The Cardiff Times

GENERAL BOOTH AT PENARTH. At Penarth District Council on Monday evening, the Chairman (Councillor J. Parry) mentioned that General Booth would visit the town on August 22nd, and he hoped that the veteran Salvation Army leader would be given a public reception. On the motion of Coun' eillor S. Thomas, J.P., it was decided to do so, and the chairman and deputy-chairman were appointed as a committee to make the neces- sary arrangements.—Councillor Hallett: Can't we present him with an address ?—Councillor S. Thomas: Yes, at our own expense, and I hope it will be done.

STEEL RAtL TRADE. On Monday it was reported at Wolverhamp- ton that the Shelton Iron and Steel Co., of Stoke, North Staffordshire, had resolved to enter the steel rail trade. Steel rail rolling machinery is to be immediately installed, and all steps taken for going into the business with vigour. The step is an important one, and already there are rumours of other firms fol- lowing their example. Steel rails arc now sell- ing at JE5 5s to £5 7s 6d for heavy sections and JE5 15s to £5 17s 6d for light sections. The new competition is likely to assist lower values.

TWO BOYS DROWNED. On Monday afternoon two boys named Bailey and Carter were bathing in the canal at Higham, near Hinckley, Leicestershire, when one of the lads got into difficulties. The other went to his assistance, but they got out of their depth, and both were drowned before assistance arrived.

ABERSYCHAN MURDER Shocking Farm Outrage. TRIAL AT MONMOUTH ASSIZES. Death Sentence. NOTICE OF APPEAL GIVEN. The Eastern and Western Valleys poured a stream of visitors into the ancient borough of Monmouth on Monday, their objective being the sombre-walled Assize courts, whose frontage of stout, iron-spiked railings and massive iron gates are reminiscent of more stirring days than the sleepy borough now knows. The event which drew the crowd from the busy industrial valleys of Monmouthshire was the trial of John Edmunds (24). collier, for the alleged wilful murder "of Cecilia Harris at Aber- sychan. In addition to the wilful murder in- dictment, Edmunds was indicted for shooting Harris with a gun, cutting her throat with in- tent to kill her, and also with criminally assaulting her. Prisoner was brought from Usk Gaol in a packed train. He walked past the crowd assembled at Monmouth Station with a jaunty air. He is short of stature, and carries his shoulders and head well back. He was wearing a tweed suit and cap, both in a good state of preservation. The limited accommo- dation of the court was taken up irsunediately the doors opened and many had the disap- pointment of seeing themselves shut out for want of room. The trial was before Mr Justice Ridley and a jury. Mr H. Cranstoun and Mr A. J. David were for the prosecution, instructed by Mr H. S. Lyne, Newport, and Mr S. R. C. Bosan- qnet for the defence, instructed by Mr H. Sanders, Pontypool. Prisoner's face wa spale as he stood in the dock and heard the indictments redd, but his Not guilty in each case was pronounced in a clear, firm voice, and was accompanied in one instance with a shake of the head. JOHN EDMUNDS, the condemned man. I Juror Challenged. One of the jurors, William John Davies, was challenged on behalf of prisoner, and his place was taken by another juror. All the witnesses were, on application of counsel for the defence, ordered out of court. Mr Cranstoun. outlining the case for the pro- secution, said the victim was a defenceless woman. a widow aged 59. The prosecution alleged that such injuries were infliced upon her by prisoner on February 20th, that she died from them on May 5th. She resided at a farm known as Gamwen, about two miles from Abersychan and situated in a lonely place upon the side of a mountain. The farm belonged to Mr Rowland, deceased acting as caretaker. February 20th was a Saturday afternoon, and prisoner was seen in the loegjity of the farm then. He was in the habit of carrying a gun, and on the Friday he had gone about soliciting cartridges. A witness saw him in the locality of the house at 3 o'clock on the Saturday after- noon, and other witnesses saw him there later. Deceased war, attending to her household duties about 4 in the afternoon, and she saw prisoner coming up the lane that passed her house and went up the mountain. He passed the house, being seen by a boy named Evans. Shortly afterwards deceased saw prisoner close to the house, where he knelt down with the gun in his hand and pointed it at her. She told him to be off. Taking a paper she received from the boy Evans into the house, she began to read, but soon afterwards again saw prisoner kneeling in the garden. He was pointing the gun at her. Alarmed, she 'a.eked him to go away, and locked the door. Then she saw him standing upon a stone placed under the window. Appealed for Pity. Presently prisoner smashed the window, and thus entered the house. She escaped by the door, and, after getting a little way from the house, she turned round to see if he followed. As she looked he shot at her. her jaw being fractured. Prisoner then went after her, pushed her down, and outraged her. After asking to be allowed to do so, she got up and enquired. Is my face marked ?" Prisoner seemed then to exhibit that spark of humanity which everybody possessed, and replied, Yes. It's in a mess- You'd better come into the house and have it washed." She went into the house, and he accompanied her. In the house she asked him if it was money he wanted, and he replied Yes. Let me have it." She gave him what money she had. Amongst the coins was a five-shilling piece, and it wa-s important to remember that. Not content when he had got the money, said counsel, prisoner threw her upon some matting or sticks, and shook her head till she appealed to him for pity, to remember his own mother, and let her go. He. however, drew a knife across her throat, inflicting a serious gash. It was almost inconceivable, added counsel, that anyone human could be guilty of such conduct. Finally, Mrs Harris got away in a terrible state, and went to a neighbouring farm, where she made a complaint against prisoner. She was a strong woman, evidently, and it was remarkable that, notwithstanding her injuries, she was able on April 23rd to appear before the magistrates and give evidence. He should submit that he was entitled to read that evidence, but as Mr Bosanquet objected, he would postpone the reading till a later stage. After the police court proceedings she became ill and died on May 5th. Describing the arrest, Counsel said that prisoner, when charged, replied I know nothing about it." The clothing of prisoner and his victim were examined by the public analyst, who was surprised to find in both cases fibres of a peculiar nature. He did not know at the time that the assault had taken place upon sacks that wern on the floor. The analyst then examined the sacks, and found that the fibres were similar to those found upon the clothing of the man and woman. It would probably be set up in de- fence, said Mr Cranstoun, that the woman's death was due to natural causes, but he would show by medical evidence that it was acceler- ated by the injuries, and that but for the shock and loss of blood she had sustained the woman would have been alive to-day. Witnesses for the Crown were then called. The initial evidence of the Crown was directed to show that prisoner was seen in the neigh- bourhood of the farm during the Saturday afternoon. Victim's Depositions. A lengthy legal argument ensued as to whether the dece's depositions in the hos- pital and her evidence at the police court were admissable, Mr Bosanquet contending that he ought to have had notice that this evidence was to be used against prisoner. His lordship ruled to the contrary, adding that if such depositions were not to be ad- mitted a person would escape by the death of his victim, and it would be, a very serious thing if that were possible. Mr Cranston put in the depositions of the deceased at Pontypool Police Court. In her evidence the dead woman said that on the afternoon of February 20th she went into the meadow in front of the house to look for some sheep. She then saw John Edmunds, of Garn- diffaith, coming up the mountain road, carry- ing a gun. She had known him about eight years. She went into the house, and Edmunds proceeded up the lane. A boy named Evans and his sister then came with a paper, and she took it into the house, and the Evans children went away. While in the house she saw prisoner stooping in the garden pointing the gun at her. She went and asked him what he was doing, and he made no answer. She told him to clear off, and he opened the gate and went into the path and disappeared. After returning to the house she saw him again in the path lighting a cigarette. She again ordered him to clear off, or there would soon be someone there who could talk to him more forcibly than she could. He then went towards the mountain gate, but soon came back, and Presented the Gun at Her through the hedge. He pulled the trigger, but the gun did not go off. She said to him, What do you mean ? Don't act the oaf." She went into the house and locked the door and went upstairs. Looking through the win- dow, she saw him coming into the little yard. She ran downstairs and saw him on the stone slab under the window. She then heard the window go crash. Unlocking the door, she ran out and across the yard to the front meadow gate, and he came after her with the gun. As she tried to open the gate she turned, and he shot her on the face. He then caught her, threw her down, and criminally assaulted her. When she struggled to get up he tried to throttle her. At length she got up and held on to the gate, and asked if he bad marked her face much. Yes," he replied, it's in a devil of a mess. I am sorry. Come to the house, and let mo wash and bandage it up for you." She went into the house, and he followed. There she told him she would give him her money and her watch if he would let her go. Where is the money, then ?" he asked. She took a purse from the drawer, and gave it to him. There was a five-shilling piece an 1 a sixpence in the purse. After that he took a knife from the table, and standing behind her slashed it across her throat. She was kneeling upon sacks on the floor at th time, and,-opeal to him thus Don't give me any more, for the Lord's sake. You have given me enough. Think of your poor mother." He allowed her to get up, and she went to the door, where she saw the girl Kathleen Evans, who turned away. Deceased went after the girl to Nantymailor Farm, and saw prisoner going towards Treve- thin. Thprc being no one- at Nantymailor Farm, she went on to Penyrheol Farm, and told Mr and Mrs Rees what had occurred. Further Evidence. Other evidence was called to show prisoner had asked for cartridges on the Friday night, and on the following night tendered a 5s piece in payment for oranges. Sergeant Albert Jones (Abersychan) said after the receipt of the complaint he went to Penyrheol Farm and then to Garnwen, finding blood on the gates on the way there also on the pathway leading to the house, and or the floor of the house itself. The top drawer of a chest was open and appeared to have been ransacked. At 1 am. on Sunday morning wit- ness arrested prisdner at his house. When charged prisoner said, I know nothing about it." Superintendent James, Pontypool, said at 5.30 p.m. on February 21st he told prisoner he could if he liked say in whose company he had been between 4.30 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. the pre- vious day. On being told of Mrs Harris's statement, he said, Yes, I know she says so. hut it's not true. I was not nearer tu the house all day than the bottom of Abersychan. I had tea between 5 and 6. A little girl named Mary Ann Taylor was with me, and at 5.40 p.m. Will Morgan, who is living under us, cams in and asked if I was going to the theatre. I Slid Yes." I left the house about 7 p.m. Ben Hill was with me in the theatre. I went home from the theatre after 10 p.m. In cross-examination witness said the little girl Taylor was so small that the magistrates would not take her evidence. Wm. Henry Morgan, collier, Garndiffaith, said he called at prisoner's houie about six o'clock on the Saturday evening and prisoner was then washing his face and hands. Mr G. R. Thompson, public analyst, said prisoner's clothing was indescribably filthy, and there were blood stains upon it. He also found human hair some four to five inches long, gray to reddish brown in colour, and some fibres similar to those in sacks that were later brought to him by the police. The front of the woman's clothing was also considerably bloodstained, and contained hairs and fibres similar to those he had found on the man's clothing. Widow's Wounds. Dr Mulligan described the injuries of Mrs Harris when she had been admitted to Ponty- pool Hospital. Part of the jaw had been shot away, the lips shot to ribbons, and half the windpipe severed. Death took place at the hospital on May 5th. The postmortem revealed that the lung3 were congested, and that there were signs of general bronchitis and of fatty degeneration of the heart. Heart failure was the cause of death, and this was produced by the condition of the lungs which in turn was due to the Peptic state of the wounds in the throat and mouth. But for these wounds he saw no reason why the woman should not be alive' to-day. She must have been a very strong woman, but the loss of blood left her weak. Replying to Mr Bosanquet witness said the congeston of the lungs became acute two days the police court proceedings. Mr Bosanquet: Might that not have resulted from a chill ?—Yes, it might, but there was no chill. In reply to his Lordship the witness said he meant by the septic condition of the wounds, their poisonous condition, the air that passed through the mouth to the lungs being poisoned and bringing about, in the opinion of witness, the congestion. Dr, McCormack, Abersychan, agreed that injuries accelerated death. This concluded the case for the prosecution, and Mr Bosanquet. intimating be had no wit- nesses to call for the defence, counsel addressed the jury. Counsels' Addresses. Mr Cranstoun, for the prosecution, said the outrage that had been perpetrated was a most horrible one in the extreme. He laid emphasis upon the statement of the deceased woman to the effect that her attacker was the prisoner. The man who committed the murder must have been in a great passion, either for lust or money. He could not suggest any other motive. Prisoner had acted more like a brute or a beast than a human being. Mr Bosanquet, in defenee, submitted the prosecution had failed to prove that death was a result of the injuries the woman had received. He also contended the evidence of identity was not sufficiently strong to hang a man. His Lordship, in summing up, re-read to the jury the evidence given by the deceased, saying it was very important they should have this fresh in their minds. He went on to say that the outrage, whoever committed it, was that of a ruffian and possibly a madman. His Lordship then reviewed the evid ence connect- ing prisoner with the affair, and afterwards dealt with the medical evidence, emphasising particularly the statement of Dr. Mulligan .that the woman would be now alive but for wounds she had received. Verdict of Guilty. The jury retired at 5.45 to consider their verdict, and after an absence of 45 minutes re- turned with a verdict that they .found the out- rages upon Mrs Harris were committed by prisoner, and that her death was thereby accelerated. „ The Clerk That is a verdict of wilful murder. Prisoner, on being asked if he had anything to say why sentence of death should not be passed upon him, nJhd^ no reply. Throughout the trial he had maintained a stolid demeanour, listening with great intentness to everything that was said. The only sign of emotion he ex- hibited was an occasional faint twitch of the upper lip and the nervous blinking of his eyes. He was permitted to remain seated except when formally charged at outset and again at the close when the jury brought in its verdict. Sir Edward Ridley, having assumed the black cap, pronounced the death sentence with great solemnity and in a voice that dropped occasionally to an almost inaudible whisper. He said, addressing the prisoner :— The jury have-convicted you-of the murder of Cecilia Harris. I must say for myself I con- cur in that verdict. I think it is made out, not only that you are the person who com- mitted the outrage, but that the outrage was the cause of her death. I therefore would re- commend you to make the best use of the time that remains to you by endeavouring to make your peace with Almightv God and to obtain from Him the pardon which He only can give." His Lordship then formally pro- nounced the capital sentence. Prisoner was half-turned towards the Judge as the sentence was being uttered, and at its close, as a warder gripped him by the hand to lead him below, a half smile crept into his face, lingered there a couple of seconds, and then vanished. Prisoner as he turned to descend to the cells kept his eyes fastened upon the floor. Mr Bosanquet, his counsel, then asked leave to appeal on the ground of the medical evi- dence. His Lordship, in granting leave to appeal, said it saved an intermediate applifcation, adding, I express no opinion beyond what I have said." A Pathetic Figure. Prisoner was later removed to Usk Prison, travelling in charge of a warder and police officers, by the special train run from Newport for the Assizes., The train was packed and prisoner had to run the gauntlet of a large crowd assembled at the station. He walked firmly, and as far as could be seen betrayed no weakness or emotion. A pathetic circumstance was that his mother travelled by the same train, though in a different compartment. She is a woman past 60 years of age, and was very much affected. She had a tearful interview with htr son before the commencement of the trial, and also spoke a few words to him from the window of the railway carriage before the train left Monmouth. She was accompanied by her daughter,who was also much distressed. Prisoner will remain in Usk Prison pending he result of the appeal.

POLICt AND FIRE BRIGADE. At a special meeting of the Gelligaer Council on Monday evening at Hengoed, Councillor W. B. Lloyd presiding, a long discussion took place in reference to the fire brigade. For some time past there has been considerable disagreement as to the working of the fire brigade, and some feeling has been manifested between members of the Council and among the members of the various corps. Representatives of all the local corps waited on the Council to state the condition of things in their respective places, and it was invari- ably stated there was lack of appliances. The remarks of the Pontlottyn representative showed tfeere had been some misunderstand- ing between that corps and the captain, Mr Tom Jones, Bargoed. Mr Tom Jones, however, ga.ve an explanation of the whole situation. The Chairman said the matter was full of spleen from beginning to end, and he was sick of it. The matter should be fairly dealt with, as it concerned the ratepayers of the parish of Gelli gaer. Councillor L. P. Edwards moved that the fire brigade be placed under the supervision of the police. Mr Joseph Morgan seconded, and this was carried. On the motion of Councillor D. Hopkins it was decided that the clerk (Mr F. T. James) write to the chief constable asking if the force could take over the fire brigade.

WEALTHY MAJOR'S DEATH. The inquest concerning the death of Major Falkner at Illston on the Hill, Leicester, was resumed at Billesdon on Monay, and ad- journed until July 5th. The Coroner stated that he had not yet re- ceived the report of the result of the analysis in which Dr. Wilcox, the Home Office analyst, was making. Until he got that report it was impossible for him to conclude the inquiry. He proposed to call no evidence that day, but to adjourn until June 28th, by which date Dr. Wilcox hoped to have the report fully com- pleted. It would not be desirable to caM evi- dence until the report was received. Even- tually, July 5th was selected for the resumption.

r A Visit to Old Tretower. THE GATE-HOUSE AT TRETOWER. I i ;—. TRETOWER, THE HOME OF SIR ROGER VAUGHAN.

ROMAN EXCAVATIONS AT CAERLEON. By the courtesy of Sir Arthur Mack worth, Bart., C.B., we are able to reproduce a photo- graph of the base of an angle tower in the south corner of the citv Isca Silurum (Ca-erlcon). This was discovered last week, and during the Roman excavations which are being ctrrcd on near the reputed Round Table of King Arthur. Experts refer to the tower as the best piece of ancient masonry in Gwent. (Photo by W. G. Busby, Newport.)

SCENE OF THE STRMGE OUTRAGE AT SWANSEA. I The actual spot is shown by the cross near the telegraph post. (Photo by Sears, Swansea.) I

SAILOR AND HIS MONEY. At Aberavon on Monday Sarah Smith, married, Morgar-terrace, Pontrhydyfen, was charged with stealing JE15 from Thomas Powell, sailor on the barque Beaucleau, on Thursday last, and Sophia Haskell, married, of the same address, was charged with receiving 14 of the monev from the other defendart. Mr T. H. Hunter defended Smith. Prosecutor, who had his head bandaged, said he was paid off on Tuesday. He met defendants at the Avondale Hotel and treated them to drinks, havirg over il3 in his pocket at the time. Witness and Smith went up the mountain side, and Haskell walked up Cwmavon-road. Near a quarry the woman Smith put her hand into his pocket, took out his purse, emptied the contents, over S13, into her hand, and ran away. In Cwmavon-road he saw her hand some money to Haskell, and he caught hold of the latter. Haskell dropped some sove- reigns and ran away. prisoners pleaded not guilty and were committed to Quarter \Ses- sions and allowed bail.

MOLTEN METAL BLAST. Several Workmen Injured. An explosion of molten metal seriously injured six workmen at Roberts's blast fur- naces, Tipton Green, Wolverhampton, on Monday. While the men were working there suddenly came a mighty roar. a burst of smoke and flame, and a rush of fractured masonry. motten metal, and boiling water. The iron in the bottom of the furnace had apparently made its way into a channel which carries off water discharged from the tuyeres, and the sudden contact of such dangerous elements caused an explosion. About 25 tons of metal escaped, and in its fury demolished an adjacent hovel used by the men. who were burned by the red-hot mass and scalded by boiling water. The men are all in hospital. Some of them were thrown twenty feet and were more or less unconscious when picked up.

LEVUFGOODS SOLD. At Llanelly County CourV on Monday before Judge Bishop, in the case'of John and Eleanor Ryan, Swansea-road, evidence was given by the court bailiffs to the effect that on various dates levies were made under warrants and goods seized. When, however, Mr E. D. Jones, one of the bailiffs, after a few unsuccessful attempts, gained entrance into the house he found that some of the goods levied had been sold. Mrs Ryan told him some of the goods were sold to pay other executions. His Honour (to Mrs Ryan) I must fine you for removing the goods, and you must pay the money. This is a very' serious offence because you have cheated poor people who have one to the expense of issuing an execution. You are fined JE5 and you will have to go to prison unles3 the money is paid very soon.

PORT TALBOT TRESPASSERS. At Aberavon on Monday David Oliver, tin- worker, Tydraw-street, and Rees Evans, Prior- street, Port Talbot. were summoned for tres- passing on the Great Western Railway near Margam-terrace on Sunday night, May 2nd. Mr Rupert Lewis, who prosecuted, said de- fendants arrived at Port Talbot by the mail, and walked along the line at great risk to themselves. One of the defendants was drunk and the other deaf. P.C. Pojon and Inspector Bowen (Great Western Railway) gave evidence, and defendants were fined 10s and costs each.

DRIVER'S TRAGIC DEATH. Fatality near Hirwain. On Sunday night a party of young men were re- turning from Pont Neath Vaughan to Mountain Ash in a brake drawn by a pair of horses in charge of Henry Walter Broom, and when a short distance from Hirwain one of them was taken-ill. Bloom pulled up at a public-house in order to obtain brandy, but this being re- fused he was in the £ \ct of restarting the brake when he was jerked from his seat, and fell to the ground. One of the wheels passed over Bloom's neck. and Dr. Thomas, Hirwain, was sent for, but he pronounced death to have been instantaneous. Broom was 42 years of age, and a widower with one child. He resided at 24, Duffryn- street. Mountain Ash, and was employed by Mr Allen, cab proprietor, Miskin, Mountain Ash.

CALLED FOR THE RENT. At Newport on Monday C. Rossiter, Hewert- son-street, was charged with assaulting James Stevens, auctioneer and house agent, on May 29th. Mr Baker Jones, who prosecuted, said that Mr Stevens called at the house for the rent. Defendant became very abusive, said he would pay when he liked, and struck him in the face. Mr Stevens went away, but de- fendant followed him to another house and abused him. Mr Stevens denied that he had made any imputation about Mrs Rossiter's character. Rossiter was fined 21s.

TENBY BETTING FINES. At Tenby on Monday four defendants', who were arrested at "the raid made upon the premises of Mrs Caroline Browne, High-street, Tenby, on Friday, surrendered to their bail. Mrs Browne, who was charged with permitting a room to be used for the purpose of betting, was firmed £ 5 or one month's imprisonment. Bertie Browne, her son, who was charged with open- ing the room for t-hjc purpose of betting, was fined £ 25 or three months. Fannie tawton and Horace Thomas, the other defendants, were each boynd over in the sum of t50 on their own recognisance for six months.

AERIAL NAVIGATION. The Central News says It is under-, stood that a meeting of the Parliamentary Aerial Navigation Committee will be held at the House of Commons on Wednesday. The meeting is expected to possess some im- portance, and it is anticipated that definite proposals will be put forward with a view to placing this country on terms of greater equality with foreign countries in the matter of dirigible airships. Last year England spent £ 5,COO on aerial navigation, whilst Germany spent £ 400,000.

MORE JUDGES WANTED. In charging the grand jury at Salisbury Assizes 0.1 Monday Mr Justice Phillimore spoke of the influx of business under the law which had created a Court of Criminal Appeal, and said it was obvious that the business of. the country could Dot, be dealt with by the old number of judges. If new judges were not appointed either the work would have to be scamped or it would have to be delayed. He trusted that the Legislature would see that it j was necessary to add to the number of his brethren.

Merthyr's Mansion. CYFARTHFA CASTLE OPENED. The Cyfarthfa Castle and Park, which have been bought by the Merthyr Corporation from Mr W. T. Crawshay for £18,500. were formally opened to the public on Saturday afternoon, and the event was made the occasion for a popular demonstration. The Mayor and Mayoress (Alderman and Mrs Wilson), mem- bers of the Town Council, and a large number* of incited guests assembled at the Town Hall at five o'clock, and some time laterJeft in gaily decorated electric cars for Cyfarthfa Castle. Arrived at the main entrance to the park, where a large crowd had gathered, the Mayoress unlocked the gates amid cheers, the s' Mayor expressing the hope that that beautiful park would be appreciated by the people of Merthyr. A procession was formed, headed by the Cyfarthfa Band (conducted by Mr G. F. Livesey. son of the first conductor, who was appointed by the late Mr Robert Crawshay in 1847), and marched up the principal avenue to the terrace, where a halt was made. The Mayor and Mayoress, accompanied by the Town Clerk (Mr T. A. Rees), the Deputy Town Clerk IMr Biddle), the Mayor of Aber- gavenny (M ijor Williams), and members of the Town Council, mounted the steps of the Castle, and the Mayor called upon Miss Marjorie Jones, sister of Alderman D. W. Jones (who was unavoidably absent) to open the front door of the castle. Miss Jones turned the key and the door was opened amid hearty cheers. Alderman WILSON, Mayor of Merthyr. (Owen, Merthyr.) Addressing the large gathering from the castle steps, the Mayor said that he greatly regretted the absence of Alderman D. W. Jones, who had greatly interested himself in the move- ment to secure the Cyfarthf a Castle and Park for the town. It was during Alderman Jones's year of office as Mayor of the borough that negotiations were started for the purchase of the castle and park. The price paid for the castle and 158 acres of land was £ 18,500. Cer- tain imprdvements had to be carried out, and, with the sanction of the Local Govern- ment Board, a loan had been obtained from the Liverpool Corporation of £ 22,000. It would be the ambition of the Council to make the park one of the most beautiful places in Wales. He did not think the ratepayers would biame them for what they had done. The Council, in his opinion, had done very wisely in purchasing the castle and park. (Applause.) As the education authority, the Council had for a considerable time been con- sidering the question of providing a municipal secondary school for the borough. Such a school would cost the ratepayers something like £ 20,000. But that heavy expenditure could be obviated by converting the castle into a secondary school. A scheme for its conversion had been prepared, and it was proposed to accommodate 500 children—300 girls and 200 boys. (Applause.) Children from the outlying districts would be given every facility to attend the school, and it had been decided that their train and tram fares should be paid. It was possible to concert the castle into a secondary school for P,10,000 or £ 12,000, and the differencs between this sum and E20,000, which a new secondary school would cost, was sufficient to pay one half of the purchase price of the castle and land, which were absolutely free- hold. (Applause). Alderman D. W..TONES, the Ex-Mayor of Merthyr. The Dawn of a New Day. Councillor Sydney Simons remarked that it had been said that the maintenance of the castle and park were not going to cost the ratepayers anything. They were going to cost a good bit; but he thought the money they would have to pay would be money well spent. (Hear, hear.) If the money spent in the town in the past had been spent in as good a way Merthyr would not take the backward position it did to-day among the sister towns of South Wales. (Applause.) Merthyr in the past was a disgraceful Merthyr. It had not been ldfoked after properly it had had nothing to recom- mend it. It had hovels, wretched houses, wretched streets, and no open spaces. He hoped that. the day of old Merthyr had passed, and that the day of new Merthyr was now dawning. (Applause.) He trusted that as time went on the inhabitants would appreciate places like the Cyfarthfa Park, and would learn to be better citizens, better men, and better women. (Hear, hear.) If that took place he was sure the Council would have been well justified in acquiring that property. (Hear, hear.) He had one suggestion to make. In other large towns in England and Wales efforts were made to attract large shows-the Royal Show, the Bath and West of England Show. etc. He saw no reason at all why, in years to come, the Royal Show should not be held in Cyfarthfa Park, and represejitatives of Royalty be there to open it. (Applause.) If they could push forward- a scheme of that kind it would be for the benefit of the town. (Cheers.) The Mayor said that he would not like the ratepayers to go away under any wrong im- pression. The Council had secured the loan of S,22,000 from the Liverpool Corporation at a very reasonable rate of interest. Some of the loans had only been got for a period of five years, and during that- period the total amount of interest would be zEI,010 per annum. After the five years had expired and the small loans were paid off, the interest would be reduced to a little less than £ 900 per annum. Alderman Enoch Morrell, in moving a vote of thanks to the Mayoress and Miss J-ones, said that that was an occasion on which they could reasonably rejoice, as they had realised some of their ambitions. (Hear, hear.) It offered to them in the future an avenue from which perhaps they would be able to realise more fully their ideals of citizenship. That old castle had been the home for a number of years of a family that played a great part in the commercial world. It was hoped to have there a free secondary school, which he trusted would play no small part in equipping the boys and girlfe of the county borough of Mer- Lhyr for not only a commercial life, but for every sphere of activity—(applause)—and would help to build up worthy citizens of the borough. (Cheers.) Dr. Cornelius Biddle (president of the Chamber of Trade), seconded the motion, and remarked that the Council could not have done better than secure that castle and park for the town. He was a heavy ratepayer, but if he got value fot his money he did not com- plain, and he believed that the ratepayers had got value for their money by the purchase of the castle and park. (Hear, hear.) The Mayor of Abergavenny, in supporting the motion, congratulated the people of Merthyr upon having secured so vaiuable a property, and spoke of the benefits that the children would derive from the secondary education that would be given within the walls of the castle. The Mayor and Mayoress afterwards enter- tained the guests to tea in the castle, a pro- gramme of music being meanwhile rendered by' the Cyfarthfa Band. Afterwards the public were admitted into the castle.

TOOK BELLADONNA. At Aberavon on Monday Elizabeth A. Davies, married, of Tymain-street, Cwmavon, was chargad with attemptingdo commit suicide by poison on Friday last. Mr L. M. Thomas de- fended. P.S. Davies said he was called to the house and fonnd the accused unconscious. The woman regained consciousness at, 11, o'clock at night, having been delirious all day. Later on he charged her and in reply she said, She had had toothache all night and had put a. stump of a pipe in her mouth to try and cure it and it made her drunk,' and she then took a belladonna." Dr. R. T. Williams, Cwmavon, said he found the woman delirious and apparently suffering from belladonna poisoning. He gave her an emetic and antidote. The Bench dismissed the charge on a pro- ] mise that accused would n6t repeat the at- tempts

By D. EMLYN EVANS. MINOR TUNES. Recently a public speaker-Ie who knoW! somet,hing about Welsh singing," according to a newspaper report—" declared that it was big mistake so many Welsh should be in the minor key," and that is also a mistake always to sing crying tunes.' Whether the concluding part of the. paragraph which states that the "stronge element in the forming of dispositions an characters was the music of a country," can be unconditionally endorsed is doubtful but the excessive use of lachrymose tunes in our coil gregational music worship, and cyrnanfaoed" canu, has been repeatedly pointed out and e. precated in these columns and others, both In Welsh and English. The stranger among us come to think that this plaintive singing leading characteristic of Welsh music-sacred and secular. Anyone, however, who 1!3 thoroughly acquainted with the subject, that minor tunes form but a comparatively small percentage of our national airs,- while extreme prevalence of this mode in the public service and the singing festival is largely to particular causes such as the person*' idiosyncracier and limited outlook of many 0 the singing leaders—precentors—who are often untaught and illread and the fact that aSS. common rule in framing a gymanfa programiBe is for each section of the associated chorister? to nominate its quota of tunes, the net is a predominance of disheartening mournful' ness. It would be a service to the Englishman to teach him how to sing and appreciate 8J1 occasional pathetic time--it would materially help to relieve his public praise of much of hard earthiness which characterises it so often at present and it would be a service to tbo Welshman, too, if he were taught to that while a flavouring of the former is accept able and commendable, to have minor tuneø throughout a service, and some half a dozen or so in unbroken sequence at a gymanfa gau", is too much of a thing—is bad practice and bad policy. „ In a volume of posthumous Homilies from the pen of the late Rev. R. Ambrose Jones, Emrys ap Iwan —son of the well-known Welsh Nationalist the late Rev. Micluiel Jones, Bala-and in on8 of the most striking of its ably-written con- tents, viz. a sermon entitled Cymru Gel. wyddog (Untiuthful Wales), some references to the character of Welsh singing at once the musician's attention. It is probable» says the author, that the Britons were ,of singing since they became Kymry, '•e'l Since they amalgamated with the Irish t the other original inhabitants of this èountr1; but until they were subdued by the Sa^onS* they sang joyful and heroic songs after subjugation they dare not nor could they sing°f war, therefore they got to sing wailingly of all, then after becoming used to their 18l" very they sang love songs, still in a wailipo tone and this injured their morals. The maJ' rity of our religious tunes were composed í11 the same spirit, and it is in that spirit that ^J sing them in the main and a man has no ne6^ to be much more philosophically minded a Saxon to perceive that long-drawn, plaintive and ecstatic singing softens and intoxicates man, making him as disposed to sin in one,0 two directions as if he took opium or wine. For this reason, Plato, the'greatest of the thinkers, argued that the magistrates sh-uld not permit anyone to sing enervating music io a perfect state, because music of that CIOO would immediately pro re disastrous to I When Napoleon heard that the Germans were raving over Goethe's first, work, The sorrovo of Werther,' and that they were given to songs of that mournful nature, he said, I shall be able to conquer that lot in a very short time,' and conquer them he did. Nev theless, when they devoted themselves to read the healthier works of Schiller, and to singy* manly songs of Arnt and Ruckert, and ner, he also had to retreat before the milb0 warriors who rose up against him." Our author proceeds to confess that he bivy self is Over-fond of Plaintive Tunes, 9 but he "dreads to hear plaintive singio especially to the more fleshly hymns 0 Williams, Pant-y-celyn, at the end of a sund night service, lest that may make some of t\rí1 congregation weaker to withstand the de after going out. It would not be difficult, he thinks, to prove that there is more ness during religious excitement, when much^ this sort of singing goes on than at other time. Who said Cymru Ian. gwlad 1 gan (Pure Wales, land ot song) ? he It is true enough that it is the land of so but, more the pity, it is not a pure (cle*Tf Wales. Her enemies, aye, and many of b friends, too, say that she is an unclean Wales and if that be true, I venture to say that cause she is the land of song, she is, to son' measure, an unclean Wales. The majorlvL sing, or at least vocalise, unintelligently, because they are religious but because they covetous (lust ful)—because they take pleasu^ in intoxicating themselves with luxurio^f sound. It is a pitiful thing that so many people have thought for some period that they can be bards and singers without any effort, and without thing of singing as regards its history rules, and especially without general know, ledge. These undoubtedly are the most etnp"?^ headed and selfish little beings within ^r°Z.y creation. They are unable to listen to sense in a religious gathering, a competiW or any other meeting, if that sense be not io sound. Sense or not,sound is essential for But as regards the man with musical taste^^ well as general knowledge, no one is abler he to appreciate talent in all things whetn^ it be in a tune or in a song, an essay, an dress, or a sermon. As a rule, he is the reader, and he is the best listener. For the £ of Wales's good name, pray for more of tb and fewer of the others." .&. We have quoted from the author at coQS erable length, not by any means because vo are disposed to subscribe to all he ass because it places the question of Welsh Music before us in a new light, or from a new point. It appears to us that he begs the tion more than once, and a mere assumPV* does not prove a case. The remarks upon sr*g> are, indeed, nothing but a lengthy digre^1 inserted without any direct connection wita ^& text proper (,Eph. iv., 25), except fromV^^ author's own point of view. His case is, ever, ably put. We have had, as we have 8^ probably, enough national self-,tdmir-sti among us and this, as already stated, Pre: sents an important subject which closely &o peals to us as a. people in a fresh light' that a little self-examination noweannotprev otherwise than beneficial.

BLACKWOOD MOTOR FATALITY. Mr W. B. Dauncey, deputy coroner, ducted an inquiry at Blackwood on Mo11 into the circumstances of the death o £ Coleman, aged three, son of Mr Peter ^,$4 man, of Gordon-road, Black-,vood, whocVVSJ knocked down by a, motor-car on Sat evening. Mr Peter Coleman said he often seen the Royal mail car going thro Blackwood, and he thought the speed was reckless.—The Coroner What speed you think it was going at Well, about thirty miles an hollt'. ea The Coroner (surprised) Thirty leíØ an hour ?—Witness YeS, perhaps at times.—Sarah Ellen Parry said sb-e the little boy run out of a gully right in I of the car, the wheel of which passed oV cedi head. The car was going at a moderate sp and the driver pulled up within a few The accident was unavoidable. Edith j QeO* Smith, Maud Jones, Florence Stokes, and tí Radford, a postman, corroborated. o> .that the car went at a moderate r .jcot< speed, and that the affair was a pure aCC1^0ut» George Stokes said he heard people SD Whoever could get out of the way °* going at that rate ? He thought the car at 20 miles an.hour. Deceased was his John Harrington, the driver, said he ",as r gX veiling at about seven or eight miles an hour io the time of the accident The little boy T of front of the car almost before he was a a it. About 18 miles an hour was the ro»x rate at which the car could go. In up the Coroner said that they must kee_F ftjl any suspicion of prejudice. They aware there was a great deal of against motor-cars; he therefore as* tfxei* jury to keep out any such feeling ^r0^ranc £ consideration. There was a PreP°n easOD' of evidence that the car was going at a F( ^cCi- able, moderate fpeed. A verdict of be.9 dental death was returned, a -are at added stating that the driver took all .the time and could not avoid The Foreman of the jury remarked vn .-Met car travelled through Blackwood at speed than they thought it ought alarmed the inhabitants, and he y asked the driver to exercise all care in 0^rie* Mr D. Lewis, solicitor, on behalf ot theOot of the car, expressed regret at the a* d0* and sympathy with the parents of peased.

MERTHYR JUSTICE'S BURIAL. T P-» C°^ The funeral of Mr John Morgan. Jr" merchant, Merthyr, took place on ^to' afternoon, and was attended by a 'P0 her of magistrates and public men. 1 was first removed from the residence Thomas-s treet to the Salem j Chapel, where the deceased was a cyed v after an impressive service it was co too the Cefn Cemetery, where the intoi'iti 9U place. At the Police Court on 1. uc- l'cferrcu Mxrchant Williams (the stipendiary gcn3. to Mt- Morgan3 high integrity and g Bfa' anil as a mark of respect the cour journed for an hour.