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MERIONETHSHIRE ASSIZES.

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MERIONETHSHIRE ASSIZES. The winter assizes for the county of Merioneth was held at Dolgelley on Thursday, before Justice Phillimore, who attended church in the morning, and was attended by the Hon Harold Finch Button (sheriff), Mr J. C. Hughes (under sheriff), and the Rev Mr Harris (chaplain). ttSANB JURY. The following Grand Jurors were in attendance The Hon C. H. Wvnn, Rug (foreman), Messrs Owen Slaney Wynne, C. E. J. Owen, Edward Griffith, E. O. Vaughan Lloyd, J. Hughes Jones, M. Lewis Lewis, J. Chidlaw Roberts, E. Robert Jenkins, J. Leigh Taylor, H. Haydn Jones, W. Jones Morris, R. Wynne Williams, Thomas Edwards, G. H. Ellis, R. Jones Morris, G. F. Scott, J. Franklin Bailey, H. Johnson Wright, Dr. John Jones, John Evans (Barmouth), H. H. Shuker, and T. P. Jones Parry. THE CHARGE. Addressing the Grand Jury, the Judge said he was glad to see that notwithstanding the inclement weather they had been able to assemble in full number and bestowed upon them and the county a mead of congratulation, which they had no doubt often heard from His Majesty's Judges. The record of the absence of crime in the county, which had been supplied to him by the Deputy Chief Constable, was a striking one. He need hardly remind them how slight that record had been for a long time. In 1903 there was only one trial for the year's assize, and not a single case for the quarter sessions, and that was an evidence of the law-abiding habits of the county. Unfor- tunately this time there was not a clean sheet; for there was asimple and plain charge which would have to be dealt with. Referring to the allowance recently made for professional evidence, he said some payment should be made to such witnesses so that they would be no losers by their duties. If the new Act did not get so far as that, it was something that a scale had been made in certain cases. Another matter he wished to bring before the Grand Jury was the provisions made for the defence of poor prisoners. Those who had discussed the Act hastily had not ap- proached it properly for it might work well and serve an useful purpose. Although the Act had been criticised unfavourably by the Chairman of the Middlesex Quarter Sessions, and the Recorder of London, he admitted it was impossible for a Chairman of Quarter Sessions or a judge of Assize to exercise jurisdiction when he had no means of knowing whether a man was poor or not. It was local magiatrates who would know whether a man was so poor that he ought to be defended. It hardly happened that a prisoner stood for trial without counsel to defend#him, even if the Judge had to order his defence, but it was not that. A prisoner should have the advantage of having his counsel before trial alild of bringing witnesses. They knew it was the rarest thing for one to be convicted when innocent owing to the care taken by judges and justices. Still, there were cases where public sentiment would be satisfied and the prisoner's own feelings would be satisfied if he had the best defence, and if there were any such cases in the county it would be exceedingly fair if the magistrates carried out the provisions of the Act. DISHONIST RAILWAY SERVANTS. Thomas Tinsley, stationmaster, and Charles Edward Fisher, railway porter, both committed on bail at Bala Petty Sessions, surrendered to a charge of unlawfully confederating to defraud the Great Western Railway Company. Defendants pleaded guilty to the charges pre- ferred against them. In his opening remarks, Mr Trevor Lloyd, who appeared for the prosecution said that Tinsley issued railway tickets from Frongoch, where he was station master, to Festiniog, where they were supposed to be nipped, but the tickets were sent back by the younger prisoner and then re-dated and re-issued. It was found that one ticket had been issued three times. On the day the offence was discovered ten tickets were in the process of being sent back. According to Timley s state- ments that had been going on for a month, but having been carefully examined by detectives it was suspected that the fraud had been carried on for about two years. Tinsley was the master- mind and bad drawn Fisher in. There was no actual evidence of Fisher having received any of 'the proceeds. With this exception Fisher had been r- -a etraielitforward man. His had been so good that he was recommended for an increased salary. For the defence, Mr Griffith said prisoners were both respectable men, and the Judge said lie gathered that the railway offences against Tinsley were not so numerous, and were purely manage- ment offences and not upon the point of dishonesty. Continuing, Mr Griffith emphasised the fact that Tinsley bad been for over twenty years in employ- ment of a company which was most rigorous in its selection of servants. He was 40 years of age, a married man with three children. Tinsley had admitted he suggested the fraud to Fisher and therefore took the responsibility upon himself. As far as the depositions laid before the Judge were concerned, the offences did not go further back than a month and it was a clumsy fraud at best. One of the tickets found was being sent for audit. Tinsley was Fisher's uncle, and during his employ- ment had contributed about £ 65 toward three funds the provident fund, pension fund, and also in case of death his widow would be entitled to a certain amount, and his total contribution nearly ap- proached in amount a year's salary. He had now lost all the benefits of those contributions and had already been punished for his offence. Fisher earned 18a 6d a we.k, atvd W Wm at Festiniog since February, 1900, being previously a grocer's assistant. Of Tinsley documents were produced speaking of him as a churchwarden and of his aetivity in connection with the religious work o the parish. With regard to Wisher, testimonials were signed by 46 tradesmen of Festiniog, and by nearly 200 quarrymen bearing testimony to his good character. Morris Evans, manufacturer of cattle and house- hold oils, Festiniog, was called and spoke as to Fisher's honest and reliable nature. Since be had been suspended, witness took him into hia employ- ment, and he had given him every satisfaction. The Judge And are you ready to keep him in your employment ?—Witness Yes. Mr Trevor Lloyd explained that Fisher's salary was 27s. a week with a house and garden. Addressing the prisoners, the Judge said it was a serious and grave case. If their scheme bad not been detected in time, they would have defrauded the Company of a. considerable sum. What made it worse was Tinsley's position, although under authority, yet above a subordinate whom he bad tempted. The Judge hoped that that subordinate's character would not be ruined, although he bad lost a good place through Tinsley's miserable games. Such offences were not easily detected, but when detected they should be made an example of, so that those occupying positions of trust should know what would befall them. He hoped that would be a lesson to Fisher. The law thought it desirable that young men should have an opportunity of redeeming themselves. Tinsley was aentenced to eight months' im- prisonment with hard labour, and Fisher was bound over in £10 to come up for judgment when called upon, and I hope," his Lordship added, that you will not be called upon again." SINGULAR BREACH OF PROMISE ACTION. Robert Rowlands, Festiniog, sued Mrs Ellen Parry, of the same place, for damages for an alleged breach of promise of marriage. Mr Samuel Moss, M,P., appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr Bryn Roberts, M.P., for the defendant. Mr Moss said the plaintiff was a quarryman, 65 years of age, and a widower, and the defendant was a widow, 45 years of age. In September, 1902, the plaintiff began to pay attention to the defend- ant, and after refusing him once she afterwards accepted him. On the 11th March, 1903, she pro- mised to marry him, and on the 14th the plaintiff, according to the defendant's arrangement, went to publish the banns. On his return he found her in great distress because her brother was against her breaking up her home. On the 27th March she wrote him a letter positively breaking off the en- gagement and asking him to forgive her. After the breaking off of the engagement the defendant brought some allegations against the plaintiff. He did not claim any specific damages, and if the de- fendant would withdraw the allegations his in- structions were that the action would be withdrawn. After a short consultation Mr Moss and Mr Roberts informed his Lordship that the oase had been amicably settled, the defendant withdrawing all allegations and the plaintiff withdrawing the action. The Judge made an order that both parties were to pay their own costs.

—-——♦: THE NORTH WALES ASYLUM.

♦ THE KING TO VISIT WALES.

«.— DAROWEN.

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