The Cardiff Times

Misled by a Pamphlet." SWANSEA MERCHANT SHIPPING CASE At Swansea Police Court on-Monday Williaan Gullion Randell, of Charlton House, Redcar, master of the s.s. Loehwood, of Middles- brough, appeared to answer three summonses under the Merchant Shipping Act with respect to the wages of men who had deserted abroad. Dr. Benedict Ginsburg (instructed by Mr Talfourd Strick) prosecuted for the Board of Trade, and Mr Phillips (Messrs Ingtedew,, Sons, and Phillips) defended. The summonses were that defendant, after the-termination of a voyage of the Lochwood at Swansea on September 10th last. without reasonable cause, did not comply with the provisions of Section 28 of the Merchant Shipping Act of 1906 by delivering to the proper officer, the supermten- dent of Mercantile Marine at Swansea, amounts due on account of wages in respect of three firemen left behind at Gulfport, whose absence was alleged to be due to desertion, after de- ducting sueh sums as were shown in the dis- bursement account, which appeared to the superintendent to be properly chargeable as deductions. It Was stated that a misappre- hension arose as to what were proper deduc- tions, and Mr Phillips, who admitted the offences' and pleaded guilty on behalf of-his client in regard to the first e!IIBe, said his client had been misled by a pamphlet with which he had been supplied. Mr Ginsburg said the book referred to was published by a very important body which it was possible might deem it desirable in spite of what his friend had said to carry the case further. The Clerk said that could no<rbe done here, 1 as defendant hactpleadedguilty. Mr Phillips 1 am for the master, and-I plead guilty, and thuscutout any chance of appeal- ing. Mr Ginsburg thereupon withdrew the other fewosummonses^Hid tire Bench in regardto that before1;hem imposed a fine of 20s, pointing out that the costs-£5 15s—were heavy, and the Question must evidently have been very diffi- coltfor the master to interpret, as it had taken the Benehso long to understand it. The other cases were withdrawn on payment of costs, >6s 6d in each case.

AGAINST THEJR MOTHER. At Newport on Monday Henry Thomas Reed, of Treforest, was charged on a- warrant with neglecting to pay £25 arrears due to his wife under a maintenance order. The case had previously been brought before the notice of the Bench, when Mr- Harold Lloyd, who appeared for the man, ap- plied for a summons to discharge the order. ,it.. being alleged that the woman had committed adultery. The wife, Mary Reed, was also summoned, the man asking that the order should be discharged. Mr Harold Lloyd said thirteen months ago it came to the knowedge oftheimsband that the woman was alleged to ha-ve comntifted adultery, and he immediately-stoppec^paymeiit. The woman kept house for a George Cook. A boy, aged 18, and a girl, 13, children of the parties would give evidenoe^and it was hardly likely that the boy would come and talk his mother's-honour away. The man gave evidence, and deposed that. 13mootbs ago he found that has wife had committed admtterv. Henry Thomas Reed (18), therf5on,said*that when his mother was granted the-order he was 13 years of age. and he and his sisber had been under the custody of themoiher. His mother had acted as housekeeperfor George Oook, and they subsequently went to live at Albert- avenue, Maindee, witness and his sister also- going-wdth them. Cook bad a young daughter with them. There were two bedrooms in the house. His mother occupied the back bed- room. and Cook occupied the same bed. and also the little girts. Witness slept in the front bedroom. On Saturday, July- 25th, 1908, witness went into the back bed- room, as he had a suspicion that his mother was in the same bed. He found tha&thet?wo little girls were near<the wail, and Mrmother with Cooic next to them. Alderman Mordey: Didn't you say any- thing ? Witness No, sir, they were asleep. Alderman Mordey Didn't you attempt to throw him out of the windbw ? Witness No, sir. Alderman Mordey I should. WTtaaess said he left them soon after and found lodgings. He told his married sster,, who told his father. Lily Read (13.) said she lived with her mar- < ried sister at Pontypridd. She (witness) -spent Christmas, 1908, with her mother. On the Sun- day afternoon abe-found her mother in bed: with Cook. The mother strongly denied the allegations, as also did Cook, who was 60 years of age. The Bench dtcharged the order, ordering,-the, man to pay off the .S25 in instalments of Hte- a ■ month.

BLOOD-POISONING DISPUTE. At Llanelly County Court onu Monday (befdre- c Judge Bi^iop) a compensation case was heard, the parties being Duffryn v. the Elliot's Metal- 1 Stamping Co~, Barry Port. Mr Meager (in- structed by Mr Saunders, of the fhm of Messrs Randell, Saunders, add liandell) appeared for the applicants, and Mr W. Llewelyn WiHiams represented the company. Mr Meager said that two of the applicants were illegitimate children of a deceased workman who was em- ployed as a driver of the mechanical cakaner at Mesas Elliot's Metal Company. Deceased'^ work was that of wheeling away tubsot cop- per matte and depositing it in another paa-t of the works. The copper matte contained 10 per cent. of lead, and when deposited it caused dust. Deceased had been at this work for nine months, and he gave it up on the 21st December, 1908, and died on the 1st January, 1909. During his illness there were symptoms of lead poisoning. In addition to lead poison- ing-fhe workman had a double rupture. Medi- cal evidence, called for the applicants, was that the deceased died of blood-poisoning. Dr. Roderick, factory surgeo^i to the Home Office, said he saw the deceased on December 23rd. He examined his mouth minutely, and found no trace of blue line on the gum, which would be symptom of blood-poisoning. The deceased fold him he had no pain in the abdo- men prior to the previous Friday and Satur- day. If that was so he could not have been suffering from chronjc blood-poisoning. His Honour said he and the medical assessor were of opinion that there was not sufficient evi- dence or proof that the deceased suffered from lead poisoning. Judgment would therefore he given for respondents, with costs.

WYE DOUBLE FATALITY. The Monmouth Coroner, Mr B. H. Deakin, held an inquest at Tintern on Monday on Wm. Hudson, age 55, one of the victims of the boating tragedy when the river Wye was in flood at Redbrook on December 4th. The body of the boy, Harold Hudson, has not yet been recovered. John Owen Hudson, a lad, son of the deceased, said he saw his father sink after he had^made a great struggle to reach the shore. William Price said he saw the punt deceased was in dash to pieces against the cylinders of the railway bridge. The boy sank immediately, but Mr Hudson swam to within 15 yards of the bank. Mr Edwin Beard, manager of the Redbrook Tinplate Works, said the committee of the Redbrook Football Club asked the deceased to go down the river in a boat to be prepared to get a football should it be kicked into the river, as a match was about to take place. There was no chance for the spectators to save the deceased. The jury returned a verdict that the deceased was accidentally drowned.

ALLEGED BAGPIPE PLAYING. Mr F. W. Winter, secretary of the Star Sunday Evening Sacred Services, Swansea, applied to the Swansea magistrates on Monday for a summons, which was granted, against a man/for an alleged disturbance of the seryice. It was alleged that defendant with others had been playing bagpipes. V

I THE LORDS AND THE PEOPLE. A POLITICAL FABLE. A wilddephanth tripled on and killed a mother-bird whose nest was close by said, I will be a Mother to the eggs and accordingly the elephant sat down on them. Cartoon by Sir F. C. Gontd. (By permission of the Proprietors of the Westminster Gazette.")

A Rueful Experiment PROTECTION IN SWEDEN. A Manufacturer's Striking Testimony. Mr James G- Calvert, a former Manchester man, who has lived the last 31 years in Sweden, and is head of one of the most important en- gineering concerns in that country, in a recent letter gives some information with respect to the Protectionist system in Sweden, and says that his remarks apply also to Germany, a country with which he is faarlywellacquainted. Absurd Contrasts. One of the great arguments put forward by Protectionists is the remarkable development of industries in these countries, and they at once rush to the conclusion that this is the re- sult of Protection. In the first place, all coife- parisons of development must be looked at relatively. If, for instance, Germany ten years aeo produced one thousand tons of a certain, article while England produced fifty thousand tons, and to-day Germany prodhces five thousand tons, while England produces one hundred thousand tons, Protectionists imme- diately proclaim that England is going to the dogs because Genmany's production has in- creased 500 per cent, whale England s pro- duction has only iwcreased 100 per cent. One might as well say that. London's days are numbered because it has only increased in population, say, 25 per coat., while Chicago during the same time has increased 100 per cent., "d some other relatively new town per- haps 1,000 per cent. Such comparisons are too-' absurd for even a schoolboy who knows the rule of three. Both Germany and Sweden are relatively new industrial countries, and as such, apart from all other reasons, must be expected to increase more in proportion than an old highly-developed industrial country. It would seem as if the ideal of the Protec- tionist was that all other countries should stand still, or at the most be confined to the pro- duction of raw materials, while England should slave to provide all the world with industrial products. I make bold to state that England as a country has had infinitely greater advan- tage from Germany's and Sweden's develop- ment than either Germany or Sweden them- selves, and as aproof of this I want to put the question to all thinking men What is the main object of, aJl our striving in the industrial "world T" The answer can only be that every 11 man is trying, in short, "To Live Best With Least Work." I know that-I will be assailed for this theory, but it is nevertheless true. By the expression work I don't mean congenial occupation, as that is- not work in the proper sense. By wort I meam-sach labour as man is com- pelled to do for his existence, and no honest man can dehy that his object is to attain the highest comfort with a "minimum of such labour. Now, starting from these premises, which nation in Europe has attained this ob- ject best ? Is there any comparison for one moment between England and apy other ■nation, from the-highest to the lowest class of society ? If so" I should like to know where that better land is. It is certainly neither-G erm any nor Sweden, as every man who is intimately acquainted with all three coun- tries musttestify. A good many people are inclined to judge of a country from the tourist point of view, and Continental society seen on the surface, with its gay cafe life, appears pleasant and seductive. This- is evidently-what Mr Chamberlain has seen in Sweden, but the man whdRves his.daily life with the people, dadly and has his work Amongst all classes of society, can tell a different tale. Let m6 not be mis- understood. I don't wish in-any way to dis- parage Germany or Sweden the very reverse. Both countries are marvellous in their development, in spite ofbeingbandi- capped by Protection. What is this due to T Indisputably to the much higher-standard of education, particularly in the middle-classes, coupled with a healthy innate strength. The German is a born scientist and chemist, the Swede a born engineer. Where has the great chemical trade of Germany, this backbone of German industry, sprung from ? Certainly not from Protectionism, as it is based mostly on export. Where have the great national income producing industries of Sweden come from— the iron, timber, paper pulp. and butter trades, the only trades which have brought money to the country ? Certainly not from Protec- tionism,as all these industries exist on export.; England Reaps the Benefit. But now I wish to ask what is the net re- sult of all this development in Germany and Sweden compared to the development in Eng- land in the light of my premises, living best with least work ? Again I ask the man who knows—Is there any comparison ? None whatever. All the slaving and striving of these other nations simply seems to enrich Englaaad. The Englishman works shorter time, makes on an average 25 per cent, more money, and at the same time buys the news- ( garies of life 25 per cent, cheaper than the foreigner. TMs is a-statement which, taken on broad lines, I defy any committee in the world to-disprove. In this statement and challenge I will also include another—viz., that in no, country is the proportion of unemployed so small as in England. As regards the standard of living, more par- ticulariy amongst the working classes, I wish, as an engineer, to address myself particularly to one set of men-viz., fitters who have been abroaderecting machinery. I wish aD such fitters would send in their names to a com- miftee,to be appointed offering to come for- ward and make known their experience of the foreign workmen they have worked amongst, and to tell the British workmen how these men's living .compares with that of the Eng- lish workman. I venture to say the result would be a complete damper on all statements tending "to imply that the British workman would be better off under Protection. Ruined by Protection. ■Let us now look at the general results of Protection in Sweden from the manufacturer's point of view. Some sixteen years ago Sweden was to a certain extent a Free Trade country, machinery, amongfet other things, being free of duty. It is a fact disputed by no one that no industry in Sweden developed more than en- gineering during the years of Free Trade. Pro- tectionism to the extent of 10 to 40 per cent, was then introduced all along the line, and naturally at first produced a mushroom growth of industries but what is the result after six- teen years of this Protection ? The Only one that could be expected things have levelled up, arid how the cry is, We are ruined, we cannot exist against foreign competition, we must have more Protection," so that com- mittees are at the present moment nreparing a new revised tariff to lay further restric- tion on the free development of the nation's natural, wealth. ( There have been many wild statements as to the number of unemployed in England, but I can assure English workmen (and manufac- turers also) that the state of things in Sweden in this respect is infinitely worse than in E isr- land. The average wage in Gothenburg for a ¡ first-class turner or fitter is 5d per hour. If the Swedish workman for his 5d could buy as much as the British workman for his 7ld mat- ters would be level. But when we consider that the Swedish workman has to pay some 20 to 60 per cent, duty on every necessary of life, I may leave it to the judgment of the British workman to decide whether that man is a knave or a fool who assures hinl that the Swe- dish workman is better off than he.

£ 8,000 FOR TWO SERVANTS. The will has been proved of the late Mr Edward Henry Cardwell—who owned race- horses under the name of Mr E. Carlton—the wiUCroao fe eS0 ^TTbulng £ U2'700. Mr Cardwell left £ 200 to Sir William Selby Church M D £ 4,000 to Nurse Susan Waring, and £ 4,000 to George Percival, boiler. He also left £ 1,300 to medical institutions, and the bulk of his1 property to his brother and sister*

I NEW COUNCIL SCHOOL AT BLACKWOOD. r es and MOPga]3L, Cardiff-) (Architects, Messrs James and Morgan, Cardiff.) I

CARDIFF. (Before the Registrar, Mr Harry Cousins.) Caerau Quarrymarr's Denials. i^°^;n James Evans, ofTonmt-eoad, Caerau, who had held the tenancy of a-quarry cm Ton JJavid Farm, under North's Navigation Col- hery Co., said, in reply tothe Official Receiver (Mr George David), that he formerly carried-on basmess as a builder, and that in September, order was made against him. People he dealt with, however, were aware that he was an undischarged bankrupt. His wife garvea bill of sale on his horses and carts, but she had bought them. He had been insolvent *°r years. His liabilities in Septem- ber, 1899, amounted to £ 575. His present de- ficiency was £ 499. The Official Receiver asked debtor whether he stated at the last court that he soldhts furniture to his wife in January, 1908, and tbata document was drawn up and signed.—Debtor If I did it was a misunder- standing.—OflBcipl Receiver: Was it untrue that the goods were yours ?—Ye&—Untrue that a document was prepared s—Now, here is a document signed by you and wit- nessed by William Thomas. What do you say to that ?-I don "tremember anything aboutot. -Can you explain whv that document was signed by you ?—No. 1 cannot The Official Receiver thereupon asked the Registrar for an adjournment in order-to give debtor an oppor- tunity of amending his paa*t&c £ tlars, axiu this waegra-nted. Examinations Closed, Arthur Mark Taylor, proprietor of the Premier Baths, Cathedral-road, Cardiff, who at the previous examination stated that his ven- ture had been financially unsuccessful on account of the wet season last year, now answered a few formal questions and his examination was closed. Regtstrar Cautions. George Hugh Walter Roberts, aT.V.R. clerk, of Wordsworth-avenue, Cardiff, came up for re- examination. He had been ordered to produce a pass-book showing his account in the Taff Vale Savings Bank, and also information re- garding certain shares in the London and North-Western-Railway Company. He stated that the original pass-book had been lost, and that the book supplied to him in its place only shewed the balance to his credit, which was extremely small. The Regis- trar adjourned the examination until the' next court, and cautioned him that if the in- formation asked for was not forthcoming the examination might be adjourned sine die. WHliam Thomas, builder and carpenter, Pen- mark, who had lost money on building opera- tions, and was examined at the last court, attended to answer a few questions, and the examination was closed. t The examination was also closed of Edward Thomas, wheelwright, formerly of St. Athan, and David Edwards, colliery cogman, of Commercial-street, NantymoeL

PONTYPRIDD. "Hopelessly Insolvent For Years." Losing money through building specula- tions at Caerphilly was the reason given for failure by William Davies, monumental mason St. Martin's-road, Caerphilly, at the Pontypridd Bankruptcy Court on Tuesday, before Mr Registrar Spiokett. The statementof affairs showed gross liabilities of 4,495 17s Ud, and assets fully secured creditors E3,200 7g 9d ( value of securities £3,97.8 8s lOd; partly secured creditors £ 4,192 2s Od value of securi- ties JE987 3s Od, leaving a deficiency of £3,232 lis Jd. Debtor, in answer to the Official Receiver (Mr EHis Owen), stated that he never made the value of the houses, but simply made a guess as to the price which they might reach. You have been hopelessly insolvent for many years ?" Debtor: All the days of my life since 1 starteclbund, The examination was adjourned in order-that debtor might flile amended accounts. Haulier's Gramophone Debt. At the public examination of John Evans, underground haulier, of River-row, Treorky, the gross liabilities were entered at £ll5, a sum of £ L26s Id being for a gramophone and records. Failure was attributed to the illness, of debtor and his family. The examination was adjourned for'fche production of accounts.

NtATH. Baker's Bets. WflKam Fry Stockham, baker and confec- tioner. New-road, Skewen, was publicly ex- amined at Neath Bankruptcy Court Tuesday. The gross liabilities amounted to £515,.and the deficiency 00£335. Debtor commenced busi- ness as a baker in September, 1902, with £ 60 capital. He attributed his failure to speculation on the Stock Exchange, betting, and competition in trade. The Official Receiver pourted out that his trading account showed a net loss of £ 173, but the deficiency account showed a net profit of £171. It was evident, thereforethat there was something radically wrong with the accounts, and debtor could not have put all the money received into his cash account.—Debtor The fact is there was no proper record kept. The Registrar: According to your cash account, you received JEI30 in betting and paid JE71. How do you make out a loss on betting ? You have no record of these transactions 1 No. How long have you been betting --off and onforyears. On horse racing on]y ?—yes. I have had trivial bets and that sort of thing, but I only went in seriously during the last 12 months. He admitted having attendei Doncaster race meeting four or five months ago, but only lost t4 as far as racing was concerned, but hIS expenses were about JEIO. He had had trans- actions with a foreign firm and with a man at Swansea. He (debtor) usually signed himself Pluck." The Official Receiver I suggest to you that you lost a considerable sum at cards ?—i don't think I have Ibst at cards. The case was adjourned for debtor to prepare amended accounts. Skewen Newsagent's Failure. Thomas Jones, who traded as Thomas Cymro c,.w Jones, newsagent, New-road, Skewen, had a deficiency of JE162, and attributed his failure to loss on perishable goods and sickness in the family. The-examination was adjourned.

At Caerphilly John Davies, secretary of the Abertridwr Workmen's Social Club, was fined I Is for employing a male servant without a licence. The defence was that the man was employed as steward of the club.

1 SIDINGS DISPUTE. Newport and the T.V.R. PONTYPRIDD JUNCTION TRAFFIO. £17,000 Claim & Counterclaim. In the Court of Appeal on Tuesday, before Lord. Justices Vaughan Williams, Parwell, and Kennedy, the appeal came on for hearing of the plaintiffs in the matter of the Alexandra (Newport and South Wales) Docks and Rail- way Company v. the Taff Vale Railway* Com- pany. The plaintiffs had brought an action to re- cover from the Taff Vale Railway Company certam-tsoneys retained by them in respect of certain through coal traffic to the plaintiffs' docks from South Wales collieries. Defen- dents counter claimed in respect of terminal charges for taking the traffic to and from the plaintiffs' sidings at Pontypridd Junction. The plaintiffs claimed that under an Act of Parlia- ment those services were to be rendered by the defendants, but th e defendasntsreplied that that Act did not include, or apply to, the particular sidings in question. The amount churned by the plaintiffs was £ 17,000, which they said was the amount retained by the defendants at the time the action was commenced. The defen- dants counterclaim ed for a similar amount. The plaintiffs went before Mr Justice Sutton in Chambers, and applied that the counter- claim should stand over until after aH other questions had been determined, but such an order he refused to make, and against this, decision the plaintiffs appealed. The Hon. C. A. Russell, K.C., (with whom "was Mr Graham) Appeared for the plaintiffs, and Mr Eldon Bankes, K.C., and Mr Owen Beasley for the defendants. Mr Russell said that three years ago the plaintiffs became the ownels in title of the Pontypridd, Caerphilly, and Newport Railway, and the matters in dis- pute arose out of an agreement scheduled to an Act of Parliament passed in 1878 between the Pontypridd and Taff Vale Railways. Rea- sonable facilities were to be afforded the plain- tiffs for the removal and conveyance of goods to and from certain sidings. In respect of other matters there was payable-try the defen- dants so much per ton, and the question was what sidings were referred to in the agree- ment. On one hand it was a question of through coal traffic, and on the other the power to make terminal charges.' The Court would see that the great point was as to the sidings referred to in the agreement. The plaintiffs claimed JEI7,000 for services which they contended they had rendered to the defendant company, and they submitted that they should not be put to the heavy expense connected with a counter-claim, but that other .matters should be first determined. Counsel said not only would it entail great. expense, but there was the trouble of getting up evidence which they did not require to prove their claim. It might be wholly un- necessary to go into questions of amounts. This really was one of those cases in which the order asked for should have been made by Mr Justice Button, or until it was clear by determination in the defendants' favour that the sidings were not those specified in the- agreement. The plaintiffs contended that they had done more than they were called upon to I do by the agreement, and that the services they had rendered were beyond the mere delivery and taking of the traffic to and freca. the sidings. The defendants' contention, added counstel,. was no answer to the plaintiffs' claim. There 'was all the more reason for postponing the counter-claim if the determination of the amount depended not only upon the pre- liminary determination as to whether the sidings were those referred to in the agreement, but whether the services rendered had been performed according to the agreement. Lord Justice Vaughan Williams said them were many cases in which it was advised that the whole matter could be more conveniently disposed of by an inquiry or by an official Jfeferee. Although that might be so, was it to be said that the judge at the trial was not a properperson to say what the inquiry ought, to be ? If the order were made he did not see that it would be any substantial saving of expense. It was surely for the judge at the trial to say if there should be an inquiry. Mr Russell said that the defendants were asking the plaintiffs to prepare the whole of their evidence before the time by which the counterclaim would have to be gone into. They must also have their evidence as to the two sidings and if they were those referred to in the agreement. Then arose the question of the services rendered. Lord Justice Vaughan Williams said if the question of the counterclaim were postponed until after the trial the defendants would find themselves very much hampered. The amount said to be due to the Taff Vale was set out. Mr Russell submitted that an incpiiry could not be made as to the amount (even bv the consent of the parties^, according to law, but it- i must be dealt with by an arbitrator. Mr Eldon Bankes said that point was not raised before the Master, and couid not be dealt with there. Lord Justice Vaughan Williams That point can be taken at the trial. It is extremely in- convenient to- deal with any matter in a piece- meal way before the whole of the facts have, been brought out. It was much better for alt the facts to go before the Judge. Appeal Dismissed. Without calling on Mr Eldon Bankes, the Court unanimously affirmed the decision of Mr Justice Sutton and dismissed the appeal.

CATHAYS PARK STATUES. The Cardiff Property and Markets Committee on Tuesday—Sir W. S. Crossman presiding—re- ceived a deputation from the 'Judge GwUym. Williams Memorial. Committee, who desired the site allocated for the late judge's statue to be altered. The site allocated in the shrubbery opposite the City Hall was considered unsuit- able because the trees would obscure the statue and the dropping of rain from the leaves of the trees would injure the stone. The depu- tation asked for a site on the grass plot before the Law Courts, facing the feeder. Thelfom- mittee, after inspecting the site, agreed to con- sent to the deputation's wishes. This site was originaJly selected by the committee, but was not approved of by the artist, Mr Goscombe John. The latter now, however, agreed to the Law Courts site.

Thomas Sparkes, labourer, Llaahilleth, ad- mitted at the local court the theft of a quantity of mutton, value 8s, from Messrs Thorne and Son, at Llanhilleth, and 21bs. of haddock, the property of Enoch Thomas. The Bench im- posed a fine of 20s for each offence.

Gentleman Burglar. e- STRANGE STORY AT CROYDON. Considerable public interest was manifested at Croydon Quarter Sessions on Monday in the case of Leonard Lambert (40), a man of good social position and described as an agent, who pleaded guilty to three charges of burglary and one of theft, and was sentenced to nine months in the second division. In November Lambert, who was very well known in the town, called at a jeweller's shop in West Croydon, and asked to see a number of diamonds. It was alleged that while they were -on the counter he snatched the tray on which they were placed and bolted out of the shop < with them, but was caught and given into custody. On making a search at his lodgings the police discovered articles which connected him with three burglaries which had been com- mitted at jewellers' shops some time previously. One of these occurred as far back as 1906. it was stated that the accused's method in these three cases was to smash jewellers' windews in the night with a hammer, which was found at his residence, the face of the instrument being wrapped up in pieces of woollent garments. The value of the articles which he was accused of stealing amounted in all to about E250. Counsel for the defence said that this was a case in which aman of absolutely unblemished reputation suddenly committed a serious crime. After leaving school accused joined the Navy, but was discharged owing to an accident. For ten years he held a position of trust with one of the largest firms of provision merchants in Croydon. Eight years later, after having served honourably with another Croydon firm, he left with a sum of £ 1,600 saved. This money he invested in a Piccadilly firm, which turned out a failure, and in February, 1906, he was stricken with fever. From that date Lambert was a changed man. Whatever the result of the case might be his brother had made arrangements to send him to Rhodesia. Counsel explained the accused's action by saying that he had been in financial difficulties.

Six Fire Victims TRAPPED IN BURNING HOUSE. Early on Monday a fire was discovered to have broken out in the house of David Pagan, a lamplighter, of Lisburn, near Belfast. The police smashed in the door with an axe, and a horrible sight presented itself. Mrs Fagan and her four children, ranging from eight to two years, were found dead from Suffocation. The father was missing, but when the fire was extinguished his charred remains were found in the kitchen. Three lodgers escaped by a back window. Shortly before 4 o'clock Sergt. Torrens, who was on patrol duty, noticed smoke issuing from the house, and examining the place he saw, flames in the kitchen. He smashed the window to alarm the inmates, and getting no response tried to force the front door, but this had to be smashed with a sledge-hammer. Despite the dense volumes of smoke which poured forth, George Lowry and Alexander Carlisle, gas works employes, dashed into the house. Near' the door, as if he had'been trying to escape, lay the body of the eldefet boy, aged eight. In an adjoining room lay another child, dead, against, the bed while on the floor were the bodies of the mother and two other children, aged four and two years. The fire was subdued in about three-quarters of an hour, and then a fireman discovered the charred body of Fagan among the debris. The three lodgers, who escaped through the window in the rear of the house, iustavoided suffocation. The fire has caused consternation in the town.

Hospital Swallowed Up. DISASTER IN AUSTRIA. Vienna, Sunday.—An extraordinary accident occurred at Raibi, in Carenthia, yesterday, when, owing presumably to a sudden subsi- dence of some mine workings, a small hospital building erected over the mine collapsed and disappeared in an immense cavity in the ground. All the occupants perished, namely, the doctor and his wife and baby, two servants, and the nurses. Rescue was impossible, as the hole was immediately flooded.-Reuter..

A FIJI POTENTATE. King George II. of Tonga was married on November 12th (writes a correspondent in that happy island of the South Pacific) to Princess Aua Soiui Tajkibo, a maiden of 16 years, and a remarkably tine girl for her age. The king had been a widower since 1902, and the marriage was an exceedingly popular one. Hundreds of natives, laden with presents, attended the ceremony. All the chiefs and nobles were loud in their praises of the king's choice. King George was attended by two pages, and Princess Takibo by six bridesmaids. In 1899, when the king was 25 years of age, 'he married Princess Lavinia. His Majesty .succeeded his great grandfather, Geoigs Tubou, in 1893. His predecessor's reign for the last six years wassomewhatstormy, the elderly and ease-loving monarch constantly getting into disfavour with the British Governor of Fiji for handing over the Administration to any stray adventarer who took his fancy. Tonga as a part -of the Friendly Islands is a protec- torate under the British Crown. One Prime Minister," whom the Governor of Fiji thought it necessary to deport, had be- come, when a warship arrived for him, billiard marker at the local club-house. Then came the reign of a missionary, who made the-old king's. life a misery by preaching to him and cutting down his privy purse. At last a conspiracy was got up, and the missionary Premier when driv- ing out in the cool of the evening in a landau with a daughter was slightly wounded. He then retired to Auckland on a comfortable competency. Mr Basil Thompson, son of the late Arch- bishop of York. who was at one time governor of Cardiff Gaol, was sent from England to train the present king. King George ll. is a man of ingenuity. Perceiving that there was money in the stamp-collecting craze, he issued new sets every three months and made a good income—stopped only by the Governor'of Fiji" who stepped in and placed a restraining hand on this too progressive manoeuvre.

LONDON JEWEL ROBBERY. Strand Premises Robbed of £ 2,000. Another jewel robbery, revealing carefully prepared plans, was on Monday morning dis- covered to have taken place at the premises of Messrs Saqui and Lawrence, an old estab- lished firm of jewellers-carrying on business a t 54, Strand. W. On opening the shop yester- day morning the manager found the interior of the premises in a state of confusion, and upon examination found that a quantity of jewel lery, including rings, necklets, brooches, and pins had been taken from the cases in the shop and from the window. An entrance had been obtained by sawing a hole in the floor, the thieves evidently having forced their way into the cellars under the premises. A large hole had bee^ bored in the back of the-safe, into which explosives had been fired. Fortunately, the safe was proof against the explosives, and the contents, amounting in value to between ;S7,000 and £ 8,000, were left; untouched. The visitors then turned their attention to the cases and windows, and made off with about £ 2,000 worth of stock. They left behind them a jemmy, drills, picks, a quantity of explosives, and other articles of a burglar's outfit. Some four or five years ago the premises were burglariously entered but the loss on that occasion was not so heavy.

EX-SULTAN INSANE P Vienna, Sunday.—A rumour is current here that the ex-Sultan, Abdul Hamid. has become insane. Private letters from Salonika state that for several days past the ex-Sultan has, refused all nourishment, merely sitting in a room by himself and brooding in silence. It may be recalled that he recently complained of his increased guards and closer restraint. The Turkish Government is now taking steps ■> to secure the £700,(XX) deposited by Abdul Hamid in the Deutsche Bank of Berlin, and this is also causing him much uneasiness, as he hoped to leave the money to his children. In- quires at the Turkish Embassy in Vienna failed to elicit a confirmation of the report regarding bhe ex-Sultan's insanity.

KING MANUEL IN PERIL, Lisbon, Monday.—The "Imparcial" states bhat the police have discovered a Republican plot against the life of King Manuel, and since yesterday 40 suspected Republicans have been arrested, some of whom it is believed were implicated in the assassination of King Carlos. The paper declares that numerous other arrests are imminent. During last night the sentries at the Nessi- dades Palace fired several shots at suspicious, individuals, and the garrison at the Palace has been strengthened. Great excitement prevails in the capital.— Central News.

APACHE v. POLICE. Paris, Sunday.—There was a sanguinary encounter last night between the police and an apache while the former were endeavouring to arrest a desperate criminal who had boasted in a bar that he would kill two detectives before the night was over. The apache, carrying in one hand a revolver and in the other a cob- bler's knife, and having his arms protected by spiked leather sleeves, offered a prolonged resistance, stabbing and shooting right and left with extraordinary ferocity. He was only overcome after receiving a sword thrust. Four policemen were wounded, two dangerously. One of the latter died in hospital.—Reuter.

Elizabeth Ashford (29) was sept to prison for three months by the Cardiff magistrates for keeping a disorderly house in Peel-street.

I No System at All, MERTHYR MERCHANTS AFFAIRS. At Merthyr Bankruptcy Court on Monday (before Mr Deputy-Registrar Jones) William Charles Hill-Jones, provision merchant, carry- ing on business at 34. Wellington-street, Merthyr 22. Commercial-street, Gilfach-Bar- goed and the Royal Stores, Ynyscynon-road, Trealaw. was publicly examined. The gross liabilities amounted to £6,On 17s lOd. The liabilities to rank for dividend were returned at &6.002 3s 5d. due to 149 unsecured creditors. The net. assets available for distribution were given as £1,166 18s lid. there being thus a deficiency of £4,835 4s 6d. Among the causes to which the debtor attributed his failure were Losing £ 500 in his branch shop at Trealaw (t200 on trading and £ 300 on bad debts); £1.400 through one of his travellers allowing discounts contrary to his orders and selling goods in some instances at as much as 25 per cent. under cost price about iEI,200 through bad debts at Merthyr JE100 in the flagon ale ousiness £150 through horses dying and bad bargains; JE150 owing to depreciation in value of stock and utensils, and tl50 owing to illness of his wife and himself. The debtor, who was represented by Mr J. T. Vaughan, commenced business in Wellington-street in November, 1902, with a cash capital of only JE60. the branch at Bargoed being opened in September, 1907, and the branch in Trealaw in December, 1908. In 1906 he entered into partnership with another in the flagon ale business, but the part- nership was dissolved six months afterwards. In November last he called his creditors together, and a resolution was passed that he should pay a composition of 6s 8d in the E, but he was un- able to comply with the terms of the resolu- tion in regard to security. About three-fourths of his business, the debtor considered, were wholesale and the remainder retail, but not having kept proper books he was unable to state what his profits or losses had been during the last three years. Replying to the Official Receiver, the debtor said he first found that he was insolvent on the 8th November last. On that day the bank manager came to see him, and said that his accounts were unsatisfactory, and that the bank would not be able to meet cheques that were due. He was naturally surprised by what 'ar the bank manager told him, and he consulted his solicitor, Mr Vaughan, and made a list of, creditors. He then found how much he owed, and concluded that his position was hopeless. Continuing, the debtor-said that the traveller was in his employ a year and nine months. Prior to the traveller entering his employ his trade was much lower than it was last year. He admitted that his banking account would be an index of the rate at which his business had grown. In 1904 his banking account was £3,586. in 1905 JE4,879, in 1906 JE8,892,inl907 £ 11,201. in 1908 m6,474, and 1909 £ 23383- The Official Receiver The traveller added a lot to your business ?—The Debtor Yes. In answer to further questions, he said that his purchases last year amounted to about £ 26,030. He admitted that in the whole ofus business he had no system at all, and that&e had never added up the amount of liabilities to his creditors prior to the 8th November last. He had been trading in ignorance of his own position. A number of questions having been put to the debtor by Mr King, representing the tzna- tees, the examination was adjourned for the production of various accounts. Pawnbroker's £2,257 Deftcieacy. Moses Goodman, pawnbroker, carrying Oft business at 3, Bethesda-street, Merthyr, came up for his public examination by the Ofiictaf, Receiver (Mr Ellis Owen). The gross liabili- ties were returned atE4,676 19s, the liabilitiet to rank for dividend being set out at £ 2,718 16P 9d. The net assets available for distribution ere given at JE460 12s 2d, the deficiency, there- fore, amounting to £ 2,257 19s 7d. The debtor^ for whom Mr G. B. C. James appeared, attri- buted his failure to bad trade and becoming surety for his son and his son-in-law. menced business at Merthyr about SC vears ago with a capital of from C400 to .£500. In his statement ofe affairs the debtor, who is 76 years of age, stated that he had had various freehold ana leasehold properties in the neighbourhood at Merthyr. In August last, in order to doae^he estate-of a deceased mortgagee, he arranged fol several houses and shops to be-sold at auction, but the amount realised was not sufficient to the extent of JE15 to pay the principal and in- terest due on the mortgages and the costs of the sale. He^iever made out a balaace-dheet, or took steps to ascertain his financial posi- tion. He could not show that he was solvent three years ago. Not having kept proper books of account he was unable to say^what profit, if any, he had made out of his businessy but he estimated that his income from all sources would average about S5 per week. Replying to the Official Receiver., the debtor said that he used to do a large trade at one time, but it had gone down very much since the closing of the Oytarthia ironworks. The Official Receiver: Had the closing Of. •Cyfarfchfa Works anything to do with your trade? The Debtor: Yes. And that was the reason why your trade dropped?—Yes. In answerto other questions, the debtor said that if he had not become surety for other ^people he would haVe been able to pay all ■creditors iniull. He had one son and four daughters, and he had been able to give each of his daughters a dowry of about 1:300. To en- able him to do this he mcrgfcaged some of his property. His son at Newport had cost him a lot. The -examination was adjourned. What He Paid to Moneylenders. The examination was also adjourned of Edward Pugh, confectioner and blacksmith, Ystrad Cafe, Ystrad Mynach, for whom Mr J. Lee Davies, Hengoed, appeared. The gross liabilities were returned at JE555 16s 8d, and there was a deficiency of JE273 2s lid. Heattri- buted his failure to illness. In reply to the Official Receiver, he admitted'that he had been patronising moneylenders rather extensively that in fact he kept borrowing in order to pay off liabilities. Te one moneylender he paid £ 7 for the loan of JE15, and to another be paid BO for the loan of JE25.

Man In Her Bedroom I SENSATIONAL NEWPORT CASE. At Newport on Monday Chas. James, a coil* man, of North-street, Newport, was charged with burglariously entering a dwelling-home at Stow Park-avenue for the purpose of committing a felony, also with assaultingFtof- ence Elizabeth Powell, and further with being found in a house at Llanthewy-road for the purpose of committing a felony. P.C, Williams said that at 2.45 Scn»ds«y' morning he heard a whistle is Stow Park-avenue, and a minute later someone shouted, Quick, constable, there is someone in the house." Witness made his way at once to No. 28, where Mr Thompson was blowing a whistle. The servant girl admitted witness into the house and informed him that there was a man in her bedroom. Witness searched the house, and in the maid's bedroom found a pair of leggings, a cap, and a beitoe. the dressing-table. These articles had been identified as prisoner's property. Witness could'find no stranger in the house. However, witness said that when he went up the road he saw prisoner coming from No. 26, an empty house. He had no cap or leggings on, and his boots were unlaced. When asked what he was doing in the house prisoner replied that it was a mis- take, He was in the wrong house, but he waa going back to apologise. On the way to the police station prisoner made a statement, and alleged that he was let into the house by the girl Florence Powell, and had been in 'bed with her., He believed someone must have heard them talking and blown the whistle. This state- ment was read over to the girl, who totally denied it. Florence Powell, who was neatly attired, stated that she went to bed about 1L30. She locked everything up securely. After being asleep for some time she was awakened to find a man standing by the side of her bed. He had bold of her hand and said, If you scream you will give me away. Dontyon know me T" The room was in darkness at the time. Certainly not," she answered. Why." said the prisoner, I am the coalman." Witness got out of the man's clutches and „gave the atann. She had slept with her win- dow open fortwo years.. Continuing, the witness said the znaan nxusfe have made his escape by the window, tbe sacwi way that he apparently entered. | The Clerk Do you know him ? Witness Yes, he is the coalman. The man, said witness, had a piece of wood with biuo, which he bad no doubt used to eftecthis en- trance. The case was remanded.

THE LATE COLONEL LEWIS. Further Merthyr Tributes. At Merthyr Bankruptcy Court on Monday ihe Official Receiver (Mr Ellis Owen), addressing; Mr Deputy-Registrar Jones, said that by the death of the Registrar (Colonel D. R. Lpwis) they had, in common with other people, ex- perienced a great and severe loss. Tribute* had been paid to the late colonel's life and work in other places, and the vast concourafi of people who assembled at the funeral showed what a deep hold he had on the affections of- the people generally. He was undoubtedly a prophet who was honoured in his own country. His loss would be felt throughout the county of Glamorgan and the neighbouring county of Brecon, but nowhere would it be felt more than in that court, over which he had for so many years presided with such ability and. dignity. Colonel Lewis was a man whom t4, know was to love. Not only did he bevo a tender heart, but he also had a hand which transformed those feelings into kindly deedt and action^ Of him the old saying was tnusj He did good by stealth, and blushed to finfl it fame." The Deputy Registrar said that h. felt the loss of Colonel Lewis so deeply that be could scarcely trust himself to reply to tha Official Receiver's kind remarks. It had bcvU. a terrible blow to him and to his relatives, especially as it had come so unexpectedly aft.< his apparent progress towards recovery. ITc knew the colonel from boyhood, and h.ivira been a partner with him for 41 years he could emphasise all that had been said of his vitiate