Evening Express

WRONG MR. SMITH, JamBs Smith is a window-cleaner a;t tihe General Hospital, Birmingham. He had a bad fall, and sustained concussion of the brain. Next day he wa,g reported dead. His relatives J11 Nottingham, Northampton, and London were summoned to the funeral. Two days later it was found that there had been a confusion of names, and that it was another James Smith had died. There is to be an inquiry as to who blundered.

POLICEMEN CHEAP. An amusing tariff toas been drawn np Jiving the averasre cost to a cyclist for "running-dowta" convictions. By this table it is computed that the most expensive luxury to s, scorcher consists in knocking over a lady since for this offence the average price c-omes out at 17s. A gentleman costs 13s. 3!¡d., while a mere boy may be bowled over a.t the trifling cost of 9s. 8d. Policemen are very cheap, but even they cost more than when the victim chances to be a fellow-cyclist.

MR, BACON SA YESI HISI The Rev. J. M. Baoon, of Newbury, had an exciting ride in the air recently near the Crystal Palace. In m boisterous witi-d a score of nien set the •balloon free at daybreak, and in six minutes the observer's, a mile higih, passed over the river at Greenwich, and made for Chelmsford at 60 miles an hour. Above the lower clouds the thermometer sank below freezing point. before long the eea coast hove in sight, and the balloon was dropped to earth. With the speed of an express train the car dashed into an oak tree, and only Mr. Spencer's skill and coolness saved the party from disaster. The l>allonists landed unhurt at Halstead.

HEALTH OF MRS. CRAWSHAY. According to the latest .information, we Understand that Mrs. Crawahay is progressing favourably.

INVALIDS FROM ASH ANTI. The West African mail steamer Olenda arrived at Plymouth on Saturday night with a number of officers and men invalided from the Ashanti expedition. During the voyage Sergeant Walton, Royal Armv Medical Corps, one of the invalids, cut his throat. and was buried at sea.

"t'r RE DIVISION OF WARDS AT NEWPORT. Colonel Lyne presided at the weekly meet- ing of the Newport Board of Guardians on Saturday and welcomed the new mayor of Newport (Mr. W. H. Brown) upon his accession to office. Mr. Brown had been a member of the board for several years—Mr. John Young, in accordance with notice, moved a resolu- tion in favour of a sub-division of the wards of the borough of Newport, and an inciease ill the number of polling stations so as to obtain single member representation instea as at present, and also for the c of the electors.-Mr. Abrahamson seconded the motion, which wa« supported by the Hayor and the Chairman, and was without dissent.

CARDIFF. At the ordinary meeting of thc Cardiff of Guardians, held at the workhouse on^xtra day, the question was '«he Christmas relief to outdoor paupers fnjing *,he on de season.-The Clerk intimated tnat he ha a& ipqmries by writing to differen ai]0Wanc«. the legality of making this extia auow wil. and he found that it was legaL tjiat jie liams then gave notice cJ,?™ +viat the out- ^vould move at the next meeting that door reMef be increased Brown that A complaint was made by Mr D K^owi the guarrlians wera.not S«nhf/Va8 decided to they had contracted for, .an*f '^mittee.—The refer the matter to the stores c wag tender for printing 7?er"dale-Btreet, Riven to Messrs. Sraith Bros^. th gent *hose quotation wa« the lowest oi in

MERTHYR, c „ The ordinary weekly meeting of the M thvr Board of Guardians was held on Sat_?T, y M? DT «■ presIdlllg.- School Commits- „i engaged to prepare the n a„itable build- estimate for the erection o the l!md 1,1!? far twelve or more chi-«re aroimd which opposite the schooj. prem built, in boundary walls have been lQ deA state order to relieve the present omsic Recou;;ed °f the schools."—Mr. Augus us jj0(jerick the motion, and it was c^r.err-^ selected as the architect and a dittos was appointed to Rive hi nct,ics 5ii tie matter.—Mr. John Lloyd gave u that a month hence he would ^ove d t]le the buildirg was completed a_u* eiementary children be sent to the public ine(jiCal schools of the district.—Dr. .ir wrote officer of the workhouse and mfirma y, t 5 J ting the board to re-noMid«»r his prese salary and gi™ him such an ad"\ should be commensurate to his h^"d increased duties and respouabilities. He had held t.h.o position, he said, for newly W yea^ and during that time his work had increas^ threefold. Daring the ^ar/[ nt -In less than 1,158 caaes under !f,e^t,regent reply to a question, the Clerk %P^8 salary v as £ 100 per aiinum.-T^eJ^r referred to the finance committee^ Prected motion of the chairman, the clei to write to Mr. Thomas WilliaMs, J.P., of Gwaelodygrarth, conveying to him the sym- Pathy of tie board in his illness. =

HOCKEY. Swansea v. OardS^Sie. "^toh het^een Swansea and Cardilt was regn|t«d in a on Saturday, and a close con^ l„() an advan- ?r«w. In the first half Swansea had anauv tage, and Howell and Flower EC" d jrl the At half-time they were a goal %anase<l fecond half Cardiff, by sood two to equalise, and the score read. 8oals; Swansea, two goals. Merthvr on Llanishen v. Merthyr.—Played at Merinyr u S^Tday the Llanishen team having men for the first quarter o gervic^s_ Jfhen two substitutes offered thei e8ult:-Llanishen, two goals; Merthyr. TIll. CJ N'ew"port v. West Glou<J.ester.-Played en SatST at Newport. Result:-Newport, &even goal15" West Gloucester. five g'Oals. Maindee beat Cardiff Broadway by three .oa..1s to nij.

STOP PRESS Latest Telegrams, "EVENING EXPRESS" OFFICE. 11.45 a.m. "B.-P." ILL. SUFFERING FROM ENTERIC. CAPE TOWN, Monday. General Baden-Powel is suffering from slight enteric fever. Illhe dissension among tihe Colomial troops has been greatly exag- gerated. The men's grievances are for the moot part incidental to the long lines of comniunicaitiion. They are, however, having an effect upon local recruiting. j*

REMARKABLE SCENE AT ABERBOVEY. MR. SOLOMON ANDREWS AND THE FARMERS. A QUESTION OF COMMON RIGHTS. TWO MILES OF FENCING PULLED DOWN. Some remarkable incidents occurred at Aber. dovey on Saturday, where the common com- prising the well-known golf links has become a bone of contention between the farmers and commoners on the one h:?nd and Mr. Solomon Andrews, of Cardiff and Pwllheli, who recently acquired the Crown rights, on the other. Mr. Andrews has treated the land as private pro- perty, ignoring the rights of the public and the farmers, whose farine have from time immemorial enjoyed grazing rights on the common. Notices were put up warning persons against sending cattle on the land, and during the past few weeks an extensive fence has been erected along the seashore, thereby closing ia from the public two miles of sandhills. A large number of sheep and cattle were placed on the land. These proceedings have created a deep feeling of resentment amongst the townspeople. This feeling on Saturday cul- minated in a remarkable demonstration. The common committee, acting on behalf of the commoners, have held frequent meet- ings the outcome of which has been the forma- tion'of a guarantee fund to fight the question; £400 has already been collected. About two o'clock on Saturday afternoon, in response to the bellman, who had been sent round the town, there assembled practically the whole population, besides the farmers of Cefnrhosisa township, with their horses. Major Best, chief- constable of the county, and Superintendent Jones, of Dolgelly, attended on behalf of the Mr. Edward Davies, chairman of the com- mon committee, explained from a platform the object of the demonstration, which was, he said, to make a firm stand for their rights privileges. Mr. Andrews had Said there was no common, and it was all his land. They were there that day to declare by word and action that it. was a common. They were peaceable men, but they were going to pull down the fences, and the work was to be done only by those farmers who were com- moners. The procession then set out in the follow- ing order:—The farmers on horseback fully equipped with traces and chains, the defence committee with banners bearing the words "No surrender," then a brass band, followed by the people. The procession marched to the common, where the farmers immediately commenced to pull down the fence. When the first post was removed the chief-constable asked the chairman (Mr. Davies) the reason, and the answer was, "We are asserting our common rights and removing these ugly things." The chief-constable thanked him and then retired. In a few hours two miles of fencing were uprooted. At intervals the large crowd cheered the farmers, and when the work was finished they all returned to the town, preceded by the band. WHAT MR. SOLOMON ANDREWS SAYS. In the course of a conversation upon the subject with one of our representatives, Mr. Solomon Andrews said that he was glad, in one way, that the farmers had at last taken the definite course reported by our corresipon- dent. They had a meeting a few weeks ago, which he attended, and showed them the deeds. There never was a better title to the land. Originally it waa Crown property, but 31 years ago it was sold, and bad since passed through several hands. He believed that he was the fourth purchaser. Some time ago he bought 295 acres, some of which had been taken by the Cambrian Railway Company, amd he now held 155 or 156 acres. As his was the larger share, he held the deeds. The floods of three years ago washed away some of the land, and the fence posts were put in for the purpose of pre- venting further encroachments and to get the wa,shed-off portion filled up again.

INTERESTING PRESENTATION AT BATLEY. Mr. J- W. Dunnell, baths manager at Bat- ley who has been appointed manager of the Cardiff Swimming Baths, has been made the recipient of a massive marble timepiece, with a pair of bronze equestrian figures, a set of cutlery, and a purse of silver, sub- scribed for by members of the gentlemen's and ladies' swimming clubs and friend at Ba.tley. The speakers a.t the function made eulogistic references to the departing II-.ana,ger.-Tlie Rev. I. S. Calvert, headmaster of the Batly Grammar School, said Batley's Joss would surely be Cardiff's gain. Like children, they could say to Mr. Dunnell that he had washed tthem, "spanked" thern, and ut them to bed—(laughter)—and they all felt £ he better for it. (Hear, hear.) Batley might be a somewhat "grubby" town, but he MMke the truth when he said it was a warm- hearted town, and that it people would watoh with interest the future success of Mr. and M'ro. Dunnell.—Alderman Nettleton, another of the speakers, humorously remarked that in making their choice the Cardiff Council had doubtless, looked once at Mr. Dunnel, and twice at his good wife. (Laughter.)

OLD LADY IN LONELY COTTAGE, DONE TO DEATH WITH HAMMER AND KNIFE. PURPOSELESS CRIME Golden Hoard Left Undisturbed. ONLY A VALUELESS OLD WATCH TAKESi. Police Suspicious. Scotland Yard on the Spot. Narratives of Neighbours. Latest Details. Inquest Fixed for To-Morrow. A foul murder was committed in a humble cottage near the village of St. Mellon's on Saturday afternoon, when an aged widow was dou to death in a manner that left no doubt of the mur- derer's deliberation and determination. The crime has been too hastily assumed to be due to greed. We believe that assumption open to strong doubt. The victim was an old woman named Hannah Williams, 79 years of age, who lived in peace and solitude at Mullen Cottage, which is situat-e in a field off what is known as the Began-road, about mid- distance between St. Mellon's and Cefn Mably, two little rural districts about six miles out of Cardiff on the other side of THE MAN WHO POUND THE BODY. I the Monmouthshire border. Nestling cosily in the woods, this little cot looks the last place in the world for a scene of blood, and yet, by its situation and sur- roundings, it is the very spot that would lend itself best to the designs of the assassin. Hannah. Williams the mur- dered woman, lived here with her daugh- iter, Elizabeth Williams, a spinster, nearly 50 years of age. At nine o'clock on Saturday morning Miss Williams left the cottage on an errand to Cardiff, promising to return between three and four in the afternoon. To be left alone was no unusual circumstance in Mrs. Williams's peaceful life, for it was the daughter's custom to pay a week-end visit to Cardiff. In her absence, however, some person, whose identity up to the present is a complete mystery, entered the cottage and murdered the old woman by battering her head in a frightful manner with a coal- hammer, and then cutting her throat. DISCOVERY OF THE CRIME. Whilst the daughter was away in Car- difl a distant relative named Morris Evans, a man about 3-5 years of age, and who lives at Cefn Mably. called at the Mullen Cot- tage, and upon entering the kitchen was horrified by the spectacle of the mur- dered woman lying on her face in a pool of blood. Frightened and dazed by what he had seen, he ran to the police-station at. St. Mellon's, and there informed Police-constable Norris, the constable in charge, of what had happened. Norris at once communicated with Inspector Lewis, of Newport, and Superintendent Porter, of Risca, who arrived on the scene fcout seven o'clock on Saturday eveiling, and immediately sent for Dr. Shiach, of Llan- ishen, who could, of course, do nothing beyond certifying that the woman was dead. Meanwhile Miss Williams, the daughter of the victim, had returned from Cardiff, and the shock she received naturally left her prostrate. The whole neighbourhood received the news with consternation, and then with indignation that anybody ccmlli j I VIEW OF THE COTTAGE. I be so callous as to murder an old woman who was feeble and tottering with age, nearing the end of life's journey, and as incapable of injuring anyone as she was of defending herself. THE MONEY NOT FOUND. Her little hoard of money was not unknown. Indeed, the surprise is that the sum was not a good deal more than £ 20, seeing that her hus- band, who only died in May of last year, had been regularly employed on the Cefn Mably Estate for forty-three years, and that she had since been in receipt of a pension from the generous owner of that I estate. If there is any satisfaction at all to be got out of the contemplation of the, crime, it is that the murderer failed to lav hands on the money it is supposed he sought. When the police went over the house they found that N'iery room had been ran- sacked, the murderer leaving everything in a state of disorder and confusion. The murderer could not have been very minute in his search, for in his hurry to get away he left the money undisturbed in the large wooden trunk where it was always kept by Hannah Williams. That it should have been safely secreted there is only characteristic of the ingenuity of old dames of her class in such matters, and the extent of that ingenuity may be gauged by the fact that even the police THE VICTIM. failed to find the little pile of gold. It was the daughter who first found it and took it out from beneath the linen lining at the bottom of the box. What is more extraordinary is that the murderer neg- lected altogether the pocket of the deceased, in which the police found her purse, containing j63 in gold and some silver. The Scene in the Cottage. THEOBJESOF VILLAGERS. Entering Mullen Cottage on Sunday afternoon our representative saw the doctor preparing to make his post-mortem examination. Opening the front door the reporter immediately stepped down into the kitchen, and, rounding a roughly- hewn table, almost kicked against the corpse. The body had not been moved from the spot where it had been struck down. The head was hacked fearfully, and there was a stream of blood that had run from the middle of the floor to the fender in front of the fireplace. The gash acroRs the left side of the neck, which had, apparently, been done with a knife, or some other such sharp instru- ment, exposed -the bone, and the head hung loosely to the right. Connecting link with link in the chain of circumstances, one s led only into deeper mystery in seeking the identity of the murderer.. Already there is a crop of theories among the villagers. First, one heard that strange men had been seen in the neighbourhood during the past couple of months, roving about in the fields in quest of blackberries, and one of these might have got to know that Hannah Williams was supposed to have a long stocking" somewhere in the housa. Others, who think less well of their neigh- bours, hesitate not to fasten suspicion on someone who resides in the neighbourhood. What they argue is that the person who crossed the threshold of that cottage between one and two o'clock must have known that that was the hour at which the daughter was wont to be away in Cardiff. They also point to the significance of Satur- day being the day chosen, for this Ts the only day in the week upon which Miss Williams ever leaves her home. Again, if the person had been a stranger in the district it would have been enough for his I purpose of robbery to have silenced the old woman temporarily whilst he was looking for the money. But, being known to her, he felt that death alone could ensure her silence. How far this theory will be justi- fied btr the sequel, should that sequel ever come to light, remains to be seen, but it is not an unreasonable one, whatever may bo II said. TIME OF THE MURDER. There is some difficulty in fixing the exact time of the murder, if that is of any importance in solving the mystery, but a peculiar incident in the affair is that about two o'clock a man who was hoeing turnips in a field near the cottage had his atten- tion drawn from his work for a moment by the barking of the dog that accompanied him. He looked round, but did not see or hear anything to cause the dog to bark and to run some distance towards the cottage. The incident passed cut of the man's mind until he heard of the murder, and then he told his friends what had hap- pened. The police tried to get hold of a clue by means of footprints on a dry jjiece of earth near the back door of the house, but these prints turned out to be those made by the boots of a youth between thirteen and fourteen years of age. In this remote rural district, where one house is separated from another by two or three fields, and where the blackness of night is not relieved even bv a flickering gas- light, one can easily enter into sympathy with the villagers in their consternation over such an affair, and what is anything but conducive to their peace of mind is the thought that the murderer may still be moving amongst them. It is twenty- six years since a murderer's hand was raised in the district before, and that was at Llanrumney, about three miles away, where a man named Gibbs murdered his wife. That event is now revived as a topic of village gossin, and in every home from St. Mel- lon's to Cefn Mably, and farther on, to Castleton and Miehaelston, there is a feel- ing of dread and awe, and for some time to come the voices of the villagers will become subdued as the night closes round on their fears and speculations. MftRRIS EVANS'S STORY THE FINDING OF THE BODY. Morris Evans, who must all through the affair be regarded as probably the most im- portant person to whom the police will have to look for information, since he was the first to visit Mullen Cottage aft-er the perpe- tration of the crime, is a labouring man 35 years of age, living with hie wife. his chil- dren, and his mother-in-law in one of a little row of houses called Cefn Mably Cottages. The little cluster lies in the hollow of a meadow on the Glamorganshire side of the border, just below the rising ground sur- mounted by the woods and mansion of Cefn Mably. Evans has been in the district about seven years. He hails from Shropshire, and came south to look for work when things became slack at his home. For a time he was em- ployed as a labourer at Ruperra Castle, and afterwards at Cefn Mably but more lately he has been working as a day hand at Pen- twyn Colliery, about three miles from his residence. Mrs. Lewis, his mother-in-law, was a sister-in-law of the murdered woman. Evans was dressed in his Sunday black and presented a very respectable appearance when one of our representatives called at his cot- tage on Sunday afternoon. In answer to the pressman's questions Evans said he had not been at work on Satur- day, as. he was not very well. In fact, he had not been working much throughout the week-not since Wednesday, in fact. "On Saturday," he said. "I was at home with my wife and my mother-in-law." "Were you in the habit of going up to see the old lady at the Mullen?" "Yes; I used to go up there sometimes—once a week, or. perhaps, once a fortnight. And sometimes she would come and see us down here." "Why did you go up there yesterday?" "My mother-in-law asked me to go up to see how she was." "It was a very wet day for a visit." "Yes; it was rather stormy." "What time did you go?" "I left the house here about three o'clock, I think." "What is the distance from your house to MTS. Williams's house at the Mullen?" "It is rather more than a mile around the road. I walked through the fields. I didn't hurry. I got to the house, I suppose, about half-pa-st tihrse." "Did you see anyone on your way there?" "No; I did not see anyone till I got to the Began Village, as it is called. Then I saw Charles Rowlands, of the Pandy Farm, and Thomas Bodman, a labourer. They were standing on the road talking outside Bodman's house. I passed the time of day with them, and then went on to Mrs. Williams's house. I crossed the brook and went up to the back- door, and went in the house." "Was the door open?" "Yes, it wan-or, rather, it was only latched. I went up the steps from the back kitchen to the kitchen. The door between the two rooms was wide open. When I got into the front kitchen I saw Mrs. Williams lying on the floor on her right side. Her right leg was out straight, but the other was drawn up under her a bit. I saw tha.t her bonnet and her spectacles were about 2ft. away from her feet. Her head was towards the fireplace, about a foot from the fender. I went across the kitohen to the front door." "Did yon touch her or speak to her?" "No; I didn't touch her or look at her muoh. I went straight to the front door. and I was going to open it when I found it was locked on the inside, and the key was in the lock. So I opened the door and went outside, and I stood at the door and looked up and down to see if I could see anyone, but there was no one about. It was all quite quiet. and I could not BOOK WHERE MURDERER ENTERED* ioe anyone, so I went in and locked the door a.gain. just as I found it. I wanted to leave everything just as I found it. Of course, I could Me that there was something wrong by her being on the floor." "Did you see any blood?" "I had seen a dTop of blood on the bonnet. That wa.s when I went in at first. I had a little more courage when I had shut the front door and come back, and I went and leaned over and put my hand on her cheek, and I felt that she was warm. But she was quite still." "Didn't you know that she was dead at that time ?" "She didn't move, and was quite still. I left everything as it was, and went for assistance. I went out at the back kitchen door. and closed it after me. and went for Mr. Rowlands, who I saw on the road. He had gone there from Tom Bodman's, and was ih a field close by the roadside and nea rer to me than when I first saw him. "What did yon tell him?" I asked him, Please to come with me, be- cause something serious has happened in the Mullen House.' and I told him how I had found the old lady." "Did you tell him that she had been mur- dered?" No. I told him to go up and I would go and fetch Tom Bodman. He said. All right; that is the best thing for you to do.' I went for Bodman. and found him outside his house on the road. He came back with me, and the three of ns went into the house together. We saw that her head was lying in a pool of blood bellind her chair." Did you notice that her head was battered about?" Yes, her head was in an awful condition." Did yon see the weapon that had caused the wounds?" No, we didn't interfere with anything. After we saw what had been done we locked the door again and came out again at the back door." Did you go over the house to see if any- thing else had been done there?" We didn't go upstairs. We looked round the kitchen. There was a'cloth on the table, and some stockings and her knitting. In the room there was a dresser with drawers, and two of the drawers were drawn about halfway out, and two other drawers in a chest of drawers standing near weN drawn ont." "Were things taken out of these drawers or pulled about?" "No, they were all right, and we left every- thing as we found it. We only stayed a few minutes there altogether. Mr. Rowlands went went out of the house to fetch Mrs. Ratcliffe from the cottage in the field above, and I went to tell the police at. St. Mellon's. Thomas Bodman stood outside the house till I came back. I got up to St. Mellon's Police-station and told Police-constable Norris a little after four o'clock. Police-constable Norris and Police-constable Cook came down soon after and took charge of everything." "Who found the hammer?" "Police-consbable Noriis found it on the coal in the back kitchen." "Was there any blood on it?" "Yes, there was blood on the flat end, and some coal dual had stuck to it. I believe there was some hair on the hammer as well. There was a blood stain on the handle." Was the hammer one which had been used in the house before?" "Yes; I had seen it 1here before. The head was flat cn one side and it was like a pick on the other. It WM a good lump of a hammer. I should think the head would be about 41b., and the handle Via.; about 18in. long." "How long did you stay at the house?" "I stayed there till Superintendent Porter frnd Inspector Lewie came, and they took my statement." "Did you see any knife found?" "No. The doctor's opinion when was that the wound in the neck ¡ caused with a razor, but a knife, bUl .dn't see any knife." "When did the doctor come?" "Dr. Shiach came about seven o'clock, and his opinion was that Mrs. Williams had been dead since about two o'clock." Have -on any sort of idea as to who could have dpne such a thing?" "No. I don't know who could have done it. The police had some footprints covered over with a bucket on Saturday afternoon. It was of a nailed Bfaoe, with a tip on the heel, but it was more like the boot of a boy about twelve or thirteen years old. The print was on a bit of earth up by the back door. They coay that some rough fellows from Cardiff used to go up in the fields about there getting mushrooms and blackberries." THE DAU&HTKR'S STORY DOESN'T KNOW WHOM TO SUSPECT. It was not a pleasant duty to enter into con- venation with Miss Elizabeth Williams. daughter of the deceased, as to the theories vhich she had formed of the circumstances that led up 10 the murder of her azed mother. Miss Williams, who was staying at the house of Mr. Samuel Badcliffe, a distance of two fields away, was in a semi-dazed condition, and seemed unable to realise what had happened. She had never left her home, and' was the sole companion of her mother. It was, there- fore, doubly cruel that the parting should have ccme in such a way. With .tears glistening in her eyes, and with feelings that stifled words, Misa Williams kindly volunteered to tell me ali that Me knew of the affair. "I left my home about nine o'clock on Satur- day morning," she said, "and my mother came with me as far as the gate, and stood looking after me until I had gone out of sight. She did not say anything to me just then, as I have always gone and come back regularly at the same time. When I returned I was told of what had happened." "Do you suspect anybody, Miss Williams?" "No, I don't suspect anybody, and I have nothing to say as to who did it. I can't understand how anybody could have done such a terrible thing, because mother was wel) liked by everybody who knaw her, and they all respected her and gave her a good name in tlie neighbourhood." "There was some money in the house, I understand?" there was £20 in the box upstaiTs, but he failed to find it. The man who did it rummaged every hole and oorner in the house and my opinion is that he did this after the murder. She had £3 in gold and some silver in her pocket, but this also was untouched." "Have you ever seen any suspicious-looking persons about the house at all?" "No, and I have not heard anything. My father died in May of last year, and we had some money from the club. Whoever did it must have thought of that money. My father worked for 43 years on the estate, and some time before his death he was receiving a pension. Oh, I can't understand it; my mother was such a dear old woman. She lived uprightly, and attended the Methodist chapel at St. Mellon's very regularly for a woman of her age. She was wonderfully active." "Have you missed anything at all from the house?' "The only thing I have missed is an old watch my father used to carr". about with him. There was no lock to the box in which the money was placed, but it was put away so safely that the police aid not find it." Miss Williams had nothing more to add to her story. DECEASED'S SISTER-IN-LAW SEEN. Mrs. Lewis, the deceased's sister-in-law, who lives in the cottage with Morris Evans and his wife (Mrs. Evans being Mrs. Lewis's daughter), was asked by our representative whether there was a notion prevalent in the district that Mrs. Williams had a stock of money in the hon:e. Well, she said, "it was known that she was very saving. She had her husband's club money ( £ 15) when he died, and she kept that. He had his full pay, I believe, till he died, last year, and Mrs. Williams had a pension after him. They lived very tidy like." "It was known, too, that her daughter went to market on Saturdays, and the old woman would be alono in the afternoon?" "Yes. her daughter used to go to market lately twice or three times a week."

LATER JETAILS. MORE NARRATIVES. A Suspect. Up to a late hour on Monday morning no clue had been mad a-g to the perpetrator of the diabolical outrage at Mullen Cottage, St. Mellon's, on Saturday afternoon, resulting in the death of an old lady named Hannah Williams, aged 79. We understand that one or two detectives from Scotland Yard are now at the scene of the murder in order to assist the local police in unravelling the mystery. THE INQUEsrr. The inquest is fixed for Tuesday, but the hour is not yet named. TH Ei POtST-MOHTOM. The post-mortem conducted vesterday after- noon by Dr. Shiach showed four lacerated con- tusions in the Bide of the head and adeep cut a.bout 4in. in length, extending from the left ear and piercing the jugular vein. It seems to have been a case of stunning the old lady first. of ali and then cutting her throat. This was a merciful arrangement so far as the old lady was concerned. It may alto have .been suggested to the mur- derei as the best method of preventing recog- nition in case he failed' to carry out his fell purpose to its fullest extent. A Suspect. Not unnaturally, the police suspect a local resident, but they say they have not enough evidence. AFTER THEI DISCOVERY. GRTTESOMifc SIGHT IN THE KITCHEN, Thomas Bodman, who is a labourer living a few hundred yards away in tbe, village of Began, and who was one of the first at the scene, is able to give evidence which locates within an hour ths time at which the foul deed was committed. In the course of an interview with a press representative Bodman said, "It was at one o'clock on Saturday when I left my work, which waa in a field above Mullen Cottage. Going home I passed within a hundred yards of the cottage, and then noticed that the front door was open. I didn't see anybody about. and went on home, getting there a few minutes later. It was about 3.30 that Morris Evans came running down to my house and asked me if I would come over to the Mullen with him, saying, 'Something bad has happened to the old lady.' I went off with him, and as we vent along the road he said. 'She's really dead.' In the road we met Charles Rowlands, whom Morris had previously summoned, and we three set off to the cottage. We went in tho back way and got into the back kitchen, from which a flight of stone steps leads up'to front part of the house, the floor of which is higher than the back. because the house stands on the hillside. On the top of these steps., just fjnside the kitchen we found the poor old woman. Her feet were within a yard of the top of the steps leading from the back ditchen. Her head was lying towards the fireplace. The body was lying on its side. and her wress was up nearly to her knees. Her forehead was all battered in, and there was a gash at the side of her throat. Beneath her head was a big pool of blood, and there was also blood about on the top of the steps leading from the back kitchen. The body was at the time quite warm. There was no fire at the time in the kitchen. On my suggestion, Morris Evans went off for the police, and Charles Rowlands and I remained. About three-quarters of an hour later Morris Evans came back, bringing with him Sergeant Cook and Police-constable Norri? from the St. Mellon's Police-station. We left the body exactly as we had found it, and they set to work to look for tracks around the house. At length they found a footprint, and placed a stone over it. It was getting dusk by that time. and search was difficult. The back door, of course, was on the latch when we entered, but we subsequently found that the front door was locked on the inside, and that the key was in the door. WOULDN T HAVEl A "r A TCH- DOG." INtEBBSTING TALE OF A NEIGHBOUR, A quarter of a mile from the scene of the tragedy lives a farm labourer named Ratcliffe and his wife. As nearest neighbours of the deceased they of ten called upon her. and it was Mrs. Ratcliffe's custom on Saturday, when Miss Williams was away, to call at the cottage and see the old lady. In consequence of the rain on Saturday last, however, Mrs. Ratcliffe did not pay her accustomed visit, and it waa not until four o'clock on Saturdayaafternoon that she was hastily summoned to the scene. "It's frightened us terribly up here," said Mrs. Ratcliffe to an inquiring pressman, "and you may be sure that in future I shall take care to have an extra watch-dog." "Wasn't there a watch-dog at Mullen Cot- tage?" "No, there wasn't, unhappily, or poor Mrs. Williams might be alive still." ''But isn't it extraordinary that in a lonely place like that they should not have "It is; but the reason was that Mrs. Williams didn't like dogs. She had lived there for forty years without one, and she never had any fear. I'm sure I've often suggested to her that she ought to have a watch-dog to protect her when her daughter was out, but she used to say 'Oh, pot; no. no, I'm all right.' Why it's only a fortnight ago that her grandson, who now lives in Arabella-street, Cardiff, was talking to heir about it. and offered if she would have a watch- dog to pay the licence for her, but she only replied, 'No, no; I can't be bothered with a dog.' "Mrs. Williams, added Mrs. Ratcli "was a very bright, happy old lady, and always cheerful. She was a short, rather broad woman, and very active for her age. Only a fortnight ago she was at the Methodist Chapel, of which she was a member, at St. Mellon's. "Have yon any suggestion to make as to who can have done this thing. Probably, some tramp. I suppose? On this point Mrs. Ratcliffe was emphatic. "No," she replied, "I don't believe it was a tramp that did it. I should say it is much more likely to have been someone who knew the daughter's movements, and who knew that Mrs. Williams was alone on Saturdays, because on that day her daughter always went in to Cardm to market. She takes in eggs to sell, and brings back the week's provisions." Mrs. Ratcliffe added that deceased was very much respected in the village and district, where she was known by everyone as "the old Queen." She worn born in Michaelstone-y-Vedw parish, but for nearly all her life has lived here. WHAT A BUS-DRIVER WAS TOLD. The driver of the brake that runs on Satur- day between the Clifton Arms, Roath, and St. Mellons, in reply to questions put to him, said, "On Saturday morning when I drove out from Cardiff I took in my brake a stranger whom I had never seen before. When I came back in the evening, leaving St. Mellons between nine and ten o'clock the same man got in. He was sitting near me. Conversation tiired up- on the murder. The man seemed quite in- terested in it. and told me in an excited man- ner all about it; he even told me how the woman was lying when found. He told me that he himself had seen the body lying there in the house. It waji the first I had heard of these particulars. The man did not get out of the brake until he got to Cardiff, and where he went to then I don't know. What his business i was in St. Mellons I've no idea; but I do know that he was a stranger in this part, and it seems strange now when one thinks about it that he should appear to know more about the murder than anyone eJse." STRANGE STORY. OF A DOG'S UNEASINESS. A remarkable story was told by a shepherd in the employ of Mr. Thomas Williams, tenant of Maesycrocha Farm, to press representa- tive. It appears t.hat early on Saturday after- noon this shepherd was with his dog walking in a field on the top of the hill, about 200 yards from Mullen Cottage. On a sudden," he said, my dog began to get restless, and barked, and then. pricking up his ears, ran off towards the cottage as hard as he could go. I could see the cottage, and I saw my dog run in at the front gate and up tothe front door, which was locked. He barked furiously, but, failing to get in. came back to me again. Of course, I thought nothing of it. at the time, but I have bNn thinldng of it ever since, and. knowing what wonderful hearing these dogs have, and what strong powers of scent, I can but believe that that dog either heard cries of distress or scented something, and that that was the cause of his agitation. It must, moreover. have been just about that time that. the murder was committed." DISTRICT DISMAYED. The news of the tragedy, naturally, fpeedily spread through the countryside, and by mid- day on Sunday large numbers of people began to gather in the vicinity. The county police authorities, anticipating this, and also, of course, with a view to keeping a look-out for any suspicious persons in the visinity, tele- graphed for assistance to the police-stations in the district, and men from Bassaleg, Risca, and Machen and Castleton were on the spot by mid-day. The entrances to the little garden which surrounds Mullen Cottage were all carefully guarded. Being thus denied access, the crowd assembled in the field oppo- site the house, large numbers visiting the scene and silently looking on until dusk. Possible Glue. Pale and Agitated Stranger. WHO KNEW ALL ABOTTT IT. Late on Sunday evening a pressman had an interview with Mr. Rees. of the White Hart Hotel. St. Mellon's, who related the following narrative — "On Saturday evening just as the last 'bus was about, to leave St. Mellon s for Cardiff a man cam in asked fa:, a. bottle of beer. My daughter was in the bar, and she noticed that he looked very pale, and she was also im- pressed with his agitated manned. He drank the beer. and immediately slipped out again. Had it not been for his very while appearance he would have commanded no attention. He was dressed in dark grey clothes, and he wore a cap. He was of slight build, and he must have been about 5ft. Sin. in height. He was a youngish man. and dark eomplexioned, but, as I said before, very pale. He had a dark moustache, but was otherwise clean shaven. It was evident from the time that he left that he was going by the laet break back to Cardiff. I am siire that he was a stranger, for we get to know nil the people that live about here, and his facestruck me at once as being unfamiliar. WHERE THE MURDER WAS DONE. The Mullen Cottage is situate on a piece of rising ground overlooked by Cefn Mably. It stands about 150 yards off the parish road— which is known locally as the Began-road— and in order to approach it one has to cross a field and walk along a little bridge, con- sisting of a, single plank, which spans a deep brook, now considerably swollen by recent rains. The cottage was at some distant period the humble homestead of a farm, but it has since been detached from the Maesycrocnan holding and been let separately. It is a small thatched house, with two apartments ou the ground floor, viz.. a sitting-room or front kitchen, and a back kitchen, together with a sort of iumber or store place, and two bedrooms above. There are two separate entrances, one at the back and the other at the front. Outside the front door there is a path running up through the field, leading to another cottage, orcupiea by Mr. and Mrs. Radcliffe, who were Mr. Williams's nearest neighbours. Their house is about 300 yards distant from the Mullen The little group of houses known as Began Village are about a quarter of a mile down the road nearer to Cefn Mably. "Mullen" suggests a corruption of "Mellon," the name of the saint after whom the parish is called. The house stands in an enclosure of fences, and in the midst of about half an acre of orcharding. At the lower end of the plot is a well-arranged piggery occupied by a couple of grunters. The house has additional loneliness added to it by standing clo&e along- side a thickly-wooded plantation, which would afford cover for any miscreant to secrete him- self in. The apples, large and red, were hang- ing from the trees in the orchard when the notoriety of the scene attracted scores of visitors from the country-side to congregate around the place with the curiosity insepar- able from such awful occurrences. It was at the Mullen Cottage that Mrs. Williams was born. Shp left it when in her teens. She went out to service, but returned to the old place when she married, and lived there for more than half a century. She leaves two daughters to mourn for a murdered mother— Elizabeth. Williams, who lived at home, and a married daughter, who resides at Swansea. PREVIOUS MUKDER IN ST MELLON'S. A ROMANTIC STORY OF 26 YEARS AGO. It is just over a quarter of a century since the last great crime was committed at St. Mellon's. Unlike the present tragedy, the crime of James Gibbs had in it a strain of romance that lifted it out of the sordid murder wrought for greed of ga.in. For it was a story which contained two women and one mall-a. woman too many. The Squire of Llan- rumney wanted a butler, and the successful applicant was James Gibbs, of Windsor, who said that he was unmarried—a qualification insisted on by Mr. Williams. the squire. But Gibbs was really a married man, and he got lodgings for his wife with a Mrs. Mahoney in a court which now occupies the aide of the St. John's square end of the Queen- street Arcade, Cardiff. Mrs. Gibbs was a. good looking woman, amiable in dis- position and industrious to a degree. She was often visited by her hitfband on his frequent journeys i,nto Cardiff, and the time passed as pleasantly as could be expected In circumstances which necessitated the man con- cealing the fact that he was married. But Gibbs lived a double life in a sense not for a long time suspected by his wife. He fell in love with a young Welsh barmaid in a public-house in St. Mellon's. On her side the affection was pure and faithful, for in the neighbourhood Gibbs was looked upon as a single man. Whether Mrs. Gibbs heard of this love-making or not is not known, but it is certain that she began evincing a desire to live nearer to her husband, and she proposed to take a cottage or a room or two in St. Mellon's. Gibbs objected, and pointed out the danger of such a step, but the wife insisted, and in the end the man reluctantly gave way. So one day Mrs. Gibbs bade an affectionate farewell to the good- hearted old Irishwoman with whom she had lived in Rowe-aquare, and left for St. Mellon's. A couple of days later Gibbs called for some things which his wife had left in a box. All he took were letters which he had written to her during her stay with Mrs. Mahoney. Gibbs called once again, and each time told Mrs. Mahoney that his wife was well and happy. A couple of weeks later a farmer in St. Mellon's was out looking for a lost sheep, and was at- tracted to a briary corner of a field where bis dog began barking wildly. Here in a ditch the farmer came upon the dead body of a woman badly decomposed. In the subsequent proceedings the identification of the woman was followed by the arrest of Gibbs. who em- phatically protested his innocence. Mrs. Mahoney's evidence was, of course, important, but she was able to testify that during the time Mrs. Gibbs lived at her house the rela- tions of husband and wife were affectionate and of unvarying pleasantness. But circum- stance upon circumstance turned up, till the whole crime was disclosed from its first cause to the final ending. There was no shadow cf doubt a-3 to the man's guilt, yet Gibbs pro- tested his innocence all through, and even on the scaffold at Usk his last words were that he was going to an unjust doom.

ALARMING EXPLOSION AT WOLVERHAMPTON. THIRTY YARDS OF PAVEMENT BLOWN UP. On Saturday night there was an explo- Ro0n> -Ps at Wolverhampton, in Great Enck-kiln-street. Owing to a leakage three cellars were tilled with gas. The explosion blew up thirty yards of pave- ment, and set fire to the houses. About UiCy yards of new electric cable laid under the pavement was destroyed.

On the Stock Exchange. L LONPON, Saturday. Consols unchanged. Rupee paper steady:- Rise: Three-and-a-Halfs 3. Kime Rajils firmer :-Rise: Caledonian 1. Great Western and Midland Deferred J. Great Northern Deferred i, Great Eastern. Hull and Brri'siey. and Dover "A" i. Fall: Chatham Preference 1. Americans E't.rong: -Rise: Baltimore 24, Mil- waukee 2, Denver Preference 2, Union Pacific 1J, Chesapeake H, Norfolk Common it Nor- thern Pacific 1, Erie Preference li. AUSTRALIAN. INDIAN, &c. Op. Cl. op. (n. Asso. G1<1 W.A. 3% I.alte View Con. lift BroVenHill Pro. 51/0 Lake View So'th Brown Hill Ex I li L01. A G-l. Fi* ?!/< Bkirbnks ,B'thd'y lZ. Mysere Centra.! & West Nun<iydro»g 3* Boulder Oorejjam Ord. 5% Chaffers 10/0 Do. Prel' 5& Champion lieef. 5 Peakbill G»>Wfls 4% tilden HorspShop 10% Sons of Gwalia.. 4Vc J>o l.inks l,f VV.Aus. 2& Grea Boulder. 28/0 Ilio Tint*. 57*4 Do P's've'uce 9!> Anacenda 04 Hanmn's B. Hill 4% M#nt T<y«ll Ntli. Z'k H OrojM 1 Bost#n Copper., & Ivanhoe 10 Copper King Kalgurli 5$. Utah f>% Do North ft r,e Koi 7$. Do South Ashanti 21% L»dy Siip'itcm MINING- (SOUTH AFRICAN) Op. Cl. Op. 01. Auyelo 6% ILaaKlaagte 3% Anglo-FrenchEr 3% iLuip'rds Vi'Nw Ik Apex 6% lM'sDt'nA.lèAgcy 2% Barnato Consols 2 iMht 4^ British S. Africa Mat'beleGoliR 5'^ (Chartered) 3& |MeyerACkarlta 5 City h Snbiirhan 5% iik. 18% ConsdGldfids «f Do *'B" 3* S. Africa. Def. 7ft [New Primrone.. 3$ Crown Reef 15% j Nigel 3Vc De Ueers 28f$. lOeea.na Consd.. 1 ft D'rbftn K'odep't 5% !Randfoutein 3 Ea.AtIta.nd I'k (Rand Mmes 3914 Kerreira 2011 i ReitCo..tein 1t\- Geelons: 1% Robinson 8% GuTdenliitis 6% [Rose Deep. 8^ D«. I>eep 9% |,SnJisbury 2% GHeueairn IS [Selukwe 2ii Globe & Phaenix 5^ jShefea. 1 is Hend'r 'n Trsvl 1 [Simmer & Jack. 6% Henry Nourse 8% S. Afric G»ldTs Heriot 6% Ts-ti Cemcession 1S« Jagrersfontcin 36% iTransvaal Gol«L 2% Joujinssbrjf.Iuvt 1-J} IVauRyii 3% Jubilee 5% j Village Mainref 8-4 Jumper W'emmer lift Kjeinfontein 2& 4% Knight 5%

JJE NET J. T HOMAS, STOCK AND SHARE DEALER, THE EXCHANGE, CARDIFF. Telegra.ms-" Preference," Cardiff. Telephones -1,169 Nat., 106 P.O. eSM

LIFT TO HADES." EXTRAORDINARY SUICIDE AT A WEST-END HOTEL. A barman at the Station Hotel, Bramley- road, Kensington, named Frank Houghton, jumped from his bedroom window last Mon- day, and, falling on to the pavement, broke his legs and fractured his ribs and pelvis. He was taken to the hospital, where he died of shock following the injuries. At the inquest on Saturday it was stated 'that he was delirious from influenza. at the time, and had been ordered by the doctor to keep to his room. Before his death he was asked why he did it. and he stated: "He was after me. I was getting out of a spiral lift on my way to Hades, but I don't know how I shall get there now." The jury found that the deceased jumped out of the window during delirium through ill- ness, and returned a verdict of "Death from misadventure."

HOSPITALS COMMISSION, Mrs. Richard Chamberlain writes to Uw "Morning Leader" of her evidence before the Hospitals Commission. She Says;- I had carefully prepared a "statement of evi- dence" for the Commission, not only in order to save the time of the Commissioners. bat to be exact as to my facts. To my surprise, Sir* Robert Somer asked me no question as to the fonn in which I should like to give my evi- dence. and. with this document before me. Re' gave m3 no opportunity of reading- it. I broushb forward three cases of Army doc- tors. who had been removed from hospital for drunkenness, being sent horn in cfearge of sick and wounded on transports. I was asked the question-—Do you not think that out of the large number of doctors in Somth, Africa three is a very small number to be guilty of this?" Now. that had nothing to do with the matter. My point was that it was a disgra-cefol thing1 for the Army Medical Department, even in a, single instance. I was, at least, a witness who must know something.

SINGULAR DISCOVERY AT CARDIFF. We are informed by the police that in the, early hours of Monday morning the body of a young- man, named Loxdale. was found lying in an unconscious condition in Gordon-road. He vas taken tip, but died soon afterwards. Particulars are wanting, but it is alkged that deceased had jumped out of tihe wiudow of No. 1. in which house it- is stated he was residing.

RUM AND MILK," An eccentric old lady of 70 at Liverpool bas drunk herself to death. It was stated at the inquest that she darnk 940 of liquor a year- a sum which she used to receive from London under a deceased sister's will. She lived in a room aJone, and communicated with her land* lady by knocking on the floor. Her last knock was for rum and milk.

LIKES PRISON. The Worship-street Court Missionary tellip the story of a woman who applied at that police-court for a summons against her hus- band for arrears of payments under an order of separation. She said:- He came out of prison two weeks age after being there for two months; he told tie > preferred going to prison to paying me money. a.s it was only like going to a oonvnt. home. Such was the story, comments Mr. Matsey,. of ih is poor struggling wife, whose husband has found out an easy method )f escaping; the responsibility of supporting his wife and family by occasionally being sent to a plae called prison, but which, to his delight, he finds to be a home of rest.

VAIN OBJECTIONS. At Southwark a working man applied for a certificate of exemption under the Vaccination Act. Mr. Nairn (chief clerk): What is your objec- tion ? The Applicant: I have no faith in vaccina- tion. Mr. Nairn: That is not the proper objection, The Applicant: My common-sense is ag-ainst it. Mr. Nairn: That is not an objection under the Ae-tfl The Applicant: My moral courage it against it.' Mr. Nairn; Nor will that do. Look up the Act, and renew your application.

TOO LATE-TO CLASSIFY. sale": _saleTi GENUINE JEWELLERY AND PLATE SALE AT 32, HieH t..w' (Near the Cardiff Castle). BIG DROP IN PRICES. INSPECTION Impossible to Bny Elsewhere at the Prioe. GOODS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION ON 8ÅLW Efery Article Guaranteed. Note the Addreiis- S. PHILLIPS, Jeweller, 32, HIGH-ST., (NEAR THE CARDIFF CASTLE), CARDIFF. Rarg! Baifams to be obtained. mm