The Glamorgan Gazette

BLAtiX "0'" V',¡ 1-c Year's Gift.—Br. v>ii&c-u •• • remembered, the young Mlac. on iW. b Day by giving each child m c^e pia. penny. t. congratulate. Am be lance Corps upon tncar euccu*> U-š- more Eietcdcif'od1 on Satuouay. »«*"> a-wa-ixl'cd fast prize, and very hi&ni^ i* mentt-d by tiro adjudicator. ihe «"-■* l4> I 31a". Thomas Kent J Runaway Train.—On Friday evoxung a plight mkl'.ap occurred on the — Bla.-enga.-nv btation. After Ldl(:, <->■> .n—» from Bridgend arrived, tiie e,, usual disconnected in orde.r to shunt to the I opposite end of the train in reuflaiM** return journey. Tbe oizxes, n, w were not applied, and owing w> the commeaiccd to move m tJ 1 tion of Poiitycynnner, gaining speed JjcJ iSvlkxl. J bey btd »« S » £ »*; 200 yards, when they edited v.ith a &OOC.& encine., with the result that^pa* vas derailed and a Thia slight collision was really a .<li,KuiSe. for had the coaches pursued then journey prions damase might have Several passengers were m tho tram, but- no- body was injured.

MESSRS. CORY BROTHERS' PITS. ARBITRATION" PROCEEDINGS. On Tuesday- in London Mr. B. Francis Williams, K.C. (alS umpire between Mr. T. E. Foster, arbitrator for the Home Office, and Mr. Trevor D. Thomas, -arhitrator for Messrs. Cory Bros.) sat again in1 reference to the matter of Messrs. Fred A. Gray and H. Dyer Lewis, his Majesty's chief inspectors of mints for the Cardiff and Swan,sea- districts respec- tively, v. Cory Bros, and Co.. Ltd. The facts which gave rise to the proceedings were that in February. 1908, special rules were pro- posed by the Home Secretary for the instal- lation and use. of electricity in mines. These were accepted by al'l the con'ifrv owners ex- cept- Messrs. Cory Bros. In November, 1906, the Homo Office made an amended proposal, but this was again objected to. Hencir ar- bitration became necessary. The dispute- relates to the last paragraph of section 10 of the rules: — AU electrical relighting apparatus shall b, securely locked so as not to be available for use except &y persons authoris.ed by the management to relight safety lamps, ar):d such persons shall examine all safety lamps brought for relighting before they are re- issued The pits belonging to Messrs. Cory Bros, to which the present proceedings had relation are:—East Glamorgan—Steam Gelli Mine, Ysti-ad; House Gelli Mine. Ystrad; Pent-re Mime, Ystrad; Tydraw Mine, Treherbert; and Tynvbedw Mine, Pont re. West Glamor- gan.—Aber Mine, Ogmore Vaney Glyncastle. Aline. Reso-lven: Rheola. Mine, Resolven; and No. 1 Level Mine, Resolven. The question was whether it is necessary, having regard to the improved method of re- lighting lamps underground, to station ap- pointed persons to attend to the infighting of the lamps a.t each particular relighting sta- tion. it being contended by the colliery owners in this case. that the workmen them- selves were capable of relighting their lamps, whereas the Home Office n:1(' appealed against insisted that. a. aian should be sta- tioned at. relighting stations. Mr. Stokes, inspector of mines; Mr. Swinburne, past pre- sident of tho Institute of Electrical Engin- eers; Mr. Atkinson, insneetor of mines; Mr. Joseph 'Mailtin, Mr. Grey, and Mr. Lewis, in- spectors of mines; a-nd Professor Redmayne gavo evidence for the Home Office. ie, n The case for Messrs. Cory was then opened, this being directed to justify the present sys- tem of relighting by means of apparatus by which the lamp was enclosed in a chamber and had to be automatically locked before it could be lit. This, it was contended, did away with the danger of sparking. The old ■rule, it was contended, was intended to apply to -cases whore it was necessary to unlock the lamps in order to relight, them, whereas the lamps now in use in the collieries named were locked and electrically lit. The Home Office reply to this was that it was possible to have- lamps with broken glass and other defects, and that the rule. was, they thought, necessary. 31r. W. D. White, general manager of Messrs. Cory's collieries, was in the box giv- ing evidence for Cory Bros, for some time. Oth'?r witnesses were Professor Redmayne. Mr. Llewellyn, Clydach: Mr. W. W. Hood; Lhvynyp-ia, and Mr. H. E. Gray. Mr. Gray (instructed* by the solicitors to the Treasury) was for the Home Office; Mr. Joseph Shaw (instructed by Messrs. C. and W. Kenshole) was for Messrs'. Ccry Bros., Ltd. The proceedings were adjourned.

Daring Aberavon Robbery. Another daring robbery was reported to the Aberavon police on. Wednesday morning, the premises of Mr. H. W. Keey, jeweller, CVm- avon-noad, having been found broken into and a large number of gcid and silver watches, rinas, etc., stolen. The premises are a lock-up-shop almost in the centre of the town and' withiin 20 yards of the Aberavon Borough Police Station, but in a different street. The shop is a very old. one. and the back premises are shut off from view by a side street, and the back opens out towards the mountain. Mr. Keey locked up the shop last- night at 8.30. His son. Edwin Keey, on arrival at 8.30 on Wednesday morning, found the place all upside d'nwn. Under the windrow in the. back there was a. htrgpt hole about 3ft. by 2ft., cut .riglit through! « 2ft. wall, and by this en- trance had been' gained. The robbery was- a most daring one. and tho raiders mnst have made a loud noise in making the hole, as bars and' Hammers evi- dently were used. An examination: of the promises showed that six Ladies' gold watches, throe ladies' silver watches, 17 wedding rings, 15 goM keeper, 20 silver medals, 12 silver chains, a case of 12 gem rings, a number of gold brooches, scarf pins, etc., of the total value of between C30 and £ 40, had been re- moved.

Sunday Trading. The major portion of the sitting of the Car- diff W itch Committee on Wednesday was oc- cupied with the consideration of the question of Sunday trading and its suppression. Then, was a large- diversity of opinion for a-nd1 against the closing of entail shops, but it was eventually decided by five- votes to three that It, be a recommendation to the City Council of Cardiff that the attention, of the Prime Minister be called1 to the alarming in- crease in Sunday trading and call npon, his Majesty's Government to promote a Bill in Parliament- with a view to effectually check- ing all unnecessary Sunday trading. Those who voted for the resolution were the chairman (Mr. J. T. Richards), Alderman John Jenkins, aIldl Messrs. Morgan- Thomas, G. A. Sec-coin be and James Taylar. Against: Aldvvman Hughes, Mr. J. Stanfield, and Dr. Smith.

Printing.All kinds of Jobbing Work, Artistic and Commercial, executed in the Best Style and at Reasonable Prices, at the "Glamorgan Gazettee" Offices, Bridgend. Posters in any size, shade, colour, or combin- ation of colours; and every description of Letterpress Printing. I.

PORTHCA WL DISTRICT COUNCIL I 3fr. John Elias, J.P., presided at the fort- I nightly meeting of the Porthcawl Urban Dis- trict Council on Monday evening. There were. also present Messrs. J. Grace, W. J. Griffin, David1 Jones, W. J. Jackson, and Jas. Coombs, with the deputy clerk (Mr. W. Chorley), a.nd the surveyor and inspector <3Ir a I Rhys W. Jones). LOCK'S COMMON DRIVE. A ittter from 3ir. J. E. Blundell, heir to the estate. of 31rs. Gordon (Nottage Court) contained an intimation that neither he nor Mrs. Gordon would have any objection to the continuation: of the drive along the Lock's Common as far as the" Rest." He thought, however, that it would be. better that the present cart track should be followed. It appeared that a committee of the Coun- cil had met 31r. Blundell on the Common, and it had been provisionally arranged that the Council should obtain the necessary stone for the work from a portion- of the Common. Mr. Griffin proposed that Mr. Blundell and Mrs. Gordon be thanked for their kindness. 31r. Coombs seconded, and it was carried. AMUSEMENTS. Mr. C. Green-head, Preston-road. London, wrote offering to arrange for a first-class band and concert party to visit Porthcawl during the summer months. The Chairman This gentleman is rather early in the day. 31r. Coombs: We left the. selection rather late last summer. 3fr. D. Jones- moved that the Works Com- mix toe be- asked to consider the (rue:,tion. Hi is waiir seconded by Mr. Jackson and to. 31ILFORD HAVEN S REQUEST. The Council had resolved at a special meet- ing to support the application- of Pembroke Dock and Milford Haven Chamber of Com- merce for a, naval base at MiJfcrd- Haven. A letter was now read from tbe- secretary of that body thanking the Council for the promised support, and stating that the course to he ydnpied in order to bring about the de- si red establishment of a naval base in the Channel would'be communicated to the. Coun- cil at a. later date. LICENSE. Messrs Holwell and Co. applied for a license to store petroleum in, their premises at Sta- tion-road. On the motion of Mr. Jackson, the. Sur- veyor was directed to present v, report to the Works Committee, on the subject. WATER. 3IAIN. The Works Committee liaving further con- sidered the. application of Mr. T. D. Bevan. Danyhm Farm, for a water supply, re-com- mended the Council: to proceed with the lay- ing of a waterm-am- at the first available op- i port unity. 3Ir. Griffin proposed that the surveyor be directed to put. the work in hand "llcn con- venient.—Carried. FROST AND PIP'ES. Mr. Grace proposed that the surveyor be instructed to givo the property owners in the district notice to put all stand pi pec- inside their premises. The present arrangement, be said, meant a loss- to the owner 5 them selves and to the ratepayers, generally. Mr. D. Jones seconded. He .?:. d the iie-cessitv for taking this course was more- ap- parent that evening, having regard to the damage done to the pipes as the result of the frost lhan it was when the question came before the. Works Committee. The Council inchided this in their water regulations, which were to be enforced in a mouth or so. Mr. Griffin opposed the motion, as he con- sidered it unnecessary to give a notice deal- ing with only one part of the Coor.cilV water regulations. It would not be wise to harass people in this way by enforcing one regula- tion. The Chairman agreed with 31r. Griffins views. Mr. Jackson, did not see. that -any harm would be done by adopting the mctio) it wonkl only mean giving the house-owners preliminary notice. No-one could (], that there was a. great necessity to makp, this al- teration. having regard to the. large number of pipe breakages which, bad occurred that day, resulting in a- great waste of v. ate M-r. Grace, replyin-r to the discussion, said there was such a waste going on at present that anyone who did not vote, for the motion was certain to be defeated1 when lie went be- fore the, electors next. (Laugliter.V Three voted each way, and! the Chairman gave his casting-vote against the motion. Mr. Grace: All right; it'll he in the Gazette." (Laughter.) The Chairman Never mind. THE ESPLANADE. Th* Works Committee liad considered a letter from Messrs. Smith and Co., the con- tractors for the extension to the esplanade sea vvei?, requesting a further payment in respect of the work carried out. The com- mittee recommended the Council to reply that they could not makp. any further pay- ment until the outstanding differences be- tween the surveyor and the contractors had been settled. On the motion of 31 r. Griffin, the recom- IIK -idatioii was adopted.

MINERS' FEDERATION. The Cburcil meeting of the South Wales and Monmouthshire Miners' Federation was hekl at Cardiff on Monday, Mr. W. Abraham. 31.P., presiding. There were also present Mr. W. Brace, M.P. (vice-president^, Mr. Afhed Onions (treasurer'), Mr. Thomas Rich- ardK. M.P. (c.vcretary), and Mr. W. P. Nicholas (soclitor). THE PARLIAMENTARY LEVY. A deputation was received from the An- thracite and Western. Districts of the- Feder- ation. asking for certain information, with rev spect to the application of the portion of the Parliamentary levy that was refunded to the district from the. Central Fund, seeing that the whole of the money in these two districts has been, spent for the purpose of paying re- presentatives upon local public bodies, and that they found some difficulty in finding funds for the organisation of meetings in the Gower Division. • It was resolved that the Council' meet on Friday next to consid. r the whole matter of Parliamentary organisation for the districts represented by members of the. Federation. SUB-CONTRA CTING. The. Aberdare district sent an application for financial assistance toO continue fighting the. question of sub-contracting at certain col- lieries in the Aberd&ro Valley. Having still to pay a couple of hundred workmen, who had been, out for some time against this system, it was resolved that a recommendation b, sent. from the central office to each district, 2sking them to render all the support pos- sible to the Aberdare district in fighting this question. THE BRITANNIC COLLIERY. The question of a new price list for the Britannic Colliery 5ft. stani was discussed, and instructions given to have the matter placed on the agenda for the next meeting of the Conciliation Board. r •. „ ,t <•

HEAVY GALE ON COAST. DAMAGE AT SANDWICH. An extraordinarily heavy gale prevailed at Sandwich on Wednesday. Snow fell heavily, and was nearly 6in. deep. The chief telegraph and telephone office were unable to connect a.ny- where, and a large number of wires have been blown down on the Rams-gate and Dover roads. Many persons had miraculous escapes from in- jury. and golf matches had to be abandoned- Vehicular traffic was almost at a standstill. TERRIBLE CHANNEL SEAS. On arrival at Poole, on Monday, the master of the French brigantine Irene Monirioux reported having experienced terrible weather and heavy seas in the Channel. When off Anvil Point a gale of wind caught the main boom of the ves- sel and knocked overboard one of the. peamen, whom it was impossible to save. The brigantine was bound from Nantes to Poole with a cargo of slates. BATTLESHIP WEATHER BOUND. A heavy easterly gale prevailed off the Tyno en Wednesday, accompanied by torrents of rain. High seas were running, and the new battleship Lord Nelson, which left harbour for speed trials, subsequently returned through stress of weather. Tne Durc-h steamer Hilversum. from Blyth bound for Italy, arrived disabled with machinery broken down. Outdoor work in the shipyards had to be f,usp< nd^d owing to tho storm.

FRAUDS ON PAWNBROKERS. GOLD-PLATING TI FAT DECEIVED. At the :Jr!fi,'1J Quarter Sessions Herùcrt Hopkins. described as a fitter, of Manchester, was indicted for conspiring to obtain money from several Sheffield pawnbrokers by false pre- tences. Mr. Waddy. for the prosecution, said that, Hopkins was the originator and inventor of a long ruri>ue,] system of ingenious frauds car- ried on not only by himself but by unfortunate instrument*. He was known as The Duff 'em King." Jlls method was to offer for pawn through two of his tools. Elizabeth Norbury and her son James, both of Manchester, a large number of chains which appeared to be gold, but were really silver so gilded as to withstand the acid test. The swivels were real gold and stamped, but the links were not stamped but it was not customary to stamp the links of fancy pattern chains such as Hopkins ouppliod to his dupes. A very large number of these chains had been passed upon Sheffield pawnbrokers, who accepted them as gold. The youth Norbury told the Recorder that Hopkins usually paid him two shillings for pawning a chain, but sometimes nothing. The Recorder passed sentence of fifteen months' hard labour.

HILL ACCIDENT AT SHEFFIELD. WORKERS' MIRACULOUS ESCAPE. Shortly before midnight on Tuesday an alarm- ing occurrence created great consternation in the centre of Sheffield. The night shift employed in the steel mills of Messrs. William Jessop and Sons, Soho Works, near the Central Post Office. were carrying on operations when, without any warning, the great wheels of the 60h.-p. engine suddenly smashed. One of the spur wheels ap- pears to have been fractured, and smashed the large fly and pinion wheels. The roof was wrecked, end the flying portions of the broken wheels were fortunately prevented from wreck- ing the neighbouring dwellings by tbe great be^.m running over the mill, which, however, sustained rauch damage. The workers had a miraculous escape, sections of the broken wheel, two tons in weight, dropping within a few inches of the men.

p. You will be Happy IF Ys SOME IS aBNlSHED WITH HI THE SOUTH WALES FURNISHERS Dainty, Durable & Substantial Furniture. Prices Moderate. Terms Easy & Convenient. K (Next to La^ry >MM HivCIAL STREET, MAESTEG. I WYNDHAM STREET, BRIDGEND.

PONTYCYMMER- Bc-thei.—This week special thanksgiving prayer meetings are being held at Bethel Church. These meetings are held annnalry at the commencement of eacn year. Név Year's Tea.-The annual tea and con- cert **ro held at Saints' omrrch on fVew Years Eve at the fission-hall. This annu-ul event irvariably turn's out a great- Kuecfcti, awl this year's gathering was no exception u, the rule. The conce.rt was cf a niis.ceii.in. oua cbarn-ctc-r, and all the artistes acquitted theuik elves iu an able manner. Musical Succeed.—At an ibat. oil. he-id ab Swansea, itast month in connection wiui tiro ^lo-ndo-n. College of Mv.sic, Mvss Bessie Rogers, daugbte-r of Mr. and Mrs Win. Rogers, HWTu- fryi>terrace, Tilly passed the -inter- mediate Grade for Pianoforte Playing. S-ae is a pnpil of Mr. O. S. Morgan, A.L.C.M., Pontycymmtr. 'Wj Baptist Zenana Mission.—A meeting -in connection with the Garw Auxiliary was held •at Zion. Chapel on Monday afternoon, w hell two very able papers upon. imss-von worK were read bv Mis V. Jones. Noddta, and Miss Griffiths, Tylagwyn. After the meeting tea was provided, and despite the weather a goodly number sat down. This was iolioivfd by a miscellaneous entertainment, ovei winch, the Rev. T. B. Phillips, Tylagwyn, presidoo. Two dialogues were rendered in fuil charac- ter. entitled Chinese Conversation, and Wciiic-n's work in'India." Solo& were ren- dered by Mei^-rs. TV. Bowon, S. Williams, Misses) K. Williams and Roesrer.

OGMORE VALE. CompetitiTO Meeting—A very mterastiivg ■compot'itiv^ 11W{.,ting was held on Year s. Eve at Ciivary Eii&tvsu Bapti:?t Ciiurch.^ Iho attendance was very good, -and ALr. •ramte Rosfri presided. According to their usual ru.stom, the Co-operative Stores presented ar, orange to every scholar in the Day Bcboo'is tbronghcnx the v-ai-ley orn -Monday a ftEnlOoll last as a w Y;e e aG,* a-. Presentation.—Mr. Jab Baker was m-.ic.ie the. recipient oi a very a-ccept-able niuisicai album and clock combined, by the scholars of his ciass at the Ab-er Council' School on the occasion c: his k-a-viiig to take cli-irge. of the new school at I'o.rthcawl. i no presentation was made by Miss liliz. May Peters and Jlisa Evelyn- Harding, Standard' VII. seiio.ars, as a, token, of the very high <•< etn jll> which the class held Mr. Bakirr. The. recipient respon- ded iu very feeling and appropriate- terms. HARMONIC SOCIETY'S EISTEDDFOD. The first annual eisteddfod under the aus- pices of the "gm.oro V ale Jiartnonio Soc;<j.ty was held at the, Workmens-hall on Satuitiay last. The-seerettary, Mr JLtavid Jo.!iu> lliomas, had worked very assiduously to maIm the necessary pi-elimin>ary ai'sange-meii'ts, and had been ably supported oy a. very energetic cooi- mituvc, over whom Mr. Tom Wat lens pre- sided1. Tho excerienc attendance at the two sessions must have bet-a lughly gra>aiy ing, and wo are informed that the liuanci'af aspect of the vcaituxe is assti-rod. Ixie.president for the d'),y was Aklerm;ui W. Llewellyn, J.P., who h:i.s taken a deep interest, in' the. move- ment -sunco the. ronivation. of the bocicty, and Mr. Evan 'i noma's, C.C.. iiargoed,^ acted as conductor. The quality of the ueitormaiiioeis throughout the dbiv was of a very high stand- ard. 0,1: the literary side Mr. G. iMcliards, Brkfe-.nd. adjudicated, wlv-ilst- Mr. Rhedynog Price, E.T.S.C., Cardiif, and Mr. W. J. Ed- munds, L.T.S.C., Per.darre.n, were- the,- adju- dieatersi on tin-, music. Dr. Bell I'iioonas, Maeste.e. adjudicated' on the anibian-ce com- petition, and1 Mrs. Edwards-, Brynteg, on the prize bags. The following is the list of awards: —- Pi-ize bags: 1, Miss Ilottie Wi.iliam.s, 0:7- niove Y'alø; 1^, .De ris1 D-a-vies, B) .dg-end j ,3, Mrs. David, Ogroore Vale. ::>, Ba,ss sole: Mr. T. Jones, Pencood. Violin solo Miss Ceinwcn Kinsey, Ogmore Vale.. Co'ktralto solo: Miss 31. J. Jenkins, Eexifig Hill. Soprano solo: Miss liizzio Kinsey, Ogmore Vale. b Te-nor polo: Mr. W. M. Griffiths, Gilfach Gocli. Qirartotto: Mr Gwiiym Kinsey and friemus, Osailovo ,1.k. TRec-itation: 3Ir. Dan" J. Gregory, Nanty- mtoel. Duet M.r-srs. Stephen Fit-kl'ing and NV-iii. Palmer. Ogmore VRlp. Ambulance Blaengarw Team. Children's Choir, test piece *'Consecra- tion," Ogmore Vale- Choir, led by Mr. W. H. Oapel, orgUJJiSl of St. David's, Ogmore Vale. Ad-tdt Choir, test piece, Blodeuvn, Baclr': 1st, Op'inore Vale1 Hannoiuc Society, led by Mr. w" M. David; '2nd. Coity.

ANOTHER SENSATION IN THE GARW. WOMAN ATTACKED1 IN HER OWN HOUSE. BY ASSAILANT COVERED WITH WHITE SHEET. A RESCUER'S 3HSTAKE. Yet another has been added to the long series of sensational occurrences which havo agitated the Garw Valley during the. past twelve mornJis, a woman being attacked in her own house on Saturday evening by a man covered with a white bed covering. The scene of the. outrage is the residence of Mr. J. Hitchings (the manager of the Ponty- cvmmer Co-operative Stores), at oO High- street, Fontycymmer. Mrs. Hitchings be- lieved that she and her two-year-okl son were the only occupants of the house at the time- about nine o'clock. Earlier in the evening, the day girl had left, and about nab-past eight an old servant on a. visit to the Gany from Cardiff, who had called to bid Mrs- Hitchings good-bye, also went awayv Mrs. Hitchings is living in the basement of the house—which is a storey lower at the back than at the front—and did not accompany her visitor to the front door. About ten minutes afterwards, however, she followed upstairs to latch the door, and proceeded to a bedroom to fetch some linen to air for the following day, leaving a candle ansht on a hat stand in the hall. She had returned to the kitchen, only a few minutes, when she heard: a knock. Concluding that it was caused by some article falling, she too, no notice of the incident, but a, few mmutes later this was followed by a double knock. This was unlike the usual sauncl of knocking of visitors, but she proceeded upstairs to the front door, which she unfastened and opened There was no caller, and s11", again, closed and latched1 the door. AN ALARMING APPARITION. She was returning along the hall to go to the "kitchen below when a sight met lier eycis which thrilled, her through and through and rooted her to the floor. Slowly proceeding from the back room was a figure, its head covered with a white sheet, which hung down. and hid the greater part of the body. In the flickering light of the candle- it was a sight gruesome enough to shock strongei nerves than those of a woman- in Mrs. Hitch- i ingss pTOsent delicate- state, of health, and she was terrified. In a moment, bowevei, she noticed some. tapes hanging to the white sheet, and recognised it as an old bcd-cove-i- ino- belonging to her. This discovery tended to her agitation, and she asked, in Welsh, "Hallo, who's there?" She had some faint notion that a practical joke was being played upon her. But of this thougnt she was quic-Kly disabused, for the figure—which aitetrwards transpired to be a man—raised an arm, and s!h» felt a sharp blow on the head from. some instrument which transpired to be a poker. Mustering up all her courage, aDd with a, strength beyond her ordinary po-wers, she closed with, hvr assailant, and they wrestled in the narrow passage in deadly ear- nest. The man was, however, the more powerful, and belaboured her again about the head and tried to prevent her screaming by pus-.hine1 the sheet into her mouth. They fell to the noor, and M-rs Hitchings lost eonseious- CRIES OF "MURDER." P,eo-a.in!ng her senses, she found her assail- ant had disappeared, and she rushed to the front dtoor shouting, "Help! Murder!' When, her neighbour, named Stiles, ran to see what was the matter, he found Mrs. Hitchings holding a poker in her hand, which she had probably wrenched from the grip oi her assailant, though on this point her mem- ory is a complete blank. Stiksi took the poker and searched1 the backroom. Finding no one there, he was about to leave the room to search the basement when a singular inci- dent happened. Two other men, also at- tracted by Mrs. Hitchings's cries, entered the passage, and one of them, armed with a weapon, and fired with a desire to avenge the attack, stood in Mr. Stiles's Dath in a threat- ening manner, having mistaken him for the assailant. Fortunately he realised, through Mrs. Hitchings's calls, she having now re- turned to the house, that he had made a mistake. The. delay which this episode occa- sioned must have afforded the assailant fur- ther time to make good his escape by the back way, for there is evidence to show that -Stiles would have been hard on his heels but for this un-fortunate misunderstanding. As it was, the m'an got clear away, leaving nothin.g save the poker behindl him as a clue. Neifdibours living on the. opposite side of the house, to Stiles—Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Evans —were standi no; at the back of their house, when they saw a. man, leave Mrs. Hitch ings's premises and proceed along the back garden, followed by Mr. Hitchings's spaniel barking. They had not heard the. screams, knew no- thing of the. attack upon Mrs. Hitchings, and thought it was Mr. Hitchings himself leaving the premises. SIGNS OF THE STRUGGLE. Our reporter visited the premises on Sunday morning, and found signs of the terrible struggle in which MTs. Hitchings had been an unwilling participator. The hat and clothes stand in the hall had been, damaged, two of the pegs being knocked off. The wall-paper near by was besmeared with blood, and there was. a. qua-ntity of blood on the floor of the back room, into which the com- batantei must have struggled and fallen. The bed covering, which had been left in the back- room, was dropped by the intruder in passing through the basement. This was also be- smeared with blood. V, m. Hitchings re- ceived a number of injuries about the head, face, and hands, none of which happily are of a. serious character. She was confined to her bed on Sunday, but was able to get up on Monday, and is now making a rapid recovery. THE VICTIM'S STORY. I T e(:I, a,p- Mrs. Hitchings, athough distressed, ap- peared to be bearing up wonderfully wet!, and was ablo to tell the story to our represen- tative. She said her day girl, left about 7 o'clock in the evening, and about 8 o'clock an old servant who was paying a visit to the Garw, called to say good bye. She left in a few minutes, as she wanted to see a friend who was coming up from Bridgend by the 8.30 train. As the visitor knew the house well. Mrs. Hitchings did not accompany her to the front door, but about ten minutes later she went upstairs to fasten the- door by slipping the latch. The intruder must have got-into the bouse prior to this. She theii went up- stairs to fetch some clean, linen to air far Sunday. She added, When I returned to the basement I heard a- knock, but it was ta,ii unusual sound and I took no notice of it. Them two knocks came, but they were not the usual knocks, and were more like someone making a noise accidentally. The dog barked, but I silenced it and then went up- stairs to the door. I could not see a soul anywhere near, and closed the do-or, locking it after me. When I was returning aJong the passage g<) .(.. first I thought it was a ghost, but then I recognised some strings hanmng from the material, and knew it was my old bed covet- ing which I had left in the room. I thought it, might be some of the, fellows from the shop playing games, and I said, in Welsh, "Hallo, I who is tiiereI could not tell you how he pumped oiL me and began beating my bead something awful. I fell down and he fell too, I think. I was screeching and he was trying to prevent me by pushing the. bed- covering into my mouth. I don't remember anything eke, only finding myself in the pas- sage with the poker in my hand. How I got up I don't know, but I don't think I was un- conscious half a minute. I ran to the door :x laud the neighbours came." I Mrs. Hitchings said she could not describe the. man. He was rather short and was wear- ing a cap and overcoat. She thought the overcoat was dark. NEIGHBOURS' STATEMENTS. Mr H. Stiles, interviewed, said: "The first intimation 1 had of anything wrong was a noise which I thought proceeded from Mr. Hitchings's house. 1 rushed out of the back and shouted, 'Mrs. Hitchings, what is the matter?' I got no reply and could not get into the back of the house because the dogs were there. So I went upstairs, and by the time I got out by the front do or 3 Irs. Hitch- ings was outside. I rushed into the back room, but found no one there, and should i have searched downstairs straight away but for being stopped by another neighbour through a misunderstanding. When I found the man had escaped I went for the police." Mr. Thomas Evans, who lives on. the op- posite side of the-, house to Air. Stiles, said he was standing in his back-way with. his wife when lie saw a man- leave the premises of 31 r. Hitchings. He walked quickly down the pathway and closed the garden gate afu r him disappearing to the north. The clog followed, barking, but he thought the man was Mr. Hitchings, and took little notice of him. It was quite dark and he could only just discern the figure of a man. The man walked quickly along the sloping pathway a.nd sharp flight of steps at the end, going through the doorway and closing the door after him. From the easy way in which lie made his exit he appeared to be acquainted with the premise's. THE 3IOTIVE. Various rumours are anoat in the valley, but the motive of the intruder is generally supposed to have been one of burglary. One theory put forward is that the- man, on hear- ing the catch slipped, thought the- door was locked and that he was a. prisoner in the house, the only means of exit being through the front door, and the basement in which was Mrs. Hitchings. In order to attract Mrs. Hitcliings from the kitchen. he knocked and hoped to"frighten her into unconscious- ness by playing the ghost. This scheme, how- ever, broke, down, and he was led to attack the woman. As the Co-operative Stores are lock-up premises, he would natur- ally assume that the cash was taken to the manager's house. The poke:' is of a cheap kind sometimes found in the houses of the working classes. it is a thin, piece of iron roughly bent at one end into a circle to form a handle. The other end had been slightly flattened. And possibly it was brought to the hou.'e for the purpose of prising doors and not as a weapon of attack. Had it been, an ordinary poker Mrs. Hitchings would have bee.) luc-Ky had she escaped with her life. The police, who were quickly niianmd of the. matter, were scouring the district until midnight, .searching all the farm buildings in the valley without .success.

ALDERMAN JOHN THOMAS AND THE S.S. MARGAM CASTLE. To the Editor. Sir.—We are given to understand that a statement is being circulated tha.t Alderman" John. Thomas, miners' acreiit. is interested in our company to the. a.mount of £ 5.000. We beg to state that this is a gross mis- statement and absolutely untrue, and we make this contradiction in. justice to Alder- man John. T WILLIAMS AND MORDEY. Burton Buildings, Cardiff, Jan. 3rd, 1908.

BRIDGEND ASYLUM PATIENTS. INMATE WHO WROTE TO THE KING. REQUEST FOR THE RELEASE OF HIS DAUGHTER. Further reference was made, at the C a d;ff Guardians' meeting on Saturday to the re- quest of a man, w bo, it was stated, was re- leased from Bridgend Asylum in consequence of a. letter he sent to the King when bis Majesty was in Cardiff last July. Mr. Gij- bert had been communicated with in regard to the man's daughter, who is still in the asylum, .asking that she might be released be- cause sht) was, so he stated, absolutely sane. Mr. Gilbert at the last Board meeting brought the matter tip, and it was then re- solved to write) to the medical officer at the asylum in regard to the father's statement. Dr. Finlay (the medical superintendent) now replied stating that the girl was a < on- genital imbecile and subject to fits. She was quite unable to answer a few simple ques- tions, required much attention, and was irri- table,. Becoming unmanageable at home she was removed1 to tbe Workhouse, and subse- quently to the asylum. She- was not, the letter concluded, a suitable ease for home management. -All. O. H. Jones: I had a letter from the mother contradicting njany statements of tbe father, and I think we had better leave the matter alone. Mr. Gilbert said he. was perfectly satisfied now that they had had tho statement from the doctor. The girl will therefore not be released by any act of the Cardiff Guardians. FORMER PATIENT'S PECULIARITIES." At Pontypoel on Friday Nellie Hall was charged with being drunk and' disorderly and damaging a cel'l rug valued at .5s. P'.S. Bladen said he found defendant early that morning on the Sowhill. She was very drnnk and making a horrible row like a dog. She had to be carried to the police station, on a barrow. While in custody she tore one of the cell rugs to threads. Defendant, when asked to give an explanation of her conduct, said islio had been discharged from the Bridg- end Asylum four days ago. Her home was at Ne\vport. Superintendent James said they lvad had! a lot of trouble with defendant oil a former occasion. She appeared to be absent-minded, but there was a lot of pre- tence about her. The Bench committed her to '.u 'i- for 14 days on each offence, the sent- nc< s to run concurrently.

Winter Assizes. T1-, •••-

TRAIN .SPEED REGULATIONS. ,F NEGLIGENT DRIVERS. Reporting on the derailment of a passenger train at Dore and Totley Station Junction, cn the Midland Railway, last Ootober, Major Pringle remarks that the ease calls for considera- tion by the company as to whether the speed restriction at present applicable to junction crossings is sufficiently low to ensure the desir- able margin of safety and comfort, and as to what action is necessary to enforce obedienoe of speed restrictions. The inspector attributes the accident to the speed of the train being higher than that laid down by regulation. He says there is a pronounced tendency on tho part of engine drivers to neglect, the strict letter of the law. It is not. therefore, sufficient to lay down regula- tions in the interests of public safety. It, is the duty of a railway company to ensure that the regulations are rigidly enforoed. It may bo necessary to this end to fit all engines with speed recorders, or to provide speed tell-tales at all places where speed restrictions are imposed, if they cannot otherwise be enforced.

CHINESE REBELS ACTIVE. The mail from the Far East received in Paris brings news of a serious development of the re- volutionary movement in China. Near the fron- tier of Iudo-China open revolt has broken out. the rebels --< izhjC- Nan-ngan and attacking the camp at Ping-Liang. The garrisons at three of the Nan-ngan forts were, it appears, in league with the rebeK and surrendered in a body. At the time the mail was despatched, however, only one of the forts remained in the hands of the revolutionaries and regular troops to the num- ber of 3,000- were besieging it.

CRISIS IN THE COTTON TRADE. In the dispute which has arisen through the demand cf the Oldham and Middleton "ring" spinners for an advance of wages, both parties appear to be at present equally determined, and if the lock-out threatened for a fortnight benee be carried out the whole cotton industry, employ- ing more than 500,000 workers, will be affected. The Federated employers have issued a circular inviting the co-operation of firms not in the Federation in closing their mills, on the ground that the action of the "ring- spinners is in direct contravention of the Brooklands agreement.

MONTE CARLO THEFTS. The police at Corno have arrested a man de- scribing himself as a Swedish Count, and have charged him with committing a large number of theft-, the majority of them at Monte Carlo. A quantity of valuable jewellery has been dis- covered in his baggage, including a diamond collar, valued at £ 2,800, the property of the Baroness Levi. The diamond collar was -stolen while the Baroness was staying at Cernobbio last summer, and several innocent persons were sub- sequently arrested The affair, says the Rome correspondent of the Globe, has caused a great sensation, the accused man having moved in the highest circles.

FIRE PANIC ON TUBE RAILWAY A fire broke out on Tuesday on a train run- ning in the East River Tube, due to a short cir- cuit, says a New York message. A panic en- sued, and the crew of the train deserted it. For- tunately, no one was injured, and the flames were soon put out. An operator working at the switchboard at the Brooklyn Station was elec- trocuted.

FRENCH DRAGOONS MUTINY. A serious revolt has occurred among the men of a (avalry regiment stationed at Fontainebleau. The Paris newspafers ftnte that, in consequence of having be(."1 r..f '"avo of absence, forty troopers of the 7th Dm oons left barracks with- out permission. After been absent for a week. they returned. J :01' down the list of Army regulations po-u-d at the barracks. The coloiiel of the ad the mutineers imprisoned, and:1 report of the affair to the Minister of W i ,> r t. -I

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