The Cardiff Times

SOUTH WALES COAL TRADE. I Wyndham Colliery Stoppage. The ouUook at this colliery is getting somc, what serious, and the negotiat ions between th e workmeu and Ile-ssr3 Cory are not proceeding very-sat ia f actor ly. There are 1.500 men now idle, and there is no immediate prospect of a settlement. On Wednesday a mrtss meeting of the collie rs was held in the Workmen's Hall, Nantymoel. Mr 15 van Thomas (the ftijytnt-tey Vttlley inine ra' • gent) reviewed the situation and advisel t-:he incn what course to pursue. A deputation appointed by the nveli ng waited oa Mr Richands, tbo manager, oocom- p&uiod by Mr Evan Thomas, who titated I-lie i for the men. Messrs Gory arc not prepared to rccogiiise the customs of the colliery, but wish to mak e a Irish start with an entirely new set of con- ditions. The men on the other hand wish to ♦tart work on the old conditions that have 1 ong prevailed, and whilst at work are prepares 1 to Irish start with an entirely new set of con- ditions. Tho men on the other hand wish to 4tart work on the oid conditions that have 1 ong prevailed, and whilst at work are prepares 1 to 4is cuss with the manager any condition s or customs that neitti alteration. The depiiL-Ltion will > opart to a general meet- ing of the men to be held to-day. The posi tion Is anything but favourable .and at present tlhere t> a deadlock. 'ill* matter will come befoi-e a r~«-eting of the Miners" Executive on Friday or ffcilm-day at O-ardiff. and probably will be •elmtod to the Conciliation Board. +- -_U-

'-iii.irtly after 4 on Monday afternoon an ( mt. bwak of firl, was discovered in the bakehc iuse belonging to Mr Jamas Price. HultoO-road. Barry Doric. Some raftoft. above the o' rena Iwere ablaze, but the fire was promptly ex- tinguished with some buckets of water. The police arrived on the scene with a hose and reel; *.fc cuu*vira» vn<mi nxjX t police arrived on the scene with a hose and reel, *.fc cuu*vira» w-w" nxjX

Lady Philanthropist. DEATHOFBARONESSBURDETT- COUTTS. We regret to state that Baroness Burdett- Coutts died at half-past ten on Sunday morning at her residence, Stratton-street" Piccadilly, aged 92. "Deceased, who had been ill for several days, suffering from acute bronchitis, was attended by Dr. Comerford and Sir Thomas Barlow, but no hope of tecovery was enter- tained. During Saturday Mr Burdett-Coutts received messages of sympathy and inquiry from the Queen and the Princess of Wales, con- I veying messages to the Baroness. The King and various other members of the Royal family were apprised by telegraph when the Baroness passed away, and many dis- tinguished personages who had made sympathetic inquiries in the course of Saturday were similarly informed. Throughout Sunday Mr Burdett-Coutts has been in almost constant receipt of telegrams from all parts of the country and of written communications from sympathisers who are now in town. Royal Sympathy. Mr Burdett Coutts has received the following telegram from Lord Knoliys, Sandringha.m i am commanded by the King and Queen to cxprc their great regret to hear of the death of Lady Burdett-Coutts. They sincerely hiFe with you on your loss. Late on Friday night the Baroness made somewhat of a rally, and her wonderful vitality which has saved her several times in recent years gave some hope that her life might be prolonged. After a consultation at noon on Saturday her doctors stated that her condi- tion showed no improvement, and that if any- thing she was rather weakor. During the latter pare of the day she grew worse, but was able to iccognise the elder members of her household, giving her hand to each in turn. She was always conscious to the very end with Mr Burdett-Coutts, who had been with her throughout and remained at her bedside dur- ing the last 12 hours. About five o'clock in the morning it seemed apparent that the end had come, but she partially rallied again and again during the next five hours until she passed peacefully away at j0.30. | Mr Burdett Coutts has also received the fol lowing telegram from the Lord Mayor of Lon- don-" Very sorry. Deeply sympathise with you. The City of London has lost one of its noblest an j, best beloved honorary freemen." The Baroness Burdett-Coutts was one of the most remarkable of women. Her unbounded wealth only gave her the opportunity for un- bounded charity. She was only 23 and simply Miss Coutts when her grandfather, Thomas Coutts. the banker, left her his fortune of £ 1,800,000 and the hank, which so recently removed from its old house in the Strand to new premises opposite Charing Cross Station. From then onwards she has engaged in distri- buting her wealth to the best advantage for the good of the whole community. Yet her benefac- tions have been performed so unostentatiously that few can estimate what they mnount to. She has been a pioneer in many enterprises for tbe relief of tha suffering poor. Years and years ago, in company with Charles Dickens, she visited the East End, going with him into slums of a type which we do not know nowa- days, and she steadily bought up some of the worst of these places and rebuilt them as model dwellings. Nor was her work limited to the mere slum- dweller. She built St. Stephen's Church, West- minster, with three schools and a parsonage, for £ 100,000; she endowed for SM,000 the Bishopries of Adelaide, (jape Town, and British Columbia she originated the Turkish Com- passionate Fund during the llusso-Turkish war, by which E30,000 was sent to those suffer- ing from the war. Her life was not free from romance. She was the daughter of Sir Francis Burdett. one of the most famous Liberal politicians of his day, and her fortune really descended to her through her grandmother, who had been the wife of Mr Coutts. but died Duchess of St. Albans. Her fortune amounted, it is said, to 13 tons of English sovereigns.

WAS HE KIDNAPPED P Found in a Starving State. A Belfast schoolboy named Samuel Atchi- son has had a terrible Christmas ex. perience (as briefly reported yesterdaj (, which lie is likely to remember to the end of his days. On Christmas Eve the lad went out to gather holly for the decoration of his house, and was Jost from that hour until Sunday night, when he was found in. the attic of an untenanted house at the point of death and wasted to a skeleton. All through the heavy snow storms of the last few days the police and bands of searchers bad dragged ponds, swamps, and rivers for the body without result, and the circumstances of the disappearance and recovery of the boy were so remarkable as to lead the police to the belief that it was a case of kidnapping. No sounds had, been heard by the occupants of the house on either side of that in which the lad was found -until Friday last, wben both neight hours recalled having heard what they took to be a faint knocking. No attention, however. was paid until Sunday, when too rapping became so persistent, that one of the next door I peighbours scaled the yard wall and entered the house. He searched every room without result until he came to the attic. The door of this was closed and the handle had been removed the neighbour forced open the door, and entering found t.Le room in darkness, the snow ha ving cohered the skylight. Striking a match he saw the figure of a lad lying uncon- scious on the floor. Near by lay his co-.t torn torag-i, and the waistcoat and trousers were likewise in shreds, the fatter in fact having only tb.e upper pstrt who!?. Tlio neighbour, who had read the accounts of Atchison's, disappearance, immediately con- luded that this was the missing boy, and ho sent s.t once for the father. The latter hastened to tho empty house, and stripping off his coat wrapoed up the lad and rushed home through the bl inding snowstorm. Two doctors were the bl inding snowstorm. Two doctors were speedily in attendance, and the:r unremitting care and attention have been so far successfu- that though the poor boy is still in grave dan ger, there was last evening solae is (Jight hope of his ultimate recovery. On Monday morning the police made a thorough examination of the attic. They fonnd tho inside of the door all clawed where the boy in the agonies of starvation had sought to tear through the panels with his nails, and even w ith his teeth- A Central News representative saw the boy otu Monday as he lay moaning and tossing in bed. He cried out again and again to imaginary as sailants to have pity on him, but there was nc.thing coherent in his speech, the only person 11'.1 seemed to recognise being his mother. How the boy came to be in tha house aud why the handle should have been removed from the lock, whether the interval from Monday untit Friday had been entirely spent inside the room, and whether it was a case of kidnapping, are all questions which are greatly puxzling the ] police. The doctors stated yesterday that ines J vf.-ry short time.—a matter of minutes in fact— the boy would have been a corpse, and it is ) probable that liisiniod will be permanently affected by his terrible experience. It is hopsA I however, that when be recovers ousonsciaso a t some light will be thrown on the mystery.

I SENSATIONAL SEQUEL. Boy's Mother's Reported Dream. A Belfast correspondent telegraphs :-Tbe B elfast schoolboy Atchison, whose awful C Christmas experiences have attracted such wide- spread attention, is recovering consciousness, 'but still remains in a temblo state. Yester- day he was able to make a brief statement, frora which a sensational development is ex- pected. Medical examination has revealed the marks of n cord on the boy's throat. and from the fact that he is still unable to move his jaws the inference is drawn that he was gagged and bound before boiug.placed in the empty house, the gag being then removed. Interviewed liuit evening, the mother of the boy told an extraordinary story. With stream- ing eyes he said she had prayed to God to reveal to her who it was that subjected her son to such a hideous experience. On Tuesday night she dreamed three times in succession that a part-icular person was responsible, and it is a remarlta le fact that on Wednesday evening the boy made a statement incriminat- ing the very person his mother had dreamed about. Another Irish Mystery. On Wednesda a constable patrolling near Bohunabriena, County Dublin, discovered the body of a young man lying on the road in a shockingly mutilated condition, particularly about the head and face. Deceased had no coat on, and there were various indications which seemed to point to a terrible crime having been committed. It is believed that the body is that of a young man named -lohn Sullivan, and the police are scouring tbe neigh- bourhood for a clue to the affair, which at present is a complete mystery.

.W Throughout all tho noise and pinic, the rush- ing hero and there of cattlo. and the screams I of passengers that, followed the railway Acci- dent. 3t. Bremen, one pH>sengAr slept, .soundly. He complained very bitterly when. an hour after the occurrence, he was awakened by an nfiucial.

HOUSES INUNDATED. More Snowfalls in Scotland. A Glasgow telegram reports the Scot- tish railway earnings show a very substantial loss as the result of the snow block and rail- way accident last week. On the east coast the four leading lines show a loss of £.35.000 for the weck, principally in passengar receipts. The North British receipts are £20,000 and the Caledonian fully £11.000 less, and the North British gain for the half-year has been reduced by fully £8.000: while that shown by the Cale- donian has been converted into a loes of £5,()(X). The Glasgow and South-Westem Railway has been fortunate, and escaped loss, the increase for the half-year remaining at £ H,000. A telegram from Portobello states that on Wednesday evening snow again commenced to fall on the cast coast. Most of the main roads in East Lothian and Berwickshire are still blocked. A verdict of Death from exposure to the cold was returned at an inquest at Smeth- wiek yesterday on the body of Josiah Read (63), of Handsworth who was found in a cul- vert. The body of a woman was found yesterday afternoon in a field at East Dereham, Norfolk, and has been identified as that of ICstherSadler, whose home was at Gressenhall two' miles away. She had been missing since Thursday. Death is assumed to b3 due to exposure. Houses Flooded. As a result cf the rapid thaw and heavy rains the neighbourhood of Leighton Buzzard is heavily flooded, and water has invaded the streets of the town. Many of the inhabitants were up all Tuesday night, taking refuge in the upper rooms of houses, the lower apart- ments having become untenable. Roads are impassable to pedestrians, and carls arc being employed to take dwellers on the outskirts of the town to and fro. The inundation extends for miles, but is now slowly subsiding. Acres of land are flooded at Stowmarket, Suffolk. The Great Eastern Railway is under water, and the mail road to Ipswich it is im- possible to traverse- The heavy rains of Wednesday morning, combined with the snow1 which has rapidly melted, have caused the rivers Stort and Loa. to overflow their banks, and the country be tween Bishop's Sfortford and Broxbourne is in a state of flood. The water continues to rise, and ground floors of houses are submerged. The river Brent has seriously overflowed in the neighbourhood at Hanwell. An enormous amount of flood water has flowed from the Welsh Harp Lake into the river, causing the flood. At West Drayton the river Colne is rapidly rising, and the golf links close by are in danger of submersion. Damage in North Wales. The rivers Dee, Severn, Cld. and Conway have overflowed their banks, and thousands of acres of pasturage are under water. Cattle and sheep have been drowned, and property has been severely damaged in many parts. The town of Bala was on Tuesday night visited by a flood caused by the thaw which followed the heavy snow. The river Tryweryn overflowed its banks, about a. hundred houses being inundated. The residents, however, had notice, and avoided a repetition of the great damage done to furniture a.nd stock in 1903. The storm abated on Wednesday morning. Scenes in Belfast Serious floods took place on Tuesday night in several parts of Belfast. The water rushed down the hills in torrents, and the streets in some districts presented the appearance of rivers. The roads were torn up, and people had to wade home. The'tram service was slightly affected. The rain abated abont midnight, and yesterday the floods disappeared. Like an Open Sea. The floods arc assuming serious proportions in Buckingham and the district. Many hun- dreds of acres are under water, and in many places the roads are totally impassable in con- sequence of the rapid thaw and heavy rain. For milts the river presents tbe appearance of an open sea, and the water is still rising. Ystradfellte Snow Fatality. Gomer Hopkins, who was found frozen to death in the snow at Ystradfellte last Thurs- day night, was buried on Wednesday at the Ystradfellte Parish Church, the Rev. W. Jones, the vicar of Ystradfellte, officiating. Nearly all the residents for miles around attended the funeral The adjourned inquest will take place on Monday next.

SNOW, HAIL, AND LIGHTNING. The vagaries of the weather were fully ex- perienced at Merthyr yesterday. After a night of tempest, snow fell heavily, a.nd then heavy hailstorms swept the place at intervals. In the afternoon there was a, considerable snow- fall, then rain and hail, a.nd at night heavy thunder and vivid lightning. A severe storm of sleet and rain accompanied with sheet lightning, passed over the Ogmore Valley last night, but no accidents are repor- ted.

SNOW AT PONTYPRIDD. The weather experienced at Pontypridd on Wednesday underwent varying changes. In the morning rain fell heavily, and subsequently snow and sieet, while at night there was a hailstorm which raged rather fiercely for a time, the hail being as large as ordinary peas. At Llantrisant heavy rain fell, accompanied by thunder and lightoing.

BLIZZARD AT CHA TSWORTH. King Edward Stays Indoors. The heavy rains of on Wednesday evening did much to dissolve the masses of snow on the hillsides, and the early morn gave promise of fine weather, but by 11 o'clock on Wednesday Chats worth was wrapped in a blizzard, great fall of snow being accompanied by a variable wind. The King had purposed joining the guns at the coverts at noon, but his Majesty aban- doned his intention to shoot., neither did Queen Alexandra leave the precincts of the ducal mansion, although during a lull in the storm which swept over the country-side her Majesty took a. walk in the garden with the Duchess of Devonshire. Princess Henrv of Pless. the Earl of Rosebdry, and Mr Balfour joined the Royal dinner party. "Last night rain again set iu, and t.bere are indications of a continuance of severe weather. A blizzard raged in tho district during the forenoon. New Year greetings were yesterday sent to the King and Queen, at C bate worth, from 1.000 poor crippled children, who were being enter- tained in the Town Hall, Birmingham. The following reply was received :—" Please con- vey their Majesties' thanks to the crippled chil- dren for their kind message, and tell them how much the King and Queen appreciate their good wishes." —

Poisoning Tragedies. WOMAN'S REMARKABLE LETTER. At the Islington Coroner's Court on Tuesday Mr Walter Schroder held an inquest on the body of Hannah Hobbs, 52, the wife of a farrier, lately living at Queeasbury.street, Islington, who died on December 29th under strange circumstances- It appeared from the evidence that for some months past the deceased had complained at times of pains in her huad. On Saturday momiog her husband on leaving the house for work left her apparently well and cheerful. Some time later her son heard her crying out. and on going to her room saw deceased in great pain. To him she said. 1 have taken some- thing in mistake for caator oil The husband said his wife had had no troubles, and had never threatened her life. Following the death, which took place later in the day, a letter was found on the chest of drawers, but her husband was not positive as to the hand- writing. He bad never known her keep spirits of 5011,118 in the house. A bottle and cup were standing on the drawers near the. bed. Re- cently docead had lost her mother, and this had apparently increased the pains in her head Dr. George Madden, of New North-road, who was called, said he found deceased suffering from shock and great pain. She said to him she had taken spirits of salta in mistake for castor oil. The post-mortem showed death to be due to the effects of the poison. A very large quantity must have been taken. as the stomach was charred and some parts burnt away. P.C. Reeves, coroner's officer, said he searched the house, hut could find no bottle containing castor oil. The Coroner ssjd the letter read a6 followa :— "DearhtMband and children,—Forgive me for this rash act I am about to take. I have been (word undectpherable) by that bad old woman upstairs. She has drugged my beer with snuff. May God pour curses on bar head. She has robbed me, the but woman on earth. My poor husband is not to blame. has told me so many times to keep from the drink. May the curses of God be on that wicked old woman. Her own children say what a bad old woman she is. God bless my poor children and husband. Oh, God, forgive me I can scarcely write, my head is so bad." The husband, recalled, said his wife did not drink, but he had told her not to have any- thing, as she complained of her head. The Coroner adjourned the case for further inquiries and the attend an re of an important witness at present ill. Woman's Mysterious Death. The inquest was concluded at Maidstone on Tuesday respecting the death of Louisa Merritt (46), wife of a hairdresser. Sir Thomas Stevenson, who had analysed the contents of deceased's stomach, stated he found four and a quarter grains of arsenic, and that two grains was generally a fatal dose. Witnesses spoke to the affectionate terms on which husband and wife lived, and the jury found that deceased Ndied from arsenical poisoning, but how the arsenic was administered there was no evi- dence to show.

Charles Bird (19). of Nantyrarian, near Builth Wells, a blacksmith, was charged with tbe theft of a blacksmith's apron, rasp. and ruler, value 5s Id, the property of Llewelyn Paries, Builth Wells. Mr Reginald .T. Owen, solicitor. Huilth Wells, defended Defendant was dalt. with under the First, Offenders Act. ami bound fiver to come np for judgment, if i tailed upon, within the nejet six months.

CARDIFF DAIRYMAN SUMMONED ALLEGED DELIBERATE MIXING. Fine of £10 and Costs. At the Cardifi Stipendiary's court on Thurs- day, Cornelius Luxton, 3i, Splott-road, Car- diff, was summoned at the instance of David Vaughan. inspector of nuisances. For thpt he, while under contract with the committee of the Cardiff Infirmary for the sale and delivery of new milk to them, did unlawfully sell in pursuance of the said con- tract to the prejudice of the purchaser an article of food, to wit milk, which was not of the nature, substance, and Quality demanded by the purchaser, being adulterated by the addition of 43 per cent. of added water. being deficient in milk fat to the extent of ten per cent., and being adulterated by the addition of '046 per cent of boric acid. Mr F. W. Ensor prosecuted, and Mr George David defended. Mr Ensor said that this ease was the most serious one it had ever been his duty to lay before the Court, for the defendant was under contract to supply the Infirmary with pure milk unadulterated and unskimmed. On 2nd December a sample of milk which was delivered by the defendant was taken at the Cardiff Infirmary in the course of delivery, and that sample when analysed showed that it contained 43 per cent. of added water, that it was 10 per cent. deficient, in milk fat, per cent. addition of boric acid. The added water was very excessive, and Dr Walford would say that the addition of boric acid was extremely injurious to young children and injurious in quantities to adults. Mr George David As a matter of fact we are not entitled to put boric acid in milk. > The Stipendiary It is common ground that it is injurious. Mr David said-that there was a very simple answer to it all. He was not going to contend the case for one moment. The case would not be fought. The Stipendiary: Not be fought ? Mr David Oh, no, sir. There is a very simple explanation which my friend knows. I cannot resist a conviction. Mr Ensor said he was going to call the boy who delivered the miik. and he would tell the Court that there were two churns of milk de- livered to the Infirmary, and that he was given instructions to take a churn to the station con- taining some milk. and take from one of the churns at the station 14 gallons which was to be put bv. Then he was to mix the milk in the two churns and deliver it at the Infirmary. Inspector Dd. Vaujjhan then gave evidence that he saw the defendant's cart at the Infir- marv in charge of a lad named Hopgood, and that he took samples of milk from two churns. Mr David would not admit that Hopgood was in charge, and said that, he was at the time un- der notice to leave, and that he was simply going round with the new lad who was to take his place. Witness said that Hopgood delivered the milk at the Infirmary. In cross-examination, witness said that defendant had been engaged in selling milk for about 16 years and he had taken very many samples of his milk- The analjsis of the milk in one of the churns on the 2nd December showed it to be perfectly genuine. Mr David And the other as bad as it coald be 7-1 should say so. Witness further added that there were about 17 gallons in the churn containing genuine milk, while the other contained three or four g&llcns. Milkboy's Evidence. John Hopgood, the boy teferred to, was then called, and said that the de endant told him to take three gallons of milk from the dairy to the Great Western Railway Station, take from there the churn with IS gallons. and mix the three gallons with it, and then deliver the proper quantity at the Infirmary. Ho was also to takca gallon and at half of the farmer's milk from the churn at the station to the shop. What did you do ?" queried Air Ensor.— I took up the farmer's churn and then took It of the farmer's milk into my bucket. Then I took it down to the Infirmary. I saw In- spector Vaughan before 1 went to the Infir- mary, and he took samples." Asked what he did with the three gallons he took with him in the first instance, the witness said he poured one half of it into one tack con- taining milk at the Infirmary, and poured the other half into another tank, Cross-examined by Mr David, witness said he was under notice to leave at the time, and since then Mr Luxton had refusad to give him a character. Mr Luxton did not belong to the Association of Milk Dealers. You arc now employed by members of the association 1" Mr David asked.—Yes, sir. Do you remember some time ago telling Mr Luxton that a. member of the association had come to you and suggested that you should put water into his milk V—No, sir. Did you tell him that some other dairymen had offered you money t0: put water in the milk and that they would have an inspector there to take samples ?—No, sir, nothing of the kind. You have had samples taken ?—Yes, sir. And they were found to be all right 1-1 have never heard anything of them. Witness added that on the morning the churn was taken from the dairy there were several others there, and he could not say which of these was taken by the boy who was with him. Whole Thing a Mistake." Mr David, addressing the Stipendiary, said that these two churns of milk—one containing milk and the other rubbish—were delivered at the Infirmary, but the whole thing was a mis- take, and an explanation was given to the In- firmarv authorities immediately it was dis- covered. The defendant, in addition to his milk business, sold cream, and after the cream had been removed from the pans the skimmed milk was poured into an empty chum in order that it might be thrown away. On this Sunday morning this had been done. and he gave in- structions for one churn into which he had placed a small quantity of good milk to be taken to the station and the contents delivered at the Infirmary with the 17 or 18 gallons which he expected to come by rail, in order to møke up the quantity ordered. No instructions were given to mix them, and the new boy went to the dairy and took tho first churn he came to, which was the wrOng one, and took it to the station. What had been said about the mixing was pure in- vention on the part of the boy. Really nothing of the kind took place, for the two chums were taken to the Infirmary, and the milk delivered there. The defendant had carried on business in Cardiff for a number of years, and hundreds of samples of his mlk had been taken, and never one found wanting on his part before. It was perfectly ridiculous to think that defend- ant would have mixed good milk with such rubbish. Mr Luxton then gave evidence in support of his advocate's statement.

COURT'S DECISION. | The Stipendiary, in giving his decision, said there was no doubt that the milk delivered by the defendant's servant was deficient in butter fat an.i natural milk solids, and in determining the amount of the penalty he would have to consider whether the delivery was the result of accident or design. If it was the result of design having regard to the fact that it was delivered at the Infirmary, and that the constitution of this particular article of food might have deter- mined the issue of life and death, no penalty he could impose would bp too severe. The case, however, rested principally upon the evidence of a servant who was under notice, and it had alwavsbeen recognised that such cvidencemust be looked at with some suspicion. The Stipendiary went on to say that he was not satisfied with the demeanour of the witness in the box, and he believed the delivery of the milk in the state complained of was an accident, but although it was an accident having regard to the serious consequences which might have resulted, the culpability of the defendant was very great, far greater pre ca,1rl,ion sould have been taken to prevent such an accident He should atso have kept the article found in the churn where he kept the pure milk. and he should have prevented such adulterated stuff being carried in the same vehicle as this milk, necessary for the health of the patients at tho Infirmary. He (the Stipendiary) would be entitled to inflict a modified penalty, though there was a case rpported in which a man had been fined the full pcnaltyvwhore water had been added to milk by the servant against the express orders of the master. The Stipendiary concluded by saying he would not impose the full penalty, but he reo peated that Mr Luxton ought to take precau. tions to prevent such an accident. The defendant would have to pay jElO and costs, or in default ode month's imprisonment

BURGLARS AT KIDWELLY. A Daring Raid. During New Year's night the office of Mr H. E. Smart, secretary of the Gwcndraeth Valleys Railway Company, Was broken into by burglar* and much damage done. Entry was efleoted through a window, which was forced open with a crowbar. The massfve safe, weighing some 10 cwt-.waa ripped up. First a large hole waa made in the back of the safe, but here the burglars encountered only large account books. The safe was then thrown over and turned so that tbe bottom came towards the middle of the office, and three thicknesses of iron sheeting were r'pped up in order to get at the drawers, which were in the bottom of the safe, and which con- tained some all of which, with the exception of three half sovereigns, was taken. All the drawers and cupboards were also burst open and greatly damaged, books and papers being strewed all over the place. The toois used in breaking open tbe safl",consisting of crowbar, a sledge hammer, several drills which were used as chisels and a long sharp-pointed piece of iron. etc..were all'taken irom a which pfood near and which was also broken open. The office is situate some 400 yarda or more from any dwelling house, and the side of the Great Western and Mynyddygnrreg Railway. The police, under Police-Sergcaui Jamep. are very busy making inquiries, but no I arrest bad been made last night.

MR SAMUEL SMITH. Ex-Membep for Flintshire. Mr Samuel Smith, ex-31.p. for Flintshire, died suddenly at Calcutta, from heart failure at midnight on Saturday, according to a Reuter telegram. Mr Samuel Smith first entered the House of Commons as member lor Liverpool. This was in 1882. He sat for that city until 1885 in 1886 Lord Richard Grosvenor, memberfor Flintshire, was created Lord Stalbridge, and Mr Smith sue- ceediid him in the representation of the county. He retired at the end of the last Parliament, and a few months ago was appointed a member of the Privy Council. In the House Mr Smith was noted for his somewhat extreme views. He was president of the Purity Society, was opposed to gambling and racing, and was an ardent advocate of temperance. But he was a man of the kindest nature his gifts to philanthropic objects were many and on the most generous scale, and be gave thousands of pounds to the Nonconfor- mist organisations. He was an authority on the boarding out. of pauper children, and he took a prominent part in the crusade for the protection of women. Born in Kirkcudbright in 1836. he started business as a cotton broker in Liverpool in 1860. He retired with a large fortune in 1883. Some years ago he lost his only son, and in his memory erected in the city on the Mersey the Gordon Institute for Seamen. He published several books, including The Credibility of the Christian Religion," India Revisited," and "V.rbe Bi-Metallic Question." Mr Smith was au eminently religious man, and the last speech he delivered in Liverpool on being banquetted by the J unior Reform Club in celDbration of the honour of Privy Coun- cillor being conferred upon him on Nov. 16 last, denounced the materialism of tha age, so ram- pant in France, Switzerland, and Germany, which he said was making headway amongst English people, and which he said bordered very c-osely on pure animalism. 'Mr Smith left Liverpool over a month since for Calcutta, where he intended addressing the Indian Con- gress, in company with Mr William Jones, M.P. By the death of Mr Samuel Smith. says a Liverpool correspondent, one of the most inter- esting figures has been removed from Liverpool life. Mr Smith, who was in his seventy-first year. was recognised as an expert and authority of considerable reputation in the cotton world, and before entering Parliament took a share iu the municipal government of Liverpool. He was a generous supporter of all movements to- wards the improvement of social conditions, and was president of several Liverpool institu- tions, including the Gordon Smith Institute for Seamen, which he founded, in memory of his only son, at a cost of £ 7,000. He was a justice of the peace for Liverpool and Kirkcudbright- shite, his native county. Calcutta, Saturday (delayed in transmission). —The Indian National Congress concluded its sittings to-day. Mr Surandranath Banerjea expressed the sorrow of the assembly at the death of Mr Samuel Smith, his words being received in solemn silence.—Reuter.

COL. D. R. DAVID. A Popular Public Man and Employer. We regret to announce the death of Col. D. R. David, J.P., of Port Talbot, who passed away at 9.45 on Tuesday night in the presence of his family, and the Rev. A. J. Edwards. St. Theodore's. He had been in failing health for the past five years, but had only been seriously indisposed since November, and he succumbed to exhaust-ion and heart failure. Colonel David, who was 65 yeaoos of age, was born at the village of Groes, near Mar gam, where he commenced business as a grocer. Then he joined his cousin, the late Mr Llewellyn Howeil,Aberavon, and they erected the-Taibach Tinplate Works, which he had successfully car- ried on ever since, though after some years the partnership with his cousin was severed. He was a good business man, and was much admired by all his workmen for his principles. In spite of the periodical trials and troubles in the tinplatcj trade, there had never been a strike or a stoppage at Colonel David's works since its origin. So much was he liked by his workmen, that four years ago he was presented by them with a magnificently framed portrait of himself and wife, and only a week ago, on the occasion of his birthday, all the workmen signed a •' Round Robin," wish- ing him success and speedy recovery. He took great interest in public life, and was a Justice of the Peace for the county of G lamorgan and Chairman of the County Bench at Port Talbot. He succeeded Mr Knox on the Glamorgan County Council, to which e was elected unopposed, but lost the seat after three years to Mr El ward T. Evans on the e iucation question of 1902. He was vice-chairman .of the Margam Urban District Council, on which bod v he sat since its origin, and was previously a member of the old Local Board. He was vice- chairman of the Neath Board of Guardians, and o In with the exception of the chairman (Mr Hopkin Jones), wai the oldest guardian, having been ou the board 23 years. He was Past Master of the Avon Lodge of Freemasons. He was a Conservative, and at staunch Churchman, having been churchwarden at St. Theo- dore's for 23 years, and precentor at Margam Abbey Church. He was presented with a public testimonial in recognition of his services on retiring from this office. He was for many years the Spanish Vice-Consul at Port Talbot. He took great interest in the Volunteer movement, had been 45 years a volunteer, and held the long service medal. With the late Mr Llewellyn Mansel Talbot he founded the local Volunteer corps, and helped to form the Gla- morgan Rifle Association. His two sons are alSo captains in the local Volunteer corps. He leaves a wife, five daughters and two sons. Ono of the daughters is the wife of the Rev. Morgan Powell, vicar of Aberaman, another is married to Dr. R. W. Roberta, Port. Talbot, whilst a third is the wife of Mr Griffith, of Treorky. The eldest son. Captain Llewellyn David, attends to tha tinplate business, whilst the other son, Captain S. J. David, is a solicitor in London.

DWARFS AT THE ALTAR. QUAINT WEDDING AT PONTYPRIDD. An interesting marriage was solemnised at St. Kktheri ne's Church on Wednesday between Carlisle Percy Harlev and Emily Maud Phil lips, two travelling dwarfs in the employ of Messrs Wadbrooke's Cinematograph Enter- tainers. Thediaiiiut rve couple, whose combined height is only I ft- 4in.. are the smaileat couple who have ever approached the altar at St. Katherinft's Church and the interesting event attracted a good (foal of attention-though, owing to tbe eagerness of the crowd to witness the ceremony, it was only those in the forefront of the church who could catch a glimpse of the principals in the drama, both bride and bride- groom being completely obscured from view. I MR AND MRS HARLEY. The bridegroom walked unattended to the church except for a crowd of lads, who sur- rounded him. The bride drove to the church in a cab, and was attended by two bridesmaids- one girl of six. who exceeded the bride in stature, aDd a. lady. The bride looked really pretty in a light grey costume with hat to match, and carried a bouquet of spiraBa. It was evident when plighting his troth that the bridegroom made up in courage what be lacked in physique, and his tone of voice was firm and almost stentorian. The bride, however, was more coy, and it was in subdued t'snes that she promised to love, honour, and obey. The ceremony was conducted by the Rev. Jame* Thomie, curate of St. Matthew's, and as the happy couple emerged from the sacred edifice merry pebis rang forth from the church bells, and amid hearty cheers from the assembled crowd the newly-married pair were whisked away in a cab to the railway station en route for Brighton, where the honeymoon will be spent. J Thp bridegroom is a'native of Worthing, and his wife is from Hereford. f

A PENARTH PONTOON. The penarth Shipbuilding Company are con- templating the erection of a new pontoou at their Peraxth works. They have been for some time past in negotiation with Messrs ,Sxaii, Hunter, Whigrhani. Richardson, and Co. in regard In the -;iippi-yhof the structure, and it is understood that the plan." and prices will be submitted to an oarlv meeting of the directors for final approval, the proposed new pontoon will have a length of 400 feci, and it is intended to moke it one of the equipped structures j of its kind in the Bristol ChanncL

Wholesale Burglary. í SENSATIONAL SWANSEA CASE. At Swansea Police Court on Wednesday an inoffensive-looking man. named TbÕmas Evans, described as a labourer, of Maestcg, but belonging to Swansea, appeared to answer no fewer than 28 charges of burglary, attempted burglary, and robbery in and around Swan- sea during the past year and a half. The prisoner is a brother of Benjamin Evans, who is now awaiting trial at the Borough Quarter Sessions for alleged participation in 29 burglaries. The present charges are of breaking and entering 46, Llangyfelach-street, and stealing 23s, two gold rings,one gold brooch, gold earrings the Waun Wen Inn. and steal- ing cigars, cigarettes, and spirits Ncath- cliff, and stealing a dressing case coutain- ing a gold bracelet, six gold rings, one neck- lace, gold locket and chain, gold brooch, and cash worth JEM a lock-up shop in Harcourt- street, and stealing contents of gas meter: 10. Hamilton-terrace, with intent; a house in Lion-street, and stealing JE3 a house in Neath-road, and stealing a gold albert, jewellery, and cash worth £2 10s the Railway Inn, and stealing two gallons of whiskey, and some meat worth £110s; 32, Scvborfaeh-street, » il stealing jewellery worth £3 15, Mysydd- u.race, and stealing £4 7s 6d 16, Mysydd- terrace, and stealing jewellery St. David's House, Uplands, and stealing jewellery worth JE4; 21, Windmill-terrace, and stealing jewellery worth £5; 56, Tcrrace-road, and stealing jewellery worth £5; 29, Sea View-terrace, and stealing money and jewellery 120, Castle Graig, and stealing .£73 in cash and some jewellery entering 14, Windsor-terrace, with intent 1,150, Neath-road, and stealing gold and silver watches worth £28 97, Carmarthen- road, and stealing cash, cigars, etc. entering S. Baptist Well-place, with intent: 5. Baptist Well-place, and stealing jewellery and 30s in cash 21. Welcome-street. Morriston, and steal- ing JE5 in cash, and jewellery worth £6: 78. Duke-street, Morriston, and stealing a watch 11, Prince of Wales-road, and stealing jewellery worth £1155; 8, Bethesda-terrace, and steal- ing jewellery 24. Moutpelier-terrace, and steal- ing jewellery worth £2. 15s Lilac Cottage, Sketty, and stealing 2s lOd and some keys; 27. Mansel-street, Swansea, and stealing a chain worth £2. There was also a charge ot stealing a pilrse containing £1 from the person of a child named Cassie Harris. Mr Laurance Richards prosecuted. The police decided to take only four of the charges. These were the thefts from St. David's House. Uplands 56, Terrace-road, Swansea: 1.150, Neath-road; and a county case from Sketty, the latter charge being break- ing into Lilac House and stealing a small sum of money and some key?. In the case of St. David's House, Mrs Phillips said on going downstairs in the morning she found everything turnc-d upside down, the hause in utter disorder, and the contents of a chest of drawers, etc., left on the table, while the gas was alight. She identified a quantity of silver plate, which Patrick O'Neill, assistant at the pawnbroking establishment of Bertho Wherle, Maesteg. identified as having been pawned by the prisoner at his principal's shop. Prisoner told him that. he had the things from his father and his sister In regard to the second charge, Mrs Mary Elizabeth Hopkins also spoke to finding her house in the morning turned upside down. She also identified jewellery which had been pawned at Wherle's establishment for 30s. In the case of breaking into 1150, Neath-road, Mrs Crystol, the wife of a pawnbroker, spoke to her husband missing £25 worth of watches, etc., and she identified many of the articles, which had been pawned at different places in the district. In the Sketty case it was stated that the lady of the house was disturbed at night, and on going downstairs with her niece she found the prisoner in the dining-room. On seeing them he decamped with a small sum of money and a few keys, which were identified. The prisoner on the first three charges was com- mitted for trial at the Quarter Sessions, where he will be brought up on Friday next jointly with his brother, who, as stated, was charged with participating in 29 burglaries. On the fouth charge be was committed for trial at the Assizes. He declined to make any answer to the charges, and when charged after his arrest only said, Some people like to put it on."

WEDDING AT PENARTH. THE RECTOR OF ST. ATHAN AND MISS A. F. CHRISTIE. At All Saints' Church, Penarth, on Wednes- day afternoon, the wedding took "place of the Rev. George Morganwg William Thomas Jen- kins, rector of St. Athan. near Cowbridge, and Miss Augusta Furnivall Christie, elder daughter of the late Mr Charles William Christie, for many years resident at Tregroes, Pencoed, and Mrs Christie. Celn Coed. Penarth. Owing to a recent bereavement in the bride's family, tf-e invitations were confined to the immediate relatives and old friends of both families. The Ven F. W. iidmondes, M.A., Archdeacon and Canon of Llandaff, officiated at the ceremony, assisted by the Rev. Miles Whiteside (rector of St. Nicholas),and the Rev. J. E. Courtenay. The bridesmaids were Miss Noel Christie (sister of the bride), Miss Lina Jenkins (sister of the bridegroom), and the Misses May and Hilda Morran (cousins), while Master Francis Douglas acted as page. The bride, who was given away by Major Christie, looked extremely nice in a charming gown of white Uinon de soie. the bodice of which was trimmed with beautiful Carrickmacrois lace.the gift of her aunt, Mrs Christie. Over a wreath of myrtle she wore a veii of rare old Honitonlace, lent by Mrs T. W. Lewis. The bride wore a pearl necklet, the gift of her late father and a pendant of diamonds and peails, and she carried a sheaf of Madonna lilies. The bridesmaids were in dresses of pink chiffon taffetas with mole velvet hais with pink carnations. They wore pendants of amethysts and pearls,tbe giltof the bridegroom. The service was full choral, the hymns sung being, Come Holy Ghost," 0 perfect love," and" Now thank we all our God." After the Ceremony alargely-atcfendcdrecep- tion was held by Mrs Christie at the Paget Rooms, where Mr Fred Roberts's band dis. coursed an excellent programme of music. Later in the afternoon the bride and bride. groom loft for London amidst the heartiest food wishes for their future happiness. The ride's costume de voyage was of cream cloth, with hat of brown velvet, and sable furs, the latter the gift of the bridegroom.

FAMILY AFFRAY AT M ILFORDl HAVEN. Father-in-Law Uses a Poker. At Milford Haven on Wednesday William Hitchings, .labourer, Robert-street, wu charged with unlawfully wounding his son-in-law, Edward Mock, plasterer, also of Robert-street, and belonging to Cardifl, on the morning of Christmas Day The complainant stated that about 2.30 on the morning in question he had cause to go across the road to defendant's home after his wife, who had been persuaded to go there. Another daughter of Hitchings called him from bed. He came down stairs threatening to murder complainant, and in a scuffle, hit him on the head three times with a poker. Com- plainant said he bled profusely, and bad to be led to his own house. He was drunk, but not mad drunk. Myra Mock, wife of complainant, gave corro- borative evidence. Cross-examined, she ad- mitted she left her house in consequence of her husband's condition, but said he did not strike her- Dr. A. B. Ross stated that he was called to see Mock, aud found a wound an inch long m his head. There was an indention to the bpne. He was now out of danger. Defendant's version was that on Christmas Eve be went to bed at 10.30. At 3 a m. he was awakened by a noise downstairs, and his daughters cailed him down as Mock was going to kill them. At first he did not go. but even- tually did so Mock invited him to fight, but he requested him to go home. His daughter (Mrs Mock), whom he was going to protect, turned upon him. and also complainant, and he merely defended himself. He swore he did not strike Mock with a poker he must have knocked against it. Harry Williams, a lodger, gave evidence, but did not see what transpired in the kitchen By consent the charge was redyced to one of common assault. The Bench said it was a most serious common assault, for which they considered there was no justification. They sentenced accused to three weeks' hard labour- On bearing the sentence Mrs Mock fell ia a fit, and had to be carried out of court.

STUNNED THE SERGEANT. Before the Rhondda Stipendiary (Mr Arthur Lewis) and other magistrates at Portb on Thursday, Patrick Skully, collier, of Levis- place, Cymmer. was charged with having com- mitted an aggravated assault upon P.S. Skerm. The latter stated that on the 27th ult. he visited defendant's lodgings owing to a disturb- ance between the lodgers. As soon ss he got inside defendant challenged him to a fight, and thereupon dealt him a violent blow on the face, stunning him for a while. Blood was streaming down his face, and it was with difficulty that he kept Skully under observation until the ar- rival of Inspector T. Williams and P.S. Morris. Prisoner attempted to make his esca-itw, but WM overtaken by Inspector Williams^ The Inspector told the magistrates that Skully struggled violently after being overtaken. Sentence of a monl h's imprisonment with hard labour was passed.

CARDIFF BASTARDY ORDER Ryan Versus Kelson. The appeal against an order by the Cardiff Deputy Stipendiary (Mr Milner Jones) upon Mr E. Nelson, a well-known tobacconist, to contribute 5s per week. and the costs, towards the maintenance of the illegitimate rhild of Kate Ryan, who was formerly an assistant in hi:" employ, has. it is understood, been with- drawn. and the order therefore stands. Mr Lewis Morgan ^Lewis Morgan and Box) was the solicitor for tli appellant, and Mr Harold Llovd (Harold Lloyd aud Cross) repre- I sented the respondent.

National Income. a i.14! MILLIONS IN DEATH DUTY. The Trea&ury on Monday night issued its account of the revenue of the United Kingdom for the three-quarters of the financial year ter- minating with the old year. The return is of the most satisfactory nature, showing a net crease in the income for the period mentioned of just over a million and three-quarters sterling, the exact figures being £1,750,681- A no less pleasing feature of the return is the fact that the quarter just coded is no exception to the two preceding quarters of the year inwhieb substantial increases were recorded. The yeax promises to be one of uninerrupted prosperity. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, in his Budget statement last year, estimated the national revenue for the year at £142,755,000. Of this sum £98,098.293 has now been collected, leaving £44,656.707 to be obtained in the last quarter of the year, which terminates at the end of next March. As the amount collected in the last quarter of the preceding financial year—and it must be remembered that it is in this quarter that the bulk of the £31,000,000 odd expected to be derived from property and income tax is collected—was no less than fifty-seven aDd a half million pounds, it is only reasonble to suppose that the balance to be made up between now and March will not only be realised, but that the modesty of the Chancellor's estimate will be pleasantly exemplified. As stated above, the revenue from all sources was £98,098,292. of which sum £90.834.&38 was paid into the Exchequer. It is a very noteworthy fact in connection with the returns that ever since Sir William Harcourt placed on the Statute Book his sys- tem of death duties no Chancellor of the Exchequer perhaps has been 50 prosperous in turning other people's grief to account. Mr Ajquith estimated the death duties to vietd him on the whole year a total of Already, with another quarter of bis year to run. this total has been exceeded by £1.374,893- the actual amount paid so far being £14.574.893" Canada's Prosperity. Montreal, Monday.—The year just closing has been one of unbroken prosperity through- out the entire Dominion, and the prospeots for the coming year could not be more promising. The Canadian Pacific and Grand Trunk Rail- ways both admit that there is more business in prospect than they can handle, and are both placing large orders for increased equipnent, which is difficult to get. owing to the scarcity of steel and lumber.—Reuter.

CHAIR PRIZE AT DOLGElLY. Won by Gwili. Merion Eisteddfod, one of the chief Eistedd- fodau of North Wales, was held at Dolpelly on Tuesday. Mr Ffrangcon Davies and Mr Cole- ridge Taylor were the musical adjudicators, and the chair the afternoon meeting was occupied by Sir Isambard Owen. Fifteen com- peted for the chair prize, a poem on Mary. His Mother." The Rev. Rhys J. Hnws said the poem sent in by Gwili (Rev. J. Jenkins, Cardiff), now of Jesus College, Oxford, was the best among eight competitors. The Mount of God was announced as the subject of the chair prize next year. Brass bands, Aber- llefen chief choral competition, Machynlleth Choir; male voice parties, Cwm Choir. Bala; choral competition, DolgeJJy Cboir.

LLANWRTYD. Llanwrlyd 27th annual eisteddfod, held at the Victoria Hall on New Year's Day, was largely attended. Mr E Jenkins, Llandrindod Wells, presided. Conductor, Rev. Rues Evans adjudicators, Mr Merlin Morgan, London Col- lege of Music, Mr Lewis Roderick, and Gwilym. Carcwm hon. secretary, Mr W. Williams. Myrtle House accompanists. Miss Sallie Richards and Mr D. Vaughan Jones. Mr Saunders Morgan sang the eisteddfod song. Awards :-8010, juveniles, 1st Miss Elizabeth Davies, Llangammarch Schoolhouse, 2nd Miss Bronwen Richards, Uanwrtyd; stanza. Mr D. H. Davies. Tynewydd, Cilcwm baas solo, Mr John Price, Builth-road soprano solo, divided between Miss Evarts, Milod. and Miss Davies, Brynirvon pianoforte solo, juveniles, 1st Miss Lizzie Williams, Lla.nwrtyd. 2nd MisB Maggie A. Davies. Llanwrtyd Weils essay. Miss Elsie Davies. Manchester House, Benlah children's choral competition. Llanwrtyd WeDs (conducted by Mr Ernest Williams): tenor solo. Mr Ernest Williams, Llanwrtyd Wells male voice contest, Llandrindod Wells Young Musi- cians (conducted by Mr R. E. Davies) poem. Mr John Jones, Tyrbach, Tyrabbot; contralto solo. Miss Agnes Thomas, Ammanford chief choral competition, Builth Wells (conducted by Mr Isaac Davies). Despite inclement weather the evening concert drew a large audience.

TRECYNON. A very successful Eisteddfod was held at the. Trecynon Hall on Tuesday evening. Mr Ogwen Williams, P.R.G.S., County School, Aberdare, presided over a large audiancg. Tbe". adjudicators were :—Music, Mr A. Watkins. Hirwain Literary, Mr Ogwen Williams and the Rev. J. Morgan, Brynsioo; recitations, etc., Mr H. H. Evans, M.E. ambu- lance, Dr. Ryce, Trecynon prize bags, !1rø Owen Williams, Park lane, and Mrs Josoph Thomas, the Post Office, Trecynon. The loi- lowing were the awards :—Alto solo, Miss Mary Jane Walters, Uwydcoed soprano solo. Miss Edith Edwards, Trecynon; tenor solo, Mr Sam Barber, Trecynon bass solo, Mr William Lewis, LAwydcoed duet, Mr Jenkin George, Llwydcoed, and Mr Dd. Jno. Rowlands, Uwydcoed quartette, the party of Mr John Thomas, Aberaant; choral party for childrao under 16, Mr Jenkin George and part, Llwyd- coed any old song for persons over 45, Mr Jno Phillips, Trecynon for the best song to the Aberdare Park, Mr Dd. Phillips chief choral party, Mr Thomas Lewis and party, Trecynon eight Hnes of poetry, subject given at the time, Mr Wm. Lewis. Oxford-street. Aberdare essay, divided between Mr William Recs Daries, Uwydcoed, and Mr Daniel Jones, IJwydcoed; short essay. Mr Wm. Roes Davies, IJwydcoed essay. Miss M. A. Edward*, Church-row, Trecvnon recitation for chil- dren under 18. >fiss May Morgan, Gadlyw; recitation for men. Mr Henry Williams. Cwm bach best answer to six questions in ambu- lance work. practical and theoretical, 1st Mr Thomas Bowen. 2nd Mr Lewis J. Thomas, 3rd W. J. Williams; best prize bag. Miss A. Evans, Gadlys.

DEATH OF W. 8TADDEN. J On Sunday night at 9 o'clock W. Staddr*. who cut his throat on Boxing Day .^et strangling his wife, expired quite trudd my at Dewsbury Infirmary, where he haa been a patient since the sad occurrence. It warn expected that deceased would be able to attend the adjourned inquest on January 10th, and on Sunday morning he appeared to be comfortable, and was quite conscious. The only word he had been able to utter since his admission to the Infirmary was Amen M jn answer to the prayers offered by the vicar of Dewsbury, who has attended him. Stadden, who leaves five children, was a native of Cardiff, and was a prominent player in the Cardiff Rugby football team, and was a Welsh International footballer prior to his re- moval to Dewsbury.

INQUEST ON STADDEN. The coroner's inquiry with respect to t,he death of William James Wood Stadden, the ex- Welsh International footballer, who, it is alleged, strangled his wife on Boxing Day aad. who afterwards died from self-inflicted injuries on Sunday night, was opened on Tuesday at Dewsbury Infirmary, At the outset the coroner (Mr P. P. Maitland) said asthe circum- stances relal ing to the death of Mr and IIn Stadden were interwoven, he proposed to take only evidence of identification and adjourn the inquiry to Thursday, the 10th inst- Then the jury would be able to return a verdict in each case on the whole of the evidence taken to- gsther. Harry Stead, tailor, brother-in-law ot the deceased man. gave evidence of identification. He said deceased was a-strong healthy maa aad between 45 and 46 years of age. The inquiry was then adjourned.

A COLD BATH, Couple's Adventure at Cardiff. A Pontypridd man and a Cardiff woman had an unpleasant adventure at Cardiff in the small—the very small—hours of Wednesday morning. P C. Harding, of the city force, was passing the new lAw Courts in CAthays Park at about 12-25 a-m-, when be heard shouts of Hêlp, help." in the direction of the canal. Running to the spot, the constable saw a man and a woman struggling in the water. With some difficulty he dragged them both to the bank. and afterwards took them to the Central Police Station. There their clothes were dried. and subsequently they were sent home. It was a fortunate thing for the couple that the officer happened to be in the immediate neigh- bourhood at the time, otherwise wliat was merely a cold bath might have had a much more serious ending.

FATALITY AT ROATH TIP. An inquest was held at Cardiff on Thura. dav before Mr E. B. Reeco, on Albert Ridout. labourer in the, employ of the Cardiff Railway Company. Benjamin Bamer, who worked with the deceased, said that at a quarter past 10 on Tuesday morning they bad just tipped a tram of coal at No. 2 tip of the Roath Basin, and the rope scotch under the wheel slipped on account of the wet. The tram slipped back against the frame of the tip,.one of the buffers squeezing deceased against the frame, who at the time seemed to be oiling the machinery. A verdict of Accidental death •»

117 ANTED, to rrnt or Tnight tmv si, o,d-fanliior*d r ANTED. to refit or miltht troy an W d" rACIt Cou ntry House 5 reeeotiou. 5er6 hert. moras, bathroom. sm»i! nviblinj:, awl. about 2 s.cr«? ffewnd. in tlie iifUhbourhoort of J.isvane. L'aiii»han« Ti*dyr, or St. Fag&n's.—i uii details lo L i'(i-8, T»ailj Cardiff. b26a