Pontypool Free Press and Herald of the Hills

POLICE COURT. SATURDAY. Before H. N. Kennard, Esq. (chairman), Col. Byrde, E. Kennard, ESfJ., C. J. Parkes, Esq., and J. Richards, Esq. APPLICATIONS FOR SPIRIT LICENCES. This being the annual licensing day, several applications were made for spirit licences, as follows :— Alice Morgan, of the Upper New Inn, Llan- fihangel Pontymoil. Application supported by Mr Alexander Edwards. Refused. William Williams, of Refreshment Rooms, Nantyderry. Adjourned. William Hayes, of the Rising Sun, Llanfi- hangel Pontymoil. Supported by Mr Green- way. Refused. Abraham Lane, of the Railway Inn, Ponty- pool. Supported by Mr Alexander Edwards on behalf of the tenant, and by Mr Grcenway on behalf of the landlord. These gentlemen urged that the applicant had lately taken the shop adjoining his premises into his occupation that the house would afford great accommoda- tion for passengers by the railway, that the application was recommended by almost every tradesman, and by several of the publicans, in the town and that the objection, urged on former occasions by the Railway Company, that the bar would overlook their premises, would no longer bo tenable, as it was proposed to make the entrance through the shop, so that the bar could front the street. Mr Gus- tard opposed the application, on behalf of the Monmouthshire Railway Company, on grounds, first, that there was no occasion for such ac- commodatioD, there being already a licensed house near this one and, secondly, that such a house would act as an allurement to the Com- pany's servants, and that the Company had gone to the expense of paying double rent for the house in which Mr King, the station-mas- 0 ter, now lived, in order to get rid of a beer- house that formerly existed there. Mr Green- way said that the fact that the application had been twicoJ refused was all the more reason that it should be granted the third time as for the Company's servants, he understood that they were sober parties who were not to be tempt- ed, and if they were they would rather go round the corner out of sight than where they could be seen. Mr Kennard said that he had been informed that there was no convenience for urinals, and that the parties living near were consequently subjected to a great nui- sance. The application was refused. William Jones, of the Albert beerhouse, Blaenafon. Supported by Mr Alexander Ed- wards, and opposed by Mr W. H. Lloyd. Adjourned. On applying for renewal of licenses, Mrs Burland, of Pontncwynydd, was censured for allowing bad characters in her house, and Mrs I Jones, of the White Hart, Pontypool, was cautioned not to allow playing for money in her skittle-alley. The bulk of the licensing business was con- dued in Magistrates' Clerk's ornce. SLEEPING UNDER IJCKS, &C. James Williams was charged with sleeping, in an outhouse on the 21st. He pleaded guilty, and said that he was travelling in search of employment, had had very little food, and was very tired. As defendant's appearance went to confirm the truth of his statement, he was dismissed with a caution. Mr Hambleton afterwards complained of the practice of people sleeping under his ricks, and was told that the police would be instructed to look after them. si A EG vii ET JENKINS'S THOUBLE. William Morgan was charged with being the father of the illegitimate ohild of Margaret Jenkins. The case had been adjourned twice before. Mr Greenway appeared for Jenkins, and called the supposed father into the witness box. In answer to questions, Morgan deposed that he lived on the Garn, where lie had been brought up; he had not known the complain- ant more than twelve months; he had not gone out walking with her in the fields. (De- fendant was here cautioned not to subject him- self to proceedings for perjury.) He had gone with her, perhaps sometimes twice a week; after cleaning himself in the evening, lie used to go and see her as soon as he could; he had gone in the wood with her in the evening had sat down with her on the grass together; had not put his arm round her sometimes; did not mean to say but what he had put his arm on i her; did not believe that Mr Hopton had seen them together, with his arm round complain- ant; before the 28th of this last May, Marga- ret had never sat on his knee; he had gone with her for a walk, but never with the in- tention of marrying her; his wife had not gone to her with his knowledge did not keep Margaret's company for more than five weeks; would swear that he never had connexion with her. Mr Greenway produced two doctors' cer- tificates of ill-health of witnesses, and sub- mitted that the defendant's admission of fami- liarities was sufficient corroboration of tho complainant's statement. The circumstances were very very suspicious. The case was again adjourned for further evidence. | SINGULAR CLAIM TO EXEMPTION FROM POOR RATES. John Caldwell was charged with nonpay- ment of 14s. poor-rates, due to the parish of Llanfrechfa Upper. Mr Wainwright, relieving officer, said that defendant pleaded that he was a sergeant in a rifle corps, and therefore not liable. Mr E. B. Edwards said that defendant lived in a cottage, and was not exempt. Ordered to pay. DRINKING AFTER PROHIBITED HOURS. William Regan and John Jordan (or Rear- don), were charged with being present in the beerhouse kept by Margaret Desmond, at Abcrsycban, during prohibited hours. P.c. Lewis proved service of the summons on Reardon. P.c. M'Gra deposed that he found the de- fondants in the Rose and Crown beerhouse at half-past eight on Sunday morning. They had been cautioned before. Supt. M'Intosh said that it was the first case of the sort that had been brought here under the New Beerhouse Act. There were eight or nine men in the house, but he thought that it would be sufficient to summon two, as a warning to others. Regan had been con- Z, victed of drunkenness before, but not Jordan. Mr Kennard observed that this was the first time that the Bench had to act on the new Act of Parliament, therefore they did not think it necessary to inHiot a severe penalty but they wished it to be known that any per- sons who were found in public-houses during prohibited hours, became equally liable with the landlord. The penalty, in summary cuu- victions, was 40s., but defendants would be let off on paying I Os. each. A TRUMPERY MATTER. Emily Twissell, a married woman, was charged with assaulting a boy, at Mamhilad. There was a cross summons, charging Win. zll Crockett with assaulting Emily Twissell. The boy Crockett was first called into the witness box. It was some time before lie could be induced to kiss the book, every re- quest to do so only exciting a stupid grin. Aftgr he had given the necessary kiss, not a word could lie be made to speak. Mrs Twissell was then put in his place. She deposed that the boy was coming by her house, when she asked him where lie got that hoop from. He asked her if it was hers. She said that it was. He thm threw the hoop down and ran to her, caught her round the waist, and stood on her toes. As he would not let go, she boxed his ears, and then his mother, who stood hard by, said "That is just what I wanted." Jane Roberts gave similar evidence. On the other hand, Mis Crocket said she saw Mrs Twissell beating the boy, but did not see him tread on her toes, or hold her. The Bench said that it was a very trumpery case on both sides, and they should dismiss both eases. Each side would have to pay 5s. costs. SEKIOUS ASSAULT. "William Tapp, who did not appear, was charged with assaulting Ruth Bates. It appeared, from the evidence of com- plainant and her father, that she went to a spout for some water, where her child and another child got quarrelling about a spoon. She parted them, and as she was returning home, the defendant picked up a large stone and threw it at her, striking her on the side. She was about five yards off him when the stone struck her. She had brought the stone to court, and now produced it. Tapp's wife told her that if she (complainant) came to Pontypool against Tapp, she would have it out of her bones. The Bench could hardly believe that such a stone as that produced was thrown. It was fortunate for complainant and for defendant that the injury was not very serious. Defend- ant must pay a fine of 20s, or go to the House of Correction with hard labour for 14 days. DRUNKEN PRANKS. John Payne pleaded guilty of being drunk at Garndiffaith, and was fined 5s. Mary M'Carthy, an old offender, who did not appear, was charged with drunkenness and indecency at Pontnewynydd. It appeared that defendant had, while the landlady's back was turned, got upstairs to one of the windows in the Golden Lion, and there exposed herself to a crowd in the street below. lir Kennard ob- served that this was a very gross case, and the defendant was fined 20s, or 14 days' hard labour. Thomas Richards, who did not appear, was fined 10s. or seven days' hard labour, for being drunk and riotous in Broad-street, Blaenafon. Alfred Hill, a navvy, who did not appear, was fined 7s Gd, or seven days' hard labour, for being drunk and exposing his person at Blaenafon. ROBBERY AT MR FOWLER'S, BLAENAFON. Emma Morgan, a young married woman, was charged with stealing a coat, two table cloths, a velvet jacket, a trousers, and a waistcoat, the property of Jabez Fowler, at Blaenafon. Mr Eowler deposed that he was a draper and outfhrter, residing at Blaenafon. He had missed the articles produced, and one of which he now identified. The trademark had been removed from the articles, rendering identifica- tion difficult; but he believed all to be his. P.s. Coombes deposed that from information he received he searched prisoner's house Up- stairs, in a box, he found the jacket, coat, and red cloth. In the house of Mrs Chard, who lived next door, he found the green cloth. He found the waistcoat and trousers in pledge at Mrs Bloom's. He charged prisoner with steal- ing the goods. She said that she knew no- thing about the coat, and that she bought the velvet jacket of Mr Parry, at Mr Fowler's, and paid 12s 6d for it. Witness asked her if she paid for it at once, and she replied that she did not, that she paid for it by instalments, a cou- ple of shillings at a time, as well as she could. She said she bought the table-cloth at Bryn- mawr. Hannah Bloom deposed that she kept (t pawn-shop at Blaenafon. Prisoner pawned the waistcoat on the 1st of June, and the trou- sers on the 10th of June. Elizabeth Chard deposed that she exchanged a white table cloth with prisoner for the green table cover, about two months ago. Witness at first objected, because she thought that pri- soner's cloth was worth most money and that prisoner's husband would not consent. Thomas Parry deposed that he was assistant to Mr Fowler. at Blaenafon, and that he never sold the jacket to the prisoner. Prisoner said that she first paid Parry 3s, and he gave her a memorandum on paper in red ink. Mr Parry said that he did not know the pri- soner at all. There were other assistants in the shop. She never paid him anything. Prisoner said she bought the pawnticket for the black and white jacket. She was now cautioned, and then repeated her statements, adding that Mr Parry fitted the jacket on her back himself, in tho !'hop, in the afternoon and that she bought the red table cloth before she came from Brynmawr. Mr Fowler, recalled, said that he lost five table cloths before he gave information. The prisoner frequently came to his shop. She never bought ready-made articles, but geuerally small things. Mr Parry was his bi-otlicr-in- law, and came to assist him on Saturdays. His other assistants were here to prove that they did not serve prisoner. Prisoner was committed for trial at the next Quarter Sessions. MONDAY. Before Col. Byrde and J. Richards, Esq. THEFT IX BLAENAFON MARKET. Charles Nicholas, a lad, was charged, under the Juvenile Offenders' Act, with stealing three combs, the property of Edwin Fletcher, from the Market House at Blaenafon. He pleaded guilty, and was fined 10s, or seven days' hard 1 31 labour.

INCONGRUOUS MEMORIALS IN PROTESTANT CATHEDRALS. Foreigners have often been surprised at the incongruous exhibition in Protestant cathe- drals, afforded by the great prominence given 1-1 t, to monuments of warriors. Even under the old Jewish dispensation David was not per- mitted to erect the temple at Jerusalem, be- cause he was "a man of blood." How pecu- liarly inconsistent, then, with the temples of the Prince of Peace must be these abounding monuments of human slaughter. The late Mr Cobden thus wrote on this subject:—"The war spirit is displayed in our fondness for erecting monuments to warriors, even at the doors of our marts of commerce in the fre- quent memorials of our battles in the names of bridges, streets, and omnibuses; but above all, in the display which public opinion tole- rates in our Metropolitan Cathedral (St Paul's), whose walls arc decorated with bas-reliefs of battle scenes, of storming of towns, and charges of bayonets, where horses and riders, ships, cannon, and musketry, realize by turns, in a Christian temple, the fierce struggle of the siege and the battle-field. I have visited, I i believe, all the great Christian temples in the capitals of Europe but my memory fails me, if I saw anything to compare with it. Mr Layard has brought us some very similar works of art from Nineveh, but he has not in- formed us that they were found in Christian churches."

=:c-- -=C"=-:C-=-C: :=-=:==-==--==-=: There is no country in the world where life is so lightly esteemed as in Japan. A simple robbery which would be punished by a few days' imprisonment in this country constitutes an offence in Japan only to be expiated on the scaffold. But there are some crimes in the punishment of which the greatest barbarity is displayed. A dreadful instance of this kind reaches us from Osaka. It seems that a Isffiour- ing man living in tho neighbourhood of that town having been early left a widower with two children, took unto himself a second wife. Tho marriage was an unhappy one. The woman proved faithless to her husband, and in order to conceal her intrigues determined to rid herself of the children, aged respectively five and three. With this object she deliberately boilod them to death in one of the hot baths which arc to be found in almost every house in Japan. Fortu- nately, her crime was discovered before the wretch bad time to destroy the trace of her guilt, and flight alone saved her from receiving summary vengeance at the hands of her neigh- bo i irk. But though she escaped the certain and instant death that would have awaited her, she was destined to meet with a more bitter punish- ment. She was caught, tried, and sentenced to be gradually boiled alive in oil. A curious feature in tho case was, that as a warning to others, every stepmother in Osaka was ordered to contribute a certain quantity of oil to the contents of the fatal cauldron. I

PONTYPOOL BRANCH OF THE CHURCH ASSOCIATION. A meeting was held at the Town Hall on Monday, for the purpose of establishing a Branch of the Church Association for Ponty- pool and the neighbourhood—Colonel Byrde, of Goytrey House, in the chair. The following- clergymen and gentlemen have become mem- bers of the association. President: Colonel Byrde. Yice-prcsidents Rev J. C. Llewellin and Rev Doctor James. Committee: RevJno. Jones, Blaenafon; Rev Francis Bluett, Aber- sychan; Rev James Hughes, Llanhilleth; Rev Z, Christopher Cook, Mamhilad; Rev D. 0. Davies, curate of Trevcthin; Rev Albert Davies, curate of Trevcthin; Mr Wood, Ponty- pool; and Mr Alfred A. Williams, Pontymoil; with power to add to their number. Mr Alfred A. Williams, treasurer and secretary. The subscriptions will be 5s. each for clergy- men, and 10s. each for laymen. After passing rules for the government of the association, it was decided to hold the first meeting of the Committee during the first week in December. Tho object of the Branch Association is to co-operate with the Church Association in London to uphold the principles and order of the Church of England; and especially to counteract the efforts now being made to assimilate her doctrines and services to those of the Church of Rome. The following parishes and places are now represented by membership with the Pontypool Branch of the Church Association—namely: Abcrsychan, Blaenafon, Goytrey, Llanhilleth, Mamhilad, Llanfihangcl Pontymoil, Pantcg, and Trevcthin. Members of the Church of England are requested to join the Association.

PROPOSED IMPROVED RAILWAY COMMUNICA- TION WITH SOUTH WALES. In these days of competition it is necessary to look out and support any scheme that will tend to promote and extend the trade of the district. Some time ago there was a project for carrying a tunnel under the Severn near Chepstow, and now a Mr Williams, of New- port, Monmouthshire, thinks a scheme of making a tunnel under the river Severn, on the Newport side of the New Passage, will tend to improve the house and steam coal trades of the district, by shortening the dis- tance to London, Bristol, Southampton, &c., which would make the distance from Newport to Bristol about 27 miles instead of 136 miles narrow gauge, and 123 broad gauge. The dis- tance to London by narrow gauge, is 228 miles, by broad gauge, 159 miles. If the Great Western Company would only make a narrow gauge route to Didcot, via Bristol, and the proposed tunnel, and by laying a third rail down through the tunnel in the spaco between the up and down line, then there would be a single broad gauge and double narrow gauge r, Z-1 through the tunnel to Bristol, &c., the dis- tance to London being 145 miles, thereby shortening the distance to London 14 miles; the distance to Southampton would be 109 miles instead of the present route, which is very circuitous. What is said of Newport can be said of tho whole of South Wales. It would also be necessary for the Great Western Company to make a narrow gauge line from Bullo Pill to Cardiff; then there would be a narrow gauge route to Bristol, &c., from the Forest of Dean via Bullo Pill, the coal and iron works of Monmouthshire by the Mon- mouthshire railways, via Waterloo Junction, as well as from Abcrdare, Neath, and Swansea, and from the coal and iron works of Glamor- ganshire by the Taif Yale and Rhymney rail- ways via Cardiff. To carry out this scheme, it is suggested that an independent company be formed, for the purpose of making the tun- nel and lines to connect the South Wales railway with the Bristol and South Wales Union railway on the Bristol side of the river, and the Midland railway at Mangotsfield. The scheme is certainly one deserving some attention, and if carried out, would give a direct route from Southampton to the North of England and the Great Western Company from Bristol.—From the Engineer.

THE EMIGRANTS. The following vessels, some of ichich probably lore emigrants from this district, have (ir -?(I O?t I Arr out. City of London Aug. 23 City of I'ari,.i 22 City of Dublin 24 Manhattan 23 Scotia 17 Queen 17 Germany 17 Patrick 18 TarifFa 23 Cuba 21 England 24 Peruvian 22

SERIOUS RIOT AT PONTLOTTYN, NEAR ItllYlNEY. On Saturday night, as the public houses were being cleared, a man was taken into custody for misbehaviour, when a mob set on tho police and rescued the prisoner. After this the police were pursued and severely beaten. Ultimately they called upon the lookers-on to assist. This they did effectually but not satisfied with doing so, they repaired to King-strcot, a locality inhabited principally by Irish, and commenced bursting in the doors and windows from one end of the street to the other. The two solitary policemen in tho place were powerless in dispersing such a mob, and at the request of the sergeaut, Mr M. Thomas, of the Nelson Inn, sad- dled his pony and proceeded to Merthyr for assistance and in a little more than an hour a body of men, under Inspector llecs, was on the spot. These men, together with Sergeant Richards and Policc-constable Price, of the Monmouthshire force, succeeded in restoring order, but not until serious damage had been done. Two per- sons have been seriously injured, and very little liopcs are entertained of their recovery. About, six o'clock on Sunday morning order was iu some measure restored, but during the day crowds of people visited the place. Altugether 47 houses were attacked by the Welsh. Windows and doors were broken, and the little furni- ture and earthenware in them were nearly all demo- lished. One poor old woman was struck with a stone on the side of the head, and it was feared her injury would terminate fatally. However, we are happy to say she is much better. A man living in the same house was also severely injured with a stone, and it is not known yet whether he may ultimately recover. Another old man, a few doors oil', has been severely beaten, but lie is able to walk about. Several others have received lesser injuries. What is most to be regretted is that the inhabitants of nearly all the houses attacked were in bed at the time, and in no way connected with the disturbance. Many of the Irish families have been resident here for years, and have always been on good terms with both the English and Welsh residents. Sergeant Jenkins, the resilient officer, had been on duty at Tir Phil during the evening, and did not return till after the row had L commenced, and the general opinion is that if lie had been there it would not have been carried to such an extent, if indeed it w ould have commenced at all. The Welsli bad the best of the row, and completely routed the Irish. The streets where the Irish live pro- sent the appearance of a place that has been in a state of siege. Applications for summonses were made by several of the Irish at the Merthyr Police-court, hut Mr Bishop refused to grant them until he was more fully informed of the circumstances, a:id how the injured per- son: were getting on.

Fisit.-Tlif.,i-c have been some immense takes of fish, more especially mackerel, along the Welsh coast, during the past two or three days, and consequently the price has been lower than has been known for a long time. On Sunday, the captain of a vessel which entered the port of Swansea, said the whole bay appeared to be full of all kinds of fish in fact, he jocularly remarked that his vessel could scarcely make headway in consequence of the shoals of fish. Tons have been despatched to the interior, whilst in the port small harvest mackerel could be bought on Monday at twenty a penny. Middling- sized mackerel could be bought at a halfpenny each, and, in some instances, three a penny. ALLEGED EMBEZZLEMENT.—At the police-court, Swansea, on Tnesday morning, Mr Edward Strick, so- licitor, applied tor a warrant for the apprehension of a Mr Smith, a clerk in the employ of Messrs Ind, Coope, and Co., the well-know a brewers, of Burton-on-Trent. From the statement made by Mr Strick, it appears that Smith had been for some time past the chief clerk in office of Mr Woolley, the Swansea agent of the firm of in question. His duty was to receive any moneys paid in the office, to enter them in a book, aud at the end of every week to account for the same to Mr Woolley. Some irregularities having come to tbo notice of Mr Woollcv, the books were examined, and from such ex- amination, it was proved that Smith had received a sum between C200 and X300, which he had not paid over to Mr Woolley. Smith was then taxed with receiving the money, and asked to mnko a clean breast of it," and prevent further trouble. He then gave a list of all the moneys he had received and not accounted for, said ho could not pay it, and decamped. Mr Strick contended with great confidence that all the necessary elements to substantiate a charge of embezzlement had been made out; but Mr Bowen, the magistrates' citric, advised the Bench that, inasmuch as Smith had rendered a correct account of tho moneys he had received, the mere fact of withholding those moneys was not sufficient legal cvi- dencc of guilt. The money might possibly have been kept in settlement of some contra account. The Bench, acting upon the advice of their legal adviser, refused to grant the warrant, upon which Mr Strick said he should apply to another court, and had the Court of Queen's Bench been sitting, he should certainly have applied for a mandamus, calling upon the Bench to show cause why they would not grant the warrant.

A BURGLARY FRTJSRTATED. On "Wednesday night, as Mr F. Phillips, L grocer, was sitting with his family in their par- lour, they heard a noise of something dropping on tho stairs. Mr Phillips opened the door and looked up, and was surprised tb find a stranger, a rough-looking customer, stealthily descending the stairs in his stockings, aad in the act of recovering one of his boots, which he had dropped. The fellow made for the passage door, and bolted, boots in hand, across Commercial-street and up Market-street. Mr Phillips followed, and caught him near the Baptist Chapel, stopping to put on his boots. lIe was promptly conveyed to the lock-up. He gave his name as John Duffield, and said that he mistook the house for a public house, and wanted a jug of beer. On him were found 21d. and a formidable knife. He had evi- dently softly opened and closed the passage door, and crept part of the way upstairs, when he perceived a light shining from out of Mr Phillips's bedroom, and, hearing voices, was creeping back down to listen at the parlour door, when, fortunately for the inmates, he accidentally dropped his boot and was detected. The prisoner appears to have previously visit- ed Mr Barge's shop and to have been seen lurking in Mr Essex's shrubbery, at both of which places he was disturbed.

THE ANTIQUITIES OF LLANTWIT. (From Rev. D. Lloyd Isaac's "Siluriana.") The group of buildings at Llantwit of the Z-1 present day is one of the most interesting in the principality. The site is in a deep valley, below the town. The strange, elongated pile of the church, itself a remarkable conglomeration of distinct buildings, is flanked at the south entrance by a bold fragment of what was ouco a gatehouse; and crowning the crest of an opposite hill is the dilapidated structure of tho old tithe barn, surrounded by other scattered remains of school-houses, crosses—memorial and sepulchral—all bearing witness to the au- cient greatness of Llanilltyd. The church and churchyard arc teeming with relics of antiquity. First, there is the Lady- chapel, forty feet and a half in length, decora- ted with statues of saints. Next comes the old church, being G-1 feet long. Lastly, a more modern church, which was crcctcd by Richard Neville, Lord of Giamorgan-tcmp. Ilenry I. Z, This structure is 98 feet by 53, with a tower containing six bells of exquisite tone. In a garden adjoining the churchyard aro traces of the ancient college. It was here that the 2,000 students of Iltutus had been ponder- ing over languages—preparing themselves fur the battle of life-and the rest of the grave. The tithe barn on the hill is 120 feet by 27 feet; and there are people living who saw this huge building crammed to the ridge, with ten or twelve sacks outside. The Tithe Commutation Act has played the vcngcancc with this old pile. Its fino oak roof has disappeared, and the old walls only wait upon the behests of Father Time. There arc several monuments and effigies of antiquity in the church and chnrchyard. Tho Cross of St. Iltutus, erected by Archbishop Samson, in the sixth century, is, perhaps, the most noted. Ita present height above the ground is about six feet, and its breadth diminishes from two feet to one foot on the top. T,io caning is finely executed, and the sides are divided into compartments, with the following inscription -'Crux Iltuti, Samson possu-^t hunc cruccm pro anima ejus." But we li -d better give the inscription as we find it in lolo's 1\168. In nomine Dei summi, incissit crux salvatoris quam prcparavit Samson Abbas, pro anima sua ct pro auiina Ithaeli regis, et Artmali dccari." That is, in English,—" In the namo of God most high, here begins the cross of tho Saviour which Samson the Abbott prepared for his own soul, and the soul of King Ithael, and of Artniael the Dean." The disentombment of this old stone is attri- butable to old Iolo Morganwg, as follows, per his own account About forty years ago a very old man, named Richard Punter, li^ed ,.t Llanmaes, by Llantwit, a shoemc'r, bat mora intelligent than his class in general, and had his mind well stored with traditions. When I was about fourteen years of ago (circa 1758), he showed me one day a spot, on the cast side of Llantwit church, where he said* that an old monument stone stood formerly and the tradi- tion how it fell he gave thus :—There was a young man lived at Llantwit, cpmmonly called Will the Giant he was seven feet and a half long. Owing to premature growth, lie died seventeen years of ago. lie had expressed a wish to be buried by the old pillar by the porch. According to wish, his grave was dug therei i. But just as the corpse had been laid down, tl.o old stone fell down into the grave, and s<- to. save trouble of the resurrection, it was left in the grave, and covered over with earth." Years went on. lolo often* thought of the story, and endeavoured to engage some person to assist him in the search, but tho affair whs treated with ridicule. In the summer of 1789, lolo set upon the work silently himself, and in a few hours. "came upon the lost treasure, and he eventually succeeded in replacing it in its former position. Its whole dimension is 9 feet 'high, 19 inches width. Llantwit is considered one of the healthiest places in the kingdom and to corroborate tL is> the tombstones record great—almost incredible —longevities. There is a flat stone with ids inscription—Here lieth the body of Matth w Voss, buried 1584, a;tat 129." At Llaniuaca church, close by, there is the grave of I v.u Yorath, whoso death is thus recorded in T'IO parish church Ivan Yorath, buried a Sai ir- daye, tlio'xvii. of July, An. Dom. 1621. fctas. circa. 180. lie was a soldier in the light of Bosworth, and lived at Llantwit, and ho lived muche by fishing." On an old gable bell in the tower of Llantwit, there is tho following inscription :Ora pro nobis Sancte IItute." Boverton is by Lkntwit-thc Bovium of the Romans, where there was a station on the Julia Strata. Herein was the cattle of Jestyn ap Gwrgan, and after him the Fitzhamon f ily, and other Lords of Glamorgan. Sir John Guest purchased several of the old Norman dem< es, and the Bovertou and its old castles are a: pre- sent in the property of that family. Printed and Published by DAVID WALKINSHAW, a his General Printing Office, Corn 'Market It Pontypool, in the county of Monmouth.— Si'.turer.y 28, 1.86th

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. t SHEEP IS CHURCHYAIWS. To the Editor of the Poutjpool Free Press. Sir,- Will YOll allow me to protest against the. disgusting and cannibalistic practice of pastluing sheep in churchyards, which I perceive is still in vogue at Blaenafon, though the money-loving par- sons (who I believe claim the proceeds as part Of and a good many perquisites they do claim) have elsewhere, except in a few out-of-the-way country places, been forced by the influence of public opinion to give it up. It is not very pleasant to think of the juices (f the grave- yard being possibly present in our mutton chops, to say nothing of the nastinesses that defile the paths and the last resting places of those we held fear. It is all nonsense to answer that the grass can't be kept down between the graves except by sheep, because the difficulty is easily got over in Other places. Where there's a will there's a way. The bitterest curse of the turbanned Turk, whom we are taught to consider barbarians and all the rest of it, is May thy father's grave be cl,,filed; pnd 80me, at least, of us Christians feel that the last homes of our loved ones are holy ground, and that the ?ior(Is "Sacred to the memory of" on our humble headstones ought to be as Tltwh a safe- guard against sacrilegious pollution as the iron railings which enclose the stately tombs of the rich. We are not worse than the Turks in this matter and it will not do for the parsons to run against the feelings of the people. The reign of the black c)-oics" is doomed, and they know it. They have fattened on the ignorance of the masses guite long enough, and to a very fine tune and if they wish to maintain their crumbling thrones a little longri-, it must be by showing respect for the feelings of those 11:110 feed them, not, as in this matter, by outraging thcm.- Yours respectfully, PL A IN SPEA EE It [We are disposed to aUow great latitude to our corrc- spondents, but we must beg of Plain Speaker," should he write again, to avoid calling names." The hint will apply to otbers.J-ED. F. P.

BEER AT THE SHOP. To the Editor of the Free Press. Sir,Vow thatillenibers of Parliament have nothing to do but kill the grouse on our mountains and moors and gathei- information and experience (see the Queen's Speech) which they will bring to bear when they next meet in their places in the C, Senate now that the Magistrates have the sole control of the Licensing System, and are. in their righteous indignation against breaches of the law by these low people who have sold beer on their own account, delivering sevei-e lectures and step- ping from selling any more the culprits who have been caught selling during prohibited hours;, now that the time of granting licences has again come round; may I direct the attention of both Members and Magistrates to- the system of selling beer at Companies Shops, and auk what they th in L- of it Y Whether they think that it is not time to inqv re a little more closely into the whole Shop question, in order to give the workmen that justice which v;as contemplated by the Truck Act, an Act that is widely evaded? Whether they can with quiet consciences uphold licences in connexion I with Shops, and give Grasping Greed facilities for tempting men to debase themselves and disturb the public at the expense of their half-fed icives and families ? Whether they can possibly be un- aware of the growing contempt ichich is excited by the impression that 11 there is one law for the rich and another for the poor ?" It is not now my intention to dilate on these subjects. I simply re- commend them for investigation, assured that if they are entertained as Right demands that they should be, the Shop system will soon receive its death-bloiy, and that in the mean time, no licenses will be granted prolonging the bad principle of Beer at the Shop.-I an", Sir, liours truly, F. F.

THE "CIIIGNON" QUESTION. The Hairdressers'' Chronicle denies the asser- tion made by tho Newcastle Journal, that a young woman had died from a leprous disease communicated by the chignon she wore, and goes on to say:-Ccrtaiuly, a young woman may have died from a leprous disease, but did .she wear a chignon ? Who knows ? And if so, jttjas it false? Where is it? Let us see wiS^our own eyes this fatal chignon." If she wore her own hair, which is more than probable, where is the "frizzette"? and was it made of human hair at all ? Because, where one human liair "frizzotte" is used, there are dozens of imitation hair" worn. In any case, where a pad" or "frizzette" is used, as our subscri- bers are well aware, and we repeat it for the hundredth time, the hair undergoes a process of boiling and baking, which is absolutely neces- sary to give it that crisp condition the "frizzettc" should always present. This process canuot be slightly or imperfectly dolic-it must be tho- rough and complete. Whether the hair be "supplied from the cemeteries of the East," or the West, or from any other carter, still it must undergo this purifying and cleansing pro- cess. As the writer of the paragraph in question knows so much, we should like to ask him to indicate to us, as a favour, and just to satisfy our longing curiosity, whero some of this said "hair" is to be obtained. Like M. Lindemann's gregarine," we cannot discover it-it,is not to bo found. As for the chignon fungus," what gave rise to that? Simply-a lock of hair which presented a peculiar knotty appearance, and was thrown on one side in consequence of its very uncommon appearance. We refer to it again for the purpose of stating that a gentle- man (with a view of testing whether this hair with a fungoid growth thereon, had any dis- ease which could be communicated to the human being) wore some of it bound round his arm for one month lie punctured the skin, and placing the hair there, bound it tightly on, but no signs of disease appeared, although, in this particular instance, there was a piece of hair acknowledged to be unfit for use. -=-- --=- .=-=-==:c=:== --c=-=-=:-=:c==

DRUNKENNESS 4-T V ART EG. To theedifoi* of the Free Press. Sir,It is extremely painful to me to bo obliged to communicate to you the stale of morality in this place. But I feel it my thity to do so, for the sake of those persons who h/ie quietness and hap- piness. But it is impossible for people to enjoy that which they love. On pmj Saturdays, it is, indeed, unsafe for a person tq walk the road from about 1) o'clock till 12 o'clock p.m.: the cursing, swearing, and fighting of drunken men, the screams of excited women, and the noise of nule boys, can be heard all over the neighbourhood. Is not this too bad to endure ? Can't something be done to remedy this ? 1 should think so. A great-deal of the blame is to be attached to the publicans, who leave men and boys drink to excess. What these publicans seem to care about is, to get all; and when they have had that, the poor sot can go as soon as he pleases. But a man ought to have respect for his house. 1 attach to our policemen the most blame, because it is their duty to look after such places. But they are seldom or never present when wanted: when a row takes place they are generally a good way from home. As I live not far from Varteg, I may render them a good service by pointing out the best time when to come, if they wish to catch birds—and there are many, if they would ioaic\^omfyportunity. Well, just come up when. we are in chtipel, oiz a Sunday morning and if^ou cannot find them in the IIOL:SEs no?- iii ihe'bTABLES tWr. 0:1, the PREMISES, just give a icalk around the rankf and stop loicked hoys from being troublesome tqfiiLi folks who like to have peace on the oabbath^jjbj. If they will attend to these suggesjioinf, I mi not think they will spend I bi It I eyo!h t. Trusting you will insert this, Jmj&fcsir, yours truly, v.Jg MILD"

NOTICES TO C^RRESPONDENTS. P. L.—We cannot undertake to return rejected communications. Yours istticlow the mark. S;

CRICKET. On Monday last trnj lHitw-ti. match with iJsk carno off on tho Po^.tyi^t^ground. Tho L>k party were much in5pn.yciiiftuccd by the non- appearance on the soefie of action of the Messrs Bateman, and Mr Protheros who had promised to play tor them while Pontymoil were weak- ened in a similar way by the abacuce of Mr S. Essex besides this they had to bewail the loss of three others of their regular eleven (Messrs Gurnoy and G. aud C. Davies), who were una- ble to play for various reasons, as were Messrs Leverett and Creese on the other side. Thus neither club played its full strength. The match was remarkable throughout for the smallness of the scores, the bowling on both sides being quite too much for the batting. Pontymoil for the sixth time this season won the toss, and went in. The only two, however, to make a stand were Messrs A. 0. James and W. H. Lewis, who played well for 1!) apiece. All the wickets fell for 4-1. Even this small total how- ever proved too high for their opponents, who were all dismissed for 31, Mr Roberts alone shewing any hitting. The Pontymoil bowling was done by Messrs W. Williams and II. James, the latter of whom was too wily for seven of the L'sk batsmen. The only remarkable feature in the second innings was the hard hitting of Mr Martin Edwards, who made 21, including a very line drive for seven, which he followed up next ball by another into the hedge for three, from the other bowler. But the bowling of the Jennings frcres (which was excellent through- out the match) got rid of the whole of the Pon- tymoil cloven for 4G. This left Usk CO to win, but they made no better a stand than before, and again only reached 31, Mr Roberts being once more highest scorer. Pontymoil thus won by 28 runs. The bowling of Mr Williams in this innings was beyond all praise scarcely aiiy riiiis Nvei-c made from it, and 110 obtained eight wickets. Score: T" PONTYMOIL. tirsi innings. minuet. A. 0. Jumes, b F. Jennings 15 1 b w, b F. Jennings 2 b F. Jeiiiiiii,, U. Davies, c Wysomc, b F.Jennings 0 not out 5 W. II. Lewis, b E. Ji-nnings 15 1 b w, b F. Jennings 0 J. C. lliinburr, b F.Jennings 0 b E. Jennings 2 II. A. James, b F. Jennings 3 b li. Jennings 1 M. Edwards, b F. Jennings (I b F. Jennings 21 W. Williams, b F. Jennings 1 11) w, b F. Jennings 5 J. R. Essex, b F. Jennings 0 b F. Jennings 5 n. Fold, nol out 4 c Frost, b F. Jen- nings 2 J. B. Hampson, b F, Jennings 0 b 15. Jennings. 0 II. Lawrence, b F. Jennings M c Clark,b 15 Jennings 2 li 1, 1 b 1, w 1 3 bye 1 44 46 USK. First innings. Second innings. 15. L. Clark, b Williams 0 b Williams 0 F. Jennings, c Ilanbnry, b II. James 2 lb w, b illiauis 4 R. Roberts, b II. Jamesj 7 b Williams 9 15. F. Jennings, hit w, b Williams 2 b NA 1 J. Lewis, b II. James 0 b TI. James 5 J. Wysoine, b 11. James. 3 e II. James, b Wil- liams 2 J. White, c and b Williams 5 c II. James, b Wil- liams 5 IT. Thomas, c Ilanbury, b H. James 2 b Williams 0 J. Williams, b H. James 3 not out 3 A. Lloyd, not out 5 c Frost, b H. James 0 W. II. Kosser, c Lewis, b H. James 0 b Williams 0 Wides 2 2 bl.wl 2 31 31 PONTRIIYDYRUN JUVENILES V. CWMBRAN JUVENILES. This match was played on Saturday at I ont- rliydyrun, resulting favour of Pontrhydyrun by 1 run and two wickets to fall. CWM BRAN, First innings. Second innings. W. Jones, b T. 15vans 3 b Evans 2 K, Miles, c Ilosser 0 1 b w 0 A. Davies, c Banfield 2 c Jb. Ressel 4 J.Frv, b Evans 1 runout 2 T- lilies, b Banfield 4 e Howells 0 W. Wbittaker, run out 1 not out 3 Jb. Jones, b Banfield 2 b Evans 0 G. Wanes, b Banfield I c and b Evans 0 J. James, b Evans 0 b Evans 3 J. Jone?, c Banfield 2 c Evans (I 11. Waites. not out 0 b Banfield I Lb. 1 Byes I 17 1(5 roXTKIIYDYBUN. First innings Second mlllngs T Evans, b Fry '1 lbw 0 G Rosser, b T Miles 0 lbw 0 T James, run out 1 c and b Fry (I Jb Bessell, run out 0 b Davies 7 J Bessell, run out 3 b Davies 0 W Banfield, run out 0 c W Jones, b fc'ry 3 F Rowland, b T Miles 0 b Fry o J Rowland, b T Miles 0 st Davies 0 A Howellc, st and b Fry 0 ot out 1 1) James, not out I b Davies 0 G Davies, not out 2 b Davies 1 W 2, 1 b I 3 b 2, w 3 5 14 22

.+- SOGTH WALES UNION OF MINERS. At the meeting last week of delegates, repre- senting the of GlamorgalJshire and Monmouthshire, which was held at Pontypridd, Mr Hallidav, the deputation from Lancashire, said he had been sent by their Lancashire brethren to promote the establishment of a union amongst tho miners of South Wales. During the short time that he had been in South Wales he had attended several meetings, and everywhere had met with a strong expression of opinion in favour of the movemont. (Ap- plause.) In the company of several men con- nected with the Abcrdare valley, lie had visited the Home Secretary, at his residence near Aberdare. Mr Bruce met them very kindly, and taiked with them upon several matters. There were many difficulties to be overcome, but lie (Mr Bruce) believed they might be over- come if all those concerned in the working of collieries would unite to promote the great ob- ject they had in view. lie (MI Ilalliday) hoped they would be able to carry the public with them in their movements, and he wished it to go forth that they were not antagonistic to the interests of the employers. Ile thought that the question of over-production was one that concerned both masters and workmen and it seemed to him that they should join together in one body for the purpose of lessening the hours of labour, as lie believed that eight hours a day y was suilicient for any man. They should also endeavour to obtain an advance of wages. He commended these questions to their earlicst consideration, and he assured them that Lanca- i shire would do all it could to help thcfSouth Wales men. There would bo another conference at Manchester next Monday, and the result would be communicated to the men in South Wales. (Applause.) The different delegates from the Rhondda Valley then stated their views. One man said that his fellow-workmen wished thcSout' Wales union to have the management of its own funds, and that they would object to their money being handed over to any other body. Mr Halliday said that in Lancashire tho mi- ners had formed a death fund, an accident fund, aud a union fund. It was the union fund that he urged them to form. (Applause.) The Monmouthshire men followed. One re- presented eleven collieries in the Abcrtillery district. All who spoke were in favour of a union being formed, but they were not unani- mous as to the desirableness of Monmouthshire joining Glamorganshire. The Aberdiire and Merthyr Valleys were re- presented, and the men said that in all cases they were wishful to form a union. Having ascertained the general feelings of the men from the represented districts, the confer- ence proceeded to discuss some of the proposi- tions on which it was desirable to pass resolu- tions. Tho first aud great difficulty was to arrive at a conclusion as to the manner in which to form the union. It was evident that some of the men were not sufficiently informed as to the rules of the proposed union, and there was doubt and hesitation as to its formation with imperfect knowledge of the subject. Mr Ilalliday urged that they should make a beginning, and they could take the necessary steps to extend a knowledge of the matters dis- cussed He expected that by and by they would succeed in getting all the men in South Wales joined together in one common union. After this subject had been fully discussed, a resolution was passed to tho effect "That a union of miners for South Wales be established from this day." After an adjournment for half an hour for refreshment, the conference again assembled, and renewed its deliberations. The Chairman said they had now launched the ship, and they must proceed to appoint a captain and officers, so as to work tho ship efficiently. He suggested that they should di- vide the country into districts, and that in each district there should be an organisation to work the union that now had been formed. Seven men had already been constituted a committee, to watch the Mines' Inspection Bill, and he left it with the meeting to say whcther they would ask that committee to tako tho initiative in setting the machinery in motion. Mr Ilalliday said the conference had arrived at a very important point tho appointment of a captain and crew, or in other words, a chair- man, vice-chairman, treasurer, secretary, and committee. The Lancashire miners were draw- ing up rules, and he promised that this union should have copies of the Lancashire rules. He also said ho would try to get the Lancashire iiicii to send a man into "Tales to help tllO col- liers here in carrying the organisation through the several counties interested, and he suggested that a man ready of spccch in Welsh and English should be soiecced to hold meetings in different places. After some discission. Mr John Jones was elected chairman, and I r hew is. Morgan vicc- chairinan. Mr George Colo, llhondda Valley, was elected secretary, and Mr John Jones, oi Cwmaman, the treasurer. Messrs Morris Morric, Cwmbach Thomas Morgan, Cwmaman: and Benjamin Nicholas, one of the Monmouthshire men, were appointed a coliiiiiittee Pi-o tern. It was resolved to levy 2d. per man during the next month, to provide funds for establish- ing the union. When the rules are drawn up and agreed to, the regular contribution will be determined. Contributions were ordered to be sent to the treasurer, and it was recommended that an ac- count be opened in one of the local banks. As there was not time to discuss the pro- priety of agitating for an eight hours' day and an advance of wages, it was resolved that the conference be adjourned for a month, and that in the meantime information as to this meeting, together with an address to the miners, be cir- ciliated throughout the mining districts of South Wales. This closed the business of the day.

A JEWISH MARRIAGE AT MERTHYR. DISGRACEFUL CONDUCT OF CHRISTIANS. On Tuesday there was a marriage at tho Synagogue, in Merthyr, the contracting parties being Mr Solomon Goodman, of Mountain Ash, and Miss Sophia Isaacs, daughter of Mr Isaac Isaacs, of Merthyr. The bridesmaids were Miss Leah Levy and Miss Esther Goodman. The reader of the Hebrew congregation officiated. The Synagogue was full of people, many Gen- tiles being present. The streets wore lined with spectators and carriages. At the close of the ceremony a large company assembled at the Crown Inn, where a cold collation had been prepared. Many of those present were Christi- ans, personal friends of the families concerned in tho marriage and in the evening there was a ball, for the thorough enjoyment of which every preparation had been made. The pleasure of the evening, however, was greatly marred by the unwarrantable conduct of the so-called Christians. During tlw ceremony at the syna- gogue the Gentiles behaved in a most disorderly manner and when the ball had been opened, the same class of persons forced themselves into the ball-room, made very improper remarks on the ladies and gentlemen present, and persisted in dancing. The result was that they made themselves masters of the situation, and neces- sitated the unpleasant alternative of quitting the festivities or calling in the police. The latter course was adopted, and the intruders were summarily ejected. Had less forbearance been shown, the unmannerly boors would have been served perfectly right.

23trtt)S, jUJlatrtagcs, nntf 33cnt!)S. BIRTHS. igST No births or marriages inserted unless prepaid (Is.) and authenticated. Aug. 16, the wife of Mr John George Dent, Canton IIouse, A bersychan, of a son, KAERIAGES. Aug. IS, Mr David Jones, second son of Mr Philip Jones, farmer, Mynyddysllwyn, to Miss Miriam Whit- ney, seventh daughter of Mr William Whitney, farmer, blaenafon. DEATHS. Aug. 19, at Clifton, in her loth year, Mabel Laura, youngest daughter of Mrs Hampton, of Maesteg, Gla- morganshire. Aug. 21, at the Quick buildings, Blaenafon, aged 8-1 years, Mrs Mary Langford. Aug. 22, at Snatcliwood, aged 32 years, Mr James Powell, iron miner. Aug. 25, at Abcrsychan, aged 2 years, Joanna, daugh- ter of Mr Timothy Gorman, coker. Aug. 2G, at Park-road, Pontypool, aged 05 years, after a long illness, Ann, wife of Mr Paterson, head gardener at lontypool PIrk.

SHOWING UP THE MERTHYR TYDVIL GUARDIANS. An Abcrdare correspondent, writing to the Daily Telegraph, says :—During the last year you have occasionally noticed us, the inhabi- tants of this important Welsh borough. Some, if not all of us, thought your comments upon our short sightedness at the last general elec- tion by no means too severe. Most of us were very grateful to you when you praised the liberality of our guardians in entrusting the nursing of our workhouse infirmary to the care of a well-trained Sister of Mercy. These past notices of us in your columns, and the great influence your paper deservedly exerts upon the masses of this great district of 100,000 in- habitants, incline me to ask you to spare uc once again a corner of your space. We appear to need one gentle lesson more. We require, or at least our guardians require, to be taught to reward high public service with something like delicate kindly courtesy. Well! the Sis- ter came to work in our infirmary, where pre- viously the sick poor were so notoriously ne- glected. She has so far done her difficult work. She has won, not only the warm gra- titude of the inmates, but the approbation of all. Although a lady of high birth, she has again and again with her own hands anxious- n Zfl ly nursed our paupers through the most loath- some diseases. The whole of her time is given gratuitously to the good work in the midst of which she lives unehecred by the society of her equals. And what is the return made for all this sacrifice ? More than once she has been referred to in discussions of the Board in terms of patronising vulgarity or ungracious discourtesy. I enclose the report of the West- ern Mail of the last meeting of the guardians, and I hope you will, at least, by your public notice, castigate vulgarity, and put it to shame.