The Chester Courant and Advertiser for North Wales

OUR RETURNING SOLDIERS. THE NATION'S GRATITUDE. PRACTICAL SUGGESTION. A contributor writesThe many letters which have appeared in your estimable paper from time to time concerning the reception to be accorded to soldiers returning from the I front are somewhat striking in their singularity. r They all bear on one point, and have the same tendency, and that is-do not saturate the men with drink, but, instead, surfeit them by pro- viding -suitable feasts, such as tea parties, with an abundance of jam tarts and ginger beer, a huge display of bunting, a ter- rific outburst of enthusiasm, and music ad libitum. This is what I deduce from the con- tents of the letters referred to. It has not, it seems to me, occurred to those writers and teetotal advocates in general that every man coming home will have a sufficiency of money of his own, which he will prefer to spend how, when, and where he chooses, and that conse- quently all the preaching and placarding of illustrated posters depicting the sad and inevitable results of the use of alcohol, and pleadings for the extension of the temperance cause to the returning warriors, will be of no avail. Tommy Atkins is no epicure, therefore, with regard to banquets. I think the majority of the men will be more inclined to what their own tables will yield. Sentimentality is highly appreciable in its way, but 1 am of opinion it is being carried a little too far. The discreditable scenes, as a result of the C. 1. V. s reception, are a striking proof of my con- tention. The kindly instincts of the people are I deserving of all praise, but let the soldiers have something more beneficial, permanent, and advantageous, and, if it is desirous to place on record the satisfactory results of the campaign, then let a fund be raised whereby those unable to at once secure employment on discharge may be assisted, and employment obtained for them. This would be a more lasting tribute to the gallantry of the men and the hardships and privations they endured than wantonly wasting money on ephemeral feasts and earthly glorification, which, metaphorically speaking, are as evanescent as a breath and survive as a memory only. The difficulty of obtaining employment is already being experienced by Volunteers and Reservists-vide 11 Daily Mail," Saturday, Oct.. u 1 ^is difficulty be increased when the bulk of the men come home ? The militarv powers that be are already treating Reservists rather shabbily. Those men who have been invalided home and rejoined (off sick leave) the details of the regiments to which they belong, are being graciously permitted to again proceed to their homes on an unlimited or working furlough," but they must pay their own fares to their respective destinations, not- withstanding the distance, and are liable to be recalled within seven days, in which event they must liquidate the cost of the return journey also out of their own pockets. The soldier continues to draw his shilling per diem. Substantive non-commissioned officers have to revert to the rank of private before they may avail themselves of this highly desirable privilege- In the not unlikely calamity of these men, or some of them, finding that the excite- ment produced by their conduct and achieve- ments in South Africa has now been relegated to oblivion, and that the situations they re- linquished in order that the honour of their eountry might be upheld, have been usurped, and that employment for them is a thing of the past, into what a state of gratitude must they relapse ? The argue that the men might have °n the same terms for some £ »* •, tier »o Chosen, in fact, even the Prociamation of peace. Ah 1 but ont bv &oa«0n h present treatment meted be r^i1981 respectable distance from the workhouse. Do not let them be caricatured (as I predict tw "iU l°«Sn<r K corners with their hands in their pockets down to their elbows and their garments patched similar to a harlequin, but let the world at large see that they were not allowed to perish as the Balaclava heroes were within the white- washed and pictureless walls of a parochial institute. If this be accomplished, there will be no more fitting monument to the British nation than the knowledge of the fact that to the men who fought and suffered for Queen and country in the South African War, 1899- 1900, England did its duty.

I for Cocoa, insist on 9 j in Packets and Tins for Cocoa, insist on havins? r<nT s—'8old only in Packets and Tins — as •S» profit8 are ° £ ten 8Qbatitutod for the sake^of

ACTION BY THE MARQUIS OF CHOLMONDELEY. t A MÁLPAS DISPUTE. Sir HotfttiO Lloyd and a special jury were e&gifcgsd a considerable time at Chester County Court on Thursday in hearing a case remitted from the High Court, in which the Marquis of Cholmondeley sought to recover possession of a small piece of land, about twelve perches in area, inWell-street, Malpas, from James Allman, of Malpas. Mr. S. Moss, M.P. (instructed by Messrs. Birch, Cullimore and Douglas), appeared for plaintiff, and Mr. W. H. Churton defended. Mr. Moss said about the beginning of the present century, or at the end of the last century, William Allman, grandfather of defendant, enclosed the piece of land in question, which was on the road side and adjoined the land which he held from the then Marquis of Cholmondeley. He was tenant to the Marquis, and added to his holding a small piece of waste. It was a well- known rule of law that whenever a tenant added a piece of land from the waste under those circumstances the added piece of land became a portion of his holding and was regarded as a portion of the land let to him by his landlord. In 1840 William Allman died, and his son Thomas became tenant of the whole of the holding, including this piece of land in question, and he continued as tenant without any point being raised until 1857, when some question evidently cropped up about this piece of land. Judging from the receipt that was given, the then agent received Is. from the late Mr. Thomas Allman, as an acknowledgment that this land was part of his holding, and unques- tionably he was a tenant to the then Marquis of that piece of land. In the years 1858 9 and '60 the rent was paid with a special reference to this particular piece of land because there was a reference in the estate rent book in the hand- writing of the agent, the payment having been made in respect of this particular piece of land. In 1860 a piece of land was added to Thomas Allmau's holding, and the total rental was brought up to X9. From th&t time that sum, with 7s. 6d. added some two years ago in respect of tithe, had been paid continuously until Thomas Allman died in 1896. It was not until then that any dispute arose in connection with this piece of land. One of the sons, Thomas Barlow, then went to the agent of the Marquis and asked if he might be allowed to continue the tenancy of the cottage and holding, and he was told that a neighbour- ing farmer under the Marquis of Cholmondeley required the cottage for hia workmen, and that the cottage would be kept for him. Barlow then raised the question of the ownership of the land, and afterwards James Allman claimed it. Defendant, however, had no claim. whatever, assuming everything that could be said in his favour to the land in 1896-7-8, because the late Thomas Allman by hi3 will left all his real estate to his wife for life, and his wife only died in February of the present year. To get rid of that difficulty, he supposed, a conveyance was made by people representing themselves to be trustees under the will of Thomas Allman, to James Allman of this particular piece of land for the sum of la. That was done after the writ had been served in the action and after the action had been commenced. When the cottage was let to another tenant Allman broke down the gate, and made it impossible for things to go on. That was why the action had been brought to settle the matter. Mr. Talbot T. Wilson, out of the estate office of the Marquis of Cholmondeley, produced plans shewing the locus in quo. Mr. J. Cailimore said he knew the late Mr. Hignett, agent to the Marquis, and he knew his handwriting. In the estate rent-book for 1857 there was an entry by Mr. Hignett that Thomas Allman had paid one shilling "for garden en- closed from waste," and in the years 1858, 1859, and 1860 there were entries also in Mr. Hig- nett's handwriting to the effect that the rent paid by Thomas Allman included one shilling for garden enclosed from waste. Mr. St. John Charlton, who for 15 years has been estate agent to the Marquis of Cholmon- I deley, said Thomas Barlow, who was one of the I trustees under Thomas Aliman's will, came to pay the rent in 1896, and after doing so he said he would like to continue the tenancy of the place. He explained to Barlow that he could not let him have the cottage because a neigh- bouring farmer wanted it, and he was obliged to let him have it. Barlow then said You know that garden belonged to my father." Witness replied, How do you mean F" and Barlow said Oh, he enclosed it years ago." Witness then pointed out that if he enclosed the land he did so as the Marquis' tenant, and that the land became the property of the Marquis. Barlow next produced a Is. receipt dated September, 1857, and shewed it to him, remarking that he did not know whether it was of any consequence or not. Witness read it through, and said That settles the matter." They then parted, and nothing more was heard about the matter until defendant came on the scene. The land was let first of all to a man named Crad- douk, dairyman to Mr. Comes in 1898, and afterwards to a man named M'Caffery. Defendant fastened the gate to the garden with barbod wire, and neither got possession of the garden. Cross-examined: The value of the land would be about £ 20 or 930. He paid the poor rates for the Marquis of Cholmondeley in a lump, and he could not tell whether he paid the rate for this piece of land. If Thomas Allman was represented as the owner of this piece of land in the rate-book of 1885 and other years, it was a mistake. He had never heard until now that he was so repre- sented. Mr. Chnrton contended that whatever was the result of the action the legal expensas would amount to more than the value of the land, and he thought that before the Marquis of Cholmondeley brought the action some effort might have been made to settle the matter. One would have thought the Marquis would have preferred to put the £ 20 or £ 30 in All- man's pockets instead of in those of the lawyers on both sides. He asked the jury to decide the questions," Did defendant's grandfather enclose this land or not ? and Was the land enclosed for his own benefit or that of his landlord ? It was quite clear the enclosure was made about 1820, but there was no evidence of an acknowledgment having been paid until 1857, and he thought the jury would come to the conclusion that the enclosure was made by the grandfather more for his own benefit than that of his landlord. The next questions were, Was the land enclosed for a period of 20 years prior to September, 1857 ?" and, Was any rent paid for this land prior to 1857 ?" If not, he contended the Marquis had no right to the land. Another point was that if no rent had been paid since 1857 he was entitled to plead the statute of limitations. Thomas Allman in his will left the piece of land to his wife. So it was evident what he thought about the ownership. James Allman, gardener, Holly Bank, Malpas, said the piece of land was enclosed by his father before he was born, and he had always regarded it as their property. Thomas Barlow, eldest son of the late Thomas Allman, said his father never paid a penny for the land. When he went to see Mr. Charlton, he asked him if be would buy the land, and Mr. Charlton told him that he had no title to the land.-Cross-examined Mr. Wilson was present when the conversation took place. Frederick Batterby, wine merchant, Malpas, deposed to witnessing the Thomas Allman's will. William Allman, brother of defendant, and William Bentley, assistant overseer for Malpas, also gave evidence, the latter stating that the garden in question had been rated to Thomas Allman. John Allman, Thomas Huxley (builder, Malpjw), and Philip Austin also gave evidence. Mr. Talbot T. Wilson, re-called, said he made a note of the conversation between Mr. Charlton and Thomas Barlow. Nothing was said about the sale of the land to the Marquis. Mr. Moss said this might be a small piece of land, but if tenants on large estates were allowed to claim pieces of land in this way, he did notknowwhat was to become of the ownership of property at all. With regard to the rating of the property, if Thomas Allman went to the overseer and said he was the owner of the land, it was probable he would be entered as such, and how was Lord Cholmondeley's agent to know that that entry had been put in the book ? Lord Cholmondeley's contention was that from the very first this land was enclosed as a matter of law for his benefit. He submitted that from 1860 the rent that had been paid included the rent for this piece of land. The jury found a verdict for the plaintiff. His Honour, in giving judgment accordingly with costs, said he concurred in the finding of the jury. I

I AMBULANCE BRIGADE CONCERT. I ♦ An enjoyable concert, under the auspices of the Chester division of the St. John AUlbulIo-e I Association was given on Wednesday evening in the Music Hall, and a gratifying gathering of people signified thslr sympathy with. the laudable movement in the city bj their attendance. During the interval t,ne Mayor (Colonel H. T. Brown) performed a pleasing ceremony in distributing the prizes, medallions, and certificates gained at the recent examina- tion in ambulance work by the members of the large brigade at Saltney composed of the Great Western Railway servants, which is under the able superintendence of Mr. F. W. Marillier. Hia Worship was accompanied on the platform by the Rev. A. E. Farrar, the popular and energetic superintendent of the Chester brigade, Mr. Marillier, Dr. Duff, and others. The following are the names of the prize-winners :—Stretcher prize 1, L. & N.-W. Railway wagon department team (Messrs. F. T. Milton, G. W. Davies, T. Wightman and A. Elson) 2nd, Great Western Railway (Saltney) team (Messrs. T. Large, S. Chidlow, J. Jackson and A. Priest). Yerburgh medallion for St. John Ambulance Brigade work: Miss Bradshaw. Certificates (junior team): F. S. Dodson, A. Bennett, R. Johnson, E. Roberts, W. Williams and N. Holmes. Vouchers (second year's men): J. L. Doubleday, D. Davies, S. Davies, J. C. Davies, R. Faulkner, J. Lee, A. Priest, W. Taylor, and A. W. Wainwright. Medallionists (third year's men) S. Chidlow, J. Durrant, T. Davies, E. E. Jones, J. Jackson, R. H. Moorhouse, T. H. Williams and W. Nicholas. Mr. Nicholas, the local hon. secretary, was also presented with a silver medallion in recognition of his work for the past three years in that capacity, at the hands of his brigade. Fitting recognition was also made of the valuable work of Mr. Marillier, who founded the brigade at Saltney, by a presentation of a similar medallion.—In acknow- ledgment, he remarked that the Great Western Railway Co. did everything in their power to encourage ambulance work for the rendering of first aid to the injured among their employes. They not only presented those medallions, but they bore the expense of lectures given by a doctor on the subject, provided books of instruction, stretchers, and bandages. (Hear, hc,ar.)-On the motion of the Rev. A. E. Farrar, seconded by Mr. Marillier, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the Mayor, who, in reply, mentioned that he had always done his utmost to encourage ambulance work, and pointed out as a practical instance of its usefulness that in the panic in London on the occasion of the arrival of the City Imperial Volunteers, no less than 1,600 injured people received attention by the voluntary ambulance corps in the city. The Chester Glee Singers contributed in an eminent manner to the enjoyment of the entertainment by four selections, viz., Hark, the Nightingale," The Bill of Fare," The Old Arm Chair," and" Johnny Schmoker." A favourite soprano vocalist, Miss May Cart- wright, captivated her audience by the manner in which she interpreted the song Entreat me not" and "The song of thanksgiving," and for the former she was obliged to respond to an encore and give "The Little Dutchman." She also took part in a humorous duot with the R3V. A. E. Farrar, The Naggletons," which was also encored. Mr. Farrar, who is no stranger to local concert audiences, gave pleasing ren- derings of Simon the Cellarer and There's a Land." Mr. C. S. Rovrley sang The Storm Fiend," and Mr. W. E. Snelson Sparkling Eyes." The humorous element of the enter- tainment was effectively sustained by Messrs. Cullen and Garner, whose" patter" was very clever and amusing, and Mr. John Phillips, who gave two sketches in his usual delightful vein.

AMATEUR WILL-MAKING. « PENNY WISE, POUND FOOLISH. At Chester County Court on Thursday, his Honour Sir Horatio Lloyu gave judgment in a friendly action brought by Sarah Frances Tran. ter, of 3, Blacon-terrace, Saughall-road, Chester, against Thomas Griffiths, guardian of Minnie Parry, also of 3, Blacon-terrace, Saughall-road, The object of the action was to obtain a declara- tion that the late Mr. Frederick Parry, sta. tioner, Eastgate-street, died intestate as to freehold hereditaments. His Honour said the case was a forcible illustration of the policy of being penny- wise and pound foolish. A man not legally qualified made his own will, and in the course of a short will he had made as many mistakes, and brought upon the estate as much trouble, as he possibly could. He had probably used one of those printed forms which had cost him a few pence, and by doing so he had involved the estate in a very considerable sum, whereas if he had gone to a qualified solicitor, and paid probably a guinea, he would have had a will made in a proper way and saved a great deal of trouble, annoyance, and money. He was a stationer in Chester, carrying on business in several places, and in January, 1896, he wrote out a document which he called a deed of gift, by which he gave to his wife, Sarah Parry, a house for her sole use and enjoyment. It was conceded on all sides that that document had no effect as a conveyance, and therefore after the execution of that docu- ment the house remained the property of the gentleman who professed to give it away. In the month of August following Mr. Parry made his will, and in that will he gave certain specified things to his wife absolutely. He gave her his household furniture, all the cash ledgers and day books in his several placos of business, and he further directed that at the death of his wife every- thing be equally divided between my two children, Alfred and Minnie Parry, but in no case shall any division be made until both shall have attained the age of 21, and should either of them die before that age is attained without issue, then their share shall revert to the survivor." At the time of making that will he was possessed of the house he had professed to give away, and had at that time disposing power over it. The question was what did the word everything mean in the will; did it mean everything other than those things he had specifically given to his wife, or did it include everything, and if it included everything in the ordinary sense of the word, did it include this particular house he had given away before? In his opinion the word everything" must be taken in its ordinary common-sense meaning, and he had come to the conclusion that it included the house. The boy Alfred Parry was testator's only son, and therefore under ordinary circumstances would have been his heir at law. The question arose-who took this property, this house in the meantime between the death of the testator and the arrival of the day when the division was to be made between the two children ? He had looked up cases bearing on the question, and had come to the conclusion that until the decease of Mrs. Parry, and the arrival of the youngest of the children at the age of 21, the house vested in the heir at law, the son, and he would then be in the position of having to divide it with his sister; in the meantime it was his. He found that the son on June 18th last transferred by deed all interest he might have in any shape or form to his mother, there- fore the mother stood in his shoes. He was not sorry to see that, because it would probably work out to what the parties wanted, that the widow should enjoy the property during her life. and that half, at all events, should go to the daughter when she attained the age of 21. Therefore, there woaH be a declaration that the deceased did no aie in- testate as to the freehold and hereditaments, that the life interests vested in the son, and ultimately, the daughter would be entitled to at least half the property. If there was any desire to sell the property, the court would be disposed to see to the investment of one-half the nett proceeds of the sale on behalf of the infant, and, of course, if she died it would be- come the mother's entirely. Mr. Brassey explained that the matter arose originally owing to Mrs. Tranter's wish to dispose of the property. His Honour directed that the costs should come out of the general estate. Mr. Mason: With the usual counsel's allow- ance. His Honour: Yes.

DON'T LOOK OLD. With advancing1 years greyness increases. Stop this with LOCKYER'S STKLPHUB HAIB RESTORES, which darkens to the former colour and preserves the appearance Lockyer's keeps off ravages of time, by darkening the grey streaks. Large cheap bottles.

BISHOP OF CHFrER AND LICENSING REFORM. 4. PUBLIC-HOUSE A PUBLIC TRUST. Writing to the Press of Saturday, the Bishop of Chester says: Sir,-It cannot be doubted that licensing reform will be taken seriously in hand by the new Parliament. That such reform is urgently needed has been declared with unanimous and emphatic voice by the Royal Commission, and the points of agreement between the two sec- tiona of the Commission as to the details of re- form were sufficiently numerous and important to supply a broad basis for legislation. It therefore behoves every good citizen to use his influence towards securing at least a solid in- stalment of these long-talked-of, sorely needed, and largely agreed upon improvements. But apart from legislation-or rather con- currently with it as its cordial and intelligent ally,—there is another method of reform which has been slowly but surely winning its way to recognition and adoption in the teeth of mani- fold opposition. I mean the method of placing the public-house in public hands, that it may be managed as a public trust with a single eye to the welfare of the people. I need not recount the long list of thoso—beginning with Mr. Gladstone, Mr. Chamberlain, and the late Duke of Westminster, and coming down to Lord Grey and the Bishop of Durham—who have set their weighty seal to the principle of public management. The tale is admirably told in Messrs. Roundtree and Sherwell's thorough book on temperance reform, which has carried conviction to the minds of an ever-in- creasing majority of even advanced temperance reformers. It is being more and more under- stood that to stand delicately aloof from the public-house^.andj try jto regulate it by merely external restrictions is not enough. You MUST REFORM IT FROM WITHIN. The licensing laws and authorities must have a friend and colleague in the publican himself, as the servant of reforming employers. You must change the whole motive of the management of what is, for better or for worse, an inevitable national institution.You must, as nearly as possible, reorganise it.on the lines of a public trust. Further, Lord Grey's recent letter, by the.vivid illustration he gave from his own ex- perience of the enormous unearned value of a licence, has made men realise what vast sums of public money have been poured into private pockets under our present licensing system. Licensing magistrates had in many cases already come to see this, and the reluctance to grant, a really required licence to a new popu- lation has been not seldom due to this reason among others. But what has the refusal too often meant ? The introduction of what is known in some quarters as "The Club Fiend" —a mischief in comparison with which the evils of the ordinary public-house are tolerable. Again, temperance men cannot shut their eyes to the demonstrable fact that the only possible alternative to a universal tied-house system is a strong system of public management. We need not paint the tied-house system in unfairly dark colours. But we are bound to say this— that the main object of a tied-house is, and must be, to sell as much of the tying company's beer as can be sold without imperilling the licence. This is not the object which ought to dominate the very valuable and vital monopoly of licensed victualling. The retail trade cannot be con- sidered in a satisfactory position so long as it consists of a series of channels down which the powerful brewery companies competitively POUR THEIR RIVAL ALES into the throats of people. Take the system at its best, and it will be none the worse (the nation will assuredly be none the worse) for the healthy competition of a different system, organised with a fixed view to the public service. I say this is the only possible alterna- tive to a universal tied-house system, for the free" houses have no cohesion and are rapidly passing into^the hands of their all-absorbing neighbours. Indeed, while temperance men have been engaged in internecine strife the brewery companies have been quietly taking possession of all but the whole land and entrenching the position till it is all but impregnable. As yet unoccupied territory con- sists of (1) the districts in which new licences are required or will hereafter be required for new populations; (2) the remnant of "free" houses, most of them belonging to landowners who are public-spirited enough to be anxious that their inns should be managed for the people's good if only they could find an agency to do this. Let me now pass from the principle and the need to what has been done and is about to be done towards giving effect to that principle and meeting that need. For what has been done in other countries I must refer your readers to Messrs. Rowntree and Sherwell's book. I must also refer to the report of the Licensing Com- mission for accounts of experiments in England and Scotland, such as the Hill of Beath, the Eian Valley, and the Rev. Osbert Mordaunt's houses. Lord Grey, in his letter, mentioned the People's Refreshment House Association, a MODEST PIONEER ENTERPRISE, starved a few years ago, which now has twelve houses under its management, and which might have bad many more had not its operations been designedly tentative and cautious. The success of the association has, thus far, been very encouraging. It has been found by experience that public-houses managed on its lines can win the approval of the neighbour- hood in which they are situated, can pay the strictly limited amount of interest on capital, and after providing for contingencies, also have some surplus profits, which are distributed as the articles of association direct by the presi- dent and vice-presidents after consultation with the local authorities of various kinds. Of course, we have had our difficulties, but they have been very few. With one or two exceptions the managers, who are most carefully chosen, have turned out well, and we have never had a case before the magistrates. I am glad also to be able to state that we have seen no signs hitherto of unfair interference by our rivals of the trade." After all we too sell, and shall sell, beer, buying it from the best brewers. But the association in its original form is unfitted to deal with the field of business which is opening rapidly and widely before it, and it has, therefore, been determined to form, under the leadership of the association, strengthened by public-spirited men of large business experience, a new company built on larger lines which will be able to act as the centre of operations throughout the country. The pre- cise relation of the new company to the present association has not yet been determined, but I need not say that in any case it will be a very close and cordial relation. Perhaps I may be allowed to say that those who are at the head of this development are united in the conviction that,philanthropy cannot afford to dispense with the most approved business methods. The undertaking will be managed with the thorough- ness and alertness which characterise our typical business enterprises. Two things will be kept steadily in view-first it will be stamped indelibly with the character of A PUBLIC TRVST, and, next, it will aim at discharging its trust I both to those who subscribe the necessary capital and to the people for whose benefit licensed victualling snouia De carried on, on title soundest business lines. But the Central Association looks forward to the formation of lœl associations with which it will co-operate. Oae such has already been set on foot in North- umberland, as the result of the Lord Lieu- tenant's letter. Its general plan resembles that of the People's Refreshment House Association. Its president and vice-president, to whom the important task of allocating surplus profits belongs, will include such representative men as the Lord Lieutenant, the chairman of the Quarter Sessions, the chairman of the County Council, the Mayor of Newcastle, and the heads of the principal religious bodies, if they are willing to serve. The list of shareholders already includes some of the weightiest names in the county. It will be observed that the present plan does not touch the thorny compensation question, and I venture to think that the press of this country will be glad to make known, and that the people will be interested to hear, what has been done and is about to be done in this matter, and that a plan of temperance reform which has run the gauntlet of trenchant criticism from every side through a long course of years, but has come out of the ordeal with unabated vigour and vitality, will now receive a frank welcome, and be effectively supported in its honest and surely not unpromising en- deavours to brighten and sweeten the lives of the people.—Yours, Ac., F. J. CEBTB. The Palace, Chester, Nov. 2, 1900.

^—T-mfivyr- ?- CHESTER ASSIZES. The autumn assizes for the county of Chester were opened on Friday morning at Chester Castle, before Mr. Justice Bigham. The calandar was of an unusually light character, containing the names of only seventeen prisoners, the most serious charges being two of manslaughter. His Lordship was accompanied on the Bench by the High Sheriff of the County (Mr. B. C. Roberts) and his chaplain (the Rev. J. F. Howson). "REMARKABLE DIMINUTION OF CRIME/' CAUSES EDUCATION AND GOOD WAGES. His Lordship, in his charge to the Grand Jury, of which Mr. Horace D. Trelawny, Shot- wick Park, was foreman, remarked that there had been a remarkable diminution of crime during the last twelve months, not merely in particular localities, but generally throughout the country. The diminution was observable in agricultural, manufacturing, and in mining districts alike. In his opinion the plentiful supply of work and good wages accounted for mucn of the improve- ment. Home people thought that a full purse in the hands of the working man meant drink and consequent crime. He was not disposed to take that view. He had taken pains to make enquiries during his short stay in this part of the world about the condition of the workingman, and had found that, though they were in receipt of good wages there was little or no drunkenness, and almost an entire absence of crime. Good wages were a condition of health, comfort, and decency, and, so far from conducing to crime and encouraging drunken- ness, they diminished crime. It was poverty and distress which led to drink and crime. Prosperity which resulted from honest labour taught men to value money and induced habits of frugality and care. But besides plentiful work and good wages there was another cause which gradually, but surely, was tending to a diminution of crime. Education was making itself felt throughout the land. For many years its effects were not noticeable, but the crop which they began to sow thirty years ago was now coming to harvest, and bringing to them order, intelli- gence and prosperity. It was thought by many that the poorer classes were being over- educated, with the result that they were un- fitted for the labours they had to perform. He thought that was a mistaken view. There was, in his opinion, far more dignity in the position of a well-paid mestianic clad in working clothes than in the position of an under-paid clerk with shabby broad cloth on his back, and he believed the people of this country were finding this out, and were recognising the fact that there was nothing inconsistent in good educa- tion and honest manual labour. The Germans had long ago found that out, and we were finding it out also. Let them, therefore, go on with education. The results so far had been of the happiest character. The other causo working for the diminution of crime bad already begun to produce its effect—he referred to the war, which was now drawing to its close, and to the spirit of patriotism which that war had invoked throughout the whole of the Empire. If our ixlera only had the wisdom and the strength to take to heart and to turn to use the lessons which the war had taught them, if they had the will and the ability to avail themselves of the evident desire of our young men to serve in the defence of their country, to make soldiers of themselves, and to interest themselves in the maintenance of the Empire and teach them habits of order and obedience, they would probably do more to check crime than had ever before been accom- plished in this land. TRIALS OF PRISONERS. ACQUITTAL. Richard Edwards (60), labourer, was acquitted on a charge of stealing a quantity of scrap iron, the property of the London and North- Western Railway Company, at Crewe. Mr. D. A. V. Colt Williams appeared for the prose- cution. A DISHONEST COOK. Margaret Worsley (56), cook, pleaded guilty to obtaining money by false pretences at Nant- wich and Crewe, and to stealing a lady's jacket at Nantwieh, in October. These were several previous convictions, and she was sentenced to 12 calendar months' hard labour. A WORTHLESS WOMAN. Emily Brown, alias Jane Benton, 31, servant, was indicted for obtaining by false pretences from Emma Blanche Dearden, the sum of 3s. 6d., at Sale, on the 15th of March, and further for obtaining in a similar manner from Maria Cobinn 2s, 4d. at Sale, on the 20th of April, with intent to defraud.— Mr. Morris appeared for the prosecution.-His Lordship said prisoner had during her life been constantly committing acts of dishonesty, and had never for years settled down to honest employment, being constantly in trouble. She would be sentenced to 12 calendar months' imprisonment. THE LISCARD TRAGEDY. The Grand Jury found no true bill against Emily Moore, 21, servant, who was indicted for the manslaughter of her newly-born female child at Liscard on the 10th September.— Mr. W. B. Yates, who appeared for the prosecu- tion, did not offer any evidence on the coroner's inquisition.—Tbe jury returned a verdict of not guilty, and prisoner was accordingly discharged. ALLEGED MANSLAUGHTER. PRISONER ACQUITTED. John Alderson (36), beerhouse-keeper, Man- chester, was charged with the man- slaughter of an old woman named Margaret Mannion, at Timperley. Mr. Trevor Lloyd prosecuted, and Mr. R. V. Bankes defended. It was statedfor the prosecution that the prisoner and another man, who had been to an agricul- tural show, drove along the road at a furious pace, knocking Mrs. Mannion down. She sustained injuries which resulted in her death. Prisoner, who was driving at the time, was under the influence of drink. Prisoner and his companion evidently drove off. but were followed by a cyclist, who caught them at a public-house at Northenden, and informa- tion was givon to the police. Mr. Bankes, addressing the jury, pointed out that no one saw the woman run over, and denied that the prisoner was drunk, or was driving I at a furious pace. Prisoner suffered from epilepsy, and that might give him the ap- pearance of having been drinking. Tne horse which prisoner was driving was an old and timid animal, and swerved to one side of the road when passing a traction engine. Prisoner never observed anyone on the road, and drove on without the slightest idea he had knocked the woman down. Witnesses were called to prove that prisoner was not under the influence of drink, and Dr. Helme, who was sent for to see prisoner in the police cell, said prisoner had an epileptic seizure in the coll and previously appeared very excited.—The jury returned a verdict of Not guilty," and prisoner was discharged. SATURDAY. His Lordship took his seat at 10.30. POACHING AFFRAY. Charles Warburton (25), salt boiler; Walter Lewis (25), gas stoker; William Lewis (30), labourer; John Carter (37), labourer; Thomas Blackburn (40), labourer; Jobeph Clewes (38), labourer; and Robert Wrench (34), labourer; were placed in the dock on a charge of night poaching while armed with bludgeons on Mr. W. H. Verdin's Darnhall Hall estate, near Winsford. I Mr. Trevor Lloyd prosecuted, and the prisoners were defended the first three by Mr. Mont- gomery and the remainder by Mr. Colt Williams. The case for the prosecution was that on the evening of August 2nd, between 10 and 11 o'clock, Herbert Fulger, head game- keeper to Mr. Verdin, accompanied by Wyatt, under gamekeeper, and John Bishop, coachman, in the same employment, started out to watch for poachers. About 1245, when they were on a farm in the occupation of Mrs. Davenport, they heard a squealing of rabbits, and on going in the direction of the squealing they saw four men, who threw stones at them. Fulger lit a torch, and was able to identify the men. The men ran away, and he followed with his companions. They bad gone about two or three hundred yards when they came upon four other men. The eight poachers then ranged themselves in a row with bludgeons over their shoulders, and Warburton said to the keepers "Come on, you Fulger replied I am coming." He was about eight yards off the men when he was struck in the jaw by a stone, which partly stunned him, and he dropped the torch. He had been previously hit on the chest by a stone. Fulger in conse- quence of his injuries was in bed elevon days. Fulger and his companions were confident that prisoners were the men who were poaching. MONDAY. The business of these Assizes was resumed on Monday morning, Mr. Justice Bigham taking his seat in the Crown Court, at 10 o'clock. SERIOUS CHARGE NOT PROVED. Michael Joseph Cavanagh (24), labourer, was* indicted for feloniously robbing Mary Bennett and stealing from her £1 8a. in money, a purse, and a handkerchief, and using personal vio- lence to her at Poulton-cum-Seacombe, on the 8th September. Mr. Burke Wood prosecuted. The evidence for the prosecution was to the effect tlAt Mary Bennett (now Mrs. Webster), employed at a restaurant in New Brighton, and living at 5, Brighton place, Seacombe, went out at 10.30 p.m. to do some shopping for her wedding. She was accompanied by her fellow-lodger, Kate Maddocks, and the prisoner and another man accosted them, and they paired off, the prisoner with the prosecutrix and the other man with Kate Maddocks. The prosecutrix said she did not know her way very well, and the prisoner offered to take her a short way to her lodgings. He conducted her down a "cul de sac," and then seizing her by the neck, struck her and knocked her down. The prisoner then grasped her by the throat and committed the robbery. She screamed and seized him by the coat-tails as he was trying to get away. Then. Inspector Bramhall came upon the scene, and,, after a chaee, apprehended the prisoner. He- heard cries of Police and Murder." When 20 yards away he saw the prisoner strike the woman violently, knocking her down. The prisoner elected to give evidence on his own behalf. His story was that Mary Bennett took him down the passage. He denied the assault, and accounted for his being in possession of her purse by saying that he took the purse out of her hand with the intention of taking out of it some money which he had previously given her. His Lordship, in summing up, pointed out that the prisoner might have gone to make her purchases at nine o'clock instead of going at so late an hour as half-past 10 when most shops were closed. Was it conceivable that any respectable woman at nearly midnight would go down a dark passage with a strange man- who was not sober ? The jury returned a verdict of Not guilty," and the prisoner was discharged.

MOLD AND DENBIGH JUNCTION RAILWAY. ♦ Mr. P. P. Pennant presided at the 71st half- yearly general meeting of this company at Palmerston-buildings, London, on Tuesday afternoon, and in moving the adoption of the report and accounts, said the questions between the company and the London and North- Western Company as to the correct interpreta- tion of the works' agreement between the companies were heard by the Railway Commission on the 7th August. The Court had decided in favour of this company in their contention that they were entitled to a share in terminals at private sidings. The second point related to terminals at the stations on the Mold and Denbigh Junction Railway. From- the opening of the line the receipts from these terminals had always been treated as local receipts, and 50 per cent. of the amount bad always been paid to this company as part of the revenue. The Commission, how- ever, had decided in accordance with the con- tention of the London and North-Western Railway Company that a strict construction of the agreement would give this company only 50 per cent. of a mileage of these receipts. Of course, this decision had affected most con- siderably the returns of the past half-year, and had reduced an increase of about 9100 into decrease of X127. The lead mines in the dis- trict were doing fairly well, but there was no coal in the district. The rent charges and in- terests due on debenture stock A on the 1st ult. had been duly paid, and the directors recommended that a payment at the rate of L- 1 17,3. 6d. per cent. be made on account of in" terest due on debenture stock B." The traffic receipts due to the company amounted to £ 3,035 6i. 9d., being a decrease of 1127 63. 10d. as compared with the corresponding period of last year.—Mr. F. P. Robjent seconded the resolution, which was carried, and the meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the chair' man.

TARPORLEY HUNT CLUB. « PRIZE COMPETITIONS. An event which has long been associated with the opening of the hunting season in Cheshire is the annual show of horses under the auspice& of the Tarporley Hunt Club, which was held otL Wednesday at Tarporley. In contrast to what was experienced last year, the climatic condj- tions left little to be desired for gathering of this description. Arouid a roped enclosure was gathered a considerable concourse of farmers and others from the surrounding district, while within the ring there was alarg9 muster of hunting ladies and gentlemen, weskr- ing, for the most part, the far-famed green collar of the club. Among these were Sir Humphrey de Trafford (the newly-elected president of the Tarporley Hunt Club), the Earl of Enniskillen (master of the North- Cheshire), Lord and Lady Delamere, Lady Kathleen Cole, Sir Philip and Lady Grey* Egerton and party, the Hon. Alan de Tattoo Egerton, M.P., Baron Schroder, Mr. H. E. aQ<* Mrs. Wilbraham and Miss Hope, Mr. Tollemache, M.P., Colonel Cornwall Legh, Mr. George Barbour, Mr. C. E. Thornycrott, Colonel G. Dixon, Mr..R, Corbet, Colonel and Mrs. and the Misses Cotton-Jodrell, Colonel Piers Egerton Warburton, Mr. J. B. LittiodalO, Mr. Gordon Houghton, Captain Baldwin, Mr* James Tomkinson, M.P., and Mrs. and party, Mr. J. Marshall Brookos, Mr. Lee Townshend, Captain Higson, Major Kearsley, the Misses Threlfall and party, Captain Beatty, Mir. Walter Jones, Colonel Jocelyn, Mr. J. k- Birkett, Mr. J. E. Reiss, Lioutenaut-Coloue Frewen, Captain Featheratonhaugh, Mr. T. Linnell (secretary), Mr. H. Hewitt, Mr. Cawley, &c. The yearlings were upon by Colonel Henry Tomkinson and Mr. E. Thornycroft, and the three-year-old four-year-old classes by Sir H. do Trafford a»»v Mr. R. Corbet, while Lord Delamere, Mr. H. Wilbraham, and Mr. J. B. Littledale Under, took similar duties in respect" of *bf jumping competitions. Th« inrlcroa did n"? consider the exhibits in the three-year-old the four-year-old classes up to tho standard previous years, but the yearlings were, and was a gratifying feature of the show, inasma^ as it indicated that the inducements oSete<* by the club and by members individually farmers to breed good hunting stock had gone for nothing. There was not a numorO of entry in the yearling class, but they were tf the right stamp, and the three prize-willnero were full of promising qualities and were e<J. to anything previously shewn. The was about up to the average. There was good entry (24), and some of the competill; animals ran very evenly. The following is prize list Four-year-old mare or gelding, suitable tor hoc ing purposes, bred and owned by bona-fide frtUj; whose sole occupation is farming, within the of the Cheshire Hunt. Horses competing for prize to jump two flights of hurdles. First Pg*J £ 10 second, £ 5; third, £ 3 1, Mr. O. fi. F. keth's, by Sydenham; 2, Mr. Joseph Lewis's 3, Mr. liichard Hall's r, Mr. G. Hodaon's, PJ Fenrother. Three-year-old mare or gelding, suitable hunting purposes, bred and owned by bona, farmers, whose sole occupation is farming, wlLnjr M the limits of the Cheshire Hunt. Horses comp^-Vg^. JB for thi3 prize to jump two flights of hurdles. >a M prize, £ 8; seoond, £ 4: 1, Mr. Evan Langfie^ M Tommy by Innisfail; 2, Mr. John Proacott'B, -9 Innisfail; 3, Mr. O. E. F. Hesketh's Safety. j| Melton II.; r, Mr. A. E. Hesketh's B Atkins, by Ueaulieu. -S Y«arlings, by the Tarporley Hunt Club stalu • bred and owned by bona-fide farmers, whose s Jjjg occupation is farming, within the limits of SH Cheshire Hunt. First prize, £ 7; second, \MjQ third, £ 2: 1, Mr. John Prescott's, by Innisfaii>, Mr. John Simpson's; 3, Mrs. Ann Rutter s> Innisfail; r, Mr. Samuel Moss', by Innisfail. t J urn ping competition, for horses that have j won a first prize in a jumping competition, o and owned by bona-fide farmers, whose sole pation is farming, within the limits of the Cheal^rr> Hunt. First prize, £ 5; second, £ 3: 1> ( Robert Shepherd's, by Blair Drnmmond 2, M** r j Eley, jun.'s; r, Mr. W. H. Lowe's N»i* and Mr. 0. E. F. Hesketh's Flaghorn.

THBOAT AFFECTIONS AND HOABSKNESS. — BEOW*. BEONCHIAL THOCHFS, which, have proved so successtu* America for tbe Cure of Coughs, Colds, Hoarse11* Bronchitis, Asthwa, Catarrh, or any irritatiou or so aess of the threat, are now imported and sold ,«<? £ country at 1/i j per box. Put up m the form of a -°^rie3j' it is the most convenient, pleasat.t, safe and sure r aX\fc for clearing and strengthening the voice in the No family should be without them. The geutiiL-e the words UBOWN'S BUOKCHIAI, TKOCUISS" R Government stamp around each box.—Loudon 33, Farriugdon.read, and of all Patent Mcdicine e 1 M