Towyn-on-Sea and Merioneth County Times

NORTH WALES ASSIZES. The assizes for the counties of Denbigh, Flint, Merioneth, and Montgomery, were opened at Ruthin on Saturday, before Mr Justice Grantham, who was attended by the High Sheriff of Denbighshire Mr Thomas Williams, Llewesog; Mr J. Parry Jones, Denbigh, Under Sheriff; and Mr Henry Crompton, clerk of assize. Sir W. Greuville Williams was the foreman of the Grand Jury. In his charge to the Grand Jury his Lordship re- ferred, among other cases, to the case of Jeanet M'Murdo, Llanidloes, charged with concealment of birth, his Lordship said it appeared to him that she had been very badly treated by the minister of her chapel, who in the most wicked way had been the cause of her trouble, and then refused to marry her. Then he offered to marry her if she would find a certain sum of money, and when she had got her friends to agree to find the money, he again, under the guise of religion, his Lordship supposed, said he could not fulfil his promise. She said she was out of her miud at the time of the crime and really did not know what she did. It might be that that would turn out to be so, but he thought that, as far as the Grand Jury were concerned, they would see that they must find a true bill. THE LLANIDLOES CASE. THE JUDGE AND THE CONGREGATIONAL MINISTER. Jeanet M'Murdo, of Glanclywedog, pleaded guilty to the charge that on July 17th, she was delivered of a female child and disposed of its dead body, thereby unlawfully endeavouring to conceal the birth thereof.—Mr Ellis J. Griffith, for the prosecution, said the charge was brought against the prisoner mainly as the result of what she had herself said. The body was found in a watercourse. There was a document at the end of the depositions which no doubt his Lordship would see, and which seemed to indicate the existence of a greater culprit than the prisoner herself, if that statement were correct. The prosecution did not want to press the case in any way.—The prisoner, who seemed to be very delicate, was defended by Mr Colt Williams. He said his client was twenty-five or twenty-six years of age, and had lived with her uncle for twelve years. If his Lordship thought justice I would be met by the discharge of the prisoner, her uncle was willing to take her back to live with him as his housekeeper as before.-Dr. Owen, of Llanidloes, said he was in attendance upon the prisoner, who was suffering from a spinal com- plaint, and was in a very delicate condition.— George Thomas, a commercial traveller, now of Newtown, and formerly of Llanidloes, proferred his testimony as to the prisoner's character. He said she had been a very useful member of the English Methodist Chapel, Llanidloes. Replying to his Lordship, witness said the Rev. Thomas- Luther Martin had lived in the house of prisoner's uncle. He believed her statement with reference to Mr Martin, who was the pastor of the Con- gregational Chapel, Llanidloes, until the month of May. Witness was a member and a deacon of that chapel, and the prisoner was a member of the English Methodist Chapel. At first the members of the Congregational Chapel did not believe the statement of the prisoner, but what he had since heard had altered his view.—Police Inspector Lake also gave evidence as to character. Replying to the Judge, he said prisoner's father was living, and also a brother, who was a solicitor in Scotland. He had known the prisoner eleven or twelve years. She was a most respectable lady. He had not had any occasion to inquire as to the correctness or otherwise of her story.—James M'Murdo, uncle of the prisoner, said he was a widower, and his niece had acted as housekeeper to him for eleven or twelve years. If she were released by his Lordship he would still take care of her. He knew Mi- Martin was very friendly with her, but he never thought that there was anything between them till after her confinement. She had since told him that Mr Martin promised to marry her on condition that she would find £ 300. He knew she had been preparing for marriage before this. He had not seen 1\1:1 Martin since 1 his bad occurred-he had kept entirely out of their way. The ch trge against him, which was dated the 1st of September, bad been read in Court and published, and he bad not heard that Mr Martin had denied it in any way.- In passing sentence his Lordship said he hoped they all sympathised with a woman in the prisoner's position, she having alleged that she had been very badly treated by a nicn who was a greater criminal than she. She said he bad seduced her under the promise of marriage, and had almost driven her out of her mind. He was not aware that her statement to this effect had ever been denied at any rate it had not been publicly denied. A baser or more worldly-minded suggestion than Mr Martin was alleged to have made with respect to the £300 it, was impossible to imagine. The charge bad not been repudiated, and if it was true, the Rev Thomas Luther Martin was about as base a man as ever was created, and certainly was a disgrace and a discredit to any church in this country. Under these circumstances he could hardly believe this- man was still attempting to preach the Gospel. and ho should think very few days would elapse before an inquiry would be held by the members of his church as to whether or not this charge was true. He bad done his best to find out whether the charge was true or not. because he was very loth to believe it. He was very loth to say one single word which could prejudice anyone in the respected position of the pastor of a church. No one held a higher office than that, in the sight of God and in the sight of man, and it would ill become him, in the position he had the honour to occupy, that of one of Her Majesty's judges, to say anything that would prejudice anyone in that position, but he found himself in this difficult position. If the prisoner's statements were true, he ought to pass a lenient sentence, but if her statements were untrue it would only magnify hei offence. It was, in con- sequence, necessary for him to investigate the story as far as be could, and he found that the story had not, been publicly denied. He was told some letters had been written repudiating it, but that was not the way in which the denial should have been carried out He must, therefore, deal with the prisoner, in justice to her, on the assumption tha' -he "haige was true, at any rate in the main, and must believe that the crime was committed in conseque ce of her having been seduced. He should be sorry to add to the suffering she had gone through, and, although the crime to which she had pleaded guilty was one upon which he must pass sentence, the sentence of the Court was- that she should be imprisoned for one day, which would eptitle her to be discharged, in the care of her uncle.—The prisoner was then liberated. Great interest was taken in the case by the crowded Court. FALSE PRETENCES AT TOWYN. Martha Annie Hughes, 29 years of age, Frank- well street, Towyn, was indicted for obtaining by false pretences from the trustees of the Hearts of Oak Benefit Society the sum of £1 9s 8d, also for forging a certificate or declaration of the birth of a child.-Mi- Ellis Jones Griffith, M.P. appeared to prosecute, and Mr S. Moss, M.P., defended.—The prisoner pleaded guilty.—It will be remembered that the Hearts of Oak Society have no branches or agents, and all the work is conducted at the head office in London. The society paid a sum of Rl 10s on the occasion of the lying-in of a member's wife. Accused had made a claim to the society in April, 1896, and also in November of the same year, which only left a period of seven months between the two claims. The society had made inquiries and found that she had received £ 1 10s when no child was born. She was also charged with false pretences, through filing a declaration of the birth of a child. —His Lordship's verdict was that she be sent to prison for six calendar months.

AGRICULTURE. WORK WELL FORWARD. October has ended with a week of almost per- petual fog, which kept the surface of heavy land in a sticky condition, less propitious to cultivation than it had been previously. Still, the month on the whole has been a remarkably favourable one for farm work, which is now in an exceptionally forward stage for the time of year. In most dis- tricts farmers have sown all the land intended for wheat, and a large proportion of the crop is al- ready up, thick and strong in the rows THE POTATO CROP. Potatoes have come off theJand well, and growers are cheered by the improved prices, which will compensate them partly, if not entirely, for the shortness of yield. The best potatoes are quoted in Covent Garden up to £ 5 a ton, and are selling there at 6s by the hundredweight. One of the satisfac- tory features of the present season is the good plant of young clover to be noticed in almost all parts of the country. BARLEY AT THE BREWERS' EXHIBITION. There was a very good show of barley at the Brewers' Exhibition, opened in the Royal Agricul- tural Hall, Islington, on Saturday last, the entries numbering 92 of English and 27 of foreign grain. In plumpness of berry the majority of the English samples are all that could be desired, and many are of excellent quality; but some, which are other- wise good, are a little harsh in texture of skin, and several were obviously weathered more or less injuriously before they were harvested. The championship f@r the best barley in the show has been won by a bushel of excellent form, colour, and quality, grown by Mr W. N. Howard, of St. Peter's Farm, Bury St. Edmunds. It is of Hallett's variety and was grown after roots on a mixed soil over the chajk, with the help of farmyard manure, having been sown on the 1st of March. In the Foreign Division there is none of the Danish barley which has attracted attention at previous exhibitions and only one sample of French and one of Russian are to be seen. Some of the best foreign barley is from Asia Minor, and there is one very nice sample from Montana, while the Saale and Moravian varieties are fairly represented. The display of hops is surprisingly small for a Brewers' Exhibi- tion, although the 26 entries compare with last year's 21. The quality of the hops is regarded as generally satisfactory by the judges, who alone have had an opportunity of examining them at present. » THE DANGERS OF FORCING. Mr W. Housman contributes to the Agricultural Gazette a thoughtful article on Injurious Effects of Early Forcing," in relation to live stock. While admitting that it is injudicious to allow animals to struggle on slowly to matmity through an early life of semi-starvation, and that it is desirable, on the contrary, to treat them generously, he points out that the shortening of their span of life must be paid for early maturity and quick profits. In the case of stock reared exclusively for the butcher, this is of no consequence; but when with stock for breeding excessive forcing is practised, there is a risk of seriously impairing the vital energies of generation unborn, and not only curtailing the length of life, but also preparing a seed-bed for hereditary disease. SWINE FEVER. There is great encouragement in the dwindling number of outbreaks of swine fever. During the week ended on October 23, only 14 out-breaks, resulting in the slaughter of 208 pigs as diseased or exposed to infection, were reported. These figures are the smallest recorded since the disease was taken in hand by the Board of Agriculture, and there seems to be some hope that during the winter, the troublesome malady will be extirpated. CHEESE MAKING. According to the North British Agricultnrist, the Canadian system of Cheddar cheese-making, adopted in Scotland about twelve years ago, has been thoroughly discredited, and the bulk of the cheese made in that country this year has been produced under the old Somerset system, with or without modification. The Canadian plan of pro- ducing the required acidity in the curd is that of heating the milk, whereas the old plan is that of adding sour milk or whey. The former has been discarded because the common fault of discoloration which has been a great trouble to Scotch makers in recent years, is attributed to that method. In some cases a pure culture, obtained from Professor Conn, of the United States, has been used as a starter," and this was the case with the cheese made by Mr Cross, of Knockdon, who carried off the chief honours at the recent Kilmarnock Cheese Show. »

A meeting of the Court of Governors of the Bangor University College was held at Rhyl on Wednesday. A resolution was passed recording the loss sustained by the death of Sir G. O. Morgan. Mr. W. Rathbone was appointed presi- dent, Lord Kenyon vice-president, Mr. Bryn Roberts, M.P.. treasurer, and Mr. W. J. Parry auditor. In the reports submitted it was stated that, it was intended to rent a farm for the purpose of carrying on experiments, and enabling the agricultural students to study the practical as well as the theoretical sides of the subject.

WELSH BAPTIST UNION. Committee meetings in connection with the Welsh Baptist Union were held in the Baptist Chapels at Aberystwyth on Tuesday afternoon and on Wednesday. Among those present were the Revs Dr Gomer Lewis, Swansea, chairman; 1. Thomas, Caersalem Newydd. ex-chairman Rev Dr Morris and Rev T Williams, B.A.; Dr Owen Davies, Carnarvon C Davies, Cardiff; W Morris, Treorky, secretary; T S Jones, Cardiff; W B Jones, Pcnycae; E U Thomas, Carmarthen Prof Silas Morris, M.A., Bangor College J Griffiths, Llanfairfechain A J Parry, Cefnmawr; Iorwerth Jones, Maesteg 0 M Pritchard, Newcastle Emlyn; T Frimstone, Llan- gefni; R Roberts, Morriston B Evans, Godlys, Aberdare; J Davies, Birkenhead; T T Evans, Blaenau Gwent; D Hussey, Bridgend E K Jones, Brym bo; T John, Rliydargaeaii; W G Owen, Corris; J Humphreys, Llanwrtyd; J R Evans, Llwynhendy W A Jones, Mertliyr Alderman Edwards, Carmar- then; Mr Abraham, Forth; MrYaughan,Staylittle.— Speaking at a meeting of the executive committee of the Union, at the Welsh Baptist Chapel, Dr Gomer Lewis, Swansea, the president, referred to the great loss sustained by the Church in the death of the late Rev John Evans Eglwysbach," who was taken away very suddenly at Liverpool. He was one of the leading preachers in the Princi- pality. A vote of condolence was passed with the family, which was sent by telegram to the family on Wednesday, in the name of Dr. Gomer Lewis. A meeting of the Welsh Colleges Com- mittee was held at the English Baptist Church on Tuesday evening, Dr Gomer Lewis presiding. The meeting was held in private, but a report was furnished at the close. It was decided to remit a circular to all the churches included in the Welsh and English associations, with the view of ascertaining their opinion on these ques- tions-in the first place, whether they are favour- able to the retention of the present three colleges secondly, whether they are in favour of the suggestion for two colleges, and thirdly, whether they are in favour of one college alone for the Prin- cipality. The committee also agreed that the majority of the churches should decide upon the basis on a vote being allotted for every hundred members of the various churches. It was arranged that the church circulars should be sent out in the names of Dr Gomer Lewis, the Rev W. Morris (Treorky), secretary of the Cardiff College Mr D. F. Ellis, secretary of the Aberystwyth College; and the Rev J. Griffiths (Llanfairfechan), secretary of the Bangor College. These gentlemen, with the assistance of three others, viz., the Rev D. Davies, Llandudno; the Rev J. W. Humphreys, Llanwrtyd; and the Rev D. B. Jones, Caerleon, were also appointed to form a committee of scrutineers of the church vote. It was further arranged that the next conference of the Union be held at Llanwrtyd during the last week of January, 1898, when the replies of the church will be taken into con- sideration and further action decided upon.— The Rev Wm. Morris, vice-president, of Treorkey, presided over the Forward Movement Committee, held on Tuesday evening.—Reports were received from the following churches under the auspices of the Society :— Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesborough, Lampeter, Corris, Senghenydd, Llanbradach, Aber, St Bride's Conwynstone, &c.-The committee were highly gratified to find that nearly Y,200 had been promised in the immediate neighbourhood towards the new chapel at Lampeter, and expect that in response to the appeal sent out to the churches in Wales that the remainder will soon be forthcoming. It was also reported that a new chapel was about to be built at Corris. They were very glad to know that the new movement has been begun by the building of a new chapel at Llangammarch Wells, a most eligible site for the same having been given by Mr. S. M. Bleighe, of Cilmer Park. The Rev. J. W. Humphreys, pastor of Llanwrtyd Church, has already secured R35 towards the same. In addition to the Rev. A. J. Parry, who represents, the Society in canvassing the different churches in Wales, the Committee have decided to invite the Rev. John Williams, Cardigan, to undertake the eanvass of the churches in Pembrokeshire. The Treasurer read a financial statement which was considered highly satisfactory. ♦

The National Church Almanack for 1898 is a use- ful compilation, giving a large amount of useful in- formation on Church history, Church work and progress, a list of Church societies and periodicals. Representatives of the Delegates to the National Union Conference will be entertained at dinner at the Constitutional Club on the 15th of November. Mr Chaplin, M.P., has consented to pieside. During the Conference the Welsh delegates will be enter- tained to dinner by Sir John Liewellyn. The Life Boat for November reviews the reasons which led the Royal National Life Boat Institution to build and station a steam life-boat at Padstow on the north coast of Cornwall, as dangerois a coast as any in these islands. The institution, now that it has been exonerated and thanked by the Parliamentary Committee, claims, with good reason, the support of the public.

MARKETS FARMING AND THE CORN TRADE. Messrs. W. L. Browne & Co., report from Shrews- bury, on Saturday, October the 30th, as follows:— The beautiful weather of the past week has kept farmers hard at work on the land, and the supplies of grain on local markets have fallen off in con- sequence. Wheat has remained steady in value, and in some cases au advance of 6d per sack has been paid for fine quality. Samples of common barleys on offer have increased and such have receded in value fully Is per quarter, but fine mellow parcels have remained unchanged. Oats have moved freely at former quotations. Flour has experienced a better trade, and an advance of Is per sack has been established. For milling offals a more general enquiry has sprung up, but so far prices have not advanced. WELSH TOOL CORN, :MoNDAY.-Prices:- Wheat 14s Od to 15s Od per 240lbs; barley, 15s Od to 18s Od per 280lbs; oats, 12s 6d to 14s Od per 2251bs. WE LSHPOOLGr,,NFRAL,Alonday.-IVholesale prices: Butter lid to Is 2d per lb eggs 8 to 9 for Is fowls Os Od to 3s Od per couple chickens, 3s Od to 5s Od; ducks, 4s Od to 5s 6d per couple; geese, 4s 6d to 7s Od each turkeys, 4s Od to 6s Od each rabbits Is Od to Is 6d per couple; potatoes, Os Od per cwt. LIVERPOOL CATTLE, MONDAY. —The supply of stock was smaller than last week, showing a decrease of 120 cattle, and of 1,954 sheep and lambs. Slow demand for all classes at about late rates. Quotations: Best beef, 5d to Od; second, 5d to 5td; third, 4d to 4id; best Scotch sheep, 7d to Od other sorts, 5id to 7d; lambs, 6d to 7d per lb. 2 Numbers: Beasts, 1,964; Sheep and lambs 5,113. LIVERPOOL CORN, TUESDAY.—Wheat quiet, trade, d under Friday, except white wheats, about 2d dearer.—1 Californian, 8s3d to 8s 3d; new Northern 7s 7d to 7s 9d. Beans-Saidi, 26s 3d to 26s 6d. Peas, 4s llid to 5s Od. Oats, quiet, firm- new white, 2s 2d to 2s 5d. Maize, quiet trade, td under Friday-mixed, 3s lid to 3s 2d. Flour, occasionally 6d over Friday-bakers, 28s 6d to 29s 6d. BIRMINGHAM CATTLE, TUESDAY.—Shox-t supply; slow trade. Prices as follows — Beef, 4!d to 6d; mutton, 5d to 8Jd best English bacon pigs 8s Od to 8s 3d Irish bacons, 8s 4d; porkets, 8s. 6d sows, 6s 4d to 6s 6d per score. SALFORD CATTLE, TUESDAY.—At market-Cattle, 2,821 sheep, 6,984; and calves, 125. Choice quali- ties of cattle not plentiful. Sheep good qualities brisk, and calves with dragging sales. Quota- tions as follows Cattle, 4d to 6d sheep, 5d to 8jd; calves, 5d to 6d per lb. LONDON HAY AND STRAW, TUESDAY.—Moderate supplies, and trade quiet at the following prices:—Good to prime hay, 60s. to 86s Od; inferior to fair, 50s to 60s; good to prime clover, 70s to 97s Od new ditto, Os to Os; inferior to fair ditto, 50s Od to 68s mixture and sainfoin, 50s Od to 85s Od new ditto, 00s to 00s straw, 32s to 39s per load. ELLESMERE, TUESDAY. New Wheat 4s lOd to 5s Od; old Os Od to Os Od per 75 lbs; new oats 2s 9d to 3s Od; old oats, Os Od to Os Od, per 50 lbs; malting barley 4s Od to 3s 6d per 70 lbs; eggs 7 to 9 for Is; butter Is Od to Is 2d per 16 oz fowls 3s 4d to 4s Od per couple chickens, Os Od to Os Od per couple; ducks, 4s Od to 5s Od per couple; rabbits, ls4d to Is 8d per couple; apples, 5s Od to 6s Od per 90 lbs. OSWESTRY CORN MARKET, WEDNESDAY. The following were the quotatiors :—Old white wheat, Os Od to Os Od per 751bs old red wheat, Os Od to Os Od per 7blbs new white wheat, 4s lOd to 5s 2d; new red wheat, 4s 6d to Os Od per 751bs old white oats, 13s Od to 14s Od per 2001bs; old black oats, Os Od to Os Od new white oats, 10s Od to 12s 6d per 2001bs new black oats, 00s Od to OOs Od per 2001bs; malting barley, 16s Od to 20s Od; grinding barley, 12s Od to 14s Od per 280 lbs. THE SMITHFIELB, Wednesday.—Messrs Whitfield and Son sold 179 cattle and calves, and 496 sheep and pigs Messrs Lulham and Doody 69 cattle andgcattle, and 263 sheep and pigs. Current quotations:—Beef, 5d to 6!d per lb. mutton, 6d to 8d per lb.; lamb, 7d to 8d per lb. veal, 7d to 8d per lb.; porket pigs, 8s Od to 8s 6d per score bacon pigs, 8s 4d to Os Od per score. OSWESTRY GENERAL MARKET, WEDNESDAY.— Butter, Is Id to Is 2d per lb; eggs, 8 to 9 for Is; beef, 7d to 8d; mutton, 7d to 8d; veal, 7d to 8d lamb, 8d to lid; pork, 6d to 8d per lb; fowls, 4s 6J to 5s Od per couple chickens, Os Od to Os Od per couple; ducks, 5s Od to 6s Od per couple; ducklings, Os Od to Os Od per couple; turkeys, Os Od to Os Od each rabbits Is 8d to 2s Od per couple; geese, Od to Od per lb; potatoes, Is per score carrots, 4s per cwt. CORK BUTTER, Thursfiay.-Prilnest, 87s; prime, 79s firsts, 84s; kegs, 82s seconds, 78s kegs 76s thirds, 71s fourths 56s; fifths -s, choicest 92s choice 85s, superfine 91s; kegs -s, fine mild 85s, mild 72s, choicest boxes 92s, choice boxes, a. In market 346, which were classified as follows :— Primest, 7; prime 4, firsts 162, seconds 56, thirds 17, fourths 2, fifths 0; choicest 7, choice 0, super- fine 51, fine mild 21, mild 0, choicest boxes 14, choice 2, unbrancled 3, kegs 4. WHITCHURCH, FRIDAY. Wheat, 4s 8d to 5s Od per 75 lbs; barley 3s 6d to 4s 6d per 701 bs; oats, 3s Od to 4s Od per 50 lbs eggs, 7 to 8 for Is butter, Is Id to Is 2d per 16 oz fowls, 3s Od to 3s 6d per couple; ducks, 4s Od to 4s 6d per couple potatoes, Os lOd to Os Od per score: beef, 6d to 8d per lb; mutton, 7d to 9d; lamb, 7d to 9d per lb; veal, 7d to8d per lb pork, 5d to 6d per lb; rabbits Is 4d to Is 6d per couple; apples, Id to l!d per lb. «.

Mr C. J. Darling, Q.C., has been appointed a judge of th e High Court. A vacancy is thus caused in the Parliamentary representation of Deptford. The result of the polling at Barnsley to fill the vacancy caused through the succession to the peerage of Lord Compton was declared at noon yesterday :-Walton (L.) 6,744, Blythe (C.) 3,354, Curran (L.) 1,091. At the Central Criminal Court on Thursday twe members of the Peculiar People" were con- victed of manslaughter. In each case the defen- dant had refused to call in medical aid when his children were ill, and death had resulted. The defendants pleaded that they were guided by a certain text in the Epistle of St. James. They consulted their own feelings absolutely, and dis- regarded altogether the rights of the helpless children. Sentence was postponed.