The Cardiff Times

J • 1 > U-'N-C"L'A try' IT. j

MILE END SCANDALS. Calcutt's Story Resumed BLEB BY THE GUARDIANS." When the charge of conspiracy against the ten members and ex-members of the Mile End Board of Guardians was resumed at Clerken- well on Wednesday before Mr Dickinson, James Calcutt, the ex-building contractor, was again put into the witness box. Calcutt was in the custody of warders. The witness has already given evidence at considerable length, and now he was ques- tioned by Mr Bodkin with respect to his deal- ings with another guardian other than the defendants.. To this man, he said, he gave money on several occasions, the biggest gift at one time being E50. Mr Bodkin Did you give him JE50 on more than one occasion ? Calcutt: Yes I think on three occasions. Oncelasked him, "Won't JE30 do this quarter? £50 is a lot of money, and there are other people to be studied the same as you." He replied that he was finding all the work he could, and I should have to make it JE50. You gave him 150 ?—Yes. The gifts of money to this guardian, witness proceeded, were made at various places—some- times at his own bouse, sometimes at the house of witness, and sometimes in public houses. The full amount given by witness was at least £ 300. The guardian, his wife, son, and daughter had visited witness at Southend. Counsel Did you ever do anything for him at election times .-Yes; I think I have sup- plied him with a carriage or two. Turning to the defendant Hirst, witness said that he and his wife had stayed with him at his house at Herne Bay on several occasions. He had carried out work for Hirst, and now iden- tified accounts rendered by him, ranging from September, 1901, to January, 1908. Mr Bodkin: What do you say about the prices you have charged in those accounts ?— They were extraordinarily cheap, and some of the work was done at half the value. Do you mean under the cost to you ?—Yes of the work Hirst had done some was done at net cost and some under net cost. PUBLIC-HOUSE MEETINGS. Calcutt then gave further evidence in regard to Trott. After his arrest, but before he pleaded guilty, he saw Trott and two other men in a public-house outside Bow Station. In the presence of the other men Trott said. If you stick tight they von't be able to do anything." Mr Knight, the architect, on one occasion questioned one of Calcutt's charges, and consequently he went to the Salisbury Arms, where he saw Stam- mers, Trott, and Gould. After a conversation G-ould said that they would see to it. Calcutt next spoke as to the tenders for the erection of a nursing home, in connection with which, it was stated yesterday that a Mr Barker's lender was accepted, but the work was not larried out owing to the intervention of the Local Government Board. Witness said that before he sent in his tender'Loftus called for him nnd took him to a public-house outside Stepney Green Station, where he found Stam- mers, Kemp, Ridpath, and two others. Rid- path was chairman of the committee. Mr Bodkin A regular committee of the guardians ?—Yes, one they had formed them- selves. (Laughter.) It was asked if I wanted the job, and I replied that I did not. Cross-examined by Mr Muir, witness said that since he last gave evidence he had had a conversation with Mr J ohn Kane and other police officers, and statements had been taken from him on two occasions. When did you make up your mind to plead guilty ?—On the day I was arrested. I had made up my mind before that, but I made it tip properly then. Witness said he did not plead guilty tmtil after two or three hearings. Evidence had then been given against him by the indes- tructible paint man and by Mr Worsley, the Local Government Board surveyor. The evi- dence given by these gentlemen did not go to Prove that charges had been made for work *hich had not been done. He may, however, pave charged for materials which had never »een supplied. CALCUTT CROSS EXAMINED. After giving details as to the work he carried( out for the guardians, and the chaises Viere-' with, witness said he had JE200 when he started in business. Mr Muir You "are prosperous ?—Pretty fair, but not so prosperous as people think. You are somewhat extravagant ?—In what way ? In various ways.-I don't think so. Do you mean giving the guardians money ? (Laugh- ter.) Were you extravagant upon yourself ?-No. He admitted he had a house in London a.nd another in Southend. At Southend he had a bathroom fitted, and had had the front door gilded. He had had a lot of jewellery, but very much of it was in payment for work done for him by the jeweller. Witness had an arrangement with a friend by which a motor-car was acquired which was used by them both. ttwas kept at Grafton-street, where a special place was built for it. People in Mile End negan to talk about the motor-car and say that Calcutt was getting rich. The car, however, was really bought to make money, but un- fortunately they were not successful. They were thrown out of it, and that was the end of the motor-car for him. (Laughter.) Mr Muir You spent a great deal of money upon drink ?—By treating the guardians. (Laughter.) Did you treat the guardians to champagne frequently ?—Yes. Was not that extravagant ?—That! was com- pulsion. Have you forced the guardians to drink with you ?-No. I don't think they would drink if they didn't want to. They liked it. (Laughter.) Witness burned his books because they would have given the whole show away at the inquiry. Mr Muir And they would have shown that you were cheating the guardians ?-Of course. Explaining his system of manipulating his books, Calcutt said that his clerk made such a mess of it that the books had to be des- troyed. Mr Muir Am I to understand that your over-charges grew more and more from time to time ?- Yes, as the guardians wanted more money. And they would have been more if it had not been found out, because the guar- dians would have wanted £100 instead of E50. It did not suit your purpose to tell the truth at the inquir y.—No I told a lie. And you swore what was false 7-1 did. The Court adjourned.

FANATICISM IN THE SOUDAN. .L-- An Ever-present Danger. Writing of the trial of the murderers of Mr Scott-Moncrieff, in the Blue Nile Province, the Pall Mall Cairo correspondent says The evidence against the natives was very clear, and it showed that it was just as well that the repressive measures wers taken so promptly and so rigorously. It appears that Abdel Kader (the false Mahdi) took the village of Tagor by force, and he and his followers then turned out the Omdeh and his servants. The attack on the Government troops at Katafia was the last of a series of illegal acts extending over several dayd, so there are no extenuating circumstances for any of those condemned, since they had ample time to have separated from* the rebels had they wanted to do so. Their rebellious intention was further proved by the fact that after the murder of 4r c-<I__LL • « J .¿..1_- 1\.6. iL—. lur ocoTO-moiicrieii aixu wit* iuamur tiiey divided themselves into sections, nominating their own officers. In conjunction with their comrades who were killed in the last fight they employed the two days following the murder in elaborately entrenching the village. The natives, in reply to questions put by the Court, stated that they had no grievance against the Government, but that they were induced to join Abdel Kader because they believed in him as a religious leader, which goes to prove that, no matter how well governed the Soudan may be, these periodical risings will always occur, the extent of their influence depending greatly on the prompt- nasp and the drastic nature of the repressive measures which are taken.

BANK OFFICIALS SENTENCED. JE10,000 Deficiency. John Franklin Wright, bank cashier, of High Wycombe, and formerly manager of the Capital and Counties Bank, East Dereham, Norfolk, and Ambrose Goddard, clerk in the same bank, pleaded guilty on Monday at Norwich Assizes to charges of embezzlement, forgery, and falsification of books—defalca- tions amounting to over £ 10,000. Wright was sentenced to seven years' penal servitude, and Goddard to 18 months' bard labour, the Judge assuming that Goddard was led into the crime by his superior.

DOCK INSTEAD OF ALTAR. A distressing case of attempted suicide by poisori on the part of a young woman named Field occurred, at Hull on Saturday. The police state that she received a post card from a youn^ man to whom she was to have been married this morning, stating that the wed- ding was off, and he would have nothing more to do with her. This made the young woman depressed, and it is alleged she took poison in the presence of two other women. She lies at the Infirmary.

An Actor's Influence? CORNISH WOMAN'S STORY. At Camborne Wilfred Cheetham, an actor, who managed a stock tbeatr cat company at Camborne for some three months, was charged with aiding and abetting Alrina Williams to steal £ 6, belonging to her father, Charles Thomas, of Camborne. Mr A. Walters defended. Evidence was given by Alrina Williams, the wife of Samuel Williams, who said she lived with her husband in the house of her parents. She had pleaded guilty last Saturday week to stealing Z6 from her father, and had been bound over to come up for judgment if called upon. When Cheetham was acting in Cam- borne sho had been introduced to him, and on May 9th last she met him by the tram terminus at Camborne,, when he told her that he was leaving for Bristol, and that she must go with him. He said he was going to manage a theatre, that he would get JE10 to £ 15 per week and that she could assist in the pay box and take small parts on the stage and get between S2 and X3 per week. Cheetham told her that she ought to have £10, and when she said she had not got it he remarked 1 suppose you could get it from your people ?" Then he added that if she could not get it by fair she must get it by foul means. Witness related the arrangements made for her leaving Camborne on the Monday morn- ing. Cheetham said he would leave by the 11.15 train, booking to St. Austell, and that she was to follow by the 12.42, booking to Truro. She was then to book for North-road, Ply- mouth, in order that her people could not trace her. Cheetham arranged that she should meet him near the Camborne Public Rooms at ten o'clock on the Monday morning to see if she had the money to go. On the Monday morning she left home with JE13, f,6 of which belonged to her father, and the balance to her and her husband, and met prisoner, as was arranged. She carried out the arrangements by booking to Truro, and from there to North-road Sta- tion. Cheetham joined her at St. Austell. As accused thought he was being tracked by a Camborne man they got out at < Devonport, and he obtained lodgings there for her, and she let him have 30s at his request, as he said he wanted to send it to a lady who was penni- less. The following morning he called for her at her lodgings,and they proceeded -to Bristol. She paid for her ticket. Oa the way he asked her to let him have the money she had, but she refused. Cheetham said it was not polite for ladies to carry money. (Laughter.) He pulled away the purse, and refused to give it back to her. There was about £ 10 in the purse. When they reached Bristol she asked him for the money, as she was penniless. He told her there was plenty of money to be obtained in Bristol, and made a suggestion how she should obtain it. Lodgings were obtained, and on the Thursday he left, taking her money, her ring, and a bracelet, and only gave her half a crown. Accused pleaded Not guilty." and Mr Walters characterised the story of Mra Williams as exceedingly peculiar, to say the least of it. She had stated that she had never had any quarrel with her husband, and yet she wished them to believe that Cheetham obtained a remarkable hold over her, and forced her to do what was a felony. The whole business was one that showed that the woman was not tell- el ing the truth. There had not been a sufficient motive for that woman to leave her husband and child and live with a man whom she knew was a married man—(applause)—on the state- ment that he had a theatre, was himself able to get £10 a week, and would pay her E3 to sit in the pay-box. The whole thing was absurd. It was strange for her to say that he told her to take the money, and that she like a child, hours afterwards, should pick up her husband's money, and steal her father's money, and then go away with the man, and to say that no intimacy took place. He submitted that in order she might make things appear all right she had only told the magistrates a part of the truth. There was something behind it all. (Applause.) The Bench decided to send prisoner for trial at the next Assize, and granted bail, himself in jE25 and a surety of £25.

Madman and Revolver. i TRAGEDY AT KILKENNY. A Kilkenny correspondent telegraphs that a terrible tragedy occiisred yesterday morning in a cottage about half a mile from Kilkenny, occupied by an elderly woman, named Mary Morrissey and her daughter Bridget, aged about 30. At about 8 o'clock an ex-Army man, named Wm. Butler, presented himself at the cottage, and after firing four revolver shots at the daughter, turned the weapon on Mrs Morrisey, who fell dead at the first shot. Butler then took refuge in his own house in the city, and T^ien the chief constable of Kil- kenny entere9 to arrest him, he fired two shots at him, one of the bullets wounding the officer in the neck. Before Butler surrendered the fire brigade had to be called out, and the house deluged with water. The chief constable's wound is not dangerous, but Bridget Morrisey, who was removed to the infirmary, is not expected to recover. Butler, who was brought before the magis- trates to-day, is believed to be insane. Four years ago he was sentenced to six months' imprisonment for a murderous assault on Bridget Morrisey. Before the sentence ex- pired, -he was certified as insane, and was removed to an asylum, being subsequently dis- charged as cured.

JE20 REWARD. -The Bournemouth police are engaged in try- ing to trace a young woman who mysteri- ously disappeared over seven weeks ago. She left her home in Richmond Wood-road, Bourne- mouth, on Saturday afternoon, April 18th, and since then nothing has been seen of her. She was 25 years ot age, and this description has been issued in the hope that it may lead to her discovery Short and rather slight build, brown hair, grey blue eyes, round face with very fresh complexion, two front teeth missing and another broken. Was probably dressed in long light-brown skirt and coat with brown and white delaine striped shirt blouse, linen stock collar and brown silk tie with fringe end, brown motor cap, black square-toed shoes, grey overcoat with leather buttons and with- out collar. Had a red leather wrist bag and white woollen gloves." The superintendent of the police at Madeira-road, Bournemouth, advertises that JE20 will be paid to anyone giv- ing information which will lead to her dis- covery.

"HORRIBLE CIGARETTES." Seneral's Warning to Church Lad's Brigade. Cigarette-smoking is one of the worst signs of the times, said Major-General Sir Ronald Lane in an address on Monday to the London Diocesan Church Lads' Brigade at their annual inspection. The general urged the boys not to smoke cigarettes at all. Wait till you grow up to be men and have tobacco, if you will, but leave these horrible cigarettes alone." The discipline of the brigade was doing a great deal, said the speaker, for the boys. It taught them above all things to respect authority and to obey orders and forget self. They had, moreover, been carefully trained in body. Temperance was the greatest thing they could effect.

FATHER'S STRANGE CONDUCT. Swansea Man Sentenced. At Taunton Police Court on Tuesday Wil- liam Gill, a young man employed as a painter at Swansea, but formerly of Taunton, was sentenced to three months' hard labour for abandoning his two boys, aged six and two, at Taunton. On Monday prisoner came to Taun- ton for the Bank Holiday and took the boys out of the Workhouse. He then became very drunk and sent the children to the recreation ground, where they were found in the evening. Prisoner was arrested at the railway station.

FELL FROM TRAIN. Mr George Edgar, a commercial traveller em- ployed by a Glasgow firm, accidentally fell from a train at Lochwinnoch, Ayrshire, on Tuesday, and was killed.

PARACHUTISTS' THRILLING ADVENTURE. An exciting parachute descent was wit- nessed at Longton Park, Staffs., on Tuesday evening. Miss Daisy Shepard and Miss Louie May ascended with the intention of making a double descent. The balloon rose tp a great height, and anxious onlookers soon realised something was amiss. The young ladies vanished in clouds in a south-easterly direc- tion, and nothing more was seen of them. It was subsequently learnt that the two per ormers had a thrilling experience. One of the parachutes became entangled in the cordage of the balloon and failed to act, and when the altitude of 11,000 feet had been reached the young lady involved took a flying leap to her companion, and both descended on one parachute. The increased weight, how- ever, resulted in the descent being made very apidly, and Miss Shepard received serious injury. Her companion escaped unhurt. The escent took place 11 miles away at UttoxetAr.

Another Paris Crime. AGED FINANCIER MURDERED. Paris, Monday.—While the people are still discussing the Steinheill tragedy, on which not the slightest ray of light has been thrown, Paris has been startled by another equally mysterious murder. The victim on this occa- sion was a retired financier named Auguste Remy, aged 77, who occupied a handsome private residence in the Rue de la Repeniere, in the heart of the city. He had had a few friends to dinner on Saturday night, and retired to rest at half-past 10. In the morning the butler, on bringing in M. Remy's breakfast, found him lying dead in a pool of blood on the floor of his bedr om. Three doctors who were called in pronounced that death had been due to apoplexy, but the disorder in which the rooms were found, and the disappearance of a sum of £60 and jewel- lery worth £ 1,200, clearly pointed to a crime. The police doctor who examined the body found four wounds in the shoulder, and detec- tives discovered under the bed a dessert knife stained with blood and dented with the vio- lence of the blows inflicted. In the house were seven servants and de- ceased's son and nephew, all of whom declare that they heard nothing. The son, M. Georges Remy, who was married two years ago and is now seeking a divorce, went out with one of the guests after dinner and returned about midnight. Madame Remy, the wife of the vic- tim, was absent in the country. It wasstated thatthe son'saction for divorce had been the subject of a dispute between him and his father. When last seen M. Remy was reading in bed when his valet brought him a glass of water which he usually took on re- tiring. TLe hall porter, who was awake all night, his wife being ill, saw no one enter. The house is close to the St. Lazare Station.- Reuter,

STEPFATHER AND STEPSON. CARDIFF WOUNDING CHARGE. On Tuesday, before the Cardiff Stipendiary (Mr T. W. Lewis), John Buchanan (49) was charged with cutting and wounding his step- son. George Henry Glanville, on the arm with a knife with intent at 39, Wells-street, on the night of the 6th of June. The prosecutor said he was a warehouseman, and he and his stepfather quarrelled. Words led to blows, and after a struggle it was alleged that Buchanan, who was leaning on the table in the house, took hold of a knife, saying, Come on, I'll give it to you." Glanville tried to protect himself with his arm, and received four blows on it. Two of the wounds were fairly deep. Glanville then got the man on the floor, and tried to hold him down. He shouted, and help came, and somebody took the knife from him. It was a white-handled penknife. Lizzie Allen. a young girl who lived close by, deposed that she heard Glanville calling out, Come quick; he is trying to cut my throat!" She ran into the house and saw the prisoner on the floor, with prosecutor standing over him. She took the knife away from the man, and ran for assistance. Dr. Pittard described the wounds—four of them-one half an inch deep on the forearm, another on the wrist about an inch and a half long, and two others on the wrist, each about an inch long, but these were not deep. Inspector Morgan. who arrested the accused, said the man was the worse for drink, and made no reply when charged. When witness saw the two men, Glanville had his shirt sleeves turned up, but the prisoner had his coat on. He was committed to take his trial at the next Quarter Sessions, bail being accepted, the prisoner in the sum of £30 and one surety for £30.

T. P." Mr T. P. O'Connor, M.P., who has been President of the United Irish League for an unbroken period of 25 years, is a journalist to the finger tips. Tay Pay entered the profession as a junior reporter on "Sa under's News Letter," a Dublin Conservative journal, 40 years" ago. He migrated to London in 1870, and is now familiar to the public as the founder of the Star," of the Sun," and of the "Weekly Sun." His life of Disraeli is much admired by party politicians, and there is plenty of full-blooded rhetoric in his history of the Parnell Movement." Mr O'Connor has been a hard worker for his I Mr. T. P. O'Connor, M.P. T I patty, ana a spieuuia organiser ui mc uiou vote in England. He began his Parliament- ary career as Member for Galway, and five years later, in 1885, became member for the Scotland division of Liverpool. At the annual convention of the United League of Great Britain which was held at Leeds on Saturday, he was presented with his portrait, painted by Mr Michael La very; in recog- nition of his long service to the Nationalist cause.

SKIPPER SAVES 8KIPPER. Cardiff-Laden Ship in Crash. Lisbon, Monday.—The Roumanian steamer Constanta, loaded with coal, and bound from Cardiff for Genoa, entered Lisbon harbour to- day in a sinking condition, with 23 of the crew of the Greek steamer Mikael. While in mid-ocean the Mikael ran into the Constanta, and tore a great hole in her bows. As she was the smaller vessel, however, she suffered most, and sank almost immediately. The captain of the Constanta, after heroic efforts, saved all the crew of the Mikael, but the captain refused to be taken off. As the vessel went down the captain of the Constanta gallantly plunged into the sea, and after some struggles succeeded in getting his brother skipper aboard the Constanta, amid the cheers of both crews. Mauv of the crew of the Mikael have been taken to hospital suffer- ing from serious injuries received in the col- lision.—"Leader."

JAW DISLOCATED BY YAWN. About midnight on Monday Geo. Greens and A. Balser, of Clydach, Blaenavon,who had just .LL. A ]]. .T")-o,.hpn V.C" come OIL wit; ajuiuu, olpj-m Maunders. Green's mouth was very wide open, and he was unable to speak or shut it- His friends said that on the passage home from Weston he commenced yawning, and afterwards was suffering from dislocation of the lower jaw. He was taken to the Hospital, where his jaw was reset.

ABERTILLERY MAN'S ADVENTURE. William Thomas Moore, 68, Castle-street, Abertillery, had an extraordinary experience at Wolverhampton on Tuesday. He arrived on Monday with others from South Wales, and attended Dunstall Park races. During the evening he missed his companion, and late at night found himself in a public-house. About 6 o'clock on Tuesday morning a baker at Compton village, nearWelverhampton, was sleeping in his 'bakery, when he awoke, and found Moore sitting near, clad in shirt and waistcoat only. The baker sought explana- tions, but Moore was dazed, and the county police were sent for. Almost simultaneously clothing was found on the pavement outside Wolverhampton Cemetery, about one mile from the Compton bakehouse, and the borough police were scouring the grounds for the owner. On'being removed to the central sta- tion Moore recognised the clothing found as his property. He could not remember where he went or what happened between the time he visited the Wolverhampton hotel late on Monday night and when he came to his senses while in the Compton bakehouse next morn- ing. He did not remember walking out of Wolverhampton, nor had he the slightest recollection of taking his clothes off in the roadway. Moore was' able to leave for his home later in the day.

BRITISH STEAMER STRANDED. Hong Kong, Tuesday.—The British steam- ship Powan, for Canton, went ashore off Cape Suimoon last night. About 80 Chinese pas- sengers are reported drowned. All the Euro- pean passengers, with the officers and crew, were saved. It is feared the vessel is a total wreck.-Reuter.

Barry Holiday Tragedy. TWO MEN DROWNED-ORDEAL OF THE SURVIVOR. While pleasure "was at its height at Barry Island on Monday evening a tragedy was taking place within a mile or so of Friar's Point, a boat being capsilzed and two of her three occupants being drowned. Intelligence of the disaster reached the shore about 5.30 a.m. on Tuesday, when the survivor, a young boatman named Francis Wm. Evans, of Cast!eland-street, Barry Dock, was landed at the Pier Head in an exhausted state by the steam fishing trawler Active. He had been found in the Channel during the night cling- ing to the upturned boat. The two men drowned are Lemuel Barnes (25), donkeyman, of Graving Dock-street, Barry Dock, and Frederick Brock, ship's steward, lodging at Fryatt-street, Barry Dock, both of them single men. Young Evans was met by our representa- tive slowly and »airifully making his way to- wards his home. Leaning against a wall, he de- tailed the circumstances of the disaster. He said: The Survivor—FRANCIS WILLIAM EVANS. We went out about five o'clock yesterday evening in my boat for a pleasure cruise. We had a lug-sail on, and in the fine breeze we thought to have a. good time. After we left the pier and got well into the chan- nel off the middle island, otherwise known as Friar's Point, there was a choppy sea, but I have been out in many worse seas by day and night. There was a strong westerly wind blowing and just a.bout this place I tried to bring the boat around. I knew that, consider- ing the state of the sea. and wind, it would be risky seamanship to stay her round. Therefore I adopted the safest means, agd tried to bring her about with the wind. As we were turn- ing we got into a choppy sea. I saw it coming and let go the sheet which I held in my hand to try and assist the boat out of it. The sea, however, broke right over us, and the boat, fairly caught, turned over, throwing the three of us into the water. I could see that the other two men were excited and I shouted out for them to cling to the upturned boat for'ard. An Impossible Swim. iBarnes, when he got up, said he was going to strike out for the shore, and left us, swimming for the shore for all he was worth. Barnes was then over a mile distant from the shore, and in the sea that was running 1 don't believe it was possible for any man to get ashore, and he must have been drowned. At any rate, he disappeared from our view very soon. Brock kept with me for about an hour, and once let go his hold, but 1 helped him back again to the upturned boat. We were shouting all the time, and it is a matter of great surprise to me now that we were not seen or heard from the shore, where thousands of persons must have congregated on the point around Cold Knap and Nell's Point, from which place we might easily have been seen. A steamer passed us to the star- board, and three or four yawls went by not far away, but none of them happened to see us or hear us. -*bVi-• Cost and Sank. After being together for about an hour, young Brock lost his hold and sank. I hung on for at least two hours more, for it was about eight when a steam trawler came near, and I held up my hand and shouted as if it was my one last great effort to attract attention. I cannot tell you what were my feelings when I saw a fellow on the trawler hold up his hand, and the punt was lowered to take me off just as I was about done. They took me on board, and kept me there throughout the night until they landed me at the Pier Head this morning. If Barnes had held on," he continued, 1 believe the three of us would have been saved, for we could have then raised a combined shout. He was a strong swimmer, but Brock was evidently not used to the water. 1 swim myself, but 1 knew it would be safest to cling to the bottom of the boat, and remain there with the possibility of rescue, for there are a number of vesseLS and yawls passing this spot continually." "I am fairly done," Evans concluded, "and how to break the news to Barnes' people I don't know." Our reporter informed him, however, that he had visited Barnes' house just previ- ously, and they were prepared there for the worst. He also informed Evans that he had been to his own house looking for him, and his parents were anxiously awaiting his return. Subsequently as he approached his home his younger brother rushed towards him, crying, Oh, Bill, I thought you had been drowned."

MYSTERY OF A RING. At Bow-street Police Court on Tuesday Albert Collen Stone, a young American, describing himself as a traveller, was charged before Mr Marsham with stealing a ring by means of a trick. Mr Martin O'Connor defended. On June 1st the prisoner entered a jeweller's shop in St. Martin's-lane occupied by Mr Harry Sigward, and at his request he was shown a diamond ring worth £19 10s. While Mr Sigward was getting! another ring from the window the prisoner shouted, Hi a. fellow has snatched your ring," and he ran out of the shop as though in pursuit of someone. Mr Sigward followed, and seized the prisoner just outside the door. He was given into cus- tody, and it was found that he had only a half- penny in his pocket. The ring was not recovered. Detective-Sergeant M'Evoy stated that the prisoner was the son of well-to-do people in New York. He was practically allowed what- ever money he wanted. The prisoner bore an irreproachable character. The prosecutor was recalled, and said he was quite sure that a man did not enter his shop and snatch the ring in question from the counter. The prisoner was committed for trial.

RUSSIA AND PERSIA. CZAR'S TROOPS TO CROSS FRONTIER. St. Petersburg, Tuesday.—The Foreign Office states that the time granted by the Russian Government to Persia for a settlement in con- nection with the raids in Russian territory by Persians^expires to-day. In the absence of satisfactory measures by the Persian Govern- ment, Russian troops will cross the frontier and burn as many Persian villages as Russian villages have been destroyed by the Persians. Russian troops have been instructed to avoid useless bloodshed.-Exchange.

A Barrister's Suicide. TWICE CONQUERED IMPULSE. ( At Westminster on Tuesday, Mr John Trout- beck held an inquest on the body of Mr William Howell Straeton, aged 48, a barrister, of Mill Hill Lodge, Barnes. Lieut.-Col. Kennedy, retired from the Indian Army, identified the body as that of his brother-in-law. He said he knew deceased was embarrassed, but he had never spoken of suicide. Witness identified the letter written to deceased's wife, which the Coroner read. Writing from Mill Hill Lodge, under date of June 1st, deceased said— Mv dearest Wife,—You know the trouble I have been going through, so .you will un Jer- stand and forgive anything I may do. Honestly I don't know at this moment what I am going to do. My nerves are very jumpy, and I feel ill, but I expect I shall wait. For a fortnight I have been going about with sui cide in my mind. I am afraid to live, and I am afraid of killing myself, for fear some un- expected gqod fortune should arise. Twice lately I have gone out with a pistol in a parcel, and twice I have brought it home. I am so undecided. Mr G. W. Rowe, a solicitor, of Lincoln's Inn Fields, said he had acted for deceased, and had known him ten or twelve years. His affairs had been involved for some time, but he was a very sanguine, hopeful man. He had always been honourable and when witness told him that he could not meet his liabilities, that seetned to be the last straw. The de- ceased had always been a racing man, but it was wrong to say he lost his money on the Derby. He lost his money at Kempton Park, and was ashamed of himself for not being able to meet his liabilities. Other evidence showed that on June 3rd, a lavatory attendant at Trafalgar-square heard a shot and saw smoke, so he called the police and deceased was then found partly un- dressed, with a revolver lying near him. The weapon was loaded in five chambers, and one cartridge had been fired into his mouth it passed through the head and was found on the floor. In his pocket-book was a sheet of paper, on which was written :—" I am W. Howell Straeton. Please report any casualty to my house at Barnes at once." His 'solicitor's name was also written. Deceased died in Charing Cross Hospital on June 6th. A doctor said it was most extraordinary that deceased lived so long as he did. The jury returned a verdict of Suicide during temporary insanity."

WOMAN'S STRANGE CONDUCT. SCENE AT CARDIFF COURT. Annie Lewis (26) was charged with being drunk and disorderly at Cardiff on Tuesday and her conduct afforded quite an amusing interlude in the court procedure. As soon as she entered the dock she ordered the constable, Now, don't tell any lies about me," adding in response to a whispered re- monstrance from the officer who stood by her side, It's all lies and he knows it." A stern order to be quiet evidently sug- gested thoughts of rest, for gripping the rails of the dock the woman proceeded to sit on the ground at the same time inviting the constable to "have a sit down." The invitation was not accepted, and the prisoner was forcibly put upon her feet. Don't pinch me then," she screamed. Be quiet," roared Aiderman Beavan from the Bench, and Court-sergeant Price in unison. Well, sir, he's pinching me here in front of you." Yes you are," she added, turning on the constable, and pulling herself away. Be quiet," again ordered the officer. I can't," responded the woman with an hysterical laugh. By this time the patience of the Court had been exhausted, and Alderman Beavan ordered that she be" put back for a time." Subsequently the Bench expressed the opinion that the woman was not sane, and ordered her to be remanded for a day in order that she might be medically examined.

FIRST SEA LORD. Admiral of the Fleet, Sir John Fisher, who accompaaiad the King on his visit to the Czar is First and Principal Naval A.D.O. His selec- tion as Senior Naval Lord of the Admiralty was warmly welcomed throughout the service, and the vastness of the work he has accom- plished without the' advantages of private fortune or recourse to public speeches or the i í I Admiral Sir John Fisher. I courtship of public opinion, may be judged by the fact that he has, single-handed and silently, impregnated the Navy with the scientific spirit. He has been in the Navy since he was 13. and served in the Baltic dur- the Crimean War, in the China War in 1860, and was in command of the Inflexible at the Bdmbardment of Alexandria. He has almost every important command the Navy has to offer, and he was one of the com- mittee of three for the reform of the War Office.

FATAL BLOW WITH A BAT. Leonard Alfred Winston, of Llansamlet, was playing in the road with other lads, when one of them in swinging a bat struck him. On the following day he complained of drowsi- ness, and he died on Monday evening. Dr. Phelan, who attended him, attribnted death to inflammation of the brain. Whilst attempting to jump on a Mumbles train in motion James Holmes (25), residing at Pentre, had his foot crushed. Irene Davies, two years old, set her clothes on fire by playing with matches. She had to be treated at the hospital, her right arm being badly burnt.

MAN KILLED BY WEASEL. Joseph Carroll, a young man of the fanping class residing at Rockmount, Clare, has met with his death in a terrible ) manner. He was walking through his father's farm, when he saw what appeared to be a rabbit's nest, into which he thrust his hand, and a weasel buried her teeth in his wrist, severing one of the yeins. Blood poisoning supervened, and has now terminated fatally. It appears that the weasel had three young ones in the burrow.

BETWEEN TWO FIRES. A National Women's Anti-Suffrage Association is being formed to combat the campaign for votes for women, (Vide last Tliursday's "South. Wales Echo,").

Aeronaut's Risky Drop. DESCENT AT CARDIFF DOCKS. Captain Spencer, the well-known aeronaut, had to make a rapid and risky descent at Cardiff on Tuesday night to avoid going out across the Bristol Channel in his balloon, and he landed safely on the dock side, though un- pleasantly close to the water. Captain Spencer, accompanied by Miss Elsa Spencer, ascended atPontypridd sports ground. The huge balloon rose well, and when at an altitude of about 2,000 feet Miss Spencer made a parachute descent, alighting safely on th1 mountain side beyond Glyhtaff. Unburdened of the weight of Miss Spencer, the balloon rose to a great height, and Captain Spencer—who was seated in the car attached -had a veritable trip among the clouds, the balloon disappearing several times among the clouds in its journey tow rds Car- diff. For nearly three-quarters of an hour the flight of the balloon could be plainly observed from Pontypridd. this being one of the most successful balloon trips witnessed in the coalopolis. About 7.30 the balloon was seen hovering over the Cardiff docks, and it alighted safely near the No. 3 tip on the east side of the Roath Basin. The aeronaut descended un- hurt, and the balloon and car were at once placed upon a Great Western Railway truck, and forw arded to Messrs Spencer Bros. Captain Spencer went back to Pontypridd, which he reached about 10 o'clock. Describ- ing his ascent he said the balloon, which had a holding capacity of 35,000 cubic feet of gas, rose gracefully and slowly, and when at a height ot 3,500 feet Miss Spencer jumped from the side of the car, and made her parachute descent. "Then the balloon shot straight up," proceeded Mr Spencer, and I passed through several clouds-the sight was grand-to a height of 9,000 feet. The direction of the wind- ing river below indicated to me that I was going seaward, and I thought I should make for Cardiff and successfully get there. I was able to select my landing place fairly accurately, and when I alighted near some railway sidings the officials very kindly brought up an engine and truck, and conveyed the balloon and my- self to the railway station. The journey," concluded Mr Spencer, took me about three- quarters of an hour, and it was a lovely trip."

Girl Steeplejack. A DOWLAIS BARMAID'S FEAT. Sarah Ann Evans, Pontllanfraith, who has been. for the last nine months engaged as bar- maid at the Prince Albert Inn, Dowlais, has performed the unusual feat, for a woman, ot descending a coal mine and of climbing a chimney stack 160 feet high. It appears that some of the men erecting one of the new chimneys at the Dowlais works were in ths habit of calling at the Prince Albert, and hearing that the girl had been down a mine, suggested that she was not brave enough to climb a chimney stack. She promptly took up the challenge, and Sunday- afternoon was arranged for the feat. w The rest may be told in the girl's own words to our reporter :—"A belt was tied round my waist, and attached to this was a hook with which I could make myself secure to any part of the ladder, should I feel giddy. Also passed round my waist was a rope which was passed over a pulley on the top of the stack, and worked by one of the steeplejacks who came up behind me. I started the climb at 3 o'clock, and when I saw what excitement the adven- ture was causing I felt somewhat sorry that I had undertaken the job. "Nevertheless I climbed up without any diffi- eulty, although the stack was swaying about in the wind, and I reached the top in safety and remained there 10 or 15 minutes. I stood upon some planks on the top, unsupported by any- thing, and I didn't feel at all nervous. 11 I descended again over the ladder on the outside of the stack, in the same way as I had gone up, and reached the ground none the worse for my experience."

TRASHY LITERATURE. ,1 '\( Newsagents to Federate. A number of newsagents met in Congress HaJl at the Franco-British Exhibition, Shep- herd's Bush, on Tuesday morning, with the object of forming a federation for the pro- motion and protection of the interests of newsagents and booksellers of the United Kingdom. Mr Shackleton, M.P., who presided, declared that at present newsagents were in no posi- tion to resist, however much they might wish, the floods of trashy literature. Mr Wynford Brierlev, organising secretary of the conference, stated that since other branches of the news trade, namely, the pub- lishers and wholesalers, were organised, it was impossible for the newsagent to resist possible encroachment except by the federation of their scattered Unions. Federation would also enable them to obtain advantageous rates from railway companies. Mr Arthur Cooper, of Bradford, moved, and Councillor Fred Easton, of Norwich, seconded, a resolution approving the promotion of a federation and the election of a provisional committee, and it was carried. A Provisional Committee of 15 having been formed, con- sisting of representatives of Unions in all parts of the country, the conference concluded

WIFE'S TERRIBLE WOUNDS. Gertrude Siddle, a married woman, who had been living apart from her husband, Tom Siddle, on Tuesday evening rushed from a house in Tyne-street, Hessle-road, Hull, with her throat cut, followed by her husband, who had a razor in his hand- He exclaimed, Look what I have done I will now do for myself." The woman was taken to the Infirmary, where she died shortly before seven o'clock. Siddle. who was arrested, called at the house at which his wife was living with the wife of an engineer named Feliey, and had a conversation with the deceased in the pas- sage asking her to go back. Noticing a razor in his hand Mrs Siddle shouted to her land- lady and ran to the kitchen. She fell on her knees, and as she did so prisoner inflicted two terrible gashes upon her throat.

FATHER'S ALLEGED MURDER. The coroner's jury who inquired at Oldham on Tuesday into ine aeatn 01 Alice atones, aged 9, found dead in bed on Saturday even- ing with a bolster by her side, returned a verdict of wilful murder against John James Stones, the father, who was committed for trial on a coroner's warrant. The evidence was to the effect that deceased had been sadly neglected, and that death was due to suffoca- tion. When arrested the father said. It's all right, I have smothered her." The jury considered the father was extremely pro- voked, and desired that his wife should be strongly censured for her neglect of the family.

BLOWN UP LIKE A BLADDER. At an inquest at Hartlepool on Tuesday on Harold Wilkinson, engineering apprentice, in connection with wh)we death two apprentices, David Johnson and William Woodward, stand remanded, Wilkinson's father stated that deceased said, What foolhardy tricks those boys have done. They have filled me with compressed air. I felt myself swelling right out." Woodward, however, said he was about to clean dowia- the bench with com- pressed air when the pipe flew over and caught deceased. Another witness said deceased was blown up like a bladder. The jury found the evidence was insufficient to say whether the affair was accidental or not.

THE DIAMOND MAKER. Further Time Granted. Paris, Tuesday—To-day, according to pre- vious arrangements, M. Lemoine should have attended at the Palais de Justice, and have produced before M. le Poittevin, the examin- ing magistrate, the promised diamond in proof that he really could make diamonds. In lieu of so doing M. Lemoine simply asked for further extension of time, and as had been anticipated M. le Poittevin granted him until June 17th. If upon that day M. Lemoine produces no diamonds he will be brought before the Court in order that the case may be further heard.— Central News.

6EAMEN'S AGITATION. A well-attended open-air meeting of seamen was held at the Shipping Office gates on Tuesday. Mr Cannel, delegate from Middles- brough to the Co-operative Congress, pre- sided. Speeches were made by Mr W. Cadogan (president of the Newport Trades Council), Mr J.Cadogant(presidentof the Riggers' Union), and Mr George Jackson (local secretary of the National Sailors' and Firemen's Union). The following resolution was carried unanimously "That this meeting views with alarm the large increase of cheap Chinese and Asiatic labour on British ships, and urges upon his Majesty's Government to take immediate action in the matter by insisting that the Chinamen shall pass a language test and con- form to all regulations which are imposed on other foreign seamen."

WELSH GLEANINGS. j i! News and Views in Lighter Vein, J A correspondent in Seren Cymru is rais- -lit ing the question of corrupted Welsh in our jf pulpits. Now that we have reached the month <i' of cymanfaoedd the discussion of this question is timely. |1 The preparations for the proclamation of the j < National Eisteddfod sf 1909 in London is a re- IJ minder that it was at the proclamation of the j j London National Eisteddfod of 1887 (i.e., jf November, 1886) the national bard, Ceiriog, ? last appeared in public. y j A necessary corollary to the Welsh Reading i Union scheme which has b. en decided upon j by the Welsh Language Society and the i; Federation of Welsh National Societies is an |: exchange for Welsh books. At the present i time a buyer of Welsh books has to act as hia own agent. Perhaps the governing commit- { tees of the came soc-el-ics will take up this question. /J The prospectus of the University College of j South Wales and Monmouthshire extension lec- j tures for the session October, 1908, to March. 1909, is a very interesting one. It provides for lectures upon geology, D arwinianism, mining, j | political economy, education, Celtic literature, 11 radium, botany, <tec. Single lectures or a com- f! pound course can be arranged. jjj Mr R. M. John, who is this year's president U of the National Association of Head Teachers, .J Mr R. M. John, who is this year's president of the National Association of Head Teachers, .J is a native of the Rhondda Valley, and has for many years been headmaster of the, Hope- street Council School, Birmingham. Mr John will be delivering his presidential address at Jji the annual conference on Wednesday next. | j Mr F. H. Hawkins, LL.B., of Wrexham, who 5 has just been elected deputy chairman of the 'j board of directors of the London Missionary Society, deserves that honour in recognition of the invaluable services which he has rendered i' on behalf of the society in the Principality. He was the organising secretary of the very successful Missionary Exhibition held last us year at Wrexham. He is the chairman of the f m directors of the Papuan Industries, Limited. Welshmen are more numerously represented at the Royal Academy this year than has been the case for years. Some of the London critics pay a particularly high compliment to Mr Harvard Thomas, a native of Pembroke- j. shire, for his marble bust of Mrs Asher Wer- i theimer, a masterpiece of extraordinary jl and unrivalled beauty of execution." 1 Principal Ellis Edwards, principal of Bala, i has persuaded the Calvinistic Methodist Sun- ] day School Union to prepare a scheme for the 1 consideration of the denomination embodying i all the improvements in the method of carry- ~w ing on the work of the Sunday school now in use in this country and in America which appear to be suitable and practicable in the T Sunday schools of the Calvinistic Methodist i| connexion. A Mr W. F. Phillips, B.A., the editor of the Grail," the organ of the students of the jj Theological College at Aberystwyth, is a vjl; North Walian who graduated at Cardiff. He ,I! is a remarkably fluent speaker, and has ad- dressed a large number of meetings all over the country on the Licensing BilL As an editor of i college magazine he has been very success ful in his selection of writings and topics, and the last number of the Grail has caused jy something like a sensation in the denomina- jjj tion, two articles by Aberystwyth professors and two by students having excited oommeok F with regard to the college itself and what is held to be its doctrinal leaning. iU Ten years ago four young drapers' ass is- j| tants from Cardiganshire, living in in one Jjpj of the big establishments in Oxford -street, conspired together, in defiance of the roles of 3 their compound," to hire a room over a JI coffee shop, which thpy converted into a study | after closing hours, and, buying books out of f j; their premiums on sales and getting their holidays arranged for the examination weeks, they contrived to pass the external examina- tion of London University with considerable distinction. These men are not still walking the shop, but they axe perhaps none thworse for being good schoolmasters and ministers Jj in Wales. s| The1 fifth part (the first of the second volume) §1 of Llethyraur's Morisiaid (edited by Mr J. 6 H. Davies) is out, and, as usual, its 128 pages f are brimful of interesting reading. Writing to J! his brother William from London, Lewis says a of Richard, then (1757) president of the |j Cymmrodorion Society in London, Last ja night was the Cymmrodorion meeting for f] August, and I suppose brother could hardly F write to you, for he was busy in ye office (the Navy Office) till seven, and at eight they meet, and seldom part till twelve or two in the rooming—all boozy." They don't nowadays have such a hwyl in the present Honour- ..Jj able Society of Cymmrodorion. V Welsh Unitarians complain that our young people are not so familiar with the great prin- .k ciples of the Unitarian faith as they ought to f be." The result is that when they leave ( home they turn their backs on the faith of i, their fathers and join other denominations, be- Jj cause they have not the root of the matter in jjj them." To counteract this indifference the jj Rev. J. Park Davies, B.A., B.D., Pontypridd Jj -who has graduated with honours in Wales, j! g- Oxford, and Harvard—has undertaken to edit fl a question and answer column in the Ymo- jj fynydd," where ail who seek enlightenment as to the distinctive principles of that body may obtain it. j a A humourous little book is Adloniant," Jl by Mr William Parry, of Bolton. The follow- 1 ing on the toothache, spoken by" Aniryw- /M iaetholfardd in the farcical dialogue, jj Ymgom gvda'r Bardd," deserves quoting n 'r ddannodd mae yn anodd Peidio rhegi a hon yn y ngheg i. Anfad ellyll a mil o gyllyll Yn fy ngwanu a'm trywanu— Sut gallaf ganu ? 'Oes dim wna'i dofi ? 'Rwyf bron gwallgofl. 1 Torri i wvlo. Treio halen i (Dyna gyngor Modryb Malen)— < Dim yn tycio dal i blycio Treio mwstard, treio bacco. j Diodde'n bybyr. treio pupur, treio popeth. Och Ow Och a'm Haw ar fy moch, Gwaeddi'n groch, a'm gwedd yn goch, s Yn iach y boch Rhedwch a chyrchweh • ddrvgist! gi- O! gebyst! Drygist, drygist Neu Dentist i dynnu'm dant i." J True Ivorites. The annual conference of the Philanthropio < Order of Ivorites (St. David's Unity) will be held at Bridgend on Friday and Saturday, j July 10th and 11th. The Ivorites are a purely Welsh Friendly Society. The president is Mr • Rees Jones, contractor, Coychurch, and thf, secretary Mr W. B. Jones. Llanellv. Great interest is being manifested in the forthcoming conference. On the Friday night a public meet- ing will be held at the Town Hall, at which the chair is to be taken by the Rev. Da vid Phillips, 1 B.A., vicar of Newcastle, who is an Odd- < fellow and the president of the Bridgend Friendly Societies Council. Other speakers at this meeting will be Mr S. H. Stockwood, clerk to the Bridgend justices Alderman T. J. Hughes, and Mr David Williams, Prov. C.S.. of the Bridgend district of Oddfellows. On the Saturday afternoon a hospital parade will take place in aid of the Bridgend Nursing Association and the Cottage Hospital. In this < parade all the Friendly Societies of the district • will co-operate. R Names. Morien" is further taken to task by "Ponty," who says that the true name of the sacred mound is Twyn Bryn Beddau and > not 1" Ynys Grug," the meadow mound. Stretching to the south-east of the Twyn (he writes) is "Ynys Grug," pronounced locally "NysGrrig," which may mean either (1) th-s heather-meadow or (2) the stony or rock? meadow. Grig "—the nhonetical form is purposely given—may De the remnant ■; of either" grug (heather) or graig (stoned Old residents will tell you that they remem- ber the place covered with the heather bell, '■ but the second meaning is well supported by a near local name, y wengrig or I- y wen- graig "•—the white rock. Now wengraig (white rock) is the corresponding partner on ■) the left of the river to the Graig-ddu (the black rock) on the right of the river, which disposes of the possibility of Graig-ddu being Graig-ar-dde." A person standing on 1 Twyn Bryn Beddau and facing Ledar- ddu would have Graig-àiiu," etc., on his right and Ledarddu on This left. O Llansoar House. < This charming old Early Tudor mansion,, which lies halfway between Caerleon and Uan< gibby on the fringe of Llangibby forest, is now k being decorated and fitted, up as the futurt home of Captain Humphrey Mackworth and his bride, Miss Thomas, of Llanwern, the only daughter of Mr and Mrs D. A. Thomas. Llan. i soar is the most picturesque old mansion ia the county of Mpnmouth. Low-built, with many quaint gables, the old house lies back from the road in an old-world garden. It has a curious fortified look-out tower by the side ot J the main building, and a dovecot in the end gable of the house. It originally belonged to j the Meyric family, when the many secrel hiding-places were fitted in the stout walls* From them it passed to the Morgans of Llaa< »j hennock, now represented by Sir Arthur Mack* worth, Bart., of The Priory, Caerleon.