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AIR. DAVID SHEPHERD IN CUSTODY…
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AIR. DAVID SHEPHERD IN CUSTODY FOR MISAPPROPRIATING £ 6.000. I VOLUNTARILY SURRENDERS TO THE POLICE. .^Batic confession was made by Mr. Shepherd, of Cardiff, on Monday. Mr. is the secretary of the Cardiff phurch Council, but it was in liis ^ter7l iy as clerk to the governors under the into ??e^a,te Education Act that he walked e e office of his chairman, Mr. John ,e« £ nLlate on Monday afternoon and con- ation at he liacl misappropriated the edu- Vag funds to the extent of about £ 6,000. It ?? Monday that the corporation took ftorg intermediate schools from the gover- Sovfcr ^r- Shepherd was the clerk to the hijjj and the corporation had engaged ^Uo ?■ Continue the work under the new ati°n Act. His exact statement to Mr. in tj.ari was that he was about £ 6.000 short to funds he had that day to hand over corporation. Mr. Duncan was a feeling which will be shared by Of generally, for Mr. Shepherd in one '0rih"e rri0 £ active and prominent Noncon- ^"alel8tB an(* temperance advocates in South le^6' He has for many years occupied a Position in connection with temper- and Dissent, and in Cardiff, at any ^an' ^as ^een tha chief organiser of the Movements promoted by those two Of b.s. Few men stood higher in the esteem had's fLIlow-i-nen; not a breath of suspicion ^9,8 n cast on his probity, and no one ot}le510re amazed than Mr. Duncan and the Governors to learn that the interme- education funds had suffered to the fessi extent indicated in Mr. Shepherd's con- IQJ, ^onie moments Mr. Duncan could credit the statement which Mr. Shep- rQade. The latter was naturally in a considerable agitation, but he per- in saying it was only too true—a which received corroboration from sllePherd, jun a bright and promising follow, who had accompanied hi* °n the latter's melancholy mission to I'\ M ncan's office in the "South Wales Daily Mw buildings. Both father and son the tilat they felt their positions deeply, conscious of his guilt and what it Oot5nt- and the other torn in an anguieh of and distress. ItLa-j' Shepherd went on to state that he had Hwe every effort in his power to get the f(wey> but had failed, and he now came 4(1^ ard to face the worst. Mr. Shepherd, Volunteered the information that his er was anxious to go into the matter. JOHN DUNCAN'S STATEMENT. "Avell 1 11 said Mr. John Duncan, as he after- rd's related to one of our reporters, "this JUSt about the last thing in the wcrla tljjj I expected from a m in of hie character Standing." t.biO' I don't think you had better add any- mor» to what you have said," he parked to Mr. Shepherd, jun. The latter, l^ver, went on to say that his father had over the Temperance Club in St. h^'s-square. The promoters of this club aU got out of it and left him in the He had also given from £ 1,000 to help friends who were in difficulties, hee he was landed, himself. He had Jz to his friends with the idea of securing W 1 help to meet the deficit, and > £ u ^cured a sum of about £ 3,000, but this W ^sufficient, and the cheques had all y returned. u may easily imagine," said Mr. lilteCatl to our reporter, "that I did not ^5^ *° cross-examine or question him. Ii *ll mjr business to do that, so that was 0f?e lhe information he volunteered. He 1 to] ^0 do whatever I wished. Of course, f°rth bim that I had a public duty to per- ho,jn^ lhat, unfortunately, friendship was to stand aside, and that I would at e})r "Droceed to inform the town-clerk, who :1:10, esented the corporation, ae they were £ e« he owners of the property." he left Mr. Shepherd said he held UtW* fully at Mr. Duncan's disposal. The °5inj Replied that he would have to take "l U to what course to adopt. 8hre .hoPe," said Mr. Shepherd, you will unnecessary indignity." •Cr are you going to do now?" asked "\vhnncau- ^jjj^ttfttever you like," was the dejected be think," Mr. Duncan went on, "you had tttr go home and wait developments." will be at home," said Mr. Shepherd, I if you send up a boy or anybody else do whatever you wish." Shepherd and his son then left the and the narrative is continued by Mr. c*an- who, though it was a couple of tii^1"8 later when he very courteously fur- the representatives of this and his h.e Paper simultaneously with the facts as ina ^ere known to him, was still under the ton?pj1?6 °f the shock which the unexpected -j S6^on had given him. Ce ::c once proceeded to the town-clerk's • said Mr. Duncan, "and found that he at Manchester on his holidays, and Iet ee iity-towri-clork was also from t:f)t¡, I then went over to Mr. Walter 1lJte; 8 office He is not the solicitor of the Qlll' iTtlGdiate governors, but he has done all the work, and I wanted his advice. On Co^i?y n;e^ Alderman Edward Thomas ")• the ex-mayor, and he accom- me. I decided at the office to issue a tb to the whole of the governors stating Conf ^1". Shepherd had called upon me and 1!4, that he was £ 6.000 short in his 1lt rt. V. and asking them to attend a meeting chqj^lve o'clock to-morrow at the council- of the Town-hall. then," continued Mr. Duncan, "I inwards saw the chief-constable, and him of what had occurred. The is that Shepherd voluntarily surren- himself to the police, and is now at the 's Mr. tells me that it tbessary to have a specific sum mentioned th^ ? charge as the deficiency, and I believe ti'oj, e is now endeavouring to get informa- H^^hich will enable him to apply for a Vqjyt. The chances are that by now (six he has succeeded, that a warrant has *Nlv ^ned, and that Shepherd is now for-1 jo custody. d¡, I went back to the town-clerk's lti and saw Mr. Cornish, and, after con- with him and Alderman Edward thp as. we decided to send a telegram to th^-clerk at Manchester, informing him Of '^epherd had confessed to a deficiency jlo^OO, and that a meeting of the gover- ti'n,he^n called for to-morrow. Similar ^of^tion was sent to the mayor, and Mr. Mr also undertook to communicate with ^8y8y^Qey Robinson (who is fiVo on his holi- ■h 'Aa aS head of the education committee. Shepherd himself," went on Mr. cha,j>3 n' in feeling tone3, "yon know the cter of the man. He is a teetotaler and ttig^^cntative of a number of societies, and In whom. I had always felt the highest jplence." tj here he called to mind that at the Jhnj)|r6eting of the governors, on Friday, the after dealing with the work of the 1J1)')1 trf3 and other teachers in the referred to Mr. Shepherd's valuable ^Tj|a .as clerk in terms of eulogy, and "elf f-s/5'' upon what pleasure it gave to him- ,r- Duncan') and the whole of the gover- know that Mr. Shepherd had been •< "lfvOVer bv the corporation. ^s\,exT,erier!oe of him," said Mr. Duncan. hat he was one of the clearest-headed Itt¡c:t of men I have ever had to deal with. have been on the hoard for eleven a qtj'.Whatever was -wanted and whenever 0^ l0n was asked he had his answer ready V 9 ttT' wap vcry clear, thoroughly nr> 7'n h^it^'Prk, and never betrayer! tho slightest "on. j have been brought, into more '^l^tte connection with him during the last eighteen months, since the death b.a.e hrfhn Randers, and no chairman could bad a rlerk to back him up better. If .^tod figures ahout anything he would js'lt answer at once. only last Saturday fortnight that brought in the statement of S' au^ited and certified by Mr. David a*id signed in the usual way, and he before me, as chairman, and I ► ancl copies that have to go SM^wity Commissioners, certifying that > ref'-ar nn to the end of March." ncan confessed that he was at a loss ^^0Tmt for the deficiency or to say how OH t,°ne.v could have been abstracted witb- w e knowle-dsre of the governors. It maj tinned that a full statement of «te for year ended March 31. 1904. ^t).t'tl>>li<hed in the "Western Mail" s,S'T!e<J hy Mr. Duncan. a« chairman V ^0verTlor!5- hy Mr. Shepherd, as clerk. v'd "Roberts, as auditor, the last- stating that "I have audited these ta and certify them to be correct." JR.^HAT THE AUDITOR SAID. htincan, continuing his narrative, M W, M having telephoned to Mr. David t,^ the latter came at once to the office ^Mtj^n-clerk. The meeting between the 11 &0T€,rn0ra and the octogenarian v, aB> ae may well be imagined, a ™ °ne. Mr. Duncan quickly disclosed ew. I Mr. Roberts, having recovered from his first shock of surprise, declared that the defalca- tions must have taken place within the last five months, otherwise they would have been detected by him. He immediately undertook to overhaul the books and accounts to verify his assumption. Meantime, Mr. Duncan was left to ponder as to how such a large sum had been secured. His action in preventing Shepherd from per- sisting in his intended confession as to how he had secured the money will, doubtless, have the approval of all fair-minded men. "Tho only singie incident," he said, reflec- tively, "that I can re-call that has the slightest bearing upon these defalcations is this one:—After I had bc-e-n chairman for about three months or so Mr. David Roberts came down to me one day and said, 'There is something I don't like about the way in which David Shepherd pays in the money.' I said, immediately, 'What do you mean?' 'Well,' he replied, 'he ought to pay it in more frequently,' and I am not quite sure, speak- ing from memory, whether he handed me a letter or a statement of figures. He said, 'It ought to be paid in more frequently.' I said, I agree with you; there is no possible reason why Shepherd should not pay in the money more frequently.' He FAid, 'I have spoken to him about it, and told him that it is not safe to keep such a large sum of money in his office.' 'Well.' I said, I am thoroughly with you, and I am very glad tha.t you have mentioned the matter to me. I will see that it is at onoo attended to.' "I saw Shepherd about the matter, and he was perfectly frank with me. He admitted at once that it was the case that the money had not been paid in so frequently as it might have been. He explained that it was owing to the fact that he had been exceedingly busy in his office, and that his head clerk had been taken ill. "'Well,' I said, 'this is not business. What are your instruction 'J?' 'There are none,' he answered. "I said that there ought to be, and, looking at the letter or whatever it was-I think that it was a letter-I said. Put that on the agenda for the next finance meeting.' It was put down; we discussed it at the finance committee, which generally takes place before the monthly meeting. I explained to the committee that Mr. David Roberts had complained to me about the money not being paid in frequently enough, and it was unanimously agreed that specific instruc- tions should be placed on the minutes direct- ing that the money be paid into the bank daily. I anj not certain, but I believe that the words 'as far as practicable' were inserted in the resolution. Practically, it meant that he was to pay in the money daily as he got it." "Mr. Roberts himself," continued Mr. Dun- can, "never suggested that there was any keeping back of money. All he complained of was that it was unbusinesslike for the money not to have been paid in more fre- quently. That is the only circumstance in connection with Shepherd which could have in any way suggested that there should be this trouble." STATEMENT BY MR. SHEPHERD'S SON. Poignant anguish was depicted in the face of Mr. Gilbert Shepherd, eldest son of Mr. David Shepherd, when one of our representa- tives called at the house in Windsor-place pn Monday night. Mr. Shepherd, jun., naturally hesitated to discuss the matter in view of the position in which his father had voluntarily placed himself. "In truth," he said, "I knew nothing of my father's difficulty until last Thursday, when he explained the state of his affairs to me." "Would you care to say anything of the causes which have brought this about?" queried our representative. "I may say," answered Mr. Shepherd, "that my father lost a great deal of money in the Cardiff Temperance Club in St. John's-square, which was inaugurated about ten years ago. The club was formed aa the result of a temper- ance meeting at whioh it was pointed out that there was no good temperance club in the town. My father was one of those on the platform, and when those present who were prepared to subscribe to such a club were invited to hold up their Hands my father was asked to take their names. That was how the club began and how my father became so closely associated with it. Some time later a company was formed, and it became nccessary when the premises were taken that the lease should be in one person's name instead of that of a limited company, and my father, as a consequence, consented that the lease should be made out in his name. The bulk of the financial burden fell upon my father, and as the rental was L150 a year, and the premises were vacant for about eight years, it was no inconsiderable matter. It was, I may say, the reason why we removed our offices from Frederick-street to St. John's-square." Mr. Gilbert Shepherd added that his father largely paid the ratee, gas, &c., of the club, and, in fact. was always putting his hands in his pocket for it, and that eventually when the club was wound up he had to pay "heaps of things." All along his father hoped and believed the club would be a financial success, as there was no other institution of the kind in the town. "Besides this," observed Mr. Shepherd, "my father became surety at different times for friends who afterwards went to the wall; indeed, he hardly seemed able to refuse any- body who asked him for help." During the evening it became known in Cardiff that Mr. Shepherd had confessed to heavy defalcations, nlthough tho exact state j of affaire was not made public. Needless to say, the news was received with a feeling akin to stupefaction, and particularly was this the case at the meeting of the Congrega- t'onal Union in the Park-hall, where a. whisper of the trouble went round the audience. Mr. Shepherd has a large family. There are in all, we believe, eight children, several of whom are bright and clever, and have distinguished themselves in the local schools. MR. SHEPHERD'S SERVICES TO THE TOWN". I Mr. David Shepherd, who is a member of a Gower family, came to Cardiff about 25 years ago, and a few years later he com- menced business as a general accountant. Not only has he been widely known and respected in his professional capacity, but his exceptional organising ability has brought him into further prominence as a public official and a social worker. He was I one of the best-known figures in the town in connection with Liberal politics and with the temperance movement. Particularly at any meeting where temperance work was involved his cheery presence might always be looked for. In his capacity as a public i official he was best known as the clerk to the Cardiff Board of Governors under the Welsh Intermediate Education Act. His cervice under this body dates from its inception, ten years ago, and during its course he has played an active part in much impor- tant work. Such schemes as the build- ing of the fine girls' school • must have entailed upon him a vast amount of labour, which was discharged always to the satisfaction of his board and of his fellow- citizens. He carried through practically all the organisation under the Craddock Wells Scholarship scheme, and in this connection performed the responsible duties of collecting the rents from and taking charge of the properties left by the testator. More recently Mr. Shepherd has been engaged upon the work involved in the transference of the board's functions to the Cardiff Town Council, and only on Friday last, when he was present at the governors' final meeting, his services were the subject of a, high encomium from the chairman. Mr. Shepherd is also one of the elective auditors for the > borough, a post to which he was elected a few years ago, and for which he has again been nominated for the forthcoming election. A few years a-go, too, Mr. Shepherd became a member of the Cardiff Board of Guardians, but retired after only about twelve months' work. A Liberal in politics, he is a member j of the executive committee of the Liberal Association, and has always taken a keen and active interest at both Parliamentary and municipal elections. For the past six or seven years he has been secretary of the Free Church Council. As a prominent Wesleyan, he has been intimately connected with many religious movements in Cardiff, and when tho Rev. Thomas Law founded the Free Church Council Mr. Shep- herd was one of the dozen or so who actively assisted him in the movement, and eventually lie became the first secretary of the new body. He has been a leading member of the Roath-road Wesleyan Church. A few years a.go he served as circuit steward, and is at present one of the three Sunday School superintendents. As secretary of the Cardiff, and District Tempera-noe Hjaon Mr, Shep. herd succeeded Alderman Bbeneaer Beavan, and has been an enthusiastic worker.
IN THE POLICE-COURT.
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IN THE POLICE-COURT. HEAVY BAIL FIXED BY THE MAGISTRATES. The time of waiting while applications for summonses are being made at Cardiff Police- court is always tedious and trying. On Tues- day that period was extraordinarily exciting from the fact that it was common knowledge that Mr. David Shepherd would be brought up to meet the sensational charge preferred against him. The corridors were crowded, those who sought admission including friends of Mr. Shepherd, men who have been asso- ciated with him in public and philanthropic work. Mr. Gilbert Shepherd, accused's eldest eon, was there, and it was evident that the keenest sympathy was felt for him in the unparalleled painfulness of his posi- tion. Councillor Morgan Thomas, too, sat at the solicitors' table. Save for a St. Mary-street drunk," the only other case on the list was the one which all ears bent forward to listen to, and as prisoner was ushered into the dock the feel- ing of hushed expectancy was at its height. The tension lasted but for a few moments, and then the crowd dispersed to discuss the case over again and the magistrates' deci- sion as to bail, which some thought to be heavy enough in amount. Mr. Shepherd was dressed in a brown suit, and. though he maintained his outward composure fairly well, it was evident from his restless move- ments—now supporting himself backwards on the projection behind him in the dock, and now standing with arms folded and quivering lips—that he realised his cup of bitterness to the very full. Mr. Gilbert Shep- herd sat immediately beneath him, and sym- pathetic glances passed from father to son and vice versa-glances that would have touched a responsive chord even in an adamantirio heart. The magistrates were Messrs. E. W. Shackell and James Allan. THE CHARGE was that David Shepherd, 48, on his own confes- sion, being a servant to the mayor, aider- men, and burgesses of the county borough of Cardiff, did embezzle and steal on divers dates several sums of money, the moneys of the said mayor, aldermen, and bur- gesses of the county borough of Cardiff. Mr. F. W. Ensor (from the town-clerk's office) appeared for the prosecution; Mr. George David (Messrs. David and Evans) defended. Mr. F. W. Ensor stated: I am instructed to appear on behalf of the police to prose- cute the prisoner, who is charged, on his own confession, with embezzling sums of money, the property of the mayor, aldermen, and burgesses of the borough of Cardiff. The prisoner was until Monday clerk to the governors for intermediate education, and it is in that capacity that the charge is made against him. The defalcations are to an amount of £ 6,000, as he has stated in his confession. I don't propose to enter into the facts of the case to-day—in fact, I cannot. The admission was only made yes- terday, and there has been no time to inquire into the truth of the statements. I, therefore, ask your worships to grant a remand for a week to enable the prosecution to make inquiries. Mr. George David: As far as I am con- cerned on behalf of the prisoner, I have no objection to a remand, and I do not ask that ,any evidence should be given. The only application I have to make is that the prisoner be admitted to bail. The position is this: He has given himself up, and the only knowledge that the prosecution have of the circumstances is what he himself has told them, and he is anxious to give every assistance in going into the matter. He is not at all likely to abscond. If he had had any idea of that kind he would have gone before now. He has given himself up, and made a certain statement to those in autho- rity. Under those circumstances, I ask you to say that this is a case in which bail should be allowed. Mr. Shackell (the presiding magistrate): There is no reference in the charge to the amount in question. Will that come before us to-day at all? Mr. Ensor: I can call evidence of that if your worships or Mr. David wish it. Mr. David: I have stated expressly that I do not ask for any evidence. Mr. Ensor: The prisoner has placed the amount at £ 6,000. I am instructed, on behalf of the police, to oppose an application for bail in consequence of the largeness of the amount. No inquiries have yet been made into the admission, and it is impossible to say what may be involved in the inquiries, or whether other people are implicated or not. Mr. David: I may say that this morning I have handed over to my friend the whole of the keys relating to the safes in which all the books and documents of the board are contained. So they have got everything. I am somewhat surprised that an objection should be taken to bail, under all the circum- stances. HEAVY BAIL ASKED. The Magistrates consulted together for a few minutes, and then Mr. Shackell said: We have agreed that, in view of the largeness of the amount involved, we do not feel justified in granting bail, except you find six sureties of £1,000 each. Mr. David: That's very heavy bail, air. The Magistrates' Clerk: And himself. Mr. Shackell: And Mr. Shepherd in Li,ooo. The Clerk: And the remand? Mr. Shackell: We remand the, prisoner for eight days. The accused here leaned over the dock, and with a nervous, hesitating gesture, touched Mr. David upon the shoulder. Mr. David turned, and a hurried, earnest conversation followed between advocate and client. What the latter said could not be heard, but Mr. David's remark, "That will be the best way," reached the press-box distinctly. The painful drama and the tension of it were now at an end. Prisoner turned and descended the dock stairs with a firm and elastic step. The element of sympathy for accused and his family, and for the friends who suffer with him, was a striking feature of the case, indicated alike by the hushed silence that pervaded the court and by the sorrowful aspect of every countenance. MR. SHEPHERD REMOVED TO GAOL. Prominent as Mr. David Shepherd was in political and Nonconformist life in Cardiff, up to the afternoon none of his friends had appeared to bail him out. About three o'clock, however, one friend made a call upon Mr. Shepherd in his cell and offered to become one of the sure- ties. Not only this, he expressed the inten- tion of going out to seek others, but neither Mr. George David nor the relatives of Mr. Shepherd had much hope that eo large an amount of bail would be forthcoming. It was expected that Mr. Shepherd would have been removed to Cardiff Gaol between three and four o'clock, but the carrying out of this was postponed for a time. However, shortly before six o'clock, the bail which the magistrates offered to accept not being forth- coming, Mr. Shepherd was removed from Cardiff Police station to the gaol. He left the yard in a. four-wheeled cab, accompanied by Court-sergeant Evans. One of our represen- tatives spoke to Mr. Shepherd as he was entering the vehicle, and the accused remarked that he was very grateful to both the local papers for the kindness with which they had treated the subject of the charge against him.
RE-ARRANGEMENT IN THE BAIL…
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RE-ARRANGEMENT IN THE BAIL GRANTED. At the close of the ordinary applications at Cardiff Police-court on Thursday, Mr. George David made an application for a reduction of the bail granted to Mr. David Shepherd on Tuesday morning. The magistrates on the bench were Messrs. E. W. Shackell, James: Allan, and Gething Lewis. Mr. T. W. Ensor, prosecuting solicitor to the corporation, was appearing for the prosecution. Mr. David, addressing the bench, said he had to make an application in the matter of David Shepherd, who was remanded on Tues- day last by Mr. Shackell and Mr. Allan. They, then said they would take bail in six sureties of £ 1,000 and himself in £ 1,000. His applica- tion now was that they would reduce that bail. It was absolutely impossible to obtain bail to such an amount as that which had been fixed, and, if he might respectfully say so, it seemed to him that bail had probably j been fixed on a wrong principle. The amount alleged to have been embezzled was a sum something like £ 6,000, and it seemed to him that they had fixed bail in accordance with that. If he might say so, that was not the principle on which bail ought to be fixed. It should be reasonable bail, which would ensure the attendance of the prisoner at the time for which the bail was given. And it seemed to him, if he might respectfully say so, that the amount which had been fixed was an amount which, under the circumstances, should be reduced. Another reason which affected their worships' minda in fixing the amount of bail was the fact that the appli- cation for BAIL WAS OPPOSED on behalf of the prosecution at that time. He could quite understand Mr. Ensor's posi- tion at that time. The town-clerk was away, and the deputy-town-clerk, he thought, was also from town. Mr. Ensor had only been instructed a few minutes before, and he had no opportunity of instructing his immediate superiors in regard to the matter. Now. however, the position was different. There had been time to consider, and the prosecu- tion now concurred with the application that was now made. Of couree, the amount was a matter entirely within their worships' dis- cretion, but, still, there was this difference,! that the prosecution was willing to agree to bail. There was the further point why, in the interests both of the proaeoufcioa 1IPldcof tho prisoner, bail should be fixed at an amount which prisoner was able to obtain, and that was that a large number of accounts and books would have to be gone into, and, as he intimated on Tuesday, prisoner desired to give every assistance to the prosecution. It was impossible, however, to give such assistance under the circumstances. It was desirable in prisoner's own interests, and also desirable in the interests of public justice, that prisoner should be allowed out on bail. so that he might obtain proper access to the books which concerned the transactions in question. Under the cir- cumstances, he asked that bail should be very considerably reduced. Prisoner was now in a position to obtain bail. His friends had been able to secure bail to the extent of £ 2,000. That, he asked their worships to say. was a very heavy figure, but they were pre- pared with trustees to that extent. He asked the magistrates in the EXERCISE OF THEIR DISCRETION, and in pursuance of their duty to fix the bail at the amount he had mentioned, and, of course, it must be remembered that, besides the outside sureties, there was pri- soner's own bail of another £ 1,000. Mr. Dan Recs (clerk) asked if there was any alteration in the charge. Mr. David: Xo; I have had no notice of any alteration in the charge. Mr. Rees: Then it stands as it was. Mr. David: Yes. Mr. Rees: Aud equally serious. Mr. David: Yes, the charge is equally serious; but, still, I submit the amount of money involved is not the principle on which bail should be fixed—it should be such an amount that, if granted, it will secure his attendance, and not a sum that is prohibi- tive. The Clerk: Do you argue that if the pri- soner is unable to find bail at any time, then it is the duty of the justices to reduce it? Mr. David: No; what I say is that the bail should be fixed at an amount which will secure the attendance of the prisoner at the time when he is.to be tried. If he is not able to secure bail to the amount fixed by the jus- tices, it may be said that his friends would not assist him, but that cannot be said in this case, because his FRIENDS ARE READY PREPARED to come forward with heavy bail. It seems to me the bail has been fixed by the wrong principle, the amount involved in the charge. Mr. Ensor said the view of the prosecution waa that, while they held the opinion that bail should be substantial, they did not wish it to be prohibitive. He was instructed not to oppose the reduction of the bail provided it was not reduced below £ 3,000. Mr. Rees: Do you know what amount is involved? At this stage of the proceedings, when we don't know the amount involved, it is almost unusual to grant bail at all. Mr. David: The course the prisoner has taken is somewhat unusual. In cases of this kind we know, unfortunately, that people generally depart, and give a great deal of trouble before they are broug-ht back again. The prosecution had no idea of these charges. The whole of the information they had obtained ha.c h"n from a statement- which the prisoner himself has voluntarily made. He has voluntarily given himself up, which indicates mat He is prepared to meet the charges which have been made against him. I am indebted to the press for an illustration in support of Mr. DAVID SHEPHERD. (From a photo by Long, Queen-streot, Cardiff). my views. A very eminent criminal, if one may 130 describe him, who embezzled large sums cif money, rot only left this country, but caused a great deal of difficulty and expense in finding him. I am under the im- prcssion tha,u the bail to which he was admitted by a. London stipendiary was not equal to the amount fixed for Mr. Shepherd, who remains here to meet the charges against him and voluntarily gives himself up. The Magistrates retired to consider the application, and when they returned Mr. Shackell announced: The magistrates have discussed this question very fully, and we should prefer the case to be heard before we alter the amount of bail. In order to meet you as far as possible, we are willing to acoopt twelve sureties of £ 500 each, in pla,ce of six of £1,000. We hope that will meet you. Mr. David: That leaves the bail just as high as before, sir. Mr. Shackell: Next ca.s1
MEETING OF GOVERNORS-
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MEETING OF GOVERNORS- APPOINTMENT OF A COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY. A meeting of the governors of intermediate education in Cardiff was held on Tuesday morning, when Mr. John Duncan presided. There was a full attendance of members. It was evident from the start that there was sadness impressed upon every governor present. Mr. Duncan, punctually at twelve o'clock, said there was one thing thsy ought to decide immediately, a.nd that wae the admission of the press to the meeting. "There is nothing to conceal," he said, "and, as the matter is of public interest, I think the representatives of the press should remain, and I know them well enough to be satisfied that they will exercise their discretion in using anything that is said or any statements that are made here.. It may be advisable that they should consult, perhaps, myself or some official afterwards, so that nothing prejudicial to Mr. Shepherd should be used." The meeting unanimously adopted Mr. John Duncan's suggestion, and the pressmen remained. Mr. Duncan went on to say that it was necessary he should inform the governors what had taken place, but the statement which had appeared in the morning papers practically covered the ground. He (Mr. Duncan) communicated with the head- constable, who stated that some charge should be formulated against Mr. Shepherd before he could take any proceedings. In order to obtain a definite charge of that kind, Mr. David Roberts, the auditor of the accounts, was seen, but he was not then in a position to make such a definite charge as the head- constable demanded. In the meantime, how- ever, Mr. Shepherd had gone to the police- station, and surrendered himself. "In order," said Mr. Duncan, "that all the facts should be placed before the public, I must say that I was not unprepared for the developments of yesterday. On Saturday an intimate friend of Mr. Shepherd's called upon me and said, 'There is a matter of great importance, which I must ask you to pledge yourself to keep secret.' From the conversation which ensued Mr. Duncan learnt that the matter related to the financial position of Mr. Shepherd. What the duty of the intermediate governors was at present it was difficult to understand, because, as a matter cf fact, they had ceased to exist somewhere about midnight on the 26th. That being so, he had consulted the mayor, the ex- mayor, and two or three other prominent members of the council, who had now taken over education in Cardiff. The ex-mayor (Alderman Edward Thomas) had given him material assistance, and it now remained for the governors to decide what action they should take, or whether they should hand over the responsibility to the corporation. Personally, he felt that it was the duty of the governors to hand over what money they possessed to the county council, and be re- responsible for that money. Mr. Duncan considered that the moment the corporation came into possession of the property the governors, as a body, were dissolved. Mr. Walter Scott, solicitor, believed that the Education Act expressly stated that. Alderman Carey felt, as one of the governors, that there was a responsibility attaching to them. Mr. T. H. Riches: Do I understand the deputy-town-clerk to suggest that we are obliged to hand over everything intact, or what we have got? Mr. Brown: I think what you have got. Mr. Courtis: There is the matter of guarantee, is there not, Mr. Chairman? The Chairman: There is a guarantee of £ 1,000 in the Ocean Accident and Guarantee Corporation. Mr. Robert Hughes: Could we have the position of each governor defined, Mr. Chair. man? How far are we liable for the defalca- tions of the clerk to the governors? Alderman Carey: I rather object to that. Our duty is this: A certain confession baa token place, and now what means, are w» to adopt in regard to it? The other question must be fought out afterwards. Mr. Courtis asked whether the auditor was able to account for the defalcations? The Chairman asked Mr. David Roberts, the auditor, to make a statement to the governors. AUDITOR'S STATEMENT. Mr. Roberts: After I left you, Mr. Chair- Mr. Roberts: After I left you, Mr. Chair- man, on iionday evening at five o'clock in the town-clerk's office, where you had requested me to do what I could to clear up this matter, I went to Mr. Shepherd's otiice to see him. I asked for the books, and his clerk told me Mr. Shepherd was not there, and that he had the key of the safe. He could not get access to it, and I went up to Mr. Shepherd's house. I was told by one of his sons that Mr. Shepherd and his son connected with the business had juit gone out. He did not know when he was likely to return. I waited for about ten minutes or a quarter of an hour, in the hopes that he would return, but he did not. I told the sou I would come again this morning. When I got home I thought of the seriousness of the matter, and determined to go back asain. While I was waiting in came Mr. McKenzie, the c.hief-con&table, and he told me he wanted some information. I told him how I was situated. I could not imagine how the thing had been accom- plished. We drove down to the police office, where I saw Mr. Shepherd. I a¿ked him if he could give some information, because I understood he was willing to give any information he could. He hesitated a little while, and then said he expected Mr. i George David, his solicitor, to come in. He would rather not say anything until Mr. David came. I waited until about half-past j eight. Mr. David came and went away. I saw Mr. Shepherd again, and he told me that Mr. David had advised him not to give any information, so that I was checkmated. However, Mr. Shepherd gave! me a promise that he would let me; have the books this morning at his i office. I got there, and got access to the safe. I found some of the books. The cash book was not entered close up, but the rents book—a separate matter—was entered up very close. Mr. Shepherd would not give any information. I asked for the bank-book at the bank from Mr. Todd, the manager. That is about the long and the short of the matter, as far as I am concerned, for really I can give you no information as to how the matter took place. I expected Mr. Shepherd to give some clue as to what moneys he had misapplied, if any, but he was quite silent. That is how the matter stands. Mr. Morgan Thomas: Mr. Chairman, will you ask Mr. Roberts when be completed hie last audit? Mr. Roberts: The last audit was com- pleted up to the 31st of March, 1904, and the accounts were published somewhere about three weeks ago. A question arose as to whether the deposit- notes for the amount of £7,105 shown by the published account to have been "on deposit" on March 31 were in existence, and Mr. Roberts, the auditor, explained that when he asked for production of these during the audit he was told that they were not then in possession because of the investment of £ 6,000 in Consols which had subsequently been made, and he, of course, regarded this statement a3 satisfactory, knowing, as he did, that the purchase had actually takon place and that he would have fresh evidence of the fact in his next auait. The Chairman: Is it a fact that these Consols were bought since the 31st of March? Mr. Roberts: Yes. The Chairman: I think I am right in say. ing that the Consols were bought since the 31st of March out of moneys on deposit at the bank? Mr. Roberts said he could hardly answer that question, The Consols were charged against current account. The Chairman: That is not the account ending in March ? Mr. Roberts: No, since then. The Chairman (to Mr. F. J. Beavan): I think these are the Consols that you were the p<?rson who proposed Mr. F. J. Beavan: That is over eighteen months ago. Mr. Morgan Thomas: There was a com-j plaint at one of the committees that we had not had the scrip. Alderman Carey: In whose names are the deposits made at the bank ? The Chairman: I think the deposits in the bank are in the names of the governors as a whole. Mr. Roberts: One amount of Consols was purchased on the 14th of April. The Chairman: What year? Mr. Roberts: This year. It wae £3.000. Another item of £ 3,038 was paid for Consols on the 27th of April. Mr. Tod tells me that they are invested in the names of the trustees. Alderman Carey: And they could not he negotiated without three signatures. Mr. F. J. Beavan: Then presumably they arc there still. The Chairman: I think you have ascer- tained that the whole of the Consols are in his (Mr. Todd's) possession? Mr. Roberts: Yes. Mr. Beaven: Those Consols were ordered eighteen months ago. and only appear to have been bought recently. The Chairman said they had "better clear up that point. He thought Mr. Beavan's memory was not quite right. His (Mr. Dun- can's) impression was that what Mr. Beavan was referring to as having occurred eighteen months ago was a general instruction to the clerk that when Consols reached a certain point he should buy. That was not carried out, because the price did not come down, and his impression was that Mr. Beavan himself proposed the pur- chase of those Consols last. April, and that he afterwards complained that the clerk had not acted with the promptitude he should have done, and that the price had gone up. His allegation was that if they had been bought promptly they would have been much cheaper. Alderman Carey asked whether it would not be better that thftir official treasurer (Mr. Tod) should be called to the meeting. He (Alderman Carev) would like to know what was their account at the bank at the present time, and what they ought to have there. The Chairman observed that if the auditor was unable to account for the deficiency it would necessitate an investigation as to how the monev had been secured. He (Mr. Dun- can) doubted whether the bank manager was in possession of any information that was not shown on the pass-book. The pass-book made up to the 16th of September showed that the borough treasurer on that date received £ 1.769 Is. 4d. Alderman Carey: I understood from the papers this morning thnt we should be assisted by Mr. Shepherd. What security have we got at the bank now? What Consols have we got there? The Mavor said he did not know that that was a time when they ch^iild inigtittile a very minute inoniry. Until the auditor could fix upon definite items anything they might say that morning would be useless. I THE DEFICIENCY EXPLAINED. As stated above, from inquiries we have made the defalcations were made by the manipulation of the cash on deposit at the bonkers. In reference to this matter the following is a rorort of what occurred at the meeting of governors held on Tuesday. The ( discussion arose after the committee of inves- tigation had been appointed:- The Chairman: But it annears to me that he must hold scrip for £ 5.000, the amount which was purchased by the governors. j Mr. Todd: That doesn't prove that it i3 ( still there. As I have explained before, it is imnossible for us to tell whether the money is there or not. There are no such things as (jpnosit notes in the bank now. The Chairman pointed out that the auditor's accounts, according to recent developments, must be somewhere about £7,105 4s. 5d. on the wrong side. Mr Todd: Where did the auditor get his information from? Did he hold the deposit notes? Mr Roberts: T never saw any derositif notes. I knew the governors had invested money in Consols, and. I knew they were investing more in the same direction. I. hen I asked for vouchers Mr. Shepherd said, "But we have been buying Consols," and I took his word for it. The Chairman said it appeared to him that an order was given to the clerk on tho 31st of March last to withdraw £ 6.00#. with the object of investing it in Consols. It was imnossible for Mr. Roberts to know whether that had been invested or not. Alderman Carey: But according to the accounts we have a credit balance of C7,100 on the 31st of March. Did thut exist? Mr. Todd: I am afraid it did not. Mr. Morgan Thomas: Then why print it as such? The Chairman: It was printed in the finan- cial report, and was supnosed to be correct. Mr. M". Thomas: Well, this is an eye-opener for me. and it ought to make some of us look around. The resolution to appoint a committee of investigation was then unanimously passed.
INTERMEDIATE GOVERNORS MEETING.
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INTERMEDIATE GOVERNORS MEETING. A meeting of the Cardiff Intermediate Governors Sub-committce appointed to inves- tigate the case of Mr. Shepherd met at the I Town-hall on Wednesday afternoon. Mr. John Duncan presiding. There were also present Alderman Carey, Alderman Edward Thomas, I Mr. Frank Beavan, Mr. William Evans, the town-clerk, Mr. Roberts, the auditor of the governors, and Mr. Todd, the treasurer. It was stated by Mr. Todd that, although the accounts for the year ending March 31 I made it appear that there was cash in the bank on deposit to the amount of E7,105 4s. 5d., there was no such* deposit. It was a,lso stated that an amount of £1,000 had been paid in bank-notes recently from private pro- j perty yrhioh Mr. Shepherd had lately sold. and but for which the loss would have been considerably over zC7,000 instead of £ 6,120, which is the estimated deficiency at present. It was decided to instruct Mr. Roberts to make a thorough investigation of the books, and it was agreed to pay the expenses of any additional clerical assistance that he might require. With regard to the discussion at the Car- diff Education Committee as to the £ 1,769 being a credit balance, it was stated by Mr. Todd that it was a debit balance.
MEETING OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE.
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MEETING OF THE EDUCA- TION COMMITTEE. Although the Cardiff Education Committee has been acting for some time, it was only on Wednesday morning that it became legaiiy recognised, and one of the first matters which claimed the attention of the members was the situation created by Mr. David Shep- herd, who has admitted certain defalcations in connection with the inlermediate educa- tion scheme. The Town-clerk reminded the members that the first duty they had to perform was to appoint chairman and vice-chairman. Mr. Sidney Robinson and Mr. W. S. Croasman were respectively appointed to these posi- tions, and, the former being absent, Mr. Crossman presided. The lady members of the committee present were Mrs. Fiddian and Mr. Lester Jones, whose presence was welcomed on behalf of the committee by the chairman. The Town-clerk said it was necessary, in the first place, he should be instructed to take over all books and documents belonging to Lhe governors of intermediate education, and this was agreed to. The town-clerk also suggested that the committee should appoint an independent auditor. Mr. Lewis Morgan (deputy-mayor): In that respect, how do we stand? Can we take any responsibility for what has happened before we became liable? Alderman Edward Thomas: There is £ 6,000 missing, which, presumably, belongs to us. Mr. Lewis Morgan: Then should not we look to the governors to put us right? Alderman Edward Thomas: But they have ceased to exist. The Town-clerk: I think this is a question which the education committee will have to consider later. I would advise that you leave it in abeyance at present. Mr. Lewis Morgan: Have we any right at all to go into these accounts, covering a. period for which we are not responsible ? The Town-clerk: I don't think there is any doubt about. that. You tako over all the liabilities, the responsibilities, and the assets of the intermediate governors. Alderman Jacobs: Who will be the prose- cutor? The Town-clerk: That is a matter which you must really leave in abeyance at present. Mr. Lewis Morgan: I think it would be better to leave that to the town-clerk. Mr. Robert Bird objected to the statement that the corporation took over the liabilities of the intermediate governors. Tho Town-clerk: So far as they came to us. Mr. Yorath- Have we anything to do with the money except receive it? Alderman David Jones: Then if we have nothing to do with it, it follows that we can- not prosecute a man who is not our servant. The committee then recognised that the discussion was proceeding beyond the bounds cf discretion, and the town-clerk advised the appointment of an independent auditor to go through the accounts in connection with the governors' work. Mr. Lewis Morgan: I hope the town-clerk has well considered this matter. It is a eerious que-stion which is being raised by the appointment by ourselves of an independent auditor. We are assuming a responsibility which should not be put upon us. The Town-clerk: I have well considered it. Mr. f,ewi s Morgan: Then I have nothing more to say. Alderman Carey: I don't want to shirk any responsibility, but I hope the town-clerk will leave this matter for the present. If this committee appoints an independent auditor what, is left for the sub-committee cf the governors to do? Mr. Chapyell: rnless we appoint an inde- pendent auditor how are we to know what we are entitled to receive? The discussion continued upon the same lines for noarly two hours, and in the course of it a question arose whether a sum of LI,769 was a credit or debit balance. An Alderman: We were told yesterday it was a credit balance The Town-clerk: And I was told this morn- ing it was a balance against the governors, and that being so certain cheques passed for payment have been returned. In order to settle this matter the deputy town-clerk (Mr. Cecil Brown) proceeded to the bank and said he was assured by the manager that the sum mentioned was a debit balance. Eventually Mr. C. E. Dovey was appointed to audit the accounts of the governors and report to the education committeee, while the town-clerk was appointed pro torn, the receiver of rents for the Craddock Wells and other properties in trust for the governors. Another resolution authorised the town- clerk not to oppose a reduction in the bail fixed for Mr. David Shepherd's appearance to 13,000 if an application were made by his legal advisers. ELECTION OF BOROUGH AUDITORS. MR. SHEPHERD'S NAME MUST GO TO THE POLL. The mayor has received a letter from Mr. David Shepherd asking that hi3 name may be withdrawn from the list of candidates for the post of borough auditor for the impend- ing election. It is. unfortunately, now too late for any candidate to retire, and the election will, therefore, have to take place, notwithstanding the desire of Mr. Shepherd to withdraw. RESPONSIBILITY OF THE GOVERNORS. At the meeting of the governors on Tuesday the question arose as to whether the mem- bers of the board of governors were finan- cially responsible for the acknowledged deficit in the funds. The deputy-town-clerk (Mr. Brown) gave it as his opinion that they were not. HOW MR. SHEPHERD'S POST WILL BE FILLED. Under the corporation Mr. David Shepherd, in the ordinary course, would have continued to act as clerk for the intermediate schools to the new education authority. The unfor- tunate contretemps which has arisen make that impossible, of course, and it is now generally understood that the work con- nected with the intermediate schools will be entrusted to Mr. J. J. Jackson, as the chief education official of the corporation. Although for the time being Mr. David Shepherd was to have continued his work, the centralisation now made possible has, of course, always been kept in view. "OOOHFARF" AND MR. SHEPHERD. Speaking in Welsh at a temperance meet ing at Llanelly on Wednesday evening. Alderman Thomas ("Cochfarf"), Cardiff, referred to the unfortunate plight in which his friend Mr. David Shepherd now stood at Cardiff. Mr. Shepherd, who was now in prison, had taken a deep interest in temperance work To him it was a matter of deep regret that such a disclosure should now be made.
- SCOTCH CHURCH DISPUTE.
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SCOTCH CHURCH DISPUTE. CONFERENCE IN EDINBURGH: ARBITRATION REJECTED. The long-looked-for conference between delegates representing the United Free Church and the Free Church of Scotland to see if some settlement could be arrived at under the House of Lords decision that would obviate further litigation and cause as little dislocation of Church work as possible took place yesterday at Edinburgh. The dele- gates were fifteen in number, of whom seven represented the United Free Church and eight the Free Church. The proceedings were private, but at the close an official minute was supplied, from which it appears that the outstanding effect of the conference is that the Free Church has refused to consider the United Free Church's proposal for arbitration with a view to a permanent settlement, to be embodied in a Parliamentary Bill, and that the conference only discussed proposals for a temporary arrangement to last till the end of June next. The official report also stated:—"The meet- ing proceeded to consider a temporary work- ing arrangement on the basis of the Free Church recommendations, and considerable progress vas made. The conference then adjourned to October 7." The memorandum prepared by the United Free Church, which the Free Church repre- sentatives declined to consider, refers to the certainty that should there not be some a,gre-ement come to between the parties pro- longed litigation is likely to tako place in the congregations throughout the country in regard to movable property. The committee of the United Free Church state that they have information that private trustees and living donors are prepared to contest the applicability of the House of Lords judgment to their funds. Hence they suggested arbitra- tion and an appea.1 to Parliament.
_----------------VIOLIN SOLD…
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VIOLIN SOLD FOR £ 1,600. Miss Watson, of Holme Eden, near Carlisle, must be sincerely sorry she included a dis- used fiddle among a "lot" of curios which were sold by auction for her a few days ago, The fiddle was knocked down to a labourer for 6B. A few days later the labourer sold his treasure to a dealer in curios for £ 600; and the dealer in turn sold it for £ 1,600. The fiddle is "said to be one of the thirteen manu- factured by Stradivaxius in his Cremona. workshop.
NEWS FROM PORT ARTIIUR.
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NEWS FROM PORT ARTIIUR. MORE FIERCE FIGHTING AND SEVERE LOSSES. The position at Port Arthur is reported by Admiral Alexeieff to be serious, but not desperate. The garrison now consists of 12,000 men, and provi- sions are reported to be plentiful, although ammunition is growing scarce, Unofficial messages indicate that the condition of affnirs is very grave. There has been a vreek of continuous fighting, and the decomposing bodies seriously menace the health of the garrison. General Kuropatkin reports numerous skirmishes in most parts of the Russian front. The Japanese have not altered their position to the east of the railway, and confin.e themselves to outpost attacks to the north, all of which have up to the present been repulsed. DESPERATE SITUATION AT PORT ARTHUR. PARIS, Wednesday. The correspondent of the "Echo de Paris" at St. Petersburg states that the Czar 1: received a telegram from Admiral Alexeieff confirming the reported capture of one of the less important forts at Port Arthur. The admiral states that the garrison suf- fered considerable losses between August 24 and September 15 in repelling the Japanese attacks. The dispatch adds that the town is in no want of water, there being several springs, of which only one or two are in the hands of the Japanese. The number of able-bodied men in the garrison is estimated at 12,000. Admiral Alexeieff declares that the teitum. tion is serious, but not desperate. Provisions are abundant, but the quantity of ammuni- tion is limited. The Canet siege guns are worn, and are worked wiyi difficulty. The correspondent is informed that the Russians at Port Arthur throw lime at the attackers, to blind them. It is not known whether, as a result of the assaults directed by General Nogi on the principal positions around the fortress, the Japanese have effected their occupation. CHI-FU, Wednesday. A junk which left Port Arthur on the 26th CHI-FU, Wednesday. inst. arrived here yesterday afternoon with Chinese refugees from the besieged city. These people fully confirm previous reports of desperate fighting which commencd on the 24th, and was still going on when they left. The Japanese at Suei-sze-ying, to the north, have withdrawn the outposts which they had established to the eastward. All the personuel of the fleet, said to number 10,COO officers and men. are now regularly employed with the garrison in defending the fortress. There is no straw or fodder for the horses. Neither fresh meat nor milk is now obtainable at any price. The shops are busy only at night. All the refugees agree that the Russians appear to have plenty of ammunition. There are Wid to be many Japanese spies in the town, who Quickly report the movements of the troops, and the positions of the ships in the harbour. There is no spare clothing in Port Arthur, but there is plenty of cloth, which the wives of the officers make into garments for the troops. Skilled Chinese labour is now no longer available, and tho soldiers' wives do the laundry work for the troops. The sanitary arrangements in Port Arthur are declared to be good. There are thirty trained nurses for every thousand men. Recently a strong northerly wind has pre- vailed. bringing a terrible stench of decay- ing bodies. Neither side can bury its dead. Ail attempts to do so by the Russians have been frustrated by the Japanese who, it is alleged, constantly fire upon the Red Cross flag. JAPANESE CAVALRY AMBUSHED. ST. PETERSBURG, Wednesday (5.10p.m.). General Kuropatkin. in his telegram to the Czar of yesterday's date, says the Japanese advance guards ocenpy the same position as reported before to the east of the railway. They occasionally take the offensive in small bodies, who subsequently retreat before our advanced cavalry posts. An advanced post belonging to General Samsonoff's column captured some cattle from the Japanese. In this affair a Japanese cavalryman was wounded. On the night of September 25 Cornet Mikheieff, with a detachment of Ural Cossacks, attacked a Japanese bivouac at Khuandi, causing great panic among the enemy. On the 26th a patrol of Orenburg Cossacks laid an ambush for a balf-sciuadron of Japanese cavalry, who, finding itself unex- pectedly fired at by Cossacks, opened a fnsi- Ilade. but soon retired with considerable loss, leaving several men dead. The Cossacks cap- tured a few horses. PLUNGING FIRE CAUSES HORRIBLE CARNAGE. PARIS. Thursday. The "Matin" publishes the following from its St. Petersburg correspondent:—"The Emperor continues to receive heartrending messages from Port Arthur. The incredible ardour of the Japanese gives rise to the belief that fresh troops have arrived to give elan to their decimated forces. The carnage is horrible. The defenders, who have hitherto been able to fight from cover, are now being reached at many points by the Japanese plunging fire." The "Petit Journal's" St. Petersburg cor- respondent has interviewed an officer of the Czar's suite on the occasion of his Majesty's departure for the south. The officer said that the Emperor considered the present situation at Mukden better than it has been for a week past. The Czar has received no telegrams from General Stoessel for nine days. His silence, adds tho correspondent, induces the fear that the fall of Port Arthur is near. It is asked whether General Stoessel will execute the project, said to be approved by the Emperor, of blowing up the town and garri- son, rather than surrender. REPORTED MISH-VPS TO JAPANESE WARSHIPS. VLADIVOSTOK, Tuesday. According to reports from Port Armur during the last days of August two Japanese torpedo-boats and a Japanese merchant steamer were at different places near the port blown up and sunk after striking on mines specially placed by the Russians, .fur- thermore, a Japanese cruiser of the Aiitaka type was badly damaged. Two Russian steam-cutters, under .the command of Lieu- tenant Nebolssine. attacked and captured, after a fierce fight, a large torpedo-boat, which had been acting as tender to a Japanese battleship, and was at the time she was discovered engaged in placing mines off the beach near the Russian fortifications. This torpedo-boat was badly damaged in the. fight, but she will be repaired, and will be useful as a scout in looking for the enemy. HEAVY CASUALTIES. CHI-FU, Wednesday. Local Russians claim to have information that the Japanese losses during the last assault on Port Arthur amounted to 7,000 killed and wounded. A Chinaman who left the fortress on the 26th say.? that the Russian losses were between 500 and 600. He states that the Japanese were unable to' remain in the three supplementary forts which they captured. They retired at four o'clock in the afternoon of the 26th after .enduring days of tremendous firing from the inner forts. The Russiann after the last assault attempted to bury the dead of both sides at night, because the decomposing bodies seriousfy menaced the health of the garrison. The situation thus created is regarded as increasingly serious from the sanitary point of view. Chinese state that the most severe attack was made on the supplementary forts between It-shan and Ant?u-shan. The Russians had undermined the ground, and several hundred Japanese were hi own up on the 23rd. Reports from the Miao-tao islands mention that a terrific explosion occurred on the 23rd, and shook tho houses. The Russian ships took no part in the last engagement. Thirty to fifty shells are falling daily into the Chinese quarter and the new town. One shell tore the rudder from a destroyer. The Russians are now building a new fort on Liao-ti-shan, bearing landwards. Its con- struction indicates that five large guns will form the nucleus of the battery.
PLAGUE ON THE TYNE.
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PLAGUE ON THE TYNE. DEAD RATS DISCOVERED: A SEA. MAN SMITTEN. Bubonic plague is reported to have broken out on board the London eteamsnip Bishops- gate, which arrived in the Tyne from Ham- burg. The vessel is under strict observation. While the vessel was at Hamburg discharging a cargo from Rosario, dead rats were found aboard, they haviiig died from plague. At Jarrow it was 11£c(.C.3r.r;¡ to remove to the floating hospital for infectious diseases the boatswain, a German, who only joined the vessel at Hamburg, before she sailed for the Tyne, and a bacteriological examination made by Dr. Harker proves beyond doubt that the patient is suffering from trne bubonic plague. The Bi&hopsgate has been carefully disinfected and allowed to leave the Tyne, the remainder of the crew feeing found all well.