The Chester Courant and Advertiser for North Wales

A CHESTER WOMAN'S MYSTERIOUS END. ♦ FOUND DEAD IN STOCK'S LANE. The police have received information of the mysterious death of Maria. Culm, a well-known Chester woman, living at 19, Parry's Entry. It appears that on Friday deceased left her house at eleven o'clock in the morning. She was seen again in the evening at the Foresters' Arms, Boughton, where she had a glass of whisky, and subsequently she was noticed going in the direction of Stock's-lane, in company with a man. She was found there dead by a man named John Parkinson. Deceased was a widow, aged 59. THE INQUEST. Mr. Ernest Brassey, the city coroner, opened an inquest on the body at the Town Hall on Saturday evening. The first witness was Herbert Culm, son of the deceased, who said he was a sign-writer, living in Hoole-lane. The deceased, who had lodged at 19, Parry's-entry for over twelve months, was the widow of the fate Thomas Culm, sign writer, and had been a dressmaker casually for years. Witness last saw her alive about eight o'clock on Thursday morn- ing. when she was in good health, as far as aDDearances went. The CORONER: I don't want to ask you any questions that are not absolutely necessary, but was your mother a sober woman latterly ?— Witness: Well, I have never seen her actually in drink. She was a teetotaller for years ?- Yes, some years ago, prior to the death of my father. How long have you lived away from her ?— For eight years. When did the last of the family cease to live with her ?-That I could not say—probably three years ago. Did you latterly see enough of your mother to know exactly how she was living ?-No, I have not. Was she receiving support from any of the family ?-Yes, I allowed her a trifle every week. Do you know of any reason why she should be in the direction of Stock's-lane ?-Not the slightest. Did you ever hear of any man keeping com- pany with her, or anything of that kind ?-No, never. She has never spoken to you about anybody threatening her ?-No; in fact, I did not hear of her death until 8.30 this morning. Do you happen to know whether your mother was in any regular employment of any kind at her death, or how she was earning the rest of the money to keep her ?-No, sir, I don't. You don't know, say, for the last fortnight or three weeks, whether she was doing anything or not ?-No. Was it the drink question which caused the family to separate ?-Yes, I think it was. I would like to say that my sister bad an appoint- ment with my mother at nine o'clock last night at the end of City-road, and that was to consider my mother's future. My sister was there, and waited an hour. Dr. Giffen stated that on the previous evening about eight o'clock a boy came and asked him to go and see a woman who he said ° HAD BEEN BUN OVER in Stock's-lane. He found her more than half- way down the lane, lying in the roadway, with her head towards the hedge, and her feet towards the centre of the road. She was on her back, her arms were at her sides, and one leg was bent. # L- The CORONER iii(i sne appear TO nave oeeu straightened out ?—Witness She was perfectly j straight when I saw her. Not in an attitude you would expect to find directly after a fall or a blow ?—No. Continuing, Dr. Giffen said he did not see the deceased's spectacles which he understood she habitually wore, nor her bonnet. The night was a dark one, but with the aid of a candle he made a ] cursory examination of the body, and having satisfied himself the woman was dead, ordered her removal to the mortuary. The body was quite warm, and the deceased must have died within an hour of his seeing 1 her. On again examining the body at the mortuary that afternoon, he found there was a slight abrasion on each elbow and on the lower lip. On the right side of the head, about two and a half or three inches above the ear was a wound about an inch and a half long, penetrating to the bone. It was impossible to say whether this wound was fatal without a post-rnoytein examination. A Juror Can you give us any idea how this large wound was caused?—Witness: Not the slightest. The CORONER J I shall postpone any question on that point until we see the nature of it. It may have been possibly caused by the step of a trap. A Juror Did there appear to have been any signs of a struggle ? Witness: Not that I saw it was quite dark at the time. George Emerson, landlord of the Foresters' Arms, Christleton-road, deposed that he had known the deceased all his lifetime. She came to his house about seven o'clock the previous night perfectly sober, and in her usual health. She bad a glass of whisky, and stayed about ten minutes. She complained that some one on Dee Banks owed her money for work she had done, and he understood from what she said that she was then going to Dee Banks to try and obtain it. Witness had never seen her in the company of a man in his life. A youth named John Parkinson, living at 17, Cross-street, was passing along Stock's Lane the previous night, when he met two girls named Thompson and Owens, residing on Dee Banks, who seemed rather frightened, and exclaimed, lij is a woman." Mr. Ellis, another witness, then came up and struck a match, when they identitied the deceased, who was lying in the position described by Dr. Giffen. The blood was oozing from her mouth, and he KNEW SHM WAS ALIVE from her breathing and the rattling in her throat. She died in witness' presence about twenty minutes afterwards. He could form no opinion as to whether the deceased was walking to or from Chester when she was struck. As witness was coming from Dee Banks he met Mr. Totty's fish-cart going very fast from Christleton-road towards the White House. There were no lights to the cart, but with the aid of a gas lamp witness recognised Mr. Totty himself as one of the two occupants. A cab also passed the spot while witness was there with the deceased. Her bonnet was found close to her, and looked as if it had been crushed. o Did there seem to you any sign of a struggle? —None whatever, but there were too many round for me to observe it. Sarah Evans, living at 21, North-street, also arrived at the spot directly after the deceased was discovered. She was alive, and when some- one struck a light and witness exclaimed It's Mrs. Culm," the deceased groaned. John Ellis, of Boughton Heath, was walking home down Stock's-lane behind the two girls mentioned by the witness Parkinson, when he heard moaning from the opposite side of the road, and found the deceased as stated. Previously, when turning the corner, he had observed a pony cart driving up Stock's-lane at a great speed, and without lights. He did not recognise the occupants. WHO WAS HER COMPANION ? Maria Reid, a married woman, residing at Mount Pleasant, Christleton-road, stated that on the previous evening she saw the deceased passing her house from the direction of Chester with gentleman. The CORONER Do you know him ?—Witness: No, sir, I do not. Have you seen him before?-No. Can you describe him ?—He was an elderly gentleman. I should think over 60. What class of life did he belong to ?-Well, ha looked very respectable. He had a frock coat on as far as I could see. Did you see anything more of him ? I only heard her laughing, and she pulled his coat. I wondered what he was doing with her. I thought he was a very respectable-looking gentleman to be walking down there. By a J uror I did not notice if the gentleman carried a walking stick. I should say, by the way the deceased was laughing, that she bad had a little drink. At this stage the inquiry was adjourned until to-day (Wednesday), for a post-mortem examination, and to enable the police to make further investigations. It has subsequently tran- spired that the deceased's spectacles were found in her pocket.

HANDBRIDGE HARMONY, OR TWO TOTTYS AND THE MELODIOUS MELODEON. 0 William Buckley, of Handbridge, says he can perform on themelodeon. Therefore when, after shutting-uptime on Saturday night, he saw Saml. Totty playing one of those beautiful instruments he naturally wanted to have a go. Totty demurred, and things became lively. The sequel was police court proceedings on Friday morning. Buckley gave evidence to the effect that when he asked Totty to let him have a go,' he promised not to harm the melodeon. He used other persuasion in order to induce Totty to temporarily lend him the melodeon, but Totty, as a final answer, knocked Buckley down, and, with the assistance of his brother William Totty, kept him on the ground, badly hurting him. Buckley admitted having had three or four glasses of beer.—Mr. Brassey, who appeared for the brothers on a cross summons, said this was a most impudent case, as Bucfcley committed an absolutely un- provoked assault on the Tottys.—Evidence was called on both sides, and eventually each case was dismissed.

MR. MOSS, M.P., AT THE CHESTER LIBERAL CLUB. ♦ PRESENTATION OF A CHEQUE. On Thursday evening Mr. Samuel Moss, M.P., attended a congratulatory demonstration at the Chester Liberal Club. The CHAIRMAN (Alderman Charles Brown) said they had met to accord Mr. Moss their warmest and most sincere congratulations upon the victory he had achieved in East Denbighshire. It was a most unprecedented victory, for the poll was exceedingly great. Mr. Moss had won the fight owing in a great measure to his honest and straightforward conduct. (Applause.) He had the pleasure of knowing Mr. MOBS as a member of the Chester Town Council, and he hoped they would in future retain his services. (Applause.) They had heard of mayors being members of Parliament, and there was no reason why the House of Commons should not have a Mayor of Chester. (Applause.) He predicted that Mr. Moss would be Mayor of Chester, and yet sit in the House of Commons. The victory in East Denbighshire was a lesson to the Liberals of Chester, tor they Knew in Chester they had a majority of Liberal voters, and yet they returned a Conservative. If they became united they would in future return a Liberal member for Chester. (Loud applause.) Concluding, the chairman asked Mr. Moss to accept a cheque for a handsome sum as a slight assistance towards the great expense he had been put to in the election. (Applause.) Mr. Moss, in addressing the meeting, at the outset remarked that the present was a great surprise, and he thanked the Liberals of Chester for the kind expression of feeling that night. It was a good thing that one had friends in Cheshire who appreciated his work outside of the city, and he hoped the time would not be far distant when a meeting like that would congratulate a Liberal member for Chester. (Loud applause.) Dealing with the increased majority in East Denbighshire, Mr. Moss declared that the policy of the Government, and especially its foreign policy, was most distasteful to the electorate. The English newspapers had been asserting that East Denbighshire was led entirely by one man, the late Sir George Osborne Morgan, who was personally popular, )ut the electors naa snewn cnat tney were inxious, not only to pay a tribute to their late nember, but to shew that they stood firm to- hhe principles of which Sir George was so strong an advocate. (Cheers.) The desire for religious equality was another important 'actor in the contest (hear, hear), and mother circumstance which contributed to bhe splendid result w-as this, that the men in every polling district made themselves voluntary workers. They made it their own fight, so that every voter was canvassed and seen safely to the poll. (Hear, hear.) The Conservatives had been bad tacticians from first to last. Mr. Kenyon's programme was neither Liberal nor Conservative. At some of his meetings he bad unpopular chairmen, who did not understand Welsh, and did not know the wants of the mining population. The Conservatives, too, overdid the allegations of outrage against the Liberals, notwithstanding that Mr. Kenyon and his speakers admitted that neither he (Mr. Moss) nor the leaders of the Liberal party were responsible for the stone-throwing, and a great many of the electors determined to repudiate the charge at the ballot box. Finally, the Conservatives had under-estimated his (the speaker's) influence in the agricultural districts, and he believed the fact of his being a Nonconformist himself had secured for him the sympathies of the Noncon- formist electors of the division. (Cheers.)

EXEMPLARY SENTENCE ON POACHERS. 0 REMARKABLE DEFENCE. At Chester Castle Petty Sessions on Saturday, Joseph Williams and John Bailey, living in Chester, were charged with trespassing on land at Blacon-cum-Crabwall on the 24th September, in pursuit of game, which was found in their possession.—The defendant Bailey made no appearance, and Williams pleaded not guilty. P.S. Stubbs said at six o'clock on the morning in question, he saw three men climb over the hedge on Parkgate-road and cross the road. Two of them carried a bag over their shoulders. Presently one of them (Williams) turned round, and, noticing witness, give an alarm to his companions, and they all ran. Witness pursued them, and succeeded in capturing Bailey. On searching his bag, they found it contained twenty-one rabbits and a driving line.—Williams It is a case of mistaken identity, if not of wilful perjury. (Laughter.) I have witnesses in court who will prove that at this time I was in a different place.—The Clerk (Mr. W. H. Cburton): You want to prove an alibi ?-Defendant: Yes a 'habili.' (Laughter.) Defendant then called his witnesses.— Frank Pemberton stated that at half-past five on the morning mentioned, he was in company with Williams and another man named Aldersey, at Saltney.—The Clerk What were you all doing F-Witness: We had been poaching. (Laughter.)—Where ?—It won't do for me to tell you where. (Renewed laughter.) I will say he (Williams) was poaching with me. Questioned by the police officer, witness ad- mitted he had been convicted for poaching.— Defendant: Don't incriminate him.—William Aldersey stated that from the Thursday night till seven o'clock on the following morning he was in company with Williams. The Clerk What were you doing ?—Witness: Rabbit catching. (Laughter.)—The Clerk (to defen- dant) This is the very offence you are charged with.-Witness: We were going towards Hawarden. Emma Dean, Saltney, said Williams, with Aldersey and Pemberton, called at her house at half-past five that morning, and had breakfast.—The Clerk Why were they in your house at that time ?—Witness I decline to answer.—Why ?—That's my own private busi- ness. (Laughter.) What's your husband?- A general dealer.—John Clarke and William Challinor both deposed to meeting Williams about six o'clock that morning on Hough Green, on their way to work.- Defendant: There's no doubt I was poach- ing that night, but in a different direction. It is very hard charging me with the poaching of these men.—The Clerk You mean for poach- ing at the wrong place ? (Laughter.)—Sergt. Stubbs informed the Bench that the defendant Williams was well known to the police, who had had great trouble with him for years. He had no doubt Williams was one of the men he saw on Parkgate-road. He recognised the man perfectly, and shouted to him All right, Joseph, I know you."—The Bench, after a short retirement, decided to convict. They disbelieved the defence, which certainly, from defendant's own admission, was not creditable. There was a long list of previous convictions against him, and he had several times been fined £ 5.— Defendant: Before you sentence me, can I speak ? If you will adjourn the case I will subpoena as witnesses the men who were tres- passing at Blacon.—The Chairman You will be fined S5 and costs, or go to prison for two months. The ether man, Bailey, as, we believe, this is his first offence, will be fined 20s. and costs, or a month.—Defendant: I will appeal against the sentence. I don't intend to pay. What can I do pending this appeal ? I am a householder.—The Chairman: On account of your mention of an appeal, we will allow you a week to pay the fine.

A FATAL FOG.—Mr. William Morris, con tractor, and Mr. Peter Higham, farmer, of Shevington, Chorley, have been found drowned in the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. It is believed they accidentally fell in when walking home together during the prevalence of a dense fog.

ROBBERIES IN CHESTER. ———*——— A CLEVER YOUNG CRIMINAL. At the City Police Court, on Friday, before Messrs. H. R. Bowers, G. -Dutton, and H. Churton, Emily Duggie, a girl of thirteen, living at Rathbone-place, Watergate-row, was charged with stealing clothes from the persons of two smaller children.—Mr. Fen wick said the girl pawned the clothes after stealing them. On the 21st September she took a pair of boots and a blouse from a little son of William Lewis, Duke of York Inn, the boy having been sent to school; and she was also charged with taking a pair of boots from a girl named Jackson.— William Lewis, the father of the first-mentioned child, said he sent his boy to school on the 21st, and took him part of the way. He came home at half-past four without his boots or his blouse. The articles would be worth 3s. 6d. or 4s.—Owen Hudnott, pawnbroker's assistant, from the establishment of Mr. Dutton, said he received the articles first mentioned in pledge. The person who pledged them gave the name of Glogwell.—Mr. Fenwick How do you spell it? -Witness: I put it down as pronounced.—Mr. Fenwick You are a phonographer ?-Witness further stated that the girl brought a pair of boots at a later date, and gave the name of Jones.—Mr. Fenwick: Did you put that name down phonographically ?—Witness There's not much difficulty in spelling Jones.—Mr. Davison (the deputy clerk) Well, how do you account for the difference in the names ?- Wit- ness I only remember seeing her on one occasion. Mr. Fenwick Don't you think the pawnbroker's business is one of some responsibility ?-Yes.-Mrs. Harry Jackson said she sent her little girl, aged three, to play. She came in later without her boots.—It was here stated that the police had had a report that a pinafore had been taken from a little girl in the same way.—The mother of defendant, when asked, said she had nothing to say.—Mr. Davison: She could not have carried on this game without you knowing something about it.—Mr. Fenwick: The girl's father is a shoemaker.—The magistrates, in bind- ing the girl over to come up for judgment when called upon, said that if she came up again they would be obliged to send her to a reformatory.

DISCORD AMONG CHESTER ORGAN BUILDERS. 4 Though organ builders can make harmonious instruments, it is evident from a case heard at Chester County Court on Thursday by His Honour Sir Horatio Lloyd, that sometimes discord exists among themselves. Reginald Heber Whiteley, organ builder, living in Garden- lane, brought an action against his brother, Charles Higson Whiteley, and his nephew, John Henry Whiteley, organ builders, living on Sealand-road, to recover JE49 13s., wages and expenses alleged to be due. Mr. Brassey was for plaintiff, and Mr. Churton defended. Mr. Brassey said the claim ran from March, 1889, to April, 1893. In 1888 plaintiff was a kind of foreman in the employment of his brother, Charles H. Whiteley, who carried on a well- known business in the making and repairing of organs. The defendant, John H. Whiteley, was a young man about 26 or 27 years of age, and he was then a journeyman under plaintiff in busi- ness. In December, 1888, Charles H. Whiteley, the senior defendant, filed his petition in bankruptcy, and it was rather im- portant to notice that at that time there was not a Charles H. Whiteley, jun.; but since then a bogus Charles H. Whiteley, jun., had been put forward as the person to whom the firm belonged. Mr. Lipsham was appointed trustee in bankruptcy, and a dividend of 2s. 9d. was paid. Charles H. Whiteley had not applied for his discharge in bankruptcy, and a kind of theatrical performance had been gone through at the works. Mr. Lipsham tried to sell the business as a going concern, but could not, and eventually Miss Whiteley bought the furniture, and the son, John, bought some of the goods. Charles H. Whiteley told the present plaintiff Of course you will continue to work for John. He (Mr. Brassey) did not know whether the senior defendant winked his eye while saying that, but plaintiff would tell the court that his brother gave him to under- stand that John was only a dummy figurehead, and that the trade would be carried t, on nomi- nally for John, but really for the benefit of Charles, John being the journeyman, and Charles the man who had worked in the business for years, and had the reputation of being the organ builder. John, moreover, signed the cheques, but Charles filled them in. The object, of course, was that as Mr. Charles H. Whiteley was an undischarged bankrupt, in case he bad any debts owing to him or any arrears, the Official Receiver or the trustee might seize them. Charles H. Whiteley must either apply for his discharge, or he must adept some process which would make it appear to the world that some one else was carrying on the business. The claim of plaintiff continued from that time. Charles H. Whiteley had been in arrears with plaintiff's wages up to the bank- ruptcy, and plaintiff suffered a loss over that. Mr. Brassey referred to the time-sheets for 1889 and the three following years, stating that a considerable proportion of them were against Charles H. Whiteley. This defendant had acted as master the same as before the bankruptcy, and there were letters in existence shewing that he, and he alone, practically had the active conduct of the business. He had been hiding his identity under an assumed name, carrying on business in Chester as John, and advertising himself to the outside world sometimes as Charles H. Whiteley, jun., and sometimes as Charles H. Whiteley.—Plaintiff said when his brother filed his petition he was working for him, and was a creditor for 933 for wages. He got a dividend of JE5. There was no Charles H. Whiteley, jun., in the family. After the bankruptcy the son John asked all the men to work for him, and they said they would. The father said it was only a matter of form, and that he should still be the master. John Henry signed the cheques, and his father filled in the body of them. Plaintiff told John Henry that he ought to be careful as to what his father filled in the cheques for, as he (John Henry) was responsible. John Henry told him he knew nothing about it, as his father was going to take all the responsibility.—Mr. Churton's cross-examination elicited the information that plaintiff was no longer connected with the defendants in business, and that he had set up on his own behalf. Arising out of some ques- tions by Mr. Churton, as to why plaintiff had sued his brother as well as his nephew, his Honour asked: Is your nephew good for this amount? I don't think he is. His Honour: Therefore you want to bring in your brother ?-I don't think he has ever had any money.—His Honour: Supposing the son was to say 'I will consent to a judgment,' would that be satisfactory to you ?-I want the money. (Laughter.)—Mr. Churton Don't you think you would get it from him ?-No, I don't.-His; Honour: You want to make out that your brother is committing a kind of fraud, carrying on business really himself in the name of his son, he being an undischarged bankrupt, but you seem to overlook the fact that if that is so you knew it and were actually helping him to carry it on. The business was really John Henry's, or it was carried on by John Henry really for his father. You knew that all the time ? Yes.—His Honour And you-knew it was not quite right ? So long as he paid his way I did not care.—His Honour As long as you got the money you did not care. If you want to make out that he has done wrong, you are tarred with the same brush yourself.—I don't see it, your honour.—Sir Horatio Well, I do.-At this stage his Honour rose, and the further hearing of the case was adjourned.

At the Government inquiry into the Glasgow telephone service on Wednesday, witnesses stated that the present company throttled telephonic extension in Glasgow. Mr. Fleming, of Kelvinside, said that any man who was at present satisfied with the service was fit for Heaven. The telephone alarmingly increased profanity in Glasgow clubs. He worked away at the telephone handle with as good results as if he were grinding a disembowelled organ. The service and staff were starved to make a big dividend. ROWLANDS' MACASSAR OIL. Notwith- standing the new preparations which are daily cropping up, ROWLANDS' MACASSAR OIL still stands alone as the best, safest, and only reliable preserver, beautifier, and restorer of the bair. It prevents it falling1 off or turning grey, strengthens weak hair, removes Scurf, and is the only sure preventive of baldness it is specially adapted for ladies and children as the best dressing and tonic for the hair ever used. Thousands of testimonials from the Royalty and aristocracy of the world prove this. Also in a Golden Colour for fair hair. ROWLANDS' ODONTO.-This has been known for sixty years to be the best, purest, and most fragrant tooth powder. It whitens the teeth, prevents and arrests decay, strengthens the gums, and gives a pleasing fragrance to the breath. Sold at all Stores and Chemists. Ask for ROWLANDS' articles.

A YORKSHIRE MAN'S DRIVE. A CHESTER BOY FRIGHTENED. At the City Police Court, on Friday morning, Ellis Hardy, of Huddersfield, was charged in custody with furious driving in Boughton, and also with being drunk in charge of a horse and trap the previous evening. It will perhaps be remembered that Hardy appeared as a witness for the defence in the recent case, in which the Wesleyans com- plained of having been disturbed at an open air service on the Bowling Green.- Inspector Culi- fordstated that at twenty-past eight on Thursday night he saw defendant driving a horse and trap at a furious rate down Boughton. Hardy would not stop, and witness heard a boy's cry emanating from the recesses of the vehicle. There were scores of people in the street, and a large number of children playing about. It was a wonder that no one was killed.—P.C's. Tarran and Betts gave evidence as to prisoner's reckless progress down Boughton and Foregate- street. P.O. Bailey stopped the man in Frodsham street. The boy was not in the trap then. Thomas Stockton, a small boy, said that when at the Cherry Orchard he was asked by prisoner to get him a trap candle, as his lamp was going out. Subsequently Hardy picked him up by the collar and forcibly lifted him into the trap, driving away with him. It would be witness' shouts that Inspector Culli- ford heard. Prisoner was gripping him by the neck, shaking him backwards and forwards. The Chief Constable: He was furiously driving you, then ? (Laughter.) Was he testing the right of way again ? (Laughter.) Mr. Davison (Magistrates' Clerk): What have you to say ?-Prisoner: I am very sorry, sir. — Mr. Davison: So you ought to be.—Hardy was fined 20s. and costs in each case.

EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE AGAINST CHESHIRE TRADESMEN. 0 On Wednesday, at the Northwich Petty Sessions, John Marrow, painter, and John Thomas Yearsley, marine store dealer, were charged with receiving a brass tap and a boiler respectively, well know- ing the same to have been stolen. Both defendants are in a large way of business; they hold, and have held, several public offices, and are highly respected. They were defended by Mr. J. E. Fletcher, and the case attracted an unusual amount of interest.—The Magis- trates' Clerk explained that, some weeks ago, defendants gave evidence in a case of felony, and admitted having purchased articles which the prisoner was charged with stealing. Nothing was said to them at the time that they were to be treated as criminals. It was not usual to take a man's statement on oath, and afterwards to charge him with being a thief. Mr. Fletcher said he had not insulted his clients by calling evidence as to their respectability. Hundreds of people in the town, and the Bench itself, could testify thereto. The charge was most preposterous, and he would not be satisfied until the magistrates made a public expression that they were convinced that there had been no criminal intent. In the case of Mr. Yearsley, an old boiler was purchased in the ordinary way of business, and in the other case Mr. Marrow purchased a brass tap from a man who said he was starving. He had no use for the tap, and told the prisoner to find the owner and send him for it.—The Chairman said they were quite satisfied th.,t there had been no criminal intent, and at the most the defendants could only be accused of carelessness. They advised the police to withdraw the case. This was done.

A supplementary Army estimate for £ 200,000 was issued on Saturday to meet the expenditure in respect of the South African Garrison.

DUNHAM HILL FARMERS' DISPUTE. 0 At Chester County Court, on Thursday, before His Honour Sir Horatio Lloyd, Joseph Hughes, farmer, Dunham Rill, brought an action against John Allen Goodwin, farmer, also of Dunham, to obtain L2 as com- pensation for damage done to a standing crop of oats. There was a counter-claim against Hughes for damage done to a milk float. Mr. Churton appeared for plaintiff, and Mr. Brassey for defendant. According to Mr. Churton's opening statement, on a certain day in August, at half-past eight in the evening, plaintiff saw in a field of standing oats belonging to him a horse belonging to defendant. He turned the horse out, and in doing so noticed among the oats 16 of defendant's cows. With the assistance of four men, he got the cows out of the oats into another field, and kept them there until they were fetched next morning by defendant's son. Plaintiff got two respectable farmers to assess the damage to the oats, and they wrote a certificate to the effect that it amounted to R2. A bill for that amount was sent to defendant, but he declined to pay, and claimed compensation for damage to the splash- board of his milk float at Dunham Station, owing to plaintiff's milk float colliding with it. —Evidence to this effect was given by plaintiff and his son, and by Mr. Hassall, farmer, Traf- ford, and Mr. Pritchard, farmer, Bridge Trafford, the two latter being the assessors of the damage.—Mr. Brassey, for the defence, con- tended that there was ill-feeling between the parties, arising out of a former trespass by plaintiff's cattle, and that the amount of damage done by defendant's cows was exaggerated. Plaintiff was informed of the damage done to the milk float before the date of the trespass in the oat field, but he had point blank refused to pay defendant any compensation, though defendant had had to send to Bristol for a new splashboard.—Defendant, in his evidence, said his cows were in his own field as late as ten o'clock by his watch on the night in question. —His Honour asked defendant what time it was by his watch now.—Defendant: I am three- quarters fast. (Laughter.)—Defendant's son gave evidence, and ultimately his Honour gave judgment for plaintiff for the amount claimed, R2, and for the defendant for 8a. on the counter- claim.

HAWARDEN BOARD OF GUARDIANS. ♦ A fortnightly meeting of this Board was held at the Workhouse, Broughton, on Friday, the vice-chairman (Mr. Peter Wilcock) presiding. THE CUP THAT CHEERS. Mr. JOHN MILLINGTON proposed "That the old women in the house over sixty years of age be allowed one ounce of tea and one pound of sugar eaeh week." Pointing out that the old men in the house were allowed tobacco, he said be thought it only fair that the old women should receive an equivalent in the shape of tea. If this were done, moreover, it would prevent the old women from beeeing tea from people. Mr. JOHN JONES (Sandycroft) thought the old ladies had sufficient tea already. Mr. OWEN EVANS seconded the proposition. After further discussion the Master (Mr. Roberts) was called in, and he stated that there were only five women over sixty in the house, and these were all put on the list by the doctor for an extra supply of tea.—Asked how it was the old women always seemed to have a private store of tea by them, the Master said Lady Fitzpatrick occasionally sent them some tea, while visitors to the house sometimes left 2s. 6d. for tea to be purchased. Miss THOM said some of the old ladies had canisters of tea. Mrs. SPARROW added that one old woman had begged tea off her, when she had a canister full. Eventually Mr. Millington altered his resolu- tion to read that the doctor be requested to always allow the old women extra tea and sugar, and this was carried. THE CONTRACTS. The guardians accepted the following tenders for the supply of goods to the house:—Pro- visions, Mr. Parry, Bretton; brushes, Mr. F. J. Latham, Chester; boots, Mr. John Davies, Penymynydd; groceries, Mr. Edwin Lloyd, Chester; meat, Mr. Thomas Parker, Rossett; drapery, John Okell and Sons; coal, Ratcliffe and Sons, Hawarden. THE AGRICULTURAL RATING ACT A COMPLAINT. The CHAIRMAN said he did not feel satisfied with the amount they were allowed under the Agricultural Rating Bill. In his opinion, the amount they received was not adequate, and he should like to know from the clerk whether they could not write to the Local Government Board and ask them how they arrived at the amount.—The Clerk (Mr. Horace A. Smith) said the Local Government Board based their contribution on the amount expended by the guardians during the twelve months, and not on the ratable value of the land.—Mr. Wilcock said at Hope they received X184 for the school board, and yet the contribution under the Agricultural Rating Act for the whole union was only £ 430.—The Clerk said it was the same in Wrexham and the other unions in Wales.— Mr. W. Fryer asked the chairman to give notice that he would bring the matter up at the next meeting, when he would be pleased to support him. In Kinnerton, instead of getting 4;d. under the Act, they only got id.-The Chairman gave notice that he would bring the matter up a-yain.

THE EDUCATION ACT IN CHESTER DIOCESE. A —. The Chester Diocesan Church Schools' Asso- ciation has just completed the work of apportioning the grant under the new Act among the schools interested. The association, which was approved by the Education Depart- ment on the 19th July last, consists almost entirely of Church schools, but it was resolved at the first meeting of the governing body that any voluntary school in the diocese should be admissible. Several undenominational schools have taken advantage of this resolution, and joined the association. Information as to the working and necessities of the schools in each rural deanery was collected by advisory com- mittees appointed from among the local school managers, and suggestions were made by them as to the grants to individual schools. The re- turns sent in by these committees were referred to a central committee of the governing body, consisting of the chairman, two vice- chairmen, secretary, and one representative from each rural deanery. The work done by this committee was one of considerable difficulty, and necessarily occupied some time. The schools in the association number 339, and the committee were obliged to satisfy themselves that each school asking for a grant was necessitous,' and they had also to consider the amount of grant to be recommended, and the purposes for which it was required. The total amount payable under the new Act to the schools in the association is about E17,680, and the governing body on Tuesday last agreed on the mode of the distribution of this sum to be recommended to the Education Department. The grants made relate to the current year only, and it by no means follows that schools will receive the same amount in future. In fact, the claims of several schools have had to be postponed, in order to deal with the most neces- sitous first. The meetings of the governing body and of the committees have been entirely har- monious, and there is every reason to believe that the apportionment of the grant will give general satisfaction. The gratitude of all voluntary school managers has been most thoroughly earned by the Bishop, who has presided over all the meetings of the governing body and central committees, and by Canon Maitland Wood, the honorary secretary, on whom the responsibility for the method of working has chiefly fallen. The recommendations of the govern- ing body will now be forwarded to the Educa- tion Department, and, if accepted, the payment of the grants will not be long deferred.

Lord Rosebery passed through Aberdeen on Saturday for Balmoral on a visit to the Queen. All visitors to the Victorian Era Exhibition should see YE HORNIMAN TEA SHOPPE in Picturesque England. Sold in this locality by Chester Spencer, 36, Bridge street; Co operative Society Turver, chemist Woolley, confectioner; Roberts, chemist. Birkenhead: Dutton, chemist; Haywood, chemist; Hessler, grocer, &c. Co-operative Society.— Crewe Eardley, bookseller; Ashfield, chemist.— Rhuddlan: Roberts, grocer.-Now Ferry Faw- cett, chemist.-Hoylake: Boustead, confectioner.— Oxton: Taylor & Co., tea dealers, &c.-Upper Brighton Somerville, chemist. Winnington: Co-operative Society.—West Kirby: Atherton and Co.—Bromborough Pool: Co-operative Society. 1

COUNTY POLICE COURT. 4 SATURDAY.—Before Messrs. R. T. Richardson, J. Davies, and J. Pover. A DESERTER.—Charles Bradbury was charged with being a military deserter.—P.S. Finchett said on the previous morning he met prisoner on the Hoole-road, and, noticing he wore military trousers, witness asked the man if he belonged to the Army. He said he did not, and on his attention being drawn to the trousers, he said they belonged to his brother at the Post Office. Witness took him to the police station, and on a close examination of the trousers found them to be military ones, with the words 123rd Regiment' stamped inside. Prisoner afterwards admitted that he had absented himself from the 23rd Regiment of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers on the 1st of Sept.—Sergt. L. Webb, of the 23rd Regiment, said the man was a recruit. An order was required for his delivery to the military authorities.—This the Bench granted. They also awarded Police- Sergt. Finchett £1 for his smart capture. MASTER AND SERVANT.—Walter Bailey sum- moned Amos Nevitt, farmer, Picton, for assault on the 27th ult.—Prosecutor said he was in the employment of defendant, and on the day in question he complained of having to eat mar- garine instead of butter, whereupon defendant straightly told him to leave his employment. He did not leave that instant, but lingered about, when defendant struck him several times, and threw him out of the house.—Mr. E. Brassey, on behalf of defendant, contended that prosecutor refused to leave the premises when asked, and the little damage he had suffered was in defendant's exertions to force him from the place.—The Bench, considering the assault had been committed under provocation, imposed a fine of 5s. and costs. SHOCKING CRUELTY TO A HORSB.—Frank Higgs was charged with illtreating a horse at Hoole.—Sergt. Farnworth said that on the 16th ult. he saw defendant driving a grey mare pony attached to a milk cart. Noticing the animal looked in pain, he examined it, and found under the collar several sores, and the body generally was a mass of sores, discharging matter and blood. Inspector Jabez Dowty, of the R.S.P.C.A., corroborated respecting the condi- tion of the animal. Defendant told witness he had neglected the animal. It was in a filthy state.—A findof 10s. and costs was imposed. A SPORTSMAN IN TROUBLE.—Albert Mavers was charged with having been in pursuit of game on land at Littleton, on the 25th Sept.— Sergeant Farnworth deposed to seeing de- fendant on the road firing a gun in the direction of the land. When questioned, he said he had been shooting on his own land.—The Bench dismissed the case, and heard a second charge against defendant of unlawfully firing the gun on the highway.—Defendant pleaded guilty, and the Bench dismissed this case on payment of costs.

CITY POLICE COURT. 4 WEDNESDAY.—Before Messrs. John Thompson, H. R. Bowers, L. Gilbert, H. T. Brown, H. Churton, T. Smith, F. Bullin, R. Jackson, and Drs. Roberts and Stolterfoth. A NEGLECTFUL FATHER.—Samuel Hiams, labourer, occupying lodgings in Bellis'-court, was summoned to contribute sufficiently to- wards the maintenance of his child in the Industrial School.—It appeared that defendant, who is quite deaf, only obtained casual employ- ment, and often trundled advertising boards about the streets, earning usually about 8s. a week. All he offered to contribute was eighteenpence a week.—The Bench adjourned the case for a week to obtain fuller information. D_ /1\/1"- U n .l.J1U"UAX.-Ue:>lV["e:> UJAO JILayVL k-U. D. V, Roberts), and Mr. George Dutton. RAILWAY PROSECUTION.—George Minshull, who gave his address as Princess-street, Chester, was charged in custody with travelling on the London and North-Western Railway from Manchester to Chester without paying his fare, on the previous day.—Prisoner pleaded guilty.—The ticket collector from the train defendant arrived by in the morning, stated that when he asked defendant for his ticket, he said I have no ticket; why should I have one ?" He made no further explanation. — Railway-Detective Weaver said he had ascer- tained that prisoner had never lived at the address he gave.—Fined 20s and costs, or four- teen days. SATURDAY.—Before Messrs. H. R. Bowers, G. Dutton, and H. Churton. SOLD THE HORSE FOR 15s. 9D. Frederick Marriott, Birkenhead, was summoned for cruelty to a horse.—Inspector Jabez Dowty, R.S.P.C.A., said that on September 16th he saw defendant and his horse, which was attached to a spring cart, in Brook-street. He followed it to the Smithfield, and there examined the horse, which was lame and nothing but a bag of skin and bone. It bore several wounds, and was very weak, and was sold in the Smithfield for 15s. 9d.-Mr. C. Holden, Birkenhead, who appeared for the defence, said defendant, through bad trade, wanted to sell the animal with the trap and harness, and brought it for that purpose to Chester. The wounds had been caused by the animal slipping down on Sept. 1st. Since that accident it had been kept in the stable until it was brought to Chester.— The magistrates thought a penalty of 10s. and costs would meet the case.

CONNAH'S QUAY PETTY SESSIONS. v THURSDAY.—Before Messrs. C. Davison, J. Watkinson, J. T. Reney, S. Muspratt, and J. T. Humphreys. IMPORTANT RIGHT OF WAY DISPUTE. Four men named W. H. Evans, Thomas Cartledge, W. Davies, and Robert Catherall were summoned by the Wrexham, Mold, and Connah's Quay Railway Company for trespassing on their line at Connah's Quay.—Mr. J. P. Cartwright, Chester, prosecuted, and Mr. T. W. Hughes, Flint, appeared for the defence.—At the outset, Mr. Hughes said it was contended, and he believed on good grounds, that the public had a right of way across a portion of the quay over which the railway ran. He asked that the case be adjourned in order that it might be specified what portion of the railway these men were charged with trespassing on, and in order that they might find out what the real rights of the public were. This was a case of considerable importance, as there were several other parties concerned in it. It was a public question.—Mr. Watkin- son You are both acting for public bodies which are behind the scenes, are you not ?-Mr. Hughes: I don't mind admitting I am.—Mr. J. P. Cartwright, on behalf of the Railway Company (who were also represented by their manager, Mr. Cartwright), agreed to the adjournment of the case on condition that the trespass was not continued in the mean- time. He said the railway people had been put to great inconvenience through people using the railway for a passage across to the iron- works (Messrs. Summers'), and had had to place men on watch there. Some of the trespassers would be killed, if this sort of thing went on much longer.—The case was adjourned until the next sessions. SUNDAY DRINKING AT NORTHOP.—Two men, named Robert Humphreys and Thomas Kendall, were fined 10s. (including costs) each for having falsely represented themselves to be travellers, and thereby having obtained drink at the Boot Hotel, Northop, near Mold, on Sunday, September 12th.—P.C. Hill, in proving the case, stated that defendants said they came from Mold, but enquiries afterwards elicited the fact that they lived at Rhydygolen, within the three mile limit. A FIGHT NEAR A FISH SHop.-There was a row between Wm. Owen on the one side, and Frederick Davies and his wife on the other, at Shotton on the 17th ult. Botb parties came before the magistrates, Mr. T. W. Hughes representing Owen, and Mr. J. B. Marston appearing for Davies and his wife.—Mr. Hughes stated that when his client was coming out of Hewitt's fish shop at half-past ten he was assaulted from behind by defendant, who caught hold of his throat, tore his collar, &c. The wife then came on the scene, and tried to assist her husband in giving Owen a good thrashing.—Owen, in giving evidence, said Davies struck him several times, and invited him to go up to his house, where he would polish him off.-T. Chilton deposed t9 separating the two, and Miss Hewitt gave similar evidence. When she saw Davies hold Owen by the throat she at first thought they were 'larking.'—Mr. Marston said that Owen was the aggressor, he having kicked Davies before be was struck. A few days ago the two men had a dispute over money matters, and Owen ran the other man out of his house with a poker. (Laughter.)—Evidence was called in support of this, Mrs. Davies saying she only pushed the men away from her husband.- Davies and his wife were fined 5s. and costs altogether, the cross-summons against Owen being dismissed.

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