Evening Express

Two Men Hanged. END OF A NORTH COUNTRY TRAGEDY. John Miller, 67. dealer, and John Robert filler, 37, musician, his nephew, were executed Ilt Newcastle this morning for the murder of Joseph Ferguson, proprietor of roundabouts at Cullercoats. Deceased was the second hus- band of the elder Miller's mother. The men bought a sheath knife, and went to Ferguson's house. Ferguson was stabbed in the head and neek, and Mrs. Ferguson heard the younger Miller say to the elder, "You tantar lised me; you irritated me; you gave me drink; you gave me a "knife. The elder man 'Was hanged at eight o'clock, and the execution of the younger took place at 9.30. The execution was performed by the younger Billingtou ill private, the punlic executioner being ill. Large crowds had assembled out- Bide the prison attracted by the double execu- tion. The murder, which was a most deliberate one. was witnessed by Mrs. Ferguson, a very old and infirm woman. Afterwards the men went OUt and quietly stood at the door until they were arrested. There was no evidence of any quarrel between Ferguson and the Millers. At the trial it was pleaded that the younger man was of weak intellect, and was drunk at the time of the murder, but both men were found guilty and condemned to death. Since the death sentence the men Were several times visited in prison by their friends. The solicitor of the younger man forwarded an appeal to the Home Secretary on his behalf, which was unsuccessful, but at no time was there much talk of a petition ior commutation of sentence or much hope of a respite for either man. The body of John Miller was cut down at nine o'clock, and half an hour later the Kounger convict, John Robert "Miller, was hanged on the same scaffold. The reason why the condemned men were !lot brought to the scaffold at the same time Was that the younger one had been somewhat ysterical since his conviction, and it was eared that the scene might be made addi- tionally painful by the meeting ol the two wen on the drop. ■>nr?m an source, it is stated that the aer prisoner, before being executed, made a atement protesting his innocence of the -rime. He was, apparently, quite resigned to l'h fate, and walked briskly to the scaffold, e nephew was in a dazed and nervous con- i°n but managed to walk to the scaffold. IhL d the under-sheriff, "What are all "rlfv'r, Pe^ple'I. 'meaning the prison officials) agfipmil !Tre' Some thousands of people flag™oisted°UtSUle thC SaQl t0 866 tlle bla°k

AN EISTEDDFOD BLUNDER. Disappointed Competitor Brings An Action. ty-jp ^estiniog County-court (before Judge ldm *'vans) an action was brought by Mr. iHiam Thomas ("Cromlechydd"), Blaenau eatmiog, claiming a prize valued at two guineas from Mr. B. R. Williams, chairman of the Christmas Chair Eisteddfod, Festiniog, Mr. Gwilym J. Jones ("Madog Fychan")! Brecon, who obtained the prize at the last listeddfod. Mr. R. O. Davies appeared for the >laintiff. and the defendants were represented »y Mr. W. George—Mr. Davies said that the Plaintiff had a considerable experience as Reciter, and competed with nine others at the hristinas eisteddfod. The adjudicator, the Kev. T. p. Edwards ("Caerwyson"), intended "e plaintiff to have the prize, but by some ^stake it was given to the one he adjudged hird in order of merit. Letters were written to the committee claiming the gold medal and oney offered as prize, but without effect, and Present action had to be taken. cj Plaintiff said that the adjudicator C assified the competitors in order of merit, «1 the last was announced best. He was the ast name(j adjudicator, but the con- Ih Ctor. caHed the last that recited to receive i'irn Pr'Zfi "^e did not make a protest at the t ,e> as the rules barred him from doing so, d because he did not like to create a distur- bance. laj!le Rev. T. P. Edwards, the adjudicator, best tllal be decided that the plaintiff was the After delivering his decision he went to end to other business. "'B* ^e*!e"ce' the conductor of the eisteddfod ryfdir") said that he understood clearly Ijj, adjudicator to say the lar,t is the best," iQ that he used the very words in calling Jone^6 w*uner> w^° was tbe co-defendant finr^6 8aid that he had no hesitation in to that Mr. Edwards intended the prize be v° tbe plaintiff, whom he considered to by far the best. Unfortunately, the award as made to the defendant Jones, and so he °uld decide in his favour, although the prize "as not intended for him by the adjudicator. gnaent for the defendant, with ordinary OUrt costs.

THE WTSTBURY TRAGEDY. nichard Higley, a butcher, charged with ^Urdering Mary Eliza Bowen, barmaid, at g.^bury, was brought up at the Shire-hall, fewsbury. on Friday.—The sister of the de- ased said ths latter had been annoyed by 6 Prisoner, and she was afraid of him.—A inrvant named Richards, employed at the It)11 wbere the tragedy occurred, said when 5 were at breakfast last Saturday Higley .tered, and had soine drink. He afterwards U lzed the deceased and drew a knife. Wit- ran out crying "Murder." j "obert Rogers, a blacksmith, said he went te inu and saw the deceased with a [vrrible wound in the throat. Wigley came to j e door and said, "I've done it, lads! I've it for love. She's dead enough." Accused 6a.3 excited, but sober. When arrested the 'l8°ner made a statement incriminating hijn- j and gave the police a letter from the j.^eased on which he had written "a confes- °h." Prisoner, who reserved his defence, as committed for trial. ••j deceased was a native of Penybryn, ''Unfair, near Welshpool.

I STOP PRESS Latest Telegrams. EXPRESS" OFFICE, 2.10 p.m. i.3G-The LONG DITTOX CELLING. Ella Crag 3 10 0 Westmoreland 4 11 5 Humerus 5 11 10, Seven ran. 2.0—The GREAT fcANDOWN .~TT.EPLEC.HAPE Easter Ogrue. a 10 10 The Pride (If Mabesiown o 10 2 Shipsliape 6 11 5 Betting—2 to 1 agst Ella Cras.

Dangerous Criminal. A 33 YEARS' RECORD OF CRIME Thomas Rogers, who has also passed under the name of Samuel Hough, a grey-haired man, just turned 60 years of age, was charged at the Manchester City Police-court, yesterday with loitering last evening in Shudehill, with intent to commit a felony. He was standing at the corner of Dantzic-street and Shudehill, close by a jeweller's shop, when he was observed by Ceteetive-sergeants Ashton and M'Lelland. The officers knew him to be a notorious thief, and a desperate character to boot, and they were, therefore, by no means taken unawares when Rogers drew' a jemmy from his coat pocket as soon as they ap- proached him. They at once overpowered him and wrested the jemmy from him. and marched him off to the Town-hall, where they found in his pockets eight skeleton keys and four picklocks. Since he came out of gaol the last time it was stated that the prisoner had done no honest work, and had frequently been seen associating with well- known expert thieves. The Chairman said it (;Iwas very clear the prisoner was a very dangerous criminal. At Salford Borough Sessions in 1868 he received six months for housebreaking; in 1873 he got seven years' penal servitude and seven years' police supervision for larceny; in 1830 he was sent to penal servitude for ten years, with another seven years' police supervision, for uttering forged bank notes; in 1896 he received eighteen months for housebreaking at Salforc- Hundred Sessions; and at a recent Manchester Sessions he was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment. It was im- perative that the public should be protected from the depredations of such a man, and he would have to go to prison for twelve months with hard labour.

Books and Bookmen. le- Thackeray received a thousand guineas for the iseue of "Vanity Fair" in parts—50 guineas a part-and Kipling had £5,000 for the serial rights in Kim." An author now receives, as a rule, from 10 per cent. (in the case of an unknown writer) to 25 percent, (in the case of an established favourite) on the gross retail price of his book. In the case of many writers the receipts from the serial rights often exceed the royalties on the complete book. Charles Kingsley sold Alton Locke for X150 to Messrs. Chapman and Hall. In 1853 Messrs. Routledge gave Bulwer Lytton £ 20,000 for a ten years' copyright of the cheap edition of his novels, and at the end of that period they paid £5,000 for another period of five years, and made a contract on the same terms at the end of the second period. "Pickwick" brought Charles Dickens £2,500 and a share in the copyright after five years. "Nicholar Nickleby" was worth £4,500, and "Barnaby Rudge" £3,000 for the copyright till six months after publication. Three hundred thousand copies sold of "The Master Chris- tian," 100,000 of "The Eternal City," 500,000 of "Richard Carvel," a.nd 80,000 of the "The His- tory of Sir Richard Calniady," and the original sale of "Great Expectations" was 30,000 copies! In four years George Eliot received £1,600 from "Adam Bede," but "Romola" brought her £7,000 from the "Cornhill," and "Middlemarch" was, on the whole, even more profitable, the American edition alone being worth £1,200 to the authoress. Charles Reade received E30 for "Peg Womngton," but that was at the beginning of his career, and "Griffith Gaunt; or, Jealousy Attained" £ 1,500. Anthony Trol- lope, a steady and, persistent writer, made from his books a gross sum of £70,000, or some £2,000 a year. "The Claverings" brought £2,800, "The Small House at Allington" jE3,000, and "Can You Forgive Her?" £ 3,525,

ROBBERY WITH VIOLENCE. Heavy Sentence at Stafford. Two labourers, named John and James Bligh, were indicted at Stafford Assizes yesterday for using personal violence towards George Boreham and stealing his watch and chain and some money, at Hanley, on November 7. Prosecutor, whoyis a member of the local com- mittee of the Soldiers and Sailors' Families' Association, visited the house of a Reservist, where he met the prisoners. At their request he paid for some beer, which the prisoners fetched. After drinking some of the beer prosecutor became drowsy, and was then attacked and robbed by prisoners. Sentence of five years' penal servitude was passed on each.

America and the Philippines. Washington, Saturday Morning.-General Chaffee's report, made public to-day, recom- mends that there should be no further reduc- tion of the United States troops in the Philip- pines before 1903.-Central News.

Death of Sir Charles Legard. The Central News Scarborough correspon- dent telegraphs that Sir Charles Legaj-d, Bart.. died at the Royal Hotel, Scarborough, about midnight. He had an attack of rheu- matic fever early in the week, but appeared to be going on weii until yesterday, when he relapsed. The flags this morning are all at half-mast. The deceased, who was the eleventh baronet, was born on April 2, 1846, and succeeded his brother, Sir Darcy Widdrington, in 1886. Sir Charles was a well-known sportsman, and unsuccessfully contested Norwich in ther Con- servative interest in 1871, and sat as member for Scarborough from 1874 to 1880, when he was defeated. He is succeeded by his first cousm, Algernon Willoughby, who was born in 1842.

West Australian Elections. Perth, Saturday.—Mr. Morgans, the new Premier, and Mr. Quinlan, the new Commis- sioner of Public Works, have been re-elect-ed, while Mr. Wilson, Commissioner of Railways, and Mr. Moss, Colonial Secretary in the new Cabinet," have been defeated. The other elec- tions necessitated by the new Ministers' accep- tance of office will take place on Tuesday.- Reuter.

Astonisning the Americans, Mr. J. A. Whitehead, a young Londoner, who is taking the civil engineering course at Yale, astonished the youth of that university by climbing the East Rock, a precipitous cliff 400ft. high, which is one of the landmarks of Newhaven. The feat has never been accom- plished before.

Football. CYNON STARS (Aberaman) will give a good guarantee for December 7th.—Wire Strong, Tudor-place, Aberamau. Aberdare, e78937

The Police-courts, CARDIFF. SECOND COURT. THIS DAY.—(Before Alderman W. SANDERS, in the chair; and Mr. DAVID DUNOAN.) AFTER THE MARCH. Edward Ross, 26, labourer, was charged with refusing to perform his tusk of work whita an inmate at the Cardiff Workhouse, on the 6th inst.—Mr. Middleton, the outdoor superinten- dent, stated that the prisoner came to the worldlOasc on Thursday night, and on the following morning he refused the task of breaking stones.—Prisoner now said he was unable to do the work. He tramped from Bristol on Wednesday, and walked all through the night. He was tired after the march.— Inspector Durston stated that the prisoner was an old Gnardsman.-Prisoner, who said he had come to Cardiff to look for work, was cautioned and discharged.

•Cardiff School Board. ELECTION MEETINGS. Church Party well Received. At a social evening" on Friday at Lans- downe-road Board Schools, Canton, the chair, in the absence of Mr. J. Herbert Cory, J.P., was taken by Mr. Illtyd Thomas. There was a crowded attendance, many being unable to find seats, and in an interval the Rev. A. Henderson, M.A. (vicar of Cardiff), and Dr. Horder delivered excellent educational addresses. The Rev. A. Henderson, in a powerful speech, complained of a grossly inaccurate statement made by the Radical eight. Any- one knew that whichever party was returned they would be selected by the people, and he and his colleagues wanted no other system. So far as religious teaching went, no definitely sectarian teaching could be given in any of the hoard schools. Addressing mainly Conservatives, it was, he said, to the interest of the Conservative and Unionist party to get this matter settled as quickly as possible. They should insist upon the best posaible education for the people, and it was monstrously untrue to suggest that the denominationalists on the board wanted to starve the schools. Who started the system of prizes? The Vicar of Roath. (Cheers.) Who proposed a higher grade school for Canton? (Cheers.) Himself (the speaker), and nothing had been done by the Radical majority to give Canton such a school. But did the Radicals want the best education for the people? He said flatly they did not. (Cheers.) They tried to cripple education. They had no honest enthusiasm. The volun- tary schools were part of a national system, but it was the unsectarians who wanted to starve them, whereas if they were more honest and more generous they would do the utmost to develop education in the voluntary schools as well as in the board schools. (Cheers.) The next pro- position he enforced was that denomina- tional schools should really be Christian. Forty-eight school boards in England and Wales gave no religious teaching. Three hun- dred and sixteen only allowed the Bible to be read without explanation, and he thought the poor children would make no head or tail of a great deal of it unless they were taught as well. The denominational schools should also be saved upon the score of economy. Were they to be closed-he did not think, for the character and reputation of the country, they would be confiscated— it would be necessary to build fresh voluntary schools, at a cost, according to Mr. Chamberlain, of something like 50 millions. The expenditure in Cardiff would be about £130,000. It was time religious fanaticism ceased to cripple and interfere with educa- tion. (Cheers.) Drive out, he said, this miser- able squabbling and wrangling. It was a free country. Let everyone believe and teach his own religion, and let the parents have their liberty. (Cheers.) He wished it to be distinctly understood that the religious teaching in Car- diff school boards was perfectly satisfactory from the board school point of view, and they would not alter it in one iota. (Cheers.) Mr. Waddington, in proposing a vote of thanks, said the vicar had really been too moderate when speaking of voluntary schools. As a matter of fact. the voluntary schools educated 40,000 more than the board schools -(chee.8)-:md they also had started two- thirds of the evening continuation schools. (Hear, hear.) He was glad to hear both speakers say that they would never rest satis- fied until the teachers in voluntary schools were paid as well as board school teachers, and that they were in favour of the popular control wherever public rates were given. (Cheers.) The Radical eight wanted to close the voluntary schools and involve the rate- payers in an additional expenditure of 50 millions. Mr. Francis (ward chairman) seconded the vote of thanks, which was carried with acclamation, „ Meeting at Cathays. A well-attended meeting was held in the Lecture-hall of the Cathays Conservative Club on Friday evening to hear addresses on the education question. Councillor Symonds presided, and pointed out that the Radicals had monopolised the school board for 26 years, and he was con- fident that the Conservatives, if given a chance, would very much improve the educa- tion of the town. Councillor Morgan James, B.A., organising secretary of the Welsh Conservative Union and member of the Cardiganshire Technical Instruction Committee, remarked that the address issued by the eight Radical candidates for the Cardiff School Board was a most mis- leading and monstrous electioneering docu- ment. Dr. Prichard severely criticised the address of the Radical eight, and showed the good work that had been done by the Conservative and Unionist party. They "had done mogt of the hard work of the board, and, surely, they had a right to favourable consideration at the hands of the electors. (Cheers.) With regard to patronage, he said fearlessly, and was prepared to prove it, that patronage had not been properly applied by the Radical majority of the present board. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Henry White, in proposing a vote of thanks to Mr. Morgan James, delivered a tell- ing address, which was well received. UNSECTARIAN MEETINGS. The Unsectarian party held several meet- ings on Friday. Mr. Turner, contractor, presided at the Paget-street School- room, Grangetown. Mr. H. M. Thompson dwelt at length on the difficulties that arose out of the Cockerton judgment. School boards were the only forces to fight the Government in their revolutionary educational proposals. There was every reason to believe that the Government, if they did not intend to abolish school boards entirely, intended to delegate a great portion of their work to bodies over which the ratepayers would have no real con- trol. Those bodies, it was conceivable, would be more pliable to-the influence of the Church party.—Mr. E. Lester Jones spoke of the im- portance of the cookery and laundry classes undertaken by the school board.—The Rev. Watkin Williams moved the usual resolution of confidence in the "Unsectarian Eight," and Councillor Arthur Sessions seconded. He said they had no quarrel with the members of the Church party on the school board, but their quarrel was with their principles.—The Rev. W. E. Winks supported the resolution on the grounds that the "Unsectarian Eight" had fulfilled their pledges, were in sympathy with the Education Act of 1870, and had made the educational system of Cardiff rank with the best in the country. Very few ratepayers attended at Adamsdown Schools. when Mr. H. M. Thompson. M.A., and Councillor Chappell, two of the Unsectarian candidates, delivered addresses.—Councillor Ed. Thomas, J.P., moved a resolution in sup- port of the Unsectarian party.—Mr. Wm. Jones seconded, and it was unanimously adopted. Mr. Seccombe presided at a Park Ward meeting.—Mr. Alfred Thomas, M.P., gave a quotation of the late Mr. Mundella when responding to a deputation from Cardiff, headed by Mr. Thomas (as mayor) and Lord Tredegar: "You speak with great pride of the mineral wealth of Wales, but you have still greater wealth in the brains of the young people." The question before the Car- diff people was whether the management of the schools should be given to its friends or enemies. For 27 years its friends had held the majority. Sir John Gorst had testified that the Cardiff Schools were models to the land. A resolution of support was moved by Mr. Thomas, and seconded by the' Rev. John Morris.—Three candidates—Mr. Lester Jfljies Mr. J. Chappell, and Mr. H. M. Thomps(1:1- with Messrs. Morgan Thomas and J¡>llll Enoch, also spoke.

Mr. Harry Furnisa complains from the sketcher's point of view of the red tape which reigns at Burlington House, and recounts an uncomfortable adventure that befell Mr. Linley Sambourne there, when he was making a sketch from one of Burne-Jones's pictures, which he was about caricature [or a political cartoon. He was watched by a detective, arrested, locked up in a room for some time, and only released when the offending sketch had been confiscated. At Abertillery Police-court on Friday, Rees Emmanuel, manager of Arrael Colliery, Aber- beeg, was summoned by the Newport Har- bour Commissioners for causing ashes to be tipped into the River Ebbw, and also with allowing ashes to be tipped on land liable to be flooded, on November 11 and 16. George Carter, engineman, was also summoned for tipping the ashes into the river.-Emmanuel waa find £5 on each charge, and Carter £2.- For similar offences William Weale, under- manager at the Aberbeeg Colliery, Aberbeeg, was fined £5 in two caaat.

Terrible Landslide. TRAIN FALLS OVER A PRECIPICE, Montreal, Saturday Morning—Owing to a very severe landslide, a portion of a Canadian Pacific goods train plunged over a precipice at a canon on the Fraser River, near the town of Lytton, yesterday. The engine, tender. and several of the trucks fell to a depth of 360ft.. the entire mass being smashed to splinters. The engine-driver and stoker were both killed. The rear half of the train did not leave the metals, and was uninjured.— Central News.

M.P. with the Boers. OOLONEL LYNCH DESCRIBES A FIGHT And His Own Flight. Any doubt as to the truth of the assertion that "Colonel" Lynch, the new M.P. for Gal- way, fought with the Boers as leader of the Irish Brigade is cleared up by an article now published in the "Revue de Paris," in which Mr. Lynch tells his own story. In extracts re-produced by the "St. James's Gazette" "Colonel" Lynch describes the retreat of the Boers before Buller's Army in the operations after Ladysmith. He describes how the retreat was disorderly and his own troops, the Irish Brigade, panic stricken, broke up. The British cavalry were in pursuit of Ben Viljoen's guns. and Lucas Meyer, who commanded the retreating force, determined on an ambush. The Boers, with whom was the gallant "colonel," sought cover and waited. "Waiting tries the nerves more than action" (writes Mr. Lynch). "I got impatient. My secretary came up to me. He was as un- ruffled as if he were walking in the cloisters of his university. In his hand he had a cotton bag. 'Colonel,' said he, 'will you have a biscuit?' and he showed me that his bag was full I shouted with laughter and took his biscuit. A thousand thunders! The sky seemed to split. A fearful crackling —the yelping of hounds of heli-filled the air. It was our rifles. They had gone off too soon. The men had not let the English get near enough. "I snatched up my rifle, and ran to see what was happening. I perceived the English. They had halted, surprised by our fire and not knowing how to respond. We were shooting all the while, and, though we were not, per- haJJs, what we were in our best days, we inflicted sufficiently serious losses on our enemies. Presently most of the English retired, while the others looked for cover from which they could reply to our fire. From time to time we saw a man stop and apparently slip quietly from his horse, but he did not get up again. Their fire was absolutely ineffec- tual, and after a bit they all bolted." The gallant "colonel" then describes the resolute British attack—and nis own flight. "Unluckily for me, being mounted, I found myself just lat the height of the villainous pro- jectiles which whistled their plaintive, dis- turbing music round my head. I did not remain there willingly. At last I perceived the major. Exhausted by having run so far without hope of getting back the horses, he was walking off with evident pain. I shouted to him. He came running to join me. He jumped up" (Lynch had a spare horse)," and, with the Lee-Metford bullets humming in our ears like swarming of bees, we went off at full gaUop, llaughing. The guns were saved."

Well-Dressed Robber. EXTRAORDINARY OUTRAGE AT CHELTENHAM. An extraordinary robbery took place in Clwltenham last night. About seven o'elock a well-dressed man entered the shop of a firm of photographers, which is situated in the centre of the town. Mrs. Tuck, wife of the manager, was the only persoa on the premises at the time, aU the assistants having left for the day. The visitor waa an entire stranger.to her, and when she asked him his business, he so/ne- what roughly replied, "You," and, seizing her by the shoulders, levelled a revolver at her

"Evening Express" Specials. r- NEXT WEEK'S LIST. MONDAY—Son, "What did Patsy do?" TUESDAY—Tabernacle Chapel, Carmar- then, and its Pastor. WEDNESDAY—Billirrd Special. THURSDAY—Local Footballers. FRIDAY—Derek Vane's Adventures. „ —Mr. J. Daniell's Football Special.

head, and ordered her to show him to the safe in' the ante-room at the rear of the shop. He forced her along, threatening her with terrible consequences if she gave an alarm, and when once in the ante-room he compelled her to give up ths keys of the safe. While he was unlocking the safe Mrs. Tuck managed to escape, and rushed into the street for assis- tance, tut by the time this was obtained her assailant had abstracted £30 in coin and paper money, and disappeared by a back door. The boldness of the thief is rendered the more extraordinary by reason of the fact that a police-sergeant was at the time only' about ten yards from the front door, and could not fail to have heard any cry of alarm from the shop.

A PIGJS LUXURIOUS LIFE. Educated to Act as a Christian." At Epping yesterday Miss Emily Hampton, of Nazeing, was summoned for keeping a pig in a manner which was dangerous to health. The Inspector of Nuisances said he found the pig occupying the whole of one room in the defendant's house. It was lying between clean sheets on a feather-bed, covered with a white lace counterpane. Its head rested on a pillow. The room was furnished like a parlour. There were illuminated texts on the walls, and defendant was kneeling down kissing the pig, and calling it "a naughty boy" because it had eaten a small portion of its pillow. A card in the window read, "Sixpence to see the pig." Defendant said she had educated the animal to act as a Christian. She had, reared it from infancy, and when yosng it used to occupy a sofa. It always asked to be let out when it wanted to take the fresh air; it never kicked the clothes off the bed; and it was most quiet and peaceable. Ladies and gentlemen came in carriages to see it. The Magistrates gave defendant six weeks in which to find fresh lodgings for her pet, which is of considerable weight.

Resolven Parish Council. A meeting of the Resolven Council was held last night at the board school, Mr. James in the chair. The plans of the Ystradfellta water scheme were discussed, and a committee was formed to go into the matter and report to the council at an early date. A resolution in respect of the Resolven sewerage scheme was adopted, and the action of the Roath Rural District Council was strongly critkised in disregarding the resolution of the parish council in respect to the value of the land required.

Twenty-Three Years in Penal Servitude. A grey-haired man, named Thomas Lord, who could boast of several aliases, was charged at Manchester City Police-court yesterday with sttealing the implements of two painters anù paperhangers aU Cheetham. He pleaded hard that he could not get twork, and Mr. Armittage (the chairman) said he was not surprised at that, seeing the record of the prisoner which he had before him. In 1865 the prisoner got six months and twelve months' imprisonment, in 1867 he was sen- tenced to seven years' penal servitude and seven years' police supervision, and his next sentence was one of ten years' penal servitude. The prisoner was committed for two months, and his ticket-of-leave revoked, which means that he will have to go back to Dartmoor for a year and seven months.

Murdered While Sleeping. A drunken barber, named Tanazacq, at St. Ouen, was alleged to have committed suicide during the night by firing revolver shots into his head. Medical examination proved that he had not inflicted the wounds himself, and suspicion fell on his v-ife, with whom he had a quarrel. She was arrested yesterday, and confessed that she had shot her husbknd while j he was asleep at the instigation of her mother.

The Referee Society And its Work. FITFUL EFFORTS. Intention and Method. STRICT EXAMINATION NEEDED Suggested Remedies. "EVENING EXPRESS" SPECIAL By D. H, Bowen, M.W.R.U.M.C • X- In a previous article on the Welsh Football Union and its duties the inordinate length of the same precluded any reference being made to the referee society and its work. This society is a section of the AVelsh Football Union General Committee, and is appointed by that general committee, due regard being given to the fitness of the members elected with reference to their knowledge of the game, and also to the equal representation of the various districts governed by the union, and the aims and objects of this sectional com- mittee are set forth on Page 34 of the Rule Book thus: (a) To ascertain whather those who desire to be placed upon the official list of referees are competent to undertake the duties of refereeing. (b) To supply Welsh Football Union clubs with referees. (c) To afford opportunities for referees to dis- cuss questions affecting their duties and inte- rest. Now for compactness and completeness the above statements cannot be beaten. But intention and method are two different qualities, and, although the intention ia clear enough, the methodical carrying out of that intention has. as time pro- gressed, not been of the character to stamp the society as deserving of the warmest praise. It is not intended to convey that there has been no endeavour to carry out the intention, but that endeavour has been too fitful to be productive of lasting good. Let us look at the methods. The carrying out of section marked (a) is either first, through examination, or by acknowledged service as a player. To my mind, the method of appointment by examina- tion is the correct one, and. though we find now and again that a candidate who has passed a good examination makes a bad referee, yet there is the satisfaction of know- ing that he does not fail for want of his know- ledge of the rules. This year a change has been made. Not only must the candidate pass his examination in the rules, but he must have had previous experience as a referee, if only in junior matches. This is a little step in advance, bat yet more remains to be done.. The experience must be real, and not fanciful, proved, and not stated only for examination purposes. The method of appointment hy virtue of past experience and tried service is, to my mind, fallacious, and ought to be discontinued. Xo man, old player or not. if desirous of referee- ing, should consider it below his dignity to try these examinations. If his knowledge of the rules be sound, what. has he to fear? It will even, sound as he may be. be worth his while to put his knowledge to the test. for tested it certainly will be when he faces the music in an important match. And, on the other hand, it will certainly be pleasanter to be told by friends that he is incompetent than to have tha information shouted at him in the storm and the whirlwind of anger-worlted spectators. If ever there was a case of "Save me from my friends," this is one. Oh! hang it all, old man! You wouldn't ask Bancroft or Nicholls or Lloyd1 when they retire to pass the examination before they referee? I certainly should, and I as certainly believe that they would be wiaMtil to pass it. Oh, but why not put service men on the list, and then, if not proficient, don't appoint them to matches? To this I do not see the slightest objection, provided such list be headed, "These gentlemen are placed on the list, but shall not referee." Xo, no, my friends! If you value your friend's friendship, don't let him referee until you are sure he knows the rules. Of course, in the first instance, it was neces- sary to appoint certain gentlemen to act as examiners without being examined them- selves, but once that difficulty was got over future referees should have been appointed from passed men only. How often is the remark passed round the ropes, What poor refereeing! An old player, too! Used to play such a fine game! Who would have thought he could referee so badly!" These remarks are significant of the fact that old players do not always make the best judges-and, indeed, not a few have made downright bad ones. But the next section waits-i.e., to supply Welsh Union clubs with referees. "This is done, at any rate," someone says. Yes, but not done in the best way possible. Too much attention is given to expense. I am fully cog- nisant of the fact that referees cost the union last year £22.3 Is. lid. I am also aware that the union, after an out-of-ordinary expense of £2,156 for stands necessary for inter- national matches, had still £2,157 to its credit. Since it was decided to supply referees the most suitable should be chosen. By the most suitable is meant not the most suitable within a certain area-or, to be clearer, not the most suitable of those who, living near, would cost the least—but the most suitable of those on the Welsh Union list. As the clubs are largely grouped together in tin Rhondda and Cardiff districts, and as the society has been clinging closely to the rule of "Keep down the expense," it has followed that referees from these districts are appointed time after time. Clubs grumble, "Same referee again"; unappointed referees grumble, "Same names again"; spectators grumble, "Same old style again." There are 171 referees on the list. There are about twenty matches to be supplied weekly. If a system of working round were estab- lished, in nine weeks the whole 171 men would be tried. Then another nine weeks would give them a second chance, and see the result. If the society appointed a changeable committee to watch them refereeing, several men would be spotted worthy of taking command in first- class matches. The failures should be weeded out. Instead of the cry, "There are not half a dozen good referees in Wales," we should have a feeling of satisfaction with the decisions given, more attractive games would be wit- nessed, and this would tend to increased inte- rest. But. even then, there should be no cutting of expense, no going back to the sys- tem of "You'll cost least; you go there!" Every man should have his trials, and fair trials. We encourage men to pass referees' examinations, and we reward them by refusing to appoint them because they live so far away. At the recent Pembrokeshire examina- tion for referees no candidate presented him- self—"What is the use of our passing when we get no appointment?" And they even went fur- ther and said, "Not only are we not appointed because of distance, but we find that even when matches take place in this district the same men are always the judges." When I know that there is the greatest difficulty in getting good referees to go to the matches at all, and whon I believe that several good referees can be unearthed by a thorough system of trial, then I must lie excused if I say that in this particular the society is not doing its duty. Now for Section C— to afford opportunities for referees to discuss questions affecting their duties and interest. Since the abolishing of the old Referee Society—a society appointed by referees and not the Welsh Union-I say. since the abolishing of that society very little attempt has been made to fulfil this obligation to referees. It is certainly time that the first meeting of referees was held for this year. In definiteness as to what shovi# be done under certain conditions must lead to much con- fusion. What one referee allows, another will not. The different interpretations placed upon the rules by different referees are ft extreme as to appear not to be part and parcel of the rule intended to be enforced. A few well-con- ducted meetings would lead to similarity of decisions upon the field, players would be more satisfied, and spectators would actually be forced to admit that they knew what the whistle went for. Of course, these meetings are no new thing. That has nothing to do with it. They are good old things which want reviving. In common with other referees, I have questions repeatedly put to me.—ques- tions which would never have been asked if these meetings were only held now and again. Before coming to remedies—which may, after all, be only efforts at remedies—let me give a meed of praise. Previous to this year, it was not my lot to be a member of the society, but since being elected I cannot help being struck with the way in which the other members of the society refuse to let their names be sug- gested for any matches where any other than a committee man would do. Clubs have the right—and exercise the right—of naming any particular referee for their matches. When two clubs agree that referee is sent. unless other mutually agreeing clubs have asked for the same man, when they decide by voting. I would also notice that, although "districts and living in the districts" with regard to expense are too often considered, yet there are oppo- site instances. But. unfortunately, when expense is not considered, it too often happens to be in the case of chief club matches, and not the smaller clubs, and this is where the shoe pinches. Finally, as remedies I see 1. The necessity for appointment of sub- committees to visit matches and report on refereeing. 2. The necessity of appointment of referees in rotation, so that all men on the list get a chance. 3. The .necessity of not allowing the matter of expense to interfere with the choosing of suitable referees. PREVIOUS ARTICLES. The following, from Mr. Bowen's pen. have appeared in the "Evening Express": — Nov. 23.—The Rhondda and its Football. 30.—W. R. U. and its Duties.

Billiards. I -J STEVENSON'S REPLY TO DAWSON. Mr. H. W. Stevenson writes in reply to the challenge for the championship made by Mr. Dawson as follows:—In reply to Mr. Dawson's queries. I can inform him that I am not tied to the Billiard Association or to any firm of makers, but I am not—as Mr. Dawson appears to b £ —unmindful of all the association has done for the game, and for professional players generally. Until the association came forward with a substantial prize, open to the worid. quite irrespective of whether the aspi- rant for it was a member of the Association or not, there was no championship and I have not the smallest intention of playing for an empty title which would be generally, and very properly, ignored. If Mr. Dawson wishes to play me on even terms he can only do so by challenging throtigh the medium of the Billiard Associa- tion in the recognised manner; otherwise, I shall be happy to give him, or any other player, a start of 1.000 in 18,000 for any sum from £100 to £500 a-side. A match was played on Thursday evening between representative teams of the Porth and Mardy Conservative clubs at the latter's billiard-hall, Mardy emerging victorious by a small total.

HOCKEY. West Wales v. East Wales. A meeting of the West Wales Selection Com- mittee was held at the Boar's Head Hotel, Carmarthen on Thursday evening. Mr. J. Lewis Jones, Llandilo, was appointed hora. secretatry to the committee. The following team was chosen to represent West Wales for the trial match against East Wales, to be played at Carmarthen on the 9th of January, 1902 ;-Goal, S. H. Price (Llandovery); backs, T. Crowley (Carmarthen) and D. E. Williams (Llandovery); half backs, G. F. A. Nettell (Oystermouth), H. Thomas (Llandilo), and Brioknell (Jfilfordi; forwards, W. D. Davies (Haverfordwest), S. B. Williams (Llanelly), H. V. Watkins (Llandovery), Purdy (Milford), and R. F. R. Swettenham (Llandrindod). Reserves: Goal. E. Roberts (Llandrindod); back, K. Wilson (Haverfordwest); half back, A. G. Sprague (Llandrindod; forwards, W. C. Roberts (Llandilo), E. M. Yorath and Brig- stocke (Carmarthen), and H. Sloggett and Dr. Lewis (Pembroke Dock).

SHALL WE EVER FLY? Sir Hiram Maxim, writing in the current- issue of "Black and White," discusses the possibility of man's ever acquiring the art of flying, and pronounces emphatically in favour of the feasibility of the project. He considers that M. Santoa-Dumont has solved a problem in demonstrating the falsity of the theory that it is dangerous to iise a petro- leum motor driven by explosions where it would be in proximity t-o an enormOU8 amount of highly inflammable gas. Discus- sing the various kindB of airship employed, he pronounces against the balloon, and says: "I am, therefore, strongly of the opiruon that we must look to machines heavier than the air. which, in reality, fly after the manner of birds. Nature has innumerable flying- machines which are aU heavier than the air. but Nature has no balloons. Therefore, if we wish to succeed, we shall have to follow in the footsteps of Nature, as we have already done in many other branches of science." M. Santos-Dumont, an interview with whom also appears in our contemporary, contro- verla Sir Hiram }{axim.B Jasi theory as to our looking to Nature for a copy. He says:—"I cannot see why we should expect to do so. In what have we been able to copy Natur>e? I never knew of an artificial man outside fiction. I have heard of no locomotive that goe3»upon legs. If you take a ship for com- parison are we not struck by the fact that the vessel riding on the top of the wat-er is like a dead fish? The submarine? Well, where is the resemblance, except in the fact that the submarine, like the Mh, travels beneath the vrgter? No, I do not believe that wa must look to Nature for our model. We are going to fly, in a manner of speaking, but it will be not by the aid of wings. Motors and screws will have to do the work." M. Santos-Dumont, whose new airship now being built at Monte Carlo is to be fitted with two motors, each of 45-h.p.. predicts that it will be possible to have these machines fitted with motors of enormous power and for the air- ships each to carry a number of pfereons.

The Vicar's Libel Case. In the King's Bench on Friday Mr. Rufus Isaacs, K.C., applied to the Lord Chief Justice for a stay of execution, with the view of an appeal, in the caae of Nesbitt v. Parrett. in which the jury on Friday week gaTe a verdict for the plaintiff, the Rev. Joseph Nesbitt, vicar of Rodmersham, Kent, for £1,100 damages for libel against Mr. Parrett, proprietor of the "East Kent Gazette," and Mr. Mercer, a local brick manufacturer and former churchwarden. The grounds of the application were that one of the jurors ha-d made and affidavit that he did not agree with the verdict. The Lord Chief Justice said the jury- man had aiso communicated with him, but he doubted very much whether the juryman's affidavit could be used, because the foreman of the jury said the jury were all agreed. Without expressing any opinion, however, his lordship would grant a stay of execution, but the whole damages mast be lodged in court, and the plaintiff's costs paid.

TO-DAY S MARKETS. FISH. Cardiff, Saturday—Good supplies, for which there was a brisk demand. Quotations: — Rabbits, 3d to Is each; Canadian salmon, 9d; turbot, 9d to Is; soles. Is to Is 5dp lemon soles, 6d; mullet. Is; halibut, 6d to 8d; brill, 8d; eels, 9d; whitebait. Is; and shrimps, 4d to 6d per lb.; cod. 2s 9d; hake, 2s 6d to 3s; best plaice, 48 to 5s 9d; small ditto, 2s 9d; whitches, 3s; headless whitings,2s 3d; gurnet. Is 6d; bream, Is 6d; skate, 2s 3d; haddock. 2s 9d; conger. 2s; and finnons, 2s 3d to 4s per stone; mackerel. 48 6d per score; bloaters, 2s 6d to 3s; kippere. 2s 9d to 3s 6d: and red herrings, Is 9d to 2s 6d per box of 50; oysters, 3s 6d to 4s; and herrings, 4s 9d per 100; sprats, 8s per pot. Grimsby. Saturday.—Good.supply brought in by ab< ut 50 vessels, for which there was a fair dciinand. Quotations:—Soles, Is to Is 2d; tur- bot. 3d to la; brills, 6d per lb.; plaice, 4s 6d t > 5s 9d; lemons, 8s 6d; dead ditto, 2!! 9d; whitches, 5s 6d per stone; live cod, 5s to 7e 6d; dead ditto, 3s to 4s; dead skate, 4s each; roker, 20, to 3Cs per score; kit haddocks. 16s to 21s; gibbed, 26s to 32s; live dabs, 163 to 20s; dead ditto. 12s: dead codling, 148 to 16s; gurnets, b. la 6B 6d D.er boi.

To-day's London Press. VIEWS ON VARIOUS TOPICS. Tobacco and Irish Prosperity. Tobacco has been grown in no fewer than 25 centres in Ireland, and the leaves have been cut and tried, and are now offered for sale. Its excellence for smoking is-vouched for, and there seems no adequate reason why the weed should not boom contemporaneously with the new Irish literature. Quite possibly here and there the growing may bring wealth -to the cultivators, and eventually—who* knows?— become the envy of American Truste.—"Daily Graphic. The Guerillas. It seems amazing to sensible men not only in this country, but on the Continent of Europe and in the United States, where there was, and is, much sympathy with the Boers, that the guerillas in South Africa do not recognise and yield to the logic of facts. To aoqniejce in uefeat and its consequences would be no dishonour to the remnant of the Trans- vaal and Orange Free State insurgents any more than it was to Lee and his gallant companions in arms after the fall of the Southern Confederacy.—"Times." Temperance Reform/ All agree that the number of licensed houses should be reduced. The difficulty is in what way to effect the reduction and where to find the funds to compensate the owners of the cancelled licences. Much the fairest plan in the latter case would be to tax the trade on the general lines of the system adopted in Birmingham. It would be inequitable to call upon the public purse to find the funds, or any part of them, to provide the compensa- tion. In many instances the value of licensed houses has been run up to absurd figures by the competition of over-capitalised brewing companies, and really the public cannot be expected to meet the loss caused by such unsound financial methods.—"Daily Mail."

On the Stock Exchange LOCAL FINANCE J# CARDIFF, Friday (4.30 p.m ). A fair amount of business has been trans. acted on the local Stock Market to-day, and the disposition in nearly all depart- ments is firm. Among Railway Stocks Taff Vale. Great Western, Midland, and London and North AVestern show advances. Bank Shares have been idle. In Colliery Shares Albions and Cam- brian? have improved, whilst Rhymney Irons arj easier. The Miscellaneous Department has received considerable attention. Mines do not show much change. BUSINESS DO-NE-OFFICIAL MARKINGS:' RAILWAYS. Great Western Ordinary, 135. COAL AND IRON. Cambrian Colliery Ordinary, 7i. Ebbw Vales, 9 1-16. Internationals, 5 11-32. 5 5-16. Rhymney Iron New, 32s 3d uwice). MISCELLANEOUS. Barry GraTing- Docks, 19. Cardiff Ice, 122. J. T. Hut-chins (Limited). 25s. xd. Moss Empire Prefs. 96s. 6d. Moss Empire Ordinary, 8 3-16. Spillers Ordinary, 12. MINES. Ac. British Broken Hills, 76 ljd. Chartereds. 52s 9d. Randfonteins, 3 1-16. FLUCTUATIONS OF QUOTATIOXS-ACTUAL RISE: Great Western Railway Ordinary, 134-5 to 135-6. London and Nortli-Western, 165$—to 165—6. Midland Preferred, 711—21 to 72-3. Midland Deferred, 62*—3J to 63i—6\. Taff Vale, 693—70i to 70—i Albion Colliery Ordinary, 8-1 to 8t.-I. Cambrian Ordinary, 71—? to n-8. Soillers and Bakers Ordinary, Ili-12 to llg -124. FALL. Rhymney Iron New, 52e. 6d.—33s. 6d. to 32s. —53e. LONDON FINANCE. LONDON, Friday 11.30 p.m.). Money is in good request again to-day at 31 for Call Loans. while Three Months Bills continue at 31. Bombay and Calcutta Trans- fers are 15 31t32. Gold Premium 135.30. On the Stock Exchange business ie very quiet all round, but the tone is not bad. The feature is the firmness of Con'sols, which are 9-16 up Money and Account, the riee being attributed to Government Departmental buy- ing—New Loan 11-16 up, War Loan J. Home Rails, with a few exceptions, are better on bear closing. Brighton "A" li up. Dover "A" g. and several others a to J, but Chatham Seconds and Great Northern Prefs 1 down. Americans steady and featureless. A num- ber of stocks & to l down, but the market is better than at opening. Trunks quiet. Paris Bourse firm. Foreigners dull, but Spanish 1 up. Mines idle and irregular. 3.50 p.m. Consols firm. Rise.: Money and Account t New Loan 11-16. Rupee unchanged. Home Rails firmer. Rise: Brighton "A" H. Lancashire and Yorkshire and Midland Deferred 1. Dover "A" é, Great Northern, North British Deferreds, Great Western, North Western. District, and North Eastern J, Cale- donian Deferred. Great Eastern, and Chat- ham i. Americans dull. Fal!: Atchison. Illinois, and and Union "Pacific i. Louisville, Reading, and Southern Pacific I. Denver Pref. Ontario. Penn- sylvania. Southern, and Reading Fusts i, Chesapeake and Norfolk J. Trunks quiet. Ordinary Seconds sv Mexican Rails steady. Rise: First Pref 1. Foreigners dull. Rise: Spanish 2J, Argentine 1886. Cedulas "F." Uruguay, and ditto Five per Cent, t Portuguese ê. Fall: Argentine 1893 1. 1897, 1899. Funding, Water, and Chinese Silver J, 1896, Argentine Rescission, 1900, Brazil 1895. Italian, and Peru Ordinary Debenture à. German and Turkish Three per Cent. &. Mines quiet. Rise: Frank Smith. Modder, Rietfontein, Robinson, Welgedacht, and Wemmer t., Geldenhuis, Steyn, and Leroi 1-16. Fall: Jagers j. Sansu 5-16, Oroya. 3-16. Crown Reef, Asso- ciated, North Block. Hors; Shoe, and Tinto s, Bonaza City, Mozambique. Simmer Amalga- mated, Ivanhoe. and Lake View 1-16. Armstrongs. Vickers. and Coats 1-16 up. Welsbaeli Ordinary and Pref 1 down. Silver. 25 7-16. 1USTRALIAN. INBIAX *«. Op. CI. OP- «• Asso. (.'•! w A. z-k IN-undydro^- 1» Br*te» Hil!Pro. 31/6 )or«*nni Ivew- fg BriUiafitSt. Geo. 2 Po. Pr« 1\ew Chum Dion Reef. 5ft Farinsra Consols 2/3 Olden Horn SI- 10% jPenkl.il' 2 C Do 1 Ink* 7* jSous of Gwelin. Great Fineal' 12 £ j W. Ai.i. Great Boulder 1?'3 '> ■■ P's've'nce Bosiland St. W 1% Do M&inreef Anaeoiid.-t •• Hhmii'i K. Hill 3 £ Hnansn's Oroya 2 Do North 1* iTanhoe 7% Boston < opper.. £ Kalcurli 3ft Cower King Ji Do South 1 f. Utah ••• Kootenar 'm ■■■ jl'e •■■■• V™. Lake View Con. 5ft No 2 2Jf Lo*. 4Globe Fin. — |Tbarri« 6 lilasois and Barry Z% Strattons f,¡ Mysore 6* Wailii Gold. 55 •Ex dir. SOUTH AND WEST AFRICAN. Op. CI. Op. C'1- Anceio 7% Jam pots 4* Aper 7% Knight. 7* Ashanti 21ft ,Uneiswft.« 3% Barnato Consols 2 V Do Block B -1: Bibiani 5% A gey 1% B*nanzaMl. 5% ••• i M.'« r 41, British b. Africa .Mat beleGoldR 2% (Chartered) 2% |MeyerJrCharltn 5% Bribsh GoldC't 2% | \Todderl«mtein. ]! £ City A -iiburl.au 6-$;¡ Mozambique 1% Claudes Adhanti 3* New Primrosr.. 4% Consd Gldflds of ,¡" 2g S. Africa. Do* -7% Do Deep H. Crown Reef 15% Ooeimn Coned. 1& De Beers :.93/4 3-10 DunraTeii ]a Rancl Mines 10% JVrban R'odep'i 51, Rhodesmi.td. 1 East Hand 73 Robinsou 9% Fauti new Rose Deep F,rreir,t 20^ Salisbuey 2% Gfelone. 1- :Sel"kwe 1-S Ge'denlmis 68-.4 SnniaerAJitet. 63,4 De Peerv IC3 S. Afric Gold Ts 67, Globe & Phoenix 4% Transvaal G Id. 1% GoldCoast Aral. Do Develo'mt I! Heriot £ •» United Rhodesia 1t,1 J Jagersf ontei'i 22*k Village Mnii.ret 8^ Johanesb g- Invt VVassau 4% Jubilee 5% Willonphby Co, lfc

SONS OF GWALIA. From the mine superintendent's report for September:—Main incline ehaft sunk 46 feet, total depth 936 feet. No. 7 level, loop line- Drive north off east crosscut extended 37 feet. total 41 feet. The samples for the first 11 feet returned an average value of 6ozs. for a width of 7 feet 6 inches. Theorecutintheorehin rise has already been reported as assaying 3ozs. 3dwts. Beyond this. from 32 feet to 41 feet north the lode matter passed through returned assays averaging loz. Sdwts. for 8 feet width. No. 6 level—Main south drive extended 59 feet. total 299 feet; average loz. 12dwte, for 7 feet 6 inches width No. 3 riee south advanced 32 feet. total 98 feet. The high values continued in this rise the whole way (2ozs. to Som.). NO.4 level-No.5 crosscut weat at 152 feet has cut a vein 6 feet wide and assaying loz. 9dwts. L19349

JJ TUDOR THORNLET STOCK AND SHARE BROKER, 29. WEST BUTE-STREET, CARDIFF. Telegraphic Address: "Contangro," Cardiff. Telephones: Natl.. 1,294; P.O., 117. I

TO-fM'S RAPING. Sandown Park Meeting. 1.0.—A SELLING HANDICAP STEEPLECHASE 80v' of 100 sovs; winner to be sold for 50 sovs; second to receive 5 sovs. Two miles 5 12 1 Mr Skye's Son of tbe Morning H Brown 1 a 12 2 Mr Christie's Livorno Owner 2 a 11 9 Baron von Truschler's Speculation II. W Pullen 3 Also ran: Mr Sheppard's Santa Teresa I Piggott. Spinniiiz Boy was withdrawn.

PROBABLE STARTERS FOR TO-DAY'S RACES Long Ditton Selling.—Humems. Chilling- worth, Westmoreland, Octopus. Encore. Slip- burn, Pinefinch, and Ella Crag-. Great Sundown Steepleehase.-All ready (except Drumcree and Pawnbroker). Three Year Old Hurdle.—First Attempt, Sliaun Aboo. Prince George. Gean Tree. Fly- ing Deer. Anxious. Netherland. Kineton Boy. Leinster. Pinefinch. Lambourne Belle. Royal Rouge. Keen Blade, Assault, Wagon Hill, Goosey Gander, and Liberty. Pond Handicap.—Sweet Charlotte, Corner, Saltator II.. Domineer, Alcove, Gorgonzola. Malvern Hill, and Glen Choran. Ladies' Flat Race.—Peecavi. Senateur. and Barsac.

ADDITIONAL ARRIVALS. Spinning Boy, Son of the Morning. Free Fight. Speculation II., Covert Ha-ck. Shipshape. Arnold. Full Flavour, Shannon Lase, Levanter. Peccavi, Craddoxtown, First Attempt, Gean Tree, Ventilator II. Assault. Moxikeiiver, Brown Ewe. Outpass. Encore. Outpost, Cushendun, Model. The Pride of Mabbestown, Barsac, Swaledale. Prince George, Leinster, Goosey Gander. Domineer. Gorgonzola, Westmore- land. and Coningsby. ADDITIONAL ARRIVALS THIS MORNING. Santa Teresa. Eea8ide. Speculation II., Hume- rus, Chillingworth. We.stmorelanu. Encore, Slipburn. Pinefinch, Ella C-rae. Levanter. Easter Ogue. First Attempt, Sh"'in Aboo, Flying Deer. Anxious. Netherlane Kineton Boy. Ventilator II.. Royal Rouge. Keen Blade. Assault. Agnes Forager, Sweet Charlotte, Cor- ner, Saltator II.. Alcove. Malvern Hill, Glen Choran, and Senateur.

Health of Glamorgan. :=..A FATAL EPIDEMIC OF DIPHTHERIA. Heavy Mortality at Aberkenfig The following appeared in our Extra Edition last night:- The quarterly report of Dr. Williams, the medical officer of health for the county of Glamorgan, was considered by the sanitary committee at Cardiff on Friday. The Chairman (Colonel Henry Lewis) said diphtheria had been very prevalent through- out the county. The Medical Officer said the outbreak at Aberkenfig was the most fatal he had seen for many years. Out of a total of 38 cases. thir- teen. or 33 per cent.. proved fatal. The schools were closed, but were re-opened too soon. Now. however, the epidemic was over, the place had a much better supply of water, and it wouid soon be sewered. Replying to Dr. Donald. Dr. Williams said the medical men were unwilling to tell him anything about the treatment, but he under- stood one of. them used the serum in every case. There had not been a house-to-house inspection, and in nearly every house there were sanitary defects. At Cwruavon 100 cases had been notified from January to September, of which nine had proved fatal. Cwmavon was a very badly-drained district, and Dr. Morris proposed that the attention of the Neath Rural District Council should be called to this. 1fr. Howell said the ratable value of Cwm- avon would not justify them going in for a complete sewerage scheme, and they could not start one until the water scheme was com- pleted. But they intended to deal with ihe question on a large scale, and considerably improve Cwmavon. In reference to the typhoid at Clydach. Dr. Morris complimented the medical officers of that district on the way they had traced the epidemic. Dr. Williams said Clydach was growing rapidly, and it was still unsewered. Oystermouth was reported as the only dis- trict in the county without building bye-laws. and it was decided to call the attention of the district council to the necessity of providing a good water supply, building bye-laws, and slaughter-houses.

Stabbed Eighty People "JACK THE RIPPER IN THE STREETS OF KIEL. The curious and unaccountable attacks on pedestrians in the streets of Kiel at night have now assumed an acute phase. For some time past 'says the Kiel correspondent of the "Daily Mail") an unknown individual has stabbed unoffending women, under cover of darkness, until it became dangerous for any female to be about after nightfall. Over 30 were injured, more or less seriously. Within the iMt few days the attacks on women have ceased, and men have been the victims. An extraordinary thing about the mystery is that some marvellously sharp instrument must be uBed. because the men—even the strong and healthy mpn-do not seem to know that they are wounded until several minutes after the attack. They notice the loss of blood, and then find that they have been stabbed in three or four places. A sailor who had been thus attacked caught his assailant and soundly thrashed him. only to find. after he rad let him go. that he had been thrice stabbed. The police have been re- inforced, and several Berlin dstectives have arrived here, but the miscreant has not yet been discovered. Altogether it is computed that over 80 persons have been stabbed.

Bridal Party Get Small-Pox. A wedding took piacee at East Ham a few days ago at which a friend of the contracting parties was unable to attend through illness. After the ceremony the bride and bridegroom and their guests paid a visit to the invalid, who was reported to be suffering from chicken- pox. In reality he had small-pox. and the whole of the wedding party caught the disease. Bride, bridegroom, and friends are now in hospital.

Converted Prize Fighter. Mr. Samuel Thomas, a man known as "the converted prize-fightetr." has just died, at Huddersfield, at tthe age of 52. He was at one time reputed to be the best light-weight boxer in the country. While arranging a match, be met with a mission party, and "ultimately became a leading member of the Page-street Mission.

Newport and County Hospital. The workmen at the Celynen Colliery, New- bridge, having decided to contribute sixpence per man and threepence per boy twice a year to the funds of the Newport and County Hospital, the secretary of the fund, Mr. G. Blanch, has just forwarded a cheque for £38 11s. 6d. to the Mayor of Newport (Alderman H. J. Davis\ who is chairman of the hospital board of directors.

Benedictine Abbey Besieged. Th? Benedictine Abbej of Solesmes was enc- cessfully besieged yesteiday. A large body of gendarmes, under the command of a captain, arrived at the eates of the monastery, accom- panied by the official sequestrator and a juge de paix. The president and vice-president of the syndicate, claiming ownership of the pro- perty, refused to op?n to them. The gendarmes then made for the Benedictines' printing office, attached to the abbey, to which they ultimately obtained access by effecting a breach in the brick wall.

Anglo-American Shipping Deal. An American syndicate has for Bome months been negotiating with a view to the acquisi- tion of an important fleet of British steamers engaged in trading enterprises, chiefly, if not entirely, in the oil trade. These negotiations have made considerable progress, and are now believed to be on the point of conclusion. If the deal should be brought off it will be a most important one. The fleet, in question is large, and covers a wide area, trading with America, the Dutch East Indies, the Far East, and elsewhere. It also has under its control a profitable sphere of operations, which the American syndicate, powerful as it is. would. doubtless, like to acquire. The capital of the British company is nominally very large, and the shares stand at a substantial premium. Should the deal be consummated, the opera- tion may involve a payment of from six to eight millions sterling. Another statement is made to the effect that the Standard Oil Trust ha.s absorbed the Shell Transport Company, paying twelve millions, and has thereby acquired a mono- poly of the oil trade of Africa and the East Indies.

Trade and Shipping. LOCAL CHARTERING TRANSACTIONS CARDIFF. EXCHANGE. Friday. The steam coal market to-day opened firm and buoyant, but. owing to the congested state of colliery stems only a limited business was possible. The- prices of large steam, dry, and Monmouthshire semi-bituminous sorts were firmly upheld, and the same may be said of all descriptions of small coal. In tht coke trade prices had an upward tendency, and there was an active demand for house coal and patent fuel. Closing prices -Best steam coal 16s 6d to 17s. seconds 16s to 16s 3d; best drys 168 3d to 16s 6d, seconds 15s 3d to 15s 9d: bes; small 10s 9d to 11s. seconds 10s to 10s 6d. and inferior sorts from 9s; beet Mon- mouthshire large (Cardiff shipment'' 16s to 16s 3d, seconds 14s 6d to 15s 6d: best households 16s 6d to 17s 6d: No. 3 Rhondda large 16s to 16s 3d. brush 13s 3d to 138 6d, and small lis; No. 2 Rhondda large 14s to 14s 3d. through and through lis 3d to lis 6d. and small 8s 9d to 9s; palent fuel 14s 6d to 15s 6d, according to brand: special foundry coke 26s. foundry 21s 6d to 22s-6d. and furnace coke 178 6d to 18s 6d: iron ore—best Rubio 14s 3d. Tafna 15s 3d to 15s 6d, and Almeria 14s 6a per ton. c.i.f. Cardiff or Newport. In the freight market chartering was extremely slow. There was very few orders about, and charterers appear at the moment to hold more tonnage than they can con- I ycniently load. Rates. cS a consequence. ruled weaker all round. The following comprise the day's operations: — OUTWARD—STEAMERS. Cardiff to Genoa. 5s 5d (Turret Chief). Genoa. 5s i'lacia Genoa. 4s 10jd. „ Nieuwe Diep, 4s id. Dordrecht, 5s. 1.200 tons. London. 4s 4jd (Black Swan\. Algiers. 7f.. fuel (Helen Otto). Sheerness. 4s 6d (Swiftsure Las Palmas, 6s (Basuto or gubsti tutel. Gibraltar. 5s 3d 'Alfonso;. St. Brieux, 6s (Torbryan). Civita Vecchia. 68 (Somerford). Port Said. 5s, 2.200 (Gama). St. Michael's, 6s lid (Cadoxton). Barcelona, 6s 3d. St. Lucia, 7s 6d (Alpha). La Rochelle, 4f. 75c. (Larpool). Swansea- to Venice, 66 9d coal, or 7s 6d fuel (Ophelia;. Foreign Fixtures. LONDON. Friday. There was no change in the market for ton- nage. Black Sea and Danube firm; India. steady; America and River Plate inactive; ore quiet. Fixtures: — Steamer. 4.50C tons. February. Novorossisk. 8s 9d any. 9s 3d Hamburg. Westfield (rf). 5.500 tons. December. Danube to I ondon. Hull, Antwerp, or Rotterdam 16s, Hamburg 17s. Dorothea (si. 2.200 tons, prompt. Danube, 16s 6d any or new charter. 17s Hamburg. Juno (si. 5,830 tons. December 20—31. Odessa to London. Hull, Antwerp. Rotterdam, or Amsterdam. 10s. Honiton (s), 3.000 tons. Alexandria. 8s 7jd Hull. 9s 3d London, December, cotton seed. Ashford (si, 2,500 tons, December, Bilbao to Jarrow, 4s 3d. Movements of Local Vessels. Merthyr left Charente for Bilbao 6th. Gardepee arrived Pomaron 4th. Collivaud left Swansea for St. Nazaire 6th. Ninian Stuart arrived Newport 5th. Lesreaulx left Hamburg for Cardiff 5th Dowlais left Bilbao for Briton Ferry 4th. Penarth left Waddington for Hong Kong 5th. Cyfarthfa arrived Chantenay 4th. Barry arrived Marseilles 4th. Westergate left Bilbao for St. Nazaire 4th. Pontypridd left Oran for Pomaron 6th. Jersey arrived Maryport 4th. Wooda passed Fshant for London 6th. Westward Ho passed Prawle Point for Bremen 5th. Dawlish passed Algiers for Rotterdam 5th. Scarisbrick arrived Santander 5th. South Wales T ide Table. I i J I I s 2 w g in £ a z g 1 in i £ a z Satur- 1 Monu'g 3 lY] 3 4j 3~Hl 4T>Ti~4T5 day, T :EvenPg 1 3 45 3 31 3 42 I 4 42 4 43 Dec. 7 ( Height 130 2 26 6 128 11 27 11 27 4 Sun- ( 4 10 3 57 4 7 5 6 5 19 day. -< Eren'ig-~j 4 33- 4 22 4 29 ( 5 31 5 34 Dec. 8 Height 131 0 27 7 29 11 29 3 '28 10 J»1od- Morni g; 4 35 4 46 4 50 S 56 5 5§ day. Eveniu' 5 17 5 5 5 11 6 14 6 17 Dec. 9 He.ght 131 7 28 5 30 11 30 7 30 2 Tues- Aiorm'g 5 38 ] 6 31 5 32 6 36 6 d*r, < Xracns 5 58 5 51 5 52 6 53 6 55 Dec. 10 K»igi'.r 52 1 29 0 1.31 0 31 9 21 3 *B. Doelk Sill. lA^auuulta, fieck. t&satk Sua. Shipping Casualties (Lloyd's Telegrams.) I Friday. Marie Therese. French steamer, before re. ported aground in Suez Canal, floated and is re-loa-ding; will proceed Suez when cargo re-ehipped. Amst-elstroom, Dutch steamer. Amsterdam for London. grounded near Amsterdam; floated after discharging part cargo; has rope foul of propeller. Turkar, Aislaby, ana Shandon.—British steamer Tuekar. which was in collision with British steamers Aislaby and Shan- don at Kavak. Sulina, damaged about main rigging; port side is repairing tem- porarily. Lucent and Tynesider.—Steamer Lucent. at Charlton, Thames, wxLk- .starboard be.. damaged through ooHiiMon on December S with steamer Tynesider. Junio.-Hayre telegram states: Cargo of the Spanish steamer Junio. before reported to-day, being discharged as rapidly as possible; fire smouldering. Degaina. steamer, docked Barry, bottom and bilge-keel damaged. Estelle Phinney, schooner, reported yesterdav ashore, towed off and taken Delaware Breakwater. Young Tom. ketch, reported yesterday ashore. Holy Island, towed off; water got amongst cargo. Strathmore and Cordovan.—British steamer Strathmore towed St. Vincent, Cape de Verdes. with tail-shaft broken and lost pro- peller, by French steamer Cordovan, dis- tance towed. 482 miles. All Quebec. Norwegian steamer, for London, before reported, arrived Halifax for repairs. Grand Lake.—New York telegram states: Steamer Grand Lake leaky; dry dock Sabine. Mauritius telegram states: Cyclone passed north-west; no damage occurred; good rains. Birkliail. British steamer, ashore Hittaspe Reef; has forehold fall water; Svitzer steamer gone to assist. Sofia Brailii, Austrian steamer, before reported aground near Pauillac. floated after die- charging cargo. Emu, ketch, Lydney for Clonakilty. beached Mumbles. leaking badly. Thrift.—A lighter capsized at New York yes- terday. striking steamer Thrift: surveyoro order vessel dry dock to-morrow; lost about 500 tons ore: cause of accident un- known. Barrow Castle, steamer. Larne to Irvine, water ballast, grounded this morning during gale at Troon on sandy bottom and bnrnped heavily afterwards; towed off apparently undamaged. Paris and Firsby.—Norwegian steamer Paris, when anchoring Methil. collided with steamer Firsby: latter damaged. E. J. Spicer.-Rio de Janeiro telegram states: British ship E. J. Spicer. Punta Arenas for Falmouth, after grounding at Panama is making water; surveyed and recommended put steam pumps aboard and continue voyage.

Honour for Colonel Ivor Herbert His Majesty the King has authorised the acceptance by Colonel Ivor Herbert, C.B., C.M.G.. of the dignity of Commander of the 'Order of the Crown of Italy, which the King of Italy has expressed his wish to confer upon him in recognition of his services when in charge of the Italian and other foreign representatives in South Africa. Colonel Her- bert is one of the few officers of the English Army who speak Italian fluently, as he does also the French. German, and Russian lan- gaages. He was recently elected a member of the Newport Town Council.

Barometrical Indications. The following are the readings since fh. o'clock last evening. as given by thebaremeter in the vestibule of the "Evening Express," Pt. Mary-street, Cardiff, which is 33ft. above aea. sea level. 5 P.M. Midn'i. ba.m.. 5 p.-m. '4- ■4 30-5 1 •3! •7; •4; 29-5— •4: •3 —; 23'9- 2?,G

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