The Carmarthen Weekly Reporter

A CARDIFF VIOAR'S FATE. A shocking discovery was made at 39, Penylan-road, Cardiff, on Saturday morning, the Rev David Lancelot Henry Jones Lewis, vicar of St. Martin's, being found in the iblathroom dead, with a bullet wound in his right temple. Having been appointed Vicar of St. Mar- tin's, Roath, in succession to the Rev H. G. Hellier, resigned, Mr Lewis had taken a house in Penylan-road, and removed there with lLrs Lewis and the children, prepara- tory to assuming his new duties. Being very ill, however, in consequence of a recent accident, his medical attendant ordered him away for a change and rest, and about- six weeks ago he went with Mrs Lewis and the three children, to Weston, where he remained until Friday. In the meantime he had been very much depressed, being-haunted by fears as to whether he would be able to take up his new post, his induction having been post- poned on aewunt of the state of his health. Mr Lewis was last seen by Mrs Lewis about 11.30 on Friday morning, when he was look- ing more depressed than usual. He left Weston by the 2.15 boat for Cardiff, and as he did not return Mrs Lewis became parti- cularly anxious, and about Friday midnight rang up Cardiff City ponce asking them to call Miss Annie ard, the servant girl, who looks after No. 39, Penylan-road, and who lives in Anglesey-street, Canton. Miss Ward went to the telephone, but owing to indis- tinctness she could make nothing of what was being said over the telephone. However, on Saturday morning the tele- phone message was supplemented by a wire, which reached Miss Ward aibtmt 10 o'clock. This was from 'Mrs Lewis, and asked if Mr Lewis called at 39, Penylan-road on Friday, and if so at what time. The girl wired back that Mr Lewis did not put in an appearance at their Cardiff residence, but it now appears however, that she, having finished her clean- ing work, left the house early in the after- noon. Having despatched the telegram in reply to Mrs Lewis, Miss ard proceeded to Penylan-road, as was her duty, and on enter- ing saw Mr Lewis's hat and gloves on the hall stand. The girl had her suspicions at once, and called out for Mr Lewis, but received no answer. She noticed the study door was open, but, was afraid to enter, and left the house immediately. Miss Ward ran down the Penylan-road to the junction of Ninian-road, where P.C. Gerrard was on duty ,and communicating her fears to the officer he returned with her to the house. A search of the house revealed Mr Lewis lying upon the floor of the bathroom, which was splashed with blood, and near him a six- chambered revolver, loaded in three cham- bers, one of which only had been discharged. Death had apparently taken place some boars previously. Mr Lews was only partially dressed, having divested himself of his coat and waistcoat. An examination revealed a wound im the right temple. Dr S. Wallace, Penylna-road, was called immediately, and pronounced life extinct. P.S. Green was also communicated with, and visited the house. The police found a letter in deceased's handwriting. In this letter, which is addressed to Mrs Lewis, it is under- stood that the deceased makes a pathetic reference to his acute sufferings from pains in the head, which had made him desperate.

A CYCLING ACCIDENT. The accident mentioned occurred on the 14th April last. Mr Lewis was then cycling home from Cardiff and met with an accident, the circumstances of which never became known, and its effect was to render Mr Lewis unconscious. How long he remained in that condition he could not tell, but he eventu- ally managed to reach home, where he arrived in a dazed condition, and soaked with lain, in which he had lain for some time. Medical aid was requisitioned, and it was found 'Mr Lewis was suffering from con- cussion of the brain. His general health also suffered greatly, and he never recovered from the shook. The Rev W. E. Boyes, curate of St. Mar- tin's, who was one of the deceased's closest friends, was called in soon after the tragedy was known, and he and Mrs Boyes went over to Weston to break the sad news to Mrs Lewis, who was completely overwhelmed upon hearing it. Mrs Lewis was a London lady, her maiden name being Miss Eva. Har- rington.

DECEASED'S CAREER. The news caused a painful sensation in Cardiff, where deceased was well known in Church circles, he having been very popular during the period (1893-1900) in which he acted as curate at S. John's Church, Car- diff. For two years after that he was curate- in-charge at Gresford, and then became rec- tor of St. Bride's-super-E'y with Michael- stone. He gave up that living a few months ago in order to return to Cardiff as vicar of St. Martin's, the change entailng a financial sacrifice. He felt, however, that he re- quired a larger outlet for the exercise of his devotion to the Church. He studied for a time at St. Michael's College, Aberdare, took his B.A. degree (Oxford) in 1892, and the M.A. degree in 1901. He had acted as editor of the Llandaff Diocesan Magazine, the April number of which contained the following farewell note:- It is with sincere regret that the editor has felt himself compelled by the exigen- cies of the new work to which he has been called, to asik the Bishop to release him from the duty of managing this magazine. The wort which he endeavoured to perform during the past two years has been a source-of real pleasure, and has brought him into touch with many new friends and interests, which have materially enriched his experience. He feels under a special dbligation of gratitude to all the friends and correspondents who have so kindly assisted him in his endeavour to make the magazine both interesting and a faithful record of the church's activities in the dio- cese, and in saying farewell', will only add an expression of his hope that they will support his successor with a continuance cf their practical sympathy. j Deceased was a .son of Mr Henry Jones- Lewis, Llwyncelyn, Llanwrda, a barrister on | the South Wales circuit, and a nephew of Mr C. P. Lewis, the well-known cricketer, of Llandovery.

HIS WORK IN CARDIFF. The deceased clergyman was exceedingly popular whilst he served in the parish of St. John's, Cardiff. Under the late Canon Thompson, be was curate in charge of St. Alban's, Blackweir, and had charge as visitor of the Cathedral-road district. He was an exceedingly assiduous pastor, and was held in the highest esteem by all the people of his district. As a Churchman, he was neither "High" nor "Low," but what is best described as & "good Churchman," able as a preacher and speaker and very well liked by his clerical brethren. A great charac- teristic was his unfailing humour. St. John's was his first cuisacy, and when he left to ibe curate of Gresford, near Wrex- ham, in July, 1909, Canon Thompson wrote an appreciative notice in the Parish Maga- zine for the following month:— "Mr Lewis came to us," wrote Canon Thompson, "at Michaelmas, 1893, and so at the time of his departure had nearly completed a term of seven years. During that time he performed his various mani- fold duties with albilityand consciousness, and to his courtesy and kindness of demeanour attached to himself a very large number of friends among all classes of the parishioners. We are glad to record that he has not been allowed to leave without some slight indications of the regard in which he is held. AU'usion was made in our last issue to the carriage clock pre- sented by the congregation of St. John's Mission, and in this number will be found an account of the presentation made by that of St. Albami's, Black weir. To these we may add the handsome library chair, the gift of the choir of St. John's, and a. cheque of £ 28 5s 6d from the parishioners generally. We have no douibt that this I sum would have been considerably larger had thea,ppeal been made at any other than at a time when people are almost universally away from home. However that may be, woaxe all united in wishing for Mr and Mrs Lewis and their little ones much happiness and prosperity throughout their future career." When Mr Lewis after two years at Gres- ford, obtained preferment to St. Bride's, he became editor of the "Diocesan Magazine," and continued txTeddt it until the early part of this year on his appointment to St. Martin's.

PULPIT REFERENCES. On Sunday ibrief references were made at the services at St. Mtartin's and St. Cyprian's Churches to the tragic end of Mr Lewis, and the prayers and sympathy of the congrega- tion were aisiked. The "Dead March" in "Saul" was played at the close. At St. Church a special requiem service was held at 8 a.m., and at the morning ser- vice the Rev W. E. Boyes, masking for the prayers of those present, said he could not trust himself to speaik of the sad occurrence at that moment. He knew their minds were already full of it.

Registration Agent for East Carmarthenshire. SOUTH WALES MINERS' FEDERATION APPOINTMENT. The result of the Emal ballot, for the ap- pointment of a registration agent for the A group of the Miners' Federation was made known on Saturday morning, when a meeting of the representatives of the "A" group was held at the Walnut Tree Hotel, Aberavon, Alderman John Thomas, Garw, presiding. The number of ladges i-epresen- ted was 153, with a total representation of 35,938 votes. The result of the ballot was as follows/Meth Jones, Garw, 19.459: John J. James, New Owmgorse, 1(5,479; majority, 2,980. A vote of thanks was acsorded Alder- man John Thomas for the impartial manner in which he conducted the ballot. Mr Meth. Jones, who has headed the ballot for a registration -agent for Group 'A' under the Miners' Federation Parliamentary scheme, was born on the 13th May, 1877, in the viiiiage of Llanifihangel-geneur-glyn, near Alberysbwith, Cardigaoshire. In 1885 his parents migrated to Pontycymmer, in the Garw Valley, where he received his early education under Mr W. Pennant at the 1 ontyevminer Board School. He belongs to the advanced political school of thought among the miners, having been converted to Socialism six years ago. He has boldly avowed his Socialistic principles against all opposition, and has been a prominent advo- cate among the miners of Mid-Glamorgan of the political alliance between Socialism and Ltaibour as embodied in the Labour party.. He is an active member of the I.L.P., and is an effective platform speaker, both in Welsh and English. Mr Jones is also ér worker in the cause of temperance, and has held the position od D.C.R. of the West Glamorgan R-echaibites, who at their last annual meeting selected him by a practically unanimous vote as one of the three representatives of the distrct at the forthcoming High Movable Conference at Birmingham. The group for which Mr Jones has been elected registration agent comprises the Parliamentary Divisions of Mid-Glamorgan. Gower, East Carmarthen Illid Brecon. The appointment remains in aroey-ance until the result of the appeal to House of Lords in the case of Osborn v. the A.S.R.S. is known, which will decide the question of the Parliamentary levy.

Welsh Monntain Camp. The reported destruction of a great Dre-hiatnri. camp called P.n Din. rt.u..«d ia ft. P»L„ ii mmaenmawr. in the course of oUarrvm» lions, is the subject of a question to th« Minuter by Mr Llewelyn William" Mr Asquith in a frinted reply gay* thet theouarrv does contain what are supposed to be the ■ of a Roman camp. The site was nr t resertl? kD? the lessees did not propose to dismrb the camp. An old road was being dtstroyed bv th! development ol the quarry, but es the undertL? £ » gave employment to 600 tnen he did not thlnl Commissioners of Woods would be wa r«nL interfering if they had power to do so.