Rhondda Leader Maesteg Garw and Ogmore Telegraph

Jack William3 in Trouble. Charged with Street Obstruction. Breezy Hearing at Ystrad. The notorious Jack Williams, of Lon- don's Unemployed Marchers" fame, figured in a less romantic role at Ystrad Police Court on Monday. Williams was charged with having committed an obstruction of the highway at Tonypandy on Saturday, 18th September. The pro- ceedings! attracted a large number of defendant's sympathisers, who followed the evidence and the cross-examination of Williams with marked interest—and, sometimes, amusement. Defendant, who was legally unrepresented, conducted his own defence. P.O. Henry said that at 7.25 p.m. on the night in question he saw defendant in Gelli Road, Tonypandy, addressing a crowd of people numbering about 200. The road was completely obstructed, making it impossible for vehicular or pedestrian traffic to pass. At 7.35, when a cart failed to get through, witness spoke to Williams, and asked him to discontinue the meeting. Williams replied that he could not stop, and that witness would have to go through the process of sum- moning him. Some of the crowd there- upon cried v Shame," whereupon they were admonished by defendant, who said, Don't do that; the policeman is only doing his duty." Witness then informed the defendant that he would be reported, and Williams continued to address the meeting until 8.47. Defendant: May I ask under what clause of the Highway Act this summons was issued? Major Davies (magistrates' clerk); The Highway Act, 1870, Section 72. Defendant then proceeded to cross- examine the officer.. You! say you were there at 7.30?—Yes. Was there a real obstruction?—Yes. Was the footpath obstructed?—Yes. Is it not a fact that on one side of the road there are some 1,500 bricks stacked? Witness replied that there was a num- ber of bricks stacked up against the hoarding of the new Empire. Are they not obstructing the road?— The passengers and carts are able to pass. Is it not a fact that you asked the carman, whom you say was obstructed, to drive through the crowd on that road ? —No. Why did you not produce that carman ? —I didn't think it was necessary. Is that the way you build up your case ? If the carman, as you say, was obstructed, why did you not bring him here as wit- ness to-day? Witness said that if he. stopped the carman to ascertain his name and address he would cause a, greater crowd to collect. Is it not a fact that meetings are con- tinually held at this spot?—I won't say continually," but the road has been used for meetings. The Stipendiary: What meetings are held there ? Witness: The Salvation Army hold meetings there. The Stipendiary: Are these meetings held on Saturday nights ?-No. They hold their meetings, on Sunday nights and one week-night, but not on Saturdays. Defendant: Is there anybody else hold- ing meetings there?—I have not seen any others there. Have you interfered with the Salvation Army meetings?—No. Only with this Socialist meeting?— That was because you obstructed the road. Do you know that the Free Church

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Mid-Rhondda. The half-yearly services in connection with Shiloh (Welsh Wesleyan) Chapel, Tonypandy, were held on Sunday and Monday last. The preachers were Mrs. Lloyd (evangelist), Ferndale, and the Rev. R. Mon Hughes, Portmadoc. Powerful and impressive sermons were delivered to large congregations, and we are' pleased to understand that the meetings were a success in every way. The Mid-Rhondda Free Churches are now busily engaged in making prepara- tions for the Federation meetings, which are to be held in November. Some of the foremost Free Church leaders in the country have been engaged, and a rare treat may be expected. We understand that the Treorchy Royal Choir has already been engaged to give a grand concert at a very early date in Mid-Rhondda. We feel sure all music- lovers will be pleased to have an oppor- tunity of hearing this famous party, especially after their successful Colonial tour.

Colliery Boy to Insurance Superintendent. Mr. W. H. Bevan, Treorchy. The Insurance Mail of Saturday last contained an appreciative sketch of Mr.. W. H. Bevan, superintendent of the- London, Edinburgh and Glasgow Assur- ance Company at Treorchy. Mr. Bevan. is an old Pentre boy, and before adopting his present profession, was employed as a miner at the local collieries. Since- taking to insurance, he -has, through sheer merit and force of character, made rapid strides in his profession, and is regarded as one of the keenest business men in the Rhondda. Mr. Bevan's activities are not entirely confined to his own business. He is an active member of the Wesleyan Church at Treorchy, and secretary of the Treorchy Town Brass Band. He also takes a keen interest in the public work. of the town. Mr. W. H. BEVAN. Says the Insurance Mail":—•" Mr. W. H. Bevan, superintendent of the London, Edinburgh and Glasgow at Tre- orchy, started as a spare-time agent in that district in September, 1897. During the coal strike of 1898 he was offered and accepted a L5 debit. After three years in the agency ranks—during which time he built his debit up to £ 9, together with a substantial increase in both ordinary and accident premiums-he was promoted to the superintendency of Landore. But his removal proved to be temporary, for when only eight months had passed he was asked to accept greater responsi- bility, with the result that he returned to Treorchy, which then had a, debit of £70. Remarakble progress. The saying that 'a prophet hath no honour in his own country has not been true in Mr. Bevan's experience, for during the seven years that he has been in charge of the district he has made remarkable progress each year' in the industrial, ordinary and accident branches. On three occasions his district has been divided, and Mr. Bevan has the credit of having trained several agents who are at present success- ful superintendents of the company. He attributes his success to the good training which he received from Mr. J. Slee, Bristol, and also from his district manager, Mr. E. Edwards, Pontypridd. Having great faith in the business, he is a source of encouragement to his men, and he also possesses the happy knack of getting the best out of his agents without worrying: them. Prizes won. It is evident that Mr. Bevan is adding to his laurels, for in a recent issue of the divisional honour list, which comprises 122 districts, his name appeared seventh on the list for ordinary premiums paid, and eleventh for indus- trial increase. Many prizes have been awarded to him for his excellent results, the more recent ones being the general manager's prize, jE5 5s., for May last, and also the general manager's prize, £5 5s., for the best all-round results for the following month; in addition to which he won a cheque offered by Mr. Slee, resident secretary, Bristol, and a cheque for industrial increase from the district manager. The high appreciation of Mr. Bevan's services has been merited, and we congratulate him on what he has already accomplished, and join with his many friends in wishing him increasing1 prosperity.

Chilly October Nights. HOW TO ESCAPE THROAT & CHEST TROUBLES. With the arrival of "chill October, comes the beginning of the bad weather season, when the cold rain and winds bring, in their train coughs, colds, sore throats, bronchitis, and other all too common ailments of the throat and chest. To keep Peps handy is the surest safe- guard against the perils of chilly October iilght6, Few people even to-day realise' how serious a matter' the catching of a cold or chill ma" be, although very many sufferers from chronic bronchitis and asthma owe their trouble to neglect when catching cold through getting wet, or getting a chill on the chest because of the sudden weather changes. The dis- covery of Peps, however, opens the path; of deliverance even to the chronic sufferer; Peps are a unique concentration of the- particular natural substances which. Nature has furnished for the cure of. human throat and chest trouble, and their action embodies Nature's own way to the lungs. As a Peps tablet dissolves in the mouth, the curative fumes which, it emits are inhaled with the breath. They bathe the air-passages and have the' most soothing and healing influence. Liquid cough-mixtures are merely swallowed into the stomach, and conse- quently do not reach the lungs at all. Peps are unique in that they go direct to the seat of throat and chest disease. Peps also contain no opium, chloral, nor any of the other harmful drugs to be found in cough-mixtures and cheap lozenges. Keep your box of Peps always handy— by your bedside for that troublesome night cough. A course of these splendid tablets will entirely cure bronchitis, and prevent a return, of those attacks that 'have been getting worse year by year. Sold by all chemists, 1/H or 2/9 per box,

Maesteg. Wesleyan Chapel.—The half-yearly ser- vices of this church were held on Sunday and Monday last, when the pulnit was occupied by the Rev. T. H. Johns, of Tondu, who delivered powerful sermons throughout the services.

Council hold 20 meetings in the course of the season at this spot?—I cannot say. The Salvation Army I.L.P., Free Church Council, and the Church Socialist League hold meetings there, and the Socialists are the only body against whom summons are issued. In the eyes of all fair men it must look as if this is due to a prejudice against Socialists. P.C. Bignall corroborated. Defendant, on oath, said that he addressed this meeting held by the .Social Democratic Club. He was informed that meetings were held on this particular spot, and he resolved to address this meeting on behalf of the Social Demo- cratic Party of the district. After speak- ing for, some time, he saw what he thought was a deliberate move on the part of the constables to ask a carman to drive through the meeting. After he did so, the crowd did not obstruct the passage of the cart. That cart went up, and soon after' another passed down, and neither had to stop. Anyone coming to that spot, proceeded defendant, would find that the road was not much used on a Saturday night. Other people used it to hold meetings, and the Social Demo- cratic Party thought they had a perfect right to use it. Under cross-examination by Inspector Edwards, defendant said that he stood on his own right in addressing this meet- ing, and claimed the right of free speech in a free country. John Hughes, check weigher, Tony- pandy, was called to give evidence by the defendant. HugheLs said that he was chairman of this particular meeting. He was not a member of the Social Demo- cratic Party, but as he was a sympathiser, someone asked him to take charge of the meeting. He saw no obstruction what- ever at the meeting. He had been pre- sent at meetings on this same spot on a ,is hundred different occasions, the meetings being held by Trinity Church, Free Church Council, the I.L.P., and the Church Socialist League. He denied that a horise and cart had to be led through the people on the night of the alleged obstruction. The driver stood in his cart and drove through without any difficulty. Witness had been hitherto interrogated by the Bench and defendant said that he most emphatically protested against this procedure. In all his experience of Police Courts, he said, he had never seen a case being conducted as this one was. Hughes was his own witness, and yet he was being examined by the Bench before he (defendant) had examined him. The Stipendiary said the Bench were not examining witness; they were only assisting in his examination-in-chief. In reply to defendant,, witness said that the Rev. James Nicholas and the Rev. Ben Wilson had been addressing larger crowds on this spot. Defendant said he would like to ask the Magistrates' Clerk when was this road adopted as a highway. The Stipendiary It is for you to prove that it isn't a highway. Defendant: With all due respect to you, sir, I am summoned for an obstruc- tion of the highway and it is for you to show that it is a highway. Abraham Glass, collier, Clydach Vale, said that he was selling literature amongst the crowd addressed by defendant. It was not a very large crowd, and he could move about freely. The Stipendiary: How much did you make by selling literature? Defendant: Not enough to pay off the National Debt (loud laughter). After calling further witnesses, the defendant addressed the Bench, and denied the charge. Nobody, he said, had been interfered with at this spot before, and he himself had no desire to create obstruction. They were a body of work- men and could not afford to hire halls, and in order to reach the workmen they were obliged to hold these meetings. In this age of progressive thought, he con- tinued, it was a shame to nut the law into motion for the sake of the miserable thing that occurred on that Saturday night, and to pick out one individual whilst the others were allowed to go scot free. The Free Church Council, the Salvation Army, the I.L.P., and the Church Socialist League had held meet- ings at this spot, and the only conclusion that he could arrive at was that his par- ticular doctrines were aimed at. If they were going to convict him, others would think that the Bench were making fish of one and fowl of the other. Mr. T. P. Jenkins: You have no right to make that remark. Defendant said he did not use the term in any way to disparage the Bench, but in the face of the evidence given that was the only conclusion the ordinary man would arrive at. He asked their wor- ships to dismiss the charge. The Stipendiary, in summing up, said The Bench have given careful considera- tion to this case. We have no desire to curtail free speech—we are as much custodians of free speech as you are. The Bench, however, have to take into con- sideration the conditions of the streets on Saturday nights. We take strong exception to your allegation of discrimina- tion in the police, which is entirely un- warranted. Each case comes before us, and it is considered entirely on its merits. The Bench are unanimous that the case is made out, but we take into account the fact that you did not know the dis- trict. We find that the obstruction was very small, and we propose dealing with you under the Probation Offenders' Act, 1907, and discharge you with a caution. An attempt to raise a cheer in Court was instantly quelled, but as Williams passed out of the Court into the street, hearty cheers were given by a large num- ber of sympathisers who remained out- side during the hearing.