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,""-hart Conlplete Tales by…
hart Conlplete Tales by c; Renowned Writers. ). kb" he P [COPYRIGHT. J CLOWN'S ? LOVE STORY. 00 aft «< By ALETHfcA PHILLIPS, t(t,i thoress of "A Romance of the Revotution,"&c. ^1 a JI In, *• lefffcOfty called him Picotin. was not his real name. Nobody knew • ttilt-r he had a run] IWIBP or not, but it was of re J JJO'ir qii"nsf. for he was only a clown. I j -r Picotin He bad been tumbling about tflij *Jd» fhe circus-ring ever since he could remem- I How he first cfitne into it no one could tell Ilow he tir. ine iiit, i Y more than hiiii-el excpt a very deaf old ,<* ^"Per, who recollected that a trainer had tli "ftfCht him th(-re as a mere baby, capable .f Vo '.nf? balanced on the tip of an «crobat's top or & .ly folded up in a tritveliiiig b-ig. From this j stage of a perfm-mer, and from lispinsr droll noi I'fcrtinences, the boy developed gradually into a | clown, but like many another^ mirth- I poking genius, Picotin was sad and solitary in •Tl^ays. ylA^'th a heart that yearned for sympathy, for fciijB^tion, he found himself doomed to appear [^H'Culous even wh^n he most wished to be serious. KK*dolorous face was provocative of laughter, a^rfTl without its paint; his smallest utterance jJ8 greptwd as a juke; for a clown, in the eeti- tion of most people, must always be merry ^|T* liave quips and cranks for everything under J'eotin was the Prince of Jesters, yet he had Q tory. 3*Jji Vf course there was a woman in it. Well, was nflS »fe ever a life-tory yet worth relating that had | woman in it of some sort or another ? rfl*W WHS very young, with the face of a seraph JjE/) a slight, roundnd figure, reminding one of a Bal^-beil swayed to and fro by the wind, as she ,«»Vk"Ced heiself on the tight-rope night after before an admiring multitude. A little J WHS always on her lips a* if she experienced A PM delight in the supple grace of her own ø e body, and her starry eyes shone with the jJ^ence of a child. f|cotin adored her. evening during the performance some k^less person, either drunk or too fond of a J Epical ioke, let off several cr ckers all of a 3 L^*n und threw a squib down into the ring r Babinette. d 0* Rave a terrified stream and fell from the jf -Picotin rusned forward and received her in lb ju*rn'6- The pretty face wa* pale beneath its r0 rouge, and he saw tliac she had fainted. he carried her out, and, having left her » care uf some women, tore up among the of the audience and seized the offender by I War. made way for him as he hauled the 0 ,nto fc',e r'nS- ( 'nee there the infuriated 0 administered a sound thrashing before the the pub! c. The management did not $e^ re' see'nK'hat the chastisement was richly 9 T'j'ved and that it was also applauded. f g*ter Picotin was more popula than ever. #Au Wa8.tt'8° happier;for Babinette had thanked » prettily and ne had ventured to speak to her ft 'Jt9 about his desire to make her bis wife, to ^°u tht-y hnd consented. 1 J^'etty Babinette meanwhile, as the heroine of | h/1 exciting episode of the crackers, had r 1)1* great enthusiasm among a set of idle ■ iu 9 who were always thrusting their admira b11 upoti her, and when Picdtiu threatened tr them all she laughed in his face, crunching bon-hims they had sent her, with teeth sharp ?J* ^hite as those of a litfle field mouse. Was it ^'ble, thought the poor clown, that this child J thf* starry eyes was becoming a mere coarse k vulgar vvoniaii, sueli as the others about ? Bar he xhuddered at the thought, thmst- jjf ■i' froui him, and waiting patiVntly to over- the petulant distaste she se^mud to have all at once to the idea of being married. Babinette, how much money they give /€ wife can be quite a fine lady if she VoI* lie t0 ',er ul,e ^'9 Q'iee1, tiiat had a crack in it and never could be J/^R'it to murmur soft sentences, such as he l^jd have liked to caress her ear with, after the ^'iou of a lover. Ji*l>inette looked wistfully at the gold pieces. took them up in her dainty finger«. and let 7,n' drop again into his palm. v Yes, she answered, mulling a rosebud of her "'but you—you will always bo a clown." i £ or the first time in his life the poor fellow felt Jfraded in following the only profession lie had known. He did net reflect that her own w*lk in life was very similar to his, and that it £ ld be solely through him she would be at to quit it, which he was quite determined shouid do on becoming his wife. He was too in love to reflect at all; he was simply &*oious of some vague sense of injustice, n^f-w days after tha.t he was strolling in one of public gardens when a murmur of voices ^ght his far. In a shady side path he a couole of young lovers seated on 0.,«bnch hand in hand, and gazing into each < eye->. He would have walked on ^ind them without paying further attention Iiot thegiri turned tier profile in his direction. was no mistaking those lines of cheek, brow, and chin, almost cherubic in their soft- nor the delicate, scarcely perceptible upward of the tiny nose that made Bubinette a future of childish innocence, yet Picotin gazed *|Pidly at her, doubtful whether to believe his )?*" senses. What was she doing here with her J&d io that of another when she was hi3 aflBanced *lfe 1 did not have to wait long for an explanation, i *ows and protesiations fell upon his ears ?lllRled with entreaties and contemptuous »>x- r^teions regarding hin>self, to which the girl j'teiied in silence, while one by one tears crnpt |Na between her curled lashes and fell into her v"l?oor Picotin! He is so good," she mur- r'fed once or twice and he loves me. It will his heart." v 'Noclown ever had a heart," cried the young ^••»_v.ithconviction. "'Doyon think he could pass l^Jife making jukes it he suffered as I do? It v^kes me treu.ble and turn sick every time I see Ik? l*,at <'rea^(u' rope, my darling. It is o~0»t;inable, horrible, to see ail those eyes, too, i upun you. What is your promise to that Picotin^ compared with my love V' And so this youth wooed her with soft voice ^irdent words, while the girl listened with bent, like a blush-rose tremulous on its b-ncath the warm breath of a summer j^nd. Little by little the haunting face of the failed from her mind as she nestled closer her lover. She was huppy—oh, so happy— vhis arms clasped about her, and n ean- the man, whose heart would have been J?1"11 oat a bleeding sacrifice to save her pain, ?°od there behind them both, unlifpded, with j^iwn face and dull eyes ga2ing blankly into the ^tnre. fc,, ,at night Picotin failed in several of his tricks, the peop e roared with laughter. « ■They thougiit it funnier to see him fail than to him succeed, for he looked at them so mourn- and shook his head in such a dismal manner, Ijr^hough it was all up with him, that they took it ^fcranted he did it on puri>ose. wt* ^hat is the matter with Picotin ?" asked one **> knew him well, of Babinette, behind the j^Oes but she only shrugged her shoulders with as she tried to get another peep at a ^-haired young man, conspicuous in one of the I ■A.t the end of the performance a pompous red- 'n^'T'<"ua'» who had the look of a ^successful t *Clfriey, and who had watched Picotin with un- *'ing interest throughout the evening, came » frfld to the back and asked whether he could him on a matter of importance. Alie man iger smiled rather contemptuously, but It l 8 orders to admit the stranger, who was £ iibtrey to interview the famous clown in his t^in« -room, where he was at that moment hIs suit of motley for mere ordinary Qolr. „«icotin was sitting dejectedly on a wooden box ll»«C served to hold liis theatrical wardrobe. He not taken off his clown's dress, and his (it were still thrust into the pockets of trousers, just as one was accustomed VtL. them when he strutted about ^'•h tnrned-in toes inside the ring. His chin dropped down into the immense ruff stood out all round his neck, and this, with Vacant expression of his eyes, g*z>ng upwards, a sufficiently ludicrous appearance to the slight chuckle with which his visitor •poached him. ,¡ ;hink, Monsieur Picotin,you will forgive my it* wt)en y°u ar» made acquainted with hi <faas«>8 «d the bland personage, holding out VSnd. *0a ,Cot'n ,nst'ncts of a gentleman. He bowed ai only an acrobat who has not an tit trained muscle in his body can bow, and offered fent.leman a rickettv chair, the sole article of jj. 0,ture of that description in the small apart- ^len "tood with his logs wide apart ? his hands still in the baggy pockets, waiting m br:r to what he owed this strange interruption n.Pdltatlon. ^icu u haVe always passed under the name of I believe, and been known as a clown of jJ? >^pute ? nodded gloomily. He thought of his tricks, the only ones he had ever att which the audience had taken so good- ^ouredly. k. I I "\VeIJ, Monsieur, if you are tired of your pro- 'I fession, there is an opportunity of relinquishing it. Y Olt are heir to a fortune of 50,000 francs a year." I The red-faced man seemed to swell with the magnitudf of his cwn importance m announcing this piece of stupendous intelligence, and the ricketty chair creaked beneath his weight, but neither the attitude nor the expression of the clown changed. i If Monsieur will be pleased to look over these papers he will he convinced that what I tell him is correct." Picotin put out his hand and took the papers mechanically, quite as if they were a matter of utter indifference to himself. "Admirable. What talent!" thought the lawyer, convinced that the clown was still acting and more, than half inclined to burst out laughing, for the eye- brows pencilled high up on the white face, almost to the roots of the hair, gave it an expres- sion of uncoucem approaching nob cility. A long fantastic shadow was cast upon the wall from Picotiii's figure as hnatoud before the fUring gas-jet turning the papers over. The lawyer thought it possible he might not be able to read their contents but be ashamed to own it. This, however, was a mistake. In his way the jester had a certain amount of education, and he under- stood enough of the jargon of formalities through which he now glanced to know that an un- expected stroke of good luck had befallen him. "I am a rich man." he murmured a.t last, letting the papeis rustle down on to the floor as his hands fell dejectedly at his side. "You are, indeed," cried the lawyer, laughing outright at the wue-begoue expression with which these words were uttered. Itis too iate, too late," said Picotin, shaking his head mournfully. There were tears in his eyes, but his voice had a break in it that was irresistibly comic, and the lawyer rolled in his chair till one leg gave way and made him jump up to save himself. "In Monsieur Arnaud Bertin, rentier, tho world will have lost an incomparable artiste," he exclaimed, with a polite flourish, carefully re- collecting the documents it was his business to keep safe. Picotin sat on the wooden box, nursing one leg with an air of gloomy meditation. Why had itnot happened before—a month ago even? Then he might have gone to Babinette and told her it was in his power to make her a real fine lady, who could have a carriage and as many gowns as she pleased, for he was no longer a clcwn but a gen- tleman of fortune. She would l'ave been delighted then. and might perhaps have danced round him, clapping her hands in the pretty, airy fashion bo so loved to see. Now, he knew it would be all different. He could not buy her love, since it was given to that fair-haired youth whom in his heart he hated. II. Monsieur Entile Bertio was furious. He had received a letter from his man of affairs that morn rig with the unpleasant information that he was no longer inheritor ot tha fortune he had been brought up to expect. His rich and eccentric old uncle, to whose death he had so long looked forward, had after all left a son, the rightful heir to all his wealth, and the nephew found himself encum- bered with debts he now saw no possibility of paying, besides being an idle fellow, with no power or inclination to gain a livelihood by hones meuns, so that his rage and disappoint- ment knew no bounds. Add to this the fact of his being in love with a girl he bad no idea of lelinqmshing. and the state of mind, bordering on distraction, which caused this young man to paceupa.nd down his chamber, may be in.agined. \VP-IJ. Babinette, must keep me," hb said at last, with a cynical laugh. We will go away to some great city where her beauty and her talents are sure to get an engagement. She will set up as a star, and they will give her any amount of money if she can only once become the vogue Meanwhile that will give me time to look round. Well, why not ? She loves me to distraction, the dear little thing. It would be crvelty to Wve her to the mercies of that odious clown. Oh if I could only come across that precious fellow who has stepped into my shoes I would find some means of killing him," cried Monsieur Emile aloud, shaking his fist at the empty air, while a cruel expression of hatred finmed un his handsome features, displaying the hidden possibilities of a nature ill-disuipbned and extremely selfish. He was intetrapted by the entrance of a valet, at whom he sClJwled fiercely. A-a person wishes to see you, monsieur. I think it is Picotin, the clown," added the man, with a broad grin full of pleasurable recollections. I What the devil "—cried his master in a fur/, when Picotin himself appeared upon the thies- hold. For a moment the young man of aristocratic Connections recoiled, drawing himself up with an air qf arrogant displeasure, but something m the steady gaze fixed upon him made him feel un- easy, and he stammered a few words of intended condescension. This is indeed delightful. Artistes of any kind always bring their own welcome." The man who comes to call another to account is not aiwaya so welcome," answered the clown, drily. I do not understand," said Emile, with a shrug of the shoulders as he proceeded to light a cigarette, but Monsieur Picotin is always en- titled to his joke." Which is of a different kind from those in- dulged in by young gentlemen who are capable of throwing fireworks at a woman and nearly causing her to hreak her neck." Cur*e him," thought Kunle, he knows me again." Aloud he said in a tone of some humilia- tion, Oh I as to that, a mere student's Ireak, I was drunk at the time—besides you had your re- venge." No," answered Picotin, choking, I merely chastised the offender--I might have told some- one who it.really was." His eye was full of menace as it rested on the other, who from deep crimson had gone suddenly pale. What Babinette She could never know. It was carnival time. We were disguised. I had on a black wig and my face was stained walnut-colour. I did not mean to hurt her, but I was orunk." "And yet you have since then had the audacity to make love to her," cried Picotin. all the scorn and loathing he felt for this man apparent in his quick gesture. Excuse me. I do not quarrel with persons like you, nor do I consider myself accountable to them for my amusements." said Kmile, with supreme insolence, as he took the cigarette from between his lips an 1 watched the smoke ring they emitted curl above his bead. Quick as thought the clown stepped forward, plucked the tiny roll of tobacco from between the young man's delicate fingers, and threw it in his face. where the lighted end raised a blister on the cheek. There was a moment's pause, and then Emile sprang upon his adversary like a tiger-cat, but he had nut paused to consider the strength and flexi- bility of those muscles with which he had to deal. Before he knew what had happened the flaneur of the boulevards was lying with the breath half- crushed out of him, prostrate beneath the stern gaze of Picotin. Apologise." A sull"ii silence succeeded this brief command, j With swollen empurpled countenance, and the Ctown's knee and hands holding him down lik*- iron weights, Kmile Bertin still could not bring himself to obey, but mu tered something almost inarticulate about its being beneath him. "00 the contrary, you are very much beneath me." exclaimed the jester, catching at the oppor. tunity out of sheer habit, and pressing more heavily even, while he half expected the usual laugh to follow this repartee. "Usrh! I-I apologise," gasned Emile. "That is asweil for you," remarked Picotin gravely, as he removed himself and allowed the other to stagger on to his feet again, where some of his insolence returned with his recovered breath. You have forced me to apologise for I know not what, through the exercise of that mere brute force you have acquired in your training. It was taking an unfair advantage of an enemy, but I, Monsieur Emile Bertin, will do you the honour of meeting yon, Monsieur Picotin—clown —a* one gentleman tuefta another. You will be waited on by my second. Now go." He pointed peremptorily to the door. Picotin came a step or two nearer, his square. strong-set figure seeming suddenly im|>osing, while all the mobility of his features had vanished and left a mask of stone, rigid, im- placable,. as he answered hoarsely— It Mon-ieur Arnaud Bertin, clown, refuse to Monsieur E nile Bertin, scoundrel." With that he turned on his heel, and ramming • « «jfc OWn on to his brows, left the room. He-—-he the heir. He the man who has ii f-w*" rn<s my rights," shrinked Emile. ii f-w*" rn<s of my rights," shrinked Emile. "011, man Die" I would that I had killed him." But at the rentt-mbranoe of that terrible, scornful face he ming himself down, shedding tears of venom at his own impotence and humiliation. III. Babinette was gone. That was all that Picotin comprehended in the n.tdst of the shrill outcries and uphraidmgs of her distracted parents. He stood there sullenly listening, with bent he»d, as again and again they asked hun why he had not put an end to his toobsh counting by marriage. Was a young girl like that to be consulted? I He had contrived she should run away with one of those penniless students now he was rich and too proud to hav. their child. Yet she was pretty and good enough to be any man's wife, 1st alone a clown's. But they knew it wus his fautt oh, yes, he alone was to blame-and what would they do now, the poor old parents, without the child's talents to help U1 supporting them ? He knew that was the sum total of their grief, and that the annuity he eonld settle upon them now he Was a rich man would dry up their tears and even cast a halo of grateful remembrance round the day on which their child had deserted thein. It took so little to console some people, but with himself it was different. Babinette was gone He tried not to think of the rascal who had de- coyed her away, for when he did so a fierce re- srret shook his soul for not having strangled him as he lay at the mercy of his Strong grasp. Oh, that sweet child face, with its starry eyes, he never should see again Picotin crept back to his own little chamber *|!ke a wounded animal that seeks some .-pot in which to moan out its ebbing life in solUude. Not that he felt himself about to die. Far from it. He was a man, and could fight out his anguish and bury his dead heart away from human eyes, so that none would know he lived henceforth without one. When evening came he went down to fulfil his engagement, as usual. He put on the old dress, tumbled head over heels into the ring, plunged both hands into the baggy pockets, with legs wide apart, and nodded comically to the audience in acknowledgment of their applause. He has 'nad a fortune left him, but he treats even that as a joke, and means to oontinae bis even that as a joke, and means to oontinae his foolery and give the money all away to the poor," whispered the red-faced attorney, over whom Picotin seemed to have cast a vpell of fasoina* tion, for he came to see him every night and laughed more than anyone there. To him it was the most exquisite of jokes that a man should prefer to stand on his head and be poor rather than live at his ease the right side up like other people. Three years passed, and Picotin travelled through many towns and cities, always with ,growing reputation as the most inimitable clown there had ever been. Everywhere people held their sides at recollection of nis jokes, his antics. his thousand and one ways of drollery, and every- where where Picotin's name was qnoted, as an embodiment of laughter, some great charitable institution rejoiced in a mysterious donation, and some poor wretch blessed an unknuwn benefactor, At last he Callie to Paris, and the people went mad over him. The ladies introduced a littlt! "i es more motley into their costumes than usual even, a la Picotin. They preferred the fool's cap to any other form of he-td gear, and no doubt it suited some of them admirably. Picotin found himself surrounded by flatterers. Rumour-t of his fortune and his eccentric ways were grossly exaggerated, He might even have thrown the handkerchief like a great pacha, and found the most fastidtousready to pick it up but he passed them all by with unseeing eyes, solitary and mournful as he had been in the cold beginning of his career. He is so charmingly absurd, this dear Picotin," said the ladies. If one speaks to him of himself he looks at one in that heartbroken way of his, a,nd says that outside the ring be ceases to exist. He is rather brusque, and un- doubtedly queer, but he is adorable." One night, after an ovation more brilliant than usual, Picotin had escaped from his admirers, and wandered out alone under the stars to commune with that second self no one amongst them could understand. Such moments were his nearest ap- proach to happiness, for in them he strengthened those resolutions to do what good lay in his power and to mitigate a little the misery he saw others born to. This man of earnest and deep affection had been early thrown back upon him- self, but his nature welled up and oveiflowed in that chanty he was now able to dispense at will. Nothing appealed to him in vain, though he had a morbid fear of discovery. As he walked along- now, shivering slightly beneath his furs, for the night was cold with an intense frost, a woman, who had been crouching in an angle of one of the bridges, suddenly rose in front of him, swayed to and fro, then fell senseless at his feet. In a moment Picotin was kneeling by her side. He tore off his rich coat and wrapped it gently round the stiffened limbs. The child clasped to the woman's breast gave a cry that went straight to his heart, and he hastened to call assistance. Where to?" asked the commissionaires. Picotin reflected for half a second. The nearest hospital was far away, and his own luxurious apartments close at hand. He gave the men that ditection, and, sending one of them for a doctor and nurse, took his place in assisting to remove the helpless cieatures. An hour afterwards the religkuse, who had taken her place by the bedside of the rescued woman, came softty into the adjacent room where Picotin was and touched him on the arm. The clown had been sitting with his head be. tween his hands. He raised it slowly, exiting to see the red-faced lawyer, the flaring gas jet, and the wooden walls of his old dressing-room, for at that moment of his life it was strongly before him. Instead of this he saw a black-robed sister, with the head-dress of her order standing out like white wings on each side of her pensive countenance, a softly-lighted apartment, and there upon the floor a woman's- ragged shawl re- calling him to the present. M"naieur, the doctor says she cannot last long. I have already sent for the priest. Come, quick, she seems to have something on her mind she wishes to say." IV. It was all over. Life was exceeding cruel, and love had made a mock of the wan.faced woman who had once been starry-eyed Babinette. Only Death was kindly, thought Picotin as he turned away with a numb feeling of anguish and a bitter remembrance of that which might have been, while his clown's existence seemed, as it often did, the only natural one upon this earth, where all went by contraries. But ever since that night a new interest had crept into his life. The woman who had wronged him bad died in peace beeause he ptomised to be a father to her child and that of the one man whom he had hated as an enemy, even while struggling to forgive. Poor Picotin Much had been asked of him, and as for the first time he stooped over the sleeping infant and marked how the mother had I starved herself to preserve the rounded softness of thoselittle limbs, some of the repugnance he felt for the father recoiled, in sfcite of himself, upon this poor innocent he had vowed to cherish. But suddenly it woke and looked with baby won- derment up into his face then crowing with baby confidence and delight held out its chubby arms. As those arms closed round his neck, and the curly head rubbed against his cheek, Picotin's heart expanded with the consciousness that he had at last found something to love. Henceforth the intercourse between these two strangely- assorted beings was one long laughter and rielight. As the years passed on only one feftr-that the real father might one day claim his child—marred the clown's happiness. He idolised her with a rapt devotion far more satisfying and less dis quieting than that which he had felt for her mother long ago. Nothing was too good for 61iioq in the opinion of papa Picotin, and no amount of carcases were too many for papa Picotin in the opinion of B6bee. It was with a terrible sen>e of self-saorifice that as she grew older he .placed the child in a convent school where she could be better cared for and trained in those accomplishments he vaguely believed necessary to a young lady destined to inherit a considerable fortune. As for himself, he still continued his old career, partly from habit, partly from love of that to which be seemed to the manner born, and becmse he was still so great a favourite with the public. Not lang after-Picotin had taken the painful step of sending Bébétt to school, she fell ill of some childish malady, which suddenly taking a serious turn caused them to send for him in haste. He was just qnittmg the ring amid a burst of laughter when he almost fell over the white-faced messenger, who gasped out his bad intelligence. The clown stared a* him witdty the audience were clamouring for their favourite's return, and their acclamations sounded like a muffled roar. To leave now would be to spoil the whole even- ing's entertainment and throw everyone else out, and Picotin had always been the most con- scientious of artistes. As he hesitated, it seemed to him confusedly as if this insatiable public were demanding his heart's blood shed for their amusement, and the first shudder of repugnance he had ever felc for his long-pursued career shook him from head to foot. A quarter of an hour had scarcely flown in that bin ried drive when the pious Sisters attending the sick child were startled at the strange figure which flung itself down by the little crib. Picotin had not stayed to change bis dress; he had only thought of Bebee delirious, tossing her golden head from side to side while she called aloud his name. He bent with passionate anxiety over the tiny flushed face, murmuring words of tenderness, but the child turned round on her pillow with a cry of terror.. She did not know that white and red apparition with the huge ruff standing out all round and the eyebrows drawn almost to the roots of the hair. She sobbed and screamed with fright. Picotin rose bewildered, as the grave nuns shrank from him as if he had been an incarnation of the Evil One; only the good doctor smiled a little at the scene as he wlii-p-red- Wipe the paint from your face, Monsieur, and put this coat over your dress; then perhaps the child may recognise you." "To-night will have been my last appearance," said the clown, sadly, doing as he was bid, for it occurred to hiin if B £ b6e died he would never have the heart to joke again. Then he approached the crib once more, hesitat- ing, fearful of those large eyes filled with feverish apprehension turned once more in his direction. "Papa Picotin 1" Withalittle sobof infinite content Bébée nestled into his breast, as the clown wrapped his arms about the tiny wasted form, and held her close to his heart. "Papa Picotin; good papa," she murmnred, stroking his cheek, while the doctor nodded approvingly as he saw the sleep, for which he had been watching, gradually seal up the small patient's eyelids in a slumber that meant salvation. salvation. It was a strange and touching sight-th. man with his haggard face and fool's dress sItting there motionless with the child throughout the long I hours, and when at last she woke refreshed, and the doctor bade him lay his burden down and go horne to rest awhile, the grave nuns looked at him with admiration in their eyes. No mother could have been more patient, more tender than this curious being in his antic dress who ministered to the world's folly. Daylight was only just about to dawn as Picotin stepped out into the sir. The lamps in the streets hllld not yet been extinguished, and a few of those miserable wretches or late r vellers who haunt the night still crept in and out of the shadews. One of these, a man in rags, wil b vice stamp,} upon his featurs, stopped Picotin and hoarsely demanded alms. He had been squatting near the convent gates, and had dogged the clown's footsteps for some distance before he made his appeal, atid an uneasy sense of thi9 mad* the latter look at hitn inquiringly. The man shivered as the cold wind blew hi# rags about. He was a ghastly spectacle, stand- | ing there in the pale, uncertain light, one hand, not unlike a claw, held eagerly out, tne other buried in his breast. Picotin shuddered too. He hastily thrast all he had into the upturned palm, and was about to pass on when a face seemed to leap out of th& recesses of his memory and press with a look of concentrated malignity close to his own. "Yuu he cried, staggering backwards; then almost before the word had left his lips a blow from that hidden hand had stretched him lifeless on the ground. All Paris rang with the netva. They were crymg it along the boulevards and amid the traffic of tile streets. Assassination of Picotin, the clown Even the quiet nuns heard this rumour of the outer wot Id as they watched by the bedside of the little child sleeping peace- fully, her golden curls spread out that had all night been pillowed on the breast of that strange, tender-hearted being, whom dawn had found lying face upwards, still clad m his jester's dress, alone and silent in the deserted street. The pious women still lowered their heads and sighed. They did not doubt it was a judgment of Heaven that had laid him low for ministering to the depraved tastes of a wicked world still their lips moved in silent prayer, for they re- called those tender, haggard eyes which had watched with them ail through the troubled night. And their prayers were aTlSWel ed, for Picotin's body, if not his soul, was saved. He had been picked up and taken to the hospital as dead, but the wound in his breast was found not to be mortal after all, and a month later Béhée radiant, joyous, was leading papa Picotin by the hand, laughing to think that he, too, should haVe been iIt as she bad been. She never knew that the miserable creature who dealt the blow was her own father, and that his body, dragged from the river, had been identi- tied by the clown at the Morgue quite by chance and so gained decent burial. Picotin folded all these secrets in his heart where the sunny-haired child nestled confidingly, repaymg him through the long bright yeara with her laughter and her love. Paris had to digest its disappointment as best it might, for, after all, the clown had defrauded his admirtrs of a sensational exit by getting wen; still that night was positively his last appearance in the ring, where he never came tumbling head over heels again, though his old suit of motley always hangs ready to hand, and Bebee declares he shall some day go to a fancy ball in it with her. Parcequ 'il fat 8i beau commt 9"-si beø." [THE END.] Mwvm Wxu- MRS SKCKHAM'S SON, BY Fn ZQKRALD MOLLOT.
CARMARTHEN BOARD OF GUARDIANS.
CARMARTHEN BOARD OF GUARDIANS. The Carmarthen Board of Guardians were on Saturday informed by their clerk (Mr Rowland Browne, solicitor) that the costs of the appellants (the committee of visitors of the Asylum at Carmarthen) in the recent county quarter sessions assessment case had been dehvered to the respondents, who, having been defeated by the action, were asked to rind the other side's expenses, which totalled £1.345 9s 3d. When, however, she bill went before Mr J. H. Barker, the taxing master, he reduced it by JB849 19s that left a balance of JB495 101 3d. The assess- ment committee would, therefore, have to pay £5011&" 3d, which includes six guineas for that gentleman's services.—The guardians were of opinion that the grant of 4s per week at present received by boards of guardians from county councils in respect of each pauper lunatic chargeable to the union and maintained in an asylum, should also be given for pauper lunatics and imbeciles who are main- tained in the workhouse wards, if the latter are conducted to the satisfaction of the Lunacy Commissioners, in the same way that such grants are paid to the parochial boards in Scotland and the board instructed the clerk to make a repre- sentation to the above effect to the Local Government Board.—Mr Thomas Smith, super- intendent of the Carmarthen borough police reported that the number of tramps was on the increase,—The Master (Mr Edwin Price) said it was partly due to the coal strike. There would, he thought, be an appreciable permanent diminution when the calls for stone-breaking were finished. — The board, after some disctuisjon, requested the clerk to forward the following memorial to the London authority, viz., That I' thin board b»-gs to call the attention of the Local Government Board to the alarming increase of tramps throughout the country, and suggests that each tramp should be inspected by the pohce before admission to the workhouse; also, that each tramp should carry a caid showing bis identity and the place from which he has coins, with his destination, such card to be endorsed by a police-constable on presentation to htm."
NEWPORT GUARDIANS.
NEWPORT GUARDIANS. The weekly meeting of the Newport Board of Guardians was held at the Workhouse on Saturday, the ohairman, Col. Lyne, presiding. There were 362 inmates in the house—decrease 2; outdoor paupers numbered 2 443—increase, 144 and the children in the Caerleon industrial schools numbered 179—decrease, 29. The Chairman stated that there was a balance due to the treasurer of £2,422, but the calls due to the board amounted to £7,600. It was reported that James H*E«1I, the gardener at the IIChoolt1, had resigned, 1 and the resignation was accepted. The queries from the Cardiff Board of Guardians as to Roman Catholic children were answered and ordered I' to be forwarded to the Cardiff Board. The question of the four old soldiers who served in the Crimean and the Indian Mutiny, who are in the workhouse, and who wish to attend the banquet at Cardiff, came before the board.—The Clerk raised the question as to whether anyone should be sent to take charge of them.—Major Wallia thought they. were old enough to take care of themselves, and Mr Brown remarked that it would be all the better if they did not return to the workhouse.—The matter was left in thfl hands of the master of the house. Miss M. Harris, one of the workhouse nurses, seat in her resignation, which was accepted.
A MYSTERIOUS VOCALIST.
A MYSTERIOUS VOCALIST. A Bradford correspondent writes -Night after night for more than a week past a lady, with a rich contralto voice, has appeared in various parts of Bradford and attracted thousands of people by tinging in a pleasing manner a number of familiar Songs. She is always cloaeiy veiled, and nobody knows whence she comes or whither she goes. She generally begins to sing in one of the principal streets just as darkness sets in, and when she finishes, takes a tram to one ot the stations and I books to neighbouring towns. It is said by some that her husband has lost his money through an unfortunate speculation, and that she has adopted this method of supporting him and five children, 1 whilst others assert that tne coal strike is respon- sible for her present mysterious appearance in the* streets. Be the cause what it hiay, the result has justified the experiment she has made, for it is computed that she collects between £2 and i33 every night.
SMALLPOX AT NEW QUAY.
SMALLPOX AT NEW QUAY. We regret to announce that Dr. Jones died of small-pox on Sunday morning, after an illness of 14 or 15 days. This makes the third death since the introduction of the disease? There have been altogether five cases in tho place. The other two are now oonvalescont.
[No title]
St«dman's Soothing Powd«"s for children cutting their testli have now been in use over SO yean They relieve feverish heat, prevent fits, convol ions' etc. and preserve a healthy tate of the constitution during the period of teething. Manufactured only a Walworth, Surrey. Sold everywhere. Please observe the JKN in btwdman, 15053
A SWANSEA APPEAL CASE.
A SWANSEA APPEAL CASE. In the Queen's Bench Division of the High Conrt of Justice, on Saturday—before Mr Justice Wills and Mr Justice Wright, sitting as a. divisional-court—the case of Richards v. Butler came 011 for hearing. Mr C. A. Russell appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr Corner repre- sented the defendant. Mr Corner said this was an appeal by the defendant, Mary Butler, from an order of Mr Justice Bruce, at chambers, affirming an order of the district registrar at Swansea, refusing unconditional leave to defend. 'The registrar had ordered that £1W be paid mto court, or find security for that amount, as a con- dition to defend, but she wanted unconditional leave. The plaintiff, Mr John R. Richards, was a solicitor, and the defendant was the wife of a butcher. Mr Butler owed some money to a firm of the name of Stnale, of Swan-sea, and on the 25th of May Mis Smale, wife of one of the part. ners in the firm, went to the defendant and said her husband had sent her about the debt which was due. Mrs Butler knew nothing of the debt. She had just recovered from a serious illness, and was in a weak state, and she told MN Smale she knHW nothing of the matter. I Mrs Smale, however, assured Mrs Butler that her husband had sent her with a piece of paper which she was to sign in Order to certify that the amount was due. Tne paper was signed by Mrs Butler, aud when later 011 her husband came home she told him she had signed the paper which MIlI Smale had brought at his request. He said he had never made such a request, aud later on it turned out that Mrs Butler had signed a promis- sory note. This was done on the 25th of May, and the note was payable on the 25th of June. No proceedings were taken on it until of 11th of October, and then Mr Richards said he was the holder of the bill for value. Now it was alleged that Mrs Butler owed the Smales money. Mr Justice Wright: What for ? Mr Corner replied that he beheved it was for some cows or sheep supplied to her, and not her husband. Mr Justice Wright: What is yoar defence Mr Corner We do not mince matters, and we say the document was obtained from ua by fraud. Mr Ruesell, for the plaintiff, said it was dear on the affidavit of Mr Richards that the registrar and the judge coufd not have come to any other conclusion on the 25th of September. Mr Richards—whose whole affidavit was uncontra- dicted—saw Mr Butler, husband of the defen- dant, and told him he was waiting for paymentl of the note which his wife had signed. He promised to pay the amount, but did not do so, and on Mr Richards threatening proceedings the defendant called with her husband and Mrs Smale, the very woman whom she now charged with fraud. The defendant promised to pay by means of a charging order on some colliery royalties belong- ing to her, but this fell through. Subsequently she called again, aocompaniad by her husband and Mrs Smale, and ..ff..red to pay £40 in cash and the balance by half-yearly instalments of JB40 charged on her interest under the will of one Catherine Thomas. This arrangement was accepted, but never carried out, and when the plaintiff sued them for the first time the charge of fraud against Mrs Smale was set up. Mr Justice Wills said on the facts before them the learned judge and registrar could not have come to any other conclusion, and the appeal would be dismissed, the costs to be the plaintiff's in any event. There would be no execution before Tuesday, so that defendant might have that time in which to find the money to pay into court or give security.
THE FATAL FIGHT AT GARTH.
THE FATAL FIGHT AT GARTH. Prisoner before the Magistrates. At a special sessions ot the Builth Police-court, held on Friday—before Mr E. D. Thomas (chairman), Mr L. J. Graham-Clarke, and Com- mander Thomas—James Jarman, Garth, Brecon (an under-keeper in the employ of Mrs Malt- land), was brought up on remand charged with causing the death of Evan Arthur, a rural post- man, at Garth,on the 11th inst.—Mr E. T. Owen, Builth, prosecuted, and the defence was conducted by Mr R. J. Howell, Builtb.—From the evidence given it appeared that prisoner, in company with other men, bad been drinking at the Garth Inn, where a dispute took place between him and a man named John Williams. After turning-out time the men again met on their way to their lodgings, when the dispute was renewed, and a fight commenced. Williams got the worst of the row, and a friend of his (Evan Arthur) interfered to take his part, and the first-named ran away. Arthur and Jarman then fell to fighting, and prisoner struck Arthur a blow from which be fell nto the ditch and was killed.—Evidence was given by the barmaid, John Williams, and others WHO saw the fight, and Dr. H Bennett (who had conducted a post-mortem examination). Dr. Bennett stated that the second vertebra of tbe spine was broken, and this might have been caused by a faU. This was the cause of death.— Prisoner pleaded Not guilty," but he was com- mitted to take his trial at Brecon Assizes, bail being allowed, viz., prisoner in JB50, and two Buretifa of £25 each.—The court was crowded during the hearing of the case, which lasted five hours.
CREDITORS' MEETINGS AT .CARDIFF.
CREDITORS' MEETINGS AT CARDIFF. On Monday morning, at the office of the official receiver, Queen-street, a meeting of the creditors of Frederick Way. a boot and shoe dealer, of 29, Broadway, Cardiff, was held. The debtor's statement of affairs shows IU8 gross liabilities to be JB325 15s 8d a'"Ht8. £91 118 Sd, and deficiency, jB232 19:t 5d. Strikes and con- sequent bad trade are alleged to be the causes of failure. The debtor filed his petition owing to pressure by creditors, and, as he does not propose to make any offer, has been adjudicated bankrupt. No resolution was pa*sed. William Evans, grocer and labourer, of 72, Wellington-street. Canton, Cardiff, met his creditors at the offiCial receiver's, Qoeeu-street, this morning. His liabilities were £ 330 10# 2d, and assets, £ 85 8s 10^1. The cause of his deficiency of £2(5 Is 4d was alleged to be bad debts through the masons'strike. He commenced business ten years ago without capital, and whilst he worked as a labourer his wife ran the shop. In the absence of any resolution, the officinJ receiver remains trustee. The creditors of Samuel Johnson.sait merchant, of 121, Tudor-road, Cardiff, formerly of 83, Tudor- road, were called to a meeting at the official receiver's on Monday. Bankrupt, who attri- buted failurp to the extortionate interest de- manded by money lenders, sickness, and want of capital, had liabilities of £164- 17s lOrl, and assets amounting to £1 only. He I.göm business in 1890 with J330 borrowed capital, having previously been traveller for bis brother in the same busi- ness. He gave a biil of sale on bis furniture of £36, and with the money paid his loans, hoping to get further advances from money lenders, but on the registration of the bill they refused, so he filed his petition. The estate remains in the hands of the official receiver.
RHONDDA AND SWANSEA BAY RAilWAY.
RHONDDA AND SWANSEA BAY RAilWAY. The extension works of the Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway, which hive been making much satisfactory progress over the Port Talbot Burrows in the direction ot Briton Ferry, have come to a standstill owing to a difficulty which has arisen between the company and Mrs Llewellyn, of Baglan Hall, in reference to a small portion of tandnear that part of the Baglan brook which the railway is intended to cross. It is stated that terms were proposed on behalf of Mrs Llewellyn which the oompany could not accept, and the outcome has been the obtaining of an injunction from the High Court of Justioe restraining the company from proceeding with work at the point indicated.
DEATH OF THE SQUIRE OF PENPONT,…
DEATH OF THE SQUIRE OF PENPONT, BRECON. News reached Brecon on Monday, that the Squire of Penpont— Mr Penry Boleyne Williams —uied in London on Sunday. Mr Williams had been in delicate health for some time, and he had left his B:-econshire seat for the purpose of getting medical treatment and advice in London. He was the eldest son of the late Mr Penry Williams, chairman of the BreConshire Quarter Sessions, and a descendant of the ancient historic family of Bullen. or i'oleyne. He was born on the 5th May, 1838, and unlike his father—who was one of the most prominent public men tn Vreconshire — he tived somewhat) secluded lifew
CONGRATULATIONS.
CONGRATULATIONS. At Newport County Police-court on Satarday, Mr E Lewis, chairman of the bench, congratu- lated Mr Victor Bosanquet, who was on Tuesday eleoted chief oonstable, on his appointment, remarking that it must be doubly gratifying to be elected to such a position of his native county. The magistrates of the Newport division would be [I sorry to lose him from that district, but they remembered that he would have the supervision of the whole of the districts, and they boped he I would have a long and distinguished career in the position to which he had been elected.— Mr E. Steer (magistrate), Mr Lyndon Moore (solicitor), I and Mr H. J. Davis (magistrates'clerk) also com- plimented Mr Bosanquet on his promotion, and the Chief Ccnstable-designate suitably responded.
MR GLADSTONE AND THE EIGHT…
MR GLADSTONE AND THE EIGHT HOURS Bill, The Press Association states that Mr S. Woods, M.P., has received from Mr Gladstone a reply to a letter urging that he would reconsider the request to allow at least one day for the dis- cussion of the Miners' Eight Hours Bill. Mr Gladstone writes that his own memory is now a somewhat defective means of conveying to his colleagues every point in the various represents- tions made to him on the subject, and that be han already reoeived three deputations on the subject for and against the Bill, but that he is I ready to place before his colleagues any further written statement of the case which Mr Woods and other promoters of the measure tn&y be dis- 1 posed to furnish.
[No title]
Preparations are already being made for bold- ing a special Welsh service in the vernacular in the cave of St. Paul's Cathedral on next St. £ >avid'« -(
I LIBELLING A TRADE UNION…
LIBELLING A TRADE UNION SECRETARY. A Cardiff Man Sent to Gaol. On Saturday, at the Newcastle-on-Tyok Assiaes—before Baron Pollock—James Duke, at Cardiff, appeared on bail to answer two chargvft of libel that had been brought against him by Mr Robert Knight, general secretary of tht shipbuilders and boilermakera. The prisoner pleaded not guilty, but made an application to the judge for a postponement of the trial until next assizes on the ground that he had uct received a Copy of his indictulPnt until that week. Fifteen counts had been added to it bcfidfg tho-ie sworn to before tbe magistrates. He was not prepared to go on, seeing that counsel had given up the cast. His Lord>hip I cannot postpone this Case. I am sorry you are not ready. Mr VVaddy, in opeuiug the case, said the pri- soner had behaved in about as wrong-Headed way as it was possible fur a man to have behaved. En-n now, if the prisoner was prepared to da what he ought to do, he (Mr Waddy) on tbe put of the prosecution was quite prepared to say that they had no wisil to deal vindictively, but Mntpty to act in self-defence, Mr Knight had been for two years the victim of persecution on the part of the prisoner. And now they sought to have tow MM* soner made to behave himself for the future. The libels complained of were of immense lena., extremely incoherent, and he could not altogether understand them on accouut of their involved and ungrammatical character. Tbe prisoner had put in a justification, but he cou'd sltow that in wfcr it was incomplete and insufficient. He would, not, however, tr.ake any point of that sort. They were anxious to have the matter brought liD a conclusion. It would be intolerable if the pri- soner were to be allowed to pursue Mr Knight ita the way he had. A long time ago prisoner was • member of the Boilermakers' Society, of which prosecutor was secretary. It was one of the roles of the society that members owing money eo other members should pay it. In 1883, he thought it was, tbe prisoner borrowed a sovereign from member of the society named Greaves, and be wrote a letter ias which be acknowledged tbe debt. He did not pay it, and in 1887 Greaves had recourse to the rules of the society. He COQl- plained to the executive committee about tbe matter, and in the society's monthly report m accordance with instructions the prosecute entered a statement that the money was due and must be paid. It waa not paid, and a second notice was made in 1888. But still the moasy was not paid. It then came to this: If th* prisoner would not obey the rules and pay the money he must be expelled. Prisoner, in Marolt, 1888, sent in bis resignation, and he ceased to be a member of the society. About this time prisoner seemed to have conceived an absolutely groundless and unjustifiable hatred of the general secretary—who had simply obeyed his com. mittee's Instructions-and he commenced a aerie* of attacks upon him of a most serious and i.. tolerant character. Robert Knight, general secretary of the Boilermakers' Society, said it was part of his duty to edit a monthly retiorb, and was done under the direction of the executive council. From first to last he never bad the slightest ill-feeling against the prisoner, and knew no reason for prisoner persecuting him. Prisoner's attention was drawn to the fact that he owed a debt to Greaves. Prisoner did not pay the debt at first. The custom of the society was to put debt cases for lodgings or money due frum one member to another into the report. This had to be done after lull investigation. Duke was treated in the same way as other men under similar circum- stances no difference whatever was made. It was done at the instance of the executive com- mittee. Duke did not pay, and another notice was put in the report. There were 11 more applications ef the same kind in the report. It was stated this was the last notice, and it was not his dotng it was according to the rule and at the instance of tbe council. After that they received a letter from Duke 'withdrawing from the society. It was in Duke's handwriting, and aU the documents handed to him in court were written by Duke. Prisoner has never made any complaint of h", having been dealt differently to other persons, and as far as he knew these attacks were entirely uncalled for on his part.—In answer to Mr Waddy witness stated even now he could not see any reason for the imputations that prisoner had made against him. Prisoner, in defence, delivered a long address, which he read to the court. He stated in substance that he joined the society in 1870, and for 18 years was a member of it. He took an active part in reforms, which included a reduction m the prosecutor's salary. This seemed to have m»" creased the prosecutors spite, and that he was capable of indulging in personal spleen was shown by the letters read. He (prisoner) pointed to the fact that he had been published in the reports in the defaulting list, and that this was circulated to harm him in the eyes of his fellow-workmen and of the foreman at the Elswick Works. He had never intended to say that prosecutor was a forger in the sense that he would forge anotherY name, but he did say that five words had bees, altered and forged In the society's books. He asserted that prosecutor had published several letters to influence the members fr6m supporting him m his fourth appeal. He had tried himself to institute proceedings against the society fa& conspiracy, but found that he had nut the means to do it. He alleged that he never said a word against prosecutor until he had villified him, aad had deprived him of emp'oyment for two yeaht and eight months. If the opportunity were (fives him he believed he would be ableto provethat the prosecutor had acted dishonestly. He admitted he had goaded this man to prosecute him, and it the case had been adjourned he thought be OOttl4 have proved tbe case mare clearly than he oould do under the oircuinstances. If he thought tor a moment that he had bad no justification for lite remarks ho would go agaiu through all the persecution he had undergone to undo tbe barpl he had done the prosecutor as a public man. But he did not believe conaciensiously that he was wrong, and he belteved that the arbitrators in his case were imposed upon. ø. had been refused re-admission to the society, and had been refused unless be paid < JMt fine and apologised to Mr Knight. Nine titasC had he applied and offered money to theui fat admission as a trade protection member and thty had refused him. They had tried to starve him. He asked them to consider what he had suffered for six years. Falsehoods had been published against him in the reports. And whether the)- were the work of the council or not, Mr Knight was bound to know that they were false. He ha& been rendered desperate. All hi* membership fat 23 years had gone for nothing. He had a wife and family reduced to want, and he was oven stopped from working at a job for 28s a week. Tiiat uSsif had c st him close upon JB400. He had suffered, far more than Mr Knigbt, and he asked tbe jutf to consider this in giving their verdict. His Lordship, in summing up, said be em sure they would all regret that any circuir.sfean<M0 ahou!d have arisen to drive.. person into frame of mind in which Mr Duke had been, and in which he was that day. They could not, how* ever, overlook the law of libel," and go beyond the fact that no man was to be allowed to publish that which would injure his neighbour or lead M a breach of the p ace. The jury found a verdict of II Guilty of lU)II, but recommended the prisoner to mercy." Mr Waddy said he was desired by Mr Knigfet. to say that he bore the prisoner no malice, a&0 would join in the rider of the jury. His Lordship approved of tbe course taken b1 the jury and the prosecution. He was pained, and he was sure thty were all pained, to see teW bitterness that Duke had exhibited even that day. That which might have been done by th prisoner two or three years ago if the proper course had been pursued became impossible IMJ8'. Owing to the recommendations, the punishment he would award would be different to what lM might otherwise have given. It was that prisoner undergo four months' imprisonment without hard labour.
. —■ * SUNDAY DRINKING IN…
—■ SUNDAY DRINKING IN MERTHYI DISTRICT. At Mertbyr Police-court oa Monday. Mom Thomas, landlord of the Rising Sun Iun, Troedy- rhiwfuwch, was summoned for keeping hi* hou>« open fnr the sale of beer on Sunday, the )M| inst.—Mr W. K. Smyth appeared for defendant* —P.C. i vans saw a man come out of an adjoin- ing house, walk into the roadway in front of tbs bar window and nod hi,. head. Then he noticed a woman come from a gulley at the side of ttttt prtblio-bouse, and. as she turned the ooroer, tbe wind blew her apron atide, aad disclosed to.. a beer "jack." She was followed into her house by- the officer, who found tbe jack contained be*C and also saw eight men nnaer the influence drink in the house. The defence wa* that tbt woman, who was not actually seen ootning out the public-bouse, had fetched the jaoie of betl from other premises adjoining, wbmre it had bSMt left over-night by a man who gut the beer far tbt woman, but did not deliver it to her ac the tttnfc Witnesses were called for the defence, and it eris*. pointed out by Mr W. K. Siuyth that defendfUBt had been a respectably-conducted innkeeper tot 31 years, during which period be had never summoned.—Mr North reviewed the evideMti and concluding that the offence had been Cu«> mitted, ordered the defendant to pay a Am of 40H and costs. The licence also was endorsed. John A. Jones, landlord of the FoMfe Hatamot Inn, Dowlais, was summoned for a similar offenqa Mr W. Beddoe defended.—P.C. Histon at mid- day on Sunday, the 12th inst., found four men in the house, and there was drink before one or feWt of them.—Mr Beddoe contended that three of tbf men were simply friends of the landlord who (till not pay for anything, and that the fourth aRMfc who had nothing whatever to drtnk, was waiting for one of thmn.—Evidence was oalled If bear out tho truth of this, and the magistsqtof dismissed the c"a. Richari Nen^le, landlord of the {(.obin Heel Inn, Dowlais, was summoned for selling beer Sunday, the" 12th inst—Mr Beddoe was for the defence.—P.C. Henry proved that a girl who w«p occasionally employed in the bar supplied a man with a quart of beer, which she handed tphttt fak a jack.—The defence was that the transaction took plaoe whilst tbe defendant and his wife w • upstairs entertaining visitors, and that th^P dtr" had taken the responsibility upon u ,0:'e exceeding her duty.— £ vidence support of this contention, and the del* Sr*. let off with a fine of 20s and oosts, and was net endorsed. » can*
Advertising
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A HEREFORDSHIRE CLERGYMAN'S…
A HEREFORDSHIRE CLERGY- MAN'S BANKRUPTCY. At the Hereford Bankruptcy Court on Friday— before Mr J. Carless, jun., the registrar—the Hev. John Fanmn Brown, vicar ot Ewias Harold, came up fur his public examination in bankruptcy. The debtors liabilities were shown to amount to B334 18s 2d., while his assets were only jB92 leaving a denenoy of JB242 18* 2«.1: He had been vicar of EWlas Harold since February, 1892, and prior to that date he was curate at Stroud for about three years. He had held several curacies since his ordination in 1876, and before that date he was an assistant master ac various schools in different parts of England When he left Stroud he owed from JB60 to £100. The present worth of his tithsa was £ 62, and the rent and other receipts, amounting to £ 44 10s brought his mcome up to £ 10510,. Out of this he had to pay costs forcollectiuu<rat09j tjixes. and other out-going*, reducing the amount to JBM a year. His friends, however, bad always gi veu him great assistance, and from tbf»i„ he had received sums to the extent of about. £100 per annum. He was not married, and his household expenses were about 30s a week. His principal debt was created by ordeiing furniture from a Bristol firm to furnish the vicarage Ht Ewias Harold. He had also borrowed money from advertising money-lenders, and was D')W indebted to them to tbo extent of nearly £100. The debtor attributed his insolvency to smallnes3 of income, to the expenses attending hl8 removal from Stroud, and to his previous indebtedness.
---.--------CARDIFF GUARDIANS.
CARDIFF GUARDIANS. The weekly meeting of this board was held at the Union Workhouse on Saturday, Undw the chairtnauship of Dr. Paine.—A circular was read from K",a:on¡ respecting the Local Government Bill. The Epsom Guardians considered it un- desirable that the provisions respecting the Poor- Lltw Guardians should be retained in the Local Government Bill; that personal payment of rates should be rt-quircd and that every parish be preserved as a unit of representation. The Wolverhampton Union wrote stating that they thought the present a suitable opportunity of giving guardians direct control over their officers without the interference of the Local Government Board. The circulars were laid on the table. The Shifnnl Guardians wrote suggesting a moderation of regulating tramps in consequence of the large increase in that body. No notice was takon of the I letter. The board decided to allow MrsTamplin half her salary viz, j630 aa a superannuation grant, on her retirement from the post of nurse at the Ely Sch<X)ls. Miss Garland, girls'schoolmistress of Ely Schools, tendered her resignation, which was accepted, and it was decided to advertise for a substitute.
A SUFFOLK SCANDAL.
A SUFFOLK SCANDAL. Shocking Treatment ef Paupers. The Suffolk cuunty coroner concluded an inquiry on Saturday into the circumstances attending the deaths of an old man named Elijah Warne: and his wife, in respect of which a question is to put in the House ot Cummons. The evidence showed that Warne, who was once a shoe-maker and small fanner, had lived with his wifein a little cottage at Worlingworth. For several years they »-cei ved outdoor relief from the Horne Guardians. consisting of a stone of flour and half-a-crowu per week. They had a horror of going to the work- house, and managed somehow to exist on this pitiful allowance. At last, however, the old man fell ill-he was ninety years of age—the cottage got out of repair, and the guardians threatened to cut off the out-relief, although this was not actually d, ne. Even then the old couple sold som" apples from their garden for a few shilling", and held out until the last penny was exhausted. After that the dreaded alternative of indoor relief could no longer be •avoided, and accordingly, rather more thanafort- night ago, on a bitterly cold day, the old couple were removed from W_, lingworth to Eye Work- house, a distance of seven miles. They were placed in a tumbrel, and covered with straw and old clothes the journey occupied three hours, the driver stating that he was told to go slow because the horse was an old one and the master of the workhouse stated that when he received the people they were very dirty and very cold. The doctor ordered both into the siok ward at once, but the old man died within a week after admis- sion, and his aged wife survived him by afewdays only. It was proved that the latter, shortly before her removal to the workhouse, had fallen down and fractured her thigh, so that she had to be carried by three persons from her bed to the tumbrel. The jury found that the old man died from senile dEcay, with a rider to the effect that "very probably death was hastened by the removal," although the medical evidence would not enable them to-come to any other verdict than that given, and that the old woman died from hypostatic congestion of the longs, arising from being kept in a recumbent position for some time, consequent upon the fractured thigh. They recorded their indignation at the great careless- ness and lack of judgment shown by the relieving officer, and desired the Horne gnardians to issne such instructions to their officials as would pre- vent such scandals in future.
A SENSATIONAL TRAGEDY. --
A SENSATIONAL TRAGEDY. A very dramatic case is now occupying the attention of the Assize Conrt of the Depart- ment of the Nord. The prisoner is a man of in- dependent meaus, long resident at Roubaix, and 45 years of age. Nearly a quarter of a century ago Joseph Delarue married the woman of whose murder he stands accused. fhey had seven children, the eldest of whom is now 22, and until a comparatively recent date theirs was a very happy home. The husband, however, became possessed by the fixed idea that his Wife was unfaitnful to him, and latterly he would hardly allow her to stir out of the housw. There were repeated and violent scenes of jealousy, during which he bade her reveal the names of the lovers, who existed only in his morbid imagin- ation, and two months ago he brandished a razor before her, declaring that he would kill himself. For a brief time Delarue appeared to be reassured but the old fit came on him again, and one day, after a vain attempt to induce his wife to brine some accusation against herself, be dragged her into an adjoining room. In this chamber, before a table which he bad covered with a black cloth, and on which he had placed a large crucifix surrounded by twelve candles, he forced the poor woman on her knees, and he again enjoined her to confess and to ask pardon for her guilt. She had nothing to confess. She was perfectly innocent, she rfpeatf-d. "You swear it 2" inquired Delarue. "Idol" was the answer, and the husband was satisfied for a time that his suspicions were unfounded but yielding again to his morbid fancies, he betook himself to a fortune-teller for the purpose of ascer- taining whether his wife bad spoken the truth. What the reply returned may have been has not transpired so far, but soon afterwards, seeing his wife in conversation with a girl who lived next door, he imagined that she was sending a message through this person. That night be killed the poor woman as she lay asleep, and, rushing out of the house, he pro- ceeded to tbe nearest police-station and gave himself up. The tragedy created a great sen- sation in the town, where Madame Delarue was muoh Inspected, and considerable interest is taken in the trial, there beinp especial curiosity regarding the answer returned by the fortune- teller to the question of the jealous husband. The prisoner's counsel intend to plead the theory of suggestion in explanation of the crime with whtab b. i. charged.
A DRAUGHTY ASSIZE COURT. -.
A DRAUGHTY ASSIZE COURT. Sever have the insufficiency of the accommoda- tion and the brdness of the ventilation in the Crown Court of the Cardiff Town-hall, where the assize court and quarter sessions sittings are held, been more strikingly illustrated than during the present sittings of the Glamorganshire Assizes. During the past week several cases of more than usual pipular interest were tried, and the audiences of tbe general public being too large f«>«[ the place, and there being no proper ventilation, the stench was at times positively sickening. My lord, Mr Justice Henn I Collins, a few days ago ordered one of the large windows at the rear to bo opened wide, with the result that the public sitting near, and tho officials, and the Press repre- sentatives, whose appointed positions were close by, were subjected to a very powerful draught of cold, damp air, which has given them colds in the head, neuralgia, etc. Many complaints were made and requests were respectfully urged that I the window might be partially closed, but it was kept open until late 011 Saturday afternoon. It is conceivable why the judge, the olerk of tbe court, and others who wear wigs are indifferent to the discomfort thns produced to people who have as much right to be in the building as they have, for their heads are outwardly clothed, and it may be that they are within their legal rights in having some air," as the clerk put it, at the expense of other people's health. Bot apart from the rights and wrongs of it, the condition of the building and the arrangements and facilities for dispensing justice and for tho comfort of those engaged therein are a disgrace to the authorities. It is mdeedtime something was done in the master
MR CHAMBERLAIN S OCEAN EXPERIENCES.
MR CHAMBERLAIN S OCEAN EXPERIENCES. Mr Josepb Chamberlain, who htsjnst returned from America, was interviewed on Fri- day by a reporter at his residence, High- bury, Birmingham. In reply to the observation, You seem to have had rough weather gener- ally T he said, "Yes., gales continually and on one occasion, when crossing from New York to Nassau, the seat of the government of the Bnhamas, by the Niagara, a boat belonging to the Ward line, there was a cyclone which was really more than disagreeable, it was dangerous. In the course of that voyage (Mr Chamberlain continued) wa had the rather extraordinary experience of seeing two ships on fire. One WIUI a derelict ship, whose crew were saved from shipwreck, and who, on leaving the sinking vessel, set her on fire in order that she might not be a difficulty in navigation. The other was a large ship, which was burnt almoit to the water's edge, b.tt we were unable to get any information at all about her. We waited about, but no boats were visible, and whether the crew had been previously rescued, or whether they perished we did not know. 1 was told on my way home by the captain of the Majestic that in aU his ex- perience he bad never seen a ship 011 fire at sea. For me to see two, tharefore, was very exceptIOnal.
DEATH Of A NOTORIOUS LADY.
DEATH Of A NOTORIOUS LADY. The Melbourne papers report the death of a widow, which constitutes the closing scone of a I very remarkable story. The deceased was the once notorious Madeleine Smith," who 36 years ago was arraigned in the High Court of Justiciary in Edinburgh on the charge of murdering ber sweetheart by the administration of arsenic. After a trial extending over eight days she was discharged 011 the jury returning a verdict of "notprovfn." At the time the trial created great sensation, partly on account of the youth and social position of the prisoner, and partly on aocount of the purely circumstantial character of tbe evidence produced by the prosecution. Ou her discharge she was privately married to a Dr. Hora, and the pair went at once to the> then Swan River settlement. On her identity becoming known, they removed to Melbourne. She soon separated from her husband, and on his death married again. In her second marriage she was not any happier than in her first. She is said to have been 65 years of age at the time of her death.
----,--.-.-----ALLEGED PERJURY…
ALLEGED PERJURY AT MONMOUTH. At the Monmouth Borough Police-court on Monday—before Mtssers G. Griffin (in the chair), T. James, and G. P. Co!»sens—Abraham Hughes, 50, collier, Joyford, was charged on remand with having committed wilful and Corrupt perjury when giving evidence in the case of Morris v. Hughes, before his Honour Judge Owen, on the 3rd October. Mr Herbert Wil iams, Monmouth, prosecuted.—Prisoner, it will be remembered, was defendant in the case. The plaintiff, Morris, who isstationmasteratCotfford, held a mortgage on Ii. cottage at Joyford belonging to defendant. The interest was 19 months m arrears, and the cottage was sold by auction to a man named Harris. Prisoner refused to give up possession, and when the case came on for hearing in the I county-court he repeatedly denied that the signature on the deed of mortgage and the statutory declaration were his. The case was then adjourned for the attendance of the attesting magistrate, Dr. Trotter, J.P. for Gloucestershire. At the last court on Tuesday, the 14th, Dr. Trotter told tho judge that Prisoner signed the documents in his presence. risoner waa arrested on a warrant the same day. The case was heard at considerable length, all the documents and personal evidence being examined. —The prisoner, who still denied the signature, was committed to Usk gaol to await the assizes' bail being refused.
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It is stated that women's voices do not carry well on long-distance telephone lines. Their high notes do very well over short lines, but are not beard distinctly enough on the longer bnes.
- THE BRITISH NAVY.
THE BRITISH NAVY. Important Declaration by Lord Charles Beresford. The Press Association makes public, through Mr J. J. Jackson, a member of the London Chamber of Commerce, a declaration of the uaval programme which Lord Charles Beresford urges should be adopted by this country if it is to effectually cope with two great powers like France and Russia combined. He points out that the French have—Battleships, 1st class, 15; 2nd class, 9; 3rd class, 6; total, 30. The .Russians havt—Battleships, 1st class, 9; 2nd claes, 6; 3rd class, 1; total, 15. (If the figures on which this total is based are, correct the total should be 16, but Lord Charles B resford's figures are 15.) French and Russian battleships (30 and 15) tyial I 4S. JDugland, therefore, on the basis of making her a.-m one-third stronger than both France and Russia. Combined, should have—Battleships. 63. England has—Battleships, 1-t class, 19; 2nd class, 12; 3rd class, 11; total, 42; and tht-refore requires 18 additional. For these 18 battleships I projHwe (-ays Lord Charles) six Royal Sovereigns ot 14.000 tons, at JS64 p^r ion (take three and a half yours to buihi), £ 5,376,000; 12 Paifleurs of 10,500 tons, at £ 60 lkr ton (takp two and a half years to buiid), £ 7,560,000. The cruisers of Great Britain, France, and Russia numoer as follows :— Great Briton France. Russia. 1st Class 30 13 10 2nd Class 47 18 14 3rd Class. 46 30 5 Total 123 61 29 France and Russia combined have 90, and ona- third muro makes England's requirements 120, which number she possesses. Each battleship should have two cruisers of ports told off as auxiliaries. On this scale the number Great Britain has now (March, 1893)-123, is sufficient for 60 (42 present, and 18 proposed), battle ships but nothing is left for the protection of the mercantile marine. Therefore, in my opinion, ten more large cruisers should be built to render the mercantile shipping routes safer than they could be made now. Ten cruisers ("Biakes"), JB48 per ton, 9,000 tons, £4,320,000. The propor- tion of French and Russian torpedo boats is greatly in excess of the British, and the French possess the greater power of attack from the fact that it is possible to transport any number of them (the French) overland from one station to another, i.e., from the Channel stations to the Mediterranean stations, or vice versd. The French possess 242 torpedo boats the English, 97 and Russia has 135 (March, 1893); or France aud Russia combined, 377 Great Britain, 97. To watch the torpedo stations in the narrow seas, I propose to build an entirely new class of iron- clad. It is necessary that these vessels should be armour-clad, because the torpedo stations are provided with annonr piercing guns. The new ships should take the sea in squadrons of five, accompanied by strong squadrons ef torpedo boat destroyers. It is absolutely neces- sary that some such ve-iae! should be built. The first duty on the outbreak of a war for a British admiral would be to smash the torpedo stations of the enemy in the narrow seaa in order to ensure a safe highway for our mercantile marine. For this duty battle ships cannot be spared. No admiral could afford to oppose battleships to these stations as his vessels might be wounded, disabled, or sunk before his fleet had had an opportunity of meeting the battle fleet of the enemy, in addition to which their great draught would keep them too far off for them to be really effective. The new)y-ptoposed ironclads would not cost much and would obviate the necessity for sending the battleships to destroy or watch the torpedo stations. This duty is of the utmost importance to the mercantile marine, and could be more readily undertaken by such vessels as those lJro, posed than any other. I projiose to build 10 new ironclads at a cost of £2,600,000; displacement, about 3,500 tons armoured belt, 8m. and 6in. speed, about 17 knots principal armament, 6iu. and 4'7in. guns (about 12 in number), light draft, to rnable them to get to their work. These small handy vessels would be invaluable with the fleet when not engaged on this duty. In addition to '-he..e I propose to build 50 "havocs" at £36.000 each— £ 1,800,000; and 30 tor- pedo boats a': £15,000 each — £450,000- I regard the torpedo boat more as a weapon of defence; although it might become a terrible weapon of offence. In certain circumstances the new (and old) torpedo boats should be distributed amongst the naval bases of operations, the fleet being accompanied by the class built for that purpose, i.e., the havoc clxq. In addition to this shipbuilding programme, I urge the immediate necessity of building a mercantile mole at Gibral- tar, and greatly lengthening the present military mole "nother 1.800 feet on the eight fathom line. This work, which is all important, should be undertaken at once, and not spread over a number of years. The cost of the two moles would be :-Mercantile mole (new), £ 316,000 prolongation of military mole, £318,000; total, £634000. £ 500,000 is urgently required to supply reserve ammunition and warlike stores and to bring up stores generally to their proper and necessary reserve, as is done at foreign naval bases, such as Toulon, Kiel, and S}>ezzia. The present British reserve of ammunition is less than one quarter of the complement of ships. The I foreign reserve is always kept up to the full com- plement of ships and guns. The sum of the susfe--8tions. therefore, is as follows :—' 6 Royal Sovereigns £5,376,000 12 Barfleur* 7,560,000 10 Biakes 4,3f0 000 10 New class ironclads 2,600,00!) 50 Havocs 1,800/00 30 Torpedo boats 450,000 Gibraltar moles 634,000 Reserve ammunition and stores 500,00'J Total £ 23,240,000 This was my proposal on the 30th March, 1893- 88 vessels and 30 torpedo boats at a cost of £ 23,240,000, but since that (fltte the following snips have been projected—BattleshipsMag- nificent, Majestic, Renown, £ 2,620.000 cruisers Powerful, Terflblt1 (about dB800,000 each), £ 1.600.000; Talbot, Eclipse, Minerva (about £ 250.000), £ 800,000 10 torpedo boats ( £ 150,000), 25,170,000 and their cost would 1>- dedncte from the original proposal, leaving £18,070,000. The prices given in the foregoing programme will, of course, vary with the cut rent price of material. To meet this expense I propose the following Say the average of the shipbuilding vote for a number of years will be about £ 3 000,000 a year for three and a half years (the time nect-saary to complete the new vessels), this would be B10 500,000. The remaining £ 7,570,000 should be taken from the Consolidated Fund. Tiia Consolidated Fimd exists for the purpose of reducing the National Debt for our posterity, but if the present generation do n')t lo..kt! every effort to defend the empire there will be no empire for our posterity to enjoy. The whole programme could, as far as the vesstls are concerned, finish in three and a half years. Lord Charles Beresford goes on to refer to the numer- ous and gradually increasing strategic positions of French bases in the Mediterranean, which form a constant menace to British trade and the mer- cantile shipping; to the possibility of an establishment of a Russian naval station in the Archipelago or eastern piti-t of the Mediterranean, and to the ease with which Russian men-of-war might come through the Dardanelles, treaty or no treaty. It is imperative, in view of these, that Britain should buy or enter into treaty with the Turkish Government for the island of Lemnos, or some such island possessing a good harbour at the east end of the Mediterranean, Cyprus being of no use whatever as a naval base of operations. He also pi'o(K»ses that local Committees of Royal Navy, Royal Artillery, and Roy»l Engineers should be formed at aU bases of naval operations to report on the necessities of the stations for efficiency, and giving reasons for their statements; that a fur- ther committpe should be formed to inquire into the present sufficiency of the personnel of the fleet, reporting deficiency, and how these deficiencies are proIKwed to be met. This is of vital importance. It is no use having a big fl*-t unless there are properly trained officers and men to man it. These reports should be laid on the table of the 110".6 of Commons.
TRIAL BY JURY AT CARDIFF.
TRIAL BY JURY AT CARDIFF. The U3ua! hardships experienced by the sacri- fieing juryman seem to be very ir.uch aggravated at Cardiff. It so hap[>ened that on Saturday, whilst the Ass zt? Court adjourned for lunch, a jury were in retirement deliberating upon their verdict, and when they did agree and returned into court the court had resumed.and the clerk of assize was calling a fresh dozeu. It aiso so happened that about half of the old jury were oalled, and while their names Were being recited one complained that they had net had time for lunch. The judge, the cleik, and everybody else concerned looked glum, and general sympathy was expressed for the ji.ryim-n. A few gentlemen in court volunteered to take the gentlemen's places, and thus relieved them but all the flame. it is a crying shame and scandal that men who give their time and neglect their businesses in the s rvice of the country should receive so little considers!ion. It may be added that when the case in which the volunteers were engaged was finished, oneof them claimed exemp- tiou from further attendance. The court could not say nay, and one of the jurymen who had previously served was called upon to take his place.
UNIVERSITY OF LONDON.
UNIVERSITY OF LONDON. Local Successes. In the 1893 B.A. examination of the University of London the following names appear in the first division of the pass hlt:- Maude Marian Barrow University College, Abery»t- wyth Augustus Field, St Davi College I-arapeter Win. M°rns G. Glanviile, Aberystwyth Co lege; WalterSutton Page, Bangor College Wilfrid Perrett, I' Aberystwyth College. SECOND DIVISION. **}}}„ E™Ie AugnHte Barbisr, University College, Cardiff Mary Elizabeth Blan-b, A! ervstwyth Col- lege William Jenkyns Davie*, University College, Cardiff; Agnes Caroline Dnnraau, University College, Cardiff j David John Griffiths, University Col- lege, Cardiff; Samuel Robert Jenkins, Banj^or College; Annie Jane Jon-j, Bangor College Robert Jones, Bangor College Grace Klizabetli Marshall, Aberyst- wyth College John James Morgan, Aberystwyth C" Jege Emily Margaret Moiilton, Aberystwyth College Ellen Loui-a Nott, University College Car- Iliff; James Pringle, University College, Cardiff: John Roberts, Bangor Colli ge Lizzie Gomiwin salt Aberystwith College John Thomas Smith, Aberyst- wyth College Kate Mary Stiff. Bangor College. B. SC. EXAMINATION. In the 1893 B. Me. Exam nation the following were in the first division of the pass listA. C. W. Arkell University College, Cardiff; David Tvssil Kvans' University College, Cardiff AI.a I abel Maddison, University College, Cardiff, and Brvninawr College, Pennsylvania Annie Beatrice Hewiirt, Aberystwyth College; R. W. C. Pierce, Bangor College; EH™. Lucy Selby, Bangor College.
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- ROBBERY WII H VIOLENCE ATII'…
ROBBERY WII H VIOLENCE AT BARRY. On Monday Edward K^egan, who gave his age as 27 and his address ambiguously as Liver- pool, was charged at Penarth Police-court— before Mr John Duncan and Mr Valentine Trayes —witii robbery with violence from the person of Richard Evan-, a labourer, of Berthlwyd Farm, Llantwit Fach. Prosecutor, a stoutly-built, middle-aged man, who showed by bis recital of the circumstances an intelligence far above the average of his clasa, detailed the" old, old story" of slIwlar cases. He had, so be said, come to Barry Dock on Friday last to visit some people he kuew who wore li ving 111 Castleland-street. It being a cold day he had gone from the station into an adjacent hotel, and thne had had several glasses of rum warm. As he was leaving the hotel he asked the way to Castlfland stroet, and prisoner volunteered to direct him there, saying that he ;ll1d two others were going that way. After passing through several streets prisoner asked him to 00:110 to his house to have a drmk. Witness paid for 'hree half-gallons of beer, and, having gone into the yard, he was followed by prisoner, who struck, butted, and kicked him, and then, when he was in a semi-conscious date, robbed him of £4 in gold, a ten-cent. piece, and about 17s In silver, and a knife and a ticket handkerchief. Prisoner decamped, and witness was carried into the houae by the other two men and a couple ot women, who bathed his face, which was covered with blood. Subsequently witness gave informa- tion to Inspector Kees at the central station, Barry Dock. In reply to questions addressed by the magis- trates and the clerk, witness said he knew that he had thR money spoken to, because he had changed a £5 note at the Barry Motel on the same morning, so as to pay for his bed and breakfast. He did not exactly recollect what time he had visited the police-station. Prisoner interrogated the prosecutor as to the amount of money he had upon him, and elicited that he had treated four men so several" rounds not the Barry Dock Hotel. He had identified prisoner easily. He knew he bad marked his assaijant on the face. Prisoner was then remanded for a week, on the application of Inspector Rees, who hoped at the next hearing to have arrested the other men im- plicated The capture of Keegan was an exceptionally smart performance by Officer Bolton. Happen- ing to be in the central offices in Holton-road as prosecutor was telling his story, Bolton left, • after hearingKeegan's description, for hisoutlymg station at Dynas Powis. Whilst alighting from the train he noticed two suspicious-looking customers hurrying to got into a compartment evidently with the desire to elude his notice. Keegan had a black eye, and he arrested him on suspicion after a desperate struggle, in which aa attempt was made to throw him across the metals in front ot the advancing train.
SHEBEENING AT NEWPORT.
SHEBEENING AT NEWPORT. Catherine Connors, a diminutive Irishwoman, blear-eyed and in the seventies was summoned at Newport Town-hall, on Monday, for selling beer without a licence. Shortly after midnight on Saturday, the llt-h inst.. Inspector Brooks'and Sergeant Evans grew curious as to the sounds of carousing proceeding rom the front room of No. 2, Courtybella-street, where the defendant lives. As they were debating how best to develop the attack the daughter ot defendant opened the front door to let out a man, and they slipped in. They found five men in the front room, with two pint cups and a glass on the table. As they took a hurried survey, the daughter ran upstairs, and the inspector, taxing the hint, fol- lowed. As he did so he heard something heavy being moved about, and in the front bedroom observed that liquid had been spilt on the floer. "What have you done with the C&.OIk!" was his. interrogatory to the d^ndant, who had duly appeared. I have not had one to-night," was the reply, but on opening a large box or trunk standing beneath the window, the inspector saw a ♦V^-gallon cask of beer with a tap in it. I thought you had knocked this off altogether," said the inspector severely. "Well, what am I to do ? I have had no money for a fortnight, and I have not paid a farthing rent for five weeks. I must do something to keep out of the workhouse." The inspector added that he had several times cautioned tha defendant, and on one occasion found two casks in the same place. Defendant bad a bhnd daughter, and this poor creature waited on the men who went there to drink. She had had three illegitimate children—one living and two dead. The defence was that the men were all lodgers but Sergeant EVAIIS said one whom he saw there livèd next door and another in Constable's-Iane. Only one of the live was a lodger.—The police stated that the defendant had been known as a shebeener for several years, but that there bad been 110 prior conviction.—The defendant con- tinued to reiterate that all were lodgers, and that no beer was sold.—The Bench thought the charge fully made out, and fined defendant £10, or one month's imprisonment.—The Magistrate* Clerk enquired as to who was the owner of the houses, and on being informed that it was Mr Sidney Evans, the Bench directed that he should be apprised of the conviction.
BUTE DOCKS COMPANY.
BUTE DOCKS COMPANY. The Projeoted New Deok. The Bute Docks Company give notice of their intention to apply tor Parliamentary powers to construct a new dock at Car- diff. The notices, which have just been issued, provide lor the reclaiming of the foreshore known as the Cardiff Flats, which lie to the east- ward of the low-water pier, and for the construc- tion thereon of a new dock, entrance cuannel, locks, railways, etc. The work is proposed to be carried out by the construction of embankments, commencing at the south-east corner of the low- water pier and extending along the foreshore in a nortli .easterly direction in such a manner as to enclose tbe laud intended to be reclaimed. The new dock is to extend from the south-west corner of the Roath Dock.a distance of 836 yards. There is to be an entrance lock 850 feet in length. The company also seek power* to divert the river Tatf, commencing at a point 1.550 feet measured in a westerly directiou from the low-water pier, extending in a south- easterly direction for a distance of 2,400 feet, and termmating on the foreshore at n pjint 2,600 feet In" southerly direction from the pier. A clause in the notice seeks to enable the Corporation of Card'ff, the Taff Vale, the Rhymney, and the Great Western R lilway Companies to subscribe towards the cost of the construction of the dock, and to appoint directors for its management. In not a few of its more important particulars the notices resemble those which led to the introduc- tion of the Bill of 1891, which proposed to construct a dock at r ght angles with the Roath Dock. That scheme, however, was withdrawn somewhat unexpectedly. The Bill is one of very wide provisions, for it not only deuls with the construction of a new dock, but would go far towards empowering the creation of a harbour trust; and it would oer- tainly put the Bute Company in a very strong position in negotiating for tbe transfer of its property to any Trust. Assuming that the power to make the new dock were obtained, then the company would have, after the passing of this Bill and before the carrying out of any works, a most valuable property to offer, because tbey would have secured tbe right to utilise a large area of foreshore and other valuable rights, and would offer these in addition to the existing property. It is to be observed also that the provision to which the colliery owners and other took objec- tion 111 a former Bill of the company is re-inserted. The new Bill to enable the Bute Docks Company to prohibit tht< casting of refuse into the Taff or its tributaries that is to say, the Bute Docks Company will have a controlling band over persons whose works abut on the river and its tributaries right up the valleys. In hort, the Bill is an "Omntbaa Bill," taking up a great variety of subjects and affecting not only the company's own property, but also the property of other undertakings, as, for instance, the clause which would restrict the Taff Vale, the Rhymney, or the Gr"at Western, from making any preferential arrangements in resjiect of traffic designed for Penarth, Barry, or Newport. The design is one of so much importance to the town and district that we shall take a farther opportunity to describe it more fully.
------ASSAULTING hEATH POLICE.
ASSAULTING hEATH POLICE. At the Neath Borough Police-court on Monday John Hill, collier, üimla, was charged with assaulting P.C. John Davids on the previous Saturday night.—Head-Constable Evans, who opened the case, said defendant was becoming a terror to the law.—P.C. John Davies said that at 11.10 on Saturday night he was passing tbe Somerset public-house. He heard a disturbance, and going into tho Somerset he met defendant, who said he was the best man in the tewu of Neath. Defendant st uck witness, and witness told him to go home quietly. He would not go. and witness put him out, although a man named Reynolds tried to prevent it. In the street defendant became very violent and struck witness in the eye. Both fell to the ground, and whilst etruggiingdett-ndant kicked him on the eye, and bit his hand. He then said he would go quietly, but struck witness all of a sudden and again kicked him.—Defendant said he was very sorry, and he supposed he was mad drunk when it I occurred. Thomas Reynolds, collier, Cimla, and Noah Jones, Glebeland-row, Cadoxton, were charged with attempting to rescue the defendant in the last case from the police. The charge against Reynolds was taken first.—P.C. John Davieri said defendant interfered and shouted, "Give it to him, Jack." Defendant stood in the doorway to prevent Hill being taken out.—Noah Jones, who presented a very youthful appearance, was stated to have exerted himself to keep P.C Davies off the defendant Hill. When charged the defendant J said he only wanted the polioemau to get up from holding the man on the ground.—Defendant denied the charge, and added that he had an in- jured hand, which had prevented him from work- ing for a fortnight.—The Bench fined John Hill £ 5 and costs, or a month Thomas Reynolds £ 1 and costs, or 14 days, and dismissed Noah Jones withacaution.
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The current number of the "Strand Magazine contains incidentally a memoir of the original Bob, best of dogs and most sealous of fire-heroes. So keen a saver of life was he that on one ooca. sion he emerged from the flames carrying an exhausted cat in hie month. In any other dog such nn act would have indicated only a destre to preserve game; but Bob was nothing if not altruistic.