Potter's Electric News

M I L F 0 R D. In our obituary of this day we record the d?H(h of Mr George Thomas, grocer, an old and respectable inhabitant of the town of Milford. He had been in business for nearly half a century; and by his kind, honest, and straightforward manner had won the esteem oi all who knew him. The respect in which fie was held wae shown on the day his mortal remains were conveyed to the r earthly home, when nearly at: the shop windows were closed, and business suspended. He was an earnest and zealous Churchman, a tender husband, and a kinti father. Much sympathy is felt tor his bereaved family. His end was peace.

PEMBROKE. CHARGE OF PERJURY AT PEMBROKE. On Saturday, before Dr H. P. Jones, and ten other magistrates, Superindendent George Evans charged George Mathias Sinnett, otherwise Sinnette, with having at the Town Hal], Pembroke, on September the 23rd, at a revision court, held before Mr William Mills, the revising barrister, wilfully committed corrupt perjury, in the case of his falsely obtaining a vote, for the election of a member of Parliament, under the lodger FRANCHISE. This case excited immense interest in the locality, (the court being densely crowded throughout the day), the more especially as the accused holds a responsible situation in the Dockyard, and was co-secre- tary of Sir Hugh Owen's electioneering committee, and has been generally respected in the town of Pembroke Dock, where he has been brought up. Mr W. 0. Rutm conducted the prosecution, and Mr W. John, of Haverfoidwcst, the defence. Mr Robert Lanning, the Town Clerk, was sworn, and proved that the Revision Court had been properly con- stituted on the day named in the indictment, September the 23rd, 1868. Mr William James, assistant overseer of St Mary's parish, produced the original ovei seer's list of names, tbe name of tbe defendant being tbereon. Dr Douglas Reid, sworn, said he was a magistrate, and was present at the Revising Rarrister's Court on September the 23rd, at the Town Hall, Pembroke, when the list for the Lodger Franchise was gone through, and he especially noticed Mr Sinnett's claim. He saw the oath administered to him by the Barrister, and beard his examination as to his qualifications in regard of obtaining a vote. He heard the barrister ask him what rent he paid for his house. He replied that he paid half the rent. The whole house was rented at £18, and he paid £9, and also paid half the rates, which amounted to 35s. By Mr John I am quite positive that he stated £ 9, and that his share of the rates was either 35s or 35s 6d. I cannot quite remember who put the first question to him, the revising barrister, or yourself, but I know you supported his claim upon that occasion. He said he claimed in respect of six rooms that he held in the house. I don't remember Sinnette saying that the house now lets for £ 18." I never heard him say so, and 1 don't believe he mentioned the word now." He did not say that bis part of the rates was 30s, but 35s or 3as 6d. Ho said the rocms were unfurnished. I did not make any notes in the court, or afterwards. I heard about a week or a fortnight after the court was held that he had sworn falsely. By the prosecution He persisted in the statement be had made, and never said anything after to qualify it, and on these representations he had his vote. The next vit iesswasMr Wm. Hulm, who said he was a magistrate. Was in the court during the time Mr Sinnett was examined his was the last case before the court closed. He heard the question asked by the bar- rister as to the rent he paid, and he said he paid R9 per year, and 35s rates and taxes. He said it over three or four times, and on that evidence be bad his vote. Mrs Mary Ann Kneebone said she was a widow, and h d rented a house at Lower Meyrick Street, Pembroke Dock, and bad resided there up to September the 29th, and paid the rent up to that time. The defendant took half of the house with her, and she (witness) took the house from Mrs Hancock, the rent being Xi5 per year. She had. a written agreement with Mr Sinnett (produced) with his name attached to it, which he signed in her presence, in which it was stipulated that he should pay L7 10s, half of the rent, and also half of the taxes, the amount of rent to he paid quarterly, which was done, at which times XI 17 d 6<1 was paid and no more. She had only paid one single rate during the time she was in the house. [Receipt ptolucedfor 18s, half of which, 9s, 6 ndant had paid.] By Mr John I have been away from Pater since last Jutie, and only recently returned during that time my daughter rec ived the rent. Mr Sinnett can show by the receipts he has been given what rent he paid. I 30i\'t recollect Mrs Hancock saying that the house would not be let to the next tenant under £18, I gave Mrs Hancock notice that I should leave the house. I can't say the amount of rates owing. I never authorised anyone to alter my agreement for rent. Mr James, assistant overseer, re-culled, produced the rate-books, and said that for Mrs Kneebone's house at Meyrick Street, the rates were frorij July, 1867 to July, 1868, viz, poor rates £1 143 10td, highway rate 5s 7- £ d, gas rate 6s 9d, total £ 2 7s 3d, and Mr Sinnett's half of that was XI 33 711 the house was rated at X16 gross, and £ 13 10s rateable value. By Mr John Mrs Knecbone applied to the Assess- ment Committee on July 4 h, 1867, when the gross value was reduced from CI9 to £16, For the defence, Mr John called John Thomas Cock, who said he was a schoolmaster; he was present on September 22nd, at the Revision Court, when Mr Sin- nett's claim was heard, and made notes of the questions and answers in his case on his letu n tome in ihe even- ing the first question he (defendant) was asked was what is the rent of your house ?" he replied, it is now let at £ 18 per year the nexf, '• and I believe you pay half the rates and faxes,'J he replied, "I do;" "what do the rates and taxes amount to r" he replied, I should think about 80s how many rooms have you;" he replied, six, and that be was the exclusive occupier of them, and that they were unfurnished." By Mr Hulm: ] am not a reporter. I did not make any notes with a view of these proceedings: my only reason for taking thein was that as Sinnett and I were members of the Liberal Committee, I was desirous of having notes of what was said. The notes were written at my house the same night, between nine and twelve o'clock. I got home about nine o'clock: I had tea: I then went to a meeting. There was no one present when I made the notes. Sinnett was not asked by the bar- rister what rent ho paid: but I won't swear that tbe barrister did not say £ 9—the half of £ 18. I believe the barrister gave him his vote as on the value ot the house, and not on the rent he paid. (Laughter.) He was never asked what rent he paid. There were others there under the lodger franchise. The barrister asked Mr Smedley what rent he paid, and I presume he asked others. Sinnett's reply to the barrister was that "the rent (of the bouse) is now X18 per year, and the rates (his part) 30s." Never beard him say 35s. Mr Hulm: Will you swear, sir, that he did not say 35,s ? Witness (after considerable hesitation): Well, I won't swear that 35s was not mentioned; but I don't think it was. By the Bench: My notes were not taken in court, He was asked about the rates, but not about the rent. I don't know anything about the matter. (Laughter.) Can't say was it then existing tenancy, or after. I swear he was never asked by anyone as to the amount of rent, he paid. 1 The Bench to Mr Lanning, Town Clerk It is a genera question to usl. what rent they pay. One Mr Dickenson said from 6s to 8s a week, and then the decision of the barrister is based on that. The next witness was William James Fitze, who said he had heard Mr Cock's evidence, which was generally correct. He (witness) was asked by the barrister what rent he paid, and he heard all others generally asked about their rent, but Sinnett was not asktd the question, only about the rates. By Mr Hulm: ] knew that Sinnett was paying the halt of LI,5 rent per year. I had my vote on the same day. I was in treaty about the same house about June last, but I gave up the idea of taking it when I found that the rent was to be £18. Angus M'Coll corroborated the preceding evidence generally, and said that it was true as far as he knew. By Mr Hulm: H'3 was not asked about the rent. He heard no one ask him. J swear no one asked him. He heard Mr Richardson and Mr Smedley asked what they paid per week, but Sinnett was not asked. (Laughter.) Eliza Griffiths, a married woman, daughter of the owner of the house, Mrs Hancock, said that previously the house had been let for £21, then for nineteen guineas. Mrs Kneebone only paid £15 per year, and it is now let to Miss Edwards for £ 17, and not X18. Thomas GlanvilJe said he was present at the Revision Court, and what the firlt witness, Mr Cock, had said in his evidence was substantially true, he believed. He could not say that what Cook had stated was all that took placi, The Bench, after consulting for a short time, com- mitted the defendant to the Assizes bail being accepted, himself in JlOO. and two sureties of £ 50 each. The witnesses were also all bouud over to appear. This case lasted five hours.

CORONEU'S INQUEST.—On Monday, the 21st inst, an inquest was held at the Police Station, Saundersfoot, before the Coroner, W. V. James, Esq, on the body of a tramp named William Fisher. Police Sergeant Royle was the first witness called, who deposed that at about ten o'clock on Saturday morning he found the deceased lying on the flags near the Picton Castle Inn he spoke to him, and said Well old man, you cannot lie here he took hold of his arm and with very little assistance the man got on his feet: the Sergeant then said You look very ill; you'd better go to the Uuion but first come to the Police Station, and I will give you some warm tea, and you'll be better able to go." He then walked by himself to the door of the Station, and turning round eat on the steps; immediately his head fell back. Sergeant Royle then ran to him thinking he was in a fit, and with assistance lifted him into the cell aid placed him on the bed, he then poured a little brandy down his throat, but found his pulse had stopped and his heart had ceased to beat. He felt convinced he must have died before he was carried into the Station. He found that his name was William Fisher, and he was a native of Staffordshire, 63 years of age. Thomas Newaam, Esq, M.D., stated I was oalled in to see the body of this man who is dead. I made a post mortem examination on Sunday. On opening the cheat I found the lungs highly congested, and completely adhering to the pleura the result of an old and long standing in. flaamation there were only two very small portions of the right lung through which he could possibly have breathed the heart was empty, flaccid and pale, but moderately healthy the veit. s of the heart were con- gested with venous blood the stomach contained about four ounces of fluid, but no solid matter. The evidences as to the cause of death were qu/te sufficient that he died from'congestion of the lungs acoelerated by want of proper attention. The jury, by theÍl: foreman Mr W. James, returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased's death resulted from natural causes."

BIRT ITS, MARRIAGES, & DEATHS. Notices of Births, Marriages, and Deaths, should be sent to usin Manuscript, properly authenticated. We cannot under- take tc search other papers for these announcements, vhiea are frequently found o be incorrectly printed, or turr out to be untrue. BIR,riis. On the 18th instant, at the Koval Crescent, Notting Hill, London, the wife of J. D. Roberts, Esq., of a daughter. DEA1H. On the 15th instant, at Slade Lane, Sergeant John Webster, Permanent Staff, R.P.A.M., much respected by his comrades and all who knew him, aged fifty-two years. On the 11th instant, at 18, Charles Street, Milford, Mr George Thomas, grocer, aged 68 years.

GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY. ~WSBKLY TKAFFIC RETURN. Week ending December 13ib, 186K £7..f.,074 Corresponding Week, 1867 £ 71,827 F. CLOTSOM, Chief Accountant.

HUNTING APPOINTMENTS. THE PEMBROKESHIRE HUNT CLUB FOXHOUNDS. Thursday, 21th December, at Hayscastle. Each day at 10.30. SOUTH PEMBROKESHIRE HOUNDS. Thursday, 24th December, at Tenby. Each day at 10'30 a.m. MIL POWELL'S HOUNDS. Saturday, 26th December, at, Dolewilim. Each day at 10,30 a.m. HAVERFORDWEST HARRIERS. Saturday, 26th December at Walwynscastle Cross. Each day at 10.30, a.m. \7'W

THE NATIONAL EISTEDDFOD AND MUSIC. It may be scored to the credit of the National Eestedd- fod of Wales (or at least to its latest development) that it has given some impetus to choral singing, and has furnished the germs of talent whioh, under English tutelage, has eventually proved itself capable of good things. Thus the Eisteddfod hoisted into notice Miss Edith Wynne and Miss Edmonds—ladies who subse- quently benefited largely by troining in England. A new singer is promised us ham the Principality-a Miss Francis, the daughter of a working man who himself showed considerable ability in organising an artizan choir from the mountains of South Wales and carrying off the honours at Carmarthen a victory highly spoken of by Mr Henry Leslie att'!e time. The daughter of this mechanic gained a vocal scholarship at Chester two "ears ago, and has just received the benefit of a concert given at Swansea to enable her to defray the expenses of a year's study previous to ente) ing the RoyalAcademy. A good many kindly elements contributed to help the poor girl. First, MR Brinley Richards went down from town, and gave his gratuitous services in fulfilment of an old promise then Messrs Broadwood freely lent a large grand piano and the Greit Western as freely cairied it to and fro (was ever so much generosity recorded of a railway company?) Of course the local folks worked arduously for the charity, and of course the London composer and his colleague, M. Paque, who acsom- panied him, were enthusiastically welcomed. With the merits of the concert, beyond recording its success, we have nothing t»Jo wtiat remains is to point out to young Wales that it is by common-sense means like these she will force her budding talent to the front, not hy Cheap Jack tricks with bards and harps and stones and sheathed swords. And Cambria may also bear in mind that when promise of fair ability cames from Wales, Englishmen are eager to welcome it, and local Welshmen here do not forget the claims of the old country on their generosity. These facts are the best answer to the ravings of native bards about England's jealousy and England's exclusivenesa. England is never exclusive towards charming artidi like Miss Edith Wynne and Miss Edmonds. But England will ooBtinue to be amazingly exclusive towards the Tal- haiarns, and Roaring Lions, and blatant bards of that type, Orchestra, THE MANUFACTURE OF JEWELLERY.—The striking development of Fine Art productions in this branch of the industrial trades since the period of the great Ex- hibition is admirably exemplified in a most interesting little work just published by Mr J. W. Benson, who holds the appointment to H.R.H the Maharajah of Burd- wan, of 25, Old Bond Street; 99, Westbourue Grove; and the City Steam Factory, 158 and GO, Ludgate Hill. It is profusely illustra'ed with the most beautiful designs of Bracelets, Brooches, Earrings, Lockets, &c., &o., in every conceivable style, and with prices attached; and thus the intending purchaser is enabled to make a selec- tion suited to his taste, and ba-c it forwarded to any part of the United Kingdom, India, or the Colonies. The price of this most useful guide is Twopence, for which it is forwarded post free, and any cne who contemplates a purchase, either for personal wear or for a wedding, birthday, Christmas, or other present, it will be found of the very greatest service. NATIONALITY IN VOlCES,-At the ordinary meeting of the Anthropological Society of London, held on the 15th of December, Dr James Hunt, president in the chair, Sir Duncan Cibb, vice-president, read a paper On the Character of the Voice in the Nations of Asia and Africa contrasted with that in the Nations of Europe," of which the following is an abstract :-The subject was quite new and difficult to handle from the few facts bearing upon it; the author, however, trusted to these and to his general experience in its elucidation. The voice of the Chinese and Japanese was of low power, feeble compass, and whining in its tone, pos?es- ing at times a sort of metallic twang. Among the na- tives of Tartary, Thibet, and Mangolia the voice was strorger, louder, more powerful, yet still partaking of the metallic twang the female voice was not inferior in power to that of the male sex the metallio and deafening tones of the voice in those people were a will marked and distinctive peculiarity. In India and Bur- mab the voice was generally soft and very feminine, not so powerful as shrill; the natives of the hills had a more robust voice than those in the plains, the former pos- sessing a somewhat metallic twang, &nd the latter a plaintive and whining tone. In Africa the negro was taken as the type whose larynx was of intermediate pro: portions between the Chinese and Tartars, but differed from all other races of mankind in certain peculiarities, which the author described. The negro wanted vocal power in whatever part of the world be was placed, but possessed the elements of a bellowing or roaring voica -a deafening noisy sound, without harmony or distinct" ness. In speaking the voice was smooth and harmoniouS, or rough and husky. Considt-red generally, the varioUS nations of Europe possessed strong, powerful, SONOROU^ and clear voices; variations as to character and too might and did exist, but, as a rule, they all agreed 1 „ power, full compass, range, clearness, and loudne53 sound. The German had the most powerful voice Europe, for reasons which tha author gave; bu^i-0 strength of voice he must yield to the T»r^ar'. without exception, has the most powerful VOL,C,F C ,T,A world. The condition of the larynx, with le?S vocal chords, and other circumstances bearing on subject in the various nations of the three grea c nents, were considered, and tbe 8iyen °. „ general conclusions arrived at. The following gen took part in the discussion :Mr L. Owen l e, Carter Blake, Dr Roden, Mr Mackenzie, Dr CharnocK, Mr Allan, Rev Dunbar Dr. Campbell, and Dr. King,