South Wales Echo

I The Man About I own. Why ? Why are thousands starving, j and their condition of suffering continued from week to week ? Who ? Who is mainly responsible for the continuance of the coal deadlock which is starving thousands of innocent workmen, their wives and children, and destroying the trade of the district ? These pertinent questions are being put every hoar of the day, for every day the deadlock is continued increases the suffer- ing tenfold. Men have hungered women have pined children have cried for bread which has not been in the house. How long are men to suffer and women to starve; and why? I plead on behalf of the thousands in the towns of Cardiff, Barry, Newport, and Swansea who have had no or say in this terrible business. The Government does nothing except send troops to overawe the miners. The titled classes are silent; the Churches and the representative teachers of Christianity take no official part. Who will move, and focus public opinion on this most terrible deadlock, which has now become a disgrace to civilisation and a reflection upon oi a community which prides itself upon its churches and upon its professions of Christianity? Who is preaching in the public places the gospel against bitterness and hatred, uncharitableness? Are the Churches only concerned with the teaching of such broad generalities that they do not touch such a terrible disaster as this ? If so. can we wonder that they are losing their hold on the masses ? Curiously enough the Christian Commonwealth has just declared that "the worship of the rich still prevails in the Churches," and i plainly tells its Christian readers that the sanctuary has become "the home of flattery for the comfortable, genteel, well- to-do classes." Strong phrases these, but used by a Christian editor who writes the truth as he sees it. Let us review briefly the situation in answer to the Why ? and the Who ? If there ever was a case where Conciliation was needed it is here. Where is the Con- ciliator ? Is he in the Government, in the Churches ? Where ? The Mayors of three boroughs have pleaded for Concilia- tion the miners have asked for it, and offered to submit their case to Conciliation. They have made concession after concession to help the work of Conciliation done everything to meet the demands made by the masters with the profession of coming to a settlement. The masters on the other hand refuse Conciliatory interference. They will have none of it, and have never made any serious attempt to close the struggle. They demand, have demanded their own terms, worse than those against which the struggle commenced and they have met every suggestion of the men with a decisive No The masters are teaching the miners a lesson— a lesson of starvation—and in the process they are starving thousands of innocent men, women, and children in Cardiff, Barry, Newport, Swansea, and the smaller towns. Whose is now the responsibility ? How much longer are the thousands to starve ? Have the masters such a bad case that they are afraid to submit it to Conciliation or to discuss the propositions of the men ? The deadlock, with its starving thou- sands, has become a disgrace to civilisation and modern means of govern- ment, and a humiliation to Christian men and women. Look at this magnificent picture at the end of the nine- teenth century. A handful of Coal- owners with a fighting fund of R300,000 on one side. The silent pulpits and the Government soldiery in the centre, and the thousands of starving men, women, and children to the right. The masters say No to every proposal of the miners. The representatives of Christianity are silent on the responsibilities of man to man. The Government can only send Dragoons. The gaunt wolf of starvation stalks abroad. These are the conditions which the Coalowners believe, or pretend to believe, will ultimately lead to a period of peace and continued working in the South Wales Coalfield! If the pulpits are silent the secular schools, from the teachers to the lowest children, whose parents are not hit by the difficulty, have been active in practical Christianity. Teachers have appealed and organised relief, children have contributed clothing, food, and pence, and thus many thousands of meals have been given to the starving youngsters but the trouble is so long continued and the demands for food are increasing till this charity is becoming dried up. An appeal is made to the public by the teachers of Court-road Board Schools, where there are 200 cases of children without food at their homes. They have been fed so far mainly by the other children of the school. The charit- able may give here freely, for there is no I imposition or abuse of charity. The teachers know every case in the schools, and throughout the whole of the schools have they done a great public service not alone in relieving distress, but in teaching lessons of practical Christianity and brotherhood which, deeply planted in young minds, will have far reaching effects, and bear fruit for many a year. I do not think the appeal of Mr Ralls, of the Court-road Board Schools, will go un- answered by the public. #r •*» Neither education nor improved condi- tions of life, preventive medicine nor sanitary science, check the increase of lunacy amongst all classes of the com- munity. As to the causes of lunacy— which are carefully observed and acknow- ledged-we will not inquire, for it is a sad and a gloomy subject but the decentralisation which is proceeding in the regulation and housing of lunatics will tend to bring home to the people in an even more forcible manner than hitherto the extent and costliness of lunacy in town and country alike. Newport is called upon to provide an institution for the care of her 260 or more lunatics and imbeciles, and proposes to erect an asylum at Caerleon. The same necessity devolves upon Cardiff, for it is no longer practical or desirable to continue enlarging and ever extending the county buildings at Bridgend. The case of Cardiff is one of urgent necessity to relieve the county institution, for the overcrowding threatens a scandal, and still the tide of lunacy rises. V After deploring the suffering and poverty to such a length, it may appear odd to argue for more excursion trains. That is what I am going to do now. We have not sufficient opportunities for holiday making The pleasure boats are an immense boon, but we want to see the country and the coast as well as the Channel and the Somersetshire and Devonshire places of call. Porthcawl, Tintern, and Chepstow we may reach by means of capital train arrangements at cheap fares, but these might be made more attractive. What is constantly asked for is a cheap afternoon excursion train down the Barry and the new Vale of Glamorgan rail- ways. Along the line of the new railway there are three or four places which are well worth a visit were the means available to reach them at a cheap excursion rate. The sugges- tion is worth considering, for there are many who would learn the Vale of Glamorgan as they know the more imme- diate district. South Wales is not blessed by too many opportunities for reaching the country at cheap rates, nor do the trains run conveniently on the smaller branches. In the matter of railway excursions it is not a case of supply and demand; the I demand does not lead to the supply, but the opportunities offered by the railway companies lead to demands for greater facilities, and prove remunerative because popular. A funny story reaches mo from River- side, Cardiff. It is to the following effect On the occasion of the Wesleyan Sunday School anniversary services last Sunday the pulpit was occupied by Captain Garland, who has done much useful and acceptable work among the sailors. The veteran captain is one of the old school-a Wesleyan of the third generation, and his eccentricities and interesting anecdotes caused much more laughter than is usually experienced at a religious service. Of course there was nothing even bordering on the irreverent, and the stories were practical illustra- tions from life, not infrequently bringing tears to many eyes. Now it so happened that on one of the out- side walls of the chapel at the pulpit end someone had hung a cage, in which was a parrot that could talk. The weather was so oppressively hot that the chapel windows had been opened for venti- lation, and consequently this parrot's observations were distinctly beard by the congregation. I don't think the parrot was of the Wesleyan persuasion, and though I cannot say that he actually swore,' he certainly used bad language and kept up a running commentary on his rival in the pulpit until his interruptions were brought to a conclusion by his being removed. One member of the congregation suggested that the parrot was jealous. Whether that was so or not I cannot say; but this I do know, that the parrot and the parson were answerable for more laughter than I have seen in a place of worship for a long time. If that parrot is there again I shall take a note of his remarks and ask you to publish them."

TO-DAY'S WEATHER 4.30P.M I j I'Oi: ENGLAND, S.W., AND .<OUTH WALES. Issued at 8 o'clock last night. North-ea.sterly windamoderate; fair generally. GENEBAT,.—The weather is in. clined to clear in most places, and higher temperatures are probable over England.

YOU FIND IT EVERYWHERE. CDTICTIBA now meets the traveller at every point in the civilised world. It seems like running across an old friend in a strange land to find displays of GUTICUKA and CTJTICTJRA SOAP in the shop win- dows of Melbourne and Sydney, Yokohama and Tokio, Hong Kong and Shanghai, Calcutta and Bombay, Constant.inople and Cairo, Kimberley and Johannesburg, Berlin and Vienna, Paris and London. Civilisation seems to march with CuTi- cintA in the front ranks.

Wheat Corner Collapse.. I STATEMENT BY MR LEITER. I OLAIMS TO BE PAID IN FULL. The special correspondent of the Daily Tele- graph, in a message dated New York, Tuesday, says :-The collapse of the Leiter corner had but a moderate farther effect on stocks of wheat to-day. So far as the markets are concerned the shock seems to be over. Young Mr Leiter says he will be able to meet all claims. His father's losses in trying to help him through the deal are estimated at as high a figure as 3,000,000 dollars, while those sustained by individuals indirectly concerned will be heavy. Much litigation may result out of this business. It is now evident that inside circles had warning of the coming crash, and it is said that Mr Leiter was carrying large quantities of wheat in Liver- pool, and that drafts drawn against this at the high prices prevailing when it was shipped were not accepted and began coming back last week. Lorkc and Co., a firm connected with the New York Produce Exchange, acted as agents in ship- ping Mr Leiter's wheat, and to-day procured an attachment against Mr Leiter's fands in three banlrs in this city, their claim being about 800,000 dollars for money advanced since Febru- ary 1st. Mr George B. French, who was supposed to act as manager for Mr Leiter in Chicago, was reported as being sued yesterday in that city for 6,000 dollars. In denying knowledge of this he takes occasion to say that he had no connec- tion with the wheat deal, and that he is merely a close personal friend of Mr Joseph Leiter. The statement of President Mitchell of the Illinois Trust Company says :—" No assignment in settlement of Mr Leiter'3 affairs will be neces- sary. His father, having been acquainted with the position, was determined that the deal should end immediately. The banks are well protected, and there will not be a dollar lost. I know of no bank that lent money on this wheat at over 80c. on the bushel. Most of the Chicago banks are lenders, and also those in Minneapolis, Duluth, and some in New York. In the North-West tho Elevator men may not fare so well, as the heaviest losses have been made there. It is reported that Mr Leiter, sen., who has been on his son's paper all along, had great confi- dence in the young man's ability to win out until recently. In April he deposited 17,000,000 dollars worth of securities to secure loans and to prevent the collapse of the deal at that time. As the story was told, young Mr Leiter promised then that he would get out by the end of May. Instead of this, however, he has been going in again, and this is why his father refused to extend any fur- ther assistance. The North-West people expect more trouble there owing to the wheat sold in Mr Leiter's interest at fancy prices. For example, it is stated that Mr Peavy has 2,000,000 bushels of wheat going to Mr Leiter, and not yet delivered, which was sold at 1.40 dollars to 1.45 dollars. Mr Thomson, cf Duluth, is standing in the gap with wheat to the extent of 1,000,000 bushels, representing 95 cents to 1 dollar. With the cash market now around 90 cents, the North-Western people have been brought up with a round turn, It is said there have been some recent conference™ of an unpleasant character. Situation Explained. Tno Chicago correspondent of the same journal says :—I saw Mr Leiter this afternoon, and he explained the situation in tho following terms :— Futures began to break faster than cash wheat to decline. Logically, the conditions should have been exactly the reverse. For several ùays-I may even say for some weets-cash wheat has been slow of sale, especially in the North-West, around the milling centres generally. To a certain extent, this had been off-set by a fair degree of activity at the sea- board, in response to inquiry from the other side; but the local markets had been decidedly inclined to drag. There had been a steady marketing of cash wheat, but I cannot say as to the quantities in which it has gone into home consumption or abroad for foreign use. All my holdings of futures have been dis- posed of. A good deal of gossip has come to me on the general subject of alleged treacherous conduct on the part of North-Western grain interests. I have no complaints to make or charges to prefer against those with whom I have been doing business. It is a source of considerable satisfaction to me that my affairs, for the moment more or less tangled, are in a fair way of settlement without the intervention of a trustee, or without invoking the machinery of the Court, as would be necessary in tho case of assignment. Every dollar I owe, whether in this country or in Europe, will bo paid. This you can depend upon. No man will lose a penny through me, You can state this positiveJy." Mr Leiter says that, even on the market, so far as September contracts are concerned, cash wheat business will be transacted through Mr Alexander Geddes for the benefit of the banks which have interest in it, and which will act in concert. June wheat, representing cash wheat in this market, will be carried by Armour and Co. Amount of the II Attachments." NEW YORK, Wednesday.—The Sheriff of New York has received attachments against Mr Leiter to the amount of 800,000 dollars.—Central News.

A SPRAY OF VIOLETS. ACTION FOR FALSE IMPRISONMENT. I Camberwell Draper to Pay Damages. Before Mr Justice Kennedy and a common jury in the Queen's Bench Division yesterday Child v. Coombs was an action for false imprisonment and malicious prosecution. Mr Ward appeared for the plaintiff; and Mr Atkinson, Q.O., and Mr G. Gerard Laing for the defendant. Miss Theresa Child, 22 years of age, the daughter of respectable parents, was employed as assistant by the defendant, who carried on the business of a draper in Church-street, Camber- well. After being so employed for some time she left, but in November last she returned to the defendant's service. It was said that part of her duty was to dress the shop windows, and in doing that on one occasion she happened to put some sprigs of violets on some blouses to make them more attractive. At the same time she pinned to her own dress one or two of these sprigs, which sold for 2a a dozen, and wore them for a day or two. The shop walker told her to take them off, and she refused. According to the plaintiff's case, the defendant afterwards said if she would steal violets she would steal anything else. He also accused her of stealing a pocket- handkerchief, and told her to leave at once. She said the handkerchief had been given to her by her young man, and she refused to go. A police- man was sent for, and she was given in charge and locked up from Saturday night until 6 on Sunday evening, when she was released on bail. She was committed for trial to the South London Sessions, but the grand jury threw out the bill. Since the affair it was said she had been unable to get another situation in consequence of the injury to her character. The defence substantially was that the defen- dant had reasonable and probable cause for pursuing the course he adopted. A good deal of evidence was given on both sides. The jury, after considering the matter fora long time in private, found as to the false im- prisonment, in answer to questions put to them by the learned Judge, that no felony was com- mitted, and that before the defendant gave the plaintiff into custody he did not take reasonable care to inform himself of the fact, and they assessed the damages at zElOO. With regard to the malicious prosecution they could not agree upon the question whether the defendant acted maliciously. The question of entering judgment was re- erved.

CARDIFF BANKRUPTCY CASE. The first meeting of creditors of Henry Job, of 2, Arthur-street, Cardiff, who carried on business at 133, Broadway, Cardiff, as H. Job and Co., hay and corn dealers, was held at the offices of Mr T. H. Stephens, official receiver, Cardiff, this morning. The groas liabilities were S402, of which S393 is expected to rank. The assets amounted to f.125, and the deficiency £267. Bad debts, sickness, and death of three horses were the attributable causes of failure. Debtor, who makes no proposal, and has been adjudicated a bankrupt, commenced business in partnership with George Burford with a capital of 4170. after being for 12 years chief stevedore for the Bute Docks Company. This partnership was dissolved at the end of last year, bankrupt taking over the assets, and paying creditors a composi- tion of 12s 6d in the £ by three equal instalments. Debtor states he has only been able to meet one instalment. No resolutions were passed, and the estate remains in the haudg of the Official Receiver.

I A Village Tragedy. THIRTY LIVES LOST IN A FRENCH RELIGIOUS FESTIVAL RELIGIOUS FESTIVAL. NICE, Monday.—A terrible accident occurred at the village of Biot on Sunday evening. The whole village was keeping high holiday, it being the day on which a confirmation ceremony had been held. These ceremonies are held in much higher esteem in the south of Franch than they are in England. The families of the children who have been confirmed meet, and a. big feast is held in the evening, after which singing, and sometimes dancing, is indulged in. On Sun- day a larger number of children had been confirmed than usual, and the village was ful of relatives and friends from the surrounding district. About half past eight, when the feasting was in full owing, the villagers were alarmed by a loud rumbling noise. All ruahed out of doors. It was then discovered that three houses had collapsed, nothing but a heap of rnina remaining. Search was at once instituted, but the darkness prevented much being done till the morning. Up to Monday noon 30 corpses had been extricated from the ruins, but owing to the number of outside quests it is not yet known whether the list is complete. One family named Pelligrini was entirely annihilated. They were 12 at table, and not one escaped. No cause is assigned for the accident. The houses were of stone, old but strongly built. They were of three storeys. Biot is a small village on a hillto the left of the railway line. One sees it just after [leaving Antibes for Nice. It is close to the river Brague, which swallowed up an entire railway train some 29 years ago. I Miraculous Escape. Another correspondent writes:—Something like a miracle has occurred in connection with the terrible accident at Biot, near Antibes, where 26 persons lost their lives through the falling in of three houses. A soldier of the Alpine troops, while working with the rescne party, heard low, feeble cries proceeding from a heap of ruins, from which several dead bodies had already been extricated. He accordingly informed his officer, who directed that search should be made with the greatest possible care and precaution. After 20 minutes of slow excavation the soldiers found a cradle with a living baby in it. The child was untouched save in the hands, which were slightly scratched. It had been saved by the lucky con- tiguity of a large vat which had received the falling bricks, beams, and mortar, and acted as a bulwark to the cradle. The baby's nurse how- ever was killed, and her dead body was found with the arms broken and the head crushed close to the child.

Alleged Embezzlement in the Rhondda. THE CHARGES AGAINST A BANK CLERK. POUQE COURT PROCEEDINGS. At the Pontypridd Police Court this morning (before the Stipendiary, Mr Ignatius Williams, Alderman W. H. Mathias, Mr C. B. Jenkins, Dr. Hunter, and Mr P. Gowan) J. W. G. Thomas, who has for the last two years been clerk in charge at the Pentre sub-agency of the Metropolitan Bank, was brought up 011 remand charged with embezzling 11,100, the money of the Cambrian Miners' Association, and also with falsification of accounts. A great deal of interest centred in the proceed- ings, and a number of prominent gentlemen from the town and the Rhondda were in court. The prosecution was conducted by Mr W. P. Nicholas, of the firm of Messrs Walter Morgan, Bruce, and Co., Pontypridd. The defendant was represented by Mr George David, Cardiff. I Case for the Prosecution. Mr Nicholas, in opening the case, said prisoner was charged with embezzling certain sums of money, and also with forgery. He had been in the employ of the Metropolitan Bank since 1893, and was a clerk at the Pentre sub-agency of the Pontypridd branch. The only duties which he had to discharge were to receive money from customers and to pay out cheques pre- sented for payment. The notion had got abroad that he was in the position of manager at Pentre, but that was not accurate, because the management of the bank was entirely under the supervision of the head branch at Pontypridd, and before the defendant could do anything other than receive money or pay out cheques he would if he properly discharged his duties have to consult Mr Hut- chins, the manager of the Pontypridd bank. Defendant's duties were indeed very simple, and of a very ordinary character. Mr Nicholas then showed that the defendant had to make out a daily return, and that at the end of the week he would have to see the manager and pay over whatever balance he had in the bank. He then pointed out how it came about that defendant was suspended a few weeks ago. Oil the 20th May—the Friday before he was suspended—the defendant showed cash in hand 4148 4a 9d, and total transactions Y,212 2s 9d. On the following day, however, he brought the cash in hand as X212 2s 9d, the total amount of the transactions the previous day, instead of £148 4s 9d. This aroused suspicion, and defend- ant was accordingly suspended. Mr Nicholas then said SI,100 was the sum with the embezzlement of which defendant was charged, and said that a cheque on behalf of the Rhondda Miners' Association was presented for payment, but that Mr Hutchins discovered that as far as his books were concerned there was no sum standing to the credit of the association, although Mr Thomas Davies, the treasurer of the associa- tion, had paid into the bank Y,600 aud two sums of L500. The facts relating to the £ 1,100 have already been published. Mr Nicholas explained that further cases of embezzlement had come to light since their last hearing, and their history was very much the same as that of Mr Thomas Davies. With reference to the case of Mr Watkin Watkins, farmer, Gelli, who kept a deposit account at the Pentre branch The Stipendiary Are you going to take all these cases together ? Mr Nicholas replied that he thought of dealing with the customers first, and call Mr Hodges to produce the sheets at the end. The Stipendiary: But these are different charges. Mr David did not think his friend could really take all the charges, as there ware too many of them. He could only take nine—three for each indictment and three indictments. Mr Nicholas, after consulting with Mr Hodges, then proceeded to deal with 1- A Case Involving a Large Amount. Mr Philip Jenkins. Maesgwynne, Ystrad, had on the 12th of January paid in zE200, and on the 6th of August zElOO, but none of these items were credited to him, or reported as having been received from him. The defendant had, however, contrary to the.; practice of the bank, himself calculated the interest— £ 13 12s 8d—which he had no business to do. He shoulciWbave sent the book to Pontypridd to have the interest calculated, but of course he wished to avoid that as it would show a deficiency. With reference to Mrs Margaret John, of the Blaengwynfi Hotel, Blaengwynfi, there was a charge of forgery in connection with her case and on August 5th X200 was paid to the credit of her account, but there were no records of one sum of £100 and three of £ 50 each. The interest was however written up, and calculated by the defendant, and with reference to the £ 200 there was a cheque, the body of which was written in the handwriting of the defendant, on the 1st of October, 1896. 1-200 was withdrawn from the account, but he did not know, and it would be for a jury to decide; by whom the name Margaret John was written. He would however prove that it was not written by Mrs John. The name was in a very fine handwriting, and he would ask the Bench to compare the signature with the one in the bank book. Mrs John would prove that it was not her signature. The sheet of that date was also written with a very fine pen, and the fact was a significant one in relation to the case. The amount, although the defendant cashed the cheque himself, was not debited in the pass book of Mrs John, and within a short time of the cheque having been cashed the defendant calcu- lated the interest, JE2 14s 5d, and the account looked as if the cheque hadn't been withdrawn. The sheet. were always sent to Pontypridd, but it wa. singular that this particular sheet had vrnsjiug, and was only discovered last Sun- & ton drawer of a chest of drawers in the cccupied by the defendant in the bank premises. If, then, the sheets could not be pro- duced, it would show that thedefendant was plac- the ..lioets aside. f The Stipendiary He had access to the sheets ? Mr Nicholas replied that he had,and that he was a trusted servant of the bank. He regrettod to say that every day that passed by they were con- fronted with further instances of defalcations and embezzlement. He made this observation because he was desirous that the whole of the case for the prosecution should be placed before the Bench before the defendant was committed for trial. The Stipendiary The forgery case must go to the Assizes. Mr Nicholas was anxious that the defendant should not be committed that day, because facts which had come to light had not been yet inves- tigated at the head office. There were, however, circumstances in the case which rendered it desirable that a Further Remand should be granted, so that they should consider what course they should pursue with regard to certain events which had come to their know- ledge since the defendant was charged. Mr David thought that all the cases should be gone into now, so that the defence should know what they had to face. If the other cases were proceeded with again he did not know what effect it might have upon the defence. The Stipendiary That would mean that you would not go on to-day, and that no progress would be made. Mr Nicholas explained that the course be would take that day would not have anything to do with the other charges. Mr Thomas Davies, Innkeeper, Ton, Pentre, treasurer of the Rhondda Miners' Association, then gave evidence to the effect that on January 26th, 1897, JE600 was withdrawn from his private account. He did not have cash, but defendant drew a cheque. Witness produced the deposit book of the Cambrian Miners' Asso- ciation, showing that he had paid in X600 by cheque into that account. By Mr George David How came you to swear that this sum of S" was paid over in gold at the last hearing of this case ?—I made a mistake. How came that about ?-It is a long timo to remember. When was it ?-27th Febvtifu-y, 1897. Have you ever put so much into the bank in one sum in gold ?-Yes, I have. When ?—I think I can find it by looking it up. Did you state on the last occasion that you had no private account?—Yes; that was for Thomas's sake he is a great friend of mine. You did say you had no private account in the Pentre branch of the Metropolitan Bank ?—I possibly might have said so. Why did you say just now that you said that in order to shield Thomas ?-I didn't say that. Where did this transaction take place when you paid £600 to him ?-In the bank. Was he in the habit of transacting business with you at your hotel ?—No. Never remember it ?-No, I never remember it. Was this sum on the date in question belonging sto the Cambrian Fund ?-No. Then why did you pay it in to them ?-They asked me to pay money into the bank after the audit. Whose was it ?-My own. Then why did you pay it in ?-Very likely it waamyown. But why this extraordinary transaction have done this on twenty occasions. Why did you do it ?=I can take the money and use it with my own. Did you use them indiscriminately ?-Yes, Well, that may be your idea of being trustee. Did you on January 26th owe the association X600 ?—I had money to that amount in my hands. Then why did you say just now that you had not money of theirs ? How much did you owe the Cambrian Association on January 26th ?—I don't remember. Why did you withdraw S600 from your own deposit account to pay into the Cambrian deposit account ?—Very likely I I want facts. Did you keep moneys of the Cambrian in your own private deposit account ? —No, I had them in my house. Why did you keep from JE600 to JE900 in your house, and not pay it into the bank before that time ?-I am not supposed to pay it into the bank before the audit. The Bench How long have you been treasurer of this Association ?—Seventeen or 18 years. A cheque was then handed to the witness. When did you say this cheque was signed ?— The same day. Why didn't you tell the magistrates this last time ?-I forgot it. How came you to remember it afterwards ?—I remembered it when I saw the cheque again. When did you see it ?-At the bank. Was the cheque filled up on January 26th ?- Yes. I signed it. Then why sign it on that day when it was filled up for a date in February ?-I didn't look at the date. I suggest to you that that cheque was not signed when you say it was.—I am quite certain of it. Witness was then cross-examined regarding his own private deposit. Mr Nicholas You have lived in the Rhondda Valley all your life ?—Yes. And you have old fashioned notions, and have more confidence in yonr own cashbox than in the bank. (Laughter).—Yes. Well, I have a good space of my own. W itness then explained that he received sums of money at the monthly meetings of the Association, and kept them until the audit came round, when he paid them together into the bank. The Stipendiary asked why it was that when witness owed between £ 800 and R900 to the Cam- brian Association he only paid in XLW. WitneA explained that it was after the audit that he often had to hand out strike pay from time to time, and that being so, he liked to have some money by him. I The Next Witness Called was Jenkin Phillips, Maesgwyn, Ton, Pentre. He stated that he kept a deposit account with the Metropolitan Bank, and he used to pay the money in at Pentre. He said that on January 12th ho paid in £200 and took £ 7 out. He had recently had a new book, which was kept by defendant. Mr George David reserved his cross-examina- tion of this witness. Mrs Margaret .John, wife of Martin John, of the Blaengwynfi Hotel, Abergwynfi, produced her deposit book. She paid in £ 100 on December 1st to defendant, who entered it in the book in witness's presence. The witness had never withdrawn any money from the bank. A cheque for S200 which bore her signature was handed to witness, and she denied ever having signed it, neither was it done with her authority. Subsequently she took her deposit book to the bank, and the interest due to her was calculated as if the Y,200 had never been withdrawn. Mr George David I ask for a copy of Mrs John's signature from the bank official. Mr Nicholas (to witness): Who did you open your account with ? Witness explained that when she first went to the bank to open the account Mr Thomas was there. Did he ask you to sign the book ?-I really don't remember. Mr T. W. Hodges, manager of the Pontypridd branch, produced defendant's sheet for the 6th February, 1897. The sheet did not show credit I for the ZEGOO paid by the Cambrian Miners' Association, but there was a debit of Y,600 placed in Mr David's private account of that day. Witness also produced the defendant's deposit I book account in the bank book, which showed that on the ISth February, 1897, E50 was paid into his account; on the 13th February £ 300 and £ 80 and on the 3rd February, 1898, £ 400. He next produced the account of the Cam- brian Miners' Association from January, 1897, to dat?, which did not show any amounts to their credit, the last item eredited being at Christmas, 1896. He also produced a sheet for the 12th January, 1897, but there was nothing credited to Mr Jenkin Phillips, but in defendant's own account he was credited with £250 on the 16th January. Witness also produced a sheet for the 1st October, 1896, in which there was a debit entered to Mrs Margaret John of £200 in defendant's handwriting. Mr David also intimated that he would reserve his cross-examination of this witness. r The Case Adjourned. I At this stage Mr Nicholas applied that the case should be adjourned for a week, Mr George David submitted that there was not a shred of evidence of forgery, but the Bench decided that they could hardly forego this charge. Mr George David said that the bail which the Bench had previously offered to take was quite prohibitive, and he asked that it should be very nine h reduced. Mr Nicholas said that the sum now involved was very much greater than that which had previ- ously been brought before their Worships when they asked for 11,200 bail. The Stipendiary said that after consulting with the other magistrates they could not see their way clear to reduce the amount of the bail in any way. Accused was therefore remanded for a week.

I THE IRISH DYNAMITARDS. I Mr John Rsdmond, M.P., on Tuesday was iniormed by the Home Secretary that it has been decided to treat the life sentence of the convict Wilson, one of the treason-felony prisoners, as if it were a sentence of 20 years' penal servitude. As 15 years of that period have already elapsed, and as about five years' reduction is allowed for good conduct in prison, it is expected that Wilson will shortly be released, and that other treason- felony prisoners whose sentences come up for revision in the ordinary course will be allowed the benefit of a corresponding remission.

SINGULAR LIBEL ACTION. I In the Queen's Bench on Tuesday, Mr John Thomas, engineer, sued the proprietors of the City Press for libel contained in a report of some Police Court proceedings in which the plaintiff was charged with obtaining R15 by false pretences. It was said that defendants published counsel's opening statement without giving rebutting evidence which entirely exonerated the plaintiff, the charge against whom was dismissed, the latter fact being duly reported. The jury awarded plaintiff E350. alln:õftNV'

SHOCKING BLASTING ACCIDENT I I Three men were terribly injured at Newcastle, l county Down, on Tuesday ny the accidental explosion of a charge of_ gelignite during blasting operations in connection with the new water works extension for Belfast City. One man named Charles had his leg blown off, besides sustaining other shocking injuries, while the other two, named Magce and Sharkey, are likely to lose their eyesight. All three were oonveyed to Down- patrick Infirmary, 10 miles distant. Another man pa.trick Infirmary, 10 miles distant. Another-man named Whiteley was slightly bnrt.

I CARDIFF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE dt *fy W • The monthly meetiug was held to-day, Lester Jones, the president, occupying the Interesting summaries of the consular reP' Were given by Mr Jennings and Mr Breg de- Mr Henry White, solicitor, was elected a member of the Mr JENNINGS, chairman of the import sec be of the Chamber, said that members pleased to learn that they had come arrangement with the railway authorities so far as the timber trade was concerned w0 mean a saving of some thousands of pounds. 1892 the railway companies gave 110 to the timber traders in the Bristol Cha that the rates would be increased 5 per cent. Naturally they disputed the that rise as it was not in force at Hull, whence they had powerful competitors with Midlands, appealed to the Board of Trade, had arranged to go before the Railway missioners with the support of the Car Chamber cf Commerce and Corporati" Mr William Riley had acted on behalf ge- the timber merchants, and the errsngtr ment they had now made was that the d per cent. increase should not apply to the laidlaud counties, where the Severn waterway colue 111 competition with the railways. This meant tlw* from Cardiff, Newport, Bristol, and Gloucester they would pay a rise of 2d per ton instead of the 5d demanded. The importance of this would be appreciated when he stated that one the largest consuming centres in the timber tra^ was Birmingham. They had in reality to asok the Cardiff Corporation and Chamber of (JoIr merce for their public spirit in improving tW waterway of the Severn, as this fact alone nao- anabled them to make such good terms. TM import section of the Chamber had passed a vote of thanks to Mr Riley for big services in the matter, and he thought the Chamber of Commerce would endorse that rftt0* The Great Western Railway Company had 90 agreed to give similar rates for Dublin traffic ø Cardiff as they did via Liverpool and BrisOL (Hear, hear.) In regard to other matters, they were awaiting replies. Mr E. Handcock, jUI16.0 seconded the vote of thanks to Mr Riley, and this was carried unanimously.

GLAMORGAN FOOTBALL CLUB- A Highly Satisfactory Balance-sheet- The balance-sheet of the Glamorgan County Football Club, just issued, is highly satisfactory' Starting the season with a deficit of C39 Os 74 the club have now the substantial balance £ 140 5s 2d in hand, after clearing all outstanding liabilities for past seasons* The two matches at Cardiff against GloU' cestershire and Yorkshire were the means of replenishing the treasurer's account consider* ably, the receipts at the latter being the highegi yet reached for a county match in Glamorgan- shire. The match with Cumberland at Swansea was a decided failure from a financial stand- point, as the receipts only reached jE57 Is 4d. Against this X40 was paid to the Cumberland County Club as guarantee, and the expenses iO connection with the match amounted to zE28 16s. The annual general meeting of the club will be held at the Queen's Hotel, Cardiff, on Thursday, the 30th inst,, when the business will be-(I} Election of chairman of meeting; (2) to read notice convening the meeting; (3) to read and confirm minutes of last meeting; (4) to receive treasurer's statement of accounts (5) to elect a president; (6) to elect a vice-president; (7) to elect a hon. secretary; (8) to elect a hon. treasurer; (9) to elect a committee; and (10) other business.

LUNATIC MILLIONAIRE. Earl of Sefton's Two Millions of Money. Just before the death of the late Earl of Seftoft the present Lord, who is now 31 years of age, became a lunatic through a severe fall, and is at present in a precarious state of health. The late Earl died on 27th of June, 1897, and by his will gave to the present Earl, in case he elected within a year to resettle the estate which he held in lease fee, wines and furniture at Croxteth Hall and Sefton House, and a legacy of X10,000, and directed that the debts of the lunatic, stated to exceed X30,000, should be paid out of the testator's personal estate. The late Earl was owner in fee of very large estates in Lancashire and tenant for life of other property, with remainder to the present Earl, for merly entail, but now held in lease fee, the present Earl having before his lunacy barred the entail. The estates of which the present Earl was owner in lease fee produced a gross rental of about S,44,000 a year, subject to charges and settlements which reduce the net amount to £ 30.000. The late Earl was also possessed absolutely of other estates which produce about SM,000, and in those properties the present Earl was given a life interest. The two estates are estimated to be worth about a million each. Yesterday the Court of Appeal granted an application by the Earl's mother, sister, and brother for leave to exercise the power of elec- tion given to the present Earl under his father'e will.

THE SLEEVE LINK. Quite a feature of the West End jewellers' stores this season is the beauty and elaboration of design now expended upon that useful acces- sory, the sleeve link.This is less due to increasing vanity on the part of mankind than to the fact that, with the neat linen cuffs so generally worn by ladies with their washing silk or other blouses in the morning and for cycling, they have become as essential an item of feminine necessities as the brooch itself. Translucent enamels on gold are much employed for them, and ivy or shamrock leaves are often depicted in green, with beautiful iedelity to nature. Flowers, too, in their natural colouring, are often employed. Pairs of hearts, with a single precious stone in the centre of each, is another favourite form, and deep blue oval medallions, studded with small diamonds, are popular. A shape that is also frequently seen is that of the dumb-bell, made in gold with jewelled ends, and some pretty ones follow the model of beans, set with rubies or sapphires. For gentle- men's wear, though ladies have also adopted them, the links often reproduce, in more costly substance, the homely mother-of-pearl, or even linen button, the threads in the centre being represented in gold.

FENCE FIRE IN GOUGH-STREET. Two youths-Griffith Miles and Arthur Foley— were charged before the Stipendiary (Mr T. W. Lewis) at the Cardiff Police Court with setting fire to a wooden fence, the property of the Graat Western Railway Company, on May 16th. It was proved that Miles purchased petroleum and having gathered papers near the fence and saturated it with oil, it was set ablaze. P.O. Herniman and P.C. Dicks deposed to the occur- rence, the damage amounting to about Is. The motive assigned for the act was to gain access to the Great Western approach, the barricade being made doubly strong in order to prevent thic. Owing to the {",ct that the railings were attached to a dwelling-house, the Stipendiary ordered the prisoners to be renianded for a week.

THE HARE AND THE BICYCLE. Cyclists who ride at night are liable, it is e&id, to a peculiar danger from hares. At night, when a hare sees the light of a bicycle lamp approach- ing, he will go towards it, and then stand quite still in the roadway and allow himself to be run over. In game-preserved districts several nasty accidents ha.ve arisen from this cause.

THE NEW HOUSEHOLD DJUNK, IU-LKMONADB.—- All trouble saved no syrup to make, no sugar to add. A 6d tin makes one to two gallons. Ask Grocer for Bi-Lemonade (Clock and Glass Brand). Sample tin eight stamps, of Soic Makers, Talbot ana Co™ Gloucester. lose

THE COSTERMONGER'S MUSICAL HOME. WHY HE BOUGHT A EUPHONIUM. Two Youngsters, Daisy and Uwer Tunes." At Southwark County Court yesterday an amusing claim was heard by his Honour Judge Addison, Q.C., the plaintiffs being W. J. Harrison and Company (Limited), manufacturers, of Old Kent-road, and the defendant a costermonger. The claim was for 1-2 9s balance due for a euphonium supplied to the defendant by plaintiffs on the easy payment system. Plain- tiffs' representative said that the instrument was purchased by the defendant on Christmas Eve. He paid 6s deposit and 5s about a month later, but evidently getting tired of it he brought it back and left it on the counter, saying he did not intend to pay any more. No doubt defendant had had enough of the instrument during the Christmas festivities. Before he brought it back the spring had been broken, and defendant, when he had it repaired, ordered a dozen fresh tunes. His Honour (to defendant) What have you to say to this ? Defendant Well, the fing broke, and when I took it back I asked 'em to get me an orgin for it. (Laughter.) As fer keeping it over Christmas, I didn't keep it over. His Honour It is an extraordinary thing that a costermonger should waste X3 on a musical box. What were you going to do with it ? Put it on your barrow ? Defendant: No. My missus told me to go and order it. She wanted one to amuse her while I was owt. (Laughter.) His Honour (surprised) To amuse her whilst you were out. Had she nothing better to do ? Defendant: No, not when I were owt. (Laugh- ter.) His Honour Had she no family ? Defendant: Yus, I've got two youngsters. (Laughter.) His Honour (smiling) Surely they would make noise enough without a euphonium. (Laughter.) It is a most extraordinary thing that a coster- monger should buy such a thing to amuse his wife, especially when she had two children to look after. (To the defendant) You are a very fool ish man to do all she tells you. Defendant: Well (Laughter.) His Honour But I can't help yon you bought his thing. Defendant But I didn't buy the fing. If it bad been all right I should have done so. His Honour It was very unwise of you to buy it; a costermonger with a wife and two children —well, I should have thought you would have had music enough. (Laughter.) What tunes did you order ? Did yon choose them ?—Defendant I choosed some, but I dunno' what they were, (Laughter.) Plaintiffs' Representative One was Daisy," sir. (Laughter.) His Honour (to defendant) One waa Daisy," what were the others ? Defendant: There were a march and some uvver tunes, but I dunno' what they was. Plaintiffs' Representative These are things people soon get tired of, and then they want to j return them. His Honour Yes people get tired of them before they have heard of them for half an hour. Defendant: I didn't get tired of it; the nng broke, and we couldn't git the tune out of it at all, nohows. (Laughter.) Plaintiffs' Representative The mechanism of these musical instruments is very delicate, and no doubt they put too much pressure on the spring when they were enjoying themselves at Christmas. His Honour (to defendant): I am afraid I cannot get you out of your improvident bargain, and you will have to pay this X2 9s. How can you pay ? Defendant: Well, fings is very bad jiat now, sir. Plaintiffs' Representative He has a good stall in Mare-street. Defendant: No, I ain't. I 'ad to sell it to a chap I owed some money to. His Honour I cannot understand you paying Y,3 for such a noisy thing, which is enough to frighten the children. ,h Defendant: Well, I had the money at Christ- mas. His Honour Then yon should have put it by for a rainy day, not have wasted it. You must pay this amount by instalments of 4s a month, and I hope that next Christmas you will find a more sensible way of amusing yourself.

HIS VIEW OF THE STRIKE. A REGULAR CAVALRY ENGAGEMENT. Amusing Case at Cardiff. John Pearse (67), a hoary-headed gentleman, appeared in the Cardiff Police Court to-day to answer a charge of being disorderly and using obscene language in Albany-road on Tuesday evening. Mr Rees Are you guilty ? Prisoner Certainly not; but I might have used strong expressions. I was discussing the present strike with a friend. What I said was that this strike was the most stupid, dogmatic, and ignbrant affair that I ever heard of. (Laughter.) Those were the expressions I used, which I admit were rather strong. This declaration prompted Mr Rees to ask the prosecuting constable to define the language alleged to belong to the obscene category. It appears that Pearse expressed his conviction that a certain person interested in the coal war should have his throat cut—only with the addi- tion of a few qualifying adjectives. No, no I" exclaimed prisoner the strongest word I used was dogmatic.' (Laughter.) Have you any witnesses ?—Certainly not. I was only peacefully discussing the strike, and I was telling my friend that it had now come to a regular cavalry charge." (Laughter.) I plead guilty, of course," continued Pearse, if you call those expressions obscene. (Laugh- ter.) There was a respectable gentleman listen- ing to us, and he observed that my view of the strike was the most sensible one he had heard up to date. (Laughter.) I can assure your Worships I felt highly complimented." (Loud laughter.) Alderman Beavan Now cut it ehort, please. You are dismissed this time.

COALS per ton for cash on delivery, splendid value, good quality Bed Ash Iiarca, 17a 6d; Nuts (forhouse or bakery), 16s 6d. Hali-tons Is pet ton extra. Please send postcard.—T. Shields, CrewS'Cotf "Yard, near Crwys Bridge, Cwdift 221

THE FAMILY 'BUS." I Lord Roaebery has purchased the now histori- cal political cartoon by Mr F. C. Gould of The Family 'Bus." The cartoon, which, it will be remembered, appeared shortly after the return to power of Lord Salisbury in 1895, represents Mr Chamberlain dressed as a British matron hur- rying up to the new Premier, who is acting as conductor, and with some asperity demanding admission. The conductor objects that he is full inside," but the newcomer insists on com- ing in with a small family party, consisting of Mr Austen Chamberlain, 'Mr Powell Williams and Mr Jesse Collings, and even goes the length of suggesting that some of the gentlemen inside shall get out in the interests of these three.

SPURGEON'S TABERNACLE. I The insurance upon Spurgeon'a Tabernacle WBS £ 20,000, anctunon the furniture R2,000, and those sums, it is understood, have now been paid. It is uncertain, in detail, what sum will be needed for the reconstruction of the famous build- ing, but probably something between L30,000 and £ 40,000. The hope is that by October the Taber- nacle congregation may again be able to worship within its walls. The Tabernacle itself will not ha.ve been rebuilt, but the lecture hall underneath will have been roofed in and prepared for use. In it the congregation are to gather until the new building is finished.

A REVENGEFUL SERVANT. Annie Bowring, a domestic servant, was charged at Worship street yesterday with wounding Sarah Cohen with a coal-hammer. She was in service with the parents of the injured girl, who is about 10 years old. Her mistress had given her notice, and on the following morning the child was heard screaming in her bedroom prisoner having attacked her in her sleep. When charged prisoner said she did it to have her revenge on her mistress. Prisoner was committed for trial.

MR QUILLER COUCH'S BURGLAR. I Mr Quiller Couch, novelist, appeared yesterday at the Cornwall Assizes in the role of prosecutor in a burglary case, the accused being a. man named Taylor. The prisoner affected an entrance into Mr Couch's house, and having collected various articles sat down to a supper of cold meat and champagne. After being captured by the police he attempted suicide in the cells. He waa sentenced to three months' hard labour.

IMPROVEMENT IN TRADE. Increased Wages and More Employment. There is a decidedly optimistic tone about the Board of Trade Journal for the month of June. published last night. Improvement is shown in practically all trades, except in so far aa South Wales is concerned, and this of course is due to the coal struggle. But coal mining itself in other districts has improved, and the number of unemployed is considerably smaller than a year ago. The furnishing, building, printing, leather, and tailoring trades show improvement. Air regards changes in wages, out of 139,000 work- people, 131,000 obtained an increase, the increase being mainly in the building, coal mining, and metal trades. Assessing this at a rough average of about 9i per unit weekly, this means that £ 55,000 extra was paid weekly to employees; 56 fresh trade disputes occurred during May. An interesting article finds a place in the journal on the trade of the United States with Spain. The total exports and imports of the United States and Spain amounted in 1897 to & little over three million pounds of English money. But trade between the two belligerent countries has been steadily diminishing for the last 15 years, and this is all the more noticeable because with all other countries the exports and imports of both the United States and Spain have increased. Cotton is the mainstay of the United States' trade with Spain, and after that comer leaf tobacco.