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GLAMORGAN ASSIZ ES.

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GLAMORGAN ASSIZ ES. Penygraig Slander Case. A CHAPEL TREASURER'S ACTION", Thomas Griffiths, blacksmith, Penygraig claimed £100 damages from William Lewis, carpenter, Penygraig, for alleged slander. Mr .9 S. T. Evans, M.P. (instructed by Mr Hill-Male solicitor, Pontypridd), represented the plain- tiff. and Mr Arthur Lewis (instructed by Messrs Walter Morgan, Bruce, and Co., solicitors, Pontypridd), the defendant. It appears that plaintiff had filled the position of treasurer of Zoar Chapel. Ffrwdamos, Rhondda Valley. On July 6 last year the plaintiff alleged that the defendant falsely and maliciously said, in the pre-sence of several persons, "Pay back the E120 you stole from Zoar Chapel, Ffrwdamos, and write on the stone," meaning thereby that the plaintiff had stolen moneys entrusted to him as treasurer of the chapel. The plaintiff said that by reason of this statement he had been injured in his credit, and reputation. In answer to his lordship, the plaintiff said the coiiversation was carried on in Welsh. His Lordship then asked the plaintiff to repeat the alleged slander in Welsh. This the plain- tiff did, whereupon His Lordship said. "Well, 1 must say it takes a long time to repeat the statement, "Pay back the JE120 you stole from ZOär, Ffrwdamos. and write it on the stone" in Welsh. It takes a lot of Welsh to say ft little English. Mr S. T. Evans: He has said precisely the same in Welsh as he did in English. It is obvious he is speaking the truth. His Lordship: Of course, it is, but it was spoken in Welsh, and I wanted to hear it in tli-, language in which it was spoken. Mrs Margaret Francis, of Penygraig, who was obliged to give her evidence in Welsh, spoke as to hearing the slander mentioned. His Lordship asked the witness several ques- tions, in reply to which she said she was not related to either of the parties. Griffiths was a deacon at the chapel, of which she was a member, and Lewis belonged to nothing. el (Laughter). Cross-examined: The defendant was like a. "wild man" when he uttered those words. Mr Lewis, for the defence, said that no doubt the defendant had uttered those words. bu: be did not mean what he said. He spyoke them in the excitement of the moment, and during a quarrel as to alleged trespass by the defendant upon the plaintiff's property. His Lordship, in summing up the case, said th? actual words spoken in Welsh should have been set out in the statement of claim. They had. however, been given in evidence in the language they were spoken, and translated into words substantially the same as stated in the statement of claim. The jury found for the plaintiff, whom they awarded £ 5 damages. His Lordship entered judgment accordingly, with costs.

THE ALBION COLLIERY.