The Cardiff Times

BIRTHSjMARRIAGSS, & DEATHS LIRTHS. AJJ.GOOD.-On the 9th September r. 150, Colum- road. Cardiff, the wife of James S. Allsood, of a sot?. LOVERLD^E.—At Liandaff, September 8th, Ethel, the wife oi S. Mow Lovcrtdge, Culebra, Panama, ot a son. OWEN.—On Sept- 1st, 1307, at Allen's Bank, Glyn ath, tb.5 wife of J. Aubrey Owen, of a son. 99 MES. -September -.t!l atifton Manor, Rogiet, Moo., the wile of Thomas leeg, of a daughter. 727n SJEB.INE.—On Setifemtier 5ih, at 23, Coveny-street, Splott, the wife of E. F. Slcrinr, of a son. 461 MARRIAGES. DA \'}D--CRrD nl.E.-On September 5th. 1907, at Bethany Baptist Church, by the Rev. W. E. "^utks. Heea David to Mary Emma Tollie), eldest "i,hter of James C'riddle, both of Cardiff. 345 Lti wi.~ TA the !I September at Roath Park Wesi yan Church, Cardie, by the Rev. H. Adams, Beninmin Roland, second son of the late. Mr Edwin Lewis, formerly of Aberjjaveuny, and Mrs Lewis, of Claude-road. Cardiff, to Irene Beatrice, younger daughter of ihe late^ Mr W.J. James and Mrs Hcllvraan. Crwys-road, Cardiff. 607n PETERS GETTINGS.—On Stpt. fth, at Wood-street, Chapel, Cardiff, by v. W. J. Zeal, WiJiiam Peters, Bethesda Cross, Narberth, to Evelyn Gertrude Get- tinas, of 3. Cambrian place, Haverfordwest. 553 PETERS—GETTING:—On September 7th, at Wood- street Chapel, Cardiff, by Rev. W. J. Zeal, William Paters, the third son of the late Thomas Peters, Bathesda Cross, Narberth, to Eveline Gertrude Get- tinsa, oi 3, Cambrian-place, Haverfordwest. 533n DEATHS. BCTLANn.—On Sept. 7th, at 72, road, Mary Ann, beloved wife of W. Rutland, aged 75 604 COX.—On September 6*h, at 114, Splott-road, Cardiff, Reuben Charles, the beloved eou of William and Haunah Cox. aged 30. a--udt 31st, at 65, Wyndharn-crea- cent, Cardiff, Aiary Ann, dearly beloved wife of Edward Cooinbes, aged 63. X>RA&E.—On Sent. 2nd, at 5), Strathnairn-streot, Hester, wtid of Edmnnd Drake. )W AR D.-On Monday, Seutember 9th, at his residence, 12, Newport-road. Joiin Edwards. 752n BRliFITHS.—At Erynycymmer, CymmeT, Forth, on Son/day, September 1st, Mary, widow of the lite Chriatooher Griffiths, apr-d 71. GRIFFITHS.—On f>ptemt>tr 3rd, at 13, Atlac-road. Canton, Jaue. beloved wife of Daniel Griffiths, aged 71 yc. HAYTEP..—On Sfptember 4th. at High-street. row. photographer, etc., aged 57 years. HARVEY. —On Sept. 4th, at 16. Hereford-Street, Grangetown, Ada Louisa, beloved wife of Alfred H; irvey. Deeply mourned. HAYES.—At, his residence. 116, CUvn-street, Grange- town, James uayes, coaitrimmer, nassed awav after a short and painful illness, on September fcfh. XyC-8.—i^ept. 1st, 4th hotise, Pentre-street, Granee, iata Coed<ae-stTcet, Violet, yonncest belove<i dftMgbisro? Georste and Tamar, pranddanshter of John ar. A Arne in her 12th year, after a very ba.Înful Ü\nedil. -pte-aber 7th. at 57b, Cemetery-road, I Treeynon, Aberdare, Bonnie, aged 19, the youngest daughter of Lewis an 1 Sarah Jame9. JONES.—On September 6th, at 4, Harbour View-road, Pecarth, Margaret Ann, beloved wife of Thomas Jones. JONES.—At Willowdcne, Porthcawt, September 2nd, Eleanor Frances Jones, daughter of the late Mr Wm. Jones, Poplax3, Portheawl. JONES.—Otj the 3rd injt., at 313, Railway-street, Splott Cardiff Ellen (Neil), the dearly beloved wife of Mordecai (Montie) Jones, aged 32 years. JOHN.—William John, at Wern Cottage, Rogerstone, Tuesday, a, 87. LAWR.ENCF..—September 6th, suddenly, at 15, Well- field-road, Gwyn, deariy beloved son of M. and E. Lawrence. LEWIS.-On the 3rd inst., at 44, Crown-street, Crura- lin, John Lewis, late of Youngstcwiv Ohio, aged 77 years. LS-On September 2nd, Emily, wife of John. Lewu. Friends please accept this the only intima- tion. McDONALD.- -On Saturday. September 7th, at Holly- dene, Whrcehnrch, \.il!lam McDonald, F.C.A.,in his 58th year. ]PRICE.-()" September 8th, at the age of SO, at Lletty Einon, Cwindu. near i-laudilo, Mr Simon Price, lAte or Velmdre, Llanf\-nydd. ^ZDMAN. On the 6th inst., at 14, Haveiock-street, Emily Jane, the beloved wife, of Thomas Redman. late oî 54. Bridce-street, Cardiff, after a long and painful illness. SADNDERS^—-At221, Penartii-ro%d, Gtungetown, on k PWtj 1 v* Saunders (eoaltrimmer), the beloved tiusbaQ1. of Margaret Saunders. Deeply regretted. J STBVENS.unday. at.3(>, Mojra-place, Mariraret, ths dearly l eloved wife ot Cliarle,3 Stevens, after hard auffe.nns, patiently borne. Tit-ACEY.-On th.: 3htult"at-A, Heien-street, Roatii, Thotaa* Tracev. ctnf c'n:^eet, Ahertillery, on Septem- jldSK.of the bte ^noclt Thomaa, *«Wns P!ea«uit-road, Ebbw Vale.

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14,1907, THE NEXT WELSH FESTIVAL. After the. record Eisteddfod, the biggest Cymanfa Ganu on record at Swansea, held in the Eisteddfod Pavilion, the Carcliif Trien ial Musical Festival. There is, we are afraid, no comparison to be made between the numbers attending the National Eisteddfod and the Methodists' Ringing Festival and the Musical Festival which will be held in the Park Hall, Cardiff, at the close of the present month. In the National Eisteddfod sen- timent plays a great part; it is the national gathering, with all tho excite- ment of the competitions, and the spirit of competition has very little relation to art, musical or pictorial. The singing festival is more of the nature of a great religious gathering, but a musical festival of the character of the triennial meeting at Cardiff is purely connected with musical art and the pleasure which more or less cultured people find in listening to the best performances of serious musical compositions that can be procured. In the sense that we understand things to be popular in Wales, the musical festival is not popular, but we sincerely hope that it will appeal to a very large body of music lovers in the Principality who are eager to advance their knowledge of and pleasure in musical art. Wo further sin- cerely hope that the success of the pre- sent festival will ensure its continuance as an institution of the Principality, for it provides just one of those occasions which are absolutely necessary in Wales if music is to be advanced on the right lines and the Welsh music lover and the student are to be provided with the necessary opportunities for listening to the best music, without which musical advancement is next to impossible. Wales has no Academy or School of Music. The Wel-Ji student must go to London or Manchester, but in the Cardiff Festival there is provided an opportunity of listening to artistic performances and new compositions as well as the classical favor-rites interpreted in true musicianly SLJ fe. On the 25th of the present month a four days' festival, consisting of eight concerts, will be commenced. The work is well in hand, and for the whole of the Festival the complete London Symphony YMP Orchestra has been secured. Several or- chestral items will be a special feature of the concerts, and eight different com- posers will conduct works specially written for this festival. There will bo novelty enough and to spare, but due attention has* been paid by the Selection Committee to standard works of varying schools. We would refer all interested to the programmes, which are published, and in passing call attention to the fact that the Welsh musician has not been neglected, for Mr David Evans, Mus.Bac., has written a special Welsh work on The Coming of Arthur," which will be given an adequate performance under his own baton. It would be safe to say that a more varied or interesting festival pro- gramme has never been arranged. The Festival deserves to succeed on its merits, and in a land where so high a claim is made for music the success should be an abounding triumph.

According to the law of England and Wales no human being needdie.of starva- tion. The Poor Law system gives effect to that principle, but nevertheless scores do die every year from privation and want of the barest necessities of life. When the opponents of Socialism and social re- form cry out against the pauperising effects of this or that reform, 'or what they are pleased to call "pauperising influences, they coolly take it for granted that the characteristics of the British race and their sturdy independence will all vanish and leave them grovelling beg- gars and recipients of charity. It is one of the cruellest libels on the character of the people of the United Kingdom, for every year, every month, people die rather than apply for parish relief or consent to enter the Union workhouse. According to a Parliamentary paper just issued 48 persons were officially declared to have died in London last year from starva- tion. The problem of the poor is baffling, for there are hundreds of persons who would have been only too pleased to have provided the necessaries of life to those unfortunate persons who died from sheer want of the common necessities of exist- ence. But so rooted is the objection of the poor to union relief that they will not apply. The only hope of reaching these persons is by greater attention to social reforms and. the hastening of the day of old age pensions. The coal trade continues to boom and prices are on the rise. The demand for coal exceeds the supply, and in the or- dinary course of trade prices rise. This is not altogether an unmixed blessing, for the scarcity of coal and the high prices are interfering with trade and commerce, which must inevitably act harmfully on the coal trade ere long and cause the in- evitable swing of the pendulum of trade. But in the meantime an infinite deal of nonsense is being talked and written. Mr D. A. Thomas, M.P., alluded to some of the nonsense in the London Press, where the removal of the -coal tax is held responsible, and further blame is attached to thf) collier for takind too high wages, which make coal dear. The collier is accused of taking holidays in order to increase the scarcity to further force up prices. The very obvious reason of the boom in the coal trade is over- looked, and that is the extraordinary demand for coal for general trade pur- poses. If the..ü were not this demand the colliers would net get the high wages, li nor would their holidays make any differ- ence in the market. The legitimate demand is responsible for the high prices, which carry with them, thanks to the miners' organisation, higher wages but the London critics of the South Wales coal trade are always making a sorry mess of it. Their comments savour of the same wisdom that suggested the Parliamentary prohibition of the export of steam coal to the foreigner so that we might have cheap coal for home consumption.

The Welsh student, according to Cymru," does not know how to use the language of business in applying for a situation. It appears that the Welsh student has learned his lesson too thoroughly that it is inadvisable to use flowery sentences in business correspond- ence. He has, however, carried the in- junction not to waste words to a line art. V specimen of this art is given as follows Tho students write letters as if they were inditing a telegram Am a graduate of A.B.C. College took my degree in science desire post in your office." Another complaint against public speakers of the Socialist type is of a very different character. They have not learnt to modify their flow of epithets and strong language, and come to grief with the public accordingly. The Socialists in the Labour Parliament at Bath poured out strings of epithets on the head of John Burns, but it concluded its sittings by blessing him, for Mr Bowerman explained away the wonderfully picturesque expres- sion oi" a lost soul," and praised John Burns as one who had spoken honestly and strongly upon the question of the housing of the people. He regarded him as the first working man Minister who is doing something to benefit the masses of the country at large. The sterling work of the President of the Local Government Board will outlive all the unjust abuse and silly epithets of his traducers, and it is satisfactory to find that there are men at the Trades Congress who are bold enough to condemn such tactics in strong but simple and direct language.

MYSTERY OF A DITCH. Married Woman's Strange Fate. At Grays (Essex) on Wednesday the inquest was resumed into the circumstances surround- ing the death of Mary Jane Smith, aged 35 years, the wife of a labourer living iu Quarry Hill, Grays. Her body was found some days ago in a pool forming part of a deep slime- covered ditch leading to the sea wall. Mrs Smith had the reputation of being happy in her home life, and was on perfectly friendly terms with her husband. A witness named Joseph Stevenson was called. He said he was a single man residing at Grays. He had known the woman about two years- He was in the habit of going out with her almost nightly. On the 2nd of this month he arranged to go to London with her' on the following day. But did you meet the woman I—Yes. And she and I and another woman went to the Railway Hotel, where we had a drink. Did you sit down together ?—Yes I leaned down in a porch and Mrs Smith put her head on my shoulder and we both went to sleep. Did you awaken her ?—Yes and I said to Mrs Smith, Arc you going home?" She said No I will go to some friends in the dwellings" (pointing to some houses). He had no idea (went on the witness), what the time was. He said, "Is it all right?" and she replied Yes." He then shook hands with her and said Good night" He left her, thinking she was going to her friends as she said. The Coroner Although you have told us that deceased would look in the public-houses after you, is it not a fact that you used to go after her ?-No, that is not a fact. In fairness to myself I must say that. A Juror How often have you been in the woman's company lately 7—A lot. The husband of the deceased woman said he desired to ask the witness about his wife's supposed nightly meetings with him. Address- ing the court, he said that his relatives and friends knew that his wife never went out for abcftit four nights a week, except for a few seconds. That would not give her time to meet this scoundrel." (Indicating the wit- ness.) The Witness (excitedly): Who arc you call- ing a scoundrel t—The Husband: I am calling you a scoundrel. The Witness Don't call me that. (To the coroner) I am no more a scoundrel than he is. The Coroner Be silent. Whatever you are, it has not been very credi table in the past. The inquiry was adj ourned.

"ATTllA" AT HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. A crowded and enthusiastic audience wel- corned Mr Laurence Binyon's tragedy, founded on the story of Attila, King of the Huns, other- wise known as the scourge of God. The part of his career dealt with is the concluding chapter. At the height of his career the mon- arch, whose great ambition is to found a dynastv, learns from a soothsayer that disaster will befall his sons. Forthwith he puts aside his wife and decides to marry a beautiful Burgundian Princess, who practically offers herself to him to save her conquered people. But then there comes to him an embassy from Rome—Rome which he burns to add to his further conquests—Rome which stands in dread of him. The Roman ambassador (ad- mirably played by Mr H. R. Hignett, who contributes, indeed, quite one of the best Kerka Onegesius (Mi;s Mary Rorke). (Mr J. F. White), lldico Attila (Miss Lily Brayton). (Mr Oscar Asche), (Miss Lily Brayton). (Mr Oscar Asche), pieces of acting to the ply); brings Attila a ring from Honoria, the Lmperor's sister, and a proposal of marriage, lldico, the Burgundian Princess, sees the ring, and is jealous of her Roman rival. On her wedding night she leads Attila to the bridal room, and there kills him with his own sword—the famous mystical sword which the Huns believe is the only wea- pon which can k-PI him. Mr Asche's robust personality and style find fit employment in the part of Attila. As Ildico, Miss Lily Brayton delivers her lines with great intensity. Miss Mary Iiorke makes her mark in the small part of the divorced wife, and Mr .Fisher White's sonorous elocution gives distinction to the personage of Attila s counsellor, Onegesius.

TWENTY WORKING HOURS J FOOD HELPED HIM THROUGH. If you ever require a testimonial as to the beneficial effects of Grape-Nuts as a preven- tive of hsadachc or fatigue, J sti&Il very pleased to forward one," writes a Berkshire chemist. I was troubled for years with severe head- achc, but since using Grape-Nuts regularly I am in a position to say that no drugs have helped nie to the extent that Grape-'suts has done. In connection with the opening of a branch business, I worked for two months at a stretch from 18 to 20 hours a day, and I attribute the fact of being able to stand this extraordinary strain and feel none the worse for it to the regular use of Grape-Nuts." Name given by Grape-Nuts Co., 66, Shoe Lane, E.G. You can do things, too, on the right food. Try a breakfast of Grape-Nuts and cream and eggs for ten days, and note the effect. There's a reason. Warning-Imitations of Grape-Nuts are on the market, paying the retail grocer a special profit to push the sale. If you really wajit a skilfully and scientifi. cally made brain food, insist upon getting Grape-Nuts. Most grocers Will promptly supply genuine articles without attempt to pahn off something just as good." If your grocer tries to substitute some imitation Nuts for genuine Grape-Nutu, perhaps the other grocer down the street might serve you more faithfully. If you find Grape-Nuts food a bit soft from the late damp weather put it in a.n oven with the door left open and dry until crisp. Then add a sprinkle of pugir and some milk en- riched with cream and there you Are, the finest breakfast food extant.

l While picking nuis from a tree over- harging a quarry Swanscombe, near Grnvesend. a little girl lmed Ella Stone fell 90ft, and was killed

The Mikkelsen Expedition I The welcome news received the other day from the remote north o" Alaska happily estab- lished beyond doubt the safety of the Anglo- American Arctic expedition under Captain Mikkelsen. The expedition left Victoria (B.C.) in May, 1305, and ihe two principal objects in May, 1305, and the two principal objects which Captain MikkeLsen, who is a, young Danish officer, only 28 years of age, had in view were a, sledge trip across the Pola" ocean westward from Bank's Island, a,n I the dis- covery of a new continent in the Arctic. The expedition consisted of Captain Ejnar Mikkel- sen, of Copenhagen Mr Ernest de K. Lelfing- well, of Chicago, geologist Dr Howe, surgeon, a graduate of Cambridge Mr Ejnar Ditlevsen, naturalist and artist; Mr Stefansson, of Greenland, ethnologist,; and the members of the crew. A number of private individuals in I The Duchess of Bedford. England and America, including the Duchess of Bedford and Lord Rothschild, the Royal Geographical Society in London, and other institutions came forward with the necessary money a,nd supplies. A wooden schooner of 66 tons was bought in Shanghai, and re-chris- tened the Duchess of Bedford. She is only 67ft. 7in. long. with a beam of 18ft. 7in. and she was specially fitted out for the Arctic trip, one of the "principal alterations being the sheathing of her bows with iron plates in order to withstand the pressure of ice. Captain Mik- kelsen started on the trip bust April with Mr LefSngwell and another member of the party. They took with them 60 days' provisions, leav- ing the Duchess of Bediorri aground in rather more than eight feet of water on Flaxman Island. Later the vessel sprang a leak. and in order to lighten her Dr Ilowe, Mr Stefans son, and the members of the crew removed everything from the ship, and then they, too, went on an exploring expedition. Captain Mikkelsen. v Route Followed by Captain Mikkelsen.

SCENE OF THE PONTYCYMMER TRAGEDY. The house depicted is No. 7, Bridgend-road, where what is alleged in jjct," ¡Jcen a mur- derous attack took place. Pol ice-Sergeant Lane is about to enter the house to pursue his investigations. On the pavement to the left are some ma,ts which mark the spot where the unfortunate woman lay, and which were placed there after the body had been removed in order to hide the pool of blood that remained. (Photo by F. Varney, Pontycymmer.)

COINERS' DEN RAIDED. Police Tenacity Rewarded. At the Central Criminal Court on Wednc9- day, before the Common Serjeant, David Asser (63), a labourer, David Thomas Asser (32). labourer, Alfred Asser (27), a hawker (father and sons), John Sims (25), carman, and William Reynolds (24), dealer, all of whom were charged with feloniously making counter- feit coin and with possessing counterfeit coin, knowing the same to be stolen. The story disclosed by the prosecution was one of great interest, showing the tenacity of the police in following'up slender clues with eventual success. It appeared that early in June Detective-Sergeant Yeo and Detective- Sergeant Storey had their suspicion aroused by seeing two men leave a metal dealer's shop in the Cierkenwell district. They ultimately traced them to a horse in Digby Walk, Betbnal Green, and then for six weeks kept observa- tion on the premises, seeing men come and go under circumstances which led to the belief that they were coiners. J t was discovered that the men occupied a back room in the house, and the officers accordingly took a room in another house, the window of which over- looked the room in which the men worked. In order to effectually conceal themselves from view, they whitewashed the window, made a peephole, and there watched a number of men coming. At L-Mt they decided to make a raid. They sent to Betbnal Green Police Station for as many officers as could be spared. About a dozen constables were soon on the scene the hon^c wac surrounded and raided, and after a desperate struggle, in which some of the men were captured after jumping through the window, the five prisoners were taken into custody. On the house being searched the police found a complete counter- feit coining outfit, togetherjwith 50 half-crowns and 15 florins, spurious, of course, but declared by the inspector of coins at the Mint -te to be splendid specimens and not easily de- tected. The jury found the whole of the prisoners guilty. It was stated that Alfred Asser and Reynolds had been previously con- victed. Reynolds' course of crime having begun when he was H years of age, and extending with short and longcintence-, to the present. The Common Serjeant said the prisoners had evidently been carrying on a minting business on a very large scale. Two of them had already been convicted, and it was neces- sary to relieve society of their presence, for some time. He then passed sentences as fol- low --David Asser, Alfred Asser, and William Reynolds. five years' penal servitude each David Thomas Asser, 12 calendar months' hard labour; and John Sims, 18 calendar months' bard labour.

NEW SCHOOLS AT MOUNTAIN ASH. Inaugural Ceremony. The new schools at Darren-Las. Mountain Ash, were opened on Wednesdavafternoon. Mrs W. S. Da vies presented Mr W. Davies. chairman of the Mountain Ash Education Committee, with a gold key with which to open the new building. Alter an inspection of the school luncheon was provided at the ex- pense of the contractor, Mr T. I W. Davies. The school is a rnbred department, capable of accommodating 400 children, and it has been built at a cost of £ 4,300. There are seven classrooms and two cloakrooms, and a covered playground.

WRIGHT IN THE WR0N6. Soldier Convicted of Bigamy. A soldier named Stephen Wright, with one wife in Colchester and another in Woolwich, was on Wednesday sentenced at the .New Bailey for bigamy. ( When the 1st Suffolk Engineers were at Col- chester he married and lived with his, wife for twelve months. The regiment was transferred to Woolwich, and here Wright went through a second marriage with a domestic servant. Pleading guilty, he stated that the convic- tion would mean dismissal from the Army. In. view of his seven years' good conduct, the Judge sentenced him to three months' im- prisonment in the second division, remarking that probably the military authorities would take this into consideration.

GREAT WYRLEY THREATS. A Bloodthirsty Letter. A Wolverhampton correspondent states that Hollis Morgan's landlady (Mrs Thornhill), on Wednesday received ar ,} nonymous letter the substanc,- ot whir' v?; as follows Mrs Thornhill, looked, 'ie 1st of next month. Your time '</1, f). will strike you down with the s- as I struck the aorse down at Wyi verdict will be j Ilful mnrder- not h police have no ie to the writer of unication.

— .3 CARMARTHEN ELECTRICITY, Council Seals Agreement—a Lively Debate. On Wednesday night the Carmarthen Town Council had another highly amusing discus- sion on the lighting of the borough by elec- tricity. Mr E. A. Rogers proposed to defer the whole matter till after the November poll, and was seconded by Mr Waiter Lloyd. Mr H. E. Blagdon Richards said if they allowed the suspension of standing orders for the pass- ing of the motion it would be a dangerous pre- cedent. The motion was lost by 11 votes to eight, and Mr Richards proposed that the Corporation seal be affixed to the agreement with Messrs J. B. Saunders & Co., of Cardiff. Then followed a long discussion as to the rela- tive merits of incandescent and electric light, many advocating that if the scheme were adopted the whole town should have 48 candle power and not 28 candle power lamps in the outlying portions, and 48 candle power lamps in some of the main > thoroughfares. The Rev. Joseph Harry urged that they should again study most closely the draft agreement so that he and his friends might be able to tell the ratepayers how the town was being in- volved. He proposed accordingly, and was seconded by Mr Spurrell. Mr Richards en- deavoured to bring about the oJosure, point- ing out how much energy had already been spent in trying to convert those who could not possibly be converted. Scores of ratepayers had been crying out for electricity, stating that they also wanted the gas brought down from 4s Id to 3s 6d per thousand feet. He had told them to he patient, as supporters of elec- tricity on the Council were fighting against vested interests. The Rev. Joseph Harry had no doubt that the interests of the contractors were safeguarded in the scheme. Members of the Council had seen to that. Mr Crossman appealed for a divison, saying, I think we have all made up our minds."—Rev. Joseph Harry Ah that is a fatal blunder.—This was followed by appeals for statistics to prove the benefit of electricity," and a heated argument followed. The Mayor (Mr J. N. Williams) ultimately closed the debate, in which no little feeling'had been shown. On a division 12 votes were given for and 3 against affixing the seal to the agreement.

LIMERICK" CONTESTS. Is Adjudication a Pretence P On the subject of the Limerick craze, Truth says :—Time after time prizes have been given for lines which neither rhymed I nor rejected the remotest glimmer of wit, but, on the contrary, were quite hopeless gibberish. Of course, it may be said that they were the best lines sent in, or at least that the judges honstlv regarded them as the best. This, however, would argue a degree of imbecility on the part of the competitors or the judges too shocking to be believed in. Very likely the vast majority of the competi- tors are dullards utterly incapable of finishing off a limerick with a good line, and very likely, too, some of the judges are sadly deficient in tstl) and discrimination. But when all allowance has been made for these considera- tions, it is still impossible to suppose that some of the effusions which have carried off I prizes would have been chosen by anyone outside a.n asylum for idiots as the best out of the enormous number that were received. No, the only conclusion open to any intelli- gent person watching these competitions is that in the main they are conducted purely as a method of gambling, devised primarily for the profit of the promoters. The so-called system of adjudication' is the merest pretence, and the prize-winners might be almost as satisfac- torily selected by drawing their contributions at random from the first or last sackful of letters that the Post Office delivers. I Seeing that the so-called competition is as a rule plainly what the Attorney-General de- scribed as a lottery, and-in the sense he in- dicated-a fraud upon the competitors, it is surely high time the Commissioner made up his caind to take proceedings.

A PENARTH WANDERER. Louisa Maud Cook was charged at Penarth Police Court on Wednesday with having no faxed abode and sleeping out on the seats of the Penarth Esplanade. P.C. Daniel Jones stated that defendant had been about the town over a week. She had been dismissed from service, and refused to accept any help. She was given lodgings in the police cells at Penarth on Fri- day last, but was very impudent to the inspec- tor for sheltering her. Some philanthropic ladies in the town had also offered to get her into a home, but she refused to go. In reptv to Dr. Howell liees, defendant said she had friends at Abergavenny, but she would not go to them. Defendant, who a.p ~->r-o() dazed and not able to comprehend wb >ing said to her, wpa discharged tt and advised to leave thè district.

COLLIERY HAULIER ARRESTED. Pontycymmer Tragedy ALLEGED ATROCIOUS CRIME. Aged Woman'sAwfu! Fate GHASTLY STREET SCENE. Pontycymmer, Garw Valley, was the scene on Tuesday afternoon of a. shocking tragedy, as the result of which Geo. Stills (301. colliery haulier, is in custody on a charge of murdering his mother, Rachel Hannah Stills, aged 70, in a savagely brutal manner. Mrs Stills lived at 7. B riIF,,end -road. Ponty- cymmer, with her husband, Mr George Stills, who is getting too advanced in years to work regularly. With the old couple lived their sons George—who stands charged with matricidp- and John, whose age is 32. On Tuesday morning George and John Stills, the sons, did not go to work, and accom- panied by their father. George Stills, sen., they visited the Ffaldau Hotel, and remained there together some time. About 11 o'clock J'ohn Stills returned home alone, had a meal, and went out for a walk. He returned about 12.50 and went to bed, leaving his mother sit- ting in a chair in the front parlour. As to what precisely happened afterwards there is a. certain amount of doubt, as John Stills asserts that when he went to bed he dropped off to sleep almost immediately, and remembered nothing further until he was awakened by noises made by the neighbours in the street when the tragedy was brought to light. I THE ACCUSED. I Shortly after John Stills bad gone to bed his brother, George Stills, must have returned home without his father. What transpired between the mother and son-whether there was a quarrel or whether he attacked her without provocation, and in a sudden fit of homicidal madness—is at present largely en- shrouded in mystery. The neighbours say that they heard no sounds of quarrelling in the house nor cries for help,but they all allege that quarrels between the mother and sons were frequent owing, so it is alleged, to the fact that the deceased woman, though a very hard working character, was somewhat addicted to drink indeed it is alleged that she was the worse for drink the morning of the tragedy. The first intimation the residents of Bridg- end road bad that anything was wrong in the house where the Stilis lived was at 1.45 when the front door was violently thrown open, and Geo. Stills, his hands covered with blood, and evidently labouring under much excitement, appeared in the door way with his mother in his arms and flung her down on the pavement Her face was covered with blood, there was a gash under the chin, another above the eve, and the rest of her face seemed to have been battened almost to a, pulp. When her son George threw her down on the pavement she fell with her head near the gutter and her feet near the door. George Stills then, so a witness alleges, kicked the feet of the dying woman off the doorstep and slammed the door to, shutting himself inside. This ghasUy scene was witnessed by Mrs Elizabeth Brain, a certificated midwife, who lives exactly opposite to No. 7, Bridgend- road. Mrs Brain had just been to see a patient in the house next door to that occupied by the Stills, and was returning to her own house when she saw George Stills open the door and fling his mother out on to the pavement. Other neigh- bours wore quickly on the scene, and a number of women were soon collected around the old woman lying bleeding on the pavement. When we got to Mrs Stills," said Mrs Brain to our reporter, she was still alive, but gasping hard for breath. She was terribly injured, and her face looked ghastly. Some of the women opened the door and said to George Stills, For shame for shame What made you do this ? Take her in, and don't let her lie out here like this but he threatened that if they did not go away he would serve them all the same." Messengers were despatched for Dr. E. J. Parry and the police, P.S. Lane and P.C. Price Evans and P.C. Daniel were quickly on the scene, and so were Dr. Parry and his assist- ant, Dr. Joncs, but the efforts of the medical gentlemen were of no avail, and the old woman was dead 10 minutes after she was flung out on the pavement.

I HAVE DONE IT." When P.C. Price Evans entered the house, a double-fronted one opening direct on to the pavement, he found George Stills in the front room on the left, which is used as a living room. The alleged murderer was sitting down wiping bloodstains from his hands with a linen bodice. Immediately on seeing P.C. Price Evans he said, I have done it. J am the man you want." P.C. Evans -t once placed him under arrest, a course to which George Stills made no demur, and he was re-! moved by Sergeant Line to the police station.

THE INJURIES DESCRIBED. When examined by Dr. Parry the dead woman was found to have a deep cut. about two inches long under the chin, and a similar cut above the eye. Tier left jaw was fractured, and the left side of the face was dreadfully swollen and battered, as though she had been brutally kicked. The cut under the chin gave rise to the rumour that tha old woman's throat had been cut with a razor, a knife, or a pair of scissors. Though a razorl knives, and a pair of scissors have been discovered in the house, they do not bear bloodstains, and it is possible that no such instruments were used to inflict the injuries to the head of the deceased, who WiJ." also terribly bruised, as though by kicks, about the body. To Sergeant Lane it is alleged that George Stills has made,the statement, I only gave her one blow," and that to a "butty" who entered the house after the tragedy, he said, I did not use any razor." George Stills, senior, arrived home shortly after the police had taken his son into custody, and was horrified to find what an awful tragedy had been enacted. Within an hour or two of the tragedy Supt. John Davies, of Bridgend, drove to the scene to make investigations and to receive a report of the case from Sergeant Lane. Judging by the blood-marks in the house, the injuries to the old woman must have been inflicted in the front parlour to the right of the passnge on entering, in which John Stills says he left his mother sitting in an arm- chair when lie went upstairs to bed. In a corner of this room is a bundle of illustrated newspaper's. There are bloodstains on some of these papers and on the wails, and small patches of clotted blood on the floor. The Eapers are pressed down as though a weight ad been placed upon them. The paper on the top has, as the front-page illustration, a full- length portrait of Mr Evan Roberts, the Re- viv This blood-bespattered corner of the parlour is evidently the spot at which Mrs Stills received her fataJ injuries. This theory is borne out by a statement made to our representative and to the police by a little schoolgirl named Lilian Harris. She states that as she was on her way to school she happened to look in through the window of the parlour and saw a man clutching Mrs Stills by the throat and holding her down on the floor. NARRATIVE OF ACCUSED'S BROTHER. Jolm StilLi, brother of the accused, was interviewed by our reporter, and the account he gave of his movements about the time the tragedy was enacted is as embodied above. I did not' hear a sound," he said, until I heard the neighbours shouting Murder and Police," and then I went downstairs and the police came in as I was putting my boots on." Did your brother and your mother quarrel frequently ? iVe both used to quarrel with her some. times." What about ? "About our food not being ready, and she used to drink a little; a little drink would upset ^er. A bloodstained bonnet was found in the par- lour, and it is surmised that Mrs Stills was wearing it when she was attacked. Neighbours assert that she had been out early that morn- ing.

THE VICTIM'S FAMILY. Mrs Still's and her husband had resided in the Garw Valley for the past 17 years, prior to which they lived at Nottingham. Mr George Stills, senior, is a colliery labourer. The accused is a haulier employed at the Oarne Collierv. Garw Valley, but on a few occasions during recent .years he has left the district for a time He was formerly a leading local cricketer, and it is be, ieved he has served in the Army The etrible deed aroused intense excitement throughout the Qarw Valley, and large crowds "m} m tthe vicinity of the raiiwo- station in expectation of seeing the arrested man taken to Bridgend by the 6 o'clock train, but Superintendent Davies decided to keep him at Pontycymmer over night while the excitement subsided.

ACCUSED IN COURT. George Stills. the alleged Pontycymmer murderer, was removed from Pontycymmer to Bridgend on Wednesday by the early morning train in charge of Pol ice-Sergeant Lane. and at 11 o'clock he was brought up before Mr W. J. Lewis at the Bridgend Police Court. Prisoner is a. short, thick-set man, with dark- brown and rather curly hair, and dark-brown moustache. He has not an unpleasing appear- ance. When he entered the court he glanced nervously round, and then leaned his left elbow on the rail of the dock, buried his head in his hands. and remained in that position while evidence for a remand was given Police-sergeant Lane said :—" At 11.45 a.m. yesterday I was called to No. 7, Bridgend road, Pontycymmer. In tli- front. room I saw the body of Rachel Hannah Stills, prisoner's mother, lying on the floor. The head was ter- ribly bashed about and covered with blood. and very much swollen- Dr. John Bowen Jones, assistant to Dr. Parry, was present, and he said the woman had been dead about half an hour. I went into the kitchen, and there saw the prisoner, George Stills, who was then in custody. I told him I should take hun to the police station, and I did so. On the way to the police station, he remarked, I only gave her one blow." I then stopped him, and cau- tioned him, and said that whatever he said I should take down in writing and give in evidence against him. George Stills then further said, I did carry her out- side. I thought if I left her in that I would do her further injury." Inspector Benjamin Evans: Upon thai evi- dence, sir, I ask for a remand in custody until Saturday. Mr Walter Hughes, deputy magistrates' clerk, then asked the prisoner if he had any- thing to say why he should not be remanded. Stills raised his head from his hands and said in a clear voice, All I have to say, sir, is not guilty to the charge." Prisoner was then remanded in custody until Saturday,

THE KING'S HOSTESS. The King is this week the guest of Lord and Lady Savile for the Doncaster races. His Majesty has been such a frequent visitor to this delightfully romantic place that his opportu- nities of meeting one or both of the two ghoeta which the Abbey boasts must be regarded as quite exceptional. Rufford is peculiarly rich in historical memories. The hall in which are hung the priceless tapestries, is Elizabethan, and the house itself stands on the site of a Cistercian monastery, founded in 1148. Charles Lady Savile. I. slept in one of the large bedrooms of the house. which apartment was also occupied by Charles II. King Edward will notice a good many mprovements since his last visit. An extra sitting-room has been added to the royal suite of rooms, and the old finmiture, which was a feature of the dra-wing-room. has been removed to the long gallery. Lady Savile is such a perfect hostess that the fear of ghosts never disturbs a house-party at Rufford. She is a daughter of the late Mr Charles Webster- Wedderburn, and was widow of Mr H. Helyar when she married Lord Savile, the second baron, in 1894.

PETROL DANCERS IN LONDON. 'Bus Driver's Fearful End. At Westminster Coroner's Court on Tuesday, Mr Troutbeck held an inquest on the body of William Swift, 39. a motor 'bus driver, in the employ of the London General Omnibus Com- pany, lately living in Tourney-road, Fulham. who was fatally burned on Sunday night. September 1st. Evidence was given r Albert Dixon. he conductor of deceased'c s, that on the dst journey from Liverpool- tieet to Barnes on Sunday night, September 1st, they reached Sloane-square soon after midnight. It was then found that the cock of the petrol tank had broken off, and that the petrol was escaping. Deceased got down from his seat and put his thumb over the leak, whilst witness took one of the front lamps and went back over the road to look for the plug. Being unable to find the plug, he returned, after an absence of eight or nine minutes, and then found the driver satu- rated with petrol. It was a 22 gallon tank. and was nearly full. Witness gave the driver some waste to stop the leak, but petrol con- tinued to come out. He then went on top of the 'bus to ask a lady passenger to get off, and at that moment he saw a flash and heard a report, and the 'bus was then on fire. The lady passenger descended the stairs safely, and witness jumped from the top of the 'bus to the ground. The Coroner Why did you do that ? Was the whole bus ablaze ?- f'cs, all ablaze. On regaining my feet I saw my driver in flames running up the road. I went after him and as I got to him he fell on his back. I put my ca.p over his face to prevent, his eyes being burned, and two soldiers who were passing took off their coats and put the flames out. Answering further questions by the Coroner, witness said that the cock of the petrol tank was liable to work loose in running. He had been 13 months on a motor-bus and bad not known a petrol cock to come off before this. The petrol was running down the road into the gutter, and witness thought thatsomeone pass ing must have thrown down a lighted match or cigarette, as the flash came from a point about 30 feet behind the bus. P.C. 356 B said he saw the driver get under the bus and went to see what was the matter. The driver told him that the cock of the petrol tank was missing, and witness went away to try to find a cork. As he returned he saw a flash, and the driver with his clothing in fiamos ran up tbe road. He shouted to some men to throw him down, and after ringing the alarm for the fire brigade sent Swiftinacab to St. George's Hospital. The lighted lamp of the bus was on the ground neardeceased, who was immediately under a street gas lamp. The house surgeon at St. George's Hospital said deceased was bncned about the face, legs, arms, and hands. He died the following Satur- day, September 7th, from exhaustion, the result of the burns. The Coroner Did he ever make any state- ment to you about the accident ?-He said, I was carrying a lamp with my hands soaked with petrol and the result was—disaster." Do you really think he understood what he was saying ?—Yes, I think so. A verdict of" Accidental death was re- turned, and the jury added that they were of opinion that the cocks of the petrol tank should be examined every journey.

SHIPBUILDING DISPUTE. Reported Serious Hitch. A Glasgow correspondent telegraphs -A serious hitch is reported to have occurred in the negotiations between the Shipbuilding Employers' Federation and the Boilermakers Society. The men's council recommended the acceptance of an agreement drawn up at the joint conference of masters and men at Edin- burgh last month, but the men by a large majority have voted against its acceptance. The employers at Glasgow have received no notice from the men's society, and a second vote is pending. Should the terms not be agreed to, serious trouble will ensue. A West Hartlepool correspondent tele. graphs :—There is apparently another crisis approaching in the shipbuilding industry on the North-East coast, and the sensation. created at Sunderland by wholesale dis- charges is having its reflection in the Hartle- pools, where some of the largest yards are located, employing many thousands of hands- An interview last night indicates that the prospects in the Hartlepoola are inotvod. that the yards are gradually emptying their berths, and that they find it almost impossible to book fresh orders. The serious detentiton of steamers caused by strikes, first in one port and then in another, the advance in the price of coal, and the low freights obtainable, are, it is asserted, making shipowners very chary about investing further in shipping. At the pre- sent time in three yards there are five berths un. occupied out of eleven, and prospects are very unsatisfactory for the winter. In another yard it is stated they are full of work, but whether this state of things will be maintained depends upon the freight market.

MANGLED ON THE LiNE. A WHITLAND MYSTERY.' On Wed nesday morning, about 6 o'clock, a labouring man, apparently about 30 years of age, was found on the down-line, about haJj a mile to the east of Whitland Station, quite dead, with his head knocked to a pulp. He was removed to the Kclverton Arms Hotel on a stretcher The opinion prevails that deceased was walking over the line as far as Tynewydd Bridge, in order to cross the river on his way to some farm, and that he was knocked down by the Irish express or some goods train in the course of the night. The body has been identified as that of Hugh Goodman Jones, about 32 years, a native of Llanberis, North Wales. Deceased worked for some time at Brynamlwg, andsinee the hay harvest at Great Pale, abont two tnilee from Whitland, where he was engaged ail day i nn ISvadax/ (