The Brecon Reporter and South Wales General Advertiser

PRESENTATION OF A GOLD WATCH. On Friday evening, 7th July, a Dinner took place at the Bridgend Railway Hotel, for the pur- pose of presenting Mr. William Mathews, Llanfaes, in this town, Wool Merchant, with a splendid Gold Watch and Chain, supplied by Mr. J. Davis Jeweller, value £35.. A great number of the farmers of the neighbour- hood and tradesmen of the town, partook of a sub- stantial dinner. The cloth being removed, the chair was occupied by Mr. Thos. Trew, and after the usual loyal and patriotic coasts were gone through, the chairman said he would proceed with the toast of the evening. The Chairman then said, gentlemen, he had been acquainted with Mr. Mathews for many years, he had known him from childhood, and he was u credit to the town of Brecon, and a friend to the farmer. It was well known to many, that the wool market of this district was at Glasbury, and a flourishing place that was in that day; it afterwards was removed to Cwmdu, and gentlemen, where was it at present ? through the instrumentality, perse- verance, good generalship, and superior judgment of Mr. William Mathews, it was at Brecon, and he hoped Mr. Mathews (the Chairman presenting the watch and chain) would live long to wear that token of regard, testified by 120 subscribers, and to keep the wool trade in the town of Brecon. He hoped that Mr. Mathews would hand that watch and chain down to posterity as an heir-loom to his family. The following inscription was engraved on the watch- PRESENTED TO MR. WM. MATHEWS, WOOL MERCHANT, BRECON, BY 120 SUBSCRIBERS, As a mark of respect for his liberality and integrity as a man of business, July, 1865. Mr. Mathews having received the testimonial, returned his sincere thanks to all for their kindness, and that he hoped he should always be able to do what he had done, by endeavouring to do justice to all parties. b The company enjoyed themselves for some time with pipe, song, and glass, and were much pleased with the harmony of the evening.

BOROUGH PETTY SESSIONS. These Sessions were held on Monday last, at the Town Hall, before Geo. Cansick, Esq., Mayor, and John Williams, Esq. Thomas Strong was summoned by P.C. Williams, charged with being drunk and riotous, on Friday evening last, in the Struet. Defendant denied being riotous, but that he had had a drop of beer, ) and when he was going home, a dog belonging to a man of the name of Hughes, who lived in the Struet, caught him by the leg, and he had a few words with Mrs. Hughes. P.C. Williams deposed, that on Friday evening last, he was on the Struet bridge, when he saw strong, who .was very drunk, creating a great dis- turbance.—Fined 10s. including costs, allowed a month to pay. George Jones was summoned, charged with assault and battery. Mr. Games appeared for the defendant and asked their worships to adjourn the enquiry for a week, that they had not had time to summon the witnesses.—Adjourned accordingly. Thom,as Harris, river watcher, was summoned by William Prosser, miller, charged with wilful damage, by maliciously breaking his window. Mr. T. B. Bishop appeared for the defendant. William Prosser deposed that on Saturday last, the defendant came to his house, and asked for the servant girl, who was in the mill with the babv in her arms Harris got pulling her about, and after- wards struck his fist through the window he had cautioned the defendant not to enter upon his premises. Margaret Williams, servant girl with complainant, deposed that the defendant came to the mill to see her on Saturday last, he was drunk, she told him to go away that he was not allowed to come there, he then struck his fist through the window. David Prosser, son of prosecutor, deposed that the defendant came to the mill on Saturday last, he got pulling the servant girl about in the mill, she was screaming with the baby in her arms, de- fendant told him to go up stairs, and used bad language to him; the defendant struck his fist purposely through the window. Mr. Bishop stated that the defendant was in the habit of keeping company with the servant girl, and the defendant had borrowed sixpence of her on a previous occasion and on Saturday last he was passing that way in company with another person, whom he should call as witness, and turned to Margaret Williams, to pay her the money back, when they had a bit of a scuffle, as boys and girls do, in the course of which the window got broken. Roger Davies was called to prove this statement, but their worships considered the charge fully proved, fined the defendant in the amount of the damage done and 14s. costs.

BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING. This was an adjourned meeting of the Board for the purpose of receiving tenders from the various contractors, subject to the revision of the Engineer's plans and specifications, for the new Waterworks. The following gentlemen were present -George Cansick, Esq., in the chair. Alderman John Wil- liams. Councillors :—John Morris, John Prothero, John Griffiths, John Davies, Phillip Bright, Lewis Hughes, Thomas Trew, and William De Winton, 9 Esq. S. B. Evans, Esq., Town Clerk. After a. long discussion on the subject, the Engi- neer informed the Board that the three lowest tenders were Jordan, Guest and Crymes, and Hargest. Mr. Prothero moved, and Mr. Trew seconded, that these three tenders be accepted, providing they complied with all the necessary requirements, by giving satisfactory security, &c., as specified in the Engineer's specifications. Hargest, who was called in, said that he thought he could give them satisfactory security in the evening. The meeting was accordingly adjourned for that purpose. The Board re-assembled at half-past seven o'clock, all being present excepting the Town Clerk, who was unable to attend. The Mayor informed the Board that Hargest had been with him, and said that the report had gone abroad that he had contracted so far below the value that he could not get anyone to join him, but that he offered to place writings of house property in the hands of the Board, free from any encum- berance, worth an annual rent of -935 18s., which would be more than required by the specifications, it was X400 that was required by them, and the security offered by Hargest was nearly double. The Engineer, in reply to the Board, said that he had not the slightest doubt whatever that Hargest would not fully and effectually complete the work for the amount he had sent in, he being a thorough working man himself, that he would be able to clear easily X200 or X-300 by the works. The Board then again adjourned for another week for the'purpose of having the opinion of the Town Clerk as to whether the security offered by Hargest cculd be accepted or not.

BRECON BOROUGH ELECTION. On Tuesday last, in accordance with the writ issued for the purpose of electing a Member of Parliament for this ancient Borough, a large and respectable number of electors assembled at the Town Hall. Among those present were the fol- lowing :—George Cansick, Esq., Mayor, occupied the chair, T. Lowth, Esq., D. Hughes, Esq., J. W. Marian, Esq., M. Jones, Esq., E. Jones, Esq., S. B. Evans, Esq., Rev. J. D. Williams, Rev. J. Davies, Rev. W. Williams, Adjutant Hughes, Messrs. Joseph Bass, H. C. Rich, P. Bright, T. Trew, J. Davies, J. Prothero, P. Edwards, R. T. Evans, &c., &c., &c. The meeting being opened by proclamation, The Mayor said that he was sorry to inform them that their only candidate was too ill to attend the meeting. Six years ago his fellow electors of the town of Llywell and Borough of Brecon had the opportunity of recording their votes in the same manner. He did not wish to occupy the time of those present unnecessarily they all knew the character of their representative, Col. Watkins, quite as well as he could tell them. Dr. Prestwood Lucas then rose and addressed the meeting:— In obedience to the proclamation of their gracious and beloved Queen which they had just heard they were then to proceed to the exercise of one of the most important privileges of a free people,—to choose one of themselves to represent them, their wishes and their interests in the Commons House of Parliament. It had never been his habit to take a prominent part in their public meetings, and if he then departed from his usual, and to himself more congenial line of conduct, it was only because he had been asked to do so by some of his fellow townsmen in so kind and flattering a manner, that it might have implied a want of proper feeling and of due respect to those who came to him had he re- fused to comply with their wish. It might also perhaps have been fairly urged against him, that a man who, when duly called upon to do so, refused to take his share in the public business of the place in which he lived, was neglecting a very clear duty, and forfeited his claim to be regarded as a good citizen. If for a moment he felt inclined to avoid that duty, it was not most assuredly, that lie was ashamed of his political creed, or afraid of avowing it. He had held and cherished liberal principles among his deepest and most settled con- victions, from the earliest period at which his mind became capable of taking an intelligent interest in politics. In all that he had ever read of Ancient or Modern History he had found that nations had risen to the highest pitch of grandeur and power whose political institutions had been such as to give scope to the fullest and freest growth and development of all national convictions, of all national aspirations, and to the freest expression of every national want. And on the other hand, where all this had been crushed and trodden down by the sheer force of arbitrary power,—where it has been attempted to establish systems of un- changeable social and political conditions,-there the nation had become degenerate in spirit, cramped in intellect, impoverished in all the elements of material prosperity, in all that could constitute a great and happy people. For a good and wise political system—one that, truly adapted to the wants and conditions of a people, could never be, like crystallised matter, unchangeable in form and incapable of improvement; it must bear within it a principle of life, of growth, and of progress, which was to expand and flourish through future generations. Nor was the possibility of such a poli- tical system a mere dream of the imagination; for making due allowance for the necessary imperfec- tion of all humanfcontrivamces, the ideal had been realised; it actually existed in the spirit of the laws and institutions of our own country, and was, as he steadfastly believed, most expressively set forth, in what, for want of a more definite form of speech, they called liberal principles. He trusted that what they were to do that day might be accepted as a declara- tion of their earnest attachment to those principles and of their resolution to maintain them. When they looked back over only the brief period of the exist- ence of the late Parliament, how much prosperity, re- sulting from the working of those principles, had they not to acknowledge? So much, indeed, that it might become a great snare to them, leading them to an overweening and impious presumption, if chey failed to recognise and give glory to that Great Being who alone was the primarysource of all theirnatioxiil hap- piness and power. They could not but rejoice and be thankful for the wonderful prosperity of the nation under the government of the gifted statesmen by whom its affairs were administered. It would be only repeating what had already been presented to the country by others in so many different forms, if lie were to detail the beneficial results of the measures which had marked the career of their liberal government; how they had been kept at peace in circumstances most perilous and difficult; how the fetters which encumbered trade, and so tar obstructed the free course of the national pros- perity, had been struck off one after another-and what a marvellous developement of their commerce had been the happy consequence; how their taxation had been lessened by millions, whilst the yet unim- paired elasticity of their national resources had sufficed to keep up the revenue at its required level. In truth, it seemed to him that if the wis- dom and excellence of an administration might be fairly tested by the success of its measures, the present one might boldly challenge comparison with any that had gone before it, and justly claim the cordial and grateful approval of the nation. It was with such convictions that he then stood be- fore them to claim the support of their suffrages, when he proposed as their Representative in the new Parliament, Colonel Lloyd Vaughan Watkins. He had served them in Parliament long and faithfully, with one short interval he be- lieved ever since 1832. His free and indepen- dent votes had always been given as the great majority of them would have wished them to be, in support of liberal measures and liberal adminis- trations. He (Dr. Lucas) used the words free and in- dependent votes advisedly: lor they hadalwavs sent him (Col. Watkins) to Parliament, not as their dele- gate shackled with pledges; but with all freedom of judgment and of action as their Representative. Such he conceived to be the true relation which according to the spirit of the British Constitution, ought to exist between a Member of Parliament and his constituents. His (Col. Watkins's) constant and exemplary attention to his parliamentary duties had been attested by the appearance of his name in the lists of every important division in the House of Commons. Whoever might be absent, our member was always at his post. With the unvarying con- sistency of Col. Watkins's political career they had every reason to be satisfied and they would then only stamp it anew with their approval when they re- elected him to be the Member in Parliament for this ancient Borough. Mr. Jones, chemist, then rose and addressed the meeting:— Mr. Mayor and Brother Burgesses)-- Ile felt much obliged to Mr. Alderman WilliaMS) Chairman" of Col. Watkins's Committee, for the most kind letters he had sent him to Aberystwith, stating it was unanimously resolved that he should be appointed to second the Colonel's nomination, accompanied with an urgent request that he should be present and accept at the hands of his brother tradesmen the mark of their confidence and approval of his consistent and straightforward conduct for so many years. This request he had acceeded to with the most grateful feelings for the unexpected compli- ment and honour conferred on him by his friends, and returned home last evening to be present at that election. At past contested elections they had seen the electors assembled in two opposite and hostile divisions, but they had now to rejoice at the unity that prevailed among them. Onlookmgaiound this meeting he had a vivid recollectio elec- tion of 1832, and could picture to himself, a host of countenances which then were no more. Alth ough that generation had nearly all disappeared, another had risen up in their stead. Provided the mantle of those brave Independents and noble men should descend upon their-sons, this Borough would always be secure from a Conservative innovation. He much regretted with Dr. Lucas that the Colonel was too un- well to be present. He (Mr. Jones) was one of the oldest of his friends who voted for him in the year 1832. In all his decisions at elections ever since, in the Borough or County, there or elsewhere, he had acted in accordance with the dictates of his judg- ment and conscience. Provided the same course were adopted by every elector there would be no doubtful voters, no neuters, and no necessity what- ever for the Ballot. He rejoiced to find so much zeal and unanimity among Col. Watkins's friends in taking upon themselves the entire care, burden, and expense of his return. Mr. Alderman Wil- liams, their excellent Chairman, deserved all praise. He had been for many years the recognized head of the Liberal party-their guide, counsellor, and adviser. Previous to his seconding the nomi- nation of Col. Watkins, he begged to state that his personal good-will to the inhabitants of Brecon, his endeavours to promote the political, agricultural, and general interests of their town, and his prompt and kind personal attention to the wishes of his constituents have endeared him to all classes, to each political party, and to religionists of every denomi- nation. He might also add, that Col. Watkins is now a thoroughly experienced and veteran politician, and had been the representative of that Borough for upwards of thirty years, greatly to the benefit of the town of Brecon, where he had in years gone by, spent scores of thousands of pounds, and "had he still a fountain of wealth, he would still diffuse it in profusion among them. He has always given his steady support to the many important measures that, during the eventful period since the passing of the Reform Bill of 1832, had conduced to the wealth, greatness, freedom, and prosperity of this happy country. His attention to the > duties he undertook had been unwearied, his attendance in the House of Commons most praiseworthy; indeed, there are few names so rarely absent from the division list of the House as the gallant Colonel's. Should he in the course of many years hence, arising from advanced age, with its attendant m- firmities, relinquish his political career, give up his stewardship, he trusted he would do so with most joyous feelings, arising from an inward conscious- ness, on a retrospective view of the same, that he had acted with fidelity to his own conscience, with fidelity to the best interests of his constituents, and with fidelity to the welfare of the nation at large. Such a course would ensure to himself the well-earned and the deserved plaudits of all whom he so faithfully served. With heartfelt pleasure he then seconded the nomination of Col. Lloyd Vaughan Watkins:as, most worthy to be their future representative in the Common's House of Parlia- ment. The Mayor then said that it had been most ably proposed and seconded that Colonel Lloyd Vaughan Watkins should be the Representative for the Borough of Brecon, it became his duty to enquire if anyone present had any one else to propose ? (Loud cries of No, no," and Nobody else.") Then it afforded him much pleasure to inform the meeting that Colonel Lloyd Vanghan Watkins was duly elected their Representative in Parlia- ment for the next term. (Great and prolonged cheers.) He would ask if there was any gentleman present that wished to address the meeting, to come forward at once. (Cries of Mr. Louth.") Mr. Louth said that it would be unnecessary for him to occupy their time. He had the pleasure of being connected with the family of Col. Watkins, a better disposed gentleman never lived. He had seen in the newspapers that the electors of the Borough of Brecon intended re-electing Colonel Watkins, free of expense or trouble (hear hear). He viewed it as an act that would reflect credit on the electors of the Borough of Brecon so long as it would be a Borough, a beautiful act of kindness, a most gracious act, an act expressive of olden times, which stood out in one of the brightest colours, and which would be remembered by the country at large, for which he returned them his most sincere and heartfelt thanks. He would therefore propose a vote of thanks to the Chairman, which was seconded by Mr. Joseph. The Chairman acknowleged the compliment and the meeting dispersed in peace.

JMærrnll:@t. On the 8th inst., at Defynock, by Rev. D. Mr. D. Thomas, to Sarah, eldest daughter of T. Thomas, carpenter, both of Senny-bridge. I Dafydd a Sarah boed llwyddiant, t" A mwymant tu yma i'r bedd, .i A A charu a wnelont ei gilydd, Yn ddedwycld bo'nt beunydd mewn hedd; Na foed iddynt fod ar un amser, Heb lawnder o bethau y byd; > 'Nol deddfau ein Duw boed i'nt rhodio, Tra parh'o eu dyddiau yn nghyd. On the 11th inst., Frank Sexty, aged 3 years a 2 months, only son of Mr. Frederick Iiodges, S1' cer, Castle House, Brecon.

NOTICE TO ADVERSERS AND CORRESPONDENTS. All Correspondence AdmrlisemenU to be ad- dressed to the Mi"> ^P°rter Office, Bulwark, Brecon-, on or b*or6 Fnclay corning. The Editor iii, not uptake to return rejected tommunicions> antl w%shes.his. correspondents to under ^ia^ w^ia^eveT intended jor in- sertior 'nus'verified by the name and address Qf ft writer.

The High Court of Justiciary, at Edinburgh, n has been occupied for nearly a week with one of the most remarkable criminal trials which it as been our lot to notice. The case of Dr. Prichard, accused of the murder of his wife and mother-in-law, was precisely the same in kind as thatoftheRugeley poisoner Palmer who was tried and convicted at the Old Bailey a few years since. In each case the greatest interests was taken in the enquiry throughout the entire community; the circumstances, which at first seemed so diabolical in their nature as to be almost improbable, were in- vestigated with the minutest care, during a trial of several days' duration; and the result has been in the latter case, as in the former to establish the guilt of the accused in a manner that left no room for doubt and the truth of the verdict has been since corroborated by the confession of the prisoner to the murder of his wife. There are various points connected with the recent case which .make it pre-eminent above the other in atrocity, and cause us to shudder as we arrive at the conviction that humanity can be capable of such deeds. Mrs. Pritchard had been married to her husband for sixteen or seventeen years, had apparently lived with him on the most affectionate terms, and had several children by him. Two of these children—-a beautiful girl of fifteen tod a boy of thirteen—were placed in the witness-box to prove that their parents lived happily together. The prisoner, in the first burst of grief-real or assumed-after his wife's death, had bitterly reproached himself, and spoken of her in the fondest terms, as "so gentle, so mild!" As regards the mother-in-law, one of the witnesses deposed that "she made an idol" of the man who so treacherously murdered her. What, then, was the motive of the crime ? This,. with other particulars, of importance, will be best gleaned from a brief outline of the facts brought. forward in the protracted trial. Some months since-about Octrber last-- Mrs. Pritchard was attacked with sickness and vomiting which continued day after day with but trifling intermission. Her husband—a medical man and of some practice in Glasgow —attended her himself, calling in no other doctor until some months afterwards, when his wife was near her death. Towards the end of November, Mrs. Pritchard, still ailing, went for a few days visit to her mother, Mrs. Taylor, and appeared in very good health on he return. Mrs. Taylor-accompanied her daughter home, and took up her residence with her son- in-law. Soon afterwards Mrs. Prichard was again seized with all her unfavourable symp- toms which had before manifested themselves, and they increased in violence until she was compelled to keep her bed. No one was in attendance upon her but the inmates of the house—her husband and her mother with the cook and housemaid. The illness continued until the beginning of February, when Dr. Gairdner was called in by Pritchard. to see his wife. This witness gave it as his opinion that she was suffering from the effects of strong stimulants, and ordered that they should be discontinued. In fact, he admitted that at the time he was under the impression that Mrs. Pritchard was simply "drunk." He does not appear to have called more than twice, and after the second visit he wrote to the patient's brother—another medical man-because he felt himself ";puzzled" by the case. On the 24th of February, Mrs. Taylor, who hactSpemained in constant attendance upon her daughter, was suddenly seized, with the same complaint. A Dr. James Paterson was sent for by Pr., tchard, who represented that his wife and mother-in-law had been partaking of some bitter beer, tioon after which they both became violently sick. Dr. Paterson saw that Mrs. Taylor was under the influence of some power- ful narcotic, and expressed his belief that she was dying. This proved to be the case, for she died next day. Dr. Paterson deposed that while observing Mrs. Taylor, he was at the same time struck by the appearance of Mrs. Pritchard. "He could not. banish," he saitt, "from his mind the conviction that she was under the depress- ing influence of antimony." Iv-ing pressed on this point, he admitted that" it was his im- pression that Mrs. ^Pritchard was poisoned or being poisoned with antimony." He prescribed i something that he believed would counteract the effects, and he considered that he had then done his duty. "He did not go back to C, her, because she was not his patient He did not mention to Pritchard what he thought. It would not have been a very safe matter to have done." He did not return to see that his prescription had been followed, because it was none of his business. The patient had her husband, who was a medical man." He had been called in simply as a consultant, and "the etiquette of the profession" prevented his going back This evidence justly called Z, forth strong animadversion from the Lord Justice in summing up. On the 18tb of March Mrs. Pritchard died. A post-mortem examination was held on the body on the 21st, and large quantities of anti- mony were found in the stomach, heart, and brain. The reports of two eminent chemists j upon the contents of the organs precisely coin- cided on this point. The body of Mrs. Taylor was then exhumed, and a considerable quantity of antimony was found. The medical men ex- hibited unusu al unanimity in the tenor of their evidence; the only difference of opinion that existed was as to the precise proportions of antimony or aconite that had been employed. That both the victims had been poisoned, none of these witnesses felt the slightest doubt. The fact of the poisoning being thus estab- lished, it remained to be proved by whom it was administered. On this point we must refer to the evidence of the housemaid, Mary M'Leod, a girl in her seventeenth year. She deposed that an improper connection had existed between Pritchard and herself, and that this had some- time previously resulted in her mis-carriage. Pritchard had, she said, promised her, that if he survived his wife, he would marry the witness; but this she considered as a joke. The' theory of the counsel for the prisoner, founded on these facts, was that this witness had ad- ministered the poison; but it was pointed out, both by the prosecution and the Lord Justice, that she could not have done so without the prisoner's knowledge, in which case he would still be guilty. It was impossible that she, a young and ignorant girl, could have dealt with deadly poisons in the systematic way in which they had been used, or that Pritchard, with all his experience as a medical man, would not soon have discovered the fact. He had repre- sented that the disease from which his wife died was gastric fever, but the symptoms had nothing in common with that disease. The food she took was usually sent up to her by the doctor, and M'Leod deposed that on one occa- sion when her mistress complained of some portion of it, and asked her to taste it, it pro- duced a burning in the throat, similar to the sensation of which Mrs. Pritchard repeatedly complained. While the mother was living she herself usually administered all food and medi- cine sent by Dr. Pritchard to her daughter. No servant but -A,I,Leod was employed in the house during the whole of the time Mrs. Pritchard lay ill, and therefore there could have been no other accomplice, if there were any, in the crime. As regards the motive in Pritchard's mind for the murder of his wife, it did not appear likely that he could have been influenced by the wish to marry the girl M'Leod, who had already sacrificed her honour to him. But he was proved to have been in pecuniary difficul- ties, and two-thirds of Mrs. Taylor's money- about 12,000 was to go, in the event of her death, to her daughter, and on her demise to Pritchard, in trust for the children. Here was the only reason likely to account for the murder in each case. The fact of the poison- ing was unquestioned; it was proved that no z, one but Pritchard had both the skill and the opportunity necessary to carry out the mur- derous and cold-blooded plan; and here, at least, was such a motive as too often has been known to suffice in similar cases. The jury, after an hour's consideration, returned a una- nimous verdict of guilty on both the charges against the prisoner, who was then sentenced zn to be executed at Glasgow on the 28th instant. Such is the history of one of the foulest and most treacherous murders recorded in criminal annals. It is horrifying to find that in spite of all that education and outward refinement can do-for in this case the murderer was a man who possessed both these advantages-our common humanity can be capable of such an atrocious deed. Society can devise no adequate protection against such crimes, which take their origin in the evil innate in human nature. All it can do is to punish them when dis- covered, and to note them as warnings of what events, are really possible amongst us.

SAUSAGES, SAUSAGES, SAUSA&^L,, PURE PORK SAUSAGES AT J. BATHER'S, THE W A Printed and Published by David his residence on the Bulwark, in the | of Saint Mary, in the Parish of Saint.rJ)A5r Evangelist, in the County of Brecon.—&A' July 15, 1865.