The Tenby Observer Weekly List of Visitors and Directory

MASON'S POPULAR GUIDES to Tenby and Neighbourhood contain all information of in- terest to Visitors, and can be obtained from the Observer Office, or at the local booksellers. Prices 6d., la., and 2s. 6d.

Once again it is my privilege as well as pleasure to wish all readers of the Tenby Observer a very Happy Christ- mas. At the moment of writing the weather is cold and blustering, and the meteorological forecast predicts that we are to have a cold Yuletide. Tenby, however, is generally blessed with a much milder climate than other parts of England, and the families who are wintering with us this year, have, I am sure, no reason to regret doing so from a weather point of view. My only wish is that there were more of them, but I am afraid that with the General Elec- tion ahead and other disturbing in- fluences the present winter in Tenby is likely to be an unprofitable one for tradesmen and lodging-house keepers. No matt-, lir I Let us be grateful for the many good things which we, ha ve, and be as cheerful as possible at this festive season of the year. # # The coming-of-age of the Hon. Colwyn Philipps has been celebrated in a more than usually remarkable manner for this part of the country. For the first time in my life I have been enabled to take part in festivities suitable to such a joyful occasion and Lord and Lady St. Davids have been lavish in their endeavours to make Pembrokeshire share their happiness. I feel sure that everyone must heartily join in wishing this fortunate young gentleman a happy and prosperous career. # # In the numerous replies which he was called upon to make in return for pre- sentations and toasts he proved himself to be a particularly ready as well as witty speaker. His brother, Mr Roland Philipps, also possesses the accomplish- ment of being a good public speaker, and although at his request I tried to say a few words of congratulation at the Tuesday's luncheon, I am delighted to think that I had departed from the festive scene before Mr Roland was able to insist on my amusing the com- pany by singing a song. I hear that he searched everywhere for me, and I have not yet ceased to congratulate myself on my lucky escape, as singing is by no means one of my accomplish- ments, although I can quite understand that Mr Roland Philipps takes no excuse once he has made up his mind upon a person performing. Lord and Lady St. Davids made a most charming host and hostess, and their hundreds of guests had a jolly good time. fr Tenby Christmas Market was held yes- terday (Wednesday), but the weather, I think, had something to do with the quiet tone prevailing. The entrance to the Market from High Street looked particularly attractive., as Mr Arthur Graham was making a fine show of Maypole and other dairy produce in a corner ordinarily bare and untidy, whilst Messrs. Lloyd Brothers had a more than usually fine display of poultry, as well as the carcases of three prime bullocks, mountain sheep, etc., all laid out with great taste to tempt purchasers. I was so pleased with the energy and good taste displayed by my friend Mr Robert Lloyd, that I publicly awarded him a medal (in bronze) for excellence in quality of goods and taste in display. He was quite overwhelmed with his good fortune. F. B. M. THE TATLER."

I TENBY IN THE YEAR 2000. I'll III A DREAM OF CHRISTMAS EVE. JULY, 2000 A.D. "TENBY: THE 'NAPLES OF WALES,' THE 'Pp.ARL OF THE WESTERN OCEAN.' An ideal health, pleasure, and holiday resort. Seekers in search of the three essentials of earthly existence- health, happiness, pleasure-will fiud them ready to their hand at Tenby, the famous Welsh seaside town. Patronized by the Royal Family of Great Britain, and many of the CROWNED HEADS OF EUROPE. Matchless for its health-giving breezes; its pure, unadulterated ozone direct from the mighty Atlantic its picturesque scenery by sea and land its fashionable promenades; its Grand Esplanade (the largest in the United Kingdom); its perfect golf links (five miles in extent); its magnificent drives; its inexhaustible fishing and its medicinal-like water. The town is illu- minated throughout by electricity, whilst motor cars, controlled by the Municipal Council, are placed at the FREE DISPOSAL OF VISITORS. Six bands perform daily in the grand kiosks, the Dome Pavilion, the Crystal Hall, and the Coronation Gardens. During the evening high- class entertainments are given by the Imperial Players (direct from his Majesty's Court), and also by the Royal Strollers. A hundred palatial hotels and a thousand boarding-houses. Avia- tion grounds motor car tracks swimming baths. For full particulars, together with maps, photograph albums, which are sent gratis and post free, apply to the Director-General of THE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION BUREAU, Tenby." Such was the notice, printed in rain- bow-like colours, and flanked on either side by mammoth views of the town, which met my gaze at Paddington, the central station of the Joint Great Western and North Western Rail- way Company. It was the beginning of July, and the holiday season was rapidly opening out; in fact, I had gone to the great station with the specific and definite object of searching for information connected with holiday matters. For years past I had with unfailing regularity visited THE CONTINENT AND UNITED STATES alternately, but these portions of the Terrestrial Glebe were beginning to lose their novelty for me, and I had, in a tentative sort of way, made up my mind to look nearer home this year for a resort at which to spend my annual six weeks' absence from business. In the City I had occa- sionally heard Tenby mentioned by my Stock Exchange friends, some of whom, I now re- membered, spoke with unstinted praise of its matchless charms. This recollection, combined WITH THE SEDUCTIVE POSTER which I had just read, settled the matter for me there and then-I would spend my holiday at Tenby this year. A. fortnight later I stood on Paddington departure platform, a first-class tourist ticket for Tenby in my pocket-book, which also contained sundry notes on the Old Lady of Threadneedle Street. It was a genial summer's day, stuffy, hot and stifling in the mighty City, and as I watched the "FLYING MONO-RAIL PEMBROKESHIRE EXPRESS" (which started at noon) being got ready for the journey westward, thoughts of the fresh sea breezes; the pure ozone from the swelling Atlantic; the five-mile long golf links; the promenades the bands—and the free motor cars, followed one another in pleasant succes- sion, and I looked forward with unalloyed pleasure to spending six weeks in such an pleasure to spending six weeks in such an idealistic haven of rest. The spacious platform was crowded with PROSPECTIVE HOLIDAY-MAKERS, the majority of whom, as soon as the "Pem- brokeshire Express was ready for their recep- tion, quickly filled the saloon carriages. The station clock struck twelve the guard's whistle sounded, followed by the shriller shriek of the engine, and the next moment we were on our way to the "Pearl of the Western Ocean." From the railway time table I gathered that the express was. due at Tenby at four o'clock, the only intermediate stoppages being Cardiff and Swansea. Away we rattled — Reading, Swindon, and Newport being passed in quick succession, and then we PULLED UP AT CARDIFF for exactly five minutes. Of the passengers only half-a-dozen or so alighted here, their place being taken by twenty times as many, all, as I subsequently ascertained, being bound for Tenby. At Swansea, which had quite recently been placed on the main line, the departures from the express were again very few, whilst the further arrivals were even more numerous than at Cardiff. Tenby, undoubtedly, I con- cluded, was the Welsh people's holiday Mecca, for by this time the luxurious train, with its dining, smoking, and DRAWING-ROOM SALOONS, was crowded from end to end, the quantity of luggage being prodigious. After leaving Swan- sea the express flew over the track at a speed of seventy miles an hour, and punctually at four o'clock drew up under the dome-roofed station at Tenby. Such bustle I have never seen anywhere else; but let me say that it was by no means a disorderly bustle; it it was methodical and business-like, and the luggage of the thousand passengers (amongst whom, by the way, I noticed many of London's best known Society people) was soon dealt with by the small army of porters and carriers. Outside IN THE STATION YARD, overlooked by the Grand King's Hotel on the left, and the Royal Motor and Flying Machine Works on the right, a score of motor vans were drawn up in readiness for the removal of the tons of luggage which had just arrived. The majority of these vans, as their gold lettering informed me, belonged to the various hotels, and I was at some loss in deciding as to where I should put up, for IN THE GUIDE BOOK forwarded me by the Improvement Association Bureau, the whole of the hotels were uniformly referred to as "excellent" and" commanding a fine view of the sea." There were the Palace, the Regal, the Imperial, the Gate, the Cobourg, the Lion, the Queen's, the Castle, the Ship, and scores of others besides from which to select, but my choice eventually fell upon the Regal, for the all-sufficient reason that it was within a few minutes' walk of the golf links, and commanded a magnificent and uninter- rupted view of the Bristol Channel and Caldey Island. Accordingly a motor van took my lug- gage and a motor car myself to the Regal, which had only recently been built on the Grand Esplanade, midway between the Jubilee Gar- dens and Giltar Head. Behind were the golf links, which I found extended for five miles in a westerly direction, with club house erected at the middle distance in front lay the Bristol Channel, with St. Catherine's Fort on the left and Caldey Island on the right. The Regal Hutel lived up to its name it was certainly managed in a truly imperial and regal style perfection in all things was the predominating note, even down to the CLEANING OF ONE'S BOOTS, which, like the rest of the things here, were treated by electrical machinery. After dinner I started on a tour of discovery. The evening was cool and calm, and as I sauntered leisurely along the broad esplanade, with its billiard table surface, its enldess arm-chair seats, drinking fountains, and other twenty-first cen- tury improvements, sounds of entrancing music from various parts of the town came floating over the still air. Throngs of people were out promenading, whilst equally as many sat above on the balconies of the numerous hotels and boarding-houses. At THE CORONATION GARDENS, a veritable elysium, with crystal fountains, conservatories filled with the choicest plants and flowers, and picturesque arbours, I found the Royal Strollers, a troupe of talented ladies and gentlemen from the principal Metropolitan theatres, about to begin their evening's enter- tainment. I paid my money and went in. Scarcely had I taken my seat than I was politely offered free cigars and coffee. The per- formance was excellent, and I came away very favourably impressed. Next morning I made inquiries as to the free motor cars lent to visitors by the municipal authorities, and from the manager of the Regal Hotel received a letter of introduction to the Town Clerk, from whom, in turn, I got a six weeks' MOTOR CAR TICKET, which invested me with authority to ride at will in any of the Corporation vehicles. I also joined the Golf and Visitors' Clubs that day and during the same week became a member of the Cricket, Lawn Tennis, Automobile, and Aviation Clubs. The Visitors' Club I found to be an excellent institution, replete with every convenience—billiard rooms, library, smoke- rooms, writing and reading rooms, refreshment rooms, ping-pong hall, dressing rooms, etc. On the North Cliff, an elevated part of the town, were grouped the Channel Yacht Club, the Palace Hotel, the Royal Cosmopolitan Club, a swagger institution, and sacred to the presence of titled and UNTITLED MILLIONAIRES. The time passed pleasantly. The sands- north and south-possessed a great fascination for me in the mornings they were invariably thronged by a crowd representative -of almost every nationality, the boudoir bathing machines being in great demand from breakfast right up to lunch time. My afternoons I divided be- tween golfing and motoring, whilst the evenings were either spent at the Club, the Coronation Gardens, or the Crystal Hall on Castle Hill. Occasionally I availed myself of the various marine trips from the ROYAL STEEL PIER, which ran out seaward for a mile on the north side of Castle Hill, the Corporation owning a large fleet of pleasure steamers and for the nominal fee of sixpence one could enjoy a two hours' Channel cruise with solid and liquid re- freshments ad lib thrown in. The town of Tenby itself I discovered was about three thousand years old, and possessed an inte- resting historical past. A century ago, how- ever, its affairs had been VERY BADLY MANAGED by those in authority at that time, and in the year of grace 1900 its public finances were in such a parlous state that the place came within an ace of being sold up by public auction in order to satisfy the claims of its many creditors. Fortunately, however, the inhabitants of the town, after a long period of indifference and lethargy, worked OUT THEIR OWN SALVATION by electing a new Council, the members of which very quickly straightened out the finan- cial difficulties and initiated a new policy of progress. Aided by a society known as the Improvement Association, which had not been long in existence, the new Corporation intro- duced many reforms for the benefit of the borough which was better governed in every way, and its wonderful natural advantages boomed with such assiduity and enterprise, that in a very short time VISITORS WERE ATTRACTED in numbers so large that the available accom- modation of that period was found to be totally inadequate. The result of this was a boom in building syndicates for the erection of hotels and boarding-houses were formed by the score the railway facilities were improved, and within a generation the town was experiencing a run of unparalleled prosperity. These things went on, the town's progress INCREASING YEAR BY YEAR, until it attained the highest reputation as a health and pleasure resort. All this information, I may explain, I obtained from the borough records, which, being deposited in the Free C, Library, were at all times open to the inspec- tion of the public. I also learnt that what was fifty years ago known as the village of Penally had, owing to the extensive building operations carried out in this direction become merged within the Borough of Tenby, and was one of ITS FASHIONABLE SUBURBS. Its Parish Council had. as a consequence, been abolished, the Tenby Town Council—enlarged by the addition of two new members elected by the Penally Ward-controlling its affairs. As a resort for either the health or holiday seeker, I found Tenby absolutely unique, and I cer- tainly was surprised at the patronage which it received from all classes, FROM ROYALTY DOWNWARDS. There was so much to see both in the town and its environs, and at the same time so much to amuse and interest visitors that one never found the place pall upon them. Another re- markable thing I discovered was that the in- habitants had no local rates of any description to pay, the Corporation estate, augmented by the receipts from various enterprises, being more than sufficient to meet all public expenses. Among the ventures in which the Corporation were concerned were the MARINE AND TURKISH BATHS, the Steam Laundry and Carpet Beating Works, the Electric Light, a fleet of pleasure steamers, a fleet of fishing and oyster vessels, half-a- dozen of the best hotels, not to mention a score of first-class boarding-houses. All these concerns were so well managed by the Corpora- tion that each paid handsomely, the profits for one year, that of 1999 A.D., being nearly a QUARTER OF A MILLION STERLING. In one part of the town I was shown a number of fine houses built in semi-circular form, and named Fortune Crescent." These residences I was further informed, were exclusively in- habited by people who had made their fortunes in the town, twelve or fifteen years being the usual period in which an enterprising man at- tained this gratifying result. It was certainly A WONDERFUL TOWN, and I was dreading the termination of my six weeks' holiday A loud and peremptory sort of knock at the front door woke me with a start. I looked around the room,—lamp and fire had burnt low. I glanced at the clock in two more hours it would be Christmas Day, 1909. "I must have fallen asleep in my chair immediately after dinner," I soliloquized. Then there was a double rap at the door of the room in which I had fallen asleep, and the servant brought in—above all things on Christmas Eve-a rate demand note R. L. C. M.

PENALLY ASSAULT CASE. MILKMAN AND HIS SERVANT. POLICE COURT PROCEEDINGS. At the Pembroke Police Court, on Saturday, before Colonel Mirehouse, Colonel Goodeve Mr W. Parcell and Mr W. Gibbs, Frank Thomas Williams, a farmer and milk vendor, of Holloway Farm, Penally, was charged with committing an assault upon a servant girl in his employ, named Mary Ann Esmond. Mr G. Lort Stokes, solicitor, Tenby, appeared for the defendant. Superintendent William Thomas prosecuted. The first witness called was the complainant, Marv Ann Esmond, who had to be admonished several times for not speaking out. She said I am in service with Mr Williams, of Holloway Farm, and have been in his employ for going on three years. I get no wages at all and do the general work about the farm. I remember Friday, the 26th of November. At about half- past five I was carrying in an empty can and let it fall to the ground. This happened in the yard and Mr Williams observed it. He said to me How did you fall the can." I told him I could not help it. Mr Williams then knocked me in the eye with his open hand. Superintendent Thomas-Now then. Was it with his open hand ? Witness-With his fist, sir. Mr Stokes said he objected to such questions being put to the witness. Superintendent Thomas-I do not want to make the girl a hostile witness, but I have a signed statement made by her. Continuing she said—My right eye was blackened. Mr Williams did not hit me down. I threw a bit of dirt at him, and then he hit me with a whip across the shoulders. Not long after I left the farm and went down to Mr and Mrs Coombs, of Trefloyne Lodge, and there I remained until the following evening. Superintendent Thomas-Has Mr Williams ever assaulted you before ? Witness-I don't know, sir. Mr Stokes again objected to the question put by Superintendent Thomas. Cross-examined by Mr Stokes, the complainant said she was previously at Wedlock with the defendant's father. If she wanted any clothes she asked Mr Williams for them. She had her meals with the family. The can that was dropped was the one that the milk was driven into Tenby in. Miss Esmond admitted throwing the mud at Mr Williams, and said as far as she was personally concerned she would not have brought the case to court. She went back to Holloway Farm on the Saturday evening, and intended to remain there. In reply to the Superintendent-I did not think that I had been treated properly by having 9 a smack in the eye. I did not go back on my own free will. Mrs Williams came and asked me to go back. I called at Penallv on Sundav evening and told the constable I did not intend to prosecute. Dr. Knowling said he had visited Miss Esmond at Trefloyne Lodge, and found her suffering from a black eye and an ebrasion on her right °cheek. He also examined her bare back and found two red marks, each about an inch long and a quarter of an inch broad. One was at the point of the right shoulder blade, the other rather lower down near the spine, and on the same side. The marks were consistant with the girl's story. Mr Stokes-What did you prescribe ? Dr. Knowling-Nothing. Mr Stokes-I take it the wounds were not serious ? Dr. Knowling-No. Superintendent Thomas Considerable force must have been used to give the woman a black eye? Dr. Knowling—Oh, yes. Superintendent Thomas-And to make those marks on her back through her corset ? Dr. Knowling—Just so. Mr William Coombes said he was a professional golf player with the Tenby Golf Club, and lived at Trefloyne Lodge. On Friday. 25th, he was at his house when Mary Ann Esmond came there. She had a black eye and was crying. She told him her master had struck her. Scratches were also on her face. His wife then sent for Dr. Knowling. The girl was in bed until four o'clock the next day. Mrs Coombes corroborated her husband's evi- dence, and said the complainant had come to her house crying on the night in question and told her that her master had struck her with a stick. Mrs Williams ultimately came and fetched her away. For the defence Mr Stokes called Mr Frank Williams, who said-I am a farmer near Tenbv, and have a wife and three small children. The complainant has been with me two vears. When she wants any clothes I give them to her, and she lives at the same table as my wife and mvself. When she dropped the can I was annoyed and we had a few words, and the result was that I struck her because she aggravated me. He eye was blackened. Then she threw mud at me. I am sorry I lost my temper, and if I had not I should not have struck her. She seems quite content and happy in our service. By the Chairman-The can was not injured. She told me to mind my own business. Cross-examined by the Superintendent, defen- dant said the girl had not struck him ar, being not quite compus mentis, and seemed quite capable of taking care of herself. He had never struck her before. Mr Stokes contended that the case would never have been brought on if it had not been for the Police. It was true his client had struck the girl, but he had done so under very great proyocation. In giving judgment, the Chairman (Colonel Mirehouse) said-The magistrates consider you have committed a very cruel assault. The exense that you lost your temper is a poor one. Its a cruel thing to strike a woman at any time. You will be fined £1 aud costs, including the advocate's fee of £1 Is. The costs amounted to R2 16s. 7d,

time to nurse it there. In reply to this he said "For God's sake, Kid, don't bring it there." During the month of January the defendant saw her on several occasions; and about the 15th or 16th she felt quite certain about her condition, and told him again on January 20th, when he said he expected it was a cold, and suggested that she should take something. She replied that she had nothing to take, and he said What about gin and pills? To this she said she did not want to give herself inflammation. She did not take his remedy. On this particular day he was full about being at the races, and complained about his losses. There was a dance that night—it was the teetotallers in the Public Hall—and he asked her if she was going, and said he would try and get tickets for herself and sister, but he failed to do so. She (complainant), however, went to the dance, where the defendant avoided her by taking a young lady into supper, while she (Mrs Rowlands) sat down in the room alone. From that time on the defendant ceased to speak to her. If he passed her and her sister in the street he would say Good night, ladies." and she would say Good evening, Mr Beynon," or Bill." As soon as she was absolutely positive about her con- dition she wrote the defendant a letter; she believed it was on March 3rd. Mr Lowless (to Mr Gilbertson)-I oall for that letter. Mr Gilbertson replied that there was no letter of March 3rd. He was going to put three letters in, but did not propose to read them out in court for reasons which would be obvious. In the course of further discussion with respect to these letters, it was stated that they were all undated, but had been retained in the original envelopes in which they had been received, so that the postmark afforded some clue as to their dates. The dates, it seemed, were fixed as July 1st and 10th, and August 28th or 29th. Mr Lowless said he called for the letter written by the complainant to the defendant in April. Mrs Rowlands-I think it was March. I kept no copy of it, and no one knew I wrote it. The letters were then handed to the com- plainant who identified them as having been written by her. In reply to a question, Mrs Rowlands said she got no answer to any of her letters from the defendant; the only reply she got was on August 28th from Mr Meyrick Price, solicitor. Con- tinuing, she said, she looked upon the defendant as her sweetheart and expected him to marry her. The Mayor asked the complainant when she threatened to take the child to defendant's father whether any mention was made of marriage. Mrs Rowlands—No, because we had never talked about the subject. By Mr Railton—Defendant had never abso- lutely offered to marry her, but led her to believe that he would. Mr Farley-Did you ever ask him ? Mrs Rowlands (sharply)—It was not my place to ask a man to marry me. Mr Farley thought she might have, considering her condition. Mr Lowless (to complainant)—Have you ever had any improper connection with any other man since your widowhood ? Mrs Rowlands (emphatically)—No, never. Mr Lowless-I believe you had a doctor ? Mrs Rowlands—Yes, I had Dr. Hamilton, and a nurse. Mr Gilbertson (cross-examining)—Am I right in saying that your introduction to Beynon was made in the street, and that you became ac- quainted with him quite informally ? Mrs Rowlands—Yes. There was no introduction ?—No proper intro- duction; Beynon introduced himself to me. I did not know who he was for six months after I met him first. In the course of time you invited him to your house ?—Yes. How long have you lived at Hereford House ?— Six years last June. And how old are you ?—Thirty. And been a widow ?—Seven years. And during those six years you and your nieoa and a servant have lived together in Hereford House ?—My sister has lived with me. In the July of last year, I put it to you that you had a good many visitors at Hereford House ?— After Beynon's introduction I had two young men. No more than two ?—Two young men came to see me on one occasion. No more than three?—No, I don't think so. They came in the evening?—Yes. And stayed with you ?—Not with me alone. They enjoyed your company ?—To a certain extent, I suppose they did. What did you do, play cards or dance ?—We neither played cards nor danced. What did you do ?—Sat talking. Until late in the evening ?—Until eleven. Beynon was anxious to go home at eleven, and I never hindered him. I put it to you that he was never on any occa- sion alone with you in his life ?—Yes, on many occasions. I put it to you because he is going to swear to their Worships that he never had any improper connection with you since the time he met you ?— Then he is a liar. Pardon me saying so, but that is your opinion it is for the Bench to decide.—That is my opinion of him. Why did you fix upon this date of November 27th?—Because he went away to Cardiff to a football match and he asked me in the week if I would like to go. I said I was not keen on foot- ball matches, but that I had got some friends in Cardiff and would like to go. I saw him on the Sunday night, and on the Wednesday night there was a concert, from which he took me home. Other men have taken you home from a con- cert?—No, never. Other men have taken you home from a dance ? —Yes, on two occasions. Somewhat late at night?—On January 21st Nicholls took me home from a dance. Nicholls and you are friendly?—Yes; nothing more than that. He has left the town ?—I believe so. I think you know well enough ?—Yes. Have you not been corresponding very affec- tionately with him since then ?—No, I have not affectionately, only on friendly terms. Now, I put it to you again that these interviews at which you allege you told Beynon your con- dition are entirely your own imagination, and that they never happened. Do you keep a diary ?— Yes, I do. Will you produce it?—No, I keep it at home it is private. It would be very useful here. Then you are quite certain of what happened at the January 20th interview ? You know you told my friend more particularly what happened and what con- versation took place. You said to Beynon that you were certain of your condition, and he said no it is a cold," and then you went on to say that he recommended you to take some gin and pills, but that you declined to do so.—I didn't decline, I only said I didn't want to give myself inflammation. Have you ever tried these remedies ?—I never did, but may have told him that I had. I will just call your attention to a part of one of your letters, which I would rather not read out. I will (handing up letter to complainant) call your attention to those lines I have under- lined. How do you reconcile your statement just now with the definite statement made on that letter ? One is true the other not true.—I might say that Beynon in a previous conversation had told me that there was a remedy, I mean be- fore the end of the year. How do you reconcile your statement just now with the definite statement in that letter that you had spent £6 on certain remedies for destroying the child ?—I have not destroyed the child. I did not absolutely do it; I got the child, and it is in a very healthy condition, and if I had taken anything it would have affected it. I am very glad to hear it. Then you had no answer ?—Except a letter on August 28th. I will come to that directly. You seemed to know that be was keeping company with a young lady ?—Yes, I used to see him repeatedly. The child was born on Saturday, August 28th what time in the day ?—Half-past five in the evening. Was this third letter written on the Friday evening ?—Yes. In this letter which you say was written on Friday evening this passage occurs Dr. Hamilton wants to know if you are going to marry me."—He asked me after the child was born. Did you have any conversation with Dr. Hamilton before you wrote that letter ?—No, I didn't, but my sister did. This letter was written before the child was born. Why did you write it ? It was a tissue of falsehoods.—I may have done so. You may take it from me that you did. It is quite clear that you had no conversation with Dr. Hamilton at the time you wrote that letter?—I had at the time Dr. Hamilton came to see me on Wednesday night, and on Friday night I wrote the letter. Had you any conversation with Dr. Hamilton about the paternity of the child before the birth ? —No, I hadn't. Why is it that you delayed taking out this summons ?—I don't know that I am absolutely bound to give ruy reasons. I wanted to get myself straight before I went into legal proceedings. Why didn't you answer Mr Price's letter or take some steps ?—Because I was advised not to do anything of the kind. Did you make any overtures with a view to a settlement?—No, he never offered anything. Did you ask him for anything ?—No. From your own confession, in your own house there were plenty of facilities for having con- nection with anybody you liked ?—I don't under- stand what you mean. Did you have an interview with William Norton about the case ?—I never mentioned it to him, nor anyone else. You know him well; he is in the habit of going to your house ?—Yes, he used to come to see my niece. Mr Lowless (re-examining)—It has been put to you that two young men, Norton and Nicholls, came to see you. When did they come to see you first ? Mrs Rowlands—Beynon introduced Norton the first week in December. In the course of further re-examination, the complainant denied that she had ever had any correspondence with Nicholls or anyone else on the question of the paternity of the child. She remembered writing to Beynon on March 3rd, because she posted a parcel to a lady in London at the same time. The letter she sent Beynon in July was not the first letter she wrote him. Her sister had a conversation with Dr. Hamilton, and he told her he knew all about the case. She (complainant) was very excited and ill at the time she wrote the letter, and was afraid she wrote what was not quite true. She did it with the view of making Beynon realize her position. She was quite positive that William Beynon was the father of her child. Sarah Ann Phillips, spinster, residing at Crack- welt Street, Tenby, and a sister to Mrs Rowlands, was then called for the prosecution, and said she had known the defendant for many years. She knew that he went with her sister through 1908, and looked upon him as her sweetheart. He was always in her company, and treated her as a sweetheart. He called her Sue," and she called him Bill." She had very often seen them to- gether in the kitchen at Hereford House. Cross-examined by Mr Gilbertson—She had never seen any acts of indecency between them. She knew that other young men came to Hereford House, but not to see her sister particularly just as casual friends. Her sister was not so familiar with the other men as she was with Beynon. Mary Nina Phillips, niece of the complainant, said she lived with her aunt at Hereford House, and knew the defendant very well. Since July, 1908, he had been coming to see her aunt, and they always seemed on very affectionate terms. During the autumn and winter of 1908 the defen- dant came almost every night. He very often took her aunt for walks, and when they returned they would sit in the kitchen. He never left until eleven o'clock. Carl Hoffmann and William Norton came to Hereford House through Beynon, and she (witness) became rather friendly with Mr Norton, though, she added naively, "I treated Mr Norton as a friend." Cross-examined by Mr Gilbertson—They had quite merry times at Hereford House. All the young men did not sit on each other's knees, that was only reserved for Beynon and her aunt. The others very seldom sat on knees; some times there was kissing. They had very pleasant even- ings. She treated Mr Norton as a pure friend. She did not suspect anything improper between her aunt and Beynon. She had not the remotest idea but that he treated her aunt as a lady, in a reserved manner and polite way. There was nothing between them that she saw to raise any suspicion on her part. Re-examined by Mr Lowless—Mr Norton.some- times kissed her, but he never kissed Mrs Row- lands, or anybody else. The only person she saw in any way familiar with Mrs Rowlands was Mr Beynon. Elsie Parfoot, a sixteen-year old servant girl, who had previously been in the employ of the complainant, having given evidence, Mr Lowless said that closed his client's case. Dr. J. B. Hamilton was called by Mr Gilbertson to disprove the statements contained in the letter written by the complainant to the defendant on August 27tb. He was sworn, and denied that he had discussed the paternity of the child with Mrs Rowlands before the birth. Mr Gilbertson then addressed the Bench at some length on behalf of the defendant, laying particular stress upon the fact that the veracity of the complainant had been seriously impugned in consequence of the false statements made in letters to the defendant, and subsequently ad- mitted by her to be untrue. The Defendant then went into the box and gave evidence on oath. He said he was not in partnership with his father's firm. He got 4s. 6d. per day when he worked, but received nothing when he did not work. During the time he had known Mrs Rowlands it had been as a friend. He had known her a few years, having met her in the street, when they sort of introduced each other. She mentioned his name to him when he met her. At her invitation he went to Hereford House to see her. He saw other young men go there. He was always out of the honse before a quarter to eleven. He never had any refresh- ments at Hereford House, nothing whatever. He never made Mrs Rowlands any presents, and she made him none. Never on any occasion had he misconducted himself with her. During the whole of the time from October to December he was never aloue with her except talking with her along the street. He was never alone with her in the kitchen at Hereford House. The first hearing he had about her condition was a letter. He did not have two interviews with her, in January and March. He did not receive the letter she said sha wrote him in March the only three letters he received from her were those which had been put in that day. He gave an em- phatic denial to the statement that he had sug- gested she should take any medicine that never happened. He did not answer the first two letters, and it was not until he received the third that he instructed his solicitor in Tenby to write and repudiate the suggestions made in them. He did not go to a football match at Cardiff on November 27th. Mr Railton—The first time Mrs Rowlands spoke to you did she mention your name ?—Yes. By Mr Leach—He did not see her in January this year. By Mr Gilbertson—The last time he spoke to her was Christmas Eve. He denied the story of her's about getting tickets for a dance. He was at the dance himself, but made no arrangement to go with her. Mr Lowless (cross-examining)—You have known Mrs Rowlands for a period of something like three or four years ?—Yes. And from the middle of last year you were pretty regular at her hougj ?—I was not going regularly to her house. I did not see her once in six weeks, and never went unless she invited me round. In the course of further cross-examination the defendant said he might have begun to go to Here- fard House in September of last year, though he did not often go then, not once a week. He did not go regularly. He had not been two or three times a week he had never been more than once in any week. He did not use to go any particular day, and never went unless he met Mrs Rowlands out and she asked him to go. He denied that he was on intimate terms with her. He always addressed her as Mrs Rowlands." No one ever heard him call her Sue he never called her anything else but Mrs Rowlands." He never called her" Kid," and althouth witnesses had said he did so it was absolutely false and a bally lot of lies." She had called him Bill," but he had never called her anything else except Mrs Rowlands." By the Mayor—She had never sat on his knee. Further cross-examined, defendant said he had never kissed the woman and she had never kissed him. He had never given her a present, and the leather writing case produced, and which she said he had given to her at Christmas, he had never presented. The statement that he gave her this writing case was an absolute falsehood, so was the statement that she had given him in return a silk scarf. He had been at Hereford House during the month of November, but could not say that he was there on November 27th. He did not go to Cardiff in November, neither did he have any conversation with the com- plainant about going to Cardiff. He never went out walking with her more than in the streets or the Esplanade. He had met her in the street, but never went to look for her. He did not go to the house frequently. He could not say how often he had gone for a walk with her, but it was not very frequently. It was not sufficiently often for everyone to recognise him as her sweetheart. He did not treat her as a sweetheart, but as an ordinary friend. He had no sweetheart at that time. The last time he saw her was Christmas Eve. He denied most emphatically that he had misconducted himself with her. He never said anything about her condition on Christmas Eve, and if she said that he did then she was a liar. He had never had any conversation with her about Tenby Races, and never told her anything about his loses in betting, because he had won. (Laughter.) He was at the teetotalers dance on Race Night, which was held at the Public Hall, but between that period and Christmas Eve he had had nothing to say to her. He admitted, however, that he was at a party given by Mrs Bushell on January 6th, at which Mrs Rowlands was present; and he spoke to her then. He had received from her the three letters put in. The first two he took no notice of. These three letters were all he had received from the complainant. He swore he did not get a letter in March from her. It was true that his solicitor, Mr Meyrick Price, had written to Mrs Rowlands mentioning that he (defendant) had handed him four letters received from her, but Mr Price had written a letter to him stating that owing to a clerical error he had written the word four" instead of three." [This letter was put in by Mr Gilbertson.] The first letter defendant received from the com- plainant was in July, and that was the first letter he had received from her in any way dealing with the birth of the child. Before this letter was received he had no notion of any kind that she was in trouble. It was not a fact that she first of all told him about it in December. She never mentioned anything of the kind to him. It was not a fact that she had said to him that if a baby was born she would take it to his father's house that was an absolute concoction on her part. Another falsehood was that on January 19th or 20th she told him she was absolutely certain of her eondition. He did not see her home after the teetotal dance, neither did he have any dances with her that night; yet at the same time he did not avoid her. He had nothing to do with her after Christmas Eve. The reason why he did not go round to see her after Christmas Eve was because he was told that she was having other young men over at her house. With regard to who told him this, he maintained that he was not bound to mention names. From Christmas Eve he never had anything to do with her. It was true he was invited by Mrs Bushell (complainant's sister) to a party in January, and that he met Mrs Rowlands there, but was not friendly with her. He could not give any reason why she should fix the paternity of the child upon him, unless it was that the rest of the men who went to the house bad gone away from the town, and he was the best goose left to pluck. (Laughter.) Freddy Davies was one of those who had gone away from Tenby, and was now on his way to South Africa. With regard to other names of men who had been to Hereford House, he thought his solicitor, Mr Gilbertson, had the list of them. Mr Gilbertson (producing a sheet of paper)-Ob, yes, we have a lot of names here. Mr Railton-How many names have you got ? Mr Lowless (to the defendant)—Did you see any of those people there ? Defendant-Yes. In the course of further cross-examination de- fendant said he had absolutely nothing at Here- ford House in the refreshment line; he never had supper there. He suggested to the Court that the evidence which had been given was absolutely untrue and perjured evidence, given in order to make a case against him. He could not suggest any reason why Nina Phillips and Elsie Parfoot should have given evidence against him. He did not remember being at Hereford House when Christmas puddings were being made, nor was it true that he had any. Re-examined by Mr Gilbertson—From July up to Christmas he was keeping company with a young lady, and another young lady since Christ- mas. He absolutely denied that he had given the complainant the writing case produced he never saw it before. William Norton, clerk, Clareston Road, Tenby, was then called for the defence, and having been sworn, said he visited Hereford House during the autumn of last year, commencing to go there about the beginning of November, and from that time on visited there pretty frequently. There were other men visitors there. He saw the defen- dant Beynon visiting the house, also Carl Hoffmann; and had heard Nicholls mentioned as a visitor. The meetings at Hereford House,were in the evening, generally in the kitchen, or Mrs Rowlands' parlour, which was the same as the kitchen. They conversed together and had a joke or two; there was also romping, and altogether they were very lively. (Laughter.) He was there frequently during November, and on -some occa- sions he saw William Beynon there. With regard to Beynon's conduct as far as Mrs Rowlands was concerned, he behaved himself as a gentleman should. Witness always found him very quiet, and he never saw anything between the defendant and Mrs Rowlands to lead him (witness) to believe that they were affectionate. He had a lark with Mrs Rowlands himself. (Laughter.) He had had his arm round her-(renewed laughter)-but no impropriety took place between them. Beynon's conduct towards Mrs Rowlands was always cour- teous and gentlemanly. He (witness) had" had re- freshments at Hereford House, but he had never seen Beynon taking any; he generally refused. He heard him being offered them. Cross-examined by Mr Lowless—He was friend- ly with Nina Phillips, and used to take he for a walk, once he thought he did. He never took Nina for a walk by appointment; he used to meet her on the steps, and take her a little way. (Laughter.) He might have seen Mrs Rowlands and Beynon coming alsong, but never out for a walk. He (witness) had been in Tenby, he thought, three years this January. He could not tell for certain how long he had known Mrs Rowlands; he could not remember dates. He was first taken to Hereford House by a Tenby young man, but he could not give the exact date, though he should say it was in the autumn of 1908. He could not say who was going there first, himself or Beynon. Beynon generally went with him. Witness was generally there in the evening early, and Beynon came in later. He did not remember Beynon calling Mrs Rowlands Sue in fact, he had never heard that her name was Susannah until this case. He had never heard the defendant call her Kid." Beynon did not introduce him to Mrs Rowlands. He never saw the defendant sitting on her knee. He was gene- rally very quiet, and used to sit in the corner under the clock. (Loud laughter.) He never saw any familiarites take place between them. The company might have laughed at what he (witness) said. He did not think that Beynon ever made any original joke himself; he might not be witty. Mrs Rowlands was rather lively. The quiet member of the party was Mr Beynon. (Laughter.) They had apparently chosen the least likely one in this case. (More laughter.) He did not suggest that the defendant was the father of the com- plainant's child. He never saw Beynon kiss her, or sitting in an endearing way with her. He never went off for a walk with Nina, whilst Bey- non went off with Mrs Rowlands. He remem- bered being at Hereford House on one oecasion when Christmas puddings were being boiled, and remembered Mrs Rowlands telling him that he should have some—and he did. (Loud laughter.) He did not look on Mrs Rowlands as the future Mrs Beynon. (Laughter.) He (witness) paid more attention to Nina. She was generally wash- ing up, and he used to chip her; that was the attention he paid to her. (Roars of laughter.) He used to stand out in the scullery talking to Nina for three hours right off, while she was washing up. (Loud laughter.) He did not know whether Beynon went to Hereford House every night; he was not always there when witness was. He (wit- ness) never went up to the door and asked if he could come in he simply went. in. (Laughter.) This concluded the case, and -the magistrates retired to consider their decision. After an absence of a few minutes they re- turned into Court, when rnL 'K -1 .& i ine mayor annouiicea mat aiter careini con- sideration, they had decided to dismiss the case for want of corroboration.