal of beating." I *4 So I should suppose." And you would suppose right. It was no easy undertaking, after that, to provide a new sensation for the jaded nerves of our Four Hundred. But Mrs van Tootler was resolved to do it, and she told Charlie so. 4 I doubt if it can be done,' said Charlie but that wouldn't do for Mrs van Tootler. she said, 4 you've got it to do. Just you take a week to think it out.' 44 So Charlie Hammerfest went away to think things out, and I own that I have my sus- picions about that thinking. Not that I ca^t prove anything. Not that anyone can prove > au-thillg. But that was about the time when Mrs van Tootler laughed at Charlie, so as to keep him in his place when he thought the time had come for him to play the gay Lothario. And, if Charlie bore malice, that, as 1 you, \v<~tld explain a good deal." 4' He found a. notion then 1" "He did. A most original and ingenions notion. He whispered it to Mrs van Tootler, and she just clapped her hands. 44 4 do, won't it V he asked her. 414 The very thing,' she said. Charlie, you're a man of genius.' Yes, Mrs van Tootler. I think I am,' he answered and I suspicion that he meant more than he said. 14 4 Am I to toll Harvey she asked. Ie Yes, but not yet. Not till the very last minute when it's too late to stop it. Otherwise, of course—you never know with men-" That's so. You're right. And vou're quite sure you can fix it up ?' 4 Never fear about that, Mrs van Tootler. You've only got to leave it to me.' 41 So Mrs van Tootler left it to Charlie Ham- merfest and, as soon as the invitations were issued, Charlie began to work the press. As a rule the papers said nothing about the freak parties till afterwards, but this time the in- structions were to start in beforehand and hold out greatexpectations. The head-lines were just prodigious :— Mrs van Tootler's Next. Rumours of' a New Sensation in Store for Visitors to the Popular Social leader's Mansion on the Banks of the Hudson. The Arrangements, as Usual,Are in the Hands of Charlie Hammerfest. He Drops Dark Hints, But Says That Wild Horses Shall Not Drag His Secret From Him Prematurely. 44 That, yon may guess, set people talking. Set them stooping to all kinds of low tricks to get invitations. Lists of the guests who had accepted where published in all the papers. A special train was chartered to convey them to the depot nearest to the mansion. All the most fashionable women and all the most wealthy ,men in New York city were to he present. Every facility was promised to reporters; and, as the day approached, the social editors spread themselves more and more, and put their very best work into the bead-lines The Night of the Party. What are Mrs-van Tootler's Plans ? Charlie Hammerfest Keeps His Counsel, But Various Rumours Are in Circulation. It is Said That a Jury of Bachelors Will Adjudge a Unique Prize to the Best Dres&ed Woman Present. There'll be a Hot Time in the Old Town To-night. 44 That was how the interest was worked up and kept alive. Charlie Hammerfest knew how to keep the ball rolling. That must be allowed. I'll allow, too, that I was very pleased with myself when I received my invitation. It was a great occasion, I assure you; but you needn't ask me for a full account of all the social details. One of your women reporters would make a seven-column story out of them, filling at least a column and a half with a list of names. That isn't in my line. But Mrs van Tootler and Charlie Hammerfest did the thing in style—slap-up, first-class style. You may take my word for that. They poured out Harvey van Tootler's dollars like water, and Harvey van Tootler was proud of it. They 'phoned to him to tell him what they were doing, and he 'phoned back to tell them to do what they liked. I reckon they put up the greatest social gathering ever known in New York State. ".The dresses? Well, I can't spread myself on the dresses, not knowing the language of the fashion editors but if you imagine all the most elegant dresses you ever saw or heard of, you'll have the picture fairly bright. And the jewels ? That's easier, perhaps. You know what women arc when they've got free hands and rich husbands and have a motive for looking their best. The diamond tiaras alone in that room would have stocked several jewellers' shops. The man who owned them might have set up in business in Bond-street, and had enough stuff left over to open a branch establishment in the Rue de la Paix. I would make a wager that there was a million dollars' worth of diamonds in that ballroom if there was one. 44 And all thewomen—and all the men, too— on the tip-toe m expectation! They knew that something singular was going to happen— something that was going to beat all the records. The later the evening got the more certain they were that the surprise was really going to be surprising. Naturally they tried to worm the secret out of Mrs van Tootler. but Mrs van Tootler y^asti't" to be* drawn. Then they looked around for Oharlie Hammerfest, to try and draw him but Charlie Hammer- fest wasn't there, and people began to ask Mrs van Tootler where he was. 4 I don't know,' she said. lost him. I guess he'll turn up presently, though, and I hope you'll all recognise him when he does and so the word was passed round that Charlie was in the back-ground arranging the surprise that he had promised to spring on them. 44 4 So he was; but though everybody expected a surprise,the surprise startled them some when it came. TOO first thing that happened was that the electric light went out, leaving the ball-room pitch dark. The women began to scream, of course, and the men began to laugh. When you're flirting with a pretty woman, and the light suddenly goes out, why, of course—but I needn't interrupt the story to go into that. Harvey van Tootler shouted 4 What in thun- der but that of course, was taken as part of the hoax and the men laughed more than ever, and the women began to laugh, too. The next thing was that the light couldn't be switched on again. All the switches were tried in turn, and there wasn't one of them that would work. Either somebody had been fooling with the dynamo, or else the wires had been cut. Nobody felt quite sure whether it was an accident, or had been done on purpose; but they knew it must have been done on pur- pose when they saw that Mrs van Tootler wasn't frightened. 44 4 Say now,' they heard her calling out,' We haven't got candles to stick in bottles, so I guess we shall have to finish the party in the dark.' That speech, I tell yon, was applauded, and you can guess the reason why. When you are flirting with a pretty woman, and the light goes out, the proposition that you shall continue to flirt with her in the dark is one that you natur- ally have no reluctance to come up against. A large plurality of the' guests were therefore warmly in favour of the course proposed. The men applauded and the women permitted their objections to be overruled. It was agreed among them that Mrs van Tootler was a very remarkable-not to say a very sympathetic— woman, and that Charlie Hammerfest took the biscuit for originality and then we all set- tled down to enjoy themselves in the pre- scribed conditions. 44 But Charlie Hammerfest, as it happened, had not yet finished. In fact, he had only just begun. The real surprise of the evening—the surprise that was to beat the record—was still ahead of us. Our first indication of it was the noise of a motor-car whizzing up the avenue. 44 4 Two o'clock in the morning,' said Mrs van Tootler. Some of our guests are very late. Seems they've heard of our difficulties, and come along with lights to cheer us up.' It seemed so for the moment, but it didn't seem so very long. The next thing that we heard was Harvey van Tootler calling out 4 Snakes alive V and the next thing we saw was strangers arriving. Not ordinary strangers. Not in the least. Masked men earring lanterns and six-shooters. And not entering in the ordinary way either. Not knocking at* the front door and asking if Mrs van Tootler was at home. Not at all. Climbing through the windows—six of them at once climbing through six differ- ent windows, and employing the usual polite formula 44 4 Hands up 44 My hand, I tell you, went right round to my hip pocket. Not,of course, that I was carry- ing the shooting irons at Mrs van Tootler's party, but it was a habit that I'd acquired while on active service out West with the Illinois Irregulars. Happen if I had had my gun about me, there'd have been bloodshed before J had time to think. But then I remembered. This was a freak party. This must be the freak. Charlie Hammerfest must have put up the fame on us by arrangement with Mrs van 'ootler. I judged so by the calm way Mrs van Tootler took it. She left the other women to do the screaming—and there were plenty of them to do it—and she seemed as easy and comfort- able in her minA as if she were welcoming a long-lost friend. 4 Well,' she said, waiting for the strangers to speak and the strangers spoke right out. 44 4 Sorry to interrupt your amusement. ladies and gentlemen,' said the leader. 4 All you've got to do is to just hand over your valuables. When you've done that, we'll wi?h you a pleasant evening, and leave you to get on with the fun. My friend here has a bag in which he will now proceed to take up the collection.' So five of the strangers held up the com- pany while the sixth went round and collected the contributions. I'm not saying that all the women liked it. There are some jokes to which women tumble with difficulty.,and I am willing to believe that this joke was of that character. Still they entered into the fun to the best of their ability when Mrs van Tootler showed them the way. The hostess having taken off her tiara and dropped it into the collector's bag, the guests felt that they had no choice but to follow suit. I don't know how many tiaras were collected, but there were quite a number. And not tiaras only. Bracelets also, and necklaces, and rings, and, from the men, gold watches and chains. Never before in the eventful history of American crime did robbers make such a haul. It was all done, I should say, inside of ten minutes. By the end of that time the strangers had oncemareboarded their motor-car and were whizzing away down the avenue with the swag. 44 I don't say that all the women were quite' easy in their minds about it. Some of their U- voices were rather shrill. Hut Mrs van Tootler did her best to calm them down. wait half an hour, there'll be another sur- prise. 44 And so there was. but not the particular surprise that Mrs van Tootler had led the com- pany to expect. 4r The lights are being fixed up again,' she said only got to be pa.tient,a,nd then see.' 44 Weil, we were a-s patient as could be ex- pected under the circumstances, the men doing their level best tu console the women in the dark and allow that the dark affords spticial facilities for this kind of consolation, Then. just as the Sight was turned on, we heard the whizzing of a second motor-car, and Mrs van Tootler laughed and said :— I told you so, They've changed their minds. What's the betting that they offer to restore our property on condition that we ask them to stop to supper ?' 44 Weil, r don't know what the betting was. There wasn't time for any. The next thing we saw was a fresh lot of masked men, getting out of the car. and holding the company up as be- fore. That evidently wasn't in the programme, for, instead of laughing, Mrs • Harvey van Tootler began to scream. 4 Charlie, CharJie: she shouted.. For God's sake speak, Charlie What are you coming back a scelld time for? You don't mean to say it wasn't you who were here half an hour ago He polled off his mask and so did the other men. We recognised them all and they, and Mrs van Tootler and Harvey van Tootler Were all as pale as death. 44 4 Wasn't me ? What do you mean, Mrs van Tootler ?' he stammered and then, looking round the rOOm and seeing no tiaras and no bracelets, and no rings :— You don't mean to say someone's been beforehand with me and held you up in earnest ?' 44 4 I do. Charlie Hammerfest, I do.' 44 4 Good (Ood 1' That was the whole of the story of the freak party. The rest was only comment. So the real Simon Pure had got in first 7" I asked. 44 Yes. sir that is so." And was any of the stuff recovered ?" 44 Not a cent." 44 And did Charlie Ba.mmerfestretain his post as Mrs van Tootler's private secretary ?" No, sir he did not. Mrs van Tootler had no further use for him. None of # the guests at that freak party had no further use for him. So he crossed the pond." 44 And no you suspect- It is no business of mine, sir, tJ suspect any one. Having myself lost nothing more valuable than a pair of sleeve links, lean afford to thke that line. But I allow that Charlie's record is against him. and, as for appearances —well, I hear that Charlie paid fifty thousand dollars for that social papei which he is editing on this side, and, if he saved that amount out of eighteeen months' salary at the rate of twenty-five hundred dollars a year, he is a smarter financier than he ever had the repu- tation of being either at Harvard College or in New York Citv." (The End.) Next Week— TWO, AND A SHADOWY THIRD, By J. Quigley.

Naked Lunatic CHASED THROUGH LONDON STREETS. An extraordinary scene was witnessed on Saturday in Hammersmith-road, West Ken- sington. About 9 o'clock a number of people who were waiting for omnibuse3 at Addison- road, which is close to Olympia, observed a man commence to divest himself of his cloth- ing. He was well dressed, of middle age, and appeared to be in a state of great excitement. After throwing off his coat he took a watch and chain from his pocket, ring from his fingers, and threw them into the roadway. A purse, a pocket-book and some papers were served in a similar way and the man then hastily took off the rest of his clothing and in a nude con- dition started running in the direction of High- street, Kensington. It was evident that the unfortunate man was demented. A crowd took up the chase and indulged in cfies of Stop him Something like a. panic ensued, ladies screaming and running for places of shelter. Fortunately, a policeman was on duty at the corner of Earl's Court-road, and the officer closed with the man and struggled with him until assistance was obtained. The man was then quickly covered with some clothing, and an ambulance being procured he was strapped to it and conveyed to the Kensington Police Station. There he was seen by the divisional surgeon and pronounced insane.

My Brain is Afire." MUMBLES BUTCHER'S DEATH. I Mr Edward Pitman, of the Mumbles, manager of the local branch business of Messrs Woodley and Co., butchers, of Cardiff, was on Sunday afternoon found lying dead in the shop. Syncope is believed to have been the cause of death. At the inquest on Monday evidence was given that deceased had gone to his shop to make up his accounts. P.C. Swaffield, who. with the landlord, got into the shop through the win- dow, stated that on the body, which was turn- ing cold and lying on the floor, he found a bag containing £22 3s 7d, a watch, and a cheque book, and on the counter a card bearing, in deceased's handwriting, the words :— My brain is afire. All the money is the firm's. Cannot live any longer. God for- give me for this.—Pitman." Some distance from the body behind the counter he found a half emptied box of rat poison. ( Dr. Marks said he examined the body care- fully and saw nothing to indicate that de- ceased had taken poison. From the appearance of the body death, in his opinion, was due to apopjexy. He suggested that the card was written just as the fit was coming on. He had known similar cases, where victims of such attacks had felt their brains on fire, as described in deceased's writing. One of the jury suggested that the circum- stances pointed to suicide, but the Coroner said he did not think there was any evidence of that. Dr. Marks said he would go so far as to say he was sure deceased did not take rat poison. The jury returned a verdict of" Death from natural causes—apoplexy."

LUNELLY COMPENSATIONS. Judge and Widows. At Llanelly County Court on Mondav Mr Saunders (of the torn of Messrs Randell, Saunders, and Randell, Llanelly) asked his Honour Judge Bishop to order the sum of £300 paid into court by Messrs Richard Thomas and Co., Ltd., in respect of the death of Thomas Simon, be paid to deceased's widow, who was the only dependent. Mr Saunders suggested that JE1 a week be paid out for six months, and the remainder at the end of that period, and an order was made accordingly. Mr Saunders intimated that Messrs Richard Thomas and Co. had agreed to pay £300 as compensation to Elizabeth Ward, and sug- gested that JE50 be paid down to the widow and 15s a week. His Honour said be disliked giving widows too much money, as they would only squander it. His Honour made an order for the payment of £30 to the Widow and 15s per week. Mr Saunders stated that the Cefnstylle Colliery Company had agreed to fix the amount of compensation to Elizabeth Jones at £29315s. His Honour ordered that £43158 be paid out to the widow and £1 a week. In the case of Elizabeth Jones v. the New Dynant Colliery Company, Mr Saunders said the company had agreed to pay £88 as compen- sation in respect of a lad. Mr F. N. Powell, on behalf of Messrs Brown, Thomas, and John, builders and contractors, asked his Honour to review an order for the payment of ] 88 9d a week as compensation to Jeremiah Guy, who had sustained an injury to his left eye as the result of a nail coming into contact with it. Mr J. Lewis Phillips represented the respondent. His Honour re- duced the amount to ls per week.

CARDIFF POLICE CONTROL. Another Secret Conclave. A special meeting of the Cardiff Watch Com- mittee was held on Monday, having been called presumably to consider. the differences which have arisen between the chairman of the committee (Councillor J. T. Richards) and the Lord Mayor. Both were present, but neither felt disposed to preside. Mr Richards, however, observed, after a few minutes' delay, that he did not know whether they wished him to take the chair as he had not convened the meeting. The members thought the chairman should pre- side whereupon Mr Richards asked the Lord Mayor if he would ask for the same privilege with regard to the Press as he had desired at the previous meeting. The Lord Mayor Certainly, I think it would be well for the Press to retire, for I have no desire that the meeting should be public. Then, turning to the reporters, the Lord Mayor asked them to retire as there was no serious work to be done. It was only a little internal arrangement that had to be discussed. The representatives of the Press then re- tired. The meeting lasted half an hour, but no official report of the proceedings was given. The Lord Mayor, on being asked what had transpired, said, 44 Everything passed off satisfactorily, and there is nothing to report." Councillor J. T. Richards said with an im-r pressive air, 44 I have not hing to communi- cate." It will be recalled that friction arose ne- tween Councillor J. T. Richards, who is the chairman of the Watch Commit tee, and the Lord Mayor as to the letter's prerogative in respect of the police.

Base Coins at Cardiff. TWO MEN SENTENCED. At Glamorgan Assizes, Cardiff, on Monday* before Lord Coleridge, Wm. Ivens (50), Jame* Jane." (GO), and Mai v Jones (38) were charged with manufacturing counterfeit corn at Whit* church. Mr Klidyr Herbert (instructed by Messrs Lewis Morgan and Box) prosecuted* and Mr Ivor Bowen and Mr Hugh Jones (iu* strweted by Messrs Harold Lloyd and erosø. defended. 123 Basa Kalfcrowns. Counsel for the prosecution said the charge was ot manufacturing 12.3 base half-crown^. The prisoners took a house in Pantbach-roadt Whitchurch. 11 June of last year, and on the rth of November the police a search warrant. I They arrived at tjae hous at 6 o'clock in morning,-and on searchmg the premises found electric battery cells, wire, lead, and a board wth marks of coins upon it. The male prisones* were taken in charge, a.nd subsequent search revolted in 123 counterfeit coins being dug OP in the garden. In a bedroom, under the 08" cloth, were found two genuine half-crown pje-ccs bearing the dates 18S8 and 1891. Seventy" one of the b»o coins found in the garden wee* dated 1888 and 32 were dated 1891. Prison^ Jones, referring to the coins, said. There jø. tree in the garden where they grow." Tb* search in the kitchen led to the discovery of some white powder, which was proved to be plaster of Paris, and when Polico-SergeSDt MeGovem found it the female prisoner said. 44 go near that; that is flour that I am going to make pancakes of." Referring to a green liquid also found in the cup* board, she said, That sort of gttMtt liquid I got for the dog's leg." She fni fhin iibM that the two half-crowns had been put oodaf the oilcloth for safety. Inspector Rees stated that prisoner Jtratf on the way to the station said that the frtft- terics were used for tatooing by Proteaaot Rose. better known as" Darkie." who made his headquarters at the Bridge Hotel, Bute" street. Witness found Rose at this >di1111 Solution for Ptatinfr MrSpiridion, of Duke-street, Cardiff, the green solution was silver solution for plating. There was a jar of copper nnlphafai, and it was necessary to have a layer of oc/ppef on the metal to induce the silver to deoosit.. Replying to Mr Hugh Jones, Mr Spiridi* admitted that he possessed batteries for plat" ing, and solutions for raiding. Yoa solution for plating 7"—Oh yes. 44 This was your only venture in countsrMfc coin making ? —4< Oh, no I have made tlmii before in connection with cases." (Laughixz.) Mr Hugh Jones I am surprised. (Laugh* ter.) On this occasion it was not a success, was it t—No. I atm not aD expcctln making. 44 The spurious shilling you made would DOt deceive anybody ?—No I did that only to show that the metal and the battery were'for making. If I had got sufficient metal I coaId have made quite as good a half-crown a* these "—pointing to the pile of base cotes— 1 only wanted more metal. In further evidence, witness admitted that the copper solution might be used for a dog*' leg. Mr Ivor Bowen submitted that there was no evidence against tbe woman Jones, and the Judge agreed but in the case of Ivens Lordship was of opinion that there was a cass for a jury. For the defence James Jones, the was first called, and gave a flat denial to tbø charge. He sMd that he had no knowledge of the coins found in the back garden, and ar serted that he got his living at repairing he ooughtr at auctions and reselling. Questioned closely as to the fact that the dates on the buried coins corresponded to the dates on those found m the bedroom, witneofl said that it was a coincidence. Male Prisoners Guilty. Both male prisoners were found guilty. P.C. Williams proved previous convic-tioat against Jones, one for a snuliar offence. Detec- tive-Sergeant Little said that there were nine previous convictions against Ivens. whom witness described as an 44 expert coined and a trainer of comers." Previous to the arrest of prisoners the Cardiff police had received numerous complaints from banks and tradesmen of bad coin being in chcuJatiODt but these had now ceased. The Judge passed sentence of five years penal servitude on the two men, Mrs Jonat being discharged.

MUNICIPAL HOUSING. Action by Margam Council. The monthly meeting of the Margam Dir trict Council was held on Monday, Major Graf presiding. The Medical Officer and the Sanitary eeq," mittee strongly condemned the action of the responsible officials in transferring teachers from schools infected with measles to other schools in the county, an action which was contrary to the regulations of the Education Committee. The clerk was instructed to write a strong letter to the Education Committee pointing out that the Margam district had previously suffered through teachers being im ported from infected districts into their area. The Housing Committee recommended that the surveyor proceed forthwith with the pre- paration of plans, specifications, and esti- mates for the erection of 100 houses under < municipal housing scheme. Mr G. Lipscomb said he was opposed to a municipal scheme* asserting that in most places such schemer were not a success. He had gone into the figures of three of the most recent building clubs, and the difference between the cost price and the cost to the buyer of the house was only about 7 per cent. He would rather see people build their own houses. Mr R. Llewellyn contended that a municipal scheme could be worked successfully. If municipal schemes had failed it was because of the high rents charged for the land. Mr Byass said he found it impossible to build a suitable bouse for a working man at anything like a reasonable rent. Eventually the recom- mendations of the committee were adopted. Mr D. Wellington moved that the Council petition Miss Talbot to place Port Talbot Park in the hands of the Council. Mr R. Llewellyn seconded. Mr Lipscomb said that there was no daogtf of the park going over for building. MiIf Talbot was now considering the question of laying out the lower portion of the pack pleasure gardens. The motion was carried. The rapid growth of the Port Talbot district was again illustrated by the fact that plans were passed for tb8 election of 62 new houses in Port Talbot, while at the previous monthly meeting plans wtf* passed for the erection of about 80 new houstf in the same district. The sewerage works natf in course of construction will cost the lead authority about £25,000.

"MADE COWARDS OF THEIl ALL" Barry Councillor on Elections. At Barry District Council on Monday, 0. cillor D. Lloyd, J.P., presiding, there •• discussion on the question of granting per* mission to cinematograph halls in the distzfcsfc to hold entertainments on Sunday ev«afe^|b Resolutions of protest against granting per- mission were received from 27 Pree Churches and the local Established Churches in the dis- trict. On behalf of the proprietors of tits milly Hall cinematograph show a p«tiUeli in favour of the concerts was put in signed tif 1,765 persons. Rev. J. S. Longdon, M.A., V&' John Tyler, of the Barry Gospel Miasion, oø Rev. T. Pandy John, and Mr T. Jenkins soy ported the resolution in opposition. Councillor C. B. Griffiths, who had votedrto favour of Sunday concerts previously, saadllj had since found there was a large body <» opinion against it, and he was going to against it that evening. Councillor T. Davies said he was glad to sal that the election made cowards of them ajDL (Laughter.) It brought them to their eeMet. As to Councillor Griffiths's remarks at a pre" vious Council meeting, namely, that if a had 6d or so in his pocket in chapel 3d would be put on the plate and 3d would go to tb* cinematograph show, Councillor Davies said, he thought that was a sneering remark, espect^ ally as Councillor Griffiths represented a trad* that had swallowed millions and ruined møi8 lives than any other Councillor Griffiths I think Chat's i i rnrinaV Councillor W. Fowler That's rot, Mr Chaif man. Is it in order ? Councillor Griffiths said if any member at church had taken offence he numbly apote* gised. He added Mr Davies has attacked • I trade that I say I am proud to belong to, aflv 1 must take exception to his words. Councillor Davies ultimately withdrew tb* remark. Dr. P. J. O'Doimell held that a Saad81 evening entertainment was necessary fortbl young folk who walked up and down Holtcø road on Sunday evenings indulging in play. By twelve votes to five it was decided not 4* allow the Sunday concerns.

BANK-NOTE SHOWER. The remarkable series of anonymous giftl of bank-notes to Lancashire churches W8' continued on Saturday, when f50 was received by the pastor of the Union-street Congrega* tional Church, Oldham. The unknown done* commenced by sending at the beginning of last month a sheaf of bank-notes to Bishop Well* don at the Manchester Cathedral. Seven other mysterious gifts were received in tW next few days. Accompanying the bank-not4 received on Saturday was a letter posted the Oldham General Pdst Office. It ran al follows: Dear Sir,—I and my wife desire to send you £5Q for the benefit of the Union-street Congrc gational Church. All we desire is an acknof ment in a Manchester newspaper. Anonymoo*: Like the letters accompanying seven of the other gifts it was written in an unscholarl* hand. but this is believed to he intentionD in order further to obseurc the identity of tb* writer. Altogether £403 has been received iØ this way-