South Wales Daily News

LITTLEHAMPTON SHOOTJNG CASE. Mrs Lapraik, who was shot on Tuesday ab Littlehampton by her husband, is still Jyiug in Worthing Infirmary in a serious condition. Mrs Lapraik, in intervals of consciousness, has made the following statement to a nursing sister —1" We had been to Devonshire. We have one child between 13 and 14. My age is 40. I know all about what has happened, but I am not going to tell anybody. We didn't quarrel. I think he has passed away." Met, Lapraik has told an Infirmary nurse that her name is Rosa, and that she had been married fourteen years. Nurse asked, Do you know what baa hap- pened 2" aud she replied, Yes; he is shooting me. He has been ill a long time." Mrs Lapraik, from whose neck two bullets have been extracted. states that her home is at 18. Degmar-road, Camberwell, and that they have lived at Plymouth. It is believed she has a bulleb in the right eye and another In the palate. At Littlehampton on Wednesday Mr F. W. Butler held an inquest on the body of William Lapraik. John Lapraik, commercial clerk, identified deceased as bis brother, aged 39, examiner of gas under the London County Council, a lecturer on chemistry at the Crystal Palace, also a doctor of physics, lately residing at 18, Dagmar-road, Camberwell, Witness said his sister was an inmate of a lunatic asylum. Other evidence was given to the effect that deceased and his wife were on the most affectionate terms. Deceased was not a man given to depression, but adverse circumstances would depress him. He was not known to have any firearms. He had influenza very badly three years ago. Surprise was expressed that he was at Littlehampton, as he had had his holidays and was due at his post under the London County Council. Verdict of Suioide whilst temporarily insane waa returned.

HORRIBLE TRAGEDY AT WEST HAMPSTEAD, A BABY'S THROAT OUT. SUIOIDE OF THE MOTHER. A Kilburn correspondent states that a terrible tragedy took place at West End Green, West Hampstead, between 8 and 9 a.m. on Wednesday morning, when a woman first out the throat of her child and then nearly severed her own head from her body. Both the woman and child died before the arrival of medical aid. A later telegram says :-The woman who killed her child and committed suicide at West Hamp. stead this morning was Mrs Hughes, wife of a journeyman butcher. She arose this moro- ing .and cooked her husband's breakfast, and after his departure she seems to have returned to bed. When her husband returned home late, hs found his wife dead in bed with her throat cut, a razor lying near her right hand. The baby, whose throat was also cut, was aged 8 months.

THE TRIAL OF BELL. FURTHER DISCLOSURES EXPECTED. The Press Association's Glasgow correspondent states that the evidence to be given against Edward Bell, the alleged dynamitard, at Bow- streeo, on Friday, will be very extensive. Impor- tant fresh facts will be disclosed by Supt. Orr aa to Bell's movements while in Glasgow, and by the Metropolitan police, who have actively prosecuted their inquiries since the last hearing,

TRIPLETS. Mrs Fifther* wife of an employee of the West- minster Colliery Oompany, residing at Brymbo, near Wrexham, has given birth to triplets. The Queen's bounty has been asked for Mrs Fisher by the Vicar of Brymbo.

ACCIDENT TO A TELEGRAPH BOY. A boy employed as a telegraph messenger and named E. J. Govier, aged 16 years, 29, Inverness- place, was brought to the Cardiff Infirmary on Tuesday evening suffering from a fractured leg. The accident happened in a curious manner. Govier was crossing the hne at the Great Western Railway Station when his foot was caught in the points, and a train coming along the lad was knocked down, a broken leg being the result.

TO-DAY'S WEATHER, 4.30 A.M. TO.DAn FORECAST. FQB JSNQLAXO, S. W., AHV SOUTH WALKS. Sooth-westerly and westerly gales, moderating gradually; squally; showery. GEN URAL. —Gales are probable on oar west eoasta. WARNINGS.—Signals are now flying en all coasts.

GENERAL FORECASTS. The following forecasts were prepared laats night at the Meteorological Office at eight o'clock DISTMOW— "V South-easterty and southerly t. Scotland.N. I gales atil strong wind6, 1. Sootland, E. | inoderatitig later squally; j rainy. 9 EnalaocLN.E. Southerly and south-westerly £ England,E. winds, strong; a gale in 4. Mid.Counties. places squally showery. «■ « yp South-westerly wmds,strong; 5. Eng. S. (Lon. _ale on squally and Channel). J showery. and Channel). J showery. 6. Scotland W.) 7. EngL N.W. I cVNorthWalf*. ] Southeasterly and westerly S.England,S.W. t gales, moderating gradu- ASoatb Wales I ally; tqnally showery. t. Ireland, N. < 10. Ireland, SOo" J

MR BEN TILLETT ILL. A telegram waereceived.on Tuesday attbe offices of the Dockers' Union, Mile End-road, stating that Mr Ben Tillett was lying in a very serious condition at Glasgow, where ha was taken ill whilst at a meeting.

SMOKK BUDDEN'S KINGSWOBTH CIGABBTTBS.3573 THK GUKAX OURJi: FOB UOBNS.— Munciay'S firjtline-Still further testimony. A Chemist writes Will you send me a bottle of your Viridine ? It is for my own use. I get plenty of corn cures of the name coknr. but. itone of them "peu to aqualyours. No one ought to say hia corns Pro incurable until kie has used viridine. Thousand* have been cured, mwx of whom had suffered for over 50 years Bevrarcef mitationa. Sold in bottles Is, by post la 2d, by t e proprietor, J. Mnndnv, ("!hendiA Xg"tv"t Cardiff Dd aU Cheminta JQJJ

THE EASTERN CRISIS. ARMENIANS AND THE SULTAN. DECLARATION OF LOYALTY AND DEVOTION. RETURNED FOR AMENDMENT. THE ENTENTE OF THE POWERS. PROSPECT OF PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT. REPORTED DECISION OF THE CZAR. RUSSIA TO INTERVENE. MORAL SUPPORT OF ENGLAND AND FRANCE. PARIS, Wednesday.—It is asserted the Eastern question was discussed yesterday during the 20 minutes' private conversation which the Czar had at the Elysee with Presi- dent Faure. According to persons who are usually well informed, common action was agreed on between Great Britain, France, and Russia, by which the latter country should alone intervene, while the two former should provisionally lend her their moral support. Oentral News. PARIS, Wednesday.—During the Czar's visit to Paris the question of the settlement of affairs in the East will not improbably form the subject of discussion, and it is believed that the understand- ing on this matter, which had its inception in the very cordial conversations of the Russian Emperor with Lord Salisbury at Balmoral, will be cemented during his Majesty's stay in the French capital. It is not possible to state with any certainty at the present moment what policy the Powers are prepared to adopt with a view to securing peaceful solution of the Turkish difficulty, but it may be taken for granted that such a solution is being earnestly sought, and the friendly feeling between Great Britain and Russia, which has resulted from the visit of the Emperor Nicholas to Balmoral, will, it is believed, have the effect of greatly facilitating an underrtandiing. -Reuter. DEMAND TO SEARCH FOREIGN VESSELS. CONSTANTINOPLE, Tuesday.—The new draft of the Address to the Throne declaring the loyalty and devotion of the Armenians to the Throne has been returned to Artin Pasha with a request that a clause be inserted to the effect that the Armenian clergy will exert their influence to the utmost for the purpose of putting an end to revolutionary agitation by denouncing the agitation. It appears doubtful whether this clause will be inserted, for the proposal shows an evident desire on the part of the Porte to compromise the oiergy in the Armenian movement. On the other hand, Nourian Effendi, a member of the Armenian Lay Council, has presented a long note to the Sultan containing divers suggestions, which, be asserts, would lead to a solution of the present difficulties. He proposes the abrogation of the Armenian Con- stitution of 1860, which he submits has been Liberal, and the abolition of universal suffrage in elections of the National Assembly. Generally speaking, a Constitution analagous to that of the Greek Orthodox communities is recommended. The Military Commission, presided over by Ismail Pasha, is condaoting an inquiry into the conduct of the troops and police during the last massacre in the capital. General Blunt Pasha and Admiral Woods Pasha, two Englishmen in the Ottoman Service, are assessors in the Commission, but the German General, Kamphoevener Pasha, and the French General, Lecoq Pasha, refused to take any part in it owing to non-acceptance by ¡. he Palace of certain regulations essential to the success of the inquiry, which were proposed by.! General Kamphoevener. The Porte has addressed a circular note to the Emb&asies demanding the right of boarding foreign vessels passing Constantinople in order to search for Armenians. It is believed that the Embassies will refuse the demand in the form in which it was presented hy the Porte. The French and Italian En^baasies made fresh representation to the Porte to-day demanding the prosecution of Tewfik Bey, who oommanded the troops at the time of the murder of Father Salvatore and the burning of the convent of Yenidji Kaler, near Marsh, last autumn, Two Armenians, one named Tacheraa, brother of the manager of an Armenian paper published in London, and another named Goury, were arrested yesterday. -Beuter. GUARDSHIPS IN THE DARDANELLES. AMERICAN, GREEK, AND DUTCH EXCLUDED. CONSTANTINOPLE, Wednesday.-The Ottoman Government have decided not to admit Greek, Dutch, or American guardships to enter the Dardanelles for the service of their respective Legations. Although the United States have not yet formulated a demand for the passage of an American guardship through the straits, it is re. called that Greece bad one at Constantinople eight years ago. It is known that the presence of guardships of these States in the Bosphorus is objected to by RussiaRenter. A RELIEF AGENT AND FAMILY BUTCHERED. CONSTANTINOPLE, Ootober 6. Advices from the interior state the agent of the relief fond at Eghiu has been murdered together with his family. The object of the outrage is supposed to be plunder—since £ 200 of the relief fund were looted. -CeWaZ Newt. --=--

ACCIDENT OR SUICIDE ? DEATH OF M. DE LESSEPS' SON. PARIS, Wednesday.- Victor de Leaseps, son of the great engineer, died last uighb from the effects of falling down the well of the stairoase of his house. He feU from the top to the bottom, a height of four storeys. It is reported that M. de Lesseps commit/lied suicide; as it is known that he was profoundly distressed by the misfortunes which have befallen the De Lesseps family, and he expressed a wish that he were dead.-DWeirt.

GREAT FIRE AT GUAYAQUIL. TOWN PRACTICALLY DESTROYED. ISEW YORK. Wednesday.—A telegram has been received here from Lima staiiug that a fire in Guayaquil, Eouador, baa oaused great damage, 15 squares having been destroyed, including most important and valuable edifioes.—Reuter. LIMA, Tuesday, 9.40 p.va.-Telegraphte com- munication with Guayaquil is interrupted owing to a terrible fire which has occurred there. Half the city is reported to have bepa destroyed. — Renter. LIMA, Wednesday.—A later telegram states The fire at Guayaquil is still raging. Among the buildings destroyed are four banks. all the consulates, all the hotels except one, two churches, and all the principal business houses, together with the harracks and the srseu&L-Bcukr.

THE CZAR AT PARIS. MORE POPULAR STREET DEMONSTRATIONS. ROUND OF SIGHT-SEEING AND CEREMONIES. PARIS. Wednesday.—The weather is not 80 fine to-day as it was yesterday, a cloudy sky having taken the place of the brilliant sunshine which favoured the Czar's first day in Paris. The programme for this morning comprised visits to Notre Dame and the chief public edifices in Paris. President Faure arrived at the Russian Embassy at 25 minutes to 10, and the Czar and Czarina drove off almost immediately with him in an open carriage to the,Cathedral of NotreDame escorted by a squadron of Cuirassiers. The streets were closely packed with sightseers, who, as yesterday, raised shouts of Vivo l'Empereur" and Vive l'Imperatrice." The cortege arrived at the Cathedral at 10 o'clock without any noteworthy incident occurring. Their Majesties, who were accompanied by j President Faure, were received at the door of the I Cathedral by Cardinal Kichard, Archbishop of Paris, who was attended by the vicars-general, and members of the Chapter. The Minister os Justice was also present. Guided by the Cardinal, the Imperial visitors and President Faure visited the nave and principal chapels of the Cathedral, stopping for a few minutes before the mortuary ohapel of the late M. Pasteur. The Czar and Czarina, with M. Faure, after inspecting the Cathedral Treasury, containing various historical and valuable pieces of church plate, proceeded to the Palaoe de Justice, where they were received by the Minister of Justice, accompanied by Judges of the Courts of Appeal and Cassation. At Sainte Chapelle they were received by the Minister of Public Instruction. The visit lasted a quarter of an hour. Their Majesties on leaving Sainte Chapelle drove to the Pantheon, which they left at 11 o'clock. They were enthusiastically cheered by the crowds assembled on their passage through the streets. Renter. PARIS, Wednesday.—At the Hotel des In. valides, visaed after the Pantheon, the Emparor lingered a few moments by the tomb of the Great Napoleon. After luncheon at the Russian Embassy came the foundation stone laying of the new Alexander III. Bridge, which will cross the i-iver opposite the Iuvalides to the Champs Elyeees. An enormous multitude, including 10,000 invited guests, witnessed this ceremony, a graceful feature of which was the presentation to the Czarina by 40 white-clad maidens of a gigantic bouquet of roses. Then came a visit to the Mint to witness the striking of a commemorative medal, next one to the Academy to hear Coppee's graceful poem of welcome, and finally one to the Hotel de Ville, where an ultra-socialist munici pality had prepared decorations of super-princely style, with a recherche concert thrown in.- Central News, FRENCH COOK MAKES THE CZAR ILL. The St. James's Gazette says :-Our special correspondent, who was the only foreign journalist to be invited at the gala performance at the Opera, sends us the following telegram this morning :_If The gala performance at the Opera House last evening terminated abruptly in the middle of the ballet owing to the indisposition of his Imperial Majesty theCzar. It appears that the Russian Emperor's indisposition was oacasioned by bad cooking, and that after the Presidential banquet at the Elysee his Majesty complained of feeling unwelL and was laid up for an hour before going to the opera. This accounts for his arriving so late. It was observed by those in immediat attendance on their Russian Majesties at the opera. that both the Czar and Czarina looked very fatigued, in fact worn out. Their Majesties did not retire to rest until after 1 o'clock this morning."

TERRIBLE DISASTERS IN JAPAN. FIRE, FLOOD, AND EARTHQUAKE. THOUSANDS OF LIVES LOST. The New York Sun, arriving by the last mail, publishes the following cablegram in reference to the reported tenible disasters in Japan San Francisco, September 22nd.-Kobe, Japan, was nearly wiped out by a destructive conflagration on August 26th, and floods, storms, and earth. quakes caused the loss of hundred of lives and the destruction of millions worth of property in Northern Japan. The steamer Doric from the Orient brought the news of another series of catastrophes that has befallen the Mikado's realm. In Gifu Prefecture 4,300 houses were blown down, and along the Haji Eawa 400 persons lost their lives. The severest storms occurred on August 30th along the Isatsu Eawa, when 84 lives were lost. At Kobe, after the fire had devastated the city, 40 people were swept to their death by the flood. In other provinces the loss of life reached 2,500. The great flood was preceded by severe earthquake. Theiizfollowed a downpour such as has never before I been experienced on the island. The European residents were panic stricken, and sought shelter on the highlands. On September 1st, in the Bokngo district, a terrible series of earthquakes shook the country. Nine people were killed there, and more than 40 at neighbour- ing places. The hills at Sengs cracked, fires broke out here and there, and water gushed out in many places. At Obonal 11 persons were killed. A ferry boat at Hiyama capsized, and 20 Japanese and whites lost their lives."

THE VENEZUELAN DISPUTE. PRESENT POSITION OF AFFAIRS. With regard to various reports cabled from America conoeming the present phase of the Venezuelan question, Renter's Agency learns that notwithstanding all statements to the con. trary the negotiabions between the British Government and the United States on this sub- ject have been suspended since the publication of the British Blue Book in July last. It will thus be apparent that the statement telegraphed from Washington that Great Britain had made further concessions is unfounded. The British Ambassador at Washington will leave England on Ootobar 14oh by the steamship Germanic for the United States, and on his return negotiations will be resumed with Mr Olney both on the subject of V 0.dl::I,0.1-.n. -& • »uu UU upe question ot general arbitra- tion. During the recess these questions have own under (dose study by politicians on both sidesof the Atlantic, and although the Venezuelan question has made DO definite progress since July there is every expectation that the pending negotiations will lead to an early and satis- factory resull

CLOSING OF AN AMERICAN IRON WORKS. NEw YOBK, Wednesday.-It is officially announced that the Cambria Iron Works, Johns- town, Pennsylvania, will be closed to-day for an indefinite period. Three thousand workmen will be thrown out of amploymen 6. -Central Newt.

CANADIAN RAILWAY STitIKE- THE MEN SURRENDER. MONTREAL, Wednesday.-The greac strike of' train despatches and other telegraphists in the service of the Canadian Pacific Railway which has Isebed nearly a fortnight concluded this mornillg I in the defeat of the men. The strikers forthwith resume work on the company's tertms.-Ce"tral Newt.

STOP 'fHE ENGINES." To bring a groat ship going at full speed to a stan^sti.l is n .fc the work of a minute. To stop the JMruria, whose displacement is 9,680 tons, horse-power 14,321, and speed 20*18 knots an hour, c minutes and 47 seconds are required, and l?^?trO0esa of 8t0PP'»g. the ship will forge ahead 2,464ft., or nearly half a mile.

C=-=-C-==C= "A SIMKJB FACT ABOUT" KKATINO'S COUGH 1 I^OZSNOKS. Ask throughout ilie world, in any country that can be named, you will find them largely sol;). Inere is absolutely no remedy that is so speedy iu gmng relief, so certain to cure, and yet tne most delicate can take them. One lozenge srtves ease. Sold Un 13*Ad tins lAdv* » Un 13*Ad tins lAdv* »

FIGHTING IN MASHONALAND. AN OFFICER KILLED. SALISBURY, Monday.-News has been received here of fighting at MarendeUas. On the 2nd inatau t Captain Pease attacked a cave in which the insurgent chiefs Mangable, Pango. Chelorie, and Chokadenza, with about 70 men, were believed to be concealed. Officers Morris, Leigh, and Lyewere were dan. gerously wounded, and the first named died the next day. The others are in the hospital, and according to latest advices were doing well. Captain Pease is still besieging the cave, but is waiting for dynamite from Umtali in order to drive out the enemy.-Reuter.

BUBONIC PLAGUE IN BOMBAY. 76 DEATHS REPORTED. SIMLA, Wednesday.—Ninety-seven fresh cases of bubomo plague have occurred at Bombay since the 2nd inst., and there have been 76 deaths. Professor Haffkine has been deputed to make an investigation into the nature of the sickness and to report to the Government of India. Quarantine baa been declared at Aden aud all Egyptian potto. —Renter.

DEATH OF GENERAL TROCHU PABIS, Wednesday Afternoon.—The death took plact: this m ntiing of General Trochu, the famous President of ohe Government of National Defence and Governor and Commander-in-chief of Paris throughoub the siege. He was 81 years of age.- Central New-

THE CUBAN REVOLT. TWO ENGAGEMENTS WITH REBELS. HEAVY LOSSES ON BOTH SIDES. MADRID, Wednesday.-Accol'ding to a Havana telegram General Bernal has had two engage. ments with the insurgents. In the first the rebels, who numbered 500 infantry and 800 cavalry, had 80 men killed, while the Spaniards had 12 killed and 92 wounded, including four officers. In the second General Bernal was opposed by 700 insurgents, who losb 100 killed and 200 wounded. The Spaniards had two offitters and 16 men killed, and nine officers and 165 men wounded. A later telegram reports another sanguinary engagement, of which, however, no details are yet received.— Rcuter.

LORD ROSEBERY RESIGNS. LIBERAL LEADERSHIP VACANT. DIFFERS FROM THE PARTY. THE EASTERN CRISIS THE CAUSE. MUST SPEAK FREBLY AS A FKEE MAN. j LETTER TO THE CHIEF WHIP, j Lord Rosebery has addressed the follow. ing letter to Mr T. E. Ellis, M.P., chief Liberal Whip October 6th, 1896, Dalmeny. My dear Ellis,—The recent course of events makes it necessary to clear the air. I find myself in apparent difference with a considerable mass of the Liberal party on the Eastern question, and in some conflict of opinion with Mr Gladstone, who must necessarily always exercise a matchless authority in the party, while scarcely from any quarter do I receive explicit support. This situation, except as regards Mr Glad- stone, is not altogether new but, in saying i this, I complain of no one. I regret only that I should appear to divide the energies and try the faith of Liberals. This question, however, Is above and beyond personal considerations. When I speak, which I do this week, I must speak my mind, and speak it without reference } to party. Under these circumstances it is best for the party and myself that I should speak, not as a leader, but as a free man. I consequently beg to notify to you that the leadership of the party, so far as I am concerned, is vacant, and that I resume my liberty of action. "I can only feel the deepest gratitude and regret in parting from you and those who, like you, have given me such loyal co- operation under circumstances so difficult. j Believe me, my dear Ellis, yours very sincerely, (Signed) ROSEBERY." The Press Association states that Lord Rosebery's letter was not received in London until nearly midnight, so that the information could not reach any of the political centres or such of the political leaders as may be in town. The meeting which his Lordship mentions he is to address this week is to be held in Edinburgh on Friday, and it was announced some time ago that he intended to address himself to general political subjects. In view of the communication I now published the speech will have an alto. gether special and peculiarly unexpected interest. Inquiries at the London residence of Mr T. E. Ellis, M.P., the Chief Liberal Whip, on Wednesday night elicited that the hon. member is in Wales, and that so far as was known there, he did not intend coming to London until the 15th inst.

POLITICS IN AMERICA. DEMOCRATIC VICTO- RY-IN FLORIDA. JACKSONVILLE, Wedneadty. Mr filoxham (Democrat) has been elected Governor of Florida. The votes polled by the two parties seemed bo be about the same as in 1892.-Reuter. SERIOUS DISTURBANCES IN GEORGIA. SIX MEN SHOT. ATLANTA, GITOKOIA, Wednesday. -TI).e voting in the election of a governor and other officials for Georgia tor.k place throughout this State to-day. The weather was fine and the polling brisk. It is reported from the town of Etherton that a fijlbt took plaoe there about noon between some Bryaniies and a party of goldite Democrats, Ten men were involved, aDd pistols were used with fatal effect, six men being killed. The greatest excitement prevails in consequence of the affair. It began with a discussion between two men, one holding "silver" view and the other gold views. Others joined in, and the discussion rapidly developed into an angry quarrel. Blows were exchanged, and the disputants separated into two parties, and producing their revolvers began to fire at each other. The orowds of onlookers joined in and took sides, and the disturbance rapidly became a riot, which the officials were helpless to suppress. The mob obtained control of the town. Many persons were injured who were not participating in the riot at all. Further details are anxiously awaited.— Dalzitl. I!

CLAIM-JUMPING AT JOHANNESBURG. JOHANNESBURG, Wednesday.—The oharges of olaitn-jumpiug brought against Colonel Ferreira and others came on for hearing to-day. The case against the Colonel was postponed for a week. The Public Prosecutor stated that at present he would only proceed with the charges of pegging out without licences. The first witness was Lieutenant Walker, of the local police, who I admitted lying to the men in order to obtain their assistance in pegging out the claims. The magis- trates rebuked him for his part in the aff;tir,- Reuter.

RAILWAY SERVANTS' UNION, j THE PRESIDENT IN DIFFICULTY. The Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants met again at York ou Wednesday, Mr W. Hudson (Darlington) presiding, At an early j stage of the proceedings the president raised the question of his re-election. He read his letter to the general manager of theNorth-Eastern Railway I Co., in reply to a communication, stating that if he held the position of president again,the company could not grant him leave of absence to attend the meetings. In his reply, Mr Hudson thanked the company for their generons treat. ment in the past, but pointed out that any restriction of freedom of selection of representa- tives of the Union oouid not encourage the good feeling which should exist between employer and employed. Further discussion was not allowed, and the remainder of the day was occupied principally in the hearing of appeals with regard to benefit grants.

MR GLADSTONE AND BRADFORD. THE RUMOUR OF HIS ELECTION. With referenoo to the statement that it has been suggested in influential quarters that Mr Gladstone should be nominated and elected with the consent of all parties for the vacancy in the representation of East Bradford, oaused by the death of Mr Byron Reed, the Press Association Bradford correspondent states that no such course is at all within the bounds of possibility. Political feeling is particularly keen in Bradford, and the pi-obability is that the beat local candidate will be found by both parties, the struggle there being as intense as possible. No steps will be taken till after the funeral.

A CORPORATION AND THE LlQUOn TRADE. -At a meeting of the West Hartlepool Town Council on Tuesday evening, a motion proposed by the Mayor (Councillor Clctrkeon) was adopted, empowering the Corporation to apply for lioenoes for new hotels required in various parts of the borough, with a view to the profits being applied to the relief of local rates. The movement has been set on foot in consequence of the large sums private individuals have made by bite disposal of property to which licences have been granted, aud also with the view of checking the tied bouse y. I (tin. This is the first Corporation in the United Kingdom that has adopted the system.

CARDIFF INTERMEDIATE GIRLS' SCHOOL. LADY WINDSOR TO DISTRIBUTE THE PRIZES. The Mayoress (Lady Windsor) has signified her willingness to distribute the prizes at the Cardiff Intermediate Girls' School. Her Ladyship fixes I Friday afternoon, Novwnbsr 6th, aa the mo<)t [ convenient tima.

■ ■" STORMY WEATHER. DISASTROUS EFFECTS. SHIPWRECKS AND INUNDATIONS. SHIP ASHORE OFF LAVERNOCK POINT. About 9.30 on Wednesday evening information WM brought to Penarth Coastguard Station that a ship was ashore off Lavernock Point. Mr Gibbings, chief of the coastguard, immediately got his men together, hauled out the rocket apparatus, pot it and his men on a drag. and proceeded to Lavernock. On arriving there they found that the barque Guaranay, which had stranded on Sally Island during the last gale, had gone ashore between Lavernock Point and the Fort. It appears that the tug Lady Windsor with two other tugs had got the Guaranay off from her position on the island, and were towing her up to Cardiff. About 7.15 p.m. the force of the storm was such as to part the towing ropes, in oon- sequence of which the ship, with her crew of 20 men, went ashore again broadside on. Very fortunately, she grounded in such a fashion as to make it comparatively easy for the crew to get ashore. The ship is now, at 11 pm, lying high and dry. BARGES FROM BARRY A DRIFT-ONE WRECKED. CREWS SAVED-CAPTAIN INJURED. The cutter Cardiffian has arrived in Ilfracombe Harbour, having on board four of the crew of two barges, Nos. 1 and 2, named Marguarey and Guajara, which left Barry on Saturday morning last in tow of the steamer Badswortb, for Para. When about fifty miles S.W. of Luudy, owing to the heavy wind and sea, the barges parted from the steamer, about 8 p.m. on Sunday night, and were lost sight of. The barges drifted about until noon ou Friday, when they were sighted by the cutter Cardiffian, flying signals of distress. After standing by them until 1 o'clock on Wednesday morning barge No. 1 went ashore at Hartland Point, and the other barge was fast going ashore when the tug Pathfinder took her in tow for Penarth. The crew of barge No, I and one of the crew of the Guajara were bvought into Ilfracombe by pilot boat No. 51. On Wednesday evening the Pathfinder arrived at Penarth with the Guajara in tow. As the vessels were entering Penarth Basin the captain of the barge (Goodser, of Liverpool), in climbing along the side of the vessel, slipped, fell, and was crushed between the barge and the tug. He was dealb with by the Ambulance Corps at Penarth Dock for fractured thigh, and on the arrival of a medical man he prouounced the work highly satisfactory. Goodeir was taken to the Hamadryad Hospital Ship, SOPHIA GARDENS INUNDATED. Between 7 and 8 o'clock on Wednesday evening the high tide, as it joined its waters to those of the already swoUen Taff, rose to such a height in the vicinity of Canton Bridge, Cardiff, as to overflow the river banks on thu Canton side. In the course of a few minutes the whole of that part of the Sophia Gardens lying between the main avenue and the river and reaching from the pond at the north end to the lodgekeeper's house in Cowbridge-road, was-flooded over. In some places there was a depth of from four to five feet of water. The lodge, in which Mr Brooks, the gardener, resides, was completely surrounded, but fortunately the flood did not enter the house. As the tide receded the water was drained off, but even at 10 o'olock the gardens appeared from the view obtained from Canton Bridge to be one vast sheet of water. Happily not much damage was done. An alarming rumour was spread of serious floods, also at Grangetown, but upon inquiry it was ascertained that in that portion of the town nothing untoward had happened. HIGH TIDES AT PENARTH. Tho high tide, combined with the severe sllorm felb at Penarth on Wednesdav. nlaved havoc with the beach and its properties. Automatic machines and gratings on the pier were wasbed away, and the pleasure bo%ts left Jying about the promenade were scattered right and left, one boat being found some distance up Beach-road. SEVERE GALE AT MILFORD HAVEN, The district of Milford Haven was visited on Wednesday afternoon with a heavy gale, the like of wbiob, as to its severity, has not been ex. perienced for a considerable time. It increased in force as night set in, aud made it very difficult for pedestrians to keep on their feet. No shippiDg casualties are reported, but several vessels have entered the harbour for safety. FLOODS IN THE NEATH VALLEY. The floods in the Neath Valley have been very serious, and in the low-lying portions of the town of Neath the houses were flooded on Tuesday and again on Wednesday. The Great Western Railway train service was greatly mterfered with owing to the floods. Some of the night passenger trains had to pull up below Llanelly and wait the subsidence of the water. INUNDATIONS IN NORTH WALES. For nearly 48 hours rain has been falling in North Wales without cessation. On Tuesday the wind freshened to a gale, and the rivers in the valleys overflowed their banks for miles. Thou- sands of acres are under water, and the cattle have had to be removed to the highlands. The continued bad weather has had an unprecedented effect on the game market, pheasants being obtainable at most of the Welsh markets for 4s 6d a brace. Potatoes are rotting in the ground, 'and can be bought for 3* a hobbet. WRECK NEAR LYME REGIS. About midnight on Tuesday the barque Berar ran on the rocks four miles to the west of Lyme Regis. Her crew of 16 hands was saved, and are now in charsre of the Shipwrecked Mariners' Society at Lyme Regis. The Berar is an iron ship or 900 tons, laden with timber from the Baltic for Spain. A strong south-westerly gale prevailed at the time. The veesel must become a total wreck. LANDING STAGE WASHED AWAY. The landing stage at St. Leonard's Pier was washed away on Tuesday night by the gale. The wreckage was driven against the iron work of Hastings Pier, smaebing five massive iron columns and doing damage estimated at JS500. I SINGULAR INCIDENT AT SANDGATE The old sea. wall. which has lately been strengthened, in front of the new Coastguard I Station at Sandgate was undormined dnring a heavy storm on Tuesday, a gap thirty feet square being made. The ground between tbe wall and the buildings has been washed out for a distance I of thirty feet by one hundred feet, aa far as the foundations of the buildings. It is expected the I next tide will demolish the wall. A large quantity of wreckage is floating about the coast, CORK SUFFERS SEVERELY. Cork and neighbourhood were visited by a very severe storm on Wednesday, which caused low-lying parts of the city to be inundated. The houses of the poorer classes and many corn stores were flooded and much damage was done. Great misery has been caused by the floods. I Cross Channel steamers are arrived Dover verv late on Wednesday owing to the boisterous weather, and a number of vessels have put in in a I, damaRed condition. The wind baa abated in the Channel, but the sea runs very high.

ALLEGED INTIMIDATION. ACTION BY A WELSH COLLIERY PROPRIETOR. On Wednesday at Wrexham an action was brought by Mr Edwin Stanley Clarke, proprietor of Flay Hall Colliery, OefnYbedd. near Wrexham, against Mr Edward Peters, coal miners' agent for North Wales, for having unlawfully intimidated him by inciting the colliers on strike all blS colliery to fetch their tools out of the pit, and in the c-vent of the tools being refused to us" personal violence. Mr Clarke also charged Griffith Braithwaito, checkweighman, with throaiening him with personal vio- lence. There has been a strike at proaecuror's oolliery for some weeks, and defendants, it is alleged, advised tbe atrikers to fetch their tools out at the pit. Braithwaite, who had been the men's checkweighmau at fhe co^ry, ajso, it is stated, marched between 300 and 400 colliers to the pit's mouth, and threatened Mr Clarke with personal violence unless the colliers were allowed to go down and get their tools. There are 360 witnesses for the defence. The magistrates, who took a long time to consider their decision in Braithwaite's case, found him goilty of intimidation, but in consideration of the fact that no violence was used, and that Mr Clark didn't wish to press the case, the defendant would bo bound over in the sum of dB20 for six months, and have to pay 29i costs. Ttie case against Peters was adjourned until this (Thurs- day) morning.

THE AFFRAY ON PEMBHEY MOUNTAIN. On Wednesday, at the Llanelly Police Court, the old man Wm. Jones, of Pembrey Mountain, was brought up and charged with cutting and wounding Wm. Oravall. The aooused was committed to tbe Quarter Sessions

ALLEGED MURDER AT SWANSEA. A MYSTERIOUS CRIME. 1 POLICE GATHERING CLUES. I SENSATIONAL DEVELOP- MENTS LOOKED FOR. TESTIMONY OF TWO NEIGHBOURS. CRIES OF MURDER I' HEARD. INTERVIEW WITH RELATIVES THE MURDEKED MAN'S HABITS. THEORIES CONCERNING THE j CRIME, ) Now that the doctors have declared their belief that the unfortunate man Jesse Lee, whose body was found in a pond adjoining a vegetable patch he owned near Cwmbwrla, met with his death from violence, people have almost ceased specu- lating as to what was the cause of death, though there are still divided opinions on the subject, and they ate now bewildered with endless theories as to what was the motive for the murder, and by whom it was committed. Wed- nesday was a miserably wet day, and few, except those whose duty took them there, traversed the weary three miles or so which divide Swansea from the desolate and bleuk. though not secluded, spot where the body was found, and near where | the crime was apparently committed. There were, j of oourse, some of the pohoe officials who hung round the spot, and during the morning a group of Pressmen kept them company. But the weather kept away the crowd which is usually attracted by a morbid feeling to scenes like this. Such as did indulged in narrating incidents in the deceased's life and in his doings when he visited the patch, and in enunciating all kinds of speculations as to the cause of the crime aud its author or authors. The police, having allowed all the more important facts to leak out, now observed, with characteristic caution when it is too late, the most mysterious of demeanours, and so, though they could have little left to reveal, they adopted a Sphinx like attitude, which was as mysterious as the mystery they have to unravel. It is at times like this that one is wont to lameub the fact that there are not some policemen endowed with the qualities of a Sherlock Holmes. Were there it is quite possible that much that has been allowed to leak out to JESSE HILL, THE VICTIM. the public would have kept quiet, and that some other incident* which are apparently tenaciously held from everyone might have been let out with the object of disarming anyone who might be suspected. For instance, the most important discovery was thab made by P.C. Lloyd when he ran up to the scene when news of the discovery of the body reached his beat. He, with an intelli- gence which is rare amongst policemen, at once got to the root of the matter by fiud. ing the implement with which the crime must have been committed. Now, one would have thought so important a discovery would have been kept dark," but before dusk it was known to everybody, notwithstanding the fact that the police had the things conveyed to the police station under cover, and declined to let anyone see them. How far this lack of oaution may influence the discovery of the real murderer we may never know. Then, again, another important piece of evidence is the fact that anonymous letters were received by the deceased informing him that two people had been robbing his garden, Jesse Lee was to all intents and purposes a miser. As a neighbour has said, he loved his money, his turnips, his cabbages, and his houses as his very life.?i„ Without suggesting that the letters contained the truth, is it too much to suggest that the object of the letters might have been one of two-either a bona-fide desire to put Lee on his guard or a. desire to lure him up to the patch to his doom ? Whether or not these letters were received the police, with their newly- developed caution, decline to say. They know absolutely nothing—and yet the fact baa leaked out. The handwriting of these letters may reveal something, and no doubt the police have not lost sight of the fact. If the names mentioned in the letters might mean anything, the publicity of the ellatemenb that two names are mentioned may put the persons on their guard. There is some reason to believe the letters might have been intended as a means of luring deceased to his doom. Jesse Hill was not the man to allow himself to be robbed without trying to prevent it. Probably he did go up to the patch to see if he could find out the robber, but he was not the man to stay there all day on the watch, as has been suggested, especially as his brother and another man were working in the field right ou till 2.30 in the afternoon. Saturday is the Swansea market day—the great day of the week on which a greengrocer expects to reap his harvest. He loved his cabbages and his turnips, but he loved his money better aud it is therefore unreasonable to believe that he would stay away from the market all the best part of the day watching, when there was adequate power of watching without his aid. Possibly he did not go up to the patoh at the time suggested possibly he went up at night; but neither his brother nor the labourer saw deceased, and, what is more, according to their account, the knife was not in the ahed till 2.30, when they ceased work. He may, lured by the letters, have gone up later in tho day, when his pressure of business was over. In support of this comes the testimony of four people living close by who, examined separately by a pressman, say they heard at midnight cries of Murder" coming from the direction of the building in which the crime is supposed to have been committed. An interview with a pressman throws some doubt on the point, however, for it must have been only a little before midnight when the searchers, with such assistance as a box of matches could be to them, looked through the rooms of the place. I The deceasel's brother James speaks of jealousy, and when asked his grounds for the suggestion, is reported to have said Well, the old man had a bit of money. Of course I don't know how it happened. The old man is apparently the father of the deceased and from these few words ill would seem that the brother has some sus- pioion and suspects someone. A question the police might, therefore, devote their attention to is who could have been jealous, and why. As to the crime having been committed by strangers no one believes. One of deceased's brothers speaks of the habit of deceased of carrying about as much as JB500 on his person because he was afraid of banks breaking. If anyone thought this there is sufficent to excite the cupidity of many. But the brother says that was sometime Hgo, and that be persuaded him to invest his money in houses, and this he did. At the time of his death be ought to have had about 10s about him when he was searched he had not a penny. Perhaps someone who had beard that be carried large sums about him was not aware that he had changed his custom and attracted by a greed for gold lured him to the field and killed him to get hold of the hoard he was supposed to carry in his pockets. But this fact stands out clearly that whoever committed the crime, they were more than one. No one person could have carried the body from the house to the pond without leaving some traces on the route or getting himself so covered with blood that he could not have effaced the stains without someone seeing them. The supposition is that his corpse was carried in the basket which is described in detail in the body of our report. This basket beara on two of its handles stains of j blood—stains which look very much like finger j marks—and it was a kind of basket which would bold a man's body, but one which no single man could carry when there was any weight in it. The police, who seem to have made a kiud of search J through the bouse with a candle, have discovered I one mark of a bloodstained h^nd. This discovery | they attach some importance to. and if they are only clever enough to adopt the Berthillion theory as to band marks they may be in possession of an important clue. At any raW. they have sawn oft the wooden partition on which it was found. It is said, though, that there is another similar stain in the same room, but so far off that both could not have been done at the same time. This may possibly tend to confirm the suspicion that more than one person had a hand in the murder. Not. withstanding all the mystery which surrounds the case, it appears to be certain that deceased was murdered that more than one person had a band in the crime that the crime was com- mitted in the abandoned cottage that the body was then carried, and not dragged, to the pond in which it was found and that, therefore, the basket described was used. These are the faot& known. It is for the police, if they can, to discover who were the perpetrators of the crime and to bring them to justice. The probability ia it will not be many hours before there will be a sensational development. The police seem to attach great importance to the presenoe of bloodstains in the house. These stains are not confined to the hand-marks on the wall, but blood appears to have flowed in great quantities, as is con- sistent with the character of the wound, all over the compartment where the murder was evidently committed. This olace is strewed with pea-sticks, and it was on a heap of these that the body probably lay when the neck was cut, for a heap cf these were covered with clotted blood. while on the sticks which are lying about there are more stains. Mr Seyler, the borough analyst. has been to the scene, and taken examples of these sticks and of other parts of the building on which there are stains for analysis. The police are just now believed to be sifting a clue which they think points in the direction of three men being concerned in the crime, for they have received information that, at about midnight on the Saturday three men were seen running away from the scene. This clue may prove important in view of the statements made by the women who lived near as to the hearing of cries ot "Murder" about the same time; but what passe, comprehension is that though deceased was known by everyone near to have been missing more than a fortnight, the women in question never uttered a word about the cries they now say they heard till Tuesday. Then if the murder was committed about this time it would have been almost impossible for the searchers, who must have been on the spot looking for deceased about the very time the cries were heard, not to have found some trace of the crime. Another mystery is what could have become of deceased during all the hours that intervened between the time he was last seen going in the direction of the cabbage patch and midnight, when the cries of murder are said to have been heard. Till this is cleared up one naturally fails to see anything in the report of the three men running away, or in the story of the three women. There are still people who cling to the idea that deceased committed suicide. The knife is one that was used in cutting cabbages on a large scale, and was so sharp and so balanced that it would strike a cabbage off the toughest stalk at one blow. If it would do this it would also at one blow give a very severe gash on the neck of anyone. But could a man inflict such a wound himself ? A gentleman who has had much ex- perience in criminal matters, and who knew deceased well, has informed a Press representative that he believes he could. He asks why a man could not have drawn a knife across the back of his neck as well as across his throat ? Well, it all depends on the exact pasition of the wound, and that will not be accurately known till the inquest. He points out in support of his contention of I suicide that, first, deceased was demented, and I' second, that a brother of deceased some years ago committed suicide. Moreover, just before tht I day on which he was last seen deceased oom- pained to a friend of unhappiness, and caic Life is just like bell to me now." I POLICE SEARCHING FOR A CLUE. Drs HubertTbonumand Forsyth, whoonTuesday j night conducted the poet mortem examination ol the body of the greengrocer Jesse Hill, whose j body was found in a pond near Swausea, i being of opinion that the gash in the I back of the neck indicates that deceased II WAS mnrdered before he was thrown into the pond, the police are now actively engaged in searching for a clue. On Wednesday several of the foroe were on the spot where the murder is supposed to have been oovatuitted- > a field in which deceased, with his brothers, grew cabbages for market purpose- In the field is a shed in which various gardening tmpiemeuts were stored, and it is not at ali unlikely that the murder was committed j there, because amongst the gardening tools was kept the knife, which has sinc« been I found with blood stains on it. The knife was a formidable-looking instrument, and was used ) in cutting cabbages, and it :s just suoh an instrument as could have caused the wound the doctors describe. Captain Colquhoun has visited the scene to join the detectives at work there. The Chief Constable, who seems to have been kept in the dark by his subordinates on Tues- day, as well as a section of the Press and the public, he not knowing of the suspicion of foul play till the inquest opened, has a theory of his own, and his object in now searching the scene of the supposed murder is to see how local circum- stances bear it out. There are un, questionably not absent motives for a murder. By aU who knew him, even to the children in the streets, the deceased was pointed at &8 a miser. He never missed an opportunity of turning a penny, but he was never known to spend any- thing. Indeed his immediate friends cannot re- member when hebad a change in clothes, the same doing for week days and Sundays and every day in the year. Each night he went to the locker he had in the house, where he lived with some of his brothers and relatives, and he turned out his pockets into it. copper, silver, and gold mingling in glorious con- fusion, till the amount got sufficiently heavy to deposit in the Post Office Stiviners Bank, when he went with it periodically. He also invested some of his money in three houses, and it is supposed by people who should know him beet that his whole soul was divided between hu money, his houses, and the cabbages he grew in the garden whero the murder was prob- ably committed. He had indeed a great dread of anyone stealing a cabbage, and it is thought not at all improbable that if on the Saturday he went tip to the garden be saw some- one stealing the cabbages he inighb take slept which would lead a thief to act in self-defence. Ou the other hand there is a feeling that the object oi the attack on the deceased may have been murder pure and simple prompted, by a desire to become possessed of any money he might have bad on him, it being popularly supposed be was in the habit of carrying1 a great deal about with him, while the fact probably was that be only bad on him the money he had received that morning, which is not likely to have been muoh. In favoui of this view is the fact that when the body was recovered not a single copper was found in his pockets. These are two of the theories. There is a third, which it is not wise to discus yet. Suffice it to say that the police are making very aotive inquiries, and at any moment there may be startling developments. A BLOOD-STAINED HAND. I A discovery has been made in the tool ahed which may have an important beating on the police investigations. What is now a tool shed was, a few years ago, a oouple of tumble-down cottages belonging to the Hill family. When, however, by the extension of the borough I' boundaries, the cottages were pot under the control of the Swansea Corporation they were condemned as unfit for human habitation, and so they ceased to be occupied, and have since been used as tool sheds, and as a shelter to those who worked in the cabbage field. A wooden partition has been ran up in one part, and careful scrutiny has revealed the fact that on the dirty brown paint is the impression of a man's hand. This haa not yet been subjected to microscopic examination, but the appearance is qui to con- sistent with the belief that the impre»»i<>n is that of a bloodstained hand. Should that be so the police will be able to put into practice the system so popular with French detectives, and on the facs that the lines of no two men's hands are precise!;? similar, be able to have a due which may lead to the conviction of the murderer. Whether the hand bears blood stains or not. it is certain that a atone wall in 61,6 P|aoe distinct splashes of blood. The bloodstained tools were found in two different compartments of the seeit1s to point to a supposition that the murder was oomnutted by someone well conversant with the place, and that it was in the "bed that the deed was done. This shed is about 200 yards from the pond where the body was discovered. ANONYMOUS LETTERS WRITTEN TO DECEASED. WKRE THEY A RUSE TO GET HIM TO THE FIELD ? It is stated that the police have had put into their hands by the family of thf deceased a oounle of anoDvmous lefetorr