The North Wales Weekly News

Carnarvon Assizes. INSURANCE AGENTS AND A REGISTRAR'S DOWNFALL. The grouped Assizes for the Counties ot Car- narvon and Anglesey were opened on Friday at Carnarvon, before Mr. justice Horridgc. At- tended by the High Sheriff, Mr. D. P. Williams, and his chaplain, His Lordship visited Christ Church prior to opening the Court, the service being conducted by the Vicar (Rev. W. Wynne Jones). ALLEGED LARCENY AT HOLYHEAD. Thomas Evans (24), stoker, and William Thompson (22;. lireman, were charged with stealing a watch and chain, and the sum of 2s. lid., from the person of Henry Huskisson, a. journeyman tinsmith, at Holyhead, on the 26th August. Mr. Ellis Jones Griffith, M.P. (instructed by Mr. T. R. Evans) prosecuted, the prisoners being unrepresented. A verdict of not guilty was returned, and both prisoners were discharged. DECEIVING WELSH MOTHERS. John Simpson (56), tailor, pleaded not guilty to obtaining by false pretences the sum of 5s. from Margaret Jones, Holyhead, in June last. Mr. T. H. Parry who (instructed by Mr. T. R. Evans) prosecuted, said that the prosecutrix had a son, a sailor, who was shipwrecked ten years ago, and from whom she had since heard no- thing- Some fifteen months ago she received information that her son was alive in England, and she accordingly issued an advertisement in a Liverpool paper inquiring for his where- abouts. In reply to this, she received a letter from her supposed son, addressed from Dorset- street Infirmary, London," and she in turn wired to that address, which, it transpired, was non- existent. Another letter was received from the prisoner, who requested that further letters to him should be addressed to Edgeware-road Post Office, and it was while calling at this office that the prisoner was arrested with two letters in his possession. A jury was being empanelled to try a further charge against the prisoner-that of obtaining 30s. from one Catherine Jones under similar circumstances-when he withdrew his plea of not guilty. He was sent to prison for eighteen months for each offence, the sentences to run concurrently. INSURANCE OFFICIAL'S FRAUD. Robert Henry Jones, insurance agent, PwlJ- heli, pleaded not guilty to a charge of forging and uttering an insurance claim relating to the payment by the Prudential Assurance Company for a sum of J15. Mr. Ellis Jones Griffith, M.P. (instructed by Mr. Pratt, solicitor to the Assur- ance Company), prosecuted, and Mr. Artemus Jones (instructed by Messrs. Lloyd George and George) represented the accused. Mr. Ellis Griffith, in opening the case, ex- plained that the facts were in a very small com- pass, though they might take some time to in- vestigate. The accused had been for the last seventeen years agent for the Prudential Assur- ance Company in the neighbourhood of Nevin, and the charge against him was that on the 4th September last he forged and uttered a docu- ment being a request for money from the Com- pany. The document related 'to the death of a Mary Ro wlands, and there was a claim in respect of Mary Rowlands by her alleged sister, Elizabeth Jones, sent to the Assurance Com- pany. The claim bore the signature of Eliza- beth Jones, with the name of the prisoner as witness, and it was accompanied by the certifi- cate of death of Mary Rowlands, which de- scribed her as a widow, and as having died of acute bronchitis and heart failure, death being certified by Dr. Hughes on the 3rd September. Upon this document, the registered number of which was 396, a sum of £ "15 was payable by the Company. Things appeared to be in order, and the Company accordingly paid the claim, and received in return a receipt signed by Eliza- beth Jones, whose signature was attested bv the prisoner. Counsel proceeded to say that he would prove that Mary Rowlands had not died of acute bronchitis or anything else. He pro- posed to call her, and so prove that she was alive to all appearances. (Laughter.) Not only that, but Elizabeth Jones, who apparently signed the claim, would say that she knew nothing at all about it or about the receipt. Mr. W. H. Mallett, a superintendent of the Prudential Assurance Company, resident at Portmadoc, gave evidence as to the documents in the present cases, and generally as to the rules under which the Company's agents carried on their work. Cross-examined as to whether it was a common practice among the Company's agents to act as attesting witnesses, the witness replied that he knew of no case in which that had been done unless the agent had actually seen a witness sign. The cheque which passed in this case was returned to headquarters bv the accused in lieu of premiums debited to him. Do you mean to say that this man committed forgery when he actually sent back to the Com- pany their own cheque ?—Yes. The accused was a good agent, and had made more than one application to be relieved of the industrial branch of the work and to be put on the ordinary life work. Do you know that to protect themselves 1 against the looseness of the book-keeping of the Company the agents have been obliged to form themselves into a union ?-l know that there is an agents' union. Mr. II. J. Myer, sub-manager of the Pruden- tial insurance Company, who gave evidence as to the appointment of the accused, was also cross-examined by Mr. Artemus Jones as to the alleged discontent existing among agents of the Company. Criticisms had been passed upon the book-keeping methods of the Company, but he was not aware that either that or the question of lapsed policies was a grievance among the agents. It was true that they wanted more salaries for collecting. Asked whether the Director of Public Prosecu- tions had been approached in respect of that case, witness said he believed Somerset House had approached them. Mary Rowlands and Elizabeth Jones gave evidence denying that thev either signed or knew anything of the documents they were alleged to have signed. Accused, giving evidence on his own behalf, said that he started with the Assurance Com- pany at Chwiiog at a wage of 12s. a week. He time after time asked to be transferred from the industrial to the ordinary branch, and he attributed his present position to the fact that the Company would not grant his request. The proposal in the present case was brought to him bv Lewis Davies, the district superintendent, under whom he worked, and he filled it up and signed as attesting witness. Though the signa- ture which he was attesting was not then on the document, Davies was then present and he handed the form to Davies. He afterwards saw Mrs. Rowlands' son about paving the premiums and the policy, but he declined to do so, and the policy was allowed to lapse with Davies s know- ledge. Upon being presented with a certifi- cate of the death of Mary Rowlands he filled in the claim form and gave it to W. O. Jones, a defendant in another case to be heard, who had represented that he was Mary Rowland's nephew. The cheque when it arrived was cashed, and the money passed to W. 0. Jones. The witness declared that he had throughout acted inno- cently, the filling up of the forms in the manner described being a common practice among agents. Mr. Artemus Jones, addressing the jury, im- pressed upon them the fact that they were deal- ing with a man who had borne an irreproachable character, of which, he hoped, he was not to be deprived, because of a small irregularity often committed by agents. Counsel maintained that the whole trouble had arisen through the Com- pany's system of industrial assurance. He com- mented upon the practice of the Company of fil- ling out blank cheques to agents in the industrial branch, instead of making them payable to per- sons entitled to claim the money. He knew of no method better conceived for the purpose of fraud. The fact that defendant had himself not received a penny of the money in this case was entirely inconsistent with the theory of fraud. Prisoner was found guilty, sentence being deferred. He was further charged with a similar offence involving a sum of £ 34, to which he pleaded not guilty. At the resumption of the Assizes on Saturday, Lewis Davies (55), tailor, formerly assistant superintendent of the Prudential Assurance Company at Pwllheli, pleaded guilty to forging a form of claim, an alleged entry of the death of Jane Maria Jones, and a form of receipt by Ro- bert Jones, for the sum of i-13 6s., and lie further pleaded guilty to forging a set of similar docu- ments relating to the payment of /29 9s. William Owen Jones (45), Registrar of Births and Deaths at Nevin, pleaded guilty to forging four death certificates. Mr. Ellis Griffith, M.P. (instructed bv Mr. Pratt), prosecuted in all the cases. Mr. Artemus Jones (instructed by Messrs. Lloyd George and George) appeared for R. H. James, and Mr. R. Griffith and Mr. Clement Davies (instructed bv Messrs. E. R. Davies and Davies) for Davies and W. O. Jones respectively. Mr. Artemus Jones, addressing the Court on behalf of R. H. Jones, said that the accused had all along protested his innocence, but having regard to all the facts it appeared hopeless to expect that the jury, after the verdict they had returned in the first case, would bring in a differ- ent verdict in the other cases. He wished to urge that these frauds would have been impos- sible but for the bogus certificates issued by the Registrar, and they could not have been perpe- trated by R. H. Jones but for the connivance and, he would add, the authority of Davies. He invited His Lordship to bear in mind the ex- cellent character given the accused by the Com- pany. His Lordship, addressing the accused, said that he could not hide from himself the fact that his offence was a very serious one, and were it not for the good character he had enjoyed in the past, he should feel it his duty to pass a severer sentence than he proposed to pass. These policies," continued His Lordship, are effected by poor people, and to be a party to representing that these people are dead and by that means to obtain the money which they or their relatives were entitled to is a cruel thing." A sentence of nine months' imprison- ment with hard labour was then passed upon the accused, the sentences to run concur- rently. Mr. R. A. Griffith, on behalf of the accused Davies, said that the accused accepted responsi- bility for all he had done, and did not for one moment attempt to throw any part of the blame on other people. The policies in the two cases which concerned the accused were effected by the agent Jones. In order to prevent these policies lapsing Davies kept them up and paid

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Golf. TREFRIW v. GREAT ORME GOLF CLUB, LLANDUDNO. The leturn mixed foursome match between these clubs was played on the Trefriw links on Thursday, the result b-cing all square: — TRF.FRTW. Miss Smith and Major V\ ilkinscn (7 and 5) ss Price and H. fi. Smith (,-a and j) 1 Miss G. H. Jones and Walter Smith C, and 1). 1 Miss G. Fowler and C. Cooper Morris o M iss G. Price and N. C. Smith 0 M iss Wright and W. N. Smith 0 GREAT ORMK, ° Mr and Mrs J. D. Owen 0 Miss Hall and Mr Short Miss Oliver and Mr Ellis Jones o Miss Dumphy and Mr SutclifFe (2 and 1) 1 Mr and Mrs Fawcett (1 up) 1 Miss Felton and Mr Brigg (1 up) 1 3 The monthly medal competition was held at Trefriw on Saturday, when the following were the principal net reurns:- Major Wilkinson 70 A.J.Wright. 75 J. Edwards 72 \V. N. Smith 76 C. Cooper Morris 73 H. H. Smith 79 W. McGaul 7s Dr J. W. Owen 79

Chess. EAST v. WEST (COLWYN BAY). This match—the first of two of similar char- acter arranged tor the present season-took place on Thursday, resulting, as m the case of last season's encounter, in a victory for the Eastern team, though the Old Colwyn players who represent their side of the district at the two top boards both succumbed on this occa- sion to the opponents defeated by them in the former match. The fixing of the contest for so early a date was done with the object of testing the present strength and form of the various players, in view of their classification in the handicap tournament and the strength list which has to be furnished to the North Wales Association prior to the commencement of the cup competition As was only to be expected, there were sun- dry surprises, the most notable being the de- feats of Mrs. Mirier and Mr. Higginbottom by Messrs. Summers and Gostage. Miss Walker, who was making her debut in the Eastern team, fully justified the position assigned to her, while the form displayed by Mr. Long- man indicates that he should have been placed at a higher board than the one he occupied. What with the improvement shown by old members and the form shown by new ones. it is evident that the Match Committee of the club will find it no easy task to select the "eight" and reserves tK) do battle for the North Wales Cup. Score: — EAST. WEST. T H Allbutt (Capt) o E D Rowland t H E vans o Fras. Nunn (Capt) I C Gostagre I Hugh Higg-inbottom o AHSummers. i Mrs Miller o Miss Walker i R Grundy o H R Sidney o W Jones i C Malam O WB Miller 1 F Bulley I — Winfield o C F Long-man. I C BarteH o R Chaplin 1 Mrs Brookt o R Cha FP Allbutt o H James 1 P W Mathers 1 Miss Knott o 7 5

Llandudno Autumn Concerts. I THE THIRD ws PROGRAMME. MISS LUCY NUTTALL AND THE MOELWYN CHOIR. It is now evident that the second season oi popular concerts promoted by the Autumn Concerts Committee, with the cordial good will and assistance of the Pier directors and Pier staff, is going to turn out more successful than even the splendid first year's. Since the season began, on the 10th instant, the attend- ance at the concerts, morning and evening, has been most gratifying, and it tends to increase as the season progresses in a way that proves that, in the main, the public fully appreciale the catering of the Committee. The artistes, of course, vary in the degree of their attract- iveness and popularity, but there has, as yet. been no failure every singer has given satis- faction and been well received. In introducing Mr. James Chilcott to Llandudno audiences the Committee seemed at first not altogether to have judged the popular taste correctly, but it was soon realised that Mr. Chilcott is an ar- tiste of rare humour, a first-rate musician, and a capital dancer. As the week wore on his style of humour, which may be described as a sort of Corney-Grain-cum-George-Grossm-tii blend, with Mr. Chilcotts native talent, began to grow into favour and his Drum Mai or and "• Mercantile Marine songs have 13.-w passed into currency in the place. The mere list of societies and clubs in London at whkJa Mr. Chilcott appeared last year was quite suffi- cient to show that he was an entertainer c í quite a superior cla«F. and suited to the lind of entertainment provided in the Llandudno Pavilion. The visit of Mr. David Evans was an event oi special interest. He is an artiste of wnDm, no doubt, Llandudno audiences will have further opportunities of hearing. Madame Ahce Charter, though her voice is a little light, sang very well, and fully justified the confidence the Committee in ner engagement. For the closing week of the series the pro- gramme must be considered exceedingly good. Including Mr. Carter and Miss Beele. whose engagements extend over the week-end, there are seven artistes to appear. The date wiii Lot. found set out in our advertising columns. Mr. fames Coleman, who owes his int rod ra- tion to Llandudno to the Autumn Concerts c i last year. is to sing at a full week's concern., and lIe is sure ol the most friendly reception. Miss Gwendoline Harper is a young soprano singer from the Manchester district who has gained remarkable distinction at the college m that city. Her voice is one of the quite extreme range. Her visit on Tuesday next will be an event looked forward to. Miss Bertha Jones is a Merionethshire prano of considerable promise, and will mske her first appearance at Llandudno. Miss Dorothy Silk is a vocalist of some dis- tinction 111 the Midlands. A programme is be- fore us of a vocal recital which she gave D March last at the Orosvenor Rooms, Birming- ham, at which Mr. Max Mossel, violinist as- sisted. Miss Silk sang songs in German, French and English, and lL Ernest Newman writing of the recital said that she gave some singing that showed much accomplishment and Ktill more promise. Her voice is of an unusual'tv pure quality, and (this for the Welsh singers who succumb to the vice) free from vibrato. On Thursday night next the long anticipated visit of the Moelwyn Male Voice Choir takes place. They are to sing three selections during the concert, at least, and are to take part whh the orchestra in two other numbers. 1: Cad- waladr Roberts, the veteran leader c-i the choir, will conduct. Then, on Saturday and Sunday, October soth and 30th, Miss Lucy Nuttall, the now famous contralto, fresh from her studies in France, will appear. Miss Nuttall promised last ye^x to sing again at the Autumn Concerts Commit- tee's concerts, and is redeeming that promise without fee except a payment just to cover her hotel expenses. Her return to Llajidudno will undoubtedly be an event of much popular in- 4 terest. She is to take part in a duet with M. James Coleman. Miss NuttaH's visit will be the closing event of the season, the last con- cert being that of Sunday night, October 30ftb Mr. William Arnold presided at a meeting, oi the Committee, at which there were present. Messrs. R. J. Williams. M. Barnett, J. Re- berts, D. Trehearne. J. Moody, J. J. Knight, H. Hooson, W. Hamer, A. Smith, Howel Jones, E. P. Morris, H. Edwards, C. H. Bowdage, R. Dumphy, and W. T. Brocklehurst (Secre- tarv). The following letter from Mr. Charles Greer- halgh, the Hon. Treasurer, was read: Dear Mr. Brocklehurst,—I very much regret having to resign herewith the treasurership 01 the Autumn Concerts. My directors have ap- pointed me manager at our Birkenhead branch, and I have to proceed there on Monday wee*, the loth instant, so it will be impossible for me to carry out the treasurer's duties. May I ask you to convey to the members of the Committee my sorrow and disappointment at having io leave them at the time when all hands are wanted, but I am sure that if mv successor. Mr. Laughton, can be of any use he will be only too willing to help. With kind regards and best wishes for the great success of the con- certs.—Believe me, yours very truly, C. GREENHALGK." The Chairman said there was not a member of the C ommittee who would not regret very much to lose Mr. Greenhalgh. He was being promoted, but at the same time from the Com- mittee's point of view the loss of Mr. GreeD- halgh was a real loss. He had never come to the meetings but he had given all his intelli- gence to the matters in hand, and he was a gentleman possessed of a great deal of intelli- gence. He was an excellent treasurer and an excellent worker, and had attended practically every meeting that had been held. He was a gentleman whom it would be in his opinion very difficult to replace in Llandudno. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Barnett moved that the letter of resigna- tion be accepted with regret, and that the Secretary write to Mr. Greenhalgh thankang him for his services to the Committee, and conveying their congratulations upon his pro- motion in the bank and their best wishes itc his future welfare. Mr. R. J. Williams seconded the proposition, which was carried unanimously. On the motion of Mr. H. Edwards, seconded by Mr. D. Trehearne, Mr. E. P. Morris was elected Hon. Treasurer for the present year. Mr. Morris stated that he had had experi- ence of how Mr. Greenhalgh had managed the accounts (having acted as auditor last yea: and he would, as it was the wish of the Com- mittee, be pleased to accept the office for tb.s season. (Applause.) Mr. Howel Jones was appointed chief steward at the musical festival, the other members of the Comtjiittee being requested to assist. Similar arrangements were made for the even- ings on which the Amateur Operatic Society will present Trial by Jury, and the Moelwyn Male Voice Choir wSI sing. The charges for admission on these nights will not be raised. The only occasion when a separate scale -of charges for admission will prevail is the Musi- cal festival, when. of course, inasmuch as the outlay reaches a total of ^130, it was necefsarv to increase the prices of admission somewhat

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himself the sum of £2 12s. upon each of them, but finding that the assured persons were not likelv to do anything he. in order to get the money back. conceived the design of making bogus claims. Counsel had no word to offer in extenuation of those acts, but he wished to refer to the accused's good character during his 25 years' connection with the Compaby. I Superintendent Jones (Pwllheli), the Rev. D. Stanley Jones (Carnarvon), and Dr. Wvnn Griffith (Pwllheli) testified to Davies's good character. His Lordship observed that this was a crime which only people of good character had an opportunity of committing. He saw no reason to make any difference between the accused and the previous prisoner, and he would be sentenced to nine months' hard labour for each offence, the sentences to run concurrently. Mr. Clement Davies addressed the Court in mitigation of sentence upon W. O. Jones, who, as Assistant Registrar of births and deaths, had no experience on insurance methods, and was merely a pawn in the game. He was a man of excellent character, but illiterate, and could not himself have carried out the series of frauds perpetuated in this instance. Superintendent Jones gave the prisoner a good character. good character. His Lordship, in passing a sentence of fifteen months with hard labour, said that if it had not been for W. O. Jones's criminal conduct the other prisoners would in all probability not have been in the dock. He, as Registrar, had the custody of official documents which enabled the others to commit the frauds, and his case was not one of sudden temptation, for the forgeries had extended for nearly twelve months. <. NONCONFORMIST CHAPLAINS. The opening of the Carnarvonshire Assize by Mr. Justice Horridge on Friday brought up the question of the position of Nonconformist High Sheriffs in appointing Nonconformist Chaplains. At the Summer Assize, before Mr. Justice Jelf, the present High Sheriff, Mr. D. P. Williams. who had appointed as his Chaplain the Rev. J. E. Hughes, Calvinistic Methodist minister, endeavoured to obtain permission for Mr. Hughes, as Sheriff's Chaplain, to take part in the service at Christ Church. Correspondence followed between the Vicar and the Bishop of Bangor, the outcome of which was that Mr. Hughes, who at the Vicar's invitation, had just before taken part in the Anglican memorial service to the late King, was precluded from taking any part in the Assize service. On Thursday the Sheriff, accompanied bv the Nonconformist Chaplain, attended in state to receive Mr. Justice Horridge on his arrival at Carnarvon, this being the first occasion on which a Nonconformist minister has taken part. In- quiry, however, showed that the disabilities im- posed by the Anglican authorities on the Non- conformist Sheriff and Chaplain last June were again to be enforced. The religious service at Christ Church on Friday was again curtailed. The Vicar did not attend, the Curate officiated, and there was no sermon. The Nonconformist Sheriff's Chaplain, though present, took no part.