The Cambrian

The hearing of the appeal of the South ab s and Monmouthshire Coalowners' As- sociation against the judgment of Mr. Justice .chain in what is known as the stop-day case likely to take place on the 30th inst.

SWANSEA JOTTINGS. SIR J. JACKSON AT SWANSEA. Sir John Jackson, the eminent contractor, is in Swansea, in connection with the making of the trial shafts of the new dock. BADEN-POWELL AND CARDIFF. The Mayor of Cardiff has received a letter from Major-General Baden-Powell, in which he suggests the end of May or the beginning of June as a convenient time for receiving the freedom of the borough of Cardiff CELEBRATIONS AT ABERAVON. At Drill Hall, Taibach, on Tuesday night a successful dance was held in aid of the Aberavon Catholic Schools. Davies's quad- rille Band was in attendance. The hall was decorated. The M.C.'s were Messrs. Dan O'Neill and Lemuel Jones. STOP DAY APPEAL. Owing to the absence of -several counsel en- gaged in the case> at the Aswizes in Sontn Wales, the stop day appeal has be^n marked, for surety's sake, "not before the 30111. It is not considered likely, however, that the appeal will be heard this team. The London and North Western Com- pany's card of the principal agricultural shows to be held during 1903 is now ready. It is issued in the usual handy form, and can be obtained at any of the compa.ny's stations and offices, or wil be sent post free on appli- cation to F. If. Dent, Traffic Superintendent, Broad Street Station, London, E.C. A GREENHILL DONNYBROOK. During a quarrel in Ann-street, Greet) hill, or: Tuesday afternoon, between a man and wo- man, a lad named Samuel Roberta, of 26, Gerald-street, Hafod, received a blow over the left eye with a poker. He was knocked senseless. P.O. Hill (43) took the lad to the Swansea hospital, where his wound, which was not serious, was dressed £ .L\ ?ATU:r:rz > At at. Pete**? Church, Cockett, on rues- day, tne Bishop of Swansea held a confirma- tion, when 52 candidates were confhined. The Bishop before and after delivered a most im- pressive address. After the service his Lord- ship proceeded to the Churchyard, and in the presence of a large number of people oonse- cxated the additional burial ground. WORK TO BE PROCEEDED WITH. At a meeting of the Swansea Harbour Trus- tees Executive, on Thursday, it was decided to proceed with the construction of the new bridge over the North Dock lock without fur- ther delay. Although the contract has been let some time, the Trustees have been hold- ing their hand awaiting the decision of the Corporation as to what system of electric tram traction would be adopted over the bridge, so that provision might be made ac- cordingly. NEW COASTGUARD OFFICER. Lieutenant G. S. Hookin, R.N., of bis! Maj- esty's ship Montague, Devonport, the new divisional coastguard officer for this district, and successor to Captain Allen. Oystermonth, entered on his duties on Tuesday. His juris- diction extends from Pendine Point, between Sannleisf'oot and Carmarthen River on the west to Hhyrnney River, between Cardiff and New- pert, on the east. The coast-guards under his supervision number 31, and a .re .stationed as follows:—-Oysteirmoutih-, 7: Oxwioh, 2; rtbossilly, 3; Burry Port 5; Porthcawl, 3; Llantwit-Major, 2; Barry, 3 Carmarthen, 6. WELSHMEN FOR CANADA. In connection with his itinerary of the chief agricultural centres of South Wales and the West of England, Mr. A. Stewart, of Moo- somin, North-west Territories, Canada, one of the delegates appointed by the Canadian J Government, has already visited the counties of Cardigan, Pembroke. Carmarthen, and Glamorgan, and has been instrumental in securing nearly 300 intending emigrants. Leaving Glamorgan, he will proceed to Mon- mouthshire and Herefordshire, and before the conclusion of his tour hopes to increase the number of emigrants to 500. DRY DOCK'S AMALGAMATION RUMOURS. A paragraph appears in the current issue of a shipping contemporary, evidently Cardiff- inspired. to the effect that the dry dock con- cerns of Swansea are to bo amalgamated. In- quiries made locally do not. Ibear this out. The Ocean Dry Dock Company, while admitting "bavins heard something about it," declared there were no grounds at all for the para- graph whilst Mr. Frazer, manager of the Prince' of Wales Dry Dock Company, was more emphatic: "There is nothing in it!" he asserted; and there the matter must rest. WORKS ELECTRICAL SUPPLY. At Monday's meeting of the Swansea Elec- tric Lighting Committee, the Anglo-French Nickel Company asked permission to erect a transformer for the purpose of lighting their Hafod Islia Works with a portion of the cur- lent supplied by the Corporation for power purposes. The Engint:;er recommended that this request be granted, but that, in order not to create a precedent, the Corporation should grant ihis privilege where the current amounts to 109,000 units per annum, of which not more than one-sixth should be used for lighting. The matter was referred to sub- ) committee. SWANSEA SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY. The Rev. Tudor Jones lectured to the Swansea, Scientific Society on Monday, on "Man's Whence and Whither." Mr. E. L. Pontifex presided. Rev. Tudor Jones took the meta-physical standpoint, and said' that science could not give an adequate explana- tion of man's origin. All statements of science might be accepted, but they were onlv statements of facts that- were operating, and left out of account the mind and spirit of man which modified those facts. Mental processes divorced themselves more and more from physical processes, and then we had what had been termed subliminal sell-con- eciousness. That being so, man in his mind could overcome the shock of death. Mr. Pontifex and Mr. E. H. Tripp took part in a subsequent critical discussion of the paper. Next week's lecture will deal with the fas- cinating subject of "Electric Waves and Wire- lecs Telegraphy." HARBOUR TRUST AND ST. THOMAS EXTENSIONS. A nesting of the Tramways Committee of Swansea Corporation was he'd on Monday, Mir. A. Sinclair presiding. —-Mr. Stobo An- drews wrote regarding some property he aad purchased at the corner of Baker-screet. I Strand;, and which foe was about to convert into a warehouse. As he knew the property was within the option of the Corporation to purchase, he wished to know what was in- tended to be done before the work was pro- ceeded with,.—Mr. Andrews is to be written to saying the matter was under conoid .'ration. —Another letter, from Mr. Sehei.'l:. Harbour Trust engineer, regarding the intention of the Corporation towards the oarrviiig of cables, etc., over the North l)c:\k Bridge, was read, and the Electrical Engineer gave a graphic description of tlie difficulties which exist, or are likeh tOt exist, in the method of talcing the cables across to St. Thomas shk.—It was arranged that the engineer sv Mr. Schenk and confer with him on the matter. GOOD TREBOETH CONCERT. A very successful concert was given at the Mnriah Chapel. Treboeth, to a well filled house on Saturday, when n. cantata., entitled, "Hunt the Thimble" was admirably performed by the Band of Hope Choir, conducted by Mr. Dd. J. Williams, accompanied on the piano bv Master Idris Harries, with much ability. TThe second part was a miscellaneous one, in which Miss Morgans commenced with a pianoforte solo, followed by Mr. John Evans, baritone solo, "Merch y capten." and Richard Williams (tenor). "Glory be to God' I Miss Cooke. Landore, also sang. "A poor wan- dering one" (Sullivan), and in response to an encore gave "A spring song." Mi«s Cook possess a sweet flexible voice, and lacics noth- ing but power and further training equal the leading sopranos in the district. After a dainty little duet on the piano by Miss Jones and friend came the best item of the evening. Mr. George Phillips, of America- gave a "L..1rentelIa" on the piano'.orte which came as an agreeable surprise to the audience. He had a second call and gave "Home Sweet Home." with perfect touch, technique and delicacy. Mr. Phillips, who is a native of Aberavon, is a.n organist in America, and is preparing for the A.R.C.O., under Mr. Arthur Hey. Dr. Bryce, Landore, presided.

GLAMORGAN ASSIZES. Justice Phillimore and Swansea's U Good Example." Calendar "Not so Bad as it Looks." The Winter Assizes for Glamorganshire opened at the Town Hall, Cardiff, on Mon- day morning, amidst a buzz of excitement that usually accompanies His Majesty's Judges on circuit. Mr. Justice Bruce took the civil business, while the Criminal Court was presided over by Mr. Justice Phillimore, who was accompanied on his bench by Mr. Edward Daniel, High Sheriff for the County, the Mayor of Cardiff (Mr. Ed. Thomas), the Sheriff's Chaplain (Rev. R. W. Talbot Rice), and the Under Sheriff (Mr. D. Isaac). Mr. UodiIey Thomas was chosen foreman of the Grand Jury, Avhich also included the Mayor of Swansea (Mr. Grithth Thomas), Sir Robert Morris, Lieut.-CoI. Morgan and Mr. G.. Deer. In his charge to the Grand Jury, Mr. Jus- tice Phillimore said he was always glad to come to the County of Glamorgan, but he was sorry that they were again assembled in the old building, and that the period of time in which they might hope for the new Town Hall was somewhat distant. Swansea had set a good example to the rival for the capital of the County, and had extended their Courts, which were now excellent. Though there were certainly worse Courts than the Cardiff Courts, yet the latter were not up to modern requirements. The accommodation generally for witnesses and officers, and above an for prisoners, sent for trial, was not as it should be. He would like, if a member of the Joint Committee who had alreadv reported upon the Courts, could visit the cells on a day when they were full of prisoners, as at present. He was sure that it would be felt that to those men and women it was ill itself a punishment to be there. With regard to the calendar, which contained the names of 79 prisoners, it ■ api eaivd a formidable one, but they would find it was not half so bad as it looked. There was one serious charge of murder; there was no case of manslaughter, and no case of cruelty to children, which, his Lordship said, was an extremely satisfactory state of things. There were also no charges of un- natural offences, and the sexual cases were few. There Mere a considerable number of WOUNDING CASES. three of a type which he was afraid was be- coming more familiar—hasty marriage, rapid separation, and then the husband and wife met each other, the wife, he was afraid, very often unprovided for, and often keeping com- pany with another man, and the husband on the other hand very often jealous. In no case, so far as he could see, was the wounding justified. With regard to the general fea- tures of the calendar, it was a striking and disagreeable one, for there were no fewer than five Post Office cases, some of them in which girls or men in subordinate positions. and not on the regular staff, were charged with larceny. His Lordship was afraid in some instances some of the prisoners were very badly paid. and he hoped the Post Office authorities would take seriously to heart the state of things that was revealed in the calen- dar. Coming to THE PENTRE MURDER CHARGE preferred against Thomas Lewis, a. young haulier, who was said to have thrown liw sweetheart, Ethel Adlam, into the river, his Lordship having said it was a sad case, pro- ceeded to detail how the prisoner, when in that state of drunkenness known as the quar- relsome state, had quarrelled with his father, and afterwards left the house with the de- ceased, who was not again seen alive. The finding of the prisoner beneath a hen-coop 1Il an outhouse, and his contradictory statements as to what became of his sweetheart were de- tailed, his Lordship saying it would be for the jury to judge of the probability of the pri- soner's story, whether she had fallen into the river, how she came in a sitting position. whether the prisoner raised her up, and if so. why he did not- prevent her drowning her- self. Self-defence, insanity, and the lesser charge of manslaughter seemed to be absent, from the case.. His Lordship added, it si,cured merely whether the girl fainted and fell into the river, or whether she was pushed in. CROWN COURT. Before Mr. Justice Phillimore. Frank Harris (24), carpenter, pleaded guilty to stealing a silver watch value £4 from John Dayies, on the occasion of the last Inter- national match at Swansea. In passing sen- tence of three years, the Judge said Harris MM.. an habitual criminal, having already served terms of imprisonment, one of 18 months ana- two of a year for the same offence. Mr. Lleufer Thomas appeared for the Crown. David Richard Vaughan (17), tailor, pleaded gttilty to breaking and entering the shop of Edward Williams, and stealing four razors, at Swansea on December 26. Mr. Lleufer Thomas appeared for the pro- secution. Prisoner was sent to prison for six months. Mr. Justice Phillimore saying he was glad that under the new regulations of the Home Office he was able to commit youths of the prisoner's class to separate prison treatment, and he hoped prisoner would benefit by it. Stephen Robbins (20), labourer, on bail, was reported to have gone to sea. The indict- ment against him was that being the bailee of 10s., the monies of John Henry Daniel, he fraudulently converted the same to his own use at Swansea on December 12th. His father, who had become bail for him, appeared in answer to the Judge, who asked, "Why don't you produce him?" The father replied, "I have done all I can to get him. The last I heard of him was that he sailed from Bristol at 12.45 on Wednesday last." The Judge: Where to? Witness: Plymouth. The Judge: Very well; we may get him yet. The prisoner's father was informed that unless he produced his son at tlie end of the Assizes, the JD10 bail would be estreated. His Lordship gave instructions to the police to get the prisoner arrested at Plymouth. George Fredk. Barrett (49). admitted break- ing and entering Stone and Son's Warehouse, Swansea, on February 6th, and stealing there- from five bottles of cognac, and also subse- quently receiving three brass bearings that had been stolen from the Graigola Merthyr Co., Ltd. 0 Sentence of nine months' improsonment was- passed, the sentences to run concurrently. For the second time James Wilfred (20), labourer, broke into the dwelling-house of William Walters, a farmer (who had, the Judge said, given him honest employment), and stealing clothing to the value of £5 4". 6d.. at Cadoxtonjuxta-Neath, on Feb- ruary 21. Sentence of nine months' imprisonment was passed. David Phillips (16), auxiliary postman, pleaded guilty to three counts, charging him with the theft of three registered letters con- taining altogether £4 50S., at Swansea in Octo- ber and November last. Mr. Benson, for the Crown, explained that two of the letters were taken when the pri- soner was on his ordinary delivery round, whilst the other was taken from the counter at Morriston during sorting time. Prisoner started as a. telegraph boy at the age of 13. and in 1899 was promoted to the position of auxiliary postman, earning 23s. 6d. The Judge As much as a man? _,ir. Benson: Yes. The Judge: Is it usual to take telegraph bovs and make them auxiliary postmen. Mr. Benson I am told so. Mr. W. Thomas Edward-, cihief inspector, was called and explained that prisoner had no right to touch the letters after they had been opened from the sorting bag. The regis- tered letters would in the ordinary course come into his hands as postman delivering them. Mr. Arthur Lewis, in mitigation, referred to the age of the youth, and also said he ap- peared to hive IK en placed to a certain amount of temptation. He, however, men- tioned a firm were now employing the pri- soner and were willing to keep him in their employ if the judge dealt leniently, and the parents imd expressed their willingness to return the whole of the money alleged to have been stolen. he Judge That is verv proper. Counsel further commented upon the boy's previous good character. ? The Judge pointed out that nobody got into the Post Office without a good character, and no one stayed there lone with a bad one. Sentence was deferred.

NEATH FALSE PRETENCES CASE. Herdened Offender Receives Five Years. Wm. Thomas (62), general dealer, pleaded not guilty to obtaining by false pretences 82 brace of pheasants and lour wild chicks, of the value of £22, the property of A. T. Wil- liams, with intent to defraud, on Dec. 9, at Cadoxton-juxta-Neath. Mr. Benson appeared for the Crown, and Mr. Vaughan Williams defended. The case for the prosecution was that pri- soner advertised himself as the firm of Thomas and White, M'holesale potato dealers. Great Northern Market, London, and game, fowl, and rabbit salesman, Kings Cross-road, Lon- don. Prosecutor's gamekeeper sent up the game iu question, M tiich Mas sold in Smith- field Market by the prisoner for £ 16, none of which money was remitted to Neath. En- quiries proved that prisoner occupied a small back-room in the Kings Cioss-road, and a nan named White had been with him. White disappeared, and three days after the consign- ment had been received prisoner also disap- peared, and was arrested at Portsmouth. There were a hamper and a number of bill- heads and labels lying in the back-room men- tioned. and in a small memorandum book found on the prisoner was entered the con- signment from Neath. Evidence was given by John Hemmings, Queen-street, Neath Frank Allen, prosecu- tor's gamekeeper, MIIO said be Mas deceived bv the firm of Thomas and White on the pri- soner's bill heads Wm. Alfred Cotton, plum- per. whose wife had let the prisoner and White the back-room; Edward Gishford, wholesale game salesman. Smithfkld Market, who had bought the game from the prisoner; Edward Drew. parcel clerk at Paddington Railway Station; and P.C. David Davies, stationed at Aberdulais, who proved taking the prisoner into custody. t In the course of his statement volunteered to the last witness on the May to Swansea, prisoner said that if he found the evidence against him to be very strong, he would plead guilty. Later on, in ansMer to the charge, he said he did not intend to defraud. The cioss-examination of the witnesses was directed to show that prisoner and White carried on a. legitimate business, having goods • reconsigned in London to the Smithfield Market. Prisoner said he was a native of Exeter, where in 1874 lie carried on a large business in the potato trade. He also carried on busi- ness at ilanchester and Birmingham, but through ill health had since been in a work- horse innimary hi London. It was White M'ho started him in the London busing.. btft they had no capital of their own. Cress-examined, prisoner admitted White was no4 piesent in court, and he had no other to proyte he had ever made a single payment sent him. b The Judge D0 you SUggej.^ "White had the greatest share of the profits'' Prisoner: He had the whole of it. The Judge: Then he dealt rather unfairly with your J Prisoner Ye?. Mr. Vaughan Williams, for the defence, sought to show that the prisoner and White intended to develop their business in the wav described on the billheads, and it was not prisoners fault if the public misunderstood tne wording on them. False pretences had not been proved. The Judge shunned up strongly against the prisoner. He had been convicted on six pre- vious occasions, once receiving five years' penal servitude, and again four years. His Honour said he was sorry to deal with a man of his age but it was obvious that prisoner was an habitual and consistent criminal, and he must send him back to penal servitude for five years. 1 Arthui Applegate and Thos. Hooper, both young colliers, pleaded guilty to making and uttering counterfeit coin in imitation of sove- reigns, at Cardiff 1ll December last.—Mr. Lloyd Morgan, M.P., prosecuted. Mr. A Lewis, for the prisoners, said that the offence was the result of leading an article in the Royal Magazine, entitled "Huw I made counterfeit coin, by One who has done time for it." Naturally the author did not wish his name known to the public. The whole of the process, said counsel, was actually de. scribed, and the prisoners, having made the coin, attempted to pass it.—Counsel asked that they be dealt with not as ordinary coiners.—The Judge said that the Mint autho- rities should have their attention drawn to the article.—Sentence was defeired Thomas Pugslcy and Dr.vid Thomas, vomr nK'n living at Cwuihwrla, were charged with stealing a, brass-bearing, value £ 20. "he pro- perty of the Cwmbwrla Tinplate Comn-mv Ltd., on February 18th. Mr. Lle.vv Wil- liams, instructed by Mr. Vaughan Fdward* prosecuted, and Jh. Ivor B.wen, instructed by Mr. A. Ihomas cMended T^e a<v- for the prosecution was detaik-d previously in these columns, that .some boys who knew Pugshy- had seen him removing the bearing irom the works. When arrested bv Detec- tive Lewis he said lie "thought it' wis f, window-s-mashdng. JSST Thoim. Jcm cl aU knowl.dge of tl¡e theft. The Thomas two boys. Thk:' famine,! that re ,i« 1 u-gsley after, out .said he knew notliang aoout th theft. h^wT^ Vi"1' Bfnve»- the boy said ,,lie llild told a untruth, thai ll- had it; VUt if sajd that. Pugshn Mould have hit him. (Laughter., chlr-ictmispj scv?reI.v reprimanded, what he chaiacteiised as unseemly laughter, at the ad- mrt £ £ b°y "f iiU on ul dmie tt h a"dJv!cke:l Pe<>Plt'- If it was done dguui he would have the court cleared. fiunUmiStWU? 1<,llnd SUi]'-V iind sentenced to -frail months imprisonment with hard lab air. Thomas Mas acqmttcd. John Gartt (26), fireman, was indicted for ^isoner thrP»MCCUtl-1'; U ™ tfi* pnsonei threw an oil lamp that was aliidit i.A tim 11""sti'k-e for another per- •t strondonht C<ithat there was i ° ai *ri the case owing to- the «oi»« on in the hoS .it the time and the jury acquitted prisoner. plvircfe retumed a true bill in the SlS a?ainst Lewis, the hi xweJthe-i re f°a)S a^eSed to have drowned m* sweetheait at Pentre, Rhondda Valley.

ONLLWYN POST OFFICE THEFT More Lenience from Mr. Justice Phillimore. .w. read an article m th^- i at "> "How to Make C.uLfr' ° uttered gold and W L <• a ^ivei coins at Cardifl, came up tor sentence I]is Lord»hip characterised le IK-ngo rese coins, M'liich came into he hand, of small shopkeepers, as the cruel- Tn* u*ludly. dealt with very il 1 n-ra the Unfir t^6 circumstances lie m. |J<"extremely lenient sentence of nine calendar montns with hard labour. Pri- SOHCiS W01C also Ibonrifl + i c i behaviour for two yea,! ^1 8 ONLLW1N .POST OFFICE THEFTS. pleaded' "Not guilty"to t^ T i j.1 i two counts charging him with embezzhno- £ iq +i,» ° n t,ie property of the ^doS;^S^°,heb?!r:11115'1';19M' account,,biI,$** £ JS2K ,1OTV?V<?1> 1'ad confessed to a third a'1(- Tltilillil'K a Post Office buvmgs l>ank deposit, book. < *01i ^le Prosecution, declared qm V fd ^P1;'i'*d that prisoner in 1901 assisted hi* father at Onllwvn, near Neath, fitness, a Mrs. Davies. who at the time was Eliza Williams, and had since mar- ried, had a Post Office Savings Bank account, and paid into it a sum of £Í9. Prisoner en- tered it on the deposit book, but the money never reached London. Later on Mrs. Davie* made several withdrawals, and prisoner paid her evidently out of his own pocket some JB17. She desned aiteru ^rds to close the account, and then it Mas discovered that, the deposit book did not tally with the account standing to ^'fes. Davi s s credit in lyondon. Mean- while she had had her money, and the Post Office had not lost anything. With the intent of defrauding, however, prisoner had made several erasures. Mr. S. T. Evans, K.C., pleaded in mitiga- tion of sentence that tlie prisoner only assist- ed his father, a. labourer ajid haulier, but nom- inally Postmaster at Onllwyn. The young man had been for the past eleven years a colliery clerk, in the employ of Mr. Griffith Ti.omals, Mayor of Swansea, and dur- ing that lime had handled considerable sums of money—the fortnightly pay of 400 men. > In a letter from the Mayor, and which counsel read, his worship stated he had made strict enquiries and desired to continue to employ prisoner, as he was informed that he was a young man of honest disposition. Judgment was deferred. ALLEGED INCENDIARISM. Richard Williams, Benjamin Davies. W. J. Davies, and Francis Davies, four young Haul- iers, v. ere charged with maliciously setting fine to a hay rick, the property of William Jamew, farmer, EfailfAch, near Cwmavoii, on December 21st last. Mr. Ivor Bowen prose- cuted. and Mr. S. T. Evans. M.P., defended. The defence was a simple one, and was given in a statement made by one of the prisoners when arrested. It was "Tlie four of us had a drop, and went to lie down by the hayrick. W. J. Davies struck a match to light his pipe. The rick caught fire. We tiied to put it out, and then ran away. Against this the prosecution urged that the young men, after imbibing three and a half gallons of beer on the Sunday in question, asked for more drinks, and on being refused went into a field at the back of the house and set fire to the rick, doing damage to the extent of JB8. The Judge pointed out that the men might have been drunk and excited, although it was no excuse. The question for the juiy was whether the act was accidental or intentional. The jury found that the prisoner set fire to the rick in a drunken spree, and as a lesson they wete committed to four calendar months with hard labour. TIN WORKER'S C0I\~FESSI0> SWANSEA ASSAULT. "■ James Barker (40), tinworker, Pontardu- lais, confessed to having while in dunk in- decently assaulted Edith Irene Thomas, aged seven years, at Swansea in Febitiaii last. Sir. T. J. Williams (Maesygwernen) prose- cuted. and Mr. Ivor Boweri defended. A pre- vious case for a similar offence ten years ago in Cardiff was read, and sentence ot 22 calen- dar months with hard labour was passed.

THURSDAY'S ASSIZE CASES.^ Judge and Underpaid Postal Employes. At the Glamorgan Assizes at Cardiff on Thursday, before Mr. Justice Phillimore, the hearing of the remaining P0' ,ce tases were heard, about M'hich his loidship made some comments hi his charge to the grand ji-i- at the opening of the Assizes, stating in this connection the calendar was a disagree- able one. and that he hoped that the Post Office authorities would take to heart the fact that some of the prisoners were either underpaid or not in the regular employ of the Post Office. „ttT- IN TEARS IN THE DOCK. Harriet Howell, 26, postal clerk, who ap- peared in the dock crying bitterly, surrendered to the charge of stealing at Eiwynypia a letter containing a pair of gloves and about os. in money, on February 10th last. She pleaded guilty. The Judo-e*: This is the woman to whom I particularly referred in remarks to the grand jury as receiving small wages Mr. Benson, for the prosecution, admitted that that was so. and said that prisoner was in the employ of'the postmistress at Llwyny- pia and not the Post Office, and was receiving bs. per week from ber. Two registered letters ad been missed, and the test letter was made 1.;p. In mitigation of the offence Mr. Arthur Lewis mentioned that Mi-5 Howell Was a Sun- day School teacher. CARDIFF POSTMAN'S GUILT. Albert Edward Rolfe (41), postman, Cardiff, also confessed to the theft of a postal letter containing 9s. and .-onie stamps on February 28th last." Thus was a test letter made up in consequence of certain complaints. Mr. Benson mentioned that the prisoner was in receipt of a total salary ot ols. per week, and that he had a wife and three children. Prisoner, who was undefended, stated in a written statement that for 19 years his M-ages was 22s. per week. _nT.. THREE PLEAD txLIEt l. David John Roberts (25). collury clerk at On'lwyn, near Neath. MIIO was asMs ing his father at the Onllwvn Post Office, tainpereu it was alleged, with a-Post Office Sa^ g-s Bank book Dd. Phi: i| (-. a-youth who had been pro- nioted from a telegraph bay t0 <J. auxiliary postman at Morriston. an n-i latter capacity he stole three v ters containing monev, and Doia »\i < a young learner, of the Ystalyfeia Post Uthce MIIO Kid stolen a letter containing <• <>s CfTlce order lor 20s.. were then placet i e dock. They had all pleaded guilty, and. witl> the other two prisoners, were now bioug p ior sentence. JUDGE'S SENTENCES. Justice Philiimoie said he had be-o n five men and women—boys and gn s who had been in the Post (lific. service in u county, and who had committed eriui-S ao' The Post Office Authorities. It was \11' sad and shocking state of things, the serious points was that it tu le:id the public to distrust the Po» servants, and trust Mas the essence Post Office service. He particular J e to the case of David John Roberts, who had been entrusted with the savings o positor to the Savings Bank. "1 could not undeista-nd whv there were < y of these eases, and said he had beeia m suiu^er- stooel. It was thought that ^eJ^' the salaries paid to the Post c generally were low; in or.e or two fore him the salary was small, but the 1 soner.s M'ere learners; in the ouh l s s < hojk3d°the^publ *cat!on' that"wwild^ that- while desirous of setting a" P J} order to prevent a continuance of s a ,V nt, the same time thing in the county he was at anxious to deal a.s lenient!} tU the sake of the prisoners and P Roberts's, he said, was a yery ha 4' cause he had tampered with a P S Bank book 3UYOR OF SWANSEA'S KlNDL\ ACT However, his Lordship understood that a. well-known public gentleman (the Mayor of Swansea) had expressed his w mg- i:ess to take the prisoner back m o •11"i ploy, and in order that it ml.S 1, t r '^1, for-him to put the pri^er m position of truist. his LorQ-»JF him to three months' imprisonm In the second division only. The Clerk of Arraigns (Mr. Stephen Lole- ridge) Go back, please. n „ The Judge: No; I would like them all to stav..T.„. David Phillips and Dora Williams were together. The Judge made an allusion to their youth, and in discharging them. ex- pressed the belief that their two or three days imprisonment since their pica of gr.i)t might be a sufficient punishment for them, although their pl-esent life was not so severe as that which folloMed sentence.—Miss HoweiJs he i-egarded as a worse case, and sentenced her to two months' imprisonment. 9n hearing the sentence the voung woman shneKect "011 and swooned away. She had to be carried from the dock to the cells below, and the feel- :11g in court was a very painful one. ine pri- soner Rolfe, who had been in the service a long time, was committed to gaol for 15 months with hard labour.

Neath Brewer's Action. At Glamorgan Assizes, o-'1 Thursday, before Mr. Justice Bruce, Wiliam Davies. Joiners' Arms, Glyn-Neath. sued Mr. Aaron Evans, brewer, of Neath, for the return of £100, de- posited bv plaintiff in respect of the above public house in 1895. Defendant counter- claimed for JB35 damages and £15 rent. Mr. Francis Williams and Mr. Williams, m- structed by Mr Walter Morgan (Bruce and Nicl.olis) appeared for plaintiff' and Mr. S. I- Evans. K.C.. M.P., and Mr. Ivor Bowen, m- structed by Thomas and Thomas. were for de- feadaiit. Defendant had paid £15 into court, and the action was settled bv conseut. defen- dant undertaking to pay plaintiff £50. and JS15 to be paid out to the defendant, "id each party to pay their own cost's.

j NEATH NOTES. —— The Leniency of Judge Phillimore. Neath's New Library: An Appeal for Aestheticism. Melyn Distress A Chance for the Mayor. Now that the sensational burglary case is over, and Stalling, or whatever his name was, has received sentence, it remains for me to add He s a lucky fellow to have got off so lightly. Eighteen months* imprison- ment for a. deliberately planned and carefully premeditated burglary of such dimensions is surely a penalty not fitting the crime. Let us hope, however, that during his incarcera- tion he will find the necessary time for re- pentance, and that after his release lie will lead a reformed life.. Shamrock was. so scarce at Neath on Tues- day that some of the enthusiastic inhabitants of the "classic heath'' wore- portions of cab- bage, artfully cut to imitate the Iambus leaf. When Mr. Andrew Carnegie was ap- proached some month." ago with the object- of getting a donation towards the Neath Public Library, he replied to the effect that he con- sidered* the £ 2,00 bequeathed by Miss Row- land to be sufficient. Since very considerable financial loss has been inflicted by the fire, what will he say if approached again? The reading-room of the Public Library has been put in order, and Mr. John Morgan, the librarian, tells me that it is being better patronised than ever. ■ir ¥? A correspondent writes: "Dear •Observer, —I read witli interest your notes in last week's 'Cambrian.' 1 am not given to airing my opinions, as some people are, but I should like to say just a few words on the Free Library question. The committee have de- cided upon a site, and I do hope that no false economy will be shown. Let us have a build- ing worthy of the town and the cause of edu- cation. Thousands of pounds luive been frittered away needlessly in the town. Let's make a, good job of this anyway. Let us have provided a building which will be suit- able for the requirements of the future. Let us look ahead a bit and do the tiling pro- perly. I am a heavy ratepayer, but 1 shall not object to bearing my share of the cost whatever it may be, for 1 look upon insti- tutions of this kind as aids to the social and commercial betterment of the community.— "Dux." r The plans of the new theatre have been passed, and Neathites may view with con- tidence the provision of a building suitable for the town and district. Such a place of amusement cannot fail, if properly conducted, and there is not the slightest doubt that it will be, to make for the advancement of the inhabitants. A stranger, in passing through the streets of Neath any evening in the week, cannot fail to be struck with the aimless loaf- ing, for it is apparent in all the main thor- oughfares. Youths and girls are walking up and down, and on wet evening sheltering in the doorways of shops, often causing much annoyance to the passenger whose business calls liim out. The provision ol a. healthy place of amusement, where for a few pence such people can be entertained, would do much to abolish this state of things. Neath is essentially a. works centre, and the em- ployment of so many young people in the local industries gives them every evening off. Those evenings they sipend in the streets. I need take the matter no further. There were no cases in the Neath County Court this month. But all is not yet over. We are promised some next. So let us singj Cheer up. Registrar, and Receiver too, All's not finished and over with you; Although this month you had no work to do. 'There are. I'm told, other cases in view. And so the world goes on. "Observer" was thirteen on Tuesday. And I have received the following:— "Observer'' tlie evergreen and ever true, St. Patrick "Marconies'' good-luck to you; May peace and plenty always be your lot. But thirteen''—Why, you must be off your dot And sntj! 11 wonder, when one has to read such terrible concoctions as the above. .v. But I am not the oniy one. for all Irish man wire.s hom Ballyhooley saying: "St. Patrick is a myth. 1 saw snakes on Tues- day evening." ft the memory of a saint can thus be viiitied. what can you and I expect ? Wiiy does the Labour party so dislike Coun. E. S. Phillips? Is it because he so often take. the wind out of their sails'' Good new" for Neath: There is plenty of water In the reservoir. Gf drought weye had a long season, And that you'd think a good reason— Why water should be scarce in town; But you're wrong in your conclusion. And labour under delusion— Drink deeply—let water How down. No longer the Councillors blame. Men of intellect, born to fame For the great problem they've solved, Although expense was involved, In getting right down to the coal And puttying up every hole. The boys and girls of the Neath County Schools, ought to be a happy lot, for not only are their minds given every possible chance of development, but physically they are exceptionally well looked after. They have an excellent gymnasium, where the principles of muscular development are sys- tematically. but- pleasantly, taught, and now they are to be provided with a new recrea- tion ground, on which is to be laid a ciicket pitch, and where provision is to be made for hockey, tennis and football. The keenest interest in legitimate sport is being taken by the girls who, in future, will be able to keep refractory- husbands in order. Vae Victis The Intermediate girl: 0, the Intermediate girl! Will surely make a modelwife With bead well stock'd with learning, For sport, with ardour burning. Her proper place will take in life. The Intermediate girl I O. the Intermediate girl! Will surely keep her home in order; With mustl«is hard as steel. To hubby she'll appeal, Should he trespass o'er the border. Things are gradually righting themselves at the Melyn Works, and ere long they will be in full swing with the exception of the I steel manufacturing part of the undertaking. The latter is to be reconstructed, and it is said that the work will not be completed until May. Meanwhile sixty men will be out of employment, and when "it is remembered that the Eaglesbush colliers are still idie with little apparent prospect of resuming operations, it will be understood that the dis- tress in many families at the Melyn jS of a poignant nature. The Mayor us generous to a degree, and I commend my brief obser- vations above to him in the hope that h\2'11 see fit, after due inquiry, to do something to make the pinch of poverty less keenly IcM. # The man Thomas, who on luesday was sent to penal servitude for five years ior the game frauds, seems to have led a life of consistent r,>gueiw. Six times ]ie Lad been convicted, and had served no ]e,vS t]-- n rive and four years previously. to í'ay nothinrr of the lesser terms. Altogether, he seems" to have spent something ilke twenty years in H.s Majesty s retreats. He is 62 Vears of -f P'^sible that he wilfend m.s- >1nc, 1.ei states which a generous u provided for her erring children. o\\e\er, .here's no fool like an old fool, as the proverb luns. By the way, I learn that some credit is due to Mr. David Jones, olerk to Mr. A. T. Williams, Xea.th, than to the London police, who missed their bird altogether. T I'p to the present the Llantwit Lower Parish Cotmcif have not been successful in establishing the publics claim to a right of way across the tields of Mr. W. H. Hunkin. at Caerhysodu, Cimla, near Neath. They first of all made application to the District Council, who appointed three commissioners to sit and bear evidence for and against the claim set up. The evidence offered by the Parish Council was weak in the extreme. and showed on their part either a marked lack of ability or an absence of care in the provision of witnesses. Mr. Hunkin (who was legally represented by Mr. W. H. David) on the other hand. had his part in apple-pie order, and the result as shown below is not at all surprising to those who heard the in- quiry. „ ;.< Mr. L. J. Kempthorne (Clerk to the Dis- trict Council) writes as follows to Mr. D. H. Jones (Clerk to the Parish Council):— "The Committee yesterday reported to the Council that having heard such evidence as was brought before them for and against the right-of-way, they were of opinion that the Parish Council had failed to prove that there was a public right-of-way over the land; and they were also of opinion that even if a right-of-way had been proved, the stoppage or obstruction thereof would not be pre- judicial to the interests of the district. The Council confirmed the report, and instructed me to inform you thereof." Criminals. who want to be treated leniently, are recommended to come to Neath, where they will find the Justices of the Peace sym- pathetic and kind. Criminals, who can tell a. tale of woe, running into about a thousand w?rds. need have no apprehension. They will be welcomed with open arms. But they must not be British—another nationality wiil do. Now let us sing:— Come ye from the East- or from the West. A hearty welcome warms in our breast; Just ten a tale, > And look deadly pale- Our jolly J.P.VH do the rest. Come Turk unspeakable. Spaniard or Greek In greasy garb, and with faces sleek- Just shed a few tears, Interpret your fears— All will be well—there's nothing like cheek.

CRAY DAM FACING. Brick or Stone Question Dis- I cussed Again. Mr. Morgan Hopkin's Expert Advice. At Wednesday's meeting of the Swansea Council, the Mayor presiding. Mr. Morgan Hopkins moved the decision of the Wattr and Sewers Committee, relative to facing the Cray clam with bricks. He said they should lie guided by their adviser. Mr. Hill. He read the letter in which Mr. Hill said he did not consider ]»'ick suitable, and that the saving of £ 15.000:was- illusionary. Mr. Hopkin said he did not know of any waterworks in the kingdom which had brick facing, aud he thought the town of Swansea ought not t.o be the first n experiment. Mr. W illiain Davies seconded, and asked why granite was selected iu preference to peiiant. Alderman W. Watkins said he did not know that granite had been selected. Mr. Tut toil thought if the word "suspended" be inserted in the resolution instead of the word "res(ind"d," it would satisfy. His feel- ing was Mr. Hill would be more likely to be correct than they in their combined opinion, and they ought to be guided by him in this matter. He suggested the Council should 1.old a special meeting and ask Mr. Hill to attend. Mr. Hopkin agreed to the alteration. Alderman Evans did not see any advantage in having Mr. Hill present. Mr. Payne --aid the. Council would be mak- ing a mistake if they faced the dam with bricks instead of stone. Alderman W illiam Watkins said it was not a question whether brick or stone were cheap- est. Mr. Hill had said he preferred stone. but had given no evidence to prove that good bricks would decay quicker. There ",t, no penant stone ill the country that would exist iu: 70 yeais. His coiitenUon was that the bricks they had suggested were far more dur- able than any stoiie they could put there except granite. The trinity Board had been using Hamlet's bricks for the past thirty years, and the Forth, Runcorn, lay and Tower Bridges were all brilt with Ham- lets hiicks. The Birmingham Waterworks had used over forty milium of the bricks for their dam and works generally, and they had b -n used in the most exposed places in the coirntry If -.he engineers of the country were asked their opini.>n there would b. a majority in favour of bricks. In reply to Mr. Solomon. Mr. Wyiili. the engineer, said that bricks were used from the bed upwards. Mr. Martin said the bricks for the Birming- ham supply were used for the submerged da in. The question to be considered at the Crav was the situation and exposure. He advi-ed tin- Council n x 1 go against the opinion "f the engineer. Hon. Geo Vivian spoke of the liability of ^1one to split. Mr. Menvlls said that when they wxve con- sidering contracts for cement some time aszo, the Engineer, and also Mr. Wyrill. expressed the opinion that the Council should go in for British cement. This led him to fcelh-e that Engineers were of the most conservative class —perhaps excepting lawyers Yet, when it came to real facts, the committee found they could get cheaper and superior foreign cement, and foreign cement was accepted. Mr. David Davies said experts always op- posed everything new for a time. Mr. Hill had told members of the committee that he nad a preference for stone. As against that riiere was the question of lighthouses being built of brick, and the fact that Trinity House had given out such contracts showed him there vjj no danger ¡n using bricks at ihe Cray. He would vote for saving tin- ratepay- ers JS400 cr JS500 a- year. H500 represented a third of a penny a year. Mr. Morgan Hopkin said Mr. W. Watkins now favoured bricks, but he had built "Ash- leieh of stone. Mr. Watkins I have built two houses since of brick. Mr. Morgan Hopkin It's a case of getting wiser after making a fortune out of stone. The motion of Mi Hopkin was lost by o votes to 13. votes to 13.

SWANSEA BARMAN SUMMONED, j Barmaid wants an Affiliation Order. On Thursday, at Swansea Police Conn John L. Payne, brrman, was Uiminoned bv Elizabeth Ann Pillinget u> "MJOw eauv v •- Mr. \aughan Lelwaras pvo^cuted/and Vr Dormer Andrews defended 1Kl -u- asas. ,e girl child, of which ,1,-f l" ^,le a She-- liad bje- ia'dant was the father, in Waterloo-sir, a stores months previonx tliere twelve came there ■■ V November. Defendant Mas j-i i-.i. ljUrnian in .January. 1902. She Satui d-i-r °f the kitchen, and on c-mngs she and Payne Mere often vr.v i l0 £ lil"r- Intimacy fist took place in *f")c'1- l^'v.2. When the girl informed him ner condition, defendant replied, "Hush loid your tongue, ard sav nothing; you'll be all right." illiam Peaise, assistant barman, had seen the. pair fitting in the kitchen Mrs. Willett, caretaker for Messrs. Vmer I.eed«.-r and Morris, said she occasionally as- sisted at "Bradford's." and had also seen them laughing and joking together. S*e had seen defendant take complainant, b&li.ind a door. This closed the ca"e for the prose-c-ution. Mr Dormer Andrews applied t& have the case adjourned till Monday, so that he might <>et as witness Miss Wheatley, manageress a.t Bradford's. This was granted.

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f IN LIGHTER VEIN. I Xeath doesn't- wish to lay behind in the race of progress, but it will always 'Xf otiu A yaunt "Marriage is at a discount in Cardiff." cries an up-line contemporary. Never mind, taking into account the kind Lit place Cardiff is. that's nothing to weep over. "CalJ this a St. Patrick's Day percession?" cried the man with the bad breath and the pug-nose on Tuesday; "w'y dey're ail sober." And he wept bitterly. "Enquirer": Xo. the flower-beds in Vic- toria, Park are being reared in "pite of. and not for the use of the expected cattle exhibits at the Bath and West of England Show. of Photographers have <>psned busi- a time "Pulling" Portrait* at a penny kaiser to add "orh f°r tb* a mother variety to his stock Carmarthen wife, fresh from the Midland/ prepay a di> „f „„kl«s nicelv flavoured with ginger the o:11er week. j clitjcised tne dish eloquently and at. Jength. Mr. Alfred Davies, MP i « a uts to know the treatment to be meted out to foreign meat. In some places we know. little sea- soning and a few potatoes come in very use- ful. 41- When He—Who—Pays—the—Bill opened the door: "O-er':wE' were doing picture puzzles, sir?" stammered Stephen, blinking. He, etc., coughed: "Yes. and I see you are quite in the dark over them." One confiding innkeeper in Swansea hung out a Vielsh tldg on St. Patrick's Day. The humour of the thing was that he didn't know it was Welsh, and further that Wales never had it flag. "Morien"—to arm-1 The coal cargo of the barque Allegro M-as sold at Swansea on Wednesday. The allegro time on tli." occa.,sion was in a "miner" key. They were sitting in the back parliour, and weren't precisely squandering the gas. I here are more manageable articles than telegraph poles. One of these fragile affairs was being taken round a. corner in Swansea the other day when the rear end of it violently assaulted an ice-cream harrow. The Neapoli- tan language is a picturesque one. Text of a fragment of a. football report as taken by a novice over the telephone:—"J— D-, after several parsing about on the parts of the homely threeparts line, was: going the leather, and with splendid gorgv run got hold of a "corner." Then he was removed. During the hearing of a police-court case at Aberavon, one of the officers, asked as to the contents of a bottle on the witness-table, sniffed it. and looked disgusted "Is it Scotch queried counsel. "No returned the constable, "it's whiskey." Now. know- ing Aberavon as we do. M~e—but, there Der Kaiser has given orders that the Ger- man official literature simplified shall be. Hitherto hay. circumlocutory-phrases-official too-often-used been, and the veib which usually the end-of-the-sentence stuck used- to-be will in its. pj sit ion-proper now put be. Now will the Cockett Reichstag-Hansard sim- plified be. ajid Herr Cadle John no troubled be—Hoch. der Kaiser 1 Aid. Spring quoted £ 7,500 M'hen lie meant £ 75, referring to a parks e.,tiiiiate on Wed- nesday. The grim-faced ratepayer said it didn't much matter, either way. The International match at Cardiff took place on a winning field, and the lull back himself Mas a Winfield. G-i-r 1 The live election made some of tlie Tories look M-ry, certainly, but it, is infra, dig. to allude to it as an election won on rye. Ben fillet is great on the land question. He dote." on land, does Ben. but he de-esn't hanker much to till it DEDICATED To SW\X*EVS PATRIARCHS. They took a little gravel, And they took a little tar. W ith nondescripts ingredients Imported from afar. TIiey hammered the street and rolled it, And when they went away They said that pavement, .sure, would last For ever and a day. But they came with picks and smote :t To lav a water-main; And then they sent some workmen To put it back again. To run a tramway cable They pulled it up once More, And then they put it back again in Just where it was before. They took it up i'ur conduits. And to run a, telephone And then tlley put it down again As haid as any stone. They took it up for all the wires To feed tu electric light; And then they put it down again Which was no more than right. 0)\ the pavement's full of furrows- There are patches everywhere; ou d like to ride upon n. But it's seldom that you dare. It s a very handsome pavement, A credit to the town; So they're always digging of it up, And putting of it de>wn. v--

Swansea's Heavy Kate Exctisals SM ansea Town Council on W edne>day dis- cussed the question of rate excusals. lug Accountant said the excusais for property at Cardiif on tLe last two general lates was £ 40 5s. 3d., and poor rate £ 46 <is. lid. m addition. Newport's last two poor rates excnsals came to JE15 15s. Sd, and general rate excu-als 10 £18 19s. 2d. The letter from Newport con- veying the information of that, town contained the re-mark; "Swansea is generally considered too generous m tins lespect." Lit r. W H Mcrm said he believed (-xeusais Vere too generous;.—Tne Borough Accountant stated that Swansea excusals iast rear amounted to about £1.000..

[ MEY'SWATCH SPB ING CORSETS THE MOST SHAPELY AS WELL AS THE MOST DUEAELE IN THE TRADE. Once tried illways worn. DEPOT— RHYS THOMAS. 81, OXFORD STREET, SV,M ■ ;;A. It is not often that the A.ssi"-? C.rls a.Mp troubled by cases from Morristc-r.. >tt the Cardiff Assize calendar include.- Vorrist-on :.ase- that of the auxiliary post-iam. Con- sider,hie st-ir has beoen oca uoned over this, and ii, is hoped that the offender will be loo- iently dealt with.

"I look on humanity," said the lecturer at the Swansea Scientific Society, last Monday night, "as on a kind of curye; where it is going to we don't know." No. "Vexatious and absurd. —Rev. Watkins Edwards' characterisation of the Education Department's interference with the question ■ of polled work at Hafod new school. The attitude of the English miners towards tihe Welsh on Friday appeared to be similar to that of a man who cordially invites his friend to "do as he likes," and then adds aside: "And I hope he'll break his neck." Sir John Llewelyn was in danger of being mistaken for a disabled footballer at the inter- national match on Saturday, for the presi- dent of the Welsh Union had his right hand in a. sling, two of his fingers having been dis- located by a simple accident at Penlleigaer a couple ot days before. Mr. and Mis. Watkeys, who :w Mayor and Mayoress of Bloemfontein received Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlain on thek- arrival in the Orange River Colony capital, are well known in Breccnshire. Thtir son. Mi. Eustace Wat- keys, was recently married to Miss Hattie Samuel, daughter cf Mr. William Samuel, Church-street, Llanelly. In the course of his daily column in the "Morning Leeder," "S.L.H." observes:— I respect Cardiff for many reasons. Some Welshmen hold that it is the capital of Wales, though I am bound to add that others denounce such a- doctrine as a pestilent heresy and a fond thing vainly invented. From such a controversy 1 stand aside, and, indeed, as I understand that some of the most thoughtful, erudite Welshmen (and Welshmen can be very thoughtful and erudite when they like) claim that London is really a Welsh city, this ques- tion of a Welsh capital need not cause any serious controversy." Scarcely; ask Swan sea. The pretest of the Hon. Oio Vivian against members of tire Swansea. Council being al- lowed two da,v¡;? expenses for the visit to Llandrindod a couple of weeks ago, was amply justified and elective henceforward on the occasion of meetings attended within, a hundred miles of Swansea the members are to be allowed only their actual out-of-pocket expenses. One of the members who went to the conference right.) y objected to a cheque being sent him, based on the assumption that he would want two days' expenses allowed, and gave a. practical t-uin to his objection by sending back the suprHuous guinea.