The Welsh Coast Pioneer and Review for North Cambria

Colwyn Bay Police Court. A Libel Case Withdrawn. Awkward Predicament of the Urban Council. THE monthly sessions were held on Saturday, before Mr T. (V. Osborn (in the chair), Dr Bold Williams, Messrs James Wood, W. F. Jones, C. F. Woodall, George Sevan, Joseph Jones, and W. D. Houghton. Drunk in Charge. William Williams, 3, Ivy-street, Colwyn Bay, an outside porter, pleaded guilty to being drunk in charge of a horse in Lawson-road, and was fined 5s and costs. A Breach of the Peace. John Richard Willams, Colwyn, was sum- moned for creating a breach of the peace by fighting. P.C. Worthington said defendant was fighting with another man who was fined at the court. Defendant did not appear, and was said to be working at Rhyl. Inspector Roberts said he left the summon;; at the house of the defendant's sister in Rhyl. A fine of 5s and costs was imposed. Cruelty Cases. Robert Arthur Hughes, Tudor House, Old Colwyn, was summoned for cruelly to a horse. The case was dismissed. E. Carter, Lee Hall Farm, Colwyn, pleaded guiltv to a similar charge, and was fined 2s 6d and costs. u William Thomas, Llandudno Junction, was also charged with an identical offence, and fined 10s and costs. Extraordinary Scenes at the Ship Hotel, Rhos. A VIOLENT CUSTOMER. Alexander Stuart, residing at Rhos-on-Sca, was summoned for being drunk and using abu- sive language in the Ship Hotel, Rhos. Mr Bliss-Hill, who prosecuted, said on the 27th of last December, the defendant, who was a stranger to the house, came into the bar, and commenced to indulge in bad J anguage in aloud voice. The landlady asked him to be quiet, whereupon he made a movement as if he would assault her, and plaintiff stepped in between them. He took hold of her by the shoulders, and shook her, and had not two gentlemen inter- fered he would probably have struck her. Eleanor Parle said she was a barmaid at the Ship Hotel. Between three and four in the afternoon on the day in question the defendant came in and used bad language. He continued to do so in spite of the landlady asking him to be quiet. He tried to strike Mrs Royle, but plaintiff got in between, and defendant got hold of her by the shoulders. Had it not been for two gentlemen who were in the bar, he would have struck her. She got away, and went behind the billiard table. He continued to use abusive language all the time he remained in the hotel. Sarah Royle, wife of the landlord of the Ship Hotel, sa.id on the afternoon in question, she was sitting in an adjoining room, and heard the defendant using bad and filthy language. Wit- ness asked him to go out, and he called her bad names. He tried to strike her, but Miss Parle prevented him. Defendant used bad language I to everyone in the bar. Defendant's wife came in shortly afterwards, and asked him to be quiet. He nearly knocked her down. Witness did not regard him as drunk. Defendant: Do you say that I used abusive language? Witness I do, most emphatically. Defendant: If you speak the truth, you will understand that that is false. (Laughter.) Defendant, in the course of a statement, said he went to the Ship Hotel with another man, and they were served with two whiskies. There were some words, but there were no blows struck. He had never lifted his hand to a lady in his life, and if he did he would not be fitted to be called a man, much less a gentlemen. ("Hear, hear," in court.) Sarah Stuart, the wife of the defendant, said her husband had had a lot of whisky in the house before he went out that afternoon, and she asked him not to go away. He said it was holiday time, and. that he must go out. (Laugh- ter.) She could not say what took place before she went in the bar, but when she did get in she heard the landlady and the young lady call- I ing him the "scum of the earth." In fact, they would not let him go out. (Laughter.) The Chairman said the case was proved, and defendant would be fined £1 and costs, which amounted to £ 2 14s 6d. A Peculiar Case from Ofd Colwyn. liE WAS NOT DRUNK, AND II11 WAS NOT SOBER. John Evans, horse breaker, Colwyn Bay. was summoned for being drunk on licensed prenr.ses at Old Colwyn. P.C. Worthington said about 7-30 p.m. on the 17th of March he heard a noise in the Ship Hotel, Old Colwyn. He went in the house, and saw the defendant lying on his back, kicking. He was drunk, and the landlord asked witness to put him out. Cross-examined He concluded defendant was drunk by seeing him on his back. The landlord told him that defendant' had slipped down, and nearly pulled him down as well. He told the landlord that if he did not summons the defen- dant witness would. He denied telling the land- lord that he (witness) would summons the house if he did not summons the defendant. Thomas Davies, Ship Hotel, Old Cohvyn, said he was coming out of the coffee-room with some bottles and glasses. Defendant said, "I want to see you." So witness put the glasses down, and went back into the coffee-room. Defendant said he was going home, and pushed witness play- fullv towards the door. He got on to the tiles, and slipped on his back, as he had big nails in his boots. Cross-examined The defendant was not quite sober. He could not remember asking the officer to put the man out. By Mr Bliss-Hill: The police asked h:m twice what he was going to do, as it might be against his house if he did not prosecute defendant, but he was not asked to issue a summons, and he had not done so. On this occasion ctcfeuciauc was a bit playful. Mr Evans The defendant said he had been in the public-house nearly all the afternoon, but he had not had very much drink. He was not drunk. The constable was cross-examining the defen- dant when the latter said, "You don't recollect me talcing you home in a wheelbarrow? (Laughter.) The Chairman said such remarks should not be made. The Constable: Will you swear that you took me home in a barrow? Defendant did not answer the question. Mr Bliss-Hill objected. i Dr Bold Williams said a serious charge had been made against the constable, who ought to have the opportunity of refuting it. I the Constable: Are you prepared to swear that vou took me home on a. barrow? Defendant: I won't say anything now. The Constable Do you make that accusation again, or do you withdraw your words? Defendant: I will withdraw. Philip Evans, stonemason, residing with his parents at St. Asaph, said the defendant was more excited than drunk. He went part of the way home with him, and he did not stagger. The man was not drunk. He had not been in the Ship Inn that afternoon. He met the defen- dant coming out of the door. Cross-examined: Was this man sober? Witness: He was not drunk. There is a difference between drunkenness and soberness. He was not drunk. The Chairman Answer the question properly. Was he sober, or was he drunk? Witness He was not drunk. P.C. Worthington You were in the Denbigh- shire police at one time? Yes. And von were dismissed? Yes. What for? Incapable, I should think. Anyhow, ask Sergeant Tippett. Was it not for drunkenness? It has nothing to do wth this case. Defendant (who was defended, by Mr Bliss- Hill) was fined 10s and costs, amounting to £ 1. A Second Charge of Assaulting the Police. A. second case, that, of assaulting the police, was then gone into. P.C. Worthington said, when the defendant was on his back, the landlord said, "Put him on his legs, and put him out." Witness did so, and defendant struck at him, kicked him, and made him nearly sick. He threatened to kick witness "to the <1- Thomas Davies, the landlord, said he heard the officer say, "If you don't stop kicking, I shall use my truncheon." After further evidence from the defendant and Philip Evans, defendant was fined 10s and costs. A Shady Libel" Case Withdrawn. RKGINA (OR SOMEBODY ELSE) v. IIORTON. For two or three weeks the public had been anticipating with considerable interest the hear- ing ot a case arising out of a letter which re- cently appeared in the correspondence columns of the ilioricer," touching the bankruptcy pro- ceedings in connection with the Rhos Brick- works. It may be remembered that Mr William Horton wrote a letter giving the version from, his side as to what dealings he had had with the bankrupts, and in order to controvert certain statements and insinuations which had been made during the bankruptcy proceedings. Mr R. II. Roberts had removed to London, but his wife undertook to answer the letter, which for sufficient reasons it was considered best in the interests of all concerned not to publish. There- upon Mr Bliss-Hill, solicitor, took up the case on behalf of Roberts, and proceeded by indict- ment against Mr Ilorton. Shortly afterwards Mr R. H. Roberts requested to have the case withdrawn, but, as is well known, this could only be done by permission of the court. Mean- while, however, Mr Ilorton was approached, and asked if he would consent to the case being withdrawn and forego all claim for his costs. It was whispered in court, during the proceed- ings, that Mr Horton had sought to have the case withdrawn, and was prepared to pay costs and compensation. We have made enquiries of Mr Horton, who has assured us there is absolutely no truth in such allegation, and that the facts are quite to the contrary. Mr Bliss-Hill said, he was instructed to appear on behalf of Mr Roberts, who was the nominal prosecutor in the case of Regina v. Horton. lIo was enabled to state that matters had been so arranged that with the permission of the Bench the case would not proceed further; in other words no evidence would be offered in the mat- ter. i,.u solicitor added, as might have been expected in retreating from such a case, that Mr Roberts would look to the printer and publisher of the newspaper for such pecuniary remedy that he might ultimately recover. The case was then withdrawn. The Council Summoned for an Obstruction. WHO IS RESPONSIBLE? THE TOWN SURVEYOR RELIEVES THE SITUATION. The Colwvn Bay Urban District Council were summoned by Sergeant Tippett for obstructing the public highway. Mr Amphlett defended. He said they were sued as a Council with regard to an obstruction in the highway, and he did not know personally under what section the Council could be sued in court. He did not know whether The Clerk: It is a question between master and servant, and the point is whether the Coun- cil is responsible for what happened. Mr Amphlett: You cannot bring twelve coun- cillors here. As a Council we are not guilty. The Clerk Well, who did it? (Laughter.) Sergeant Tippett: I saw Mr Tones, the sur- veyor, the same day, and lie said that there was a light in the vicimty that night. The Clerk: If it can be shown that this was done under the authority of the Council, then thev are responsible. But there Mr ST ME EVIDENCE OF CRIMINAL NEGLECT to justif" a. conviction. Dr Bold Williams: Was there a light on the timber? Sergeant Tippett: There was no special lamp provided. Dr Bold Williams: But you said the surveyor told you there was a lamp. Sergeant Tippett: He referred to the ordinary street lamp, and not to a special lamp. The Clerk You have no evidence at present to show that the Council knew anything about the obstruction. It is a serious thing that a public body like the Council should countenance this sort of thing. The Chairman It seems to ma that they are getting away from their responsibility by a tech- nical objection, which I don't think creditable. Sergeant Tippett: I will call the surveyor. Mr Amphlett denied that he was taking advan- tage 1 of a technical objection to get rid of the case. Before an Urban Council can be held liable it must be proved that the Council were aware that the law was being broken; otherwise j they could not be held responsible. In the sec- tion referring to this subject it was clearly pro- vided that proceedings should be taken. Thev were very simple, and in his opinion this was not a case where the Council should have been sued. No conviction could lie against them. and if anybody was at fault, THE PROPER PARTY SHOULD UK sn,n, not the local authority. He believed what Ser- geant Tippett said was true, and, therefore, he would not cross-examine him. The Chairman Mr Amphlett knows very well that if I were summoned for an offence of this sort and I said that my servant did it without my knowledge Mr Amphlett: Pardon me, sir. That is not the same thing. The Council as a local govern- ing body are not responsible in cases of this kind. They may employ hundreds of workmen and a man may drop a spade, which someone might probably tumble over. But the Council are not responsible. It is a very different thing with a private individual. They are respon- sible for their servants' misdeeds, but local gov- erning bodies are specially protected. The Clerk: By what section? Mr Amphlett: Section 25. The Clerk: Are they protected if they know about it? Mr Amphlett: If you can PROVE THEV KNEW ALL ABorT IT, I will withdraw my technical objection. Ali- Wm. Jones, the town surveyor, took his stand in the witness box. Sergeant Tippett: In accordance with a reso- lution of the Council, did you instruct —— The Clerk: You are not obliged to incriminate yourself by answering unless you like. Mr .Amphlett: You needn't answer the ques- tion. The Surveyor: I shall not answer. Sergeant Tippett: In accordance with a reso- lution of the Council, did you cause your work- men to erect an obstruction across the bottom of Queen's-drive on the 22nd of March? The Surveyor: Not in accordance with any resolution. Sergeant Tippett: Did you in accordance with instructions? Mr Amphlett: You need not answer the ques- tion? The Surveyor I received no instructions. Mr Joseph Jones Was the work done under your supervision? The Surveyor It was. The C'hairman We dismiss the case. Upon the application of Sergeant Tippett, the costs were remitted. • «►

Departure of the Welsh Hospital. The Welsh Hospital staff, which consists entirely of Welsh surgeons, dressers, and nurses, left Waterloo Station on Saturday morning. A consider- able number of friends attended at the station, including" Sir John Williams (chairman of the committee) and Lady Williams, Sir David Evans (treasurer), and Lady Evans, Mr Wynne (Lord- Lieutenant of Merioneth), Professor Frederick j Roberts, and Professor Hughes (organising secret- ary). The staff were accompanied by Sir David and Lady Evans and Professor Hughes to South- ampton, where they embarked on the Canada, which also conveys the entire equipment of the hospital.

Tragic End of a Rhyl Gentleman. Drowned whilst Fishing. QlTIE a sensation (writes a Rhyl correspondent) was experienced in this town and district on Good Friday when the news passed round that Mr Geo. Bromley, of Beechwood-road, had been drowned in the river Clwyd at Rhuddlan whilst out fishing. Personally Mr Bromley was not well known in Rhyl, but being a younger brother of Mr Richard Bromley, the coroner for the county of Flint and a well-known solicitor, it vested the sad occurrence with unusual pathos. Only a fortnight ago the deceased gentleman succeeded Mr Curling as the Chancery Receiver of the Cefn-du Brickworks, and was married not very long ago. Universal sympathy is expressed for Mr Richard Bromley and Mrs Bromley, the widow. The inquest was held on Saturday afternoon, before Mr Llewelyn Jones, the deputy coroner, in the Town Hall, Rhyl. The Deputy Coroner said the occasion was an extremely painful one for him, and would have been a much more painful one for Mr Bromlev had he been obliged to hold the inquiry himself. They all sympathised with the family in such a sad and sudden bereavement. The first witness called was Mr Hathersley Jones, managing clerk to Mr Bromley, who identi- tied the body as that of Mr George Bromley, whom he knew intimately. Dr Thomas, a Rhyl surgeon, deposed to attend- ing the deceased for heart disease for upwards of two years. If the current was very strong at the time deceased was in the water he could not suc- cessiully battle against it when suffering from heart disease. Robert Vaughan, farm labourer, employed at the Abbey Farm, said he saw the deceased in the act of crossing the river from the Rhuddlan side at a spot about roo yards from the Castle. The tide was on the ebb, and the water was flowing rapidly seawards. When he reached the middle of the river he was up to his waist, and all at once he seemed to be carried off his feet as he threw up his arms and sank out of sight. Witness saw the basket and rod floating on the water. Witness was eighty yards from the deceased at this time, and when he sank witness went to acquaint a man, named Richard Williams, who was fishing not far away. Richard Williams was then called. He said he worked at the Foundry. On Good Friday after- noon he went down to the river and saw the de- ceased fishing at a point between the Castle and the Abbey Farm. The water reached up to his waist. There was a stiff gale blowing and the river was rather high and flowing strongly out to sea. Witness went for his fishing tackle and went back to the river, joining the deceased, who was then on an island in the middle of the water, Deceased, after they had fished for a little tiiiie enquired whether witness had caught anything, and being answered in the negative, said that as he too had not had a single rise he would cross to the other side. Witness replied that it would be no good, as the water was too muddy. Deceased then went away to the back of witness, and he never saw him afterwards. He heard no cries. If there had been any it was possible he would not have heard them, as the wind was blowing with great force in the direction witness took. The shouts of the last witness were the first intimation that anything was wrong. William Roberts, painter, Rhuddlan, said he seached for the body which he found with a boat hook in two and a half feet of water, between the bridge and the Castle. The remains were conveyed to the house of the deceased in Beechwood-road. The jury in returning a verdict of accidental death, passed votes of condolence with the widow of the deceased, Mr Richard Bromley, the County Coroiier, and the deceased's faiiiilv.

—— Sir John Llewelyn's son, Mr C. D. Ven- ables Llewelyn, is expected to be the new Unionist candidate for Radnorshire. An extraordinary dispute has occurred at Trefnant, and in consequence some of the rate- payers have declined to pay their water rate, alleging that they do not get a sufficient supply of water. On Saturday a new rate was made, notwithstanding that there is still unpaid some of the previous rate. The cause of the dispute is a difference between the authorities as to which body is liable to pay for the laying of a new main from St. Asaph to Trefnant. The Rhyl Council supply the, water by meter, and they contend that the Trefnant people should pay some portion of the cost of the main, while the consumers argue that they are paying nearly double the price originally agreed upon for the water.

LAST TEN DAYS. CYCLE CLEARANCE SALE Extraordinary Bargains. Rudges, Humbers, Swifts, Enfields, Premiers, &c. 1899 Pattern at 5s in the £ less than last year, till all are cleared out, to make room for 1900 stock. CALL AND INSPECT AT CONNAH & CO.'S DEPOTS, Rhyl, Warrington, Llanrwst, Bangor, B. Festiniog, Carnarvon, Holyhead, Denbigh, &c. ASK FOR THE RODERICK DHU Old Highland Whisky. The Fauuirite SCOTCH WHISKY of the Day. REt OlDIEDED ALIKE BY PHYSICIAN AND ANALYST Awarded Prize Medal wherever exhibited. SOLD EVERYWHERE in the Firm's own Labelled and Capsuled Bottles, WRIGHT & CREIG, Ltd., Glasgow. U4;") Furniture Furniture Furniture FRED ROBERTS & CO., House Furnishers, 3, RUSSELL BUILDINGS, RHYL. We Furnish a House (from a Cottage to » Mansion) from top to bottom, for READY CASH, or on the EASY PAYMENT SYSTEM. Railway Fare allowed to Country Custom en who give us JB5 order. Branch Shop: PENYBRYN, OLD COLWYN. ASK YOUR STATIONER FOR MORRELL'S (BLUE BLACK) INKS IN PATENT SCREW-STOPPERED BOTTLES, WITH LIP. Always Fluid. =- Never Fade. A PLEASURE TO WRITE WITH. Winter Specialities. Cod Liver Oil Emulsion, With Hypophosphites of Lime, Soda, and Potash. Prepared from the finest tasteless Cod Liver Oil. Invalids like it. Children cry for it. Imperial Petroleum Emulsion, With Hvpophosphites of Lime, Soda, and Potash. Highly recommended for all Affec- tions of the Throat and Lungs. The Cure for Bronchitis. Hunt's Raspberry Cough Elixir, Containing no poisonous ingredients. 11 t, Hunt's Cremolia, For Delicate Skins. Entirely removes all roughness, &c., <S:c. JNO. LTHUNT, Pharniaccutical Chemist, COLWYN BAY. MONEY LENT PRIVATELY from Xio upwards, on Borrower's own Promissory Note. The under- signed hfta tieen established for nearly 30 years, and lias always conducted business and or his own name. lie has always endeavoured to act in a fi ii- and BtiaiRhtforward manner, and has received many hun- dreds of letters of appreciation and tliunks from those who have dealt with him. NO PRELIMINARY FEES CHARGED. NO BILLS OF SALE TAKEN. PROMPT ATTENTION TO ENQUIRIES. Prospectuses, Terms for Advances, or any information desired will be supplied free of charge, 011 application either personally or by letter to GEORGE PA\NE, Accountant, 167 3, Crescent Road Rhyl