The Montgomeryshire Express and Radnor Times

]' SERGEANT MORGAN'S REMINISCENCES. Exciting Chases and Unpleasant Experiences. Fair Days and Pickpockets. How a Slippery Domestic was Run Down, A Notorious Housebreaker Ambushed It will not surprise readers who have followed the account of Sergeant Morgans' meritorious service to learn that seven years and a half after joining the force he was promoted to the rank of acting sergeant. This, we believe, constitutes a record of its kind in the history of the Montgomeryshire constabulary. At that particular time the Sergeant was a constable in Llanfair, and simultaneous with this recognition of his service a Llanfair sub-division was formed, and he was placed in charge of it. The following October (1891) he was transferred to Newtown, given charge of that station, and made a full sergeant. Continuing the account of his interview our representative writes: I thought that I discerned just a sem- blance of wistfulness steal over the Ser- geant's sun tanned face, as he laid his broad shoulders back in the arm chair and awaited questioning that concerned the final period of his service. A few days hence he would have doffed that bright- buttoned tunic, which now sat so admira- bly upon him, quitted a service whose dangers, mysteries, difficulties, trials, trou- bles, pleasures, and pains had become part of his being, and bidden good-bye to com- rades young and old. Well I knew that thoughts like these must be filling his mind as we entered upon the last lap," and so I lingered over the lighting of a fresh cigar- ette, the while harping upon the probabili- ties of the harvest. Well, Sergeant, I inquired at length, what was your first impression of Newtown after an absence of nearly eight years? It was then a rather drunken, and at times a very rowdy place. Since then I believe there are at least nine fewer public houses in and around the town, and the closing down of half-a-dozen of them, at any rate, was due to police objection, con- sequent upon their bad conduct." You were, I understand, pretty sharp with ill-conducted houses and drunken be- haviour ? "Yes, and I'll never regret that part of my duty. A loosely managed public house is one of the worst things in a community, and drunkenness, as you know, is respon- sible for most crime and offences. The Newtown fairs at that period were THE CONSTANT HAUNT OF PICK- POCKETS, and many of the very worst characters in that profession evidently found it a lucra- tive rendezvous. Some of them whom we caught proved to be among the most no- torious of thieves, although at first they protested their respectability with great in- dignation. On one occasion I observed a fellow, whom I suspected as one of that class, upon the railway station platform, and arrested him. Outside the station he surprised me by speaking in Welsh. Whilst on the way to the lock-up he hailed a well-known horse dealer from the Mid- lands, and asked him to say whether he knew him. Yes,' answered the dealer, I know him very well, and he is a most respectable man.' Nevertheless, I stuck to my man, who turned out to be an old con- vict. Some time afterwards I met the same dealer, and challenged the character he had given my prisoner. What do you think he replied ? If he said, I had given him away at that moment my life would have been in danger. I dare not have said anything else in his hearing. You had then in your hands one of the worst characters you could imagine. He belongs to a gang that live about my neigh- bourhood.' I am thankful to say, added the Sergeant, that the Newtown fair has long since been free from the visitations of these rogues." THE YOUTHFUL CRIMINAL. What of the youthful criminal ? Have you found that heredity accounts to any extent for youthful depravity ? Speaking from my own knowledge, I cannot say that it does. On the contrary, I know of innumerable instances in which the exemplary behaviour of families is in marked contrast with that of their parents. Evil surroundings and loose upbringing which encourage bad companionship are the chief causes of youthful introduction to wrong-doing. Of course, there are cases, happily, few, which seem to suggest that the tendency to evil is bred in the hone. I remember of two lads whom I arrested on suspicion of having stolen a watch and chain and money from an old lady near Welshpool. About that time Forden rail- way station office was also broken into, and a sum of money stolen. The boys, aged twelve and nine years, were con- victed on both charges, and corrected by twelve and six strokes of the birch re- spectively. Unfortunately, that conviction had no salutary effect upon one of the lads, who subsequently robbed a shop till in Newtown, for which he was sent to the reformatory." The Sergeant was naturally not disposed to describe the administration of the birch- ing, but I gathered that such chastise- ment is always tempered by consideration of the offence and the physical condition of the youngsters. Then the Sergeant entered upon the story of a long and tiring chase after A VERITABLE DE WET, ot a young domestic servant, charged with stealing clothing and money from the Cwm Farm, Dolfor. She was," he said, a fair-haired little girl of 16, with hair cut short. On arriving first in New- town, from where I don't now remember, she put up at one of the lodging houses, and it was through the landlady that she went into service at the Cwm. It was im- mediately after her sudden disappearance from the farm that the clothing and money were missed, and suspicion naturally attached to her. I traced her movements to Llanidloes, and then walked on to Rhayader, where a couple of pedlars in- formed me they had stayed with .her at the Llanidloes lodging house, and that she had gone on to Aberystwyth. Thither I proceeded by train, but failed to get any clue there. I stayed over night, and made an early visit to the lodging house, again without success. It seemed probable that she had lingered on the way from Llanid- loes. So I started from Aberystwyth to walk over the mountain road back to Llan- idloes, a distance of 30 miles. This I did, but never caught a glimpse of the fair- haired damsel. Next morning I received a wire from Aberystwyth that she had been apprehended there. A SINGULAR ARREST. Her arrest came about in a simple, yet very remarkable way. When I landed at Aberystwyth to bring her back in custody, the constable who had been hunting for her there along with me, received me with much merriment. For a while he could not explain his laughter. At length, he said, I'm laughing over the way I caught that little minx last night.' Then he pro- ceeded to unfold the tale of how half-way between the police station and his own house, under Constitution Hill, he had hesitated which of these places he should go to for oil for his lamp. He decided to go home, and in the out-house, where the oil is stored, he found the wanted damsel hiding..It subsequently transpired that the girl came into the lodging^ house at Aberystwyth just as I was talking to tne landlady, and happening to overhear the conversation, she made off. She slept on the hill by the monument that night, begged her food at the farms the next day, and came back into town again in the evening. Upon conviction she was sent for ten days to prison, and afterwards for two years to a reformatory school. I had walked for two successive days, and you can count the miles." Another memorable hunt," continued the Sergeant, was that after a tramp who stole a pair of boots from the school house in New-road, Newtown. Failing to get any trace of him in the town, though we knew him, a constable and I eventually got ON HIS TRACK as far as Glandulas, where we lost the scent. Doubling back on to the Dolfor- road, we regained the trace, and walked on for Llanbadarn, where again we lost touch. From there we made for the Cider House, by the old Llanbadarn road, and found on reaching it that at Dolfor the tramp had taken the old road for Llan- badarn, while we had travelled the new. At the Cider House he was seen passing that afternoon, so off we went along the Knighton road, walked through Velindre, and down to Beguildy. There in a house where travellers are accommodated we found our man, busily drying his clothes. It had been raining heavily throughout the chase, and we were both drenched to the skin. At two in the morning we began our long, dark, wet march back to Newtown. The young constable had kept up well, but the hill ground that had to be traversed in the dark and rain fatigued him con- siderably. At the Anchor Inn we had to rest and refresh both ourselves and the prisoner, and at five o'clock in the morn- ing we were coming down by Oak Villa into town. That delinquent cost us a tramp of forty miles. He was sentenced the same day to a month's imprisonment." The game was hardly worth the effort, I suggested, but the Sergeant replied that he never grumbled over time nor distance in pursuit of a thief. A TRICK THAT SUCCEEDED. Another reference to his diary refreshed the recollection of a house-breaker for whose capture the Sergeant was highly complimented by the Ellesmere police authorities. He continued: "Among the articles burgled at this house in Ellesmere was a small clock. A man answering the description circulated I traced to Llanidloes, where my first visit was paid to the lodging house. In one of the rooms I happened to hear the ticking of a watch or small clock, as all was quiet, the inmates being in bed. Upon the top of some papers I discovered a small time-piece, which corresponded with the one stolen. Now sometimes you can catch a delinquent more readily by a quick-spoken question than by a round- about process. Sharply I called out to the men in bed, 'Who does this clock belong to ?' Quick the answer came from one of them, who mistook me in the darkened light for another tramp, It belong to me.' Then,' says I, you're the man I want.' Upon searching his clothes I found more of the stolen articles. Lord Chief Justice Coleridge subsequently landed him for six months' hard labour. Our Chief Constable was pleased to receive a com- munication from the Shropshire Chief, which he showed to me." A NOTORIOUS HOUSE-BREAKER. I had heard a good deal about the doings of a notorious young house-breaker belong- ing to the district, and questioned the Ser- geant concerning his dealings with that worthy. My longest journey," answered the Sergeant, and I have had many long ones, was made to prove convictions against that young man. On that occa- sion I travelled nearly the whole length of Scotland—up to Dornoch-and I won't soon forget the beautiful country I tra- versed through on the trip. He has been through our hands several times. One night, or rather early morning, I was watching a railway men's cabin on the side of the 'line near Newtown. Upon getting up to it, I found the fire burning, but no one inside. After lying in ambush until about 2-40 in the morning, I heard the approach of somebody from the oppo- site side of the line, and then the figure of a man came cautiously over a gate and on to the railway in the direction of the cabin. It was the notorious young bur- glar, and I had him before he knew of my presence. Upon him I found a quantity of things, including postage stamps, which were contained in an envelope bearing a farmer's name. Subsequently I went to a farmhouse close by. The people were asleep, but I discovered that the house had been broken into. They were alarmed when told, and more amazed still when I produced articles which they had men- tioned were missing. Entrance had been effected through a back window eight feet from the ground. Nine months was the burglar's punishment." And I may add that the Sergeant was worthily complimented by the jury for this smart capture. ANOTHER LONG CHASE. "Fowls stolen from Dingle Cottage" was a diary headline which provoked the re- cital of another painstaking man hunt. After an examination of the hencoop," the Sergeant went on, "I found footprints in an adjoining field, and had them cov- ered over. The same footprints I came upon on the roadway making towards Dol- further along the prints of two other persons. Accompanied by P.C. Hamer, I traced them for over eight miles, until we lost them owing to the frozen road. But when these gave out, we had resort to inquiries at farms along the way, and followed the men up through Llan- badarn and Llandewy, on to Llandrindod. There, however, we lost all manner of clue. It was dark when the thieves had passed through Llandrindod, and the difficulty was to strike the route they then had taken. We searched all out-buildings for 1 ..1. 1 J. 1- j i miles aiung He iu<±u WIUIOUL success, ana eventually landed at Builth at five o'clock in the morning drenched through by a pitiless rain. But our efforts were to be rewarded. Providence had guided us in the wake of the men, for in the lodging house at Builth we found a trio answering the description, and 'upon examination of their boots, their identity was established. Additional proof of their guilt was furn- ished by feathers and blood on their clothes. One calendar month with hard labour was their punishment. Through the dark and wet the constable and I had walked upwards of forty miles without 16 4ind' then the Sergeant heaved a sigh as if recollection of that memorable chase. A FARMER CLEVERLY ROBBED. \eain the Sergeant reverted to the troublesome days of professional pick- nnPkPts and recalled an exciting incident which occurred upon Machynlleth station pl«tThSe he said, I was on the. out- look for these gentry, when the movements suspicions. One of them seemed to be dogging an old farmer, with one of his fe- males in close attendance. As .the old chap entered the train, .so did this fellow at the same time pushing against him as they simultaneously got inside the compart- ment, Quicker than it .takes to tell, he „rfiv rlinned his hand into the old farm- er's trouser pocket, then as. smartly wheeled round to his female confederate, and stealthily handed her something. She took it, and proceeded at once into the ladies' waiting room. I at once asked the farmer if he had missed anything, and feeling in his pocket, he reported the loss of his purse. Seizing the man, I took him to the gentleman's waiting room, searched him, and left him in charge of a water bailiff, while I gave attention to the woman. She was then making her way for the town brought her back, and had the pair conveyed to the lock-up. On returning to the railway station, I found in the lavatory of the ladies' waiting room the old farmer's purse, with only a key inside. On the male thief we found £ 6 5s 2d, and on the I female Y.5 7s IOI.D. That night the former tried to escape from his cell in Machyn- lleth. It appears he got up the flagstones on the floor underneath his bed, and tried hard to get through the brick wall. There was quite a barrow load of soil below the bed, and the prisoner seemed quite ex- hausted in the morning from his overnight- labours. As he would not walk to the court in the morning, he had to be conveyed in a barrow. The female thief would make no reply to the charge. We found that she was a French woman. The man had a list of previous convictions against him, and at the quarter sessions he was ordered to 18 months hard labour, while the woman got off with a month. As the train had de- parted before I could get back to the rail- way station, the others had gone. With assistance the whole band might have been arrested." CONCLUDING REMINISCENCES. With that story the Sergeant's recital reached its conclusion. We discussed the rowdy elections which form an interesting chapter in the political history of New- town, but the outstanding incidents of these he reminded me are still fresh in the pub- lic memory. Among other reminiscences, he recalled his going to Derbyshire in 1893 in charge of a posse of police to help quell the disturbances in connection with the great coal strike of that year. Police from all parts of the country, together with two regiments of soldiers, were drafted thither, and although some rough work was wit- nessed, the Sergeant is happy to remember that during his month's sojourn there few arrests had to be made. Not the least pleasing of his accomplishments was his captaincy of two police tug-of-war teams picked from the Montgomeryshire Con- stabulary, which won the second prize at Shrewbury police sports in ig99, and the first prize the following year. "They could not," he added, "pick a team from among 200 police in Salop to beat our choice from among only 30 men, and so they closed the open competition m tug-0f-war." It will also be remembered that the Sergeant coached the Bettws Lightweights," who won much success at various sports in the county. MEMORIES OF MEN. Mr Bayard, Gwernodd, Manafon, was the chairman of the Newtown magisterial bench when the Sergeant first officially knew it then Mr R. E. Jones, and latterly Mr Rd. Lloyd. Of the last named gentleman par- ticularly he has a high opinion as a magis- I trate. The late Mr Talbot was the first magistrates' clerk with whom he was asso- ciated, afterwards the late Mr T. M Tay- lor, and subsequently Mr J. T. C. Gittins. As I stated at the outset, the Sergeant also served under four chief constables, with all of whom he had happy relationship. New- town being the probation station for the police recruits, many of them were trained by Sergt. Morgan, and nothing gives him more pleasure than to chat about some of his lads who have turned out efficient officers. It was nearing "the witching hour" when the Sergeant rose to go to resume duty in a service which a few days hence he would leave with a public "well done" and enter another sphere in which we all know his experience, judgment, tact, and fidelity will win an equal measure of suc- cess. He stepped out into the night, the trusty guardian of a sleeping community, and I went aloft to roost. °

LLANIDLOES TOWN COUNCIL The monthly meeting of the above Council was held at the Town Hall on Thursday, when the Mayor (Mr E. R. Horsfall Turner) presided. There were also present Aldermen R. George W. Ashton, E Davies, Councillors D. Bees, J. Kinsev Jones, J. J. Meredith. Brown, and G. Hercomb, together with the Clerk (Mr J. Davies). The Sanitary Committee reported that they had met Mr Grant on Cwmdu Bridge, and the ques- tion of conducting tbd sewage from Cwmdu was discussed. Mr Grant had kindly promised to take levels of the proposed different ways. That would be done in the course of a few days. Mr Grant would also take levels for the sewage from Dyfnant-terrace. The Sanitary Committee visited the Severn Port and reported that some of the sleepers had rolled away, and they recommended that same be replaced with new sleepers. The Committee found that people wera in the habit of depositisg rubbish on the banks of the river, and if they were allowed to continue to do so endless trouble will be entailed. They recom- mend that steps be taken immediately to prevent the nuisance, and that the offenders be prosecuted. The Committee also inspected the Woodlands- road, and found that the scavengers had been cleaning the water table, etc., and gravel was required to fill it up. They recommended that three or four loads be sent there immediately. An application was received from Mr R. Ingram asking for an increase in the allowance for taking ashes to Cwmdu. The Committee recommended that an increase be made for the present allow- ance of 4s 6d.:—The report was adopted. The Finance Committee reported that the amount of Market Hall tolls received for the month was X5 2s 3d, and the balance to credit at the bank X145 18s 9d. With reference to a letter received from Mr D. Davies, Plas Dinam, the Committee desired to point out that the .£10 stipulated for the purchase of books had been paid over. With reference to the second part of the letter as to the disposal of the balance, they recommended that it would be advisable to adhere to the terms inserted in the deed of gift, which answered the purpose con- tained in Mr Davies' letter. Another finance report was submitted by Mr G. Hercomb, which stated that the borough rate collected during the month amounted to £ 135 Os 2d, water rate P.7 03 3d, Market Hall tolls X3 198 5d; bank overdraft .£416 28 lid. The report was adopted.

CAERSWS. ACADEMIC.—The friends of Mr D. R. Lloyd will be pleased, to learn that after three years study at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, he has qualified for admission to the B.A. degree, passing his final in the special subjects—history and mathematics. During the same period he has also become eligible for the certificate for proficiency in the science and art of teaching issued to trained teachers by the Board of Education. Mr Lloyd is a nephew of Mrs R. Reese Buck Temperance Hotel, Caersws. A WELCOME VISITOR.-A visit to the "Ancient City" by Mrs Ceiriog Hughes is welcomed beyond measure, writes our correspondent. It brings to mind scenes and recollections of years ago. On Sunday morning she attended service in Saint Mary's Church, of whose congregation she had been a faithful member for Years; while in the evening she visited the Baptist Mission-room, where she received unmistakable tokens of welcome. Mrs Hughes has a broad and liberal mind, which evinces the greatest respect for those who differ in opinion from her. What a pity the religious world could not all see through such an eye as hers. OBITUARY—The death of little Edith May Bradley, aged 6 years, daughter of Mr and Mrs Maurice Bradley, H Manaucochion," occurred on Sunday, the 4th instant, after a' short illness. The funeral, which was a public one tbok place on' Wednesday, the place of interment being Llanwnog Churchyard. The Rev J. Jones, M.A., Vicar of the parish, officiated at the house, the Church, and at the grave. The whole of the children of Caersws Council School and the staff of teachers, under the superintendence of the head master (Mr J. Reese), attended. The deceased and her parents were worshippers at Saint Mary's Church. 1 A large number of children belonging to Saint Mary's Church Sunday School, of which deceased had been a faithful little member, and her teacher (Miss O. Hammond), and several adults, marched the whole way to Llanwnog Church.' The bearers were four little boys, viz: Masters Hermon Spoonley, John Roberts, Arthur Gilbert Evans, and Thomas. The coffin, which was of polished oak with brass mounting, was made by Mr Thomas Humphreys, Bridge-street. A large number of beautiful wreaths were sent by relatives and friends. Great sympathy is felt by the inhabitants of the "Ancient City for the parents of the deceased.

I MACHYNLLETH SESSIONS. An Interesting Motor-Car Case. Hotel Keeper Fined for Drunkenness. There were present on the Bench at the above sessions on Wednesday, Lord Herbert Vane- Tempest, Colonel Norton, Dr Williams, Dr Davies, Messrs Richard Gillart, R. J. Anwyl and T. R. Morgan. MISCELLANEOUS. William Evans, labourer, Graigfach, Machyn- lleth, was charged with failure to pay a mainten- ance order due to the Guardians.—Joseph Jones, relieving officer, said defendant was indebted to the Guardians to the amount of X2 2s. Defend- ant was present at the last court and promised to pay, but he had net fulfilled the promise.—Dr Davies said the man could not pay the 58 order as he was not a strong man.—Defendant, who did not appear, was ordered to pay 5s within 14 days. Hugh Ingram, labourer, The Barracks, Machyn- lleth, was charged by George H. Peate, school officer, with the irregular attendance of his child at school.—The Attendance Officer said the child was 12 years and 10 months old and had been present only 176 times out of 301 from October to May.—Defendant was fined 5s including costs. A charge of keeping a dog without a license was preferred against Rowland Arthur, Graigfach, Machynlletb, by P.C. Williams. The officer said that on the 8th of June about 9 o'clock in the morning he met defendant coming over the Dovey Bridge into the town. He spoke to him about the license and defendant replied that he had no license and had no money to pay for one. De- fendant had obtained one since. There was a previous conviction against defendant.—Fined 2s and costs. AN UNLICENSED CARRIAGE. P.C. Williams charged Dennis W. Bradwell, Dolguog. Penegoes, with using a carriage without a license. J L_.L_.3 1.- -L" .J' J'I Defendant, stawsu. ne cuuimuuicacea Wltin tine Surveyor of the Inland Revenue at Machynlleth stating that the four wheeler was used for domestic purposes in bringing and taking luggage to the station. He received a reply on the 14th of June stating that it must be used for the sole purpose of taking and bringing things from anywhere. The Clerk: Did you take out a license before ? Defendant: I did not. The Clerk: Is it a four wheel cart ?—Yes. P.C. Williams said that on the 11th of June about 5-30 he met in Maengwyn-street, in the trap, defendant, his wife, and another lady. Witness spoke to Mr Bradwell and asked him if he had a license and he replied, No." and that he was using the trap for oarrying purposes. There was a license taken out last year. Defendant: Yes. The license taken out last year was by my father. P.C. Williams: You knew there was a license required. Defendant: Oh no, certainly not, or I would have taken one. A fine of 10s including costs was imposed upon defendant. Isiah Smith, hawker, Wolverhampton, was fined 3s and costs for allowing his horse to stray on the highway near Llanbrynmair on the 14th of June. P.C. Humphreys proved the case. A SAD CASE. D.C.C. Williams charged William Rees, of Dovdy Valley Hotel, Cemmes, with having been drunk on his own licensed premises on the 8th of June last. The magistrates refused the application for an adjournment, and decided to hear the case. A motor car was despatched for defendant to Cemmes, but on arrival there it was ascertained that defendant had gone to Newtown. The case was heard in his absence. P.C. Evans stated that on the 8th of June he visited the Dovey Valley Hotel about 7-30 p.m., and there found defendant very drunk in the parlour with some ladies. Defendant said, Who the h- wants me." Witness said, What is the matter with you now ?" and he replied that he was alright. Witness added that he had not seen defendant sober for the last six months. That morning defendant was staggering drunk when he saw him. Fined 10s and costs, in default 14 days. CHARGE AGAINST A CHAUFFEUR. D.C.C. Williams charged Robert Norman, of Vine-lane, Newcastle-on-Tyne, chauffeur to Mr O. R. Horton, of Sharrow Grange, Shefield, with driving a motor car in Penrallt and "Maengwyn streets, Machynlleth, on the 14th of June, at a speed dangerous to the public. Mr Martin Woosnam, Newtown, appeared for defendant, who pleaded not guilty." Evan Jones, of Paternoster Buildings, Machyn- lleth, elected to give his evidence in Welsh, but almost at once began to speak English when cross-examined by Mr Woosnam. He said that on the 14th June last, about 12-45 p.m., he was going down Maengwyn-street, and when on the corner of the street < a motor car passed him like lightning." He stepped backwards and saved his life (laughter). Witness, proceeding, said "My life is more valuable than a motor car (laugh- ter). It was dangerous to the public. Cross-examined by Mr Woosnam, witness said that the car was coming from the direction of the station. He did not see it before it was close to him. He was on the pavement, but the car was very near him. The car was not on the pavement, and the driver was on his proper side. He did not hear the horn blown. The car stopped by the Wynnstay Hotel, which was from 15 to 17 yards from the place be was standing. Witness did not go to the chauffeur and complain. He knew the chauffeur was staying in the town for a fortnight after, but he did not mention the matter to him. He had seen him drive the motor many times during the fortnight, but he did not see anything to complain about. COULDN'T WORK FOR FRIGHT. By the Superintendent: He could not work all that day because he was so frightened. Robert Roberts, Maengwyn-street, Machynlleth, said he was standing by Mr E. A. Jones, book- seller, when he saw the motor cai going round the corner near the stones like a shot. He did not know the rate it was going, but it was very fast. The last witness stepped back once or he would have been killed. Mr R. Gillart: Was the car going faster than a horse could gallop ?—Yes, sir. Cross-examined by Mr Woosnam Where did the car stop ?—By the W ynnstay Jiocei. How far is it from the corner where you saw it to the Lotel ?—From 25 to 30 yards. You are not in the Territorial Army are you ?— No, sir. So you are not a good judge as to the distance are you ?—No, sir. Witness, continuing, said the driver sounded his horn just as be came up to the corner. He did not speak to the driver at all, and had seen him drive the car many times after that day. He was very tidy after that day. Henry Lewis said he was standing by Mr Parsons' when he saw the motor car cut very fine round the corner. It was going at a dangerous pace, and he remarked upon it to some of his friends who were standing by. 20 TO 24 MILES AN HOUR. Mr Woosnam How many miles an hour was it going should you think ? I should think about 20 to 24 miles an hour. Witness added that he was standing opposite the corner shop. He did not hear a horn sounded. The car stopped by the Wynnstay Hotel. It would be about 50 to 70 yards from the corner to the Wynnstay Hotel. He had seen the motor car driven since then in the town, and it had always been driven very carefully and the horn sounded. On this occasion the car was on its proper side. There were more people about the street at that time than usual. The Beach: Did you see Jones from where you were standing?- Yes, his back was towards the car, and he was about six inches from the car. There was no noise when the car drew up in front of the hotel. Robert Roberts, 3, Pentrehedyn-street, said he was walking down by the Wynnstay when he saw a motor car coming round the Corner Shop very sharply. There were a number of people on the street. Mr Woosnam: Did the car stop rather suddenly or quietly ?-No, very sharply. So you do not agree with the other witness if he said the car drew up noiselessly ?-No, I don't. Witness added that the car was going about 20 miles an hour. If it was a 16 horse power car in how short a distance would it pull up if it was going 20 miles an hour ?-Oh, that is a very difficult question to answer. I should say about 40 yards. P.C. Williams said he went to the chauffeur and asked him why he drove so fast, and he replied that his foot slipped off the brake, and the car shot off. Witness was a very long way off, and could not tell how fast the car was going. He knew the car very well. Cross-examined: He should not have taken proceedings or said anything to the chauffeur but for the complaints. This closed the case for the prosecution. THE DEFENCE. Mr Woosnam, who then addressed the Bench, said there appeared to be two points which in the main accounted for the Bench being troubled with this case. The first was the hicrhlv nervous I state of the first witness Evan Jones, and secondly the desire he appeared to have to get the motorist punished. It was clear that at the time the defendant was driving, Jones was on the pavement on the corner of the street, and that his back was towards the railway station, and that until the car was close to the corner he did not see it. It was possibly the rather sudden fright he got, through no fault of the defendant, that led him to the conclusion that the car was being driven at a fast pace. It was purely imaginary. Defendant had no occasion to drive fast. He was simply fetching luggage from the hotel to take to his master's new apartments in the town. If it were true. said Mr Woosnam, that the car was being driven at the speed alleged it would be impossible for the defendant to pull up in the distance from the corner where Jones was standing to the hotel where he was going to. The car was not brought to a sudden or abrupt standstill. That was abun- dantly clear. This would have been necessary by the sudden application of ethe braks if the pace was fast, but the brakes were not applied at all as the defendant would tell the Bench. There was little doubt, said Mr Woosnam, that Jones, owing to the sudden appearance of the car, had been forced to the conclusion that it must be reckless driving. The Bench, he felt confident, after hear- ing the chauffeur, would dismiss the case, which he thought was trivial. Defendant said that he was at Machynlleth with his master, who had come down to fish for a fortnight. He certainly did not drive more tha.a I four or five miles an hour OR the day in question. There was no necessity for it. He was simply fetching his master's luggage on changing his apartments. He did not apply the brakes at all to pull up at the hotel. He sounded the horn two or three times along the street. It was certainly imaginary to say he was driving 2) or 24 miles an hour. The car was not capable of such speed. Certainly he should not think of driving at that rate in rounding any such corner. He kept his proper side. No one complained until the police constable spoke to him next day. The Bench retired, and in a few minutes returned with the finding that the case should be dismissed. Mr Woosnam said he hoped the Bench would consider this a case where defendant should get his costs. It was not a police prosecution, because the constable had said he would not have prosecuted. The Bench, however, decided not to grant the costs.

LLANIDLOES BOROUGH SESSIONS. On Thursday these Sessions were held at the Police Court, when the magistrates present on the Bench were the Mayor (Mr E. R. Horsfall Turner) Messrs Richard George and Edward Davies Jane Jenkin 7, Hafren-street, Llanidloes, charged Edward Griffiths, 9, Hafren-street, Llan- idloes, with assaulting and beating her child. Complainant said that the child's age was nine years and defendant struck her. The Clerk (to defendant): Do you admit striking the child?—No, sir. The Clerk (to complainant) Have you got any witnesses in Court ?—No, sir. After consultation the Bench decided to adjourn the case in order to get witnesses to attend court. John Jones, Penygraig-street, Llanidloes, was charged by Richard Jones, school attendance omcer, with neglecting to send his child to school. The officer said that the child's age was 7 years and 6 months and he was in the infants' class. Witness said he had found the boy once playing in a pool of water with no shoes or stockings on. The attendance made for the year was 186 out of 374 and for the month of June 31 out of 40. The case was adjourned in order to get the doctor's certificate.

Mr. David Davies' Otter Hounds. This otter pack met at Glandovey on Saturday week, where, after drawing the Llyfnant Brook without success, a scent was got in the marsh at Gogarth. The high water, however, was against the hounds, and they were called off. In a gutter opposite Llugwy a brace of otters were found. The one stuck to the gutter, and the other led the pack along the river to Derwenlas, and on near to Machynlleth. The discoloured water was in its favour, and late in the afternoon the Master decided to leave it in an embankment of stones. Amongst those present were Mr D. Davies, M.P., Lord Herbert Vane Tempest, Mr Anwyl, Mr Hughes, Dr Williams, Mr Jones, and Mr Vaughan.

The Economics of Teaching. INTERESTING VIEWS BY HIGHER EDUCATIONISTS. During four hours each Saturday morning for twenty weeks a trained certificated teacher assisted to coach candidates at Newtown for the teachers' certificate. How much should he be paid for this work ? This economic question arose at a meeting of the Higher Education Committee last Monday. Mr J. E. Lane Griffiths conducts the class, and, being unable to do all the work himself, obtained from Mr Richard Lloyd, as chairman of the com- mittee, provisional permission to engage the ser- vices of his assistant-master. The Committee now sanctioned this course, aad on the question of payment the Chairman thought five or six guineas would meet the case—5s to 6s for each Saturday morning meeting. Mr Lane Griffiths: You will bear in mind that he is a college-trained certificated man, and that the actual time spent there does not measure me time given to the work. He has a great deal of preparatory work to do. and a great deal of mark- ing written exercises sent in. Of course, it is a great strain upon him. It is not four hours; it is nearer five. Mr Edward Jones moved, and Mr Richard Jones seconded, that X10 be given. The Chairman: I am sorry I can't agree. I am always inclined to be liberal in salaries. But you see you are paying this young man .£90 a year for his school time, and, if you give him 410 for five hours every Saturday morning, it is really too liberal with public money. You are paying him double the salary you pay for his school work. If we had means to pay, I should like to PAY EVERT ONE LIBEKALLY. But I think we should be considered rather extra- vagant. Mr Richard Jones You must look at the char- acter of the work. These young people are being prepared to etand a certificate examination, and it is very high class work, and really, if the ser- vices are worth anything at all for twenty weeks, they are worth that amount. Mrs Hugh Lewis: How many are there in the class ? The Chairman: Twenty-five. Mrs Lewis: Do they all work at the same standard ? Mr Lane Griffiths: No; there are different standards. Some are working for the prelimi- nary Mrs Lewis: But you take some, and he the others. It makes a great deal of difference to the strain of teaching whether you work together. Mr Richard Jones: Shall we compromise this by making it XS ? Mr Humphreys-Owen: Is this a matter for com- promise at all ? The Chairman: No Mr H. H. Meyler (headmaster of the Machyn- lleth County School) I hops the Committee will be generous in this matter. It won't be too generous, I assure you. I couldn't get a teacher in my school to do the work for anything like the salary, although we are very much underpaid as it is (smiles). Mr Humphreys-Owen supported the £ 10. The Chairman moved, and Mr William Jones seconded, that Z7 10a be granted, but the X10 proposal was carried.

NEWTOWN ANNUAL WOOL SALE. On Thursday last Messrs P. Wilson-Jones and Davis held their annual wool sale, when they disposed of every lot entered at satisfactory prices. The entry comprised 234 lots, which was about 90 lots more than has been submitted for competition since the organisation of this wool sale, being 22,000 fleeces of Kerry-hill, Shropshire, Welsh,, and lambs wool pitched in a large warehouse in Severn-place, and was inspected by a large com- pany of foreign and local buyers, who after the inspection adjourned to the Bear Hotel, where an excellent luncheon was provided by Mr H. E. Breese. The chair was taken by Mr A. G. Davis and the vice-chair by Mr Culwick, of Messrs Cooper and Sons, manufacturers of the well-noted sheep dip. There were 30 persons who sat down to the luncheon, after which several toasts were drunk, including the health of his Majesty the King. Subsequently the company adjourned to Victoria Hall, where business was commenced at 1-40 prompt. The sale was conducted by Mr A. G. Davis, who gave entire satisfaction to both vendors and buyers. The following is a list of prices: Shropshire wool made to 12id, Kerry Hill to 12td, making an average of lljd, Cross-breds to 12d, or an average of lid, Welsh to 9;1d, Lambs to 9}d, an average of 8 £ d. The following is a list of the vendors :-Mr David Davies, M.P., Messrs E. Elwell, Neuadd- fraith, S. R Heap, Mellington Hall, Jones Bros., Argoed, Astley, New House, Thomas Davies, Slate House, Jones, Croesygarreg, Proctor, Berriew, Morris, Golengoed, Lloyd, Bwlchaed, Richards, Penybryn, Jones, Pwllydau, Rees, Canal, Davies, Plassau, Thomas, Bronhaul, Evans, Trecastle, Davies, Glanbechan, Thomas, Lluastgerig, Evans, Penygelly, Morris, Rock, Lloyd, Cwm, Ashton, Belanddu, Morgan, Brynllys, Bevan, Cefn G was- tedd, T. and J. Howell B, Gilfach, Pugh, Hafod, Corfield, Vachwen, T. Vaughan Chapman, Hen- fron, H. Tread well, Llwynmadoc, J. and D. Franois, Tymawr, Bowen, Craigfryn, Jones, Sca- fel, J. E. Pritchard, Talbot Farm, Pritchard, Pied House, W. Corfield Belanewydd, C. T. Hamer, Pyllan, Morgan, Glandulas, Evans, Argoed! Churchstoke, Edwards, Bronllan, David Davies) Dolhafren, Price, Caelanney, E. C. Jones Cwm- mule, Jones, Cider House. Gittins, Abertalo», Evans, Cefnllydan, Davies, Bryn, Berriew' Pritchard, Crow Wood, Davies, Bronheulog, E. B! Davies, Coedcae, Mossley, Maerllai, Rowlands, Fachwen, Morgan, Llwynmadoc, Jones, Cwm* Bettws, Gittins, Castellydail, Evans, Tynyreithen, Roberts, Oerffrwd, Nutting, Glanrbyd, Evans, Upper Llaithon, Bowen, Digwm, W. H. Williams, Kerry, E. Jones, Sybwll, D. Davies, Cefnberrin, Davies, Red Gwenthrew, Ingram Gilfach, W. C. Black, Brynllyn, Evans, Old House, Corfield, Cefnllan, Harding, New House, Warren, Hendre Hen, Thomas, Upper Pandy, Evans, New Mills, Edwards, Llwynybrain, Evan Roberts, Brithdir, Mrs Morgan, Coedperthi, Mrs Davies, Cetnpwll, Messrs George, Pybyllwyd, Williams, HeDdai, Benbow, Rhydllydan, Jones, Cwm, Aberhafesp, Robert Jones, Cemmes Road, Jones, Gelli, Jones, Cyfia, Jones, Pendre, Davies, Trewythen-facb, Evans, Pentre, Hamer, Holly Bank, Albert Davies, Hale Oak Grange, Mrs Davies. Cefn Crynfronydd, Pryce Breese, Skilloeh, Williams, Cefrc)ch.. Gardner, Tynddol, Jones, Penarron, Corfield, Weeg, Jones, Glyna, James Higgins, Goedycwm, Cookson, Garthmyl, W. Jones, Bryndadley, W. Carnaffin, Red House, Mrs Whitticase, Glascoed, W. Joseph, Llydiardd, D. Jarman, Andrew, Cefn, Andrew, Bronheulog, Griffith, Glanrafon, W. Howells, Tybrith, Gwilt, Drefor, Evans, Llwyn- cynae, P. Matthews, Pentre. Buyers were present from Leicester, Cardiff, Dewsbury, Bradford, Halifax, Llanidloes, Hud- dersfield, Birmingham, Machynlleth, &-c., &c. Several buyers stated at the close of the sale that they had attended several sales this year, but they hoped to buy cheaper wool at future sales than they had bought in Newtown that day. The sale was well supported by the local wool buyers in addition to the principal buyers of the Kingdom.

Old- kge Pensions in the County. The monthly meetings of the Montgomeryshire Pension Sub-Committees took place on Monday and Tuesday last. Captain Mytton presided at the meeting at the Town Hall, Welshpool, on Monday, when there were also .present Messrs Wm. Humphreys, Robert Griffiths, David Pryce. and Cadwallader Humphreys, with Mr J. E. Tomley, Clerk, and Messrs W. Perry, H. J. Molineux, and J. J. Marshall, pension officers. Seven deferred claims and questions were considered. Ten claimants were allowed 5s weekly, one 4s, and one 2s. Three pensions were increased from 4s to 5s weekly, and two from 3s to 53. Four claims were disallowed. One application for increase was re- fused, one pension was discontinued and five claims were deferred. At the Newtown meeting, at the Police Court, on Tuesday, there were present, Mr Richard Lloyd (chairman), Messrs David Hamer, J. Hamer Jones, and D. Howell, with Mr J. E. Tomley, clerk, and Messrs W. Taylor, L. Jones-Williams and J J Marshall, pension officers. Eight de- ferred claims and 16 new cases were dealt with. Six pensions of 5s weekly, one of 4s, and one of Is were allowed. The following increases were allowed:—two from 3s te 53, one from 2s to 5a. One pension of 5s and one of Is were discontinued. Five claims were disallowed and six were de- ferre d.

Powis Provincial Eisteddfod. PUBLIC MEETING AT CAERSWS. A public meeting was held in the Village Hall, Caersws, to further consider the above, and to decide the date of holding the same next year. The meeting was attended by all the leading inhabitants of the neighbourhood, amongst whom we were pleased to notice Mrs Ceiricg Hughes, widow of the Burns of Wales." It was a good omen for the success of the Eisteddfod. We hope that she will keep in close touch with us now that we are to have in the Ancient City this important function. Mr Edward Jones, J.P., Maesmawr Hall, was enthusiastically voted to the chair. The Secretary pro. tem (Mr J. Meirion. Evans), who deserves great praise for his efforts in bringing the Eisteddfod to Caersws, gave full particulars of the previous meeting at which was passed the invitation to the Powis Provincial Eisteddfod. and of the warm reception it received at the. Gorsedd" on the morning of tha Eisteddfod at Llanfyllin. The Chairman remarked that he was pleased and proud that this excellent movement had been taken up so warmly. The number present proved clearly that the Eisteddfod had a warm. corner in the hearts of the Welsh people. He invited a full discussion respecting the best ways and means of preparing for the Eisteddfod of next year and carrying it to a successful issue. After careful consideration it was decided to hold the Eisteddfod of 1910 on Whit Monday, May 16th, this being considered the best day possible, as it is a general holiday throughout the country. This important matter having been settled a further discussion followed on the working of the Eisteddfod in all its bearings. A small committee was elected to consider the question, and to choose a number of ladies and gentlemen to act on the general committee and other committees that will be required for the pur- pose of carrying out the arrangements. This committee will report to a further general meeting next week, when we hope all committees will be, put in full working order. A full list of subjects will be in the hands of the general public as early as possible in September.

The Liberal Candidate for Merioneth- shire. Alderman Haydn Jones has been unanimously selected by the Merionethshire Liberal Association as their candidate in succession to Sir Osmond Williams, who is retiring trom the representation of the county. The Ancient Monuments of Mont- gomeryshire. The Royal Commission on Ancient Monuments in Wales and Monmouthshire will on Mondav next commence a fortnight's visitation of the various antiquarian remains in the c unty of Montgomery, including the Roman site at Caersws, where Pro- fessor Bosanquet is superintending some most important excavations, the camps on the Breidden, Dolforwyn Castle, Kerry, and Berriew. the Museum I at Welshpool, Mathrafal, Strata Marcella, and possibly the abbey ruins at Strata Florida in the | neighbouring county of Cardiganshire.