Llangollen Advertiser Denbighshire Merionethshire and North Wales Journal

ORDINATION SERVICES AT CARROG. Meetings in connection with the ordination of the Rev. T. B. Watters, of Bangor College, to the pastorate of the Carrog and Glyndyfrdwy Baptist Churches, were held at the former place, on the 7th and 8th inst. On Tuesday evening, sermons were delivered by the Revs. D. W. Watters, Cwm- sarnddu, and Cefni Jones, Festiniog. On Wednesday morning, the Rev. H. C. Williams, Corwen, delivered a sermon on, The Nature of a Church (Natar Eglwys), followed by the Rev. J. L. Jones, Glynceiriog. At the afternoon meeting, the Rev. Principal Silas Morris, M.A., Bangor, delivered the charge to the pastor. The Rev. T. E. Watters having satisfactorily replied to the easterns ry questions, Messrs. Evan Wynno, Carrog, and William Griffiths, Glyndyfrdwy, on behalf of their respective churches, answered as to the regularity of the call. Following upon this, the Rev. W G. Owen (Llifon), Llanelidan, delivered the charge to the church. In the eyeniflg, the Rev. J. Cofni Jones and the Rev. J. L. Jones preached. The Carrog Church people had made t-xten-ive arrange- ments for the comfort of strangers in the way of r freshment". &0. On TWday evening a service WPl alrfO held at Glyndyfrdwy. the officiating miuisters being R' va Principal Silas Morris, M.A., and J. L. Jone-. Good attendance" were secured throughout, and the sermons preached were most powerfnl. Mr. Wat ers commences his ministry with the good wishes of a large oirole <of friends.

SEQUEL TO THE TREVOR ROCKS FATALITY. £ 150 FOR A HUSBAND. At the Llangollen County Court, on Monday, before His Honour Sir Horatio Lloyd, Mrs. Eliza Jones, Trevor, sought to recover 4-160, on behalf of herself and her infant child, for loss sustained owing to her husband being killed on January 22nd, at the quarries of the defendants, the Llangollen New Lime and Fluxing Stone Company. —Mr. E. Foulkes-Jones (Llangollen), was for the plaintiffs; and Mr. Cartwright (Chester), for the defendant Company.—In stating plaintiff's caso, Mr. Foulkes-Jones said that Elizabeth Jones and John Milne Jones, her infant son, were dependent upon J. E. Jones, of Trevor, who was killed by an accident at Trevor Quarries, and they claimed compensation from the defendants in respect of the injuries thty had suffered by the death of their husband and father who had been employed at the quarries. The claim was madj under the Workman's Compensation Act, 1887, which provided in Section 1. Sub-section I.-His Honour The great point is whether there has been wilful misconduet.—Mr. Foulkes-Jones said the defence set up practically came under Section C. which provides that, if it be proved that the injury is due to the serious and wilful misconduct of the party injured, damages may not be recovered. The respondents set out fully the nature of the defence. First, they stated that the deceased approached an unexploded charge too quickly-within twenty minutes of the fuse being placed, and sought to withdraw it, the charge exploding and killing him. This, it would be contended, was a violation of the quarry rules. Respondents also desired to bring to the notice of His Honour the fact that deceased bad been warned, and well knew the consequences of interfering with the charge. Plaintiffs denied that deceased approached the charge within the prescribed time, and also denied that the accident was caused by the serious misconduct of the deceased. The question AI' c. nr wilful misconduct was entirely one of fact; and it rested with His Honour to define what is or what is not serious and wilful misconduct. A mere breach of rules did not necessarily mean serious and wilful misconduct. That, he thought, had been clearly established by the case of Rumble v. Nunnery Colliery Company and he might also refer to the case of G. W. Gilpin against the Hafod Colliery Company. In that ease plaintiff had committed a breach of the rules, and Lord Justice Smith, in delivering his judgment, dismissed an appeal against a judgment of His Honour given in favour of plaintiff. It was not true to say that a mere breach of the rules under the Coal Mines Regulations Act would necessarily amount to serious and wilful misconduct; the circumstances under which the breach occurs in each case must be ascertained, and the whole matter considered. It could not be laid down as the law that serious misconduct was implied in every breach of the rules. Their point was that plaintiff met with his death as the result of a pure accident; and if the deceased did anything ia contravention of the bye-laws it was not done wilfully, but through an error of judgement. He submitted, further, it was necessary for the respondents to prove, before plaintiff could be deprived of com- pensation, that the deceased workman knew that in the course he was adopting he was misconduoting himself, and also that his misconduct was of a serious nature and brought about the injury. Unlass they could prove this, he submitted, plaintiff was entitled to a verdict. The deceased workman, J. E. Jones, had been a quarryman all his life, and had been working in the operations of blasting with the Company for four or five years. He was engaged by them at a wage of 3s. 6d. a day, so that he had nothing to gain by approaching the charge too quickly; and it was of no benefit to him to run any risk by approaching the charge in the manner alleged. On this occasion he took every precaution, and remained away half an hour and he was satisfied that the charge missed fire when he went back to do what was customary in cases of that kind, and the explosion took place, resulting in his death. He then proceeded to indicate the steps taken by deceased and his mate in blasting at the rocks. First of all, he said, they bored a hole six or seven feet deep, and put a small quantity of powder in; then they put in a fuse and closed up the hole and fired it. The first charge only made a small hole, and the process was repeated. On the third occasion, the large charge was inserted, as much powder being used as the aperture would hold. Sometimes lolbs., sometimes 30lbs., and sometimes as much as 401bs. were used. The accident happened after the third charge had been inserted. Deceased was satisfied that the fuse had gone out. He could not see any smoke,and when he returned to the place, the explosion occurred he waskilled and his companion had a. miraculous escape In regard to the question of damages, the schedule of the Act established £150 as a maximum if they were entitled to anything at all they were entitled to this. The clause reads The amount of com- pensation under the Act.—If the workman leaves dependents, a sum equal to his earnings during the three years next preceding the injury, or £ 150 shall be paid to them."—Mr. O. R. Jones, Inspector under the Metaliferous Regulations Act, put in the rules, printed in English and Welsh, which wore posted at quarries, and made under an Act which beoame law on May 11th, 1896.—Mrs. Elizabeth Jones, widow of the deceased, J. E. Jones, of Trevor, said that her husband had been killed at the quarries on January 22nd. She was married on November 16th, 1889; and her boy was born on November 7th, 1892. Her husband received 3s. 6d. a day wages and she claimed compensation under the Act of 1897.—J. Morris Roberts said he had been working at the quarries since he was a boy. He was working with Jones at the time the accident happened, his partner, Joseph Morris, being away. J. L. Evans, the foreman, told him to go and work with J. E. Jones. He was werking on the rock boring and blasting. He could not say anything regarding the work beyond that he had bored a hole seven feet deep. After the hole had been made they put thirteen horns' full of powder in for the third charge, and then put a fuse in and fired it. Before putting the fuse in deceased shouted as a warning. This was about a quarter or ten minutes to eleven. After lighting the fuse they went up the mountain, and they had a good way to walk to a place of safety. They remained on the mountain a good time; he could not say how long, and deceased told him the f use in the hole must have missed fire. They went slowly to it, stopping twice on the way. They saw a man named David Jones and asked him the time, and he said twenty minutes past eleven, or else a quarter past, he did not remember which. Deceased tried to get the piece ef the old fuse out, and this was what be appeared to be doing when everything slipped from underneath his feet and the explosion took place.- Cross-examined by Mr. Cartwright: He said before the coroner that after the last fuse had been put in he went away, and remained away about twenty- five minutett—BOt fifteen as appeared on the coroner's record. He admitted having made a statement to the foreman of the works, but denied that be told him they only remained away from the charge for ten minutes. Sergt. Wyse questioned him on the subject, but he could not remember what he said to him.—Other evidence having been called for the plaintiffs, Mr. Cartwright stated the case for the defence. He said that th > man who unfortunately was killed was the man trusted to carry out the blasting operations, and it was pre- sumed hat he would take care to keep well within the rales which had been posted up in various parts of the works, and printed both in English and Welsh, and had been read from time to time to the men, and special directions had been given to men engaged in the blasting operations. It appeared olear that there had been am infraction of the rules in more respects than one. He might mention, for example, that iron or steel tools were used instead of wooden rammers; and, further, the rules provide that no new fuse shall be introduced until thirty minutes have elapsed. As a matter of fact, the work done in charging the hole was interfered with in considerably less than thirty minutes. It was provided by the rules that if a shot had apparently missed fire no person should be allowed to go near it for half an hour and that the person or persons whose shot has missed fire shall give warning of the same. Deceased gave no such warning. When the shot missed fire care should have been taken to bore in such a manner as not to affect or ignite the exploded charge. There was no doubt the men had got together and endeavoured to make out to His Honour that the time in whieh deceased proceeded to do the work was more than half an hour after th < fuse had been lighted. Of course, under the special rules, there were matters which they were bound by; and, although under other conditions they might have done something for defendant, under the special circumstances, and as they had not been approached, they felt that they must rely upon the rules which were made as much in the interests of the men as of the employers.- J. Lewis Evans, foreman at the works, was the next witness called. He said he had been foreman at the works for six years. He was in the engine shed when the man was killed, and was told of the occurrence by David Jones, his brother. He was M-ked by John Morris Roberts how the accident happened, and he said they thought the shot had missed fire. He asked him the time they were away, and he said about ten minutes. Wituess asked him what deceased was doing, and he said putting a fresh fuse in. —Sergt. J. Wyie said he eollected evidence for the coroner's inquest. Witnesses appeared to be all agreed that the time that elapsed between the firing of the fuse and the period when witness returned to the charge was somewhere between ten and twenty minutes. There was some difficulty, he knew, at the inquest in getting J. W. Roberts to state the time.—His Honour, in giving judgement, said that the two rules in question were the ninth and the twelfth and if it were made clear that a breach of either of these rules had been made out, after evidence that the workmen were at fault, he might pro- bably be disposed to say this amounted to serious and wilful misconduct, because reasonable rules were made, not only for the protection of the employer, but even more for the protection of men. If they were important to the employer, from a money point of view, they were even more important to the men because their lives depended upon their observance. The breach of rule 9 that was alleged was that a fuse was introduced into the hole before the lapse of thirty minutes. He did not think the evidence warranted him in coming to the csnclusiom that there had been a breach of this rule. The only evidence that same near to it was that of deceased's fellow workman, who said that when they got to the place deceased tried to get a piece of fuse out and to put another piece in. But there was no evidence that he did it. There- fore an attempt to do that which did not cause the accident, but which if done it might have caused it, whilst it would have bseu of value if it had been ac- complished was, under the circumstances, valueless. The only evidence was that he tried to do it, and this justified him in coining to the conclusion that it was the old fuse put in which had, as witness desoribsd it, not fired. Rules 12 had reference to going to the place within half an hour after a shot has apparently missed fire. No person was allowed to go near until the lapse of that period. No doubt the evidence was somewhat conflicting on this point, but they must not attach too much importance to what had been said by men immedi- ately after the accident, or possibly at the coroner's inquest. There would be great excitement, doubt- less, and it might not be fair or right to lay too much stress upon statements made at such a time. But the men came there that day to state certain things, and they came either to tell the truth or wilfully to mislead. What was he to say about the evidence of the men in regard to appealing to the watch for the time. Either it happened or it did not. The workman employed with the deceased said We gave warning, and asked what time it was of David Jones, who was at the bottom of the cliff and he said a quarter to eleven." Afterwards witness said that he and deceased went slowly to the fuse and asked David Jones as they were eoming to it to tell them the time again, and he said a quarter or twenty past eleven. Was that true or not ? If it were true the inference he should draw was that half an hour had elapsed. Was it true ? He did not think he was justified in saying it was not, and that these men had wilfully perjured themselves. After further reviewing the evidence His Honour said that whatever his opinion might be as to what should follow upon a breach of rule 12, and whether plaintiff would be dis-entitlad to recover or not, it was not necessary to say, beoawse he could not see that there bad been a breach of the rule. It simply came, therefore, to a question of the amount, and he thought he should take the books of the Company as correct and, inasmuch as they credited the deceased with wages that would total for three years a little less than £150, he was bound to give a verdict for £150. It was for him to state how this sum should be disposed of and, having regard to the state of the family, he ruled that the widow should have d650 at once and that the other £100 should be invested in the Post Office Savings Bank in the name of the Registrar of the Court for the orphan, to be drawn out at the rate of thirty shillings a month for his support—Costs according to scale.

LLANGOLLEN SCHOOL BOARD. The first meeting of the newly-elected School Board was held in the Board Room, Llangollen, on Monday afternoon, when there were present the Ven. Archdeacon Wynne-Jones, the Revs. G. Heaton, D. Williams, and T. Morris, Messrs. T. C. Davies, John Price, and E. R. Parry, with Lloyd- John (clerk). ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN AND VICE-CHAIRMAN. The first business was the election of a chairman, and Mr. E. R. Parry proposed that the Rev. D. Williams be re-elected to the position. In doing so he alluded to the harmony that had characterised the proceedings at the Board meetings during the time that the rev. gentleman has occupied the position. Mr. John Price seconded the motion whieh was carried, and Mr. Williamsiiaving replied, and taken the chair, the Rev. T. Morris proposed the election of Mr. John Price as Nice-chairman. This was seconded by Archdeacon Wynne-Jones, and carried nem. eon. VRON SCHOOLS. Extracts were read from the log-book at these schools which show that oue or two of the teachers have been frequently absent during the month. The members present expressed strong views on the matter and instructed the clerk to write to Mr. Cook asking for an explanation.-The Clerk re- ported that Mr. Wrn. Hughes, plasterer, estimated the cost of repairs at the Vron schools at :£135 6s. lOd. A committtee, consisting of the rural members, was appointed to report upon what repairs are necessary.-The Parish Council were granted the use of Vron Schools for meetings at the rate of 2s. 6d. per time. APPOINTMENTS. Mrs. Davies and Mrs. Edwards were appointed as cleaners for the Town Schools.—A let;:> r was read from the Urban District Council asking the Board to appoint a deputation to join in the welcome extended to the Central Welsh Board on the occasion of their visiting the town to-day (Friday). —Mr. J. Price and Mr. T. C. Davies were appointed in this capacity. TEACHERS' SALARIES. Letters were read from Miss Martha Roberts, who has just suceeded in passing her examination, and is qualified under article 50, asking for A 15 increase of salary; from Miss Lena. Lloyd, who has been successful in passing her Scholarship Examination, asking to be permitted to remain as an assistant at a salary of £ 45 and from Mr.T. Cook,Vron, who has passed the Scholarship Examination, but is not sufficiently high on the list to go to College, asking to be retained on the staff at a salary of 2t25 as an ex-pupil teacher. It was decided to grant the latter request, and to authorise the town members to report to the next meeting of the Board regarding the application of the two lady assistants. There was no other business of public importanoe.

Bictbs, dBarriages, anD Scathe. BIRTHS. May 14th, the wife of Mr. Arthur R. Hughes, Cax- ton Library, Llangollen, of a daughter. May 12th, the wife of Mr. Hugh Jones, Hall-street, Llangollen, of a son. May 1st, the wife of Mr. R. Jones, Glandwr, Swansea, S.W., of a daughter (grand-daughter to Mr. Hugh Davies, Pencerdd Maelor "). May 13th, the wife of Mr. Robert Evans, postman, Corwen, of a son. May 8th, the wife of Mr. William Hughes, Auldyn Villa, York-street, Oswestry, of a son. MARRIAGES. May 11th, at the registrar's office, Corwen (by licence) by Mr. D. P. Davies, Sergt.-Instuctor R. Waltho, Castle-street, Llangollen, to Miss Sarah Rogers, Wrexham.. May 14th, at Rehoboth Chapel, Llangollen, bY licence, by the Rev. Wm. Foulkes and Mr James Clarke, registrar, Mr. Robert Beans to Miss Isiizabetn Jones, both of Cae du, Bryneglwys. May 11th, at the C.M. Chapel, Bala, by the Rev. J. Howel Hughes (pastor), Mr. C. R. Jones, third son of Mr. David Jones, joiner, 38, Tegid-street, to Winifred, eldest daughter of Mr. John Roberts, Church-row- both of Bala. DEATHS. May 11th, aged 11 years and 9 months, Edith, beloved daughter of Mr. Griffith Morris, 5, Tan'rallt- terrace, Llangollen. May 14th, at Bryndyffryn, Llangollen, aged 84, Mrs. Elizabeth Macneill, sister to Mr. W. Coward, J.P. Her end was peace. April 28th by accidently falling overboard a steamer in New York Harbour, aged 21, Lewis, only son of Mr. Owen Jones, Erw Fair, Blaenau Festiniog. a May 8th, at High-street, Bala, aged 4 years and 0 v months, Sarah Ellen; and May 14th, aged 3 years, Lizzie Mary, children of Mrs. Sarah and the late Mr. William Jones, Penycae, Ruabon. May 8th, aged 82, Elizabeth, widow of Mr. William Davies, platelayer, Tanllan, Llansantffraid, Corwen. May 10th, at Stanley House, Chester, aged 65, MrS< Evans-Lloyd, beloved wife of Col. Evans-Lloyd, 0* Chester and Moelgarnedd, Bala.

MR. GRIFFITH MORRIS & FAMILY, 5, TAN'RALLT TERRACE, LLANGOLLEN, BEG to return their warmest thanks to friends for their kindness and sympathy before and after their recent bereavement. x May 15th, 1901. MRS. VAUGHAN, BRYNTIRION TERRACE, BEGS to tender her sincere thanks to all their sympathy and help in her recent bereft'*0* ment. J. ROBERTS & SONS, COMPLETE FUNERAL FURNISHERS ANV' UNDERTAKERS. HEARSES & COACHES SUPPLIED. GEORGE STREET 4- MARKET STREET, LLANGOLLEN. MEMORIAL CARDS of the newest patterns, printed the shortest notice, in beautiful typography, „ most reasonable charges, at the w ADVEBTIS OFFICE. WM. JP. WILLIAMS, | MONUMENTAL WORKS, MARKET STREET, LLANGOLLEN. — K the Printed and publiaed every Friday prietor, HUGH JONBS, at his Otto R PENW Castle-street, Llangollen, in the t9 and May 17th, 1901. Ill orders, »dvertise^ ed t0 U» munications are requested to be •'Adverttaee Office. Lkmgoilon.

LLANGOLLEN SHEEP-DOG TRIALS. ANNUAL MEETING OF SUBSCRIBERS. The annual meeting of subscribers to the above society was held at the Wynnstay Arms Hotel, Llangollen, on Tuesday last. Capt. Bext, R.N., oceupied the chair, and he was supported, amongst others, by Mr. Carr (Corwen), Mr. J. S. Shaw, Mr. W. G. Dodd, Mr. J. Roberts, Mr. J. E. Griffiths, Mr. Phillips, spur., Mr. Hughefc (Trevor), Mr. R. Jones, Mr. Jones (Plas Madoc), Mr. Bushby, Mr. Jones, junr., Mr. Herbert Jones, and Mr. G. Allen, with Mr. J. Nanson (secretary).—It will be remembered that, last year, very unprepitious weather was experienced and this, naturally, resulted in gate money receipts being smaller than in previous years. However, the quality of the entries, and the keenness of the contests that took place, under adverse conditions, abundantly demonstrated that the event retains a firm hold upon the sympathies at the public and there it; little doubt that, with fine weather, the meeting this year will be a brilliant, success. Sympathetic referenoe was mado by the Chairman to the death of Her late Majesty Queen Victoria, who had been a patron of the Club, and it was decided to request Queen Alexandra to ake the vacant losition; fitting allusion being made to the deep interest which Her Royal Highness at all times oaanifes's in matters relating fo the canine world. It was also unanimously decided by the meeting to invite Mr. Thomas, of Llantysilio Hall, to accept the position of president of the society for the year; and, to hold the trials at Plas-yn-Vivod on Thursday. August 1st. At the I. st meeting one or two events remained to be decided, and an endeavour will be made to ran these off" and, for the forthcoming gathering, the list of events and prizes will be practically the same as last year.

FOB FANCT ARTICLES suitable for Presents, &o. go to HUGH JONES'S, Stationer, Castle Street, Llan gollen. "If you want perfect rest and quiet," said Sir George Newnes, at the Advertisers' Exhibition lunoheen, "go into the shop of a man who does not adyertise.'