The North Wales Times

-e- FRIDAY, MARCH 5TH. HOUSE OF LORDS. Lord Castletown introduced the question of Irish financial relations, and moved that the references to the proposed new Commission on the subject be laid upon the table of the House for discussion. He maintained that logically, legally, and financially Ireland was entitled to a redress—not as a beggar, not as a suppliant, but as a suitor in the constitutional court of the Empire. He suggested that an Irish Con- solidated Fund should be created, to be man. aged by Irish financiers, and utilised to pro- mote Irish agriculture and industries. Lord Landsdowne maintained that the case was one for further inquiry. The majority of Mr. Childers's Commission seemed to regard Ireland as entitled to her own political and financial system. But that was a solution of the dfficulity against which the people of this country had decided in the most unmistakable manner. It was idle to treat the question of financial relations without considering both sides of the account—expenditure as well as revenue. In the view of the Government it was impossible to deal with this important matter without much fuller information than they had at present befere them. Earl Spencer joiaed in the discussion, and re- marked that, in his opinion, it was more than probable the only eventual solution would be found in a safe and w,ill-considered measure of Home Rule. The motion was agreed to.

DENBIGH INTERMEDIATE EDUCATION SCHEME. MEETING OF THE COUNTY GOVERNING BODY. THE general meeting of the County Govern- ing Body was held at the County Hall, Ruthin, on Friday. Mr. Thomas Gee presi- ded, the other members present being Messrs. J. E. Powell, Samuel Moss, Edward Hooson, Thomas Parry (Colwyn Bay), W. G, Dodd, and James Clarke (Llangollen), J. W. Lumley, Professor J. E. Lloyd (Bangor), the Mayor of Ruthin (Mr. Ezra, Roberts), Dr. J. Medwyn Hughes (Ruthin) Charles Dodd. (Wr xham), Mrs. Parker Davies (Abergele), Mrs. R. J. Powell (Wrexham), Miss Gee (Denbigh), and the clerk (Mr. John Ro- berts). ABERGELE SCHOOL. The Clerk reported that at a recent meet- ing of the committee, a letter was read from I Mr. John Williams, vice-chairman of the Abergele school Governors, and submitted to the Finance Committee for consideration, with a direction to consider the desirability of making a, reduction of I per cent from the annual grant of the other schools, to enable the County Governing Body to assist the Abergele Local Governors. The matter had been considered by the Finance Committee, but they had failed to discover a modus oper- andi for carrying out the suggestion, and the Finance Committee decided to place the matter on the agenda for discussion at the I present meeting. Mr. J. Powell asked Mr. W. G. Dodd, who was conversant with the financial aspects of I the education question in the county, whe- ther there was any surplus at the disposal of the Governing Body from which they could give this assistance to Abergele ? They knew perfectly well that Abergele did not receive what it would have received had it been anticipated that the school would be so successful there. Mr. Dodd said there was already a deficit on the annual fund, and he failed to see that they had any money to assist Abergele. The Chairman suggested the adjournment of the question in order to ascertain the views of the County Council, After further discussion, Mr. James Clarke proposed 'that in con- sideration of the technical instruction given in the Intermediate school, that an applica- tion be made to the County Council to make a contribution equal to one eighth of a penny in the £ cowards that instruction under the Technical Instruction Act of 1889, Mr. Powell seconded, and the motion was unanimously carried. A PROTEST FROM LLANDRILLO, A. letter was read from the Llandrillo and Eirias School Board, protesting against the erection of permanent buildings at Abergele at present. The letter called attention to the fact that five years ago, when the tem- porary school premises were established at Abergele, it was decided that the question of establishing permanent buildings should be considered when the proper time came,, with the view of giving due consideration to the claims of Colwyn Bay as well as Aber- gele. The Clerk said he had replied to the letter to the following ofleet' The protest your board makes cannot have any effect, for it has been determined since the 6tb

HOUSE OF COMMONS. Sir C. Dilke asked whether the Graek Note of the 10th of February could be laid before Parliament, together with any subsequent statement of the case of the Greek Government in possession of the Government. Mr. Curzon said the Greek Notes would no I doubt be laid in due course, together with other papers, but there wa, the less necessity to lay the note of February 10th, inasmuch as it would appear to have been communic. ted already to the press by the Greek Govern- ment. Sir W. Harcourt asked Mr. Balfour whether he could state the terms of the demand made npon the Sultan by Her Majesty's Government in concert with the other Powers, particularly the conditions imposed with regard to the re- moval of the Turkish troops from Crete, and whether, in the case of Greece, a fixed date had been assigned for the compulsory assent of the Porte to the conditions imposed. Mr. Balfour replied that he was not in a position to answer the question, in consequence of the Government not having received from our Ambassador at Constantinoble authentic intelligence of precisely what had been done in the matter of the presentation of the Note to the Porte. Sir W. Harcourt asked whether, as the position was very critical, andtlxeHause would not meet again nntil Monday, Mr. Balfour would be able to give any further information before the adjournment of the House. Mr. Balfour said it was extremely probable he would have the information before the close of the business, and in that case he would communicate it to the House. Mr. Balfour, in reply to Col. Duncombe, said hisfattention bad been called to the letter signed by members of the House and sent to the King of Greece. Without expressing any opinion on the action of the members who signed the letter, he might say that he did not anticipate that any serious consequences would ensue seeing that the document was signed by less than one-sixth of the members of the House. immediately after a debate on the foreign policy of the Government, upon which no di- vision was challenged. On the motion to go into Committee of Supply on the Navy estimates, Sir C. Dilke called attention to the question of relative strength in ships and men. He contended that with regard to the other maritime Powers, we had gone backwards instead of forward. While this country was building vessels much faster than formerly, yet it was a fact that relatively other Powers were gaining upon us This country had also a larger number of ineffective ships armed with muzzle-loading guns than any of the European Powers. Refering to the manning of the navy, he complained that it was short of trained engineers and trained stokers. He also complained that our system of reserve would not give the navy anything like a Continental reserve, and that though there were 11,000 men in the reserve ready in case of war, sufficient allowance had not been made for the necessary waste during the first few weeks of war. Mr. Goschen said that with regard to the navy they were now in a translation period. Within a comparatively short space of years they had increased their power by at least 50 per cent, and also their personnel, and with such rapid progress there must be difficulties that could only be conquered by time. As 1-0 the reserve, steps were being taken to encourage the fishermen to join it, and he had little doubt the experiment would be successful. They could not produce trained officers, stokers, sailors, or engineers at once They must be gradually got, and the difficulty was all the greater owing to the position of the mercantile marine. The Admiralty policy, therefore, was marine. The Admiralty policy, therefore, was not to increase the number of men at a greater rate than they could train them and supply them with guns and all the necessarry equip ment of warfare. He believed that men would be found for all the ships that could be used at the same time. In five years, including the present financial year, they had added 26 000 men to the navy. The total number of men to be voted this year was, in round figures, 100,000, and if they added the 6,000 additional next year there would be 106,000. In case we went to war to-morrow with two great mari- time Powers we should have, Mr. Goschen de- clared, a distinct superiority not- only in num- bers but in the class of our ships. Sir J. Colomb rno-ed a resolution to the effect that it was desirable to station such Royal Marine forces at the naval bases and defended coaling ports abroad as were required for the general service of the naval stations. The debate was closured, and Sir J. Colomb's amendment was then rejected by 110 votes to 30.

-< ■■■■« MONDAY, MARCH 8TH. HOUSE OF LORDS. Lord Templetown moved the second reading of a bill to give the Parliamentary franchise to women. The Duke of Devonshire moved the previous question, and said that, in the absence of the Premier, he had been asked to give the House the advice which the Marquis would have offered. It would be an undesirable and per- haps an unseemly course for their lordships' House to undertake what was, or what pur- ported to be, a reform of the House of Com- mons. It was generally acknowledged that the proper function of the House of Lords was to review and to weigh, calady and deliberately, the legislative proposals which came to them from the other Chamber, and to afford the country and Parliament itself an opportunity for the reconsideration of what might appear to them an im ature proposal. lie did not think any useful action which their lordships might take in this (hrection in the future would be assisted if they were now to adops the pre- cedent of pressing upon the consideration of the other House legislative measures of the charac- ter contained in the present bill. In his opinion the character of the House of Commons for sobriety of judgment was not enhanced when on a Wednesday afternoon, after a short debate, the principle of a "measure like that was affirmed. He regretted that it was left to the leader of the Opposition to point out that a proposal such as that could only properly be made upon the authority of the Government, or at any rate the authority of some responsible leader of a party. Lord Kimberley expressed his satisfaction wiq the Duke's statement. The amendment was agreed to without a division and the bill rijected.

HOUSE OF COMMONS. Sir C. Dilke moved an instruction to the effect that any petition of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants praying to be heard against certain clauses of the Great Northern Railway Bill should be referred to the Committee, and that the petitioners might be heard by themselves, their counsel, and agents on their petition against the bill. The clauses in question relate to the formation of benefit societies by the Company, and Sir C. Dilkeheld' that as this was a matter that closely affected the men, their representatives ought at least to be heard by the Committee. <> Mr. Lough seconded the motion, which, after some discussion, was defeated by 188 votes to 145 Sir C. DUke then moved a similar instruc- tion with respect to the Lancashire and York. shire Railway Bill. He said the Company alleged that the pension fund was not compul- sory upon any of the servants of the company and that that was stated in the bill itself. He was personally acquainted with the benefits of similar funds where the same provision existed, and it was said not to be compulsory, but it was compulsory. The Registrar General of Friend- ly Societies had reported in an unusually strong manner against one of the clauses of the bill. Mr. Lough seconded the motion, which was defeated, after a long diseussion, by 212 votes to 176. Answering Mr. Field, Sir M. White Ridley said he was not aware of any sufficient reason for disturbing the arrangement with regard to private asylums made by Parliament six years ago. Mr. Curzon, replying to Mr. W. Johnston, said the position of British missions and British subjects generally in Madagascar was receiving the attention ot the Government who were about to address a representation to the French Government on the subject. Replying to Mr. J. H. Heaton, Mr. Hanbury said the Government did not propose to take any steps to acquire, either by compulsion or agreement, the business of the National Tele- phone Company. Sir J. Gorst, replying to Mr Carvell Wil- liams said the Committee of Council on Educa- tion consisted of the Lord President (tie Duke of Devonshire), the Marquis of Salisbury, the Home Secretary, the First Lord of the Ad- miralty, and himself. Mr. Bryce asked if it was a part of the scheme for the autonomy of Crete that the Governor should ke a Christian, should be ap- pointed by or with the consent of the Powers, and should not be removable by the Sultan. Mr. Curzon said it was impossible for the Government to pledge the other Powers to any course until their decision had been arrived at. Mr. Curzon informed Mr. J. Lowther that it was not the case that the reinforcement of Candamos and other Turkish garrisons in Crete was prevented, while the Diol osal, assented to by all the other Great Powers, to prohibit the importation of arms and volunteers for the insurgent forces was rejected by the Govern- ment. Answering Mr. Leigh, Mr. Curzon said that on the 4th inst. the Rodney, with the British Consul on board, lef+ Canea for Selino, with orders to do all that was possible to relieve Candamos. She was followed by a French and a Russian man-of-war with similar orders. The captain of the Scout reported on the 6th inst. that Candamos was in no immediate danger. The first Lord of the Admiralty had just re- ceived a telegram to the effect that a force of between 500 an > 600 men was )n the point of being landed at Selino. Sir W. Harcourt asked Mr. Balfour if he would stlte to the House the terms of the original Note addressed by the Powers to Turkey and the supplemental Note relating to the rerrovol of the Turkish troops from Crete, and whether the Notes addressed to Turkey had been presented in the form of an ultimatum, and a fixed term assigned, as in the case of Greece, for the compulsory assent of the Porte to those terms. Mr. Balfour replied that, though it was rather late in the day, he had at last been able to lay on the table the two Notes-the note to Greece and the Note to Turkey. Neither the Note to Greece nor the Note to Turkey ran in the form of an ultimatum but there was undoubtedly a difference in the form-a difference justified by the fact that Greece was notoriously acting in defiance or against the wishes of the Powers of Europe while Turkey had shown no desire, as far as they knew, to resist in any way the policy which the six Great Powers had agreed apon. The House then went into Committee on the Voluntary Schools Bill, resuming consideration of the second sub-section of clause 1. Mr. Lloyd-George moved an amendment the effect of which was to stipulate that the aid grant should be distributed not 'as the Educa- tion Department think best,' but in accord- ance with a scheme to be formulated by the De- partment and laid before Parliament. After some debate Mr. B dfour moved the closure, which was carried by 212 votes to 79. The amendment was then rejected by 221 votes to 73. Mr. S. Buxton moved to leave out certain words for the purpose of obtaining from the Government a definition of what was meant by the words 'necegoitous schools.' The Attorney General said the question was asked for the sixteenth or seventeenth time. No definition could possibly define the varying conditions under which a school should be properly necessitous. Mr. Balfour moved the closure, which was carried by 265 votes to 111, and the amendment was then defeated by 280 votes to 116. Mr. Balfour then claimed that the words of the sextion down to the word due be put. The effect was to closure dis- cussion of the words increasing their effici- ency' and to shut out several amendments. The closure was carried by 275 votes to 119, and the motion that the words stand part of the bill was carried by 294 votes to 115. The Committee then proceeded to consider the words'due regard being had to the main- tenance of Voluntary Schools. Mr. Lambert moved an amendment stipula- ting that no school should be helped the volun- tary subscriptions in support of which fell short of the average of the past three years, and it was still under discussion when the House adjourned.

TUESDAY, MARCH 9TH. HOUSE OF LORDS. Lord Londonderry moved the second reading of the Working Men's Dwelling Bill, the object of which is to enable local authorities to ad- vance sums not exceeding f,150 to workmen for the purchase of their houses. The measure would, his Lordship said, be welcome! by I workmen, especially in the densely populated districts of the North, and the big majority which the Government boasted was largely due to the promise that they would initiate social legislation to benefit the working classes. Lord Harris said the Government did not propose to offer any opposition at that stage, but in the interest of the ratepayers they re- served the right to consider the details of the bill in Committee. The bill was read a second time.

HOUSE OF COMMONS. Mr. G. Balfour, answering a question put by Colonel Saunderson, said the Government had given instructions that a shorthand writer should in future attend meetings similar to the one recently addressed by Mr. W. O'Brien at Cahir, and, should sufficient evidence of intimi- dation be forthcoming, tht Government would not hesitate to enforce the law against any person violating it. 1!1 In answer to Mr. J. Morley, the Chief Secre- tary said no shorthand writer had been sent to a public meeting since he had been in office. Mr. Curzon, replying to Mr. Flynn, said the Collective Note to the Porte and the Identic Note to Greece were both presented on the 2nd inst. The Supplementary Note to the Porte was presented on the 5th, not having received the assent of the Powers at the date of the pre- sentation of the original Note. In answer to Sir E. A. Bartlett, Mr. Curzon said the reply of the Porte was received on the 7th inst., that of the Greek Government that morning.' Replying to Mr. T. Bayley, Mr. A. J. Balfour said he did not admit that the phrase tem- porary occupation of the island of Crete by Turkish soldiers' represented accurately the policy of the Powers. Of course, they were fully alive to the necessity of securing that the gendarmerie should be a ivell-ordered and dis- ciplined force. Mr. Curzon, in reply to Mr. J. Lowther, said that as yet the Foreign Office had received no news of the restoration of peace at Canda- mos. I The House again west into Committee on the Voluntary Schools Bill, and the discussion I was renewed of tke amendment moved by Mr. Lambert toleave out of clause 1, which deals with the distribution of the aid grant, the words due regard being had to the maintenance of voluntary subscriptions' in order to insert the words provided that no school shall be so helped the voluntary subscriptions in support of which fall short of the average of the past three years. After some discussion, Mr. Balfour moved the closure. The motion was carried by 283 votes to 131, and the amendment was then rejected by 285 votes to 130. Sir C. Dilke moved as an amendment that after the words voluntary subscriptions' there should be the following words, 'paid bona fide by private individuals.' The amendment was withdrawn. The Chairman then ruled a number of amend- ments out of order. Mr. Lloyd George subsequently moved the omission of sub-section 3, 4, and 5, which relate to the constitution of associations and the distribution of the grants to schools through their medium. The amendment was rejected by 279 votes to 116.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10TH. HOUSE OF COMMONS. The House resumed consideration in Com- mittee of the third sub-section of the first clause of the Voluntary Schools Bill. Mr. E J. Griffith moved an amendment stipulating that regulations should be laid down for the constitution of the new associations of schools. Mr. Balfour opposed the amendment, and said that the questiou could be better raised on a latter part of the bill. Mr. Acland supported the amendment. Mr. Gray said he believed they were being asked by the Government to make a leap in the dark in the matter of the associations. He was fearful that they might give rise to a large amount of local jealousy and irritation. Sir W. Harcourt and Mr. Asquitn joined in the demand for further light as co the consti- tution of the associations. Mr. Balfour, in reply, said he had not been able think of any Parliamentary regulations that would not be deleterous to the object of the bill. After further discussion, Mr. Balfour moved the closure, which was carried, and the amend- ment was defeated by 232 votes to 106. Mr. Channing moved an amendment to limit the area of associations to urban and rural sanitary authority. Mr. Balfour said the only question they had to determine was whether they would lay down an elaborate statutory obligation dealing with the constitution and area of these associations, or leave them to develop in each district accor- ding to the needs of the district or the class of voluntary schools within it. The Government had unhesitatingly decided that the fluid method was better than the rigid methed; that it was best to leave discretion to the Education De- partment; and that the House would be ill-ad- vised if it attempted to tie down in rigid fettsis the new bodies to be created It would be folly for the House to lay down regulations when it did not know whether these associa- tions would be denominational or not. It might be that the various denominations would not join together to work the scheme of association, and the result might be that there would be different associations covering the same area. After further discussion, the amendment was defeated by 324 votes to 125. The House then resumed. Mr. Curzon, in reply to Sir W. Harcourt, said the replies from the Greek Government and from the Porte would be laid on the table with the utmost possible speed. The Govern- ment had not heard of any Supplementary No te from the Greeke Government. In reply to Mr. J. Lowther, Mr. Curzon said a telegram bad been received announcing the relief of Candanos. The House then adjourned.

RUTHIN. NEW CONSERVATIVE CLUB. Workmen are now busily making the struc- tural alterations for a new Conservative Club, in large and commodious premises opposite the pre- sent Club in Castle Street. It will consist of reading, smoking, and billiard rooms. ENTERTAINMENT AT THE UNION. On Thursday night, the members of the Black Swallow Minstrel Troop gave an entertainment for the benefit of the inmates of the Union Work- house. The programme consisted of a number of sentimental and comic songs, which seemed to highly amuse the audience. THE BETHESDA STRIKE. OR Thursday night, at the Assembly Room, a very successful concert was given in aid of the Penrhyn Qnarrymen's Fund. The Mayor pre- sided. A choir from Bethesda, rendered in capital style several pieces of music, and were highly applauded. THE MUNICIPAL VACANCY. Notices were issued on Thursday of an election which will take place on Tuesday, the 23rd inst., to fill the vacancy on the Town Council, caused by the death of Councillor R. Alston, Plas New- vdd. The names of Mr. C. D. Phillips and Mr. Edward Jones, Nag's Head, are mentioned as probable candidates. MISSION WORK. At the Baptist chapel, Mwrog Street, on Wed- nesday night, the Rev. Mr. Evans, who, for some years, has been labouring in Africa as a mission- ary, delivered to a large audience an excellent address on Mission Work in the Dark Continent. Mr. Evans, who is a native of Colwyn Bay, sang hymns in the tongue of the people amongst whom he labours, The Mayor occupied the chair. ACCIDENT TO A FARMER'S SON. During the parade of horses on Wednesday morning, at the North Wales Prise Horse Show, Wrexham, Mr. John Williams (junr.), son of Mr. John Williams, Plas Einion Farm, near this town, had his leg shattered through a horse kicking him. Dr. Gill, of Welshpool, who was on the show ground, rendered first aid, and Williams was afterwards taken in the ambulance to the Wrexham Infirmary.

POLICE COURT. MONDAY.—Before Dr. J. R. Jenkins (in the I chair), Captain Cole, Mr. W. T. Rouw, and Mr. W. G. Rigby. EXTENSION OF LICENSE, i Mr. Edward Roberts, solicitor, applied, on behalf of Mrs. Jones, the administratrix of the late Mr. W.. Jones, for the extension of the license of the Park Place Inn, Ruthin, until the annual licensing sessions. The application was granted. DRUNK AND DISORDERLY. John H.Simon, Mwrog Street, was charged by Sergegnt Woollani with baing drunk and disorderly an the 22nd ult. Defendant said he had a little drink, but did not remember having misbehaved himself. Sergeant Woollam said that about eleven o'clock on the night ilk question a private dance was held at the Institute, Mwrog Street. Defendant had forced himself into the room, and had been ejected. He was using very bad language to the people who had turned him out. He fell down on the street also. Defendant, who promised to reform, was fined ;)8. and 7s. 6d. costs, being allowed a fort- night to pay. 'HE WAS ANXIOUS ABOUT THE BEAR.' Robert Jones, slater, Llanrhydd Street, was summoned by P.C. Bythel with being drunk and disorderly in the parish of Llanrhydd on the 22nd ult. Defendant pleaded not guilty. P.C. Bythel said that about four o'clock in the afternoon on the 22nd, he found defendant in Penbarras. He was drunk, and cursing and swearing in such a manner as to cause a crowd to collect. The Clerk (to defendant): Do you want to ask the officer a question ? Defendant: Certainly I do, sir. Th., Clerk: Well, let us hear it please. Defendant: I asked you did I not whether people had permission to go through the streets with a bear unmuzzled ? Witness: I told you the bear had a muzle on. Defendant: Did you not tell me when I asked you whether it was legal to let the bear unmuzzled, to ask your Witness: No, nothing of the kind. I told you the bear had a muzzle Defendant (to the bench) I went to the Anchor Inn, and if I was drunk he would have followed me. He (pointing to the officer) was drunk himself. I only want justice to the policeman as well as myself. The Bench (to witness): Have you a witness ? P. C. Bythel: Yes, sir, Wynne, the hall keeper. The Clerk: Is he here? Defendant: No sir, he has funked (laugh- ter). Edward Williams, who was called by defen- dant, said he saw the latter on the occasion mentioned by P.C. Bythel. Defendant was neither drunk or sober (laughter). The Clerk: What was he then ? (laughter). Witness: Well, he was a bit on in drink, sir. The Clerk Did he make use of any langu- age? Witness: He asked P.C. Bythel whether it was lawful to take a bear through the streets unmuzzled, and the police officer gave him an indecent answer. The Bench: Was he disorderly? Witness: He was making a little noise, but not much. Sergeant Woollam here interposed with some remark, whereupon The defendant said: I am as sober as you are. You are always drunk. You go to the Cross Keys too often, and the top of Llan- fwrog and Pool Park that way. An officer was sent to find Wynne, the hall keeper, but failed to find him the Sergeant stating that he mnst be keeping out of sight in order to avoid giving evidence. The case was then adjourned for a fortnight in order that the police might summon Wynne as witness. AN OLD MAN IN TROUBLE. William Alexander Roberts, an old man who was also known as Barnett was charged in custody with stealing a tin bottle valued at 6d two butter cloths, and a plough rake, from Criecor Fajm, Llanfair. Mr. Edward Roberts, solicitor, who appeared for the prosecution, said that on the 12th of February the articles already mentioned were lost from the Criccor farm, and on the 3rd inst. prisoner was apprehended, having one of the articles, viz., the tin bottle, in his possession at the time. He (Mr. Roberts) begged to apply for a remand to enable the police to make a search for the other articles, and also articles stolen from the house since. P.C. William Jones, stationed at Llanfair, said that in consequence of information re- ceived, he went to see prisoner at Caerddinan farm, Llanelidan, on the 2nd inst. He went into a room situated above the bakehouse, which prisoner used as a bedroom. Prisoner had been working at Caerddinan for a month. He found in the room the tin bottle alleged to have been stolen (produced). In reply to his question, prisoner said he had it from a man working with a thrashing machine, and gave a wrench in exchange for it. Witness saw him in two or three hours afterwards, and prisoner then stated that he found the bottle in a dingle between Criccor and Caerddinan. He also said that he had given a gimblet to one of the thrashing machine men for the oil, not for the bottle. Mr. A, O. Evans appeared for the defendant, and cross examined the witness, who stated that he went to Caerddinan on Tuesday last. First of all, he went there himself, and failed to find anything except the bottle corresponding to the articles lost from Criccor. He went there again, this time in company with Mrs. Beech, who said she would rather'not swear to the bottle until Mr. Beech saw it, but she said also that she was quite sure of the bottle. Defendant did tell him there was a dingle at Criccor where bottles and other refuse were thrown. Francis Beech, the tenant of Criccor, said he remembered losing the article from his house. He found his loss on the 15th. Cross-examined by Mr. Evans He had a mark on the bottle by which he identified it. The bottle produced was the one be missed. He had seen the bottle last on the morning of the 12th, and had made a note of the fact in his diary (laughter). Prisoner was then remanded for a fort- night. A WELL-KNOWN RUTHIN CHARACTER COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. GIVING WORK TO THE POLICE. William Barker, who is a well-known character in Ruthin, was charged in custody with stealing a quantity of straw, the property of Mr. W. Williams, plumber, Clwyd Street. Mr. Edward Roberts prosecuted. W. Williams, examined by Mr. Edward Roberts, said he held some land in the parish of Llanfwrog under an agreement with Colonel West. There was a shed in the field where the horse was kept. There was also a stack in the field on which a quantity of straw had been put. This straw had been blown off by the wind. The straw was that of wheat, barley arid oats mixed. He could not say whether he had lost some of this straw, because it was his son that gathered it after the storm, and car- ried it away. The Bench: Was any of your straw taken away from the field ? Witness: Really, I could not tell. My son knows more about it than me. The Clerk: Then you cannot say whether yon lost any of it or not? Witness: No sir, I cannot say. In reply to the prisoner, witness said he did not know that prisoner called at his house to inform them that the straw had been blown off the stack, but was told of it afterwards by his son. Prisoner said the called at Mr. Williams' house to inform him that the wind had blown the straw all over the field. Witness said he heard nothing at all about the prisoner's! call until he was charged of stealing the straw by the police. The Bench: But you did hear of it then ? Witness: Yes. The prisoner- Was there any straw in the shed ? Witness: Only what was under the horses' feet. P.C. Evans, stationed at Llanrliaiadr, ¡o&id that about twenty minuies past three <m Mon- day, the 1st of March, he was going out of Ruthin in company with P. C. Bythel. Whilst on the road at Borthyn, they saw prisoner coming from the direction of Ehewl, with a bundle of straw on his hack. W itness challen- ged him, and asked where he got the straw, to which prisoner replied that he had been told by the farmers not to say. Subsequently, prisoner, when pressed to give an answer, said he had the straw at Ty'n-y-caeau, and told them (the officers) to go there to make inquiries if they liked. He said he had seen Mr. Jones, who had given him permission to gather some straw. He (witness) went to Ty'n-y-caeau, and saw Mr. Jones, but was informed that the prisoner had not been near the place. When he saw Barker afterwards, he told him that they (the officers) shpuld do something for their pay, and should r:y:. and find out where he got the straw. He..tad seen prisoner about tifteen minutes previously on the town square' and he could not have possibly gone to Ty n-y" caeau in the interval between that and the time he was seen with the straw at Borthyn. P.C. Bythel said that he was with P.C. Evans at Borthyn. When the latter went to Ty n y- caeau, witness followed prisoner. The latter put the bundle down behind a door in Park Place yard. Evans said on returning that prisoner had not been to Ty'n-y-caeau, where upon prisoner remarked that he only wanted to make them walk (laughter), and that he had. the straw from Edward Jones, carrier, Borth- yn. He went with prisoner to Edward Jones, who admitted having given him permission st fortnight since to take some old straw blown off the stack by the wind. The was in Brickfield Lane. He went there, but found no straw at all. There were no footmarks about the stack, although the ground was very muddy there. On coming back to town, the Sergeant was informed of the matter, and apprehended prisoner. Prisoner denied that Bythel told him to place the bundle behind the door in Park Place yard. Sergeant Woollam said the bundle of straw found on prisoner would he worth about 6d. It was composed of wheat, barley, and oats, with a weed called 'hardhead' mixed, which was a very unusual thing to find in straw. He found traces of similar straw near the first gate on the right after passing the stone stile in Borthyn. The straw was quite fresh, and ap- peared as if it had fallen from a bundle when a man opened the gate. The field there was a ploughed one, with no footpath. He traced footprints similar to those of Barker's shoes in the place, and found an occasional straw on the road leading to Mr, William Williams' held. About ten yards from the gate which opened to Mr. Williams' ueld, straw had been put down, evidently to be retied. He foil wed the occasional straw and the footprints until he got into the shed. The ground round the shed was moist, and the same footprints were to be found there also. The straw in the shed corresponded exactly to that found in the prisoner's possession. It was mixed-wheat;, barley, and oats, and contained hardheads, (The straw was produced in court). Witness then described the footprints, which he said were very similar to a light pair of boots worn by prisoner some three or four days previously —indeed, as far as he remembered, they exactly tallied. He went to prisoner's house about ten o'clock at night, and charged him with stealing a bundle of straw, valued at 6d., the property of Mr. W. Williams. He said he did not know where the place was, but afterwards admitted it, and described how he found the straw having been blown off the stack some days previously. On peing told that he would have to go to the lockup, defendant said he would not go an inch, and threw himself down. Witness had great difficulty in getting him there. Prisoner was then formally charged, and in reply said that about a fortnight or three weeks ago he asked Mr. Edward Jones, Borthyn, for a little straw, and was allowed to take what was blown off the old shed in Brickfield Lane. He went there on Monday, and made a bundle of it, which the police took psssesaion of Sergeant Woollam, in reply to the Bench, said there were 22 previous convictions against the prisoner, five being for larceny. Mr. Edward Roberts These convictions pre- clude the case being dealt with summarily. The Clerk: Under the circumstances, the Bench are bound to send the prisoner for trial. Prisoner said he should like to call some farmer to value the straw people that knew something about it. The police knew nothing about such things. The Clerk: Do you want to call anybody? Prisoner: I should like to call Mr. Williams (the prosecutor). The Clerk: What for? To prove character? (laughter) Prisoner: Not at all, sir (laughter). The prosecutor was then called Prisoner: Have you given me in charge for 11 t, is? Mr. Williams: No, the police found you. Prisoner: Had you any straw to steal ? Mr. Williams: Where was that put on the stack ? Prisoner: It was about the field, I suppose. He was then formally committed to take his trial at the next Quarter Sessions, to be held at Denbigh on the 9th April.