Evening Express

A False Report -I I SEQUEL TO AN EDINBURGH MURDER STORY In Edinburgh on Monday the trial was begun ci four men, named respectively Robert Simpeon, Joseph Ferguson, John Stewart Taylor, and William M'Dougall, on a charge of conspiracy to defraud the Glas- gow Evening Times" and the Glasgow "Evening Citizen." It was stated that in November, 1904, a. woman was murdered at Whiteiooh. Glas- gow, and the police efforts to solve the mystery of her death were unavailing. Last August a. paragraph appeared in the news- papers mentioned stating that Robert Simp, son, newsvendor, had been arrested in ooii- n-ection with the murder, and had admitted his guilt. Sixboequently Simpson, who is a newsagent, brought an action for damages against the proprietors of the "Evening Times" and "Citizen," on the ground that he had been slandered by the publication of these statements. The jury in that case found for defendants. All four prisoners were now charged with having conspired to induce the newspapers to publish falsn and calumnious statements affecting one of their number with the inten- tion later of making fraudulent claims for damages. Accused pleaded "Not guilty." An emplcye at a branoh in Glasgow identi- fied the telegram handed in there signed Hill, Glasgow." It was directed to 28 addresses. and had been thrown on the counter by a boy. The message was a.lready stamped. Evidence having been given as to Simpson's handwriting, Mr. Edwin James Hedderwick, of the Glasgow "Evening Citizen," spoke to the telegram having been received and accepted as gentline, and published in his paper, and to the action raised by Simpson for £5,QOO for alleged slander; also, before the trial to receiving a call from Taylor, who stated that he and a few friends were able to clear the "Citizen" of all conse- quenoes, as, he understood, for money. On 'I the advice of his lawyer, witness declined to I have anything to do with Taylor. Later, witness received another letter from Taylor, implicating others.

GORSEDD AT SWANSEA. I A meeting of the Goraedd Committee of the Swansea National Eisteddfod was held on Monday to make arrangements as to the place of the Gorsedd. It was decided that the Go reed d should be held in Owmdonki n Park on three days, and that the starting point for the procession should be at the library. Nine of the leading bards of Wales are to be invited to conduct the oeremony. The question of welcoming the Breton con- tingent who are coming over was considered, and it was decided that a special letter of invitation should be sent to the Breton repre- sentatives, and the officials and committee were asked to arrange for a reception at the Eisteddfod pavilion on the first day of the Eisteddfod, at six p.m. Mr. A. H. Thomas, J.P., Swansea, and Alderman Edward Thomas (Oochfarf), J.P., Cardiff, will journey to Plymouth to receive the Breton represen- tatives.

A DUKE SUMMONED I The Duke cf Westminster appeared as a defendant at Northwioh PoHoe-oourt yeater- day to answer a summons charging him with driviing a motor-oar at a speed dangerous to the public. Witnesses stated tha-t on the Chester Cup Day the dxrke's oar passed through Kel3all village a.t a speed estimated at between 55 and 40 miles an hour. One witness described the pace as like that of an express train. After the race mooting the duke returned over the same road at a similar speed. His grace gave evidence, and said: he was travelling at not more than fliteen miles an hour. He had had considerable experience in moifcocr-car driving, and never had an aced- <ioo.t. The magistrates* having considered the case in private, dismissed the summons.

Two lads put out from Whitatabte in a ama-ll boat yesterday morning, and, after rowing for a short time, attempted to hoisrt. a saail. Both lads, however, weat to the same side of the boat, and were thtown into the waiter. 000 was rescued, but the alber, Arnold de Bear,, of Nassau-rood, Barnes, was F drawnok

Kubelik, Caprices, and Chidi Khan. "Arma virumquecano. Herr Kubelik was recently cast in £ 80 damages because he thought something had gone wrong with "the spirit of his Stradi- varius," and he, therefore, refused to live up to the terms of his contract to give a public performance on a stated day. It may seem outlandish that the childish vagaries of a mop-headed fiddler should recall the classics and the incal- culable carnage of Troy. As it happens in this instance, however, I, too, sing of arms and a man-the man in the case being one Chidi Khan, from the Kohat side of the Indian frontier, the original and only Simon Pure prototype of the fiddler with a spirit-etricken Strad. And here let us pray that Allah may rest the soul of Chidi Khan; because, though I have heard no news of him for a decade of years, and he was in rude health at date of last advices, I have no doubt whatever but that he was shot in his shoes, or fell a prey to the hangman, long ago. My acquaintance with him was brief but instructive. It taught me how spirits do affect Strads" and things, and it also taught me that circumstances occasionally justify the telling of a lie. It was at Swai Khot, in the Afridi country, where we were helping to rescue, meet, and welcome the laurel-crowned heroes of Dargai—warriors who at that particular juncture of history were running from the scene of their brighter achievements with the anxious celerity of scared hares. I refer to the incident of the defiles leading to the Gandoa Pass, in the memorable march from Bagh. You did not read much about that march from Bagh what time you were going dotty over Mr. Piper Findlater, V.C., in the English music-halls; but I can tell you that it happened, because I was there. Chidi Khan was Thomson's servant—a fine up-standing tribesman he was, too, with toes on him like hams, and a roving eye that you could see never missed a petticoat. Thomson was the Field Post- master, and wore a captain's stars and took a captain's salute. Said Thomson to me one day: — You nwer heaond Chidi Khan play the "rfhabab." Come over to my tent after mess to-night, and we'll make the ruffian play for a while &nd sing for us, for he is i-eadly a wonderful musician for this side of the border. Now, Thomson, by virtue of his office, had a big "E.P." field-tent, made to hold sixteen men. Accordingly thither three of us went after mess that evening to listen Kha-u. Pegs" being duly taken, Chidi Khan aban- doned the role of Ganymede for that of Orpheus, and produced his "rhabab" —his lute. The "rhabab," it may be explained, is a sort of a hybrid between the mandolin and the zither and the guitar. The love songs of the Middle East, the Punjab, Kabul, Bokhara, and Samarkand are ponked out of its un. willing .strings.; _and Jii:ce.was„a^ctuld pf the wild, but amorous, Afridi hills getting ready to ponk us out a true primeval love gong:- Go boldly forth, my simple lay, Whose accents flow with artless ease, Like Orient pea-rls at ra,ndom strung. Chidi Khan squatted on the frozen earth of the tent floor, and hummed and tinkered with the strings. Through the open flap of the door the stars shone, big as eyeballs, against the velvet splendour of the sky. "What ho, Chidi Khan!" said Thomson, "Jeldi karo!" ("Make haste"). Still, Chidi Khan hummed and strummed and tinkered at the queer little box of strings. A great Sikh orderly stalked past, like a shadow. Chidi Khan's fingering ceased. "Shai- tan!" hissed out his oath, likea rocket; and in the infinitesimal fraction, of a jiffy my bold tribesman had flung the instrument out into the night. Like a cat he was after it—like a tiger gone mad-jumping on it in the narrow alley of the Staff lines, tearing -at the shivered pieces, gnawing at them with his gleaming teeth. "Thomson," said I (being a Griffin to the Frontier), "if that hero was a servant of mine I'd larrup his head off, and then I'd give him the sack." You wouldn't," said Thomson, senten- tiously, not, anyhow, if you understood the ways of retainers who come from the other side of Kobat." And he called in Chidi Khan, whose anger by this time seemed appeased, and who duly and apologetically saluted. Tell me, oh Chidi Khan, said Thomson, why you thus lost your temper and de- stroyed your rhabab, when you had cove- nanted to play for the sahibs. "Because, oh Prince," replied Ohidi Khan, in the pleasant language of the Hills, because there was a devil in the instru- ment. You yourself heard it, oh, my father and my mother! It choked the tune in the strings. It smothered the music in the box. It made my eyes see red, so I destroyed it. What otherwise would the highness have me do with a devil that discommoded his high- ness's honoured guests?" "You should not have allowed the sahibs to see your temper melt like snow in a bread oven," reprimanded Thomson. It will now be neoessary for me to punish you, oh Chidi Khan; a.11d I am at a loss how that is to be done." "JLand me over to the provost marshal, then," cheerfully suggested the. retainer. "The sahib, who is my father and my mother, knows that he need only hand over bis slave to the authorities to have him promptly hanged or shot. The will of the saihiib is the will of God." "Alas!" sighed Thomson; "it would incon- venience me to have you hanged or shot just now, Chidi Khan; and well you know it. Therefore, you shall not be handed over to the provost marshal. You shall, however. put your life in the hands of these sahibs, my friends. TeN them why you think that a man may speak falsely, and yet remain unaocurst of Allah." "Of a, truth, huaoor," assented Chidi Khan, "though the police are on every side of me. and the Comrm iaedon or-ssthab looks me in the face across tlhe oourt-rooin bar, still shall I bold that which you call a lie was withal a Shaming virtue, and more fragrant than many truths in the discerning nostrils of Allah." "Be brief," said Thomson. "As sorrow's smile, huzoor. It was this way, oh, saihibs: "WaJi Mahommed looked at a woman of my clan. The details matter not, sahibs; but the quarrel was thereupon mine. And that was four years ago. I swear it, sahibs, that I played the game fair. As the Koran hath it, We never puniah until we have sent an ap-ootle,' and I, Chidi Khan, having a soft heart like a little girl, sent, a messenger to Wali Mahammod to warn him, and for three yeara he hid from me like a burrowing rat. "In the blackness of my despair, Allah sent me hope and a glamorous idea. I went to the house of Yusuf Ali, Malik, who knew us both well, and I said to him;— 11 1 iN-o soul shall labour but for itself, and no one burdened shaH bear anotfher'e burden!' "I have told you the tale of my vengeance against Wali Mahommed, and you have been at paine to soothe over the feud between us. L Chidi Khan, will lift your burden of care. My heart is changed. The spirit of revenge is dead within it. I have found another wexntan who is as fair as the daybreak. "Bid WAU ){.ajbo.mmèd, oome with, thee to my village, and we will take salt together in my house, we three; and the bitterness of the past, and the blood-feud, will all be forgotten, and I can live in peace, h-alang no man-I. Chadi Khan, and my woman, amd the son who is not yet bom, for I know that it which is cotming must be a son! "It is well, oh Chidi Khan," said yUBUf to me, four days from now, an God wills it, myself and WaJi Mahommed shall be at the gate of your village at the eleventh hour of the day; and together we shall take salt, we three.' ""No, sahib, I had no woman, amd I fear I may never have a son if the huzoorl fh?anfdol me over to the provost marshal; Ant I had a house, and my threshold was eighteen paces from the village gate, and almost facing it. From the watch tower, whither I had climbed, I could see my visitors approaching. There was Yusuf Ali, Malik, my friend, and Wali Mahommed, who had fifed before my shadow for three years. I descended from the tower, and lay prone within my own doorway, with my jezail to my shoulder. Yes, sahib; it was loaded with, Taybe, ten pieces of telegraph wire and a few odds and ends like nails. As Wali Mahommed entered the gateway they all melted into his head, and it splattered all over the solid mud wall a.nd defiled the garment and the puggree, and the gold embroidered kulla of Yusuf Ali, Malik. "Yes, oh princes and protectors of the poor, the police are seeking me high and low and far and wide; and mayhap, too, the kinsmen of Wali Mahommed are blood-angry. But who will look for Chidi Khan in the tent of Thomson sahib? Who, I ask, dare think of such effrontery? That, however, is not the issue or the point which grieves my soul and harrows it, a.nd makes me fear that the sahib-who sees all things, a,nd whose justice is as the mirror of Allah's countenance—in this matter judges me wrong. He contends tlhat I should not have lured Wali Mahommed to the gate of my village under the preten-o-c, that I was anxious to forgive him. I say that Wali Mahommed's fate was hung about his neck by Allah, and how could I, Chidi Khan, have accomplished the divine purpose if I had not told Yusuf Ali, MoMk, that mosit. justifiable story of forgiv-encas and the taking of salt, which Thomson sahib, who is my saviour, so singularly persists in calling by the abominable name of a ide?,-

I WAR OFFICE SCANDAL. I Stringent Measures by Lord Methuen We learn that during the last few day, I there has been a violent upheaval at the War Omce. For long past complaints about the leakage of important news have been abundant, and it is said that steps have been attempted to put an end to it, but without avail. Now, however, Lord Methuen has i taken a serious view of the case, and has ordered a searching inquiry. The remarkable feature of the affair is that matters of extreme national importance do not appear to have had any effect in bringing about the present upheaval. Some of the leakages that have taken place are of rather a sensational character. It is said that in one case an Army order was shown to the correspondent of one of the lead- ing provincial newspapers long before it was promulgated, and the same correspon- dent was shown a map of certain new arrangements nearly four months before they became public property. London cor- respondents of Continental papers boast of greater things than that even, and they give chapter and verse in support of their boast- ing. They have boasted that secret docu- ments from the War Office were in their possession. These documents were said to have been taken from the War Office in the evening, scanned during the night, extracts made, and then returned in the morning. But these important matters have not led to the present trouble. Very much smaller com- plaints were made, and upon them followed the rumpus.

MflTILATED IN CRANK-PIT Shocking Inquest Story An inquest was held at Milford Haven on Monday on Frank Klimit, art Austrian, chief engineer on the steam trawler Weymouth. While fishing off the Blaskets on Saturday the second engineer found his chief's body mangled in the crank-pit at the bottom of the engine. The ship was stopped at once and the body got out. Deceased had been worrying about a girl, and he left three letters, two written in Austrian. Across one he wrote a note to Mrs. Da vies, his landlady, to send to his father. The skipper said he found the deceaeed's boots standing upright near the engine, and the man seemed to have jumped in. The jury found a verdict that death resulted from injuries in the engine-room, but-1 that'ther^ was. no evidence how the man got there.

TEACHERS AND AMBULANCE WORK I During the past winter ambulance classes in oonection with the St. John Ambulance Association were formed by the Cardiff Teaohers' Association, and conducted by Dr. R. Cameron. On Monday evening fourteen certificates were presented to the successful maJe candidates in the Pupil Teachers' Centre, Howard-gardens, by Councillor Dr. Bobinson, in the absence of Mr. Lewis Mor- gall., the chairman of the education com- mittee.—Mr. Pepl<yw said that the examiner (Dr. Hamilton) had stated that the pupils had answered in an unusually pleasing manner. Mr. Herbert Lewis, the local hon. secretary of the St. John Ambulance Association, said that the Oardiff Centre embraced the whole of Glamorgan as far west as Bridgend, and they proposed getting a motor-ambulance, which would be at the disposal of all the works, shops, and factories in the district. The cost would be bet ween £700 and JE800, towards which he had received generous sub- scriptions from nearly all the works in the district, and the Marquess of Bute, Sir W. T. Lewis, Lord Tredegar, the Bishop of Llandaff, Mr. Godfrey Clark, and others.

ROWDY BRAWLING AT ST. LEONARD'S I A meeting was held at St. Leonard's on Monday in connection with the College of the Resurrection at Mirfield, and was attended by a detachment of the Wickclitre preachers. The Rev. Fat-her Healy, after speaking on the work of the college, invited questions. Several were put, but many of them were ruled out of order by the chair- man, who was thereupon loudly charged with bias. The proceedings then became very noisy, and the police had to interfere. Several persons were ejected, and the Wick- liffe preachers were arrested and taken to the police-station under escort, followed by an excited crowd. They were subsequently released, though threatened with summonses.

PHILANTHROPIST GOES BANKRUPT In the Perth Bankruptcy-court on Monday H. Coates, manufacturer, of Pitonllen House, Perth, a prominent member of the Radical party in Perthshire and a well-known philanthropic and charitable worker, was examined in bankruptcy. The aseets were stated a.t EZ,963 and the liabilities at £ 70,427, showing a deficiency of £ 66,464. In the course of the examination Mr. Coates stated that his income was about XI,840, while his annual expenditure had been £ 3,915. His money losses for the last five years amounted to £ 70,815. The examination was adjourned.

SALVAGE AWARD FOR CARDIFF TRAWLER In the Admiralty Court on Monday Mr. Justice Bargrave Beane awarded £ 500 in respect of salvage services rendered by the steam trawler Penguin to the German steam- ship Ida Zsohimmcr in December last. While on a voyage from Cardiff to Palma laden with a cargo of patent fuel the German vessel broke her rudder shaft. She came to anchor off the Lomgships, and was subse- quently assisted by the Pemguin into Fad- mouth.

SOUTH WALES ENGINEERS I Members of the South Wales Institute of Engineers are at present excursionising in Devon a-cd Cornwall, combining busineee with pleasure. The party, numbering about sixty, arrived at Plymouth on Monday evening, and stayed at the Duke of Cornwall and the Gra;nd Hotels until this (Tuesday) morning, when they will go to Tavistock. They will inspect Devonport Dockyard, and afterwards visit Penzance and Land's End.

CARDIFF CONSUL TO BE MINISTER M. Truy, French Consul at Cardiff, has been, appointed Minister-Resident at La Paz. He will be succeeded by M. Neltner, French Consul at Tifiis.—Renter.

THIS MAN STATES- Mr. W. F. Warren, 36, Melbourne-road, Tilbury Dock, Essex, writes: "I can assure you the fix-at box I took did me more good than all the medicine I have -iad from my club doctors for six weeks." Holdroyd's Pills are a poeitive cure for Backache, Lumbago, Rheumatism, Dropsy, Wind, Kidney Disease, Gout, Ac., is. ldid., all chemists; poet free. 12 stamps.—Holdroyd's Medical Hall, Cleek. Ueaton. Yorkshire.

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Orange River Colony. TEXT OF CONSTITUTION PUBLISHED The Letters Patent gramting a Constitution to the Orange River Colony were issued on Monday night as a White Paper. The new Constitution provides for a Legis- lative Council and a Legislative Assembly of eleven and 38 members respectively, the former being-at the outset, anyhow an appointive body, the latter elective. The Letters Patent also constitute the office of Governor, and instructions to the Governor are embodied in aai appendix. The text of the Constitution is preluded in the paper by a series of telegrams from Lord Elgin to Lord Selborne, advising him of the intention of the Home Government in respect of giving the Colony a Constitution following in its substantial features that already given to the Transvaal. The Legislative Council will consist, as stated, of eleven members. These will be, at the outset, nominated by the Governor, but, on the expiration of the first four years, the Council may pass a law providing for the substitution of an Elective Chamber instead of run appointive one. The Legislative Assembly is to consist of 38 e-lected members. Of this number the town of Bloemfontein will return five, and the I districts of Bloemfontein, Kroonstad, Roux- ville, and Winbarg two eaoh. The remaining districts and towns represented will be entitled to only one member each. Twenty-one years is set as the voting age, and 30 years the minimum age allowed for members of the Council. Every white male British subject who has resided in the Colony for six months or over shall be entitled t& be registered as a voter for the purpose of the first elections, and any person thus qualified is also eligible for election to the Assemtbiy. ) No member of the Imperial Garrison will be entitled to the vote. The debates in both Chambers will be oonduoCltied in Dutch or English, and copies of the votes and proceedings will be printed in both languages; but the Journals and Minutes will be recorded in English. Fiach member of the Legislature will receive £ 1:>0 a. year, as well as LZ for every day in attendance, but the total sum paid to any member is not to exceed .£300 a year. Every law must have the assent of the Governor, who must reserve any law inflict- ing on persons not of European birth dis- abilities to which persons of European birth or descent are not liable, and also any law repealing or altering amy provision of any Letters Patent or Orders in Council dealing with the Colony. In the case of any difference between the two Houses, the Governor may convene a joint sitting of both Houses; or, if both Houses are at the time elective, he may dissolve the Legislature. If the difference remains after the new elections, the two Houses eft and vote wgtther on the proposed law. The Governor may at any time summon an assembly of native chiefs, with, if it is deemed expedient, other persons having special knowledge of native affairs, to discuss any question concerning the natives. All money bills must originate in the Legislative Assembly. The Legislative Council may accept or reject such Bills, but may not alter them. Message from the King In a dispatoh to Lord Selborne Lord Elgin says: "I am commanded by his Majesty to express his confidence that the inhabitants of the Orange River Colony will continue to enjoy in an increasing measure under the new Constitution the prosperity ajid content- ment whMh have distinguished their countryl, in the past. I have to add, on behalf of his Majesty's Government, am expression of their sincere satisfaction at the consummation of the policy announced in his Majesty's Speech from the Throne on the 19th February, 1906, in accordance with which free institutions have now been bestowed upon the Orange River Colony in no less ample manner than upon the sister Colony of the Transvaal."

I GUARDIANS & NEW OFFICESI A meeting of the general purposes com- mittee of the Cardiff Guardians was held at the workhouse on Monday to consider one or two important matters. The committee decided to recommend the board not to accept the offer of the city council for offices in Cathays Park, as they did not consider the accommodation suitable. It was under- stood that the subject of new offices would come up again. The guardians have had in view for some time the dividing of the town into districts, and appointing medical officers who will devote their whole time to the work of the office. A sub-committee, consisting of twelve members of the board, was appointed to go fully into the matter.

.ENORMOUS CLAIM. Mr. Justice Channell, in the King's Bench I Division on Monday, had before him an action by Madame Conception Benitez de Bestigni, a Spanish widow lady living in Paris, against Frank laicroix Gardner, described as a London company promoter, to recover j £ 827,010. Sir Edward Carson led for the plain- tiff and Mr. Rufus Isaacs for the defendant. Sir Edward Carson stated tha.t plaintiff alleged conspiracy between her secretary, Mr. Soberano, and the defendant to procure money from her on the pretext that it was to be invested at Gardner's discretion, and the profits divided between the plaintiff a.nd Gardner. Plaintiff sa?d that altogether the defendant had received £ 983,758 on her beh?lt, for which she had received absolutely noth- ing. i Mr. Isaacs, intervening, said the defendant was not in court, and could not be called as a witness. H, therefore, consented to judg- ment for the amount claimed with costs. Judgment accordingly.

MYSTERY OF MISSING MAN Th o remarkable allegations of embezzlement and forgery, said to involve £ 20,000, in oonnec- tion with the Bradford Conditioning House, were mentioned in the local police-court yes- terday. Waiter T'ownend, late manager of the Brad- ford Conditioning Hmwe., who is serving a. term of imprison meat at Arrnky for minor offences in connection with the affair, was charged with forgery, conspiracy to defraud, and embezzlement. "Where io Reiche?" asked' the magistrate yæte-rday. Mr. Lowemthal (who prosecuted): That I hope .t some fu,t,ure time to show. I am proceeding now to indict one of the parties to tho conspiracy, who is not absolved by death or otherwise. The case wa^ adjourned.

BOOKIE'S PROOF OF HONESTY I During the hearing at Stratford of a charge for betting in the streets, it was stated tha.t there were twelve previous con- victions against the accused. The Bookmaker: That shows I have car- ried on my business in an honest manner. The Magistrate: I yhould not have thought ,ra,m,e with so niany it would prove a paying game with so many fines. You will be fined X10 this time. The Bookmaker: Can I have my slips to pay out?—No; those people have sinned, and they deserve punishment.

ITHE WIDOW AT THE-WHEELI The heaiung concluded in London on Mon- day of the case in which William James Burnham, chauffeur, sued Lady Tennant, widow of the late Sir Charles Tennant, for damages for personal inj uries. The plaintiff alleged that while defendant was driving her motor-car (plaintiff sitting behind) she took her hamd off the steering wheel, and the acci-! dent ensued. The defence was that a burst tyre or defective wheel caused the accident, and Lady Tennant denied letting go jthe wheel.—The jury disagreed, and were die- charged.

A LINK WITH SCOTT The death has taken Place at Edinburgh of Mr. George Croal, who was present a.t the famous Theatrical Fund Dinner in 1827, when Sir Walter Scott avowed himself to be the sole author of Waver ley." Two years lruter Mil". Croal was at Abbotsford, and at Sir Walter's request played a number of Scottish airs on tCie pianoforte. Mr. Croalj was in his 97th year. ■

ADVICE TO MOTHERS."—Are you broken in your rest by a sick child aullering with the pain by cutting teeth? 00 at once to a chemist and get a bottle of Mrs. Wlnblc-w s Soothing Syrup. It will relieve the poor sufferer mnw&"y. It is pleaND\ to ta" It producee nature, Quiet sleep by reUeYiDC the chim E? sod the UUle ehe?b awabe as briot m irczn pain, 01 all chomtaty l*. W. tCt boM? t?

Bill Sikes in Real Life. » BURGLAR'S DRAMATIC STORY TOO alleged rnstigaitor of the Wertheimer art, robbery, Edward John Morris, described as a picture dealer of Studley-road, Clap- ham, was further charged at Marlborough- street yesterday with receiving the two stolen pictures, a Gainsborough and a Reynolds, and two snuff-boxes, valued at £ 14,000. He was also charged with receiving in. October last five bronze figures and two Japanese daggers, valued at £ 220, the property of Mr. Charles Hoghton, of 13, Hyde Park-terrace. Morris was arrested owing to a statement made by the actual burglar, John Smith or Felix Rodoni, after the latoer was eemtenced i for the Wertheimer robbery. Selling "the Swag" Mr. Letts, at art dealer, said he had known Morris nineteen years. On October 16 last the prisoner brought him three bronzes, three snuff-boxes, and one watch (produced), and sold the lot for.140. The next day the wit- ness saw a newspaper report of a robbery, 1 and, as it struck him that the goods might have been stolen, he communicated with the police. Mr. Marks, another art dealer, of New Bond-street, said th-a-t on October 10 last the prisoner came to his shop wit-h five small bronze figures, which he said were given him to sell. Morris priced the figures at XZO plus L5, which he wanted for himself. At this price the witness bought the figures, but handed them over to the police on learning that they were stolen. He tried to get the 125 back from Morris, but failed. Mr. Gerald Hbghton, a stockbroker, 13, Hyde Park-terrace, identified the articles men- tioned by the previous witnesses. Two other articles had been handed to him by the police, and seven had not yet been recovered. John William Smedley, a pawnbroker's assistant, of Oranbourne-street, said that on October 9 a. bronze was pledged with them for 15s. by the prisoner. This was redeemed a week later. Rodoni then gave evidence. He was in ordinary dress, and, attended by two war- ders, gave his name as Felix Rodoni. He said that he first knew Morris five years ago, when he was employed as a waiter in a little restaurant in Whitcombe-street. He lost sight of Morris till last September, when they met in Leicester-square. Morris said that the witness seemed to be rather low down, and the witness told him it was diffi- cult for him to get work, because he had been oonvioted of forgery. Morris said; "I suppose you would not get even am honest living." He said that he could put the wit- ness in the way of earning a few ehillingB, and gave him his address in Studley-road. "I went to his address that evening," con- tinued Rodoni. He said he knew a place where there were some bronzes. If I went and fetched them for him he would be able to sell them, as they were exactly in his line of business. I told him I did not like to do it, as I h-ad gome on straight so far, and I had a wife and children at home. Next day, however, Morris gave me the name and address—' 13, Hyde Park-terrace, Hoghton." He I said that it was as easy as anything, and tha.t I could go round the g?rd?m, Push the Window Open, and walk straight into the library, -(" the bronzes would be found on the ehelf. ftVll> weeks later Morris told me he had just fo?md out thiat the people at Hyde Park Terrace were all out. Iwen-t too the house that nig-ht, and 'broke the glass and got to the catch of the window. I had a penknife with me, with two broken blad,-s-the same as that produced—but left it behind me in the ho*e. I took the bronzes and other things--Jap anebo, swords and a watcth.—wrapped them together, land walked out of the (house by the front door. Rodoni added that he went to Morris's house, arriving thorebefore seven. They went about all day together, the wiltness standing outside various places while Morns showed the things, but Morris did not get rid of amytihang. Rodoni said he wanted money, and Morris pawned one of the things for 15s. and gave him los.. Some days afterwards Rodoni sent his wife to Moris's house, and she returned with JE20 in gold. One Sunday, oiddcd Rodoni, Morris told him the police had found out some of the things, all through the Japanese swords. He had sent tihem. to a shop in Shalfrteslbllry Avenue by a man named Cha-riie Hopegood. He had sold some of the bronzes in a Bond-street shop. The case was adjourned.

INVALIDS' SALOONS I Fitted with Bed, Couch, & Easy Chairs Two eajoons, specially built for the con veyance of invalids from their homes to any other part of the country, have just been completed by the London and North-Western Railway Company. The invalid compartment is fitted with an ornamental gold-lacquered brass bedstead, with a box mattress and a hair mattress on top. At the foot of the bedstead are two easy chairs, and the cotioh is of good dimensiODs, I to enable an invalid to recline on it when desired. On each side of the saloon, at one end of the inva/lad compartment, double folding- doors are provided, wide enough to lift a bath oha.ir through without disturbing the occupant. The chair can be taken with ease up to the side of the bed and couch, and an invalid transferred into either. At the head of the bed curtains are bang from a brass curtain rod to screen the bed from any draught from that end of bhe cam- partment. The floor (adds the "Itmilway News") is covered with a thick Wilton pile carpet laid on thick grey felt, which also serves to deaden the sound and vibration, thus making I the compartment very quiet and still whilst running.

"NOT WORTH A TEAR" A strange letter was left by Hannah Sim- monds, wife of a Greenwich gasworks stoker, who committed snticide. She wrote: I am sorry to do this, but I cannot live in such shame. Don't let that dirty dog come into my house, but punoh hds head. Bury me as soon as you can. Take me to Brookley Cemetery if you can. Cheer my poor little children up. Don't be harsh with them. Don't you fret for me, for I am not worth a tear, although I am shed- ding many a one while I am writing this. Death was due to apoplexy, accelerated by drinking liniment, and at the inquest yester- day the jury returned a verdict accordingly.

I HORSE'S REMARKABLE SWIM A telegram from Kildysart, Ireland, tells of a remarkable swim by an eight-year-old horse. A farmer who lives on a small island in the estuary of the Shannon took the animal by boat in the mainland, and after working it aU day turned it looee with a number of other horses. The next morning he was astonished to see it grazing near its stable. It was wet, and there is not the slightest doubt that the horse had swann from the I mainland to the island, a distance of little I lees than three miles.

TIGHT BOOT CAUSES DEATH A somewhat unusual cause of death was referred to befoae. tihe Manchester deputy- coroner yesterday at an inquest on James Plant, 65 years of age, of Garibakii-street, Oponshaw. Through wearing a tight (boot Plant had had a blister, and gangrene set in. The only chance of saving the man's life was to take his foot off, and the operation was per- formed, but too late. Verdict: "Accidental death."

I MISSIONARY ATTACKED I News has -been received in Devonshire of an outrage in China upon the Rev. S. Pol- lard, a Bible Christian missionary, who is well-known in the West. Mr. Pollard was attacked by ruffians and severely thrashed. The mandiarin of Ghao- tong gent a doctor and twenty soldiers, who found the victim lying on his face, unable to turn. He was brought away on a stretcher, No bones were broken, brut his body is a mass of bmisas. ———————————

COLEFORD DOCTOR'S ESCAPE Dr. Rowland Payne, of Goleford, was driving hds motor down St. John-str^i, Oole- ford, yesterday afternoon, when it skidded, a.nd, mounting the pavement, dashed into the dhop window of Mr. George Horwood, baker and confectioner. The whole body of the window was removed some 2in., by the im- pact, and the front door was aleo damaged. Fortunately, the doctor escaped without any injury, and tihe oar was only slightly damaged.

JAPS AND U.S. MINISTRY It was declared in semi-official circles at Washington last night, in spite of the Japa- nese denials, that the Japanese on the Pacifio coast are raising thousands of dollars to oanry out their compact with the Progres- ainaa tn oicgtimmr the Minister.

Miners' Eight Hours. DISTINCT PROMISE BY THE PREMIER The annma demonstration of the Nbrtb Staffordshire miners, held at Hanley on Monday, was attended by 11,000 men. RewLu- tions rojoiomg at the omtinu?ed suooess (d the Federation, urging the Government to press forward improved legislation for the safety of the miners of the country, favouring an old-age pension scheme, and empowering the executive of the North StaSordsJi re Federation to take all necessary steps to enforce measures to bring non-Unionists into the Federation, were carried with enthusiasm. In the course of an address Mr. Enooh Edwards, M.P., who presided, said that last week he and Mr. Walsh interviewed Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman in the presence of the Home Secretary, and received an assurance that if the Miners' Eight Hours Bill could not be carried through this year, it should be one of the first orders next year. Mr. S. Wailsh, M.P., who had charge of the Eight Hours Bill in the House of Commons, said they had had a distinct pledge from the Pri. Minister that if the Bill was not carried this session, the Government would carry it next session.

MERTHYR AND THE COUNTY At a meeting of the Glamorgan Standing Joint Committee at Oardiff on Monday the clerk road a letter from the Merthyr Cor- poration giving notice to determine the police agreement entered into between the county council and the Merthyr Tydfil District Council. The Clerk added that there was a provision in that agreement that a new document should be prepared and signed if Merthyr beoa.me a borough. Such an agreementt had been drafted and approved by the Secretary of State, but the Merthyr Corporation refused to sign it. The Home Secretary was opposed to the separation of the Merthyr police from the county force. The Chairman (Mr. O. H. Jones) moved that the council be recommended to take proceed- ings against the Merthyr Corporation for the specific performance of the agreement unless it were signed in one month. Mr. Blandy Jenkins seconded. Mr. Daniel Jones (Merthyr) and Mr. Prosser moved that the matter be deferred for three months, but this was lost, and the original motion was carried. It was also resolved to ta.ke proceedings to recover from Merthyr arrears which are now due in respect of the maintenance of the police unless the amount is paid in a month.

I PLIGHT OF MR. FLEMING Among the passengers who sailed for New York from Queenstown by the Cunard liner Etruiria on Monday were two of the parties in the sensational caee heard at the Kilkenny Spring Assises. The case in question was a drama of love and jealousy. Two men, uamed Fleming and Stannard, were both suitors for the hand of a. Miss Ryan- Fleming, who is a civil engi- neer, was attacked by Stannard in the ladY'3 presence, and after being handcuffed was stabbed in 27 places and thrown into a pit. He, however, survived, and brought his assailant to juetioe, Stannard being sentenced to one year's imprisonment. Mr. Fleming and Miss Ryan are now second- class paeeemgers by the Etruria for New York; but the strange feature of the case is that whereas when they were interviewed on Mon- day, previous to sailing, Mise Ryan declared that they were to be married in America, Mr. Fleming denied the statement, and alleged that Miss Ryan ia driving me mad." The puzzle wiH prob&My not be solved ut,l t7h. liner reaches the other &ide of the Atlantic.

I BOOKS WORTH £105. A meeting of the Merthyr Free Libraries Committee was held on Monday, Mr. Andrew Wilson presiding.—A letter was read from Mr. D. A. Thomas, M.P., enclosing a. cheque for 100 guineas to lay out in books for the Dowlais Free Library, which the hon. mem- ber opened on the day upon which the cor- poration conferred upon him the freedom of the borough. With regard to the library to be erected on the site acquired on the old showground at Treharris, the Chairman explained that they had accepted a. design for a building to cost £ 1,750—the amount given by Mr. Car- negie. The lowest of the tenders sent in, however, was ocmsidierably in excess of this sum, because of the heavy expense involved in making tihe necessary foundations, the design covering the superstructure onlY.-It was resolved to send a full explanation, to Mr. Carnegie with a view to trying to induce Kim to increase hds contribution.

MAIL STEAMER ASHORE. I At the annual meeting of the Pacific Steam Navigation Company in Liverpool on Mon- day the Chairman (Mr. A. W. Bibby) announced that a. cable had just been received stating that the company's steamer Ortega, was ashore near Sandy Hook. As the ground was sandy, there was no immediate cauae for alarm, and they were hoping to receive news shortly that the ship had been re-floated. Continuing, the chairman said that four new steamers had been ordered, and would be delivered during the latter half of this year. These ships were intended to inaugurate a special service for goods and passengers to Peruvian ports. A Straits mail steamer was also being laid down, and would be ready in about fifteen months. The gross receipts were JEl.649,000, as against £ 1,458,000 in the previous year.

I KILLED HIS FATHER. I John Peters, aged seventeen, was charged at the Cornwall Assizes on Monday with the murder of his father at Illogan. The grand jury reduced the aharge to one of >mansianigh<ter. The evidence showed that the father was a lazy, worthless man, who was often cruel to his wife and children. On the evening of the trag-edy the prisoner, on returning from work, was told that his father had again been beating hds mother. He thereupon hit him on the head with a hammer, the father subsequently dying from the effects of the blow. Prisoner, it was stated, had been a most devoted eon, and largely maintained the family. A semtence of three years' penal servitude was passed.

MAD MOTHER'S TRAGEDY. A coroner's jury at Four Ashes, near Wol- verhampton, on Monday inquired into the canal tragedy of Sunday, when Emily Bailey, a married woman, threw her little daughter, Violet, into the water and jumped after her, both being drowned. A verdict of Murder and suicide during tem- porary insanity was returned. Deceased, it was stated, tried to throw her elder daughter after her daughter Violet, but she ran away screaming to tell her father, who recovered the bodies.

FOUND WITH THROAT CUT About one o'clock on Monday Mr. A. H. Preece, a retired licensed victualler, living at Ayrshire Villas, Monmouth, was found with his throat cut. His sister and the house- keeper heard bim call from hie bedroom, and prooeeding there they found him dead. Deceased lost his wife last Christmas, since when he had been despondent. He was a prominent Freemason, and retired from busi- new two years ago. He leaves two eons.

VIOLENT EARTHQUAKE I A violent earthquake of considerable dura- tion was experienced at Guayaquil (South America) at half-past five yesterday after- noon. It created a panic among the population. The disturbance is attributed to the activity of Cotopaxi, which is vomiting quantities of stones, accompanied by loud detonations.

I FIVE-DAY WEEK REJECTED I A ballot as to whether the employes at Woolwioh Arsenal shall continue working on a five-day week was taken on Monday, with the result that the plan of working on short time was rejected by a large majority. In some workshops the vote was unanimous. The men prefer to be discharged rather than that their comrades shall make further sacrifices.

BARRY MISTRESS RESIGNS. I Mrs. A. M. Jonko, headmistress of Romilly- road Girls' Sohool, Barry, has resigned, after I eighteen yeaxsl service.

CLARKKS BLOOD MIXTURE This famous Medicine will rlaanse the blood from all Impuri- ties fiom whatever cause arising. A safe remedy for Eczema, Bad Legs, Scrofula, Blood Poison, sores of all kinds, Bolls, Erup- tions, Ulcers, Glandular Swel- lings, Ac. Of all stores, to Forty yeaR" focaoaa. Sewvrc At Iwllidiaaft

Middy Could Not Swim I EXCITING RESCUE AT CARDIFF I An exciting incident occurred near Fitz- hamon-eaBtejifcroenit, Oardiff, last evening. A young middy" was sending his dog into the River Taff for a swim, when, thinking the dog was unable to get out again, he got close to the river bank and endeavoured to pull the dog out. His foot, however, slipped and he fell into the water. As he was unable to swim, a young navy man in uniform, who was with him, plunged into the water and I brought h4m ashore in an exihausted condi- tion.

I Schooner Wrecked. I I 28 PASSENGERS DROWNED. I The French schooner La Jalouse, from I Cayenne to St. Lucia., was swamped on Friday night off Barbados. Twenty-one per- sons reached land on Sunday. Twenty-eight passengers, including twelve women and children, were drowned.-Iteuter.

GELLIGAER REVELATIONS I MR. D. LEWIS EXPLAINS I To the Editor of the "Evening Express." Sir,—In the report of the investigation com- mittee appointed by the Gelligaer Parish Council it is stated that I received from the assistant overseer tihe sum of fM in 1905, and a like sum in 1906, to defray my expenges incurred whilst acting as a member of depu- tations to London on parish council business. Please allow me to most emphatically deny this statement. The sums paid to me for acting in the above-mentioned capacity were precisely the same as the sums paid to the other members of deputations, viz., one-half the above-mentioned sums, neither more nor letss.-I am. Ac., DAVID LEWIS. Bargoed. District Councillor's Guinea District Councillor Hammond, who was an outspoken member of the old parish council, writes us as follows:- Sir,—In the investigation it has been found that I received one guinea for attend- ing an inquiry, and I think that, in fairness to myself and the ratepayers I represent, it should be known how the guinea was spent. First of all, I had to go to Merthyr to give my evidence to Mr. F. T. James, the council's solicitor, and then I had to go to Hengoed to the inquiry. This meant two days' loss of work (14,3.) and train fares to both places— Merthyr and Hengoed."

TATTOOED BY LIGHTNING I Evidence concerning the strange effect of liigbltning on the human body was given last evening at the inquest held at Goring, near Worthing, on the two young labourers, Sidney Char-lea Orchard a.nd Frederick Bennett Wadey, who were struck dead by lightiiiing on Sundiay afternoon. Da*. J. S. Crook stated that, whereas in Wadey'i? case the bulk of the fluid would seem to have gone down his right leg, in orcha,rd,A ease it was the left leg only that was injured. The boot on Orchard's right leg was perfectly sofand, but that was the only boot out of the four that was not injured. The clothing of both men was torn to pieces, the waistcoats and shirts being in taitters and smelling very strongly like burnt gunpowder. Thare was a general blnenesa and conges- tion. of the skin over both bodies. It waa like very delicate, finely-divided seaweed, and it was not unlike a, delicate fern. It reminded Mm more than anyithing else of the frost th-at orystaLMeed on window-panes. The jury returned a verdict of "Death from misadventure.

..NEWPORT CHILD'S DEATH. An inquest was held at Newport on Monday, concern in g the death of William Beynon, the seven weeks' old son of Timothy Beynon, labourer, AIltyryn Cottage, Newport, who died on Friday. The mother said she fed the child on Quaker Oats and arrowroot. Deceased, who had been weak from birth, was in his usual health on Thursday evening, but was found dead early on Friday morning. All her children kicked and jumped in their sleep, and had for some time after birth been sub- ject to fits. Superintendent Brooks, the coroner's officer, and Mr. Capper, foreman of the jury, said they saw two other children in the house, and they were "pictures." There were no cleaner children in Newport. Elizabeth Smith, a midwife, who attended Mrs. Benyon, said she did not think Quaker Oats were proper food for young children. Death might have been due to a convulsive fit. A verdict of death from natural causes was returned.

MANY MISFORTUNES I A remarkable story of a chase after a swindler was told by a street musician who was charged at South Norwood yesterday with jumping on a train in motion at Penge Station. The defendant said he was playing outside a. hotel, wljen a man said to him, "Give me tenpenoe and I will give you a, shilling." Be parted, he said, with his ten pence, but after- wards found that be had received a foreign coin in exchange. He ran after the man, and attempted to follow him into a train, but fell. He lost his tenpenoe, had his instrument smashed, his head and leg were bruised, and 'he had a piece taken out of his side. The Magistrate fined him 5s., with 8b. costs.

MILFORD SEAMAN KILLED I Mr. Roberts, deputy-coroner, held an inquest at Milford Haven on Monday on Albert Antwiss, aged 20, deck-hand on the steam trawler Gloxinia. When fishing off the Smalls the gear got entangled as the winch was bringing it in, the deceased guiding the wa-rp, ztnd when the ship gave a. sudden lurch a part of the machinery feU, I striking Antwiss to the deck. He died the same evening. Deceased, with his father, was well known at Bairry and at Cardiff. A verdict of "Accidental dea.th was given.

A TINKLING SYMBOL A well-dressed woman, leading a little child, asked the magistrate at the South- western Court, London, yesterday, if her marriage was legal, as the wedding ring was of brass. Mr. Garrett: You can marry just as well with a brass ring as with a gold one. Applioant: But it wasn't paid for. Mr. Garretit: That does not matter. You are married, and it cannot be undone.

THE WRIGHT AEROPLANE I The Pa-ris Echo" to-day states, under reserve, that the Wright Brothers' aeroplane has been purchased by a French company, who will pay a million francs for the right of mailing aeroplanes on that system immediately tihe investors have proved its vallIe before witnesses. It is stated that the Ministers of War and Marine ha.ve pro- mised to purchase twelve aeroplanes from the company.

END OF A BIG DRUNK. I At Oon&ett on Monday Stephen Briggs, a miner, was remanded, charged with wilfully murdering his wife at Mounteett, near Dipton. It was stated that the parties had been drinking all Saturday and quarrelled at night. The accused was alleged to have; struck hiB wife, who fell on a cemented floor, causing injuries to her head which termin-ated fatally on Sunday.

THE BEST NERVE CURE For tired nerves, for ab"uto ræt ?fter a Jorng strain of work in which every faoulty has been constantly at full tension, there is no holiday like a &a trip; and when you can. live on the aea. a/nd a.t the same time call at many places of interest, getting health and wider knowledge at the same time, you approaah near to perfection.—"The Nursing Times."

NEW USE FOR THE COLISEUM The London Colieeucn will be re-opened shortly with a Colonial Exhibition, under the direction of the Agcat-Geaneral for New South Wales.

> DBY CLKAWENO— l, Kinor-Mreeta, Cfttfcara. aims

A Slow Moving Man. I Farmer Who Does Not Want the Burden of a Wife i I BOY AND GIRL COURTSHIP 1 I A partihetio story was told at Norwich Afmzes (before Mr. Justice Phillimore) in the hearing of a breach of promise case, the plaintiff being Miss Roea Lydia Chapman, an attractive-looking schoolmistress, aged 30, of Hereford St. Faith's, and the defendant being Alfred Laws, farmer, of the same parish. Mr. Ernest Wild said the parties were sobooiL ahildren together, and commenced courtship on leaving school. The plaintiff became a teacher, and spent her holidays at home, and wrote the defendant letters signed "Your loving Rosa." He usually met her with has horse and trap. The defendant, how- ever, never wrote a letter, and there ap- peared, said counsel, to be some method in his reticence. Moreover, he destroyed all her love-letters after receiving them. He was her recognised sweetheart, and gave her presents -a, gold bangle and brooch. In 1903 the I Question of Marriage I was discussed, the defendant saying that be was willing, but tibat his mother was the difficulty, and also that he had no house. On the birth of a child the defendant gave the plaintiff JE20 She obtained another school situation, and broke off communica- tions. However, ehestill seemed to believe in him, and during her holidays their walks were resumed, and the defendant again promised marriage. Subsequently she was compelled to give up her situation and return home. The defendant put off tb<e marriage question, and afterwards promised to get a epeclia.1 licence, but he never fulfilled it. When she wrote him he did not reply, and then another child waa born. In the witness-box, the plaintiff said she was very fond of the defendant still, though she had suffered greatly through his con- duct. She was so Thpeet that she had threatened to take poison. When pressed to* fulfil his promise the defendant never I Absolutely Refused, but put it off. The plaintiff's father stated he had said! to the defendant, If the girl makes off with herself, your life won't be worth a. straw." On its being intimated that tihe defendant would not give evidence, Mr. Wild said if the defendant shrank from the witness-box it was not surprising he should stink behind the petticoats of his mo— Mr. Poyeer, for the defence, said he could not explain why a beautiful girl like this was willing to marry the defendant, but h< was unwilling, amd it seemed some poisoi mmat be working in his mind. After seeing the girl in court he could not imagine why: the defendmat should not marry her. The Judge said he could not see why the defendJalnt bad not married the girl, unless it was that he was a clown—a slow-moving man, who did not want the burden of a wife, or anybody, to control him. If that was his position, he must pay for it. If they did marry, as counsel had suggested, the plaintiff could make the defendant a wedding present of furry damages awarded by the jury. The jury returned a verdict for the plain- tiff, with X200 damages.

A DEAL IN DIAMONDS Eigiht parcels of diamonds (value £ 2,833) were thesuibjeot of an action, Bernard Oppen- heimer, diamond dealer, Holiborn Viaduct, and S. H. Wasserberg, diamond merchant, Haitton-garden, heard by Mr. Justice Pick- ford yesterday. The plaintiff alleged that the diamonds were improperly detained, while Mr. Was- eerberg contended that he had bought them from a properly aocredrted mercantile agent, It was stated tihuut one Simon Swabacher, a diamond broker, obtained the dia.monds from plaintaff in 1906. The practice in the diamond trade is to give-a fortnight" of ttofee weeks'" credit on a cash order, but Swabacher, in selling eaoh parcel, got "spot oaelh," so that, although he migibt not have got Opipeniheimer's price for the first transaction, he was onatbled to pay for it out of the proceeds of the second. And so on Plaintiff gave evidence that SwabacQfer had surrendered to him his books and about, 150 pawntickets, from which he had re- covered X8,000 to £10,000 worth of his pro- perty. The case was adjourned.

I FIGHT WITH A BURGLAR A mam was arrested at Wilmslow yesterday: on suspicion of being concerned in a burglary a.t a residence at Akierloy Edge, Cheshire. which was ransacked during the absence from home of the family. This residence is in the same district aa that of Mr. Boden, at StoaJ, which was broken into early on Sunday morning by a man who entered through the open window of a bedroom in which Mr. Boden'a step- daughteay Miss IOdd, was steeping. I Miss Kidd was awakened by the noise, and she saw a man bending over her. He struck her witih a walking-stick on heu forehead, and a desperate struggle followed between Miss Kidd, who is of am athletic build, and her assailant. EventuaJly she wrested the etiokfrom the man, who, fearing thait the other inmates would be awakatued, jumped through the window and made his escape. Miss Kidd's wound was aittendted to. and she is confined to her bed suffering from its effects and from shock. The police have scoured the district in vain for the burglar.

BAKERS IN CONFERENCE. The annual conference of the National Association of Master Bakers and Confec- tioners of Great Britain and Ireland, which, is to commence to-day (Tuesday) at Swansea, was preceded on Monday evening by a recep- tion of the delegates by the mayor and mayoress at the Albert-hall. Out of about 500 delegates expeoted a large proportion attended this function, including Mr. John Hicks, of Liverpool, the president, and Mr. W. Arundel, of Birmingham, the president. elect. The mayor and mayoress having received their guests, the mayor offered them a hearty welcome. The President replied, and after- wards a programme of music was rendered. The conference opens to-day at the Hotel Metropole. The report of the executive com- mittee states that the membership has increased during the year by 581, and is now 5,022. With the Labour party strong in the House of Commons the position of affairs had somewhat changed, and the committee felt it their duty to take every possible precaution to present impracticable and undesirable pro- posals becoming law.

CARUSO MAY BE SHUT OUT The "New York World" stated yesterday tihat when Signor Caruso returns in tlbe autumn to tajio up his engagement with Mr. Comried he may be debarred from entering the country under the Emigration Laws, ex- cluding persons convicted of crime or mis- demeanours in t-he United States. The "World" says thaA the Italian singer has closed the Courts of Appeal against him- self by paying the fine of £2 which waa imposed upon him for his ajleged mis- demeanour in the Zoolog'ioaJ Gardens in Central Park last November. If such a con- tingency, however, were to occur, there is no doubt that Mr. Conried, backed by Signor Caruso's powerful admirers in this country, would be able to re-open the case, and seoure the admission of the famous tenor.

CZAR AND KAISER The St. Petersburg correspondent of the Paris Matin" is in a position to confirm the report that the Czair and German Emperor will meet shortly, and adds that the interview will take place on the Russian Imperial yacht Stoandart in the Nortjl Sea towards the end of June.

NEW RADNORSHIRE J.Ps. The naxam of the following gentlemen have been added to the commission of the peace for the county of Radnor;— Mr. Vaughan Prickaxd, Dolvsen, Newbridge. on-Wye. Dr. Richa.rd Harding, The Laurels, New Radnor. Mr. Evan Watson, Kinnerton Comrt,

I A CENTENARIAN PREACHER The Rev. Thomas Lord, the oldest Oongre- gaziolaod minister in England, who is now in hia hundredth year, on Sunday conducted two services at tbe Methodist Free Church, Spalding. He epoke with remarkable vigour, and preached for half an hoar an each occasion without notes. He recited the jueoeotm. which, owing to failing eyaesigbt, hf yrao aaable to poa £ <