The Carmarthen Weekly Reporter

Welsh Hospital's Retell Home, j to It was a privilege and an inspiration to have been one of that little crowd-of anxious people who watched the great Union liner Saxon crossing the skyline on the Solent in the grey (lawn of yesterday morning from the (i I, ,I of Southamp'on harbour. Knowing j that among other brave men Oil board tile hig were the medical men of the Welsh Hospital men who had added lustre to their to their professional attainments by risking their own lives in a prodigal devotion to the lives of others-—it was but natural that to those (if their own kith and kin the scene should have possessed exceptional interest, Tales of heroism displayed by men in ¡h., fighting line seldom fail to become public property, but the chapters that are left un- written' are those which should have as the5r theme the patient, enduring, self-sacrifice of j those skilled men and women who are charged with the lives of the men fallen in the hght. It will he remembered that in April last. when the war in South Africa woie a differ- cat and sadder complexion than it does u- elfY, the "Welsh Hospital was formed for service in the stricken field. As members of j the medical and surgical staff, Wales sent out five of her ablest and most promising sons in the profession, these being Professoi Jones (Manchester), Dr Lyn Thomas. Pr. Mills-Roberts, Dr Laming Evans, and Dr Herbert Davies. At the request of the Welsh Hospital Committee Professor Hughes went out to join his countrymen in July. A month before the actual establishment of the hospital Dr llyn Thomas relinquished his large and important practice in Cardiff going to the front in March, for the purpose of gaining an insight into the methods of con- ducting field hospitals. After six months of unremitting toil in attending to fiirli. and wounded patients the Welsh practitioners, in accordance with the arrangement originally made, disbanded, asd on the 3rd (f this month they sailed from Cape Town for Eng- land But not all five of them. Professor Tom Jones, the brilliant chief of the staff. and Dr Herbert Davies. one of the finest Welshmen that ever entered the mdical or any other profession, had dropped out of the gallant little band at Bloemfontein, where they shared the fate of two others of the stall- Dreser Evans and Sister Sage death being due to severe attacks of dysentry. Mis fortune did not end there. Misfortune did not end here. Shortly after leaving the Cape on the homeward passage Professor Hughes was laid low with an attack of the dreaded enteric, and was still lying weak and helpless in his bed on board the Saxon when the vessel arrived at Southampton yesterday to. 1 "1[" 1 __1. morning. All in all, the history ot the weisu hospital has been a melancholy one, but the story is one of splendid self-sacrifice. Inci- dentally I mentioned in a previous message that it was more than a pity that some sort of a reception should not have been given the Welsh medicos on their arrival at South- ampton that would have conveyed to them in some degree their country's appreciation of their work in South Africa. I reiterate that sentiment with emphasis. It was the least recognition they deserved. Six o clock in the morning is. perhaps, not a very inw- Ung lime of the day at which to turn out for such :1 purpose, but the occasion was worthy of an effort on the part of the veriest slug- gard. It was a grand sight in itself to- see the Saxon- one of the biggest of the Union liners -rising out of the morning mist like some huge spectre. For the first few mo- ments after coming within sighting distance she seemed to be stationary, but the mast- headlights. that twinkled like stars a minute ago. were now visibly growing larger and drawing nearer. There was scarcely a ripple on the water, and as the huge mobster drew near the ouay—twenty minutes late on a voyage of 7.000 miles—there were simply three of four hands raised in welcome to those who peered eagerly over the bulwarks What the feelings of those on board were could he easily imagined, but if there was joy I among those on the quay it could he easily concealed. There was not one cheer, and the st, of early morning seemed strangely in keeping with the temperament of the small bunch of waiters. Immediately the gangways were fixed and fastened I boarded the, boat, and knocked up against Dr Lyn Thomas, the man who I had come to seek. I saw him nine months ago I hardly knew him now. Fleld%hospital work had left its (Impression on his strong, pleasant face, but his calm, gentlemanly disposition was not altered. I ivited him to tell the story of his experiences. .h¡r;t- let me see about Pro- fessor Hughes being put ashore." lie said, and I will have a chat with you." In twenty minutes Dr Thomas was back in his. room in the palatial saloon of the Saxon, and, being tied to time, he hurried over the narrative which he was called upon to give so unexpectedly, and in circumstances that were not altogether favourable -to a fair clear minded review of all the eventful incidents that had been crowded into the past six months of his professional career. LOCATION OF THE HOSPITAL. "In the first place," he said, "the Welsh Hospital was located at Springfontein, where we remained for two months. Springfontein is between Norvals Point and Bloemfontein in the Orange River Colony. In the first week in May we were hurried up to Bloem- fontein, just at the time when typhoid and dysentry were playing havoc with our troops. Owing to the overcrowding, the place was very unhealthy, and we lost Mr Eames, of Llanfairfechan, who was one of our dressers. and Sister Sage. In the same week Professor Jones died. This is what I call the Black week in the history of the Welsh hospital. Death in each case was due to dysentry. of a very malignant type, the overcrowding making it very bad. We had a doctor there who had had several years experience in the treatment of dysentry in India, and we had the best possible advice and the very best nursine. But their lives were not saved." How many patients passed through your hospital altogether 2" We had 700 of what may be called in- door patients, in addition to hundreds who were only slightly wounded. The proportion of the sick and wounded was three surgical cases to every four medical cases." Did you get many Welshmen ?" No, not many. We had rather a big lot up from Belfast during that heavy fighting. You know more about that battle than I can tell you. It was a beastly place for getting any news." AN EVENTFUL JOURNEY. You had some exciting experiences, of course ?" '-Yes we had an exciting time going up from Springfontein to Pretoria. Our train was going up and we had four day's delay on the way. Nobody would tell us. We saw- afterwards that the train in front of us, in which Col. Stowe.. the American Consul was travelling, was on fire. We got on eventually and when we reached Pretoria we went to see Col. Stowe's carriage. There were 27 bullet holes in it. How he escaped was simply marvellous. We had all the excite- ment of having our train attacked and that sort of thing. The train that came after ours again was blown up. We were tol this when we got to Pretoria on Tuesday morning." "What was the nature of most of the wounds you had to treat ?" "Most of them were bullet wounds, the bullet in most cases going through the body. I can't say, therefore, whether they were shot from behind or from the front." Have you gained very much from ex- perience in surgical knowledge ?" We picked up a lot of knowledge in the treatment of cases that we did not, possess before. REMARKABLE RECOVERIES. There have been many cases of wonderful recovery from wounds. I understand, such as men coming round after being shot through the lungs. The most wonderful case was that of a man of the Liverpool Regiment. That man was riddled with twelve bullet wounds, and yet he recovered. He was shot through both arms, both ankles, from side to side, and I forget where else. We had some re- markable cases. One man was shot through the cheek, the bullet passing down through his lung, and coming out from his back. I'll tell you a funny thing. There was a man running away out of an ambush. He was fired at, and a bullet striking him on the elbow went up to his shoulder across his back and out through the other elbow. Did you hear of the marvellous experience of Colonel Birdwood. who is on Lord Robert's staff. He was riding on horseback, and, hearing a shell whizzing towards him, he turned his horse round to face it. The shell struck the animal and burst in its inside. A piece of the shell came through the animlal's shoulder, through the saddle, and into the Colonel's leg. It was a wonderful escape. Of course, the horse was blown to pieces. We treated Colonel Birdwood in our hospital, and Lord Roberts was so interested in the case that he wired to us that night making inquiries." Did Kitchener pay you a visit at all ?" ''No he never came to our hospital, but Lord Roberts did, and Lady Roberts came round several times. The great charm about Lord Roberts is that he is perfetly natural at all times, and Lady Robercts is just the same. Both arc extremely kind." THE HOSPITAL. Tell me something about your. hospital ?" Well, it was made up of marquees, and in each of "these we could deal with seven eases. When we went out there we started with one hundred beds, but before we left Pretoria we had two hundred beds. We were on the line between Komati Poort and Pre- toria for two months, and, being the first hospital on that line, we had most of the wounded under our care. We witnessed some extraordinary sights while we were there. We saw trains starting with the dawn of day in which men were taken down by thousands to the fighting line." Did you come under the enemy's fire at all ?" No but Professor Hughes, Dr Roberts, and myself had a rather exciting experience one day. We went out to see a sham fight, and though within the firing zone, we were standing on the flat underneath the shells, which we could hear swishing along through the air. Well, it happened that a shrapnel burst over our heads, and we scampered as fast as we could." DEPARTED COLLEAGUES. And your dead colleagues, doctor ?" Yes how sad. I had looked forward to a joyful home-coming. But, in addition to the bitterness of past experiences, here we have Professor Hughes down with enteric. He is pulling through slowly, and I hope he will be well soon. Poor Dr Perliert Davies was one of the finest specimens of humanity you could see. He stood over Oft., and was as strong as a bull. Professor Jones, however was not strong, and his heart went wrong." Did you see much of the country I had a look at Magersfoutein. Colenso.: and Spion Kop. I must say that it as awful country to live in. Signs of Boer destruction were to be seen every^.iere. They had blown up every bridge and culvert from Springfontcin. to Pretoria. Natal-the I i-- I den of South Africa-is an extremely pretty country. Pretoria, also, is beautifully situa- i ted, and why the Boers ran from there I do not know. The forts at Pretoria are magni- ficent. Johannesburg, which we visited once is quite a new town. and the telephone and telegraph wires there are simply appalling." Did you meet many Welshmen Yes; we came across n., large number. Why, Mr Emrys Evans. financial adviser to Lord Roberts, is a Welshman." HIS OPINION OF THE BOERS. And what do you think of the ? "They are. apparently, well-built men. They are very intelligent, and speak English very well. Some of them arc awtully stupid and cunning. The Boer is a good fighter behind boulder or in a trench, and the Boer trench is quite a revelation. You cannot possibly see the Uoers until you are rigui on top of them. At Magersfoutein the construe tion of the trenches was extraordinary.. are made long and sinuous, at the foot of the kopje, so that while our men were blazing away with their big guns, aiming at t'ii- top of the kopjes, the Boers were quite safe." Were did you get most work ?" "At. Pretoria. Our medical and surgical staff, nine sisters, seven dressers, and forty orderlies were kept fully employed almost day and night. And while there we witnessed rather an extraordinary sight, in the shape of a trainload of wounded being brought up from the front, with two damaged engines, one in front and the other behind. So that the whole train was wounded." HOSPITAL ACCOMMODATION. I ,Vhat have you to say of the hospital accommodation generally ?' "I saw, of course, that there was a rush at Bloemfontein. but that sort of thing is per- fectly inseparable from warfare. The Hospi- tal Commission was entirely uncalled for, in my opinion. There are plenty of other things to be inquired into. I think the hospi tal arrangements were very good." "What has become of the Welsh Hospital" "It was handed over on the last day of September to the Government, and is now used as a convalescent hospital. It is no egotism to say that our hospital was looked upon as the smartest, and the model hospital in South Africa. That was the report made upon it by the highest authorities out there." How did you manage about your surgical appliances and medicinal stores ?" We took everything with us in a special train. We had everything that the best- equipped hospital could possibly get. But ;i crupl fate has dogged us all the time. On the outward voyage I broke a tendon of my foot, and was crippled for six weeks. We have had very sad experiences all round." It being now within five minutes of Dr. Lyn Thomas's train he became too restless to remember any more. SEQUELS TO THE WAR. Pasing out from the saloon to the deck I had the pain of seeing Professor Hughes being carried in a white sheet down the gang way by half-a-dozen stout sailors. His pale, pinched face and glassy eyes spelt enteric as it had never appealed to me before, and en- abled me to better understand the wasted, wan faces and the tottering forms of those young men in khaki who had come home by the same boat invalided from the front. There were scores of them on board. One would have pictured smiling faces in think- ing of these brave fellows seeing the mother country once again after all the hardships of war thousands of miles away. But they all looked sad and dejected. Possibly they re- called the day when they sailed for South Africa, amid the ringing cheers of an ad- miring crowd, and compared the scene with that of this morning, when not a single I hurrah was raised, ^haki was never a picturesque military attire, but when the uniform hangs loosely about a man's body as he crawls over the gangway from the trans- port. one is struck with the impression that war is not quite the "splendid sport'' that Napoleon once described it. Professor Hughes, accompanied by his colleagues of the medical staff, travelled to London in a special carriage, leaving South- ampton a little after eight o'clock. "Western Mail."

Bala-Bano-or CoHege o o The report of the iUda-barigor Independ- ent College for the year 1899-1900 had just been issued to the subscribers towards the College. The subscriptions and church collections for the year are as follows :—Car- marthenshire, £'rï 1C)S rel; Pembroke- shire, x?39 us 8;-d Cardicanshire, „61. 14s Breconshire, .£25 17s 1 td Monmouth- shire, £ 16 12s 8;-jd Glamorganshire, ^324 16s lid Flintshire, 1-15 4s okl Denbigh- shire, ^"48 iSs 8d Merionethshire, ^63 3<}d Montgomeryshire, :6s 7d Angle- sey, 17 8 S 2 (1 Carnarvonshire, 14s 6Ad London, ljirrningbsm, Liverpool, and Manchester, 7.S ^s SAd making a tota of 195 Pd.

THE MOST NUTRITIOUSCOvSSHB. GRATEFUL—COMFOR'ING; COCOA FOR BREAKFAST AND IJPPUL

Carmarthen sli ire Quarter Sessions, i FRIDAY.—Before Mr Arthur Lewis (vice- chairman) Dr Lawrence. Narberth Col. J. Crow Richardson, Glanbrydan Lieut.-Gen. Sir James Hills-Johnes, Y.C., G.C.H. CuI. Gwynne Hughes. Glaucothi Sir Lewis Morris, Penbryn Mr D. L. Jones. Der- Iwyn Mr R. E. Jennings, Gelydcg Mr J. Lloyd Thomas. Gilfach Mr C. W. Jones. Carmarthen Rev T. Lewis, Llanstephan Mr T. Parkinson. Castle Pigyn and others. THE GRAND JURY consisted of the following --Ale.,f;rs David Lloyd. Dryslwyn-fawr. LIangathen (foreman T. Arthur. Castle Buildings. LlaneHv W m. Beynon, Temperance Hotel. Lalnfihangel- i Abercowin Phillips Davies, North Gate Hotel. Llanelly Evan Evans. Felingwm Inn Llanegwad Robert Falconer. Brenienda, Llanarthney Griffith Griffiths, Maesyftynon Llandilo Daniel Griffiths, Glantowy-fawr, Abergwili D. E. Harries. Dryslwyn-fawr. Llangathen W. Hopkin. Crescent road. Llandilo Nimrod Jones. Torbav Inn. L'an- dilo Charles Jenkins, Stepney-road. Llan- elly Henry James. Great Western Terrace. Llanelly David Lewis. Waunmeillion, Llan ybyther John Pieton, Trawseoed. Llandilo John Thomas. Railway Inn. Xewchurch D. Williams, Sunny Bank. Pembrey. LICENSING COMMITTEE The following Licensing Committee was appointed for the Eastern Division:- Messrs Ernest Trubshaw. Joseph Mavberry. Herbert Peel, J. W. Gwynne-Hughes. St. Yincent Peel, E. P. Lloyd. Gwilym Evans, C. Frood- vale Davies John Johns. J. L. Thomas. Joseph Joseph. Sir James Drummond, Bart. The following Licensing Committee was appointed for the Western Division — Col. Lewes, Dr Lawrence. Messrs D. L. Jones. 'W. H. M. Yelverton. J. Lloyd Thomas. A. H Jones, Dudley Williams-Drummond, W. C. Bowen, Lloyd Fitz-Williams. T. Parkinson. Charles Lloyd, Arthur Lewis. MISS BRYANT'S PENSION. A batch of correspondence was read from the Home Secretary and the Local Govern- ment Board with regard to the surcharge of the moiety of the pension of Miss Bryant (late warder at H.M. Prison) contributed by the County Council. It was decided that the payment of the money by the County Council was illegal but under the circumstances the surcharge made against Mr H. Jones Davies, of Glyneiddan (chairman of the County Finance Committee) was revoked. CLOSING A FOOTPATH. Mr J. Lloyd Morgan appeared onbeholf of the applicans and asked for confirmation of the order of the Llanelly magistrates closing a footpath at Felinfoel and the substitution therefor of a more commodious highway. This was granted. YOTES OF CONDOLENCE. On the motion of the chairman, a vote of condolence was passed with Her Majesty the Queen on the death of the Duke of Saxe- Coburg and Gotha and with the relatives on the death of the late Mr E. M. Davies. of Uplands. THE CAT" IN GAOL. Sir James Hills-Johnes moved that the Court having had clause B. rule 84. Prison Act, 1898. lately issued by Her Majesty's Prison Commissioners in England and Wales, brought before it by the isiting Committee Carmarthen Prison. fully endorsed their opinion that the course laid down for the dis- posal of serious cases of insubordination in these cases was (1) detrimental to the due enforcement of discipline Ci) is uncalled for the use of the lash by visitors being of ex- tremely rare occurrence and (3) is objection- able in that it places visitors in a position quite derogatory to their status as county magistrates. Sir James wanted the Court to submit this resolution to the Secretary of State, in the hope that he would see the above clause in the same liglit as the Court and the visitors do. and that he will at the earliest opportunity, be good enough to take such steps as may be necesasry to induce the Houses of Parliament to alter clause B of the Prison Act, 1898, and restore to the Yisiting Committee the powers to inflict corporal punishment for serious cases of insubordina- tion previously entrusted to them." Sir James pointed out that the question had been supported by several prison authorities in England and Wales, and what he wanted to render impossible was the vicious assaults. with impunity, of prisoners upon prison offi- cials just before the expiration of a term of punishment. He also desired that power be given to the committee and officials for the infliction of corporal punishment in such a ease without the delay which would be caused by communicating with the Home Secretary. and other visiting commitee men at a dis- tance.Col. Gwynne Hughes, Glancothi. sec-onded.—Sir Lewis Morris felt inclined to move an absolute rejection of the motion. He was not a defender of the Government, but he thought the Home Secretary, with his five year's experience, had framed the clauses in the prison regulations with much forethought. Although he (Sr Lewis) did not wish to do away with corporal punish- ment in gaols, still he failed to see. as the lash had only been used only once in twenty years in the joint prison at Carmarthen, why 6uch an application as that contained in the motion was necessary. Had he been one of the visiting committee he would certainly have broken the unanimity which seemed to exist in regard to the proposal. The great majority of English and Welsh counties had held their hands in the matter, and why should not Carmarthen ? There was nothing said by the Glamorganshire body against it they were satisfied with it. He deprecated giving power to three visiting justices for the infliction of corporal punishment, the pre sent tendency of legislation being strongly against it. It might be necessary- no doubt it was—but when it was. let it not be done by a secret committee, but by judges who could be trusted to act with sagacity and wisdom. As for a man whose term of im- prisonment was just ending, being guilty of a breach of prison discipline, as described, that was extremely unlikely .although possi- ble, and he (Sir Lewis) thought this amend- ment would meet that, viz., "That the atten tion of the Home Secretary should be called to the difficulty that might arise under the present law in the event of a prisoner com- mitting an assault—which should be punished by flogging-so short a time from his dis- charge, as to render a reply from the Home Secretary impossible and that there should be power to detain him until such reply be received."—Mr D. L. Jones, Derlwyn. secon- ded.—On a division the original resolution was corried by an overwhelming majority. ALLEGED THEFT AT LLANDYSSUL. John Griffiths (alias John Albion Griffiths) was charged with larceny. Mr Trevor Lewis (instruccted by Mr Daniel Stokes, Cardigan), appeared for the prosecution and Mr J. Lloyd Morgan (instructed by Mr W. E. George, Newcastle-Emlyn) defended. John James, foreman with Mr J. B Arthur Carmarthen said On the 29th Angust I sent to Llandyssul fifty bags of corn. ten of maize, and two of cube sugar. They were sent to Llandyssul by train. Formal evidence to the same effect was given by the railway employees. Josiah Hope, porter, said that on the 1st of September he saw the prisoner at 1 p.m. the Llandyssul platform when he was send ins; away a box of eggs, and he asked if there were any empties. Witness was in prisoner's presence all the time the latter was in the station. Cross-examined by Mr J. Lloyd Morgan The van containing the corn and sugar was not locked. The station gate was locked at night. John Davies. Winch, farmer and haulier, said that on the 1st September he was at the Railway Station at Llandyssul between 5.30 and 6 p.m. He passed the prisoner in the village opposite the Albion House. Prisoner had some empties in his trap there were some full sacks in the cart along with the empty boxes. The "mpties were on top. By Mr Lloyd Morgan This was outside the Albion House, where Mr Davies sells corn and the like. Edward Pearce. a G.WT.R. detective, said he went to Capel Cynon where prisoner li: os on Tuesday. Sept. 11th. Prisoner at r,; t said nothing when asked about the goods. When witness came '-ack again, prisoner said ■ I suppose you have found out all about it. I must tell you the truth don't put it any further. I was in low water I didn't have a ha'penny." He got hold of a bag behinc the counter and said Here is the bag tlH sugar was in it. I don't know where th( maize is I sold it and the sugar. What will it be ? Do you think they will allow me to pay for it »" Witness made no reply. Prisoner then drove witness to thv railway- station, where witness arrested him and then charged him. Defendant said I have noth- ing to say now." Witness handed him over to the police. Cross-examined by Mr Lloyd Morgan I asked him Did you take them by mistake the be-t of us .are liable to make mistakes at times ?" He answered Do you mean to say T took them ? I did not." P.e David Bowen said that when he char- ged the prisoner, the latter answered I shan't say anything now." Prisoner then went into the box and gave evidence. He said I live at Tyllwvd. Capel Cynon. and I help my mother in her business as a grocer and corn-merchant. I am 21 years of age. It is not true that I stole a bag of maize and a bag of sugar from Llan- dyssul. I did not go near the truck when I was at the station on the 1st September. I took away four empty crates that day they were outside the station. They were nearly a hundred yards from the goods yard. They were about ten yards from the entrance to the station. I did not bring the trap up to them. I carried them down to the trap. Later in the day I called at the house of Mr Davies. the Albion. I bought at the Albion, one sack of corn, one sack of Indian meal, and one sack of bran. I put them in the cart along with the empties. I had also some things I had bought from Mr Farley inclu- ding" a. box of tea, a box of biscuits, and a scythe. I had eight miles to go home. On rhe 11th September, the deteticve called at 8 a.m. He asked for me I saw him in the shop. My mother was with me. He said I wish to speak with you privately for a few minutes."1 We both went out. He said "I am an inspector of the G.W.R. Co. Weie you at Llandyssul fetching goods on Septem- ber 1st." I said "I did not remember that day in particular as I am often there." After wards I remembered I had been there send- ing a box of eggs to Blackpool. He asked me That I had coming back that day. I told him some crates from the station, and sacks from Mr Davies. He asked me "Did you lave his sacks from the truck at the station I said. No, from the stores facing his .Iiod" I told him what sacks I had. He asked "Did v-ou have any sugar." I said not. After further onversaction prisoner showed the tie- rective the receipt on the file for the sugar he had in the place. The detective then -uggested that prisoner had taken the- sugar oy mistake prisoner said he had not taken it. In two hours the detective came back. and asked if he could have the empty sugar bag. The detective said If you have taken the'bags by mistake, be a man and tell me." Prisoner said he knew nothing of it. He was going down to Llandyssul with a con- signment of ducks the detective asked for i lift and prisoner drove him down. When they got to the station, the detective arres- ted him. and handed him over to the police. He had not made the admission to the detec- tive as stated in the evidence of that witness That part of the detective's evidence was totally untrue. Cross-examined by Mr Trevor Lewis I suggest that the detective has perjured him- self in order to obtain a conviction against me; and has invented that particulor portion of his evidence. I was not in low water at the time. Mr Pearce re-called said he took a few notes of the conversation in his note-book. The notes were very brief and contained no reference to the alleged admission which the prisoner denied. Mr Trevor Lewis asked the jury which would they believe-the prisoner who had to get himself out of this mess or the detective who had no interest in telling a falsehood. Mr Lloyd Morgan asked the jury if they had ever heard of a more rotten case on which a prosecution was based. There appeared to be carelessness everywhere from the management of the Company's station at Llandyssul to the neglect of the detective to take a note of the conversation. The station was open except at night the truck was not locked. The goods had been taken by somebody in mistake or otherwise but there was no evidence against the prisoner except the statement of the detective. It was alleged that the prisoner had in broad day- light (about 1 p.m.) taken the bags from a van in the yard a hundred yards from the station, carried then to his trap. and drove off with them. The bags were over two cwt. each. If he had stolen these things, and had them in the cart, would he have spent the whole of the afternoon knocking about Llan- dyssul. There was no reason why detectives should be held up as men incapable of false- hoods. It would he a dangerous precedent, if a case in which there was no other evi- dence. was considered proved because a detec tive went into the box and said He told me he committed the theft." Recalled, Mr Pearce said in answer to the Chairman, that there had been several cases of robbery at Llandyssul and he had been sent up to investigate them. The Chairman, in his summing-up stated that the 'hole case undoubtedly turned on the conversation which was alleged to have taken place between the prisoner and the de- tective. He had found during his experience of many years that the police generally dis- charged their duties in a very fair manner still because men were detectives or police- men they \3re not infallible, and did not stand on a pedestal above everybody else. The fact that the admission in question was not in the detective's notes was not conclu- sive, still it was a. very important element in the case for the jury to consider when they were considering which story they ought to believe. Prisoner was not bound to prove that he was innocent the prosecution was bound to prove that he was guilty. The Jury, after a few minutes' delibera- tion found the prisoner Not Guilty." THE BURGLARY AT ABERGWILI STATION. Tvor Davies (42). labourer and Isaac Lewis (37) tinworker. were charged with a burglary at Abergwili Station. The case was Am -&C'G, ully reported in our columns on the occasion )f the hearing before the Carmarthen magis- rates oil the 11th August. Mr C. H. Glas- "■ocline (instructed by Mr Hinton, Euston, solicitor to the L. and N.W.R. Company) prosecuted, and Mr J. Lloyd Morgan defen- ded Lewis. The Jury found both prisoners Guilty of breaking and entering the office and steal- ing therefrom. Ivor Davies admitted to have been convic- ted at Swansea of felony in the month of April, 1899. Testimonials were put in on behalf of the other prisoner from Aberaavon where he is well-known. In reply to the usual question, both the prisoners hoped that the Chairman would not be too hard on them. The Chairman said that he knew something of Davies, who was a very bad character, and who had been convicted several times. The Chairman considered that Davies was the ringleader in this crime. If Davies was again convicted he would be probably sent to penal servitude. He was sentenced to nine months hard labour, and Lewis to three month's hard labour. ALLEGED WOlTNDING. John Williams, a Llanelly steelworker, was indicted for wounding Charles H Newton working in the steel works, Trimsaran. on the 1st ult. in the right hand, which had been stabbed with a knife near the thumb and forefinger. Mr J. Lloyd Morgan. M.P. (instructed by Mr D. G. Rees, Llanelly), appeared for the prosecution, and Mr J. Bowen Davies was instructed from the dock. The jury found the prisoner Not guilty, and he was discharged.

Wireless Telegraphy. ILFRACOMHE AND THE MUMBLES IN COMMUNICATION. The Post Office authorities have just com- pleted a series of wireless telegraphy experi- ments across the Bristol Channel between Ilfracombe and the Mumbles Lighthouse, a distance of 25 miles. At each place a pole was erected a hundred feet high, and the Hertzian wave transmission system was used. The object was to attain working knowledge of the applicability of the system, especially to lightships. Ready communication was found possible, and signals were recorded on the tape instrument in Morse code even when the high wires were let down consider- ably below their full height. I his result was regarded as particularly promising.

Lunatic Attendants Charged with Murder. Two men, John Duncan and James Proctor, attendants in Glegall Lunatic Asylum, near Ayr, were on Tuesday committed to prison at Avr onl charge oli murder in connection with the death of a j patient in the asylum namecj Robert Mclntyre who was found dead in is dormitory on Sun- day morning, The criminal authorities were notified of the death in the usual way, but suspicions led to a post-mortem examination after which the two men were apprehended and a charge of murder or culpable homicide preferred against them.

The New Parliament. INTEKESTLN'tr ANALYSIS. An analysis oi the r.ew House of Commons shows that of the 11;1 nibers returned 501 were elected to ti 0 last Chamber, and that KhS «ro new to Parliamentary life. It is worthy of no'.e, as almo.-t unprecedented, that in t o constituency is n ircsli election necessary aivsieg' out of the contests, whether through a double .'viurn or Iruin otlu-r causes The record majority scored bv a successful member was >.< on by Mr William A br.iham (Muhon). the representa- tive of the Rh judda Division of Glamorgan- shire, where i.e scored a majority of over his opponent; Mr Ivobert Hughes and the un-n.ibcr who enters Parliament with the smallest majority 18 Captain Kenneth R I Balfour, who defeated his opponent, the Hon Joritv of Hire-? voles. The s'atin-v of the House is Air W. 33. Beach, the m.-nsber of the Andover Division of Hants, for which 'constituency ho was elected ill 1857, a record representation, without a break of 43 years. The. oldest member is Mr Spencer member lor the Mile-end Division of lower Hamlets, who has reached the of is Mr liichard lvi^:r. jun the representative lor the Appleby Division of Y\ est morel and, who is years of age. An estimate of the various pud't ssions and old. ial and mercan- tile positions of the GGU members yields some interesting its. The following is a Bankersiiiid financiers 22 I> ■ inters anil Uf> l»rt w«-rs, distillers, and wine at r< li.-ii.t* 2:; L'¡ ;;nd iriiiins; e: iete:> 4 Coll'cr v j.;c;iiet.()i s acil coal r:e;;h;:n?R 17 bi;oi:,at:sts am1. Gov fume lit oiiicia's 17 I A 2 Farnr-ert» andagiieuhuiisls 15 Gei.ti y and lundowm rs. Go I:r.u.,«Urs nud IBctnl merchants 18 I.ihcur rcprcuentatiu-s 1;1 Miouifacturt'rs ami spiuneis 52 :\ft:C¡'¡] J'rof'l:'ion 9 Mer^li'iiite. 44 Mir.is.tcrs and ex-Ministers of Govern- n i c, L 40 Newspaper pioprietors and journalists Penis'sons ami Ori.i'ners. 3) lViliters uid loc-ksellers. 4 Railway coi.tractors nnd engineers G Sliip'.jwiicre a id boi'deia IS (,r ,)uL (-,f I ractice i t StO'.k slrire brokers. 7 Shopkeepers and traders. ]i> Ui.ivtrsiiy professors and schoolmasters 13- 06 AltMY. LicutcnaH-Genpral 1 (,o"( ]if-is 10 Lieutenant-Colonels 7 M->jors 7 0 Lieuti r.aias 6 NAVY OFFICERS. 2 Li< uier.r.ts :2-G3 (j(j9 Cerlain occupations have increased and others diminished the number of their representatives in the new Parliament as compared with the last General Election. The following table indicates the pusition isl,i- 1 )OO ]):ewers, 19 •->3 i.a hour 13 13 IT(''ll!t anrl i.ewfpaper o/wntis 2S 3:J IAT, (!let, I 11 9 Tenant farmers* l i 14 Stock Exchange 4 7 Most of therr liisl:. Amongst the various religious denomina Hons the Society uf Fricnds have the largest representation in proportion to the number of its 13,000 members. Fourteen of its members were candidates for Parliament, of whom 11 were elected, which includes members and ex-members of that body.

Pembroke Kicction Scrutiny. UNIONISTS PRESENT A COUNTER PETITION. A petition for a scrutiny has been lodged by Messrs Russell-Cooke and Co., on behal of Mr Terrell, Q.C., the Radical candidate for Pembroke and Haverfordwest, who was defeated by General Laurie, the l nionist candidate, by i 2 v otes. The town-clerk of Pembroke (Mr W 0 Hulme) has received a copy of Mr Terrell's petition for a scrutiny, as also has Mr R T P Williams, of Haverfordwest, on behalf of General Laurie, M.P. The petition, sets forth the objections to the votes of the Haverfordwest freeholders, and alleges two cases of impersonation at Fishguard and Pembroke. Eminent counsel have been engaged by the unsuccessful Liberal candi- date to appear on his behalf at the Court of Scrutiny. It is believed that the Pembroke and Haverfordwest Boroughs' petition will be set down as the first or second for the hear- ing and that the Scrutiny Court will sit on November 3, either in London or at Haverfordwest. The Western Mail Milford representative has interviewed Colonel Roberts, the Con- servative agent, on the question of a scrutiny The colonel, asked what question purposed taking, said that the action would certainly be defended. They were already in corres- pondence with some of the leading legal; authorities en such questions. Is there a precedent for such a case at all ?" our representative asked. No, and there come in the novelty, as wel! as the difficulty connected with the matter. The point raised is unique-one that has never been raised before. The egality of the freeholders' votes is the crax of the whole question. But we occupy a good position by having lodged a notice of appeal, and asked the revising barrister to state a case." And when is the hearing to come off?" ( I cannot say. No date has yet been fixed." Rumour hath it that you intend present- ing a counter-petition ?'' Quite true we shall and arrangements to that effect are well in hand." On what grounds you proceed ?" "Under the Corrupt Practices Act."