The Cardiff Times

IS; 0 cc 0' TRY IT.

WORKMEN'S TOPICS. AMERICAN LABOUR IN A CRITICAL STATE. Injunction Against Labour Leaders. By MABON, M.P. Two days before the Christmas of 1908, Mr Samuel Gomptrs, the president of the American Federation of Labour'; Mr Geo. Mitchell, one af the vice-presidents of the same Federation Mid the late president of the American Miners' Federation and Mr Frank Morrison, the general secretary, were sentenced to im- prisonment for one year, nine months, and six months respectively by Justice Wright of the Supreme Court of the district of Columbia for contempt of court upon the charge that they violated the terms of the in- junction issued by that court upon the petition of the Buck's Stove and Range Company, of St. Louis. The scene for the culminating act of this drama was set by order of the court. Justice Wright. who was to hear the ttiree gentlemen's reasfens why judgment should not be delivered against them, directed that their sects should be placed side by side and directly facing him. The culprits were ordered to occupy them, and one of my personal friends, who was in court, informs me that it became at once apparent to all m thjy crowded court room, including the defendants, that the flashing eyes of the judge, with his twitching lips and contemptuous frown, showed a volcano of surging hatred—that it was evident to all that he intended making the three defendants quail at their condemna- tion—that at last he found his voice, and com- mencing in a low quivering tone, as he pro- ceeded with the delivery of his decision, his voice rose and fell as he sat there hissing his bitter invective at the three Labour leaders. Some of the American papers—even one or two like the Tory Press at home, that are not friendly to Labour—felt obliged to apologise for the intemperate and vindictive spirit which the judge displayed in delivering judgment. The New York Evening Post spoke strongly against" the somewhat turbid rhetoric and occasional excess of heat in Judge fright's opinion." The Outlook maga- zine said, in commenting on Justice Wright's manner" His own opinion illus- trates quite as strikingly as any quotation ae made from Mr Gompers' writings-the 'urious way and the turbulence of spirit and uf measures which he condemns in the accused before him.' For fully two hours and twenty minutes Justice Wrigh"coniinued his arraign- ment and denunciatory characterisation of Grompers, Mitchell, and Morrison, and in all ihat time not a word, not even a minor key- aote of the long life-service of the defendants bi the struggle to uplift the American workmen and the making of their lives more comfort- able and happy, as each of. the three has done. 0: what he urged was that they were public enemies and their intent was to bring about a. "relentless bljght of a hideous pestilence." They were "smiting the fouadations of civil govern- nusnt and would subordinate the supremacy of law "to anarchv and riot," they would have their own furious way, would have the t. view of each distempered litigant imposed on the courts," the frenzy of their disappoint Tnent;" T-beee and many other equally mumin IIting phrases, I am told, graced 'the judicially tempered decision to which the defendants were perforce comp-elled to listen for more than two hours This is indeed really painful. Had these men been charged with brutal murder, with ravishment of the innocent, the scene in all probability could not have been more im- pressively set nor their characters more severely stigmatised. Still, though perhaps not in such violent language, this is chiefly the manner and temper by which Labour leaders are often treated inside and outside the courts,, where judges, magistrates, and lawyers that are enemies of Labour, hold sway. The workmen of this country will never forget the altered tone nor the altered tendency, and the real change that took place in the rendering of !egal decisiom against Labour before the evil effects of twenty years of the late Tory legisla- tion and administration lost its sway, and the lame or similar people, enemies of Labour, are not a whit better to-day than they were then, whether they be in America or South Wales. When Justice Wright concluded his view of fche case upon which his decision was based, he, f am informed, commanded the defendants to "stand up," and asked them it they had anything to say as to why eentedcc should not be pronounced upon them, and each in his turn did so. and oh the contrast, the extreme contrast, between their demeanour and decorum with that of the judges. Let me give here some small portions President Gomper's speech for instance. He said in answer to the invitation, Yes, sir, your honour, I am not conscious of having any time during my life violated any law of the country or of the district in which I live. I would not consciously violate a law now or at any time during my whole life. It is not possible that, under the circumstances in which I am before your honour this morning, and after listening to the opinion you have rendered, to either calmly or appropriately express that which I have the mind to say. But sir, I may be permitted to say this that the freedom of speech and the freedom of the Press has not been granted for the people in order that they may say things which please and which are based upon accepted thought, but the right to say the things which displease, the right to say the things whicn may convey the new and yet unexpected thought, the right to say things even though they do wrong, for one cannot be guilty of giving utterance to any expression which may do a wrong if he is by any injunction enjoined from so saying. It will devolve upon a judge upon the Bench to determine in advance a man's right to express his opinion in speech and in print. There is much that I would like to say. I feel that I cannot say it now, but if your honour will permit, I will say this, your honour has. in the pourse of your opinion, accepted the testimony adduced by the Buck- stone and Range Company, accepted it as evidence, and laid much stress upon the fact that the evidence is not denied and upon the failure to deny I can readily understand it may be accepted as having been admitted. But, your honour, not until the court asked them had thev anything to say why that judgment should not be pronounced. Their mouths were closed by the injunction against them. Gompers, proceeding, said, "I may say, your honour, that this is a struggle of the working people of our country for their rights. Yes, sir, it is a struggle of ages a struggle of the mass of Lab6ur to throw off some of the f burdens which have been heaped upon them, to abolish some of the wrongs which they have so long borne, and to secure some of the rights too long delayed. If men must suffer because they dare speak for the masses our out country, or because they have raised their voices to meet the bitter antagonism of sordid greed, which would even grind the children into dust to coin dollars, and meeting with the same bitter antagonism that we do in every effort we make before the courts, or before the Congress of our country, if men must urge this gradual rational develop- ment, then they must bear the consequences. That which your honour has quoted and criti- cised and denounced in us in the exercise of our duties to our fellows, is now a statute of Great Britain, passed by the Parliament of that country less than two years ago. If in monarchical England these rights can be accorded to the working people, these subjects tõt the monarch, they ought not to be denied to the free citizens of- a Republic. In this struggle men have suffered. Better men have suffered than 1. It is tra., that I do not believe that th. u-e is a man alive who would chafe more nnder restraint of his liberty than I would but if I cannot discuss grave problems, great ques- tions in which the people of our country are in- terested, if a speech made by me on the public platform during a political campaign, after the of the taking of the testimony in this case, if the speeches in furtherance of great principles, of a great right are to be held against mo I shall not only have to, but I shall be will- htg to bear the consequcnces. I would say this too you. your honour, I would not have you be- Ikere me to be a man of defiant character, in imposition,, in ccodact. Those who know me inffw H it ncAjuy m&kft-np bnt in v j „ pursuit of honest convictions, conscious of having violated no law, and in furtherance 01 the common interest of my fellowmen shall not only have to. but be willing to submit to. whatever sentence vour honour may impose. Mr Mitchell said If your honour pleases, nothing that has been said by Mr Gompers or may be said by Mr Morrison or myself will have at aU to do with the couciusjon that you have reached or are a.bout to reach. 1 wish you to know that I thoroughly and unreservedly endorse what Mr Gompers has said, and I should like to adopt his expressions as my Mr Morrison simply endorsed what was said bv President Gomers, "I am not. coP" scious'of committing any wrong, or having m anv way violated the law, ana it is my belief that in every act that I have exercised my rights under the Constitution and laws of tins land, of which 1 am a citizen

RUSKIN COLLEGE STRIKE. Welsh Students' Attitude. The strike of students of Ruskin College, Oxford, continues, and the men are umimmoas in their demand for the reinstatement of Air Dennis Hird as principal. The only official who is still recognised is the cook, from amonest themselves the students have ap- pointifd a director of studies and lecturers m the various subjects, and study is pro^ mg a^ usual under the new regime. Some of the stu dents even declare that the new working-men "teachers are far better fitted to cater for the intellectual wants of the working-men students than were the old lecturers, of whom Mr C. S. Buxton, son of the Postmaster-General, was OIThere are several stndente at Ruskin College from South Wales, Mr Fred Hodges, Aber- tiHerv, of Western Valleys Miners'federation is o £ e of those forming the newly-appomted students' committee. In conversation. yes- terday he said that the old ,Soufck ^ales students were working very assiduouslv on Mr Bird's behalf. Of course he added we shall have to wait until the Executive meete before there can be a protest sent from the whole of the miners, but I think the chairmen of the lodges are sending a Protest as well as the chairman of the Abertillery Trades Council, and and-Local District Council. We expect drastic a Jon from the Western Valleys. I am very Jjptinnstic about the result,- for I antiipate certainly that there will be united action on the part of the Executive which will result m vehement denunciation of the action of the College Executive." Mr Dennis Hird is well known in South Wales where he has lectured on many occasions on his favourite subjects 01 Sociology and Evolution. It is only two or three weeks ago that he lectured at Swansea. He is a man of striking personality, loved much by Ruskin students.

DAYLIGHT ROBBERY. Cricklewood Clergyman's House Broken Into. A daring daylight robbery has occurred at the residence of the Rev. T. D. Lloyd, vicar of St. Michael's Church, Olive-road, Cricklewood. The vicar told a Press representative on Tuesday that the men began operations at about 7 o'clock in the morning, in clear day- light. They smashed the pane of the drawing- room window in front of the house, and the noise was heard by a maid who was upstairs. Owing to its being daylight, however, her sus- picions were not aroused. Shortly afterwards she came down, and heard a noise in the drawing-room as of some- one walking about. Opening the door she found the room much disarranged and the window open. The thieves, however, had by then decamped. It was found that a number of old gold and silver coins, besides other articles, were miss- ing. Among them were a mounted spade guinea, a pre-Victorian sovereign and half- sovereign, and an Elizabethan coin, but the most valuable silver articles lying about bad been left behind. A number of residents in Cricklewood have signed a petition to the authorities for expert police protection, in view of the Epidemic of burglaries which have recently place in the neighbourhood.

FARM HOUSE RAIDED. From evidence given in a case at Cardiff, on Tuesday, considerable damage has lately been done to the interior of Deri farm house, Deri. road, Roa.twhich property belongs to Captain .T. G. R. Homfray. The case was that in which James Collins (54), David Jenkins (24), and Harry Sutton (19) were charged with stealing a quantity of iron, value £2, between March 8th and 25th. The last occupier of the farm was John Williams, market gardener, who, when he left on March 5th, made everything secure. When he visited the place again on Sunday he found the windows broken, doors open, one fire grate removed, and others smashed. P.C. Short said that on the 25th inst. he watched the prisoners place a bag under a bush on the Waterloo-road, and. on going towards them they ran away in the direction of Penylan. The bag contained broken iron, which Williams recognised as parts of grates from Deri Farm. When arrested Collins said they got the iron from the tips. Sutton gave himself up to the police, and said they had some of the iron from the garden and the other from the house. Prisoners were committed to Quarter Sessions. Collins and Sutton were allowed bsyil.

TWO EXECUTIONS. Murder of a Sweetheart. Edmund Walter Elloitt (19), hairdresser's assistant, was executed at Exeter Prison on Tuesday for the murder at Plymouth of Clara Handford (15). to whom he had paid unsuc- cessful attentions. Elliott out the girl's throat in a bye-lane after meeting her coming from the theatre with another mast. The condemned man maintained a cheerful demeanour since his sentence. Pierpont was the executioner. Chinaman's Stoicism. See Lee, the Chinese sailor convicted at Liverpool of the tnurdqr of Yung Yap, a fellow countryman, by shooting him in a boarding house, was executed on Tuesday morning- The murdered man was jealous of See Lee s attention to his wife, and the tragedy occurred daring a quarrel. The Home Secretary declined to grant a reprieve, and the condemned man received the news of his fate with true Chinese indifference to death, merely remarking It not matter."

FIRE-EATIN(}. ARABS. Reuter s Agency learns that private tele- grams received in London state that the region of the Tigris, which is the scene of the latest Arab attacks, extends from Kurna, 60 miles from Basra, to Kut el Amara, some hundred miles further up the rrver. Telegrams state that the attacks on the English and other steamers on the river are the work of bands of local Arabs. One of the Lynch steamers while steaming from Basra to Bagdad was attacked on four separate occasions. Another vessel of the same company had reached Basra without damage. The British Consul-General was a passenger aboard the Lynch steamer Khalifa when she was attacked on Thursday by the tribes. Telegraphic details show that two Turks were killed and four wounded aboard the Hamidieh steamer during an attack by Arabs. Meanwhile the steamer services on the Tigris are rendered irregular owing to the fact that the boats have to wait until proper pro- tection can be afforded them

THE PORTHKERRY witECK. At Barry Island on Tuesday an inquest was held by Mr David Rees, coroner, touching the death of William Cobbledick d") one of the crew of the ill-fated ketch Nouvelle Marie, which was wrecked off Porthkerrv early on Thursday morning last. Tom Jackson, Kendrick-road, Barry Dock, said that on Sunday, whilst taking a walk near the Old Harbour Rocks, he found the body of the deceased wedged between two rocks, and ^Sergeant Toye removed it to the mortuary at Barry Island. The jury returned a verdict of Accidental drowning."

ANTARCTIC COALFIELD. "TheTmca correspondent at Wellington, New Zealand, has interviewed the members of the Antarctic Polar Expedition. Professor David said that by far the mtfet interesting goo- logical discovery is that of coal measures in latitude 85. These measures, 1,500 feet thick, contain seams of coal one foot to seven feet thick. The limestone discovered at the farthest South interstratified with a remark- able rock of pinkish grey branded with dark green, unlike any that Professor David has ever seen.

DISASTROUS CHRISTENING. Eleanor Saunders (69) appeared before Mr T.B. Stephens and Mr J. Howard at Cardiff on Tuesday charged with being drunk and incap able." I went to a christening," she said, "and I christened myself instead of the child." In- spector Price said there were previous convic- tions against hero-the last in 1902. "You have been christening so many children, you see," ) observed Mr Howard, whereupon Mr T. H. Stephens remarked, "You may go now, but j don't go to any more ctowfceninga."

Colonial Patriotism, AUSTRALIA FOLLOWS NEW ZEALAND. The patriotic and timely offer of New Zea- land to present a Dreadnought to the mother country is to be followed in the Island Conti- nent. Renter's Melbourne correspondent tele- graphed on Tuesday morning Mr Wade, Prime Minister of New South Wales, and Mr Murray, Prime Minister of Victoria, have decided to offer a Dreadnought to the Imperial Government on behalf of the Australian States." Renter's Agency understands that the offer is the outcome oi negotiations which have been in progress between the several Govern- been in progress between the several Govern- ments since it became apparent that (he Commonwealth Government was not prepared I to make any such proposal. It is believed that the States concerned are prepared to subscribe the necessarv sum of money on a population basis, New South Wales contributing £ 800,000 and Victoria £ 600,000. Compulsory Service. Turning to the question Of defence Mr Fisher said the purely voluntary system of defence had absolutely broken down. The Government felt that the time had arrived to institute c.me form of compulsory training, commencing with boys of 10 and ending at 20. He announced that in addition to the three torpedo destroyers already ordered it was proposed to obtain in three years four ocem going destroyers and sixteen more of the rive" class of destroyer,making 23 vessels altogether, and if possible to build these vessels in Aus- tralia. This would give the Motherland the uu a tb expect from her wealthy and prosperous son. When," the Premier continued, I was asked to offer a Dreadnought, 1 said 'thit is not policy, it is merely spectacular display., Probably the Admiralty would say that they did not need the ship for this year's pro- gramme. Reverting to finance, M r Fisher said: I regret that the States have not approved the scheme for taking over their debts by the Common- wealth, hut this Government will not go to the money market on any consideration until this mportant que j ion has been settled .-Ittuter. Canada's Co-operation. After the debate in the Canadian House of Commons had been protracted until midnkrht and a conference of party leaders had been held, the following compromise resolution was I unanimously adopted The House fully recognises that it is the duty of the people of Canada, as they increase in numbers and wealth, to assume in a measure the responsibilities of national defence. The Honse is of opikion that, under the present Constitutional relations between the mother country and the self-governing Domi- nions, the payment of regular and periodical contributions to the Imperial Treasury for naval and military purposes would not, so far as Canada is concerned, be the most satis- factory solution of the question of defence. The Blouse will cordially approve any necessary expenditure designed to promote the speedy organisation of a Canadian naval service to co-operate with and in close rela- tion to the Imperial Navy along the lines suggested by the Admiralty at the last Im- perial Conference, and is in full sympathy with tlïiew that the naval supermacy of Great Britain is essential to the security of the commerce and the safety of the Empire and the peace of the world. The House expresses its firm conviction that whenever the need arises the Canadian people will be found ready and willmg. to make amy sacrifice that is required to give to the Imperial authorities the most loyal and hearty co-operation in every movement for the maintenance of the integrity and honour of the Empire.—Reuter. The Defence of Australia. Brisbane, Tuesday.—Addressing a gathering of naval and military officers at the Queensland limited Service Institute, Mr Pearce. Federal Minister for Defence, said the work now lying before them regarding Australian defence was one of great magnitude, and one that would test the patriotism of every Australian. The question of national defence was one above all party consideration, and he was con- vinced that Australians would have to take the defence of their country much more seriously than they had done in the past.-Reuter. Real Bonds of Sympathy. Lord Crewe, opening the new London offices of the Govermnent of Victoria (Australia) on Tuesday said his Majesty's Government had been profoundly touched and moved by the recent evidences of Colonial good- will, sympathy, and loyalty to the Empire, and whatever must be the various methods adopted to draw the bonds of Empire more closely together, no union could be closer than that founded upon common sympathy, as shown by the present noble Colonial contributions towards Imperial defence. Lord Strathcona, speaking for Canada, said she would not be found wanting when necessary to support the defences of the mother country and the Empire.

THE SERVIAN THRONE. The Crown Prince of Servia, who has re- nounced his succession to the throne, is nearly 22 years of age, and has recently distinguished himself by his fiery and warlike speeches against Austria-Hungary. He has had a strange and chequered career, and a few years ago was reported to be insane. Some of the acts attri- buted to him certainly savour more of madness CroWn Prince of Servia. I I than of anything else. His recent explosions of patriotism and jingoism made him very popu- lar in certain circles at Belgrade, and his mission to St. Petersburg increased his popu- larity. By some the Crown Prince is regarded as an intelligent young man with high ideals. He has always wanted to be a great soldier, taking Napoleon as his model. He is tond of motoring and all kinds of sport-.

I _u- CASTRO TO RETURN. Possible Raid on Venezuela. Paris, Saturday.—Ex-President Castro, before going aboard the Guadeloupe at Bor- deaux, informed a, representative of the Matin that he had given up the struggle over the presidency, and only desired to recu- perate after the operation he had undergone in Berlin. He protested in the strongest terms, however, against the interdict forbidding him or his family to land at La Guaira. The methods adoptfed -by my enemies," he said, "prove I am innocent of the crimes with which I am charged. They are afraid if I re- turned to Venezuela my innocence would be made manifest." It is reported among the ex- President's friends that after two months at Trinidad, where he will make the necessary preparations, Senor Castro will attempt to effect a landing in Venezuela by force if neces- sary.—Reuter.

EXASPERATED STRIKERS. Paris, Monday-Th,- situation at Meru (Oise) following a strike of 12,000 button workers as a protest against wage reductions has become exceedingly grave. The strike has lasted nearly a month, and the employees are exasperated at the refusal of the masters to grant their de mands. Yesterday a mob visited the residence of one of the employers, set fire to it, and pillaged it, while in several neighbouring villages collisions occurred between the strikers and gendarmes, several on both sides being wounded. In the evening the position became still more alarming. One hundred genclar-mes and 300 Dragoons have been sent to the scene. —Central News.

,COTTON TRADE LOSSES. At the annual meeting of the British Cotton Growers' Association, held at Manchester on Tuesday, it was stated that a loss of JE51,647 had been sustained on the year's working. A further appeal for capital will be made in the near future, but this will not be made on the I basis of philanthropy merely, THE PORCH. "BEAUPKE.

Ancient Monuments. 1 WALES PAST AND PRESENT. OLD BEAUPRE. One of the most remarkable monuments of a past day to be foUJid in South Wales is surely that of Old Beaupre porch, which is well worth the effort of a walkffom Cowbridge to see. Our illustration can give! but a slight suggestion of the beauty of the work as it exists to-day, the one beautiful feature of & building ruined, by time. In a very idtei-esrtng volume, attributed to the pen of the late Mr Redwood, a solicitor of Cowbridge, the stopy of Old JBeaupre is given, and, incidentally; that of the builder of the beautiful porch—Gvcjjyiii Twrch. Mr Redwood claims for Twrch thit of being the first to revive or lntroducjjjr classical architecture in c c' England—a rather demand. But be that as it may, the buildingS the Beaupre Castle and g t Porch was his first ign after his return from Italy. F The porch is Wit Mil the courtyard, and was erected to commemofote the healing of a feud between two familiSj by a marriage. The inscription thereon pgas Say Cowldest: TBOU Ever Fynd or Ever Heare or See Worlffly Wreitche or Coward Prove a FaythfuH prviend to Bee. Henry Charde Baasett having to Wife Katherine Doubter to Sir Thomas Johns, Knight Bwylt this porche with the-Chymme Tunnesinano 1600, Hys Yeres 65, Hys Wife 55. Now long deserted Jay the Bassett family, the house has fallen ruins. Enough only is preserved to serve a,. adwebing for a farmer. The Thaw winds silently along between his woody lands through the Beaupre meadows, stretches out into a rippling shallow as it skirts ti base of the mound whereon the house staTTTis. contributing not a little to the beauty of the landscape. The crumbling place is monument sufficient to the knightly power, wealth, and taste of the former race of Bassetts and the luxuriant daffodils that grow in profuse clusters in the old avenue, the fields, and even the roadside", are surely a memento of the refinement of some now forgotten Dame Bassett. Over a century ago, when more of the house was inhabited than now. it was part of the creed of the neighbour- hood that one or more of their old ladies haun- ted in spirit the scenes of their abode while in the flesh. Spirits of this Jcind were not often visible, but their presence became known by the rustling of the stiff silk d resses with which, as when in the body, they still delighted to be- deck themselves. Something over 80 years ago the estate pas- sed entirely out of the hands of the Bassetts, by purchase of the mortgage by Mr Daniel se .Tones, a wealthy old solicitor, who was child- less. After some years' Possession, the surviving representative of the Bassett family, then a poor knight of Windsor, threatened him with legal proceedings to recover the property on the ground that the rental of the estate had over-paid the mortgage. Mr .Tones who was himself remotely connected with the family, offered to give back the estate by will to the claimant or his representative, provided he should keep it and enjoy it for life. The offer was accepted, and the estate is now again in the Bassett family. Story of the Twrch Brothers. A family, whose surname was Twrch, had for many generations possessed n.nd worked the freestone quarries at Ogmore. Two brothers I Richard and William worked together in the reign of Edward VI. The-e young men unfor- tunately became enamoured of the same young woman, which resulted in mutual jealousies between them, and ended in a virulent quarrel. Each with a solemn oath swore never to speak to the other. They, however, continued to work in the same quarry, to the disadvantage and discomfort of both. The young woman having been informed of the situation between the brothers vowed on her part never to admit I either of their addresses. This state of things threw Richard into a state of deep melancholy, and resulted in his leaving the country. He went no one knew whither. For a very long period he was not heard of, and after a lapse of more than a quarter of a century, he returned to Glamorganshire, after having been to London, Paris, Rome, and other places on the Continent, working at his trade as a stone-cutter, and in the meantime, in his leisure houJtS applying himself to the study of architecturei sculpture, and other branches in all of which he acquired considerable profi- ciency. On his return, he found that his bro- ther, William, had discovered the freestone quarries of Bridgend, and had settletd there. Richard therefore entered upon the old quarries and worked them. and worked them. The superior manner in which he executed his work very soon drew the attention of the gentry to him, and in particular Richard Bas- sett of Beaupre, a rich landowner,and represen- tative of one of the most powerful families in the county since its conquest, who employed him to do the ornamental work in stone for the front of his chapel at the castle, which he exe- I cuted in his own freestone in the Ionic order. Over the entrance is carved the arms of the Bassett family, with their Welsh motto, "Gwen angau na chvwilydd." (Better death than dis- grace), in relief lettering. The date of this is 1586. He was afterwards employed to execute the porch, which is of Duiidry freestone (obtained near Bristol). This is the fine and very orna- mental work which is spoken of by Mr Redwood as the classic architecture introduced by this Welshman into this country. It is three stories high, consisting of the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian over which he has placed an elegant attic storey,and all finished in the most masterly manner. On the second, or Ionic, storey are the tablets on which tbj above in- scription, in capitals, appears. The ablest judges of ancient architecture are united in opinion that this porch is much superior to the earliest examples of Greek and Roman architecture in England, where those principles of the art appear to be introduced for the first time, and at the same time. The above narrative was derived by lolo Morgan wg from distant relatives of the Twrchs who were employed in the same quarries at Bridgend when he was a young man following his trade as a stone-mason, &c. i

The Boat Race. I The University Boat Race of 1909 promises to be one of exceptional interest. Oxford have broken the full course record, Cambridge have beaten all previous records between Putney and Hammersmith Bridge, and naturally there ia some excitement over what is going to happen on Saturday. Both are very fine crews and are of remarkable weight and strength. As to the A. G. Kirby (President.) '1 rival strokes, there is something in Mr Bourne's resolute look, something in the setof his mouth, that makes the waterside experts who watch him think that if he can only hold the speedy Cambridge boat as far as Hammersmith he will have asserted a will power that may carry his crew ahead over the last exhausting half of the course. Mr Stuart, the Cambridge stroke, has never yet been beaten in the threelinter- aniver- sity races he has taken part in. But he has never yet been headed or held. He has a genius for getting the very-best out of his crew from the very start. fhe Oxford Crew at Practice. The Cambridge Crew at Practice. D. C. R. Stuart (President.)

e? ™ ■ THE ABERSYCHAN OUTRAGE. John Edmunds, collier, Abersvchan, was again brought up at TTsk Police Station on Monday, and again remanded for a week, on the charge of attempting to murder Mrs Cecilia Harris, on the 14th February. Mr S. A. Hiley was the sitting magistrate, and Dr. Mulligan certified that Mrs Harris was still in the Potilypool and District Hospital, and unfit to appear.

SIR C. DILKE & POOR LAW. Speaking at a dinner of the Roval Economic Society in London on Tuesday night. Sir Chas. Dilke said people talked of the Poor Law Com- mission report. as if there had been given a heaven-sent solution of th» great economic problems, but we had not yet neared the be- ginning of that subject, though there was a, dis- tinct advance in the scientific treatmenti of | problems connected with th-, oocr law.

Miner's X12,000 Prize. ROMANTIC STORY NOT CONFIRMED. The story of a fortune of iEl) CW odd won in a German lottery by Arthur William King, a Welsh miner, who is at present living at New Southgate, has aroused great curiosity among the unsuccessful SpeculR tors in these gambles. The story is remarkable enough. It is at present unsupported by any documentary evidence. King has been interviewed by numerous Pressmen, but he has failed to produce letters either from the London bank at which the money wm said to have been deposited or from the lottery office in Hamburg announcing his good luck. His own story is that the money was drifted from Germany to the London and South-Western Bank, Threadneedle-street, E.C.. and that he received a notice from Ham- burg notifying him that over il2,000 had been placed to his credit at this bank. The possibility of the young miner's dream of wealth coming true is somewhat discounted by the fact that the London and South- Western Bank has no office in Threadneedle- ssreet. The story is now 10 weeks old, and a Leader" representative gathered from King's friends that it is eight weeks I since he startled Mr and Mrs Bird, with x/boei he is now living. by telling them of the £ 12,000 fortune. He has since become engaged to Miss Bird. and they, are to be married at Whitsuntide but the young lady, although immensely interested in the fortune, has not seen the documents relating to it. This young lady's account of how her lover told ti-ie story of his fortune to the Bird family is rather c imous. She said. "He had known it a fortnight before he left Wales. That is eight w,i>b ago. One dat he told us that he'd come into a fortune from a Ger-man lottery. Then he had a letter from a Welsh bank—I don't know which it was, and he went off to Wales. Then he came back and said it was all right, and the money was in London He has boen to London several times about it, but there is a dispute over the fortune. Of course, I don't trouble much about the money." Somewhat reluctantly the young lady ad- mitted that her lover had done no work for eight weeks.

£ 1,800 LIBEL DAMAGES. COMMONS CLERK & NEWSPAPER. The libel action brought by Mr Harry Arthur Augustus Ellis, clerk in the House of Com- mons, against the Daily Telegraph" was con- tinued in the'King's Bench on Tuesday. Plaintiff gave evidence and said he was the eldest son of the late Major-General Sir Arthur Ellis. Controller in the Department of the Loi d Chamberlain. Witness had a cottage in Dinand, Brittany, but he gave it up in April, 1906. He had a French housekeeper, whose services ter- minated when he gave up the cottage.She after- wards attempted to make an unfounded claim on him, which he resisted through his solicitors. Witness had several blackmailing letters from the woman. In March last year plaintiff's attention was called to a paragraph in the Daily Tele- graph's column headed Paris by Day," which stated that the mother of some children. who had been abandoned, was living with Mr Harry E., son of an officer of high rank. His friends had connected him with the article, which was absolutely untrue. Cross-examined, plaintiff s-tid he was officially known as Arthur Henry Augustus Ellis, but he was known among his trends as Harry. Several gentlemen were called to say they thought the paragraph referred to plaintiff. Mr Rufus Isaacs. K.C.. M.P., for the defence, contended that the article did not refer to the plaintiff, and could not be taken as referring to him. Plaintiff was awarded 1,800 damages. Stay of execution was refused.

AUCTIONEER'S FORTUNE. Will Pronounced For. The case affecting the testamentary disposi- tions of Mr William Vincent Willson, a retired auctioneer, of Southend-on-Sea, on Tuesday again came before the President, Sir John Bigham, and a special jury in the Probate Court. Mr Willson died on April 22nd, 1908, leaving a fortune of about MOOO, and bv his will, dated 18th April, 1907, he left the residue of his property, amounting to over LIO.000, to Mr Harold Valentine Sorrell, a young man who had been his confidentiaLclerk. Six sisters of the deceased contested the will, under which they received legacies of iElOO each, and three of them annuities of LW, and the other three annuities of M each. It was alleged that the deceased was addicted to the morphia habit, and that he was in consequence not in a fit mental condition to make the wilL Counsel now stated that the parties to the suit had come to terms by which the will should be pronounced for. The jury accordingly found that the will had been duly executed, that the deceased was of sound mind, and knew and approved of the contents. His Lordship pronounced for the will.

POET'S DISAPPEARANCE. Profound sensation was shared by -every book-lover in the kingdom by tha disappear- ance of Mr John Davidson. He has been a picturesque figure in modern literature—pic- turesque and strenuous. He has not mixed a great deal in literary circles, but his voice has cried steadily, sometimes in the wilderness. In the days when the Bodley Head was a nest of I Mr John Davidson. singing birds Mr John Davidson was one of them, and his Fleet-street Eclogues won him name and fame. It is as the poet that the greater number of people think of him. The Civil List pension of £ 100 granted to Mr David son in 1906 was no excessive reward of his work as a poet and a man of letters. But no doubt it helped to make him a little more independent of the daily grind of the literary worker. Before leaving London for Cornwall he lived in Streatbam, and there one would occasionally meet him taking his walk abroad-a. man to notice for his brilliant and kindly eye.

— JUDGE & "LIMERICK" LAW. A Divisional Court,consisting of Justices Dar- ling and Jelf, on Tuesday dismissed the appeal of Mr John Hawke, honorary secretary of the Anti-Gambling Teague. against a decision of the Manchester Stipendiary. Mr Hawke laid information against Messrs E. Hulton and Co., Ltd.. who in a newspaper called "Ideals." published a scheme for the sale of tickets for a limerick competition in the nature of a lottery, but the magistrate dismissed it on the ground that the words "person or persons' in the section of the statute of George IV. should not apply to a corporation or limited liability company, which, he said, could not be con- victed as a rogue and vagabond. For the appellant, counsel argued that the magistrate was wrong, and if a Corporation could not be ordered to be imprisoned or whipped there was power to inflict a fine not exceeding £50.. Mr Justice Darjing said he agreed with the magistrate that- the respondent company could net be convicted under section 41 of the Lottery Act of George IV. as a rogue and vaga- bond, but he by no means said that the com- pany could not be proceeded against under sec- tion 62 of the Act for penalties, provided the proceedings were instituted by the Attorney- General. Mr Justice Jelf concurred, and the appeal was accordingly dismissed with costs.

WHIIECHAPEL CRIME. At Stepney on Monday the inquest was con- cluded on William Sproull, second engineer of a steamship, who ,'U;¡ fatally stabbed at Whitechiipel, and in connection with whose death 'ford; Rubens. Mary Rubens, Emily Alien and Ellen Brookes (or Stevens) are iii custody. The jury returned a verdict of Wilful murder" against the two male prisoners, and found that the female prisoners were accessories before and after the fact. The foreman said the effect of the finding was a verdict of murder against all four. were accessories before and after the fact. The foreman said the effect of the finding was a verdict of murder against all four.

WELSH GLEANINGS. III News and Views in Lighter Vein. Freeman, the historian, lived for some years fu anrumney Hall, near Cardiff. It was then that he wrote those interesting articles on local churches which appeared in the magazine of the Cambrian Archaeological Society. A somewhat unique St. David's Day gather- mg too!, place at Portland, Oregon, Nir,, Her- man Frednch having sent every W elshwoman in the town an invitation in Welsh to a tea on that day. The afternoon was spent in singing W elsh hymns. Mr Ivor Poster, the well-known South Wales baritone, had the honour of SInging at a party given by their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales at Marlborough House. His rendering of Edward German's Glorious Devon." and some of Teharkowsky's songs were much appreciated. One. at-least, of the new committee of the City ietnple is a Welshman—Maior-General- Hober, Owen Jones, C.B., of Bryn Tegid, Bala. Although born at Bala, lie was educated at Cowbndge Grammar School, and he has seen much active service in the Ashanti War and elsewhere. Mr Spencer Leigh Hughes (" Sub Rosa whose sparkling gossip is published in this paper, is a great favourite at Aberyst-rvth, where he likes to take a holiday when he can' get away from his duties as Parliamentary journalist. On Friday he delighted a crowded meeting at the college, -and the students after- wards carried him on their shoulders to the Queen s Hotel. The Sealyham terrier is perhaps one of the best known breed of Welsh terriers. It was first bred by the late Capt. Edwardes, of Seaiyham, an eccentric sportsman, of Pembrokeshire. He was a great supporter of the late Sir Wm. Davies. M.P. for that county. The Sealyham terrier, it is claimed, can hunt and kill an otter quite as well as an otter hound, and one has ■ ;een known tc be underground with a badger for 27 hours. Mr Ellis J. Griffith, M.P.. was greatly im- pressed by the determined attitude of the delegates that attended the Disestab- lishment Convention at Cardiff tfn Thursday. Compared with the previous convention at >> ood-street Chapel it clearly knew its own mind better, as was proved by the stirring incident which accompanied Mr Clement Edwards, M.P. s, outburst againstcompromise. A South Wales English Congregational ministr is among the names on the short list for the post of Professor of the New Testament at the Yorkshire United Independent College, Bradford, in succession to the Rev. G. Currie Massie, M.A.. B.D., who has joined the staff of the London Missionary Society. Already the Principal of the College is a well-known Welsh- man. Rev. E. Griffith-Jones. Builth people resident in London have handed themselves together under the title of Cvmdeithas Cartref Buallt." An effort is being made to keep in touch with all those who come to London for t "e first time hnd to make them acquainted with their countrymen who hail from their home. Later on the society hopes to help in some practical way any pro- gressive effort that is made to advance the in- terests of their native district. Rev. R. G. Davies is secretary of the society. The Rev. J. C. Rowlands, who is to succeed the Rev. Seth Joshua in the work of the For- ward Movement at Swansea, has been doing excellent work at WTrexham for three and a halt years in social and religious circles, taking a particularly keen interest in the welfare of the children. He is the president of the Free Church Council and of the Sunday School Union, evidence of the esteem in which he is held and the value set upon his services in the capital of the North Wales coalfield. There is considerable excitement among the various teams of vounc men, who have volunteered to collect zE3,000 within the next twelve davs in order that the Y.M.C.A. pile 01 commodious buildings might be erected at Pontypridd. The rivalry is very keen, and as progress is reported each night at headquar- ters the enthusiasm is intense. A sum oi nearly £400 has been obtained in a three days' canvass, this amount chiefly representing pro- mises from working men. Some big donations are expected to be landed before the campaign closes. Henry Morgan, the famous Welsh buccaneer, who, in his attacks on the Spanish power in South America, led his wild adventurers across the Isthmus of Panama, and plundered the Spanish settlements, being afterwards knighted by Charles II., is the subject of some inter- esting Buccaneer ballads by E. H. Visiak, in the Xew Age," and the following is the last verse of one, dealing with Morgan's de- parted greatness You was a great one, Morgan, You was a king uncrowned, When you was under canvas— But now you're underground. The Glamorgan Deaf and Dumb Mission has been entirely reorganised since the present superintendent, Rev. J. Bodran Anwyl, Pontypridd, brother of Professor Anwyl, took charge about five years ago. The finances have improved greatly, and the one ambition of the superintendent is to raise sufficient funds for the erection of an institute for the deaf and dumb people under his charge. The rev. gentle- man was formerly a Congregational minister at Carmarthen, and lost the sense of hearing through a virulent attack of influenza. The superintendent has assured the late treasurer, Mr Gordon Lenox, that even if he should recover his hearing he would not lightly resign the great and useful work in which he is so energetically engaged. The Rev. W. Powell. who is closely con- nected with Cardiff, has been carrying on most humane work at the Leper Home at Bapatla, in India. Failing to secure land from the Government and money from the Missionary Society, he came to Wales on furlough in 1904. and collected L800. On his return to India be secured land from the Madras Government. and in the home then established there are now 120 lepers maintained and sheltered, and their sufferings greatly alleviated. The Madras Government is encouraging this noble Welsh- j man's efforts, and has made a grant towards the erection of a permanent building and an annual grant towards maintenance. Mr Powell is now making further appeals, which it is to be hoped will be responded to in India and in this country, towards providing a home for tha untainted children of lepers. j The March number of The Grail" (the ■ magazine of the Calvinistic Methodist Theo- 1 logical College, Aberystwyth). has. for the variety and interest of its contents, reached the high water mark of excellence. For the frontis- piece a speaking likeness is given of Sir J. Herbert Roberts. Bart., M.P., and a sketch of his life and an appreciation of the hon. mem- ber's varied services to Wales are contributed j by the Rev. T. Charies Williams. M,A. Pro- fessor Burrows, who. though residing in Man- Chester, still eontimies to take a very active interest in Welsh affairs, contributes a readable article on the University and the ministry, with special reference to Dr. Morris's alarmist articles under this heading in a recent, issue of the Geninen.' Professor Burrows inciden- tally pays a compliment to the South Wales Daily News for its enterprise in this matter. On the issue raised by Dr. Morris Professor Burrows, whose long connection with the Uni- versity entitles him to speak with authority, takes a broad view of the subject, and declares that if you are to lead public opinion and justify the University in the eyes of Wales you must keep democratic." A very interesting article to Welshmen in The Transactions of the Congregational Historical Society is the one onJohn Penry in Scotland." which traces the history of that intrepid Welsh reformer and martvr in 1590 and probably on till 1592. Another inter- esting article is that dealing with the Episcopal Returns of 1665-6. now in Lambeth, in which are given particulars of some of the evicted clergymen who left the church in 1662. Re- turns from the Bishops of St. Asaph and St. David's alone are given from the Principality, and the entry made by the Bishop of St. Asaph is to this effect, under the head of Nonconformists an,1 Ejected Ministers None such in this diocese." The Bishop of fH. David's, however, gives the following particu- lars of Nonconformist rninistt-rs.-Daiiiel Higgs, clerk, ejected out of the Rectory of Porfc Eynon, Gower. for non-subscription. He is "removed out of the diocese." is a remark added to his name, as well as to that of Richard Swavne, ejected from Cilrowe. in Radnorshire > John Dennis, clerk, ejected from the Vicarswzc of Hay Thomas Vaughan, ejected frrrrr Llansaintffraed, in Breconshire. Of John Griffiths, clerk, who was ejected from the Rectory of Oxwich, the Bishop say?. For aJ. I hear he lives very peaceably, in the countr; in relation to both Church and State like remark is made in reference to Adars Hawkins ejected irom the Vicaxage of S" Ismael's, in Pembrokeshire.

MONEYLENDER'S FATE. The inquest concerriinc the death of Hermat' Cohen, a moneylender, who was found bmtaJly murdered at his house at Sunderland on March 8th. was concluded on Tuesday, a verdict or Wilful murder against some person or SODS unknown being rettmed.