Evening Express

CLEARING THE SLUMS r- I An ideal town would contain no slmng, and if this dictum be true how few of our large towns and cities come within measurable distance of perfection! There may even be wide streets, spacious thoroughfares, and palatial dwellings, yet these may exist almost side by side with squalid courts and fetid alleys. For a business town Cardiff can challenge com- parison with any similar centre in the kingdom that w-3 know of for salubrity and general appearance; yet it has slums that are said not to be surpassed by any even in London itself. These places are Bot only a curse to their denizens, but a nuisance and a danger to the community at large. It is, therefore, with sincere gratification every right-minded person will read of whatever is done to root them out for ever. Orders for the closing of a number of houses were made by the stipendiary yesterday, and there are plenty of others clamouring for Dr. Wal- ford's attention. Of course, even in the prosecution of a good work such as this, it is possible to inflict hardship, bet the more speedily it is done the better for the borough at large.

SEOUL. I Much talk there is 'mongst ea-ch and all About Korea's capital. But some of us must go to school Since we are heard to call it,Sool. Now here's a man who studies mape, WhQ'ô set his mind againat the Japs, And fondly hopes the Russian goa-1 Will terminate at length at-Sole. Another expert on the East On war maps daily loves to feast. If you oould only hear him bawl About the movements out at--Sawl. At Bute-street lodges a jack-tar, Who knew Korea 'fore the war. He says there WM r-f),end of toil To get inland as far as-Soil. His comrade takes a different view. lie vows that he has been there, too; And marvels that the veriest mule Should fear to foot it up to—Sale. Here comes a Welehman from fundu. Who mars each mom his "ach-y-fi," And with a. weird and guttural "jawi!" Desires the Japs will stay at—Sow!. IDRIS. I

War and stamp-collecting don't appear I to have much in common, but, at any rates they agree in this that they help people I to study geography. It is safe to say that to-day the averago South Walian knows more about Seoul, Port Arthur, and Chemulpo than ever he did before in all his life.

L The latest postal fgieranoe is & bit out j of the beaten track. It is that there is. no British post -office at Jerusalem. No doubt those of our readers who are in j close touch with Jerusalem have long felt this drawback, and now tho matter has been brought before Parliainent. We trust it will receive prompt and iii-giie- diate attention.

I Mainly About People. The Earl of Morley, Chairman of the Hoc so of Lords Oommittees, takes his esat on the Woolsack when discharging the duties of his office. There is not the frigid formality about a Committee meeting of the Lords that ( attend a a, full assembly of the House with Lord Halsbury enthroned. Xot long ago Lord Ribblead^le took a seat on ono fade of Loro Morley, and Lord Waldesgrave on the otlver. Ah," said a, wit, aa Lord Morley seated, him- self on the Woolsack, "so it takes three Deputy Sp^aJiers j make a Lord Chancellor." One of the pleasanteet of raconteurs, Lord Mbiley line innuiceraisle good stories, gie:med from imnninbeTod sources. Ono he toils con- cerns an Englishman whom the JVesioh arrested during the Franco-Prussian war, in tin firm belief that he was a German. In vain 1:.he unlucky eoui protested that 'be was not what he seemed. captors insisted Oil his coming forthwith to trial. A drumhead court- martial it was. Sentence: German spy— doath." Away they whirled hiin. On the way to the place of execution the man espresesxl a. desire to return to his lodging for a inomiemt. Y<m can't go back," he was told; "yoU are on your wa.y to be shot." Well, I know I 3..1 about that, but I tell you I must go back; I've forgotten someShing," he answered, becoming rathesp cr0S3. What is it that you have asked tha guard. "My umbrella; and I insist on having it at once." llnis con- vinoed the guard. Straightway he was re- leased. No one but an Englishman, they said, could be so ho-peieta an idiot. Lord Balfour of Burleigh, who acts as Chairman of Commitioes in the Lords in the stead of the invalided Lord Morley, wa3 the first peer of the realm to swear allegiance to the King. It was rather ungrateful, there- I fore, of the Court officials to spell his name as Lord Barley" in the Coronation" Conrt Circular." He might have replied as he heard the head of college at Oxford retort. A I' young man, who had to resign fellowship owing to hie having become a Roman Catholic, w d.3 informed, lou have not only perilled your immortal soul, but have incurred my sincero displeasure." [ Among many roles which he has filled Lord Balfour numbers that of London correepon- dent of a Scottish paper. The connection belongs to the long ago, and the paper is nambered with the departed. It would be in the last degree unkind to suggest that the "Letter" had anything to do with the paPEr's demise. But Lord Balfour does con- fess th?t he wrote with considerable circum- spection. He was a. Cabinet Minister ?t the time, and, so as to avoid any betrayal of official secrete, kept himself mainly to Board of Trade statistics. The Guild of The Poor Things is a B.-istol institution (sayg t.he "Hospital") The quaintly pathetic title implies that the members of the guild are lame or blind, or in some way afflicted that the world will be inclined to pity them as poor thicks." The intention is to lift them out of the humiliation suggested by such pity. Some of the members are rich and some are poor, but all are expected to fit themselves to subscribe to tho motto of the guild, II Laett19 sorte mea (" Happy in my lot "). It cannot be said that ail attain to this summit of con- tentment, bitt as much as may be they are helped by Mends, who t-oaoh them various kinds of work, bot-h recreative amd profitable, arrange country holidays for tiiem, and gather them together for study and amuue- lI!<zorlt during the winter months. At these gatherings, eaya the report, "there are scarlet badges and grey flags; there are bright facce; there are brave hearts; there are merry little oMldien uncoascio-ns of the sadness of their lot." The adult. cannot be so gay 3.a the cbdhiren, but even they find their burden lightened by tha efforts of tho guild. Onoe yemng man of four-and-1wsmy, already quite deaf and get- ting gradually blind, declared when he first ccuno in contact with the guild that death was ail he desired, but when a place had been found wt/epa he could loarn c, and he was able to leave his lonely attic and live wit;) friends who would sympathise and care for him, he wrote in his scarcely legible writ- ing, "I have been much more h.3,pVÏ<er I have been a member of the guild." Much more happrea," also is the balf-paraJysed boy, once a burden to his family, who has been set up with a donkey and cart to 3ell oorul. and i3 a bread-winner in his degree; and the girl with spinal disease, who has learned to ma.ke straw dinner-mats while lying on her back and the man who, having learned to make chairs, has been able to do without parish help for more than a year. Several of the guild's clients have thus been able either to do without or to give up parish doles. Of course, all cannot be thus lifted above the need of material help, and the guild must be content with making their lot brighter than it was; and ail the advice that tho helpers can give is contained in the words of Mazzini, which are placed at the head of the report: When yotu cannot have Victory, salute and bleia Martyrdom." But i&ateervcg to lead up to the succeeding sentence, "The angels of Martyrdom and Victory are brothers." Mr. George Meredith, who was 76 on FridaY'1 ia known to the world at la?-?n to the world which reads his books-as a recluse. Rarely has a weal-known author go ooropletely escaped the paragraphist. At one tame, in company with Rossetti and Mr. Swinburne, he lived more in the world. In Choyne-walk the three shared a. house together, but the menage was not very successful. There is a certain street conviction about Mr. Meredith's manner which seemed to jar a little with poetry Work halted, and the endeavours of all three were dimmed. At last Rossetti said that George will never be able to work here with us," and eventually Mr. Meredith made his home at BoxhiLI, near Dorking. Despite his age. Mr. Meredith is still vigor- ous and alert. His eyes—eyes which always seem a. little strained in vision, as one looking through the dark—are still bright, and the bristly stubble of his beard is not yet all white. Most people of strong individuality have something especially noticeable in their walk, ana Mr. Meredith is no exception. He has a peculiar stoop—the student's stoop—and one can onJy describe his method of progres- sion as a. benign shuffle. At his pretty Little cottage near Dorking he has entertained nearly all the men of emi- nence of England and America-on.e might add. France, for It is the spirit of the French nation which most attracts Mr. Meredith, in spite of an early education at Nenwied-am- Rboin. French actors and anting alone attract him, so far aa dramatic art is concerned, and ono may well believe, if a glance through his library shelves may be relied upon, that all hia favourite novels are in the French language. I A magistrate visiting, as in duty bound, one of OIUr prisons, was much affected the other day by finding a viilainous-lookijig convict tending care [ally a pet rat. You are fond o.f your pet, my man:" The convict gruffly assented. I am glad to aee this affection," quoth the benign magistrate. When did you first feel tlsia little oroature aifefcracfc you?" 'e bit the warder, guv'nor. The [ magistrate ie now lese benixu.

sMMO H0BR08i Opening of Coroner's Inquiry. i DRAMATIC SCENES IN COURT. I Sensational Evidence by I Witnesses, WARREN'S STORY OF A LATCH KEY GIVEN BY MRS. STACEY. I As. reported in the Extra Speciai and later editions ot yesterday's "Evening Express," The borough coroner (Mr. Bernard Reece) yesterda.y held an inquiry in the Nisi Prius Court at the Town-hall, Cardiff, into the oircumstances by which Mrs. Harriet Stacsy, about 45, of 41, Saltmead-road, Cardiff, met her death about the 7th inst. The first person to present an appearance in court was Mr. William Henry Warren. of 5, Janet-straet, Cardiff, who found the woman dead on Sunday. He told a repre- sentative of the "Western Mail" that ha had not been subpoenaed to the in- quiry, but had been requested by the police to attend the inquiry in his own interests. The jury-which was a special one—took their places at ten minutes to three, and a few minutes later Mr. Georg.e Thomas (Red Lion Hotel, Queen-street) was elected foreman.- The chief-constable (Mr. William McKenzie) was in court, and Mr. Sydney Jenkins, solici- tor, Cardiff, appeared for Warren. I The Widower's Evidence I The first witness called was John Stacey, the widower, an elderly, well-dressed man, who said he lived at 7, Cannompore-etreet, Hereford. He had seen the body at the mortuary, and identified it as that of his wife, Harriet Stacey. The Coroner: I believe you have separated for some years?—Yes, sir; for more than four year3. What age was she?—Fifty-one next August. Did you know where she was living?—I knew she was living in Cardiff, but not exactly where. Have you seen her lately?—No, not for the pact two years. Did you make her any pecuniary allowance?—No, sir. You have a daughter living in Cardiff?— Yes, and I believe she has identified the body. The Coroner: Xo; her husband has. Had. your daughter any cc mmunication with her mother?—Yes. Witness said h& was an engine-driver, and was in the service of the Midland Railway Company for 29 years. The Coroner said a letter had been re- ceived that day, and he wanted to a«k witness if he knew the writing. Witness: Is it an anonymous letter? The Coroner: No, I will show it to you. As the letter was not to hand, the witness was requested to stand down. Warren in thi Box I William Henry Warren, who wore a black tie and black clothes, next appeared in the witness-box. In reply to the ooroner, he said, in a firm voice: "I am a labourer. Yes, sir. I have knows the deceased for about three years." The Coroner: Were you in the habit of see- ing her often?—Yes, sir, sometimes. Did you go there onoe or twice a week. or. how often?—Sometimes once, and somaetimes twice a week. How long has she been living at this house? —Three years come July or June. When were you last at her house during her lifetime?—Last Saturday weelt. The Coroner asked for the date. Warren replied, "I don't know about the date. but it was last Saturday week." Stacey rose and addressed the coroner Last Saturday week, sir, he said, not last Satirrday. The Coroner: I simply said the 6th. Did she appear to be in any trouble?— Nothing whatever. She seemed in her ueual spirits. How long were you there ?—Only a few minutes. I just left her a few picture caj-ds. What time did you leave?—About quarter- past ten. When did you go again?—On the following Wednesday evening, at half-paat eight. Did you Is nock at the door?-Yes. And got no answer?—No. Did you wait some time for an answer?— No. sir; I noticed that the ktter-box and knocker had not been cleaned for some time. and as she was a remarkably clean woman in her habits, I thought she must be from home. You concluded thai she had gone away? I thought that she had gone away. Well, what did yon do then?—I am not clear ae to whether I knocked at Mrs. Wil- liams's door, or whether she came to the door. Never miad, you went to the next house?- Yes And saw Mrs. William* there?—Yea. Did yon know Mrs. Williame?-Yf. I have ? S. I h known her on and off a few years now. Did you ask her anything about Mre. btacey .'—Directly she saw me Mrs. Williams said she must be from home, as she had not seen her since Sunday. What was it you gave her?—A brown malt loaf. For Mrs. Stacey?—Yes. That is, if she came home in time. You then went home?—Yes. Had Mrs. Stacey, on the previous Saturday, said anything about going away?—No. When did you go there next?-Laat Satur- day. At what time?—At about nine o'clock, I think. Did you knock?—Yes. I noticed at once the door was in the same condition as when I went away from there. You concluded she was still from home?— I called at the Great Western Railway Station, a-nd ask-ed when the excursion came from London, thinking she might have gone there. The man gave me a printed list. of trams, and I went again on Sunday morning. I went to her house because the train arrived before I got to the station. Then you went to her house on Sunday morning, the 14th?-Yes. about half-past six. I thought she might have taken a cab home before I could get there. You knocked at the door, and got no zugwer 2-Yes. Then did you go away !I-I took my own door key out of my pocket and tried it in the large lock of her door. Stacey again interrupted in a stern voice with, "Why had you a latchkey?" The Coroner: I will aefk questions.. Stacey: May I ask a question by-and-bye, Sir ? The Coroner: Yes, you shall ask a ques- tion. (To witness): You then R&V you tried to open the door with yonr latchkey?—No, I tried it with her latchkey, the latchkey she let me have possession of. Then some time ago Mrs. Stacey had given you a. lat.efcke*-?—Yes. I had it on and off, but not permanently. She lent it yon?—Yes. Then you had the key in your pocket, and tried to open the door with it?—Yes, sir. You could not open the door with it?-Xo, gir- I went home and eased the wards of the key with a file. Well ?—I have the key in my pocket, if yon wbh to see it. When did you go again?—On Sunday evening About what time ?-Iralf-Past eight or a. quarter to nine. I Wha.t did yon do?—I enoceeded in opening the doer with the latchkey with a bit of a wrench. Widower's Questions I The widower, labouring under grett excitement, here rose again and asked, Is this a postman or a burglar, may I ask?" The Coroner (to Stacey): You must let him alone whilst I am examining this witness. (To witness): What did you do then ?-I found a lot of papers that had been pushed under the door. I struck a light, and took hold of all I could reach and feel in the dark. and they were copies of the Evening Express," Echo." and so ou. What did you do then?—There was a knock at the door, and a man came and asked if Tom or Jack Harper was there. I walked up- stairs and struck a match. I noticed the bed- room door open, which was unusual. Suddenly the witness said: I wih you would stop this man, sir (referring to Stacey). He is repeating my remarks. It distracts me. I assure you I am in just as painful a position as he im At the coroner's request, Stacey promised to refrain. Witness, resuming, and referring to his remark about the door, said it was unusual, because she locked all the doors when she went away. I struck a light on tbp landing, aod walked into the bedroom, and the door lay wide open. As I got to the door I looked round. I don't know whether the match had burnt down to my Sugars, or whether it was my nervousness, but the light went out. I g.w her face on the bed. I touched some- thing cold- I must have touched her hand. You touched her purposely?—No, sir; it was accidental. Well, did you strike another match?—No, sir, I didn't stop for that. Then how did you know she waB dead?— Be 'ati.se she wag cold. Then you touched her a.ccidentally?-Yes, I fir. (Then an afterthought): There would be no mistake in that feeling to anybody. The Coroner: Never mird that. We want I; jr!st a narrative of the facts. You imme- diately went down st ai"?-Ycs, sir. And wont to Mrs Williams's house?—No, 33?—Yes. Did you knock at her door?—Yes, sir. Who came to the door, Williams or his wife?-I don't know, three or four, I think. I gave such a bang at the door. What did you say?-! said, Mrs. England is dead." j We know her as Mrs. Stacey. Did you know that?—Yes, eir, but she was known to her neighbours as England. Is that all?-That is all, eir. What did you do then?—Lit the lamp or two lamps downstairs. Did Williams return with the constable?— Yes, and I went with the constable upstairs, and we took one of the lamps. Then you saw Mrs. Stacey lying dead in bed?—Yes. when you went there with this loaf of bread on the Wednesday, why did you knock a-t the door? Why didn't you use the key?- I hadn't the latch-key on me. These concluded the coroner's questions. By a juror: My house is two and a half miloo from where Mrs. Stacey lived. The same juror: What key did you open the door with?—It would not open with the small top lock. This is my own personal pro- perty. Have you Mrs. Staoey's key?—It is my own key. You filed the key?—Yes. Do you know how to file out a key ? Well, no; it was chance work. I may tell you I have had Dog-ecjioil of the key of the house before on several occasions, when she was away on holidays, and I have gone there many times when she was away, and have gone through the house to see that no one has molested or interfered. She had confidence in you?—Certain confi- dence. She allowed me to have the key when she was away from home. Are we to take it you visited the house for an improper purpose?—Well, and- I put. it plainly. It is no use beating about th* bush. The Juror: May I put it that she gave him the key to visit her for an improper purpose? The Coroner: Yes. Witness (after hesitating): Am I obliged to answer the question? The Coroner: If you don't we can form our own conclusions. Witness: You may form your conclusions. I won't answer it. Stacey: I want an answer. The Coroner: Sit down. We can form our own conclusions. Witness, in answer to further questions from the coroner, said that on the Sunday morning he tried both his own key and the latch-key, but his own key would not turn in the big lock. The Coroner: You then went to the house on Sunday evening, and opened the door with the key you had filed—your house key? Witness (nodding): And the latchkey, eir. By a Juror: He was a widower. Fit-, believed the newspapers at the door were delivered by a local newsageiit. The deceased had been in the habit of going up to London a.nd other places. When she did so she usually left him the large key of her door because she always locked it. When she was at home eha didn't lock it?— I can't say as to that. In reply to the coroner, witness said Sh1 had left the key with him on several occa- sions, as he used to look a-ftcr the house and 000 it waa all right. Did you know the reason why Mrs. Stacey had left her hu-shand ?-o. By a Juror: lie had heard that she had a husband living. Mr. Stacey then, through the ooroner, asked the witness a number of questions with regard t) the key. Mr. Stacey: Having got upstairs, you found the bedroom door open, which you said was a. most unusual thing. How do you know that?—Well, it has been my custom always to find the doors fastened, and I u > .1 to examine them to see if the locks had been tampered with. Mr. Stacey: Did you go examining that house night after night when my late wife was in bed?—No. Mr. Stacey: If there was foul play in this house I wish to probe it tothe very bottom. The Coroner: There is no doubt that there has been foul play. Mr. Sydney Jenkins, having been given per- mission to ask witness a question, 8aid: I want to ask witness if hf could give an account of all his movements from the 6th of February to the Uth. The Ooroner: That will take a long time. Mr. Jenkins: I would like to know, sir. The Coroner (to witness): Can you do that? —Yes, sir. The Coroner: Then you are a very lucky man. I am sure I could not do that. The Letter I The ceroner waa here "handed a letter by the oorcner'e officer, and, turning to witness, he said, Have you over heard Mrs. Stacey speak; to anybody who lived at Hereford named "Lil"? I think it's "Lil" (handing the letter to the head-constable, who ex- amiced the signature). I suppose it was a short, name for some woman. Staoey: It's short for Lily, our youngest daughter. Warren: I understood it was a. niece of the lady. TTta* Coroner: Have you ever heard her speak of anyone in Cardiff called Nell ?-She hae a, daughter of that name. Tho Coroner: Oh, the married daughter Witness: I did not know she was in Cardiff. This concluded Warren's evidence. The coroner then called Staoey, saying that the letter received had arrived at the house that morning. It was from Scudamore-street, Hereford, and read: Are you all right. Just received a wire from Nell. Witness: That's my eldest daughter in Southwell, Nottinghamshire. The Coroner (cortinning): She asked if you were with me. Have wired back. What doe3 it moa.n? Am ter- ribly anxious. Jack was here yesterday. I asked him to write, and he promised to do so. Witness. That's my elae-st son. The Conner (reading): Hope you will get this to-night, so that I can hear to-morrow. Am very anxious. Stacey explained tha.t his daughter at South- well had written to Cardiff, and the letter was returned unopened. This was the cause of his daughter's anxiety. A Light in the Bedroom Thomas Williams, 39, Saltmead-roada, was the next witness. He said he was a, dock labourer, and had known Mrs. Stacey as a neighbour for about two years. He had known her as Mrs- England, and was not aware her name, was Stacey. Witness had seen Warren at the house a, few times. He last saw Mrs. Stacey alive on Sunday, tho 7th inst., about dinner-time. The same evening, between eight and nine, he saw a light in the back bedroom, and through the blinds perceived somebody walking about. The light, which was being carried, flickered abeut, as though the bearer of it was searching for oome- thing. Later, about ten o'clock, witness heard a noise next door-3, thumping noise— and remarked to his wife that there was someone chopping sticks next door." He said to his wile it was strange Mrs. England should be up so late at night, as she was in the habit of going away early in the morn- ing on these excursions. On Sunday, the 14th, Warren came to his house and said, "For God's sake, fetch a policeman. Mrs. England is dead in bed." The Coroner:. Did you "know anybody else who was in the habit of visiting Mrs. Stacey beside Warren?—I know one man, who I thought was Mr. England. Did you know him?—Only by sight. I have seen him going there on two or three occa- sions. Have the police asked you about him at all?—No, I don't think they haye. Woon did you see England last 1LThe last time I 8aw him was over the wall, and he askod me if I was out of work.' What is be?-He is a sailor. How long is it since he was there?-—A couple of months. You have not seen him there since?—No, sir. But when he came to Cardiff he used to live at Mrs. England's (meaning Mrs. Staeey's house). The Coroner: It may be worth while for the police to make inquiries about Mr. England. Mrs. Margaret Williams, a well-dressed and attractive woman, followed her husband in the witners-box. Mrs Stacey, she said, had twice complained to her tnat she could not sleep at night. On the 5th of this month she said 2, Mrs. Williams, I oan't sleep at night, so I light the lamp to look round at things. There was a piece of string inside the door, and hanging through the letter-box, which anybody could pull, and the week Mrs. Stacey was assumed to be away the string was not visible By Mr. Jesse Williams (juror): I did not notice on the Sunday night whether the lamp burnt out or went out. It seemed to be there all the time. In reply to a juror, she said a lot of men called at the houae. She did not think Mrs. Stacey was leading a respectable life. The Coroner: I suppose you know ahe wasn't. Police Evidence I Police-constable Francis Soowcroft produced I a clothes lined, which was found round tho I vomao e neck. He deecribed how, having I been called by Williams, he went down to the house, and found the deceased on her eide, in bed, partially covered with the clothes. Tho rope was round her neck. On it there was a metal ring, to which one end was tied, and the other passed through to form a noose. The contents of a box close by, containing clothes, had been disarranged, but there were no sign anywhere in the house of a struggle. The Coroner: Did you find the door of the room at the back of the bedroom had been forced open?—No, sir. The Coroner: Isn't that the door found broken open this morning? Inspector Butler: Yes, sit-. Inspector Butler, Grange-town, spoke to rccehing a telephone call from the Canton police, in consequence of which he proceeded to 41, Saltmead-road. Before going, how- ever, he telephoned to Dr. Pitiard, who met him at the house later. In reply to questions put by the coroner, witness said he found near a chest, which had been forced open, a chisel, a screw-driver, a key which fitted the front bedroom door, and a smaller key to fit a, padlock of a box, which had txj 'n ransacked. Tha Coroner: Have you asked Warren if he has seen this chisel before? Warren: Oh, yes. I have seen them in the house. In fact, I used the screwdriver to screw a plate on a, door to prevent it being burst open from a backyard. Inspector Butler (continuing) said the Post Office Savings Bank book (produced) showed JE40 Is. 5d. to deceased's credit. In the back- room downstairs there were remnants of food on the table. The lock of the back room was off, and the door had evidently been burst open. The Coroner said that a man's shirt was found in the room with a mark inside the neck, and he suggested that it would be well for the laundries to be visited to find out who the shirt belonged to. THE DOCTOR'S EVIDENCE Dr. Marmaduke Pittard (police-surgeon for this division) next gave evidence as to what he saw after being summoned through the telephone by the polio; He got there at 9.45, and was met by the last witness. The body was lying as described. Deceased was lying on her left side, with her arma extended in front. The legs were par- tially drawn up in an ordinary attitude. She had on a, long night-gown, in which her feat were tucked up. It was a. double bed, and she was on the left-hand side of the bed, which had the appearance on the other side of someone else also having been there. The pillow was pressed upon. The rope had been placed once round the neck high up, and was very tightly drawn, forming a sort of groove round three-parts of the neck. The rope was then carried to the bead rail of the bedstead, crossed over the rail, and then carried down to the riglat hand corner of the foot of the bed, where it was twisted two or three times, but not tied in any way. The rope from the head of the bedstead to the foot was slack. The body was in a state of rigor mortis; the tip of the tongue protruded between the lips, and was almost black, and there was a certain amount of decomposition all over the body. The Coroner: Do you think she could have stranded herself?—No; her arms were extended in front of her, and the rope was fixed behind. Dc-ath was due to strangula- I i.inn. The doctor then proceeded to give the resrulls of the post-mortem examination he made on the previous afternoon. Externally there were no marks of violence beyond the line around the neck, which was a quarter of an inch* dec-P, caused by the rope going into it. The back of the head had a slight mark of the rope, but was not depressed. There was also on the right hand side a, bruise lin. in diameter—a slight discolouration formed before death. The lungs and other organs presented the usual indications of strangulation. There were no indications of intemperance. The woman had been dead when found about a week. INQUEST ADJOURNED FOR.A WEEK. Tha Coroner said he proposed to adjourn the inquiry until Tuesday next. This course was adopted. Mr. Stacey Interviewed One of our representatives had a short chat with Mr. Stacey after the inquest. He is a fine looking man, whose features, with their open and manly expression and kindly eyes, at once proclaim a character of admirable qualities. His manner but thinly disguised his agitation, and he soenis to be more moved by the knowledge of his late wife's recent mode of living than by the news of the terrible way in which she met her death. "I thought," he said, "that she was in domestic service, and none of my family bad any other idea." He said he believed his wife was a native of Market Drayton, in Shropshire. She was the daughter of a gas manager at Brecon, who had also lived at Crickhowell and Beau- fort. Her father lived at Brecon about 30 years ago, and after leaving that town for some years had now returned to it. It was at Brecon that he met his wife. and married her. But," he added, with moistening eyes, she departed from the line of moral recti- tude, and she had to go. In fact, I found her in my own house with a man in a com- promising position." He said he had not decided then whether to go back to Hereford that night, but, pro- bably, should do so and return to-day (Wednesday). He is taking the most active interest in the inquiries made by the police, and intends to be in Cardiff for the next few days in the hope that he may render them some assistance. Father's Story I Our Crickhowell representative had an interview on Tuesday with Mr. John Jones, manager of the Crickhowell Gasworks. Mr. Jones had not seen the "Western Mail," and, therefore, the Srst news he had of the tragedy came from our correcpondent. He was greatly agitated, and said:—"There is no doubt Mrs. Stacey was my daughter. It is quite a mistake to call her Mrs. England. She was 49 years of age last August. For several years she had acted as housekeeper to Mr. and Mrs. England, and had always been happy and comfortable. That is my daughter, and there is her address," he said, pointing to a label on the desk which was already addressed: Mrs. Stacey, c.o. Mrs. England, 41, Saltmead-road, Grangetown, Car- diff." Mr. Jones added that he heard from his daughter not many days ago, but he could not produce the letter. Mr. Jones was quite at a loss to account for the mystery. He has been manager of the gasworks at Crickhowell for 25 years, and for fifteen years I previously held a similar position in Brecon.

ROYAL VICTORIAN ORDER I The London Gazieto announces that the King has conferred the Royal Victorian Order on a number of Royal and distinguished visi- tors on the occasion of the marriage of Princess Alice of Albany and Prince Alexander of Teck. The last-named, is created Knight Grand Cross. Knights Oom. manderships are conferred on Viscount Gougi)., his Majesty's Minister at the Courts of Saxony and Saxe-Coburg-Gotha> and Sir Robert Collins, Comptroller of the Household of the Duchess of Albany.

FARMER FETTERS SHEEP I Edward Jordan, of Gaer Hill, St. Arvan's, was summoned at Chepstow Petty-sessions on Tuesday, for cruelty to seventeen sheep by fettering them. Defendant pleaded guilty, saying that the fences were, bad, and that he bad to fetter the eheep to keep them from straying, and was unaware that it hurt them. Defendant was fined 10s., and 6d. costs.

MR. CHAMBERLAIN I Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlain arrived at Cairo from Port Said on Tuesday afternoon. They will be the guests of Earl Cromer during their stay. On Saturday they start for their trip up the Nile.—Renter.

indigestion [ and Sleeplessness Indigestion reduced me from a strong, healthy man, almost to a shadow," says Mr. Alfred Clapham, of Windmill Lane, I Cheshunt. Dispelled by There was always a feeling of oppression at my stomach; and 1 suffered much from headache, want of appetite, and sleeplessness. From this wretched condition Mother Seigel's Syrup rescued me, after uu=erous other 1 medicines had Med." I ??? MOTHER IGE *SYRUP STOP PRESS Latest Telegrams. I "EXPRESS" OFFICE, 2..30 p.m. LOUD STRATUM ORE DKAI). Th? Central News Forfar correspondent telegraphs that news lia5 reached there of riie tie,til of the Lad of stratkinore at the wike of his health. Deceased was 30 yea-is of age. He was Lord-lieutenant ot Forfur.-ihive. Last year the Earl and Countess celebrated their golden wedding. TIlE WATEilLOO VVP. Miii-limiiiv !> Boufarnick J vi cf. 'War in Shannon Lutl I'y.Mstnt Orahain bt Strnnse Mystery -in. i.i m Htien B;1?rV Hay bt Mallory CAEDIFF TKADDSMAN AND HIS WIFE. At the Cardiff Police-court this afternoon- 'before Messrs. T. H. Stephens and Joseph Howard, Harry Wheeler, a prominent tradesman, wa-s summoned by his wife, Elisabeth Wheslcr, who applied for an crder of separation and maintenance.— Mr, Joseph Henry Jcne.3 appeared for C01:1- r.ia ljjant; Mr. Morgan Reea defended.—Mr. .¡,Ill.l, .>' JJ. "l. Lo Joseph Henry Jcnc3, in opening the ease, said the summons was for an order of separation and maintenance. on the ground of desertion. The fact?: were shortly these. The parties were married 2 jyears ago, and the issue of the marriage was four children. The Bench, however, were not concerned v.ith. three, because ir-ey were above the age of sixteen. The fourth was Thomas, aged fifteen, so thc.t tjy iw., aa an «.rtlcr they would have ■v.rani to U»c fact that dciendant was onty liabk- to main lain the hoy for another year. U'tll, the facts were really sad. -i'iicie was no allegations against the wile ol ai;,y suit. Mr. VVheeier ^Proceeding. ,L ,t_ "7'Hf., i ■ t ^m..mmmmman The PINK EDITION of the "Evening Express," on Sale at 0.15 p.m., contains all the news of the day up to that time, includ- ing latest movements on London and Cardiff Stock Exchanges, Special Market Reports, Local Charterings and Arrivals.

THE COMMISSION ON COAL SUPPLIES I A further meeting of the Royal Commission I on Coal Supplies was held on Tuesday, Lord Allerton presiding. Mr. W. Brace was amongst the Commissioners present. Mr. M. C. Gurney, British Consul-General at Marseilles, gave evidence, in which he described the conditions of the coal trade between Great Britain and Marseilles. Germany, he said, was the chief competitor at present with the United King. dom, but there was a prospect of serious com- petition from the United States of America. Efforts were being made by the American coal merchants to obtain a footing in the markets of the Mediterranean. German competition began in 1902, and was likely to remain a serious obstacle to British trade so long as the present relative prices continued. Mr. H. Turing, British Consul at Rotter- dam, gave similar I evidence as to the condi- tion of British trade in the Netherlands. The Westphalian Syndicate were carrying out extensive operations, and the export of German coal via Rotterdam to foreign markets was increasing considerably. The Commission is, with the approval of the Foreign Office, obtaining similar informa- tion from all British Consuls abroad. The questions sent to the Consuls are as to the quantities consumed, qualities, and uses, sources of supply, and suggestions for com- batting foreign competition.

SPEED OF MOTOR-CARS: OBJECTION TO NEWPORT RESTRICTIONS An important committee meeting of the Automobile Clu'b of South Wales and Mon- mouthshire was held on Tuesday afternoon, Mr. Godfrey L. Clark, Talygarn, in the chair. The first business was to call the attention of all motor-car owners, motor cyclists,and others to the proposal of the Newport Corporation ¡ to restrict the speed everywhere within the borough of Newport to ten miles per hour. Notices of objection must be sent to the Assistant Secretary, Local Government Board, Whitehall, London, and also to the town clerk, Town-hall, Newport. Objections can be worded in any way, there being no special form, and must be sent in at once, as February 19 is the last day on which they can be received. It was pointed out that these restrictions would have a serious bear- ing in regard to motorists in South Wales and the West of England, because they all have to pass through Newport. Glamorgan has placed no limit; neither has Cardiff, London, and scarcely any important town or county throughout Great Britain. Further, it was pointed out thbt accidents in South Wales due to motorists are extremely rare, and the com- mittee thought that the Newport Corporation might at least have given the present Act a trial before asking the Local Government Board to sanction restrictions. The secretary was instructed to send votes of thanks to the Glamorgan County Council, and also to the Cardiff Corporation, for having expressed their willingness to give the present Act a trial without restrictions, and a hope was expressed that the confidence shown by these important bodies will not be abused by motorists or motor cyclists. The committee also thanked Mir, Solomon Andrews for his consideration in reducing the toll art the Penarth toll-gate. Arrangements are being made for a garage in Cardiff for members to store their cars at any time. A number of sites have been visited, but so far none abeoJutely suitable have been found; but it is hoped that within the next week definite arrangements will be made.

cftevons" Bread eaten regtfuiy win improvs tM j health and ptrmanMiUy streagtton tba eoBstltattaa. I Mad* with the beet vfewtcs Sow. tMaM j

DISGRACEFUL SCENE CHEPSTOW ROMAN eATHOLICS DISAGREE. At Chepstow Petty sessions yester- day Michael Connell was summoned for assaulting Nellie Cetta.—Mr. H. W. Berthon appeared for complainant, and Mr. R. Parnall defended. Mr. Berthon. in opening, sa,id the case arose out of a disgraceful scene which took place in the Roman Catholic Church in Chep- stow. There had been previous unpleasant- ness, and complainant left the choir and went to sit in another part of the church. On the morning of Sunday, January 31, Father Conway, the priest, it was alleged, at the reque&t of her mother, assigned her a seat at the top put of the church. In the evening she accepted the invitation of Miss Richardson to sit with herself and young niece in the seat rented by the Eichardsons. She had just taken a seat when defendant, who was the door-keeper of the church, went to her and told her that she must go to the seat reserved for herself, which she declined to do. Afterwards the priest caine and asked her to go to her own sitting, but agaju she declined, and the priest went and spoke to her mother at the back of the church. In the meantime, Connell, it, was alleged, came to her and said that she must come out, and that if she did not he would drag her out by the hair of the head, and put his hand on her arm to drag her out, but she pulled herself away, and defendant's act constituted the assault com- plained of; and she also conili,tined of the alleged disgraceful indignity done to her thereby in the face of the congregation. To save further disturbance, complainant after- wards left the seat and wont to the back part of the church. The defence was that it was defendant's duty to maintain order in the church, and thajfc because complainant, with girl com- panions, had misconducted herself on previous occasions by laughing and gaming in church she had been assigned a separate seat; but she went into the Richardson?', where there was another young girl, aaid defendant told her she must go to her own place, and just put his hand on her wrist, but it was denied tha.t he threatened to pull her out by the hair of the head or that defendant went to her more than once, namely, before the priest spoke to her. After hearing a number of witnesses, the Bench said that, whilst they did not lay it down that defenclaiit had no power to eject complainant if she misconducted heraelf, they thought that on this occasion she did not misconduct herself, and that a technical assault had been committed, and they fined defendamt Is., with 11 143. 6d. costs.

EDUCATION ACT DILEMMA Confusion of Authorities in 11 11 Monmouthshire In the King's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice on Tuesday (before Mr. Jus- tice Wills and Mr. Justice Bruoe, sitting as a divisional court) Mr. Glenn, on behalf of the Bedwellty School Board, applied for a rule nisi for a mandamus to the overseers of Bedwellty and Ebbw Vale, Mon., to pay the balance of a precept issued by the board on the 6th of October last year in respect of their expenses for that parish from that date up to the 25th of December last year. The over- seers, counsel stated, refused to pay, on the ground that under the Education Act, 1902, so much of the parish of Bedwellty as was within the Ebbw Vale urban district had become the local education authority district under the Act, and the balance ought to be paid by them to the district council. He would show, however, that this was not correct. That might be so where a school board had entirely ceased to exist, and where all its powers and property had been trans- ferred to te new local education authority, but where the school board still continued to exist, either no such transfer took plaice or, if it did, provision was made under the Act for the enforcement and recovery of precepts issued before the Act came into operation against any of the persons to whom those preoepts were addressed. The Act, however, did not come into operation on its being passed, but a day was appointed for its coming into operation by an order of the EdneEL- tion Department under Section 22. So that the Act operated in this WaY:-If there was a district conterminous with the school board district, and a day was appointed by the department, no doubt the Act came into operation; but where the district was not conterminous, unless there were days appointed throughout the whole school board district, the school board would still oon. tinuo to exist. Mr. Justice Wills: In the Bedwellty district has no day been appointed? Mr. Glenn: No. The expenses of the school board under the old Act were all paid out of a common school fund. At the time the pre- cept in question was issued no transfer had taken place, and the precept was for expenses in respect of whioh the school board had now no fund at all. Their Lordships, after having referred to the provisions of the Act of 1902, granted a rule.

CHINESE FOR THE RAND I Strong Language from Sir W. Harcourt Sir William Harcourt has written as fol- lown to a correspondent:—The £ imes are auspicious, aid never was our party more full of heart and hope. The Tory party are committed to a policy of reaction in every form, and are seeking overtly and covertly to subvert the principles upon which the com- merce and well-being of this nation depends. In South Africa they are seeking to establish Chinage labour as the basis of its principal industry, under degrading conditions, con- demned by the voioe of our great Australian Colonies, who have had experience of its evils. All sections in Cape Colony have declared against it, and it is now proposed to establish this revolting system by the direct authority and under the superintendence of the Impe- rial Government in a Crown Colony. At the Afrikander Bond Congress which is to be held at SteUenboech on March 10 resolutions will be submitted by thirteen dis- tricts against the importation of Chinese labour .-Reuter.

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-=:- ;£500 JEWEL HAUL REMARKABLY COOL AND CLEVER ROBBERY. A daringly cool robbery was effected at the premises of Messrs. Elkington and Co., pjewellers and electro-plate dealers, Cheap- side, on Monday morning. The back of the shop is triply protected by a wooden door, an iron door, and an iron shutter, all three of which were locked. The police patrol the street every twelve minutes, and keep a specially close eye on the shop. At seven in the morning the iron shutter, which gives entrance to some chambers, was raised in the usual wa.y. At eight the shoo was opened, and the shopman then found that goods to the value of about S-900 had been taken from the window. The thieves had gone about the business in a very workmanlike way. They opened the doors by duplicate keys—how obtained nobody knows—and on leaving they locked the doors behind them. The only violence they used was the employment of a small jemmy to force the window doors. The stolen goods consisted chiefly of cold chains, bracelets, and rings—things which can easily be melted. The more valuable articles were locked up in the safes, and those were not touched. There is not the slightest cine to the robbers. The robbery is remarkable, because of ita clean workmanship, and because of the careful selection of an hour which, although apparently dangerous, proved to be perfectly safe.

REFUSAL OF LICENSES. In a Parliamentary question Mr. CAMERON CORBETT CO., Glasgow, Tradeston) asked the Home Secretary in how many cases in England and Wales the renewal of victuallers' licences was refused last year on the ground that they were not required (after allowing for the results of appeals), and what proportion this number bore to the total number of such lice noes. Mr. AKERS DOUGLAS replied by paper that in 167 cases the licensing justices refused the renewal cf licences on the ground that they were not required. For the purposes of the appeal figures, it is not possible to distin- quish between -those cases and 169 other cases in which licences were refused on the ground that they were not required, coupled with other grounds. Taking the 3?5 refusals together it might be estimated that in about a hundred cases an appeal was allowed. Thia would leave about 230 cases in which tha licences were finally refused, and on the figures shown in the last annual report of the Board of Inland Revenue, viz., 67,055 victu- allers' licences granted in the year 1902-3, the proportion would be about one in 290.

THE WAR OFFICE CHANGES. It is unofficially announced that the Duke of Connaugnt has been selected by the Army Council for the post of Inspector-general of the Forces. The Council had a prolonged, sitting on Monday, and were in communica- tion with the Prime Minister, but the appoint- ment of his Royal Highness had been under consideration and practically decided upon some days ago. The selection of the Duk.) by the Council haa been approved by his Majesty. Earl Roberts, the retired Commander-in- Chief, htd an audience of the King afc Buckingham Palace on Tuesday.

LYNCHING IN AMERICA. The National Guard of the State of Virginia (numbering over 2,000) has been sent to the town of Roanoke to prevent the lynching of a negro named Henry Williams, who is ou trial for assaulting with an axe a Mrs. Shields and her child. Feeling is running very high against the negro, and demands that he be hanged have inflamed the inhabitants to such an extent that Governor Montague ordered out the militia. The jury brought in 3, verdict of "Guilty" against Williams, and he was sentenced to be hanged.

THE UNIVERSITY BOAT RACE The Cambridge crew have commenced strict training for the boat race, but, an- fortunately, without their president, Mr. J. Edwards-Moss, who has been suffering from an affection of the nerves of one shoulder. A specialist has advised Mr. Moss not to row, and he will, consequently, not be seen in the coming race. The crew, who have not been altered for several days, take daily practice at Ely, where on Tuesday afternoon their principal work was a row for a mile and a. half, under Mr. Eecombe. They performed satisfactorily.

ANOTHER BURGLARY AT MERTHYR During Monday night or early on Tuesday morning the premises of Mr. W. Francis, grocer, Glebeland, Merthyr, were entered by means of the back door in Wheatsheaf-lane, and a sum of about £20, chiefly in silver, was stolen from the till, which had been forced open by one of Mr. Francis's bacon knives, which was found to have been broken ia effecting the pillage.

HARDENED CRIMINAL FROM UBK. At Bristol Assizea on Tuesday (before Mr, Justice Darling) Thomas Pringle, 21. painter, pleaded guilty to assaulting Robert Lee with a life preserver with intent to rob him on December 19. He acknowledged a conviction at Usk, where he had been guilty of violence. Mr. Duckworth prosecuted. The Judge sen- tenced prisoner to two months' imprisonment with hard labour and eight strokes with the cat.—Prisoner: I am much obliged to you, Sir

I THEATRICAL DIVORCE CASE Mrs. KaU Adeline Meanley was on Tuesday granted a decree nisi because of the miscon- duct and desertion of her husband, Mr. Ernest Steadman Meanley, an actor, profes* sionally known as Ernest Vere. It was stated that the parties had toured together. In 1898, however, the respondent left his wife, and ?h n" then had cohabited with an actre" tn London and elsewhere.

YSTRADMYNACH MYSTERY A farm servant has found on Penallta Rocks, near Ystradnstynach, a cape, hat, and umbrella, together with three parish maga- zines. He reported the matter to the police, but the owner of the articles haa not been traced. The cape bears the name of a Cardiff tailor.

BILLIARDS II THE CHAMPIONSHIP. At a. committee meeting of the BilliarA Association on Tuesday, the resignation of the championship by Charles Dawson was accepted, and H. W. Stevenson having with- drawn his challenge, the deposit made by him was returned. The committee regretted that they could not approve the challenges sent in by C. Harverson and M. Inman. The following draw for the amateur cham- pionship waa made:-Firat round: February 29, Mr. L. D. Young v. Mr. A. J. Knowldeu- Ma.rch 1, Mr. A. W. T. Good v. Mr. P. L. Siln; March 2, Mr. E. 0. Breed v. Mr. W. A. Lovejoy. The following drew bylg:-Messrs. H. C. vter. W. Bradshaw, a H. Mortimer, F. Shepherd. and H. W. Moy. STEVENSON V. REECK. Uloeang scores on TuesdayReecs, 7 £ Bf- Stewneon, 2,449.

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