Evening Express

THE AIMS OF LABOUR -0 Thoughts on the Election U- THE IDEALS OF SOCIALISM. I BY LLOYD MEYRICK. I was talking the other day to a very angry man. He said, "In these days of a corduroy Cabinet and a fustian Parlia- ment there is nothing for me but suicide or emigration." He farther made the strong remark that he should like to hang John Burns with the entrails of Lloyd- George! There is, without a doubt, a good deal of this wild talk going on up and down the country. Old-fashioned circles are disturbed to their profoundest depths. It is feared that this General Election is no mere swing of the pendu- lum, bat marks a new era in our political history. It represents the advent of a new force pregnant with the mighty power of good and evil. Personally, I believe that many people are too hasty just now in coming to sweeping conclu- sions. The political history of this country has always been a puzzle to the doctrinaire, and the predictions of many a present-day prophet may easily be falsified. Mr. Keir Hardie, M.P., makes the statement in an able and moderate article in the January number of the Nineteenth Century" that & Labour party is the logical and inevitable out- come of a popular suffrage." This pro- position is hard to deny, and the wonder really is that the Labour party in this country has been so long on the road. The likely numbers and aims of such a party are a far more debatable question. Those who say that the Conservative party is finally annihilated are, of course, talking nonsense. The votes polled for that cause emphatically show that it is still, even in a period of severe defeat, a very live cause in this country. The enthusiasts, also, who imagine that Labour is going to hate a career of un- interrupted progress to political domina- tion are likely to be disappointed. It is impossible from this election to judge even approximately the polling strength of Labour pure and simple. The issues have been so diverse and the fiscal ques- tion so disturbing to stable party equili- brium that it takes a wise man to say how far the present election is a safe guide for future electoral events. That a Labour group in Parliament has come to stay I 'have not the slightest doubt, but that it will substantially advance the cause of true Socialism is certainly open to question. The Clarion" is loud in the jubilation that the Labour party will directly do the work of the Socialist. This is correct in so far as the Labour party stands for complete democracy and all that follows in its train. The ulti- maite result, though, is far more likely to be the Americanising of Britain than any great advance on the road to the Socialism of the Clarion" or Mr. Blatdhford. The present Labour M.P.'s have not been returned on a Socialist pr-ogram,me-or, indeed, on any nro- grame at all. Does anyone imagine, for instance, that Mr. Keir Hardie, M.,p., is returned to Parliament by the Merthyr men who believe in all his principles? Not a bit of it. He is returned by men rwho have warm admiration for his high personal character, and who believe in the strenuous advocacy of Labour demands. That the British people will 'have to put a lot more thinking into their politics is already very evident. ,France and Germany in the last thirty years have displayed a political genius that makes our politicians appear mere schoolboys. The way France has since 1870 created and nursed her present I I ^ricultural prosperity is one of the ?eatest feats accomplished by any people in all history. What they do in this con- nection I hope to s'how my readers in another article. And yet we twiddle our thumbs in this country, and say land and agriculture are hopeless. This is not a party question. It is a national ques- tion. If the Conservative and Liberal parties desire the allegiance of the great body of the electors for the future they must shed many prejudices and bid a j final farewell to many conventional views. As Mr. Keir Hardie, M.P., points out, the next Parliament is not likely to bring about much revolutionary change. It is the Parliament which will follow it that will give a sound clue to the political thicker as to future events. If that Par- liament consists of a large increase of Labour members and advanced Radicals, then, indeed, we may see strange and new tihincs. On the other lb:im(L-if thwe is a great rally to Conservatism politics may again return to something like the old position. Speaking impartially, what 'has helped materially the creation of a Labour party ? I do not hesitate to give the answer that it is the growth of the materialistic spirit, and the conviction among the working classes that the main- spring of human conduct is almost entirely self-interest. The upper and middle classes have little right to sit in judgment, as (rightly orwronglYJ the workmen allege they have adopted the tone of these classes. I have spoken to many workmen during this election, and have heard on all sides, We have got the power and mean to use it," or the remark, What has the likes of he in common with us?" These men consider that politics is a game of grab, and they (not unna4L-ura l ly ) unnaturally) wish to be among the grabbers. Further, there is a deeper and nobler conviction that much can be prac- tically done to make the lot of the great mass of the people brighter and happier. I should be the last man to say that this v iew is not well-founded. Conser- vatives and Liberals will have to recog- nise more heartily its truth. If I thought that the most out-and-out Socialism would lead to the sounder prosperity of the largest numbers I should hold up both hands for it to-morrow. If, however, the experience of history counts for any- thing, if a knowledge of the permanent characteristics of human nature is any guide, a Socialist State would run on the rocks of hopeless catastrophe in a very short time. Communistic experiments have been tried over and over again under apparently the happiest conditions—to fail on each occasion most lamentably. The Labour members are not at present, at any rate, composed of men who are uninstructed on these points. The time may come—aa foreseen by Mr. John Morley—when Labour may make demands which will have to be fought tooth and nail in the interests of the State and the real interests of the working classes, but that day is by no means near us. There is one thing certain, and that is that the Labour group will add consider- ably to the earnestness of Parliament. It may be taken as a fact that these men are not going to the House to philander on the Terrace or gossip in the smoke- room. Each man of them is volcanic, and will erupt ideas all over the floor of the House—crude ideas, maybe, and in some cases hopelessly impracticable, but still ideas which will have to be reckoned with. The House of Commons will become more of a workshop and less of a debating class. The probable errors into which a Labour party is prone to fall must be met, not by prejudices, but by sound enlightenment. The place and privileges of Capital and Labour will have to be taught by our ablest men, and the brilliant but illusory propaganda of an, untenable Socialism met by a ruthless exposure of its fallacious foundations. It is the avowed aim of some Labour leaders gradually to nationalise all industries on the lines of munioipalisation. They I argue if you can acquire gas, water, tram- ways, then why not railways, mines, banks, and practically in time all other industrial activities. This is the pro- gramme set out for accomplishment, but each one of its items may well stand on a different footing from any other. That it is, ihowever, the programme of even a sub- stantial proportion of the working classes there is not the slightest evidence to show. No man can without a great deal of sympathy study the aspirations of the working classes. After all, a great many people in all positrons are the sons of working men, and to the ranks of working men a good many of their own sons will return, so that in the moral and social uplifting of labour there are very few families not interested. I candidly confess the opinion that it is not the Conservative party that is ultimately threatened witih extinction, but the Liberal. Labour will become the generic term for one party and Conser- vative the other. Some Liberals are even now eyeing the Labour party as an ugly Frankenstein for whose extinction they devoutly pray. It is said that there are more Nonconformists in tihis Parliament than at any time since the days of Oliver Cromwell; but the working classes as a whole care very little for religious diffe- rences—or, indeed, for even attendance at church or chapel. A number of candi- dates mention this fact as a surprising incident of a knowledge acquired of work- ing men's districts. This may not be a desirable state of things, but tihe worker is looking for his Heaven here below, and in this direction he has been given many a shrewd hint by his so-called superiors. On next Friday I hope to treat of some types of Labour leaders. I will select Mr. Riohard Bell, M.P., as representing one type, and on the following Tuesday I will select Mr. Alderman John Jenkins, M.P., as representing another type.

I "C.-B." AND HIS PARTY. j Sir Henry Campbell-Baainerman, speaking at Larbert, Stirlingshire, yesterday, admitted that the course of events had added enor- mously to the Government's responsibilities. They would not imitate their predecessors by treating the Opposition with contempt, or be so full of egotism and vanity as to imagine they alone could govern a great Empire. He repudialted the suggestion that Liberalism or Labour waa the enemy of property. They were, he said, seeking a. rectification of property, not its confiscation.

TWO LABOUR PARTIES. I There will be two "bour parties in the new Parliament, said Mr. W. R. c?,t-, M P. for Haggerston, in an interview yeat?r- day. He and his colleagues will not identify themselves with Mr. James MacdonaJd, tie secretary of the Labour Repreeentaltion Com- mittee, Mr. Keir Hardie, and some others. The party to which Mr. Oremer belonjgs will arumber, perhaps, a score, and will include Mr. Burt, Mr. Burns, Mr. Broadhuret, Mr. Fenwiok, Mr. Vivian, Mr. Abraham, Mr. John Wilson, and Mr. Maddisaon.

ACCOUNTANT'S DOWNFALL At the Carnarvonshire Assizes yesterday A. Goiin Downs, a city councillor and holder of ma.ny public offices in Bangor, waa sentenced to six months' imprisonment for forgery and embezzlement. His solicitor said that more than ten years ago, when Downs became an accountant, he was defrauded of over £ 1C0 income-tax money by a clerk whom he shielded. Borrowing from the notorious Isaac Gordon to make up his dericiency, he had sunk deeper into the mire, involving himself with twelve money- lenders at a time, although he never lived extravagantly. The Judge said. in passing sentence, that he sympathised with the prisoner, and that there were extenuating circumstances.

I THE CARDIFF BLUE RIBBON CHOIR The 24th annual concert of the above ohoir will be held in the Park Hall. on Wednesday evening, when King Olai" will be per- formed, with full orchestra, under the con- ductorehip of Mr. Jenkyn Morris. Among other eminent artistes engaged are Miss Esme Atberen (soprano), Mr. Charles Saun- ders (tenor), and Mr. Tom Lewis (baee), winner at tihe National Eisteddfod, 1905. Mr. J. E. Bartlett will be at the piano.

) Is thIe City one-fifth of the ^^nUtioc Drink RHILLIPS'S FURS TBA& otou i

IN CASE OF WAR 1 WHAT BRITAIN MIGHT DO. Views of General Sir F. Maurice. I Paris, Tuesday.—The "Echo" this morning publishes an interesting interview with Major-General Sir Frederick Maurice on the subject of the British Army, and what France might legitimately expect of it in the case of a war with Germany. Sir Frederick, though he does not believe in the possibility of such a war breaking out, declares that if it were to do so Great Britain would certainly lend her assistance to Francs. She would send her army, not to Schleswig-Holstein, but to Denmark. Under pressure from Great Britain and from Russia, Denmark would not fail to remember Prussian exaotions in t.he past, and would join iesue against Germany The British Army landed in Denmark, sap- ported by the British fleet, would advance on the Sehleswig-Holstcin defences. Obviously Germany would leave two or, perhaps, three army corps in Schleswig-Holstein, but it would then be for Franoe to assure the trans- port of troops to support the British forces already there. The first line of resistance thus established, Great Britain would complete her mobilisa- tion, and would then be able to threaten Berlin on the north. Sir Frederick believes that Japan would be able to intervene; firstly, with her navy by seizing German, possessions, and, secondly, with her army, which could arrive in. Europe witnin two or three months. The "Echo" adds that the opinion of Sir j Frederick Maurice is shored by several high offioars in the British Army. In twenty-four hours Great Britain oould con centra te 80,000 men, all admirably trained. The last British Army nrajLceuvres proved conclusively that the British Army had made great strides, and was quite capable of dis- tinguishing itself in a European campaign.— Central News.

I A Trip to Mexico. ENGLISH GOLFERS ABROAD, Alec Herd: Jack White, Andrew Kirkaldy, and Rowland Jones, four of the best-known golf professionals in Great Britain, arrived yesterday on the Cunard liner Carmania, en route for Mexico City, where the big inter- national golf tournament will be held from January 19 to 29. They were accompanied (sayB the New York Tribune" of January 9) by Bernard Nicholls, and all were heartily glad to land, after a decidedly rough voyage. J ones, who is the smallest of the party, is an Englishman, the other three being Scots. At the pier an old friend excLaimed to Kirk- aldy, Why, Andrew, old chap, you don't look a day older than you did ten years ago!" Old! responded Kirkaldy. I'm fit and good for a hund'ed years." Kirkaldy owns up to 49 winters, but his rugged frame and ruddy complexion would enable him to pats for a man of 40. When he reached the etreet Andrew's keen eye noted a dummy puffing along with a line of freight cars, whereupon he exclaimed, A great city, this—they have railroad trains in the street." When he reached the Flatiron Building he seemed amazed, and, after twist- ing his neok out of shape in an endeavour to &ee the top, turned with the query, My word, whoever stops away up there? While at dinner Many Good Yarns of tie links were spun by these men, whose deeds have contributed so much towards golf history. White told a. story at the expense of A. J. Balfour, ex-Prime Minister of Eng-1 land. Mr. Balfour was playing- in a four-ball match not long ago over one of the well- known Scottish links. His partner vme a Soot, short of stature, although & famous professional. The latter's approach to a cer-1 tain green of punchbowl formation found a? resting-place at the top of the basin, close to some steps. Mr. Balfour and his partner dis- agreed as to the best way to play the shot. The former wanted to play straight for the hole down the steps, but the little pro. said nay, giving him the line to play away from the hole with a borrow. After muoh hesita- tion, and with apparent reluctance, Mr. Bal-1 four decided to act on the suggestion of his partner. The shot was played according to directions, the wisdom of the act being shown a. few seconds later, when the ball, degeribing a. beautiful semi-circular oourse, stopped stone dead. "It took him a long time to accept your line," remarked a brother "pro." to the little fellow, as they walked off the green. The other replied:- "I understand there is to be a change in the Government, and I think it is high time, with a man like that at the head of it." Not in years has this country been favoured with a. visit from golfers of such well-known 1 ability. Herd is probably the beat known of the lot, and he is without doubt one of the greatest living exponents of the game. He was born at St. Andrew's in 1868, and started to play golf as soon as he could wield a club. His first professional engagement was at Portrush, Ireland. He was there only a short time when he went to Blundellsands. The first important match was with Kirkaidy, at St. Andrew's, Herd winning after a. memo- ra.ble struggle. He then went to Huddersfield, where be has rem-ained as professional ever since. It was while there that he reached the top of his game, and in the final round of a tournament at Portrush defeated Harry Yajdon. Herd's Greatest Triumph was in 1902, when he won the open cham- pionship of Great Britain at Hoyla-ke. Herd has ever been a. moro or less unlucky golfer, and should have won the championship before he did. In 1895, at Prestwiok, he had a, lead of five strokes over J. H. Taylor, but on the last round Alec was caught in a, severe thunderstorm, which spoiled his eoore. Tay- lor started in perfect weather after the rain, and Herd always blames the storm for his defeat. Kirkaldy, of St. Andrews, is often called the soldier golfer of Scotland, his deeds of vaJouT on the battlefield being as well known as his more recent exploits on the links. He has never yet won the op-en championship, although on one occasion he tied Willie Fernie for first honours, only to lose on the playoff. Kirkaldy is a powerful player, always a. lo-ng driver, despite the fact that he uses a light club. He is a grand poitter and a bold pLayer for the hole, which may account for his being; more successful at match than medal play. White, of Sunninigdale, has baen pushing the big four closely for the last few yeaa-s, and had th,e satisfaction of leading them all a-t. the open, championship iit Sa.ndwich in 1904. AItb.-m,gh brilliant, he is erratic a.t times, and it is tha-t which has kept him j-ust outside the "big four," consisting of Braid, Herd, Vardon, and Taylor. When just right, Jones, of Wimbledon, is one of the greatest golfers. He made a name for himself last fall by defeating Vardon in the "News of the World" competition, at WaJton Heath. He was a'lso second to Braid in tiho open ohampionshap last year.

I MISS ROOSEVELT'S MARRIAGE Paris,Tuesday.—According to the "Matin," it is understood the Frm-ch nation will pre- sent to Ifiss Alice Eooserclt on the occasion of her marriage a. ma-gnifioent Gobelins tpestry. The, tapestry, which will be a veritable artistic triumph, w-U shortly be despatched to the United States. It is worthy of mention that the manufacture of the Getoelins tapeistries is controlled by the State. They are not obtainable commercially, and each a gift as that suggested would be a unique compliment—Central News.

WHAT A LADY SAYS. Aim A. Wilkinson, of Nelmm, says:- Kr stater suffered fvoin weak kidneys, tock one box, and It has done her tuore good than pounds spent on Medical lien." Sufferers trom Gravel, Pains in the Back. Dropsy, Diseases of the Kidneys, and Gout will find a positive Cure in Holdioyd's Gravel Pills, Is. lid., all Chemists. Post free, 12 stamps from HOLDROYVB KBDIQAIi HAJA4 CbWkbsoWju STOP PRESS Latest Telegrams. "EXPRESS" OFFICE, 5.50 p.m ALLEGED IMPEESOyATtOy. Ton were charged nl !!«-i[<-»*( to-day with persuuwiti'>n during ike recent «!o(* ion i;i •' _Ff'f( t. h- .Yoi-uy, i;i.i.lr tf r.i.j 'Lac d!'Ú1.l rL' i::f> c,¿t'J C:n" <Lch:1"1.' hU: ti: > >icr tlq,1 .{re rc. l'rj: '-L :1< ¡t: '<U, 'i.ï' (:<¡ l' (,;J"_fJ.P(;ç'=" LONDON FIXAXCE IN Tili; STREET. Con?cle wore finally â dowu for Money Jind Account, hut Homo Rails closed with, steady tone without much. change in quo- tations; "AidOrleans liavc ehown eotne ir- regularity. IS IT An Exchange ttkeram from New York slates on the highcut diplomatic authority that a, blockade of the Venezuelan « has been established. It is presumed that this is in consequence of President Cairo's treatment of the f rciicft. Charge d'Affaires.

V Met in Australia. CO-RESPONDENT AND DOCTOR'S I "NOBLE TACTICS," In the Divorce Court yesterday Dr. Robert Crudson Bening-ton, of Hastings, engaged in literaxy work, was granted a decree nisi because of the misconduct of his wife, Clara Pauline, with Charles Forbes. The parties were married in 1875 at Lam- beth, and in 1894 they went to Western Australia. Six years later they visited Natal, wheree the co-respondent, whom they had met in Australia, joined them as a friend. The petitioner returned to this country in September, 1902, his wife arriving in the following July. Her manner towards him was altered, and in Haroh, 1904, despite the petitioner's protest, she returned to South Africa. The evidence showed that she stayed witih the co-respondent at a hotel in Durban. Forbes cabled to the petitioner expressing pleasure at his noble tactics," and hen serr?d with the writ he s?id he hoped Tb:t the matter "would be put through as deli- cately as possible."

Bengal Partition I FURTHER OPPOSITION ABANDONED W. mtta, Tuesday.—I understand that on the legal advice of Mr. Asquith and also of Mr. Ross, of the Home Bar, the proposal to contest the legality, of the partition of Bengal in the law courts has been abandoned. In the opinion of these authorities, Lord Cruzon's proclamatdin was a perfectly legal proceeding, and the matter is one which is entirely outside the jurisdiction of the Higrh Court.—Central News.

News from the Mines I LLWYNYPIA COLLIERY FATALITY I Mr. R. J. Rhys, coroner, held an inquiry yesterday into the circumstances attending the death of Arthur Ho wells, who was killed at the No. 1 Glamorgan Collieries, Llwynypda. The evidence showed that deceased was lead- ing an empty tram along a. gradient of five inches in the yard, when he lost control of it, and after proceeding for about 100 yards it dashed into the side, breaking a collar. About three cwt. of rubbish fell from the side upon deceased, inflicting fatal injuries.- A verdict of "Amidental death" was re- turned.—Mr. F. J. Trump, the assistant inspector of mines, represented the Home Office. Mr. James Winetone, miners' agent., met Mr. Percy Jones on Monday with regard to the dispute at the Blaensychan Colliery, which resulted in 650 men striking work. No settlement was arrived at, but this will not prevent the men continuing work as decided on Friday. A further meeting is being arranged between Mr. Winston* and the owners' representative.

JEWELS HIDDEN IN WALLS, I The family of Prince Sulkowski recently sold their town house in Vienna, and in the deed of sale appears a curious clause to the effect that any gold and precious stones found in the walls will be the property jjot of the purchaser but of Prince Sulkowski's family. There is 'a peculiar story behind this. Many years ago the grandfather of Prince Sulkowski had a large quantity of jewellery and gold built into the walls of his house in various places to guard himself against burglars. As he died suddenly his heirs had no idea where his valuables had been hidden. On one occasion when a nail was being riven into a wall, one of these hiding-places was flis- covered, containing a, casket full of golden ornaments, brilliants, end emeralds. The other hiding-places, however, remain undis- covered to this day.

MIXED METAPHORS I In the feverdsh election through which we I have nearly passed it has seemed to me (says a writer in the Bystander") that the good old EngJfcfti practice of mixing metaphors has been, if anything, stronger than ever. One splendid Radical told hie audience that the Home Rule red-herring would not hold water. A robust Unionist informed his friends that a certain clause of the Education Act was the marrow of the Act: it was founded on a gianite foundation, and spoke in a voioe not to be drowned by sectari-an glamour."

I A GUARANTEED CURE FOR PILES, Itchinz. Blind, Bleeding, or Protruding. All chemists are authorised to -refund money it Pazo Ointment tau. te cure Pilee. Cures ordinary cases la six days. One application gives ease and rest. Puo Ointment !s a new discovery, and the only Pile remedy sold on a positive guarantee. Price 2a. 30. of loll chemists, or from Paris Medicine Co., Temple. obvnbars, London. E.O el407 PHILLIPS'S sell more 2s. TBA to thla City than .4 athar tea Anna out tewther. suu

I CHURCH DISPUTE. I ST MARY'S V ST STEPHEN'S I Deputation to the Bishop Contingent upon the dispute between the Rev. Gilbert Heaton, vicar of St. Mary's. Cardiff, and the Rev. A. G. Russell, in charge of St. Stephen's ecclesiastical district, which was formerly included in St. Mary's parish, the docks" has for some time been agitated by the old cry of Protestantism in danger." With the history of the con- troversy our readers are familiar. Briefly, the Rev. Gilbert Heaton, recently appointed vicar of St. Mary's, "encroached"—that is the word used—upon St. St. Stephen's district with a scheme to introduce just within the boundary a building to be used afl a school in plaoe of the old-time one situated at the corner of Mount Stuart-square, which has been sold for a considerable sum. The idea gained ground that the project was not entirely educational, but that the place would be used, also, on Sundays for Church purposes. The Rev. A. G. Russell protested against the intrusion, and so did many of his tlock. Deputation to Bishop I At the Palace, Llandaff, to-day, the bishop received in private audience the deputation appointed to meet and submit to him the case of St. Stephen's parishioners, backed up by a petition signed by 1,619 dockites—old men who object to' the proposal, and their sons and daughters. The deputation con- s-isted of the Rev. A. G. Russell, Messrs. Joseph Milner, R. Sleep, J. J. Ames, and P. W. Gibbs. The bishop accorded a kindly reception, and listened with pa,tienoe to the views enunciated by Mr. Miilner and other menrbers of the deputation. Mr. Heaton's claim that the proposed site was the best, or only one he could get, was met by the production to the bishop of other sites, alleged to be available and at least equally suitable. The most desirable, it was pointed out, was, perhaps, the one in Patrick- street, where a few houses might be pur- chased cheaply. He would only bave to wait for the lease to run out, and could then pur. chase the freehold or renew the lease. Hie Lordship observed that nobody could hinder the erection of a. school at the spot indicated, but if it were built conditions could be imposed upon the way in which it was used. The bishop also &aid that if the school—or schools—were put up at this spot religious services could not be held in them, and the vicar of St. Stephen's and his parishioners would be permitted to have a voice in the management, of tschools.

I Missing Gauze Wire. ALLEGED RAID AT ELY WORKS At Cardiff Police-court to-day (before Messrs. F. J. Veall and Charles Dovey) Albert Cross, 36; Thomas Fry, 30; and William Starr, 25, were oharged on remand with having between the 12th and 13th of December last entered a warehouse at the Ely Paperworks, in the oooup-ation of Messrs. Thomas Owen and Co. (Limited), and stolen about 4cwt. of bronze gauze wire, value £10. Mr. W. B. Francis ap- peared for the prosecution, Mr. George David defended Cross, and Mr. Morgan Rees the two other prisoners. Mr. Lewis Morgan held a watching brief. Evidence of identity of the wire did not go beyond the point of similarity. James Wakefield, a foreman at the works, said that on the 12th of December he placed liewt. of bronze gauze wire in the warehouse, and secured the premises with a padlock at 5.15 in the evening. Later he found the look broken as produced, and found some of the wire missing. The wire produced wae similar. William Sloman, 33, Glynne-street, Canton, haulier, deposed that on December 14, or some other evening in that month, a man who looked like Fry and another individual called upon him. He oould not swear to Fry. He met Cross On the Moors, I and asked him if he would buy some brass. Cross asked witness where it was, and wit- ness then handed him a piece of paper with the address on it. Witness met Cross by appointment that evening near the work- house, in Cowbridge-road. Cross was driving. They went together to the top of Daisy-street, where witness left him. Cross drove down Daisy-street, and when he came back to Clive- road, where witness had been waiting, witness noticed there were some bags in the trap. Walter Lloyd, buyer for Messrs. Percy Baker, deposed to buying the gauze-wire in question at 2d. per lb. from Cross on Decem- ber 16. He had been constantly dealing with Cross. In reply to Mr. David, witness said he had bad haradneds of such, business transactions with Crose. Acting-detective A. Davies gave evidence of the arrest of the three prisoners. Cross said that he had bought the wire for zPA 10s. from Fry, who told him he had found it in a ditch. In the corridor of the police-station Cross said to Fry, "Well, young man, you have got me into this scrape," but Fry denied ever having seen him before "as he knowed of." Mr. Morgan Rees submitted that there was no case against Fry and Starr. The state- ment mfcde by one prisoner was not evidence against another prisoner, and there had been no evidence whatever to connect them with that alleged robbery. For Cross, Mr. David submitted that the case also fell. Hia client, he said, was an innocent purchaser. The test of the guilty mind was the way in wliicih he attempted to dispose of the copper wire. He urged that there 'had been no attempt at concealment on the part of Cross in his dealings with Messrs. Baker's buyer. The Magistrates decided to discharge Starr, and committed Fry and Cross to the assizes.

The Cardigan Tragedyl PRISONERS DISCHARGED; NO TRUE I BILL John Davies, the one-legged pedlar, Elizabeth Taylor, and Mary Evams, the lodging-house keeper, who were under committal on a charge of manslaughter of Hannah Jeremiah at Cardigan on November 11, were for trial before the Lord Chief Justice at Cardiganshire Assizes to-day, but the grand jury returned no true bill, and they were discharged.

A Parisian Comedy Comical is the story rela;te-d of the tribulations of a oolonel commanding a regi- ment statiottod in the provinces, who had come to Paris with his wife to enjoy a Little gaiety. The colonel has troops of friends in the oity, and the offioer, who is gallant in every ssnse of the word, as a soldier should be, soon found his way to a confectioner's sbop with a liberal order for the despatch of bonbons to certain ladies of their acquain- tance. As luck wouid have it, one of the boxes was left by mistake at the dwelling of a lively damsel who hasp,pens to have the same surname as the lady for whom it was intended, tire error being all the more natural as the two live in adjoining houses. Grea-tly flattered by this delicate attention^ the young womarn took up her best pen, and, copying the address from the card, which had been left with the box, indited a glowing missive in which she invited him to pay her a visit on the following day. Hia wife, however, got hold of the note as soon as he had read it, and, jumping to the too rapid conclusion that he was deceiving her in an outrageous manner, proclaimed her determination of applying for a divorce, ajid started off to a police magistrate with the story of her fancied trouble. An inquiry was promptly set on foot, and the explanation of this unfortunate contretemps was speedily 1 discovered, so the wife was oomple.tely molli- fled, and, after asking her husband for for- giveness, which was granted, without mote ado wÐllIt off on a shopping excursion, with a view to the considerable addition of her stock of raiment and of other articles dear; to the feminine soul. j

PONTYCYMMER PRESENTATION On Monday night Mr. John Phillips, con- ductor of the Noddfa Baptist Church Choir, Pontycymmer, was presented with a gold- mounted walking-stick, gold-mounted spec- tacles, and & purse of gold, in recognition of his invaihiable services to the Church for so

I TOMAHAWKED! White Men Massacred BY AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINES The grim Rtory of an outrage by blacks, in which several white men lost their lives, comes by the Australian mail. It has already been narrated in outline. The principal victim of the crime was Mr. F. Bradsiharw, who had a station on the Victoria River, with two oil launches, on one of which the disastrous journey was taken, probably with the object of meeting Mr. Bradshaw's brother. The launch, with four white men. includ- ing Bradshaw, Skeathan, and Dannock. and four natives left Bradshaw's station on December 9. Owing to breakdowns of machinery, the la-unch waa some time in getting clear of the river, and, hearing that the Government boring party were at Cape Keats, Mr. Bradelhaw paid ttem a visit, and from Mr. Harvey, the ihevd man, learnt that they had suffered greatly at the hands of the natives. He added that he had Captured Seven or Eight I of them, and asked Mr. Bradshaiw to take them on bis launch to Palmereton and hand them over to the police. They were taken aboard, and the next night, as the prisoners complained of the pain caused by their fetters, Mr. Bradshaw, after strong opposition from the other white men, had them removed. No watch, apparently, was kept on the lauDch, which is of some 20 tons' burden, and shortly after the incident everyone fell asleep, Dannock and Skeahan on deck for- ward, Bradshaw in the hold, and the fourth man, Eggeroff, and some of the black boys in the engine-rooms, the captives being kept forward. The only survivor of Bradshaw's party, Bobby, a black boy, the chronicler of the disaster, related that late in the night hasaw the black prisoners kill Skeahan and Dan- nock first, and almost simultaneously Eggeroff and the black boys in the engine- room were despatched. Bnadshaw put his head over the hatchway to see what was wrong, and was At Once Tomahawked I A rush wae then made for Bobby, who jumped overboard and swam half a mile to shore, where he hid himself in the man- groves. In the morning he saw the murderers lower the dinghy and in many trips bring everything movable on shore from the anchored launch. Bobby, fearing discovery, then started fdr Bradshaw's head station, which he reached after a twelve days' journey. Police action aft once commenced, and, fears being entertained for the safety of the GoTemment boring party, these were nrgt visited and found to be all well, although, as they had complained to Mr. Bradslhaw, the blacks had proved themselves very trouble- some. Mr. Harvey, „in charge of the boring dent, put anotJher complexion on the story as related by Bobby, for he says that Mr. Bradshaw, being short of labour, prac- tically "sed" five of the natives at Port KeaJts (preaumiaJbly it was they who murdered Bradslhiarw and his party) and stirred up the hostility of the natives in the Port Keate dis- trict not a little. Only three hours after the launch's depar- ture three of the boring party, including Mr. Harvey, were aittaoked by naitives armed witih spears, amd Mr. Harvey, but for a pro- tecting &un helmet, would probably hiave Shared M.T. Briadshaw's fate.

Bigamy and Divorce. WOMEN'S STORIES ABOUT A MAN, Mrs. Winifred Perry yesterday asked for a divorce from Mr. George Frederick S. Perry. The marriage took place in 1896 at Hendon, and there was one child. In 1899 the husband went to Malta, having enlisted. In 1902 he came back, said oounsel, and lived under different names. Finally, he deserted his wife. In May of that year he was convicted for obtaining money under faJse pretences and imprisoned, after which he went through a ceremony of marriage w-ith Margaret M'Carthy. In the course of her evidence, the wife said that after her husband left for Malta he never contributed to [her support. Last Thursday she went to the police- court, where her husband was charged with bigamy. He was in tihe dock. He recognised me, and said, Good-bye, Winnie,' as he left the dock." Margaret Mary Louise M'Carthy told how she met the husband at Claphaan Common four years ago. He gave the name of George Frederick Graham Basil Perry." He followed her to Ireland, and prior to that she went through a form of marriage with him in London, and he then told her his name was "Arthur Jones." He told her a lot about his life. She went through a ceremony of marriage with him in Ireland at a Roman Catholic chapel on April 8, 1904. They lived together in Dublin. The President: Y<m say you went through a form of marriage in London? Witness It was humbug. She added that she came to London with the man, and saw him served with certain papers. She had given a statement before he was captured. A decree nisi, with costs, was granted, with j custody of the child.

The Amorous Corporal It is a very useful thing here to wear a uniform of public authority. A mere private person, a cattle dealer, had reason to doubt the virtue of his sweetheart. He aalnounced that he was leaving Paris for a. week, and when he went to call on her unexpectedly a few hours later, he found her entertaining a corporal of the Republica.n Guard. The cattle dealer having made a few remarks, the corporal did not reply, but having donned his uniform again, went off, and returned with two ordinary constables, who were bound to obey the orders of a non-commis- sioned officer of a military police force. Arrest that man," he said, and they did so. The cattle dealer, having offered resistance, has been summoned for rebellion against an agent of public authority in the exercise of his functions." This was pretty good, but there was more to come. It would, of course, have been contrary to all judicial precedent to disown the police, so the cattle dealer has been sentenced to a fortnight's imprisonment for the said rebellion, being, however, given the benefit of the First Offenders' Act, as he yielded to strong provocation." The bench followed up this display of leniency towards the rebellious cattle deaJcr by reprimanding the corporal and the two constables for having abused their authority." This was considered ample puniBhment for them. The name of the amorous corporal of the Re- publican Guard was withheld, out of con- I sideration for his fair fame.

"TOWN TOPICS" LIBEL SUIT Colonel Mann, the notorious editor of the New York "Town TopicfJ," in the course of the trial of the action brought by Judge Deuel against the editor of "Calliar's Weekly" for criminal libel, yesterday, admitted having borrowed C43,000 from Messrs. James Keene, W. K. VauderbiAt, John Gatcs, Thomas Ryan, Charles Schwab, WLLLiam Whitney, Howard Gould, and Pierpont Morgan, only one of whom he had repaid. Judge Deuel waa Mann's associate in thei production of "Town Topics," a. weekly which primts society gossip and scandal. The suggestion made by "Collier's" was that "Town. Topics" blackmailed tbe leaders of Americ.an society, consenting to avoid dis- onsging them if they were willing to* come to the financial assistance of the editor. Society women are to give evidence, and lively revelations are piramased-

I FBOJjra'S U. 6d. TBA 11. tMpha* to Brpeffti 'J em

"COFFINED ALIVE." A STRANGE INQUEST STORY. Some extraordinary evidence was given last night at an inquest on the body of George Fist, 50, who lived at Aldierminster-street, Bermondsey. The inquiry was held in conse- quenoe of a sister alleging that deceased hod been coffined alive after a doctor's certificate bad been given. Dr. Barton, who was called in, said the deceased had an apoplectic seizure and heart disease. The man was in a dying condition at that time, and witness told the friends to i prepare for the worst. Later he got a. (message to say the man had expired, and, having regard to all the symptoms, felt justified in giving a certificate. The widow said that when Dr. Barton left ahe understood that her husbajid was dead. The dootocr took the pillow from under his head, and told her to go to him at five o'olook for the certificate. Her husband appeared to be in a fit. She was so beside herself with grief that she could not say whether the doctor declared he was dead or not. The Coffin Arrived .1 wnen she was out, bulu her lodger naa me deceased put into it. Mrs. Louisa Hammond, of Blajckfriars-road, tihe sister, said she went to tihe lionise on the fodflowing evening. She saw deceased, and ca/me to tihe conclusion that he was not dead. She thongihrt he was in a fit. His bead was quite warm. Tbe Coroner: J)dd you raalHr think he was in a fit?—Yes, sir. I put my mamd roo-ad his foAD& MTB. Marud Daniels, wtoo accompanied the last witness, said deoeased looked as if he were lying asleep. She could not say if he were alive or dead. Dr. Ingram, who made a.n aartopey, gaid thart, death was due to hemorrhage, which was of sudh an extent thait the man could not hiave lived long. The Coroner iemarked that the mistake Dr. Barton made was in nOlt going to see the corpse before giving the certificate. He couild not blatime the sister (for doing what sihe had done; she came to the conclusion she ddd quite honestly. In returning their verdict of Death from oaturaJ caoses," the jury expressed the opinion that Dr. Barton ought to have viewed the body before giving his cer- tificate.

Lively Restaurant. I PRETTY WAITIiESS DISMISSED FOR A KISS. To express her disapproval of the "frivolity" of Miss Lilian Gough, a pretty waitress, Mrs. Druce, who with her husband keeps a restaurant in the City, stopped the girl's half-holiday; Miss Gough retaliated by refusing to work on the biaf-holiday, and was consequently summarily dismissed. I' In the Southwark County-court yesterday she olaimed one week's wages and a. second I' week's in lieu of notice. She did not, she said, allow a young I gentleman customer to kiss her on the Tuesday before Christmas. Two young gentlemen went into the restaurant and started pulling down the Christmas decora- tions. What was the matter with them she could not say. She went into the room where they were, and one sprang from behind the door and caught hold of her. Just at that moment Mrs. Druce appeared, and accused her of letting them kiets her, which they had not done. Mrs. Druce, said that when she went up- stairs she found the waitress In the Young Man's Arms I and she exclaimed, "Lillie, you know I do not approve of this!" "But had the young man got his arms round her with her consent, or had she got her arms Touxid him?" inquired Judge Addi- son, amid laughter. "I was not sure whether her arms were round him, but he was embracing her, and was in the attitude of kissing. I quite ne- lieve he was kissing her, but he saw me and withdrew." "But what had she to do with that? Per- haps she could not help herself!" "Well, if they were not behaving them- selves she ought not to have gone in the room." "But how was she a party to his misbe- haviour?"—"She had no right to allow him to take such a liberty." "But how do you know she allowed him to? Your customers seem a little flighty, but you must not blame the girl for that. We have had to speak to her on other occasions because she would 'trifle' with the gentlemen customers." Yours must be a very lively restaurant."— ,O",h, I hope not. I should not um it to be." "You have not shown that she allowed this or encouraged it. You should take care what customers you allow into your house if they urebkLmewor-t-hy.I have spoken to them, and refused to allow them in again." "Well," concluded the judge, philosophi- cally, "you know that young men will some- times act in a flippant way, and young women may rather encourage it, because they do not want to make a row." Judgment was for the waitress with costs.

Britisher Arrested I I-NTERVENTION OF EMBASSY OFFICIALS I Mr. Davison, the manager of the Lokaloff Mills, Yaroelav, arrested on suspicion for a poliftical offence, is a native of Belfast. On Saturday & telegram was received by his relatives announcing his arrest. The Foreign Office was oommuni-cated with, and Sir Edward Grey, in a letter received to-day, pro- mises immediate intervention, and states that be has telegraphed to the Embassy at St. Petersburg.

Husband's Petition I WIFE'S ALLEIiED MISCONDUCT i In the Divorce Court yesterday Mr. Harry Oscar Evans sought for the second time a decree of divorce. The petitioner, it was stated, married his wife, Faidioe Matilda. Evans, on September 28, 1887, amd in consequence of her conduct they separated in 1895. The husband obtained a divorce on January 13, 1903, but in the following June the King's Proctor intervened, alleging that the petitioner him- self had been guilty of misconduct, a.nd the decree was rescinded, the petitioner not oon. testing the plea. of the King's Proctor. Since then (Mr. Priestley said) his client had redeemed his conduct, but the same could not be said of the wife, who was resid- ing at present with William Elford. Counsel asked his lordship to exercise his discretion in the petitioner's favour. His Lordship: How can I? The case against him is the same as when the King's Proctor intervened. Mr. Prteetley: If he fails he may go else- where. His Lordship: What do you mean ? Mr. Priestley: There is a. point of law involved, aJthough I admit the oases seem against him. Evidence was given as to the conduct of the respondent. When served with the cita- tion the co-respondent Elford. it was started, played on his concertina and said, "I have been there before." His Lordship reserved judgment, but said he could note hold out any hope to the peti- tioner.

SAVED BY A DOG I I As some children were returning from I school near Carrigalt, Donegal, yesterday, they stopped to play near the summit of a steep cliff. One, a boy a.bout nine, slipped and fell over the edge of the precipice. The cliff slopes for 30ft., and then dips abruptly for considerably over fOft. The child slid down the slope until it reached the almost perpendicular declivity, and was about to tail over, when a dog, hitherto unobserved, grasped the boy by the coat and held him fast uutilresened by elder companions. Irhe dog is a mongrel, and belongs to the boy's father. It had been out to meet the boy amd his sisters.

I Dent b* goUtd by cheap-Jack ftdvta about 18. IlL TO&I

FINDING THE "LADY." THREE CARD TRICK AT CAERPHILLY Merthyr Bookmaker Fined Barnet Jacobs, a swarthy-looking young man, described as a bookmaker, and Henry Price, labourer, were charged on bail at Caerphilly Police-court to-day with playing the three-card trick at Caerphilly. Mr. Harold Lloyd defended Jacobs, and all wit- nesses were ordered out of court. Price did not appear. Police-sergeant Griffiths gave an interest- ing story of the work of the defendants. It WM carried on with the aid of umbrellas the day previous, when a courBing match waa being held. The defendants visited the Caer- philly coursing pitch, and with five other oolleagues commenoed the business by plac- ing the cards on the gampa. The police-ser- geant, with Police-constable Ashman, were in hiding at a house near, and. when the defendants moved their pitch, it was only to approach the spider's web, for they were pounced upon. Price first said he lived at Manchester, but at the police-station stated his address was 9, Gough-atreet, Cardiff. Cards and 18s. 7d. were found on Jacobs. Mr. Harold Lloyd elicited that Jacobs denied that he had been playing directly he- had been arrested. Mr. Lloyd sought to persuade the officer that Jacobs was not playing, but Griffiths felt certain on the point. Police-constable Ashman gave similar testimony, and said that he and Griffiths bad rushed from their hiding place. He, too, was positive Jacobs was playing. What do you mean by 'rushed'? Do you mean a slow walk or a fast run?" queried the advocate. "An ordinary rush," returned the con- stable. Mrs. Mary Hannah Aldersorr also gave evi- dence in favour of the case of the police. The case for the defence was opened by Mr. Lloyd calling upon a. Mr. Newman, who was visiting the coursing match, and he said he was positive that Jacobs was twenty yarfls away from the crowd, and did not have an umbrella. Morgan Lewis also said defendant was twenty yards away from the others, but lie Had an Umbrella Cross-examined by Inspector Davies, witness denied having been the man who signalled the approach of tall men." Mr. Lloyd objected, but the inspector said witness h-ad only just been identified, end re-called Griffiths to prove his contention. Davies, answering the inspector, said he had lived at Caerphilly for three months, but directly after told the bench, amidst laugh- ter, tha.t he had lived at Caerphilly for the past 30 years. He had not worked for the past few months. William Lewis was next called, and said that Jacobs was away from the crowd. By the Inspector: He had not worked for four years. He was never convicted in hi 8 life at Merthyr, although he remembered pay- ing R,2 and costs there. He had been to Jersey With Jacobs, and had his jaw smashed while there. Morgan Davies, Samuel Richards, and tho defendant also gave evidence. Each and all denied that Jacobs played cards. Jacobs added that he had L280 at Lloyds Bank. To this Mr. Lloyd exclaimed: "Don't say that, or they will fine yon more." (Laughter.) Alderman E. Edwards, after a retirement, said they were satisfied that the case was proved, and fined Jacobs EZO and costs, or two months. A warrant was issued against Price. The fine was paid.

Velasquez' "Venus" SAVED TO THE NATION BY ANONYMOUS GENEROSITY The "Standard" announces to-day that. thanks to the generosity of a private person, who has guaranteed the money, the famous Rokeby-Velasquez "Venus with the Mirror" has been purchased for the nation. When, ten days or so ago, the time elapsed during which the picture's owners had promis.ed to give the country the first chanco of it, it was felt that it was lost. Only the minor part of the great sum of money not unjustly required had been guaranteed. To obtain the large remainder Beemed, after many efforts, out of the que;. tion; and the fate of the picture has been for the last few days dependent entirely upon the offers that might be made for it, whether from Berlin, from Paris, or from America. More than one offer in excess of what hftd been asked of the Engilish nation, it is under- stood, was definitely tendered for it. It will prove to be correct, probably, that, instead of the £ 40,000 or L415,000 which was asked of us, £ 50,000 was actually offered by the Louvre, and without avail Up to the day before yes- terday, it is said, bad the Louvre advanced by another £ 5,000, the canvas would have been consigned to France. The ,a,dministratom of the National Art Collections Fund cherish the belief that the public knowledge that the "Venus" is now saved to England will encourage the flow of subscriptions, so that the generously-minded guarantor of the picture will not be required, in the end, to make a gift as vast as the sum for which he has allowed himself to be made responsible. The famous masterpiece was until lately the property of Mr. Morritt, of Rokeby Park, Yorkshire. In November it was exhibited for sale at Messrs. Agnew's galleries in Old Bond-street, a.nd the picture, which fetched only £500 some years ago, was valued at from £40.000 to £ 50,000.

Born in the Water CongratulatioIl8 go to Mr. and Mrs. Kako, of the Paris Zoo. Mrs. Lisa Kako has just presented Mr. Kako with a son and heir. Mother and child are doing very well. The latter is a particularly fine and healthy infant, being as large as a good-sized adult monkey, and weighing nearly ninety pounds. He is already an expert swimmer. It should be added that the Kakoe are a family c f hippopotamuses. Kaka Junior was born in the water, and after the event his mother calmly left him there to fish for himself, going ashore to join Mr. Kako. She never paid the slightest attention to her son, who, however, swam safely to land a few minutes after he came into the world. The offidal.3 of the Zoo say that hippopotamuses of tho gentler sex are excellent wives, but most unnatural mothers, if a hippopotamus can bo called unnatural. The baby has had to be separated from its mother, becauSe Mr. Kako, true to what seems to be the instinct of her species, could not have been- induced to take any notice of her baby boy so lop.3 as its father was by. In fact, sooner or lat-er she would have eaten it up, as she will suffer no third person to come between Mr. Kako and herself. On the other hand, the officials oould not venture to part the Kako couple. They are so devoted to one another that on a recent occasion when an attempt was made to separate them they became furioa. and Mrs. Kako suddenly attacked the keeper, who was bringing her food, and mauled the unfortunate man to death. The baby hippopotamus is being brought up in a c.l,D by himself on the bottle.

BIRTH OF A PRINCESS The following official announoement is made at Esher:— Her Royal Highness Princess Alexander of Teck gave birth to a daughter at 9.25 this morning. The condition of her Royal Highness and the infant Princess is quite satis- factory. R. A. GIBBONS, M.D. REGINALD F. WALKER, M-ILC.S.

A BUNGLED EXECUTION, Tha New Oailedonian mai-I brings details of a sickening scene which occulted last month during the execution on the public square at Noumea of an Algerian oonviot named Kenatra, who had killed and robbed a. released convict named BoiESon. The executioner was so dumsy and nervous that the kThile of the gurllot.ime fell before the oondemned man's head was in position, tho result being that the top of the skull wm severed, leaving the brain exposed. Life was apparently not extinot, for the limbs moved convulsively. The knife was raited again, but before it fell the cord broke, so that a ladder had to be fetched in order to fix a fresh cable to the pulley at the top of the guillotine. It was not un-bil the third attempt that tl? € wretched criminal was j ut out of the world.

TO CORRESPONDENTS W. G. D."—The address is Finsen'a Medical light Institute, Copenhagen. You omitted to stamp your envelope.

Thm's De. TJIU. like PHILLIPS'S. mm