The North Wales Times

DENBIGHSHIRE STANDING JOINT COMMITTEE. THE COMMITTEE AND THE COUNTY COUNCIL. MR. LUMLEY SCORES. THE POLICE AND REFRESHMENTS. The quarterly meeting of the above com- mittee was held at the County Hall, Den- bigh, on Friday. Captain Griffith Boseawen presided, and there were present Colonel Mesham, Capt. Best, Capt. Cole, Lieut. Col. Heaton, Mr. Simon Jones, Mr. G. Roberts (Llanelidan), Mr. Thomas Morris (Llan- silin), Mr J. T. Jones-Parry, Mr. E Hooson, Mr. Thomas Parry (Colwyn Bay), Mr. J. Watkin Lumley, Mr. A. O. Walker, Sir R. E. Egerton, Col. Gregson Ellis, Sir W. Grenville Williams, Mr. William Griffith, Mr. 0 Isgoed Jones, Mr. John Roberts (Plas Heaton farm), Mr. W. G. Dodd, and Mr. A. O.Evans, vith Mr. John Roberts (deputy clerk), Mr. R. Humphreys Roberts (county accountant), Major Conran (county trea- surer), the Chief Constable (Maior Lead- better), Col. Lloyd Williams (county sur- veyor), Supts. Hugh Jones (Denbigh), Geo. Jarvis (Llanrwst), and Inspector Beresford (Wrexham). APOLOGIES. Letters of apology were read from Mr. Pen Dennis and Mr. W. D. W. Griffith. THE LATE CLE n K, A letter was read from Major General Carey, in which he acknowledged, on behalf of the family of the late Mr. Adams, the kind V te of sympathy passed by the com- mittee upon his decease THE VACANT CLERKSHIP OF THE PEACE. THE QUESTION OF SALARY. The Chairman, having reported the death of Mr Ll. Adams, explained the steps taken at a special meeting of the commit- tee, held the previous Friday, to appoint a Deputy Clerk of the Peace. Mr. John Roberts had been appointed by a majority of one, to hold office at the pleasure of the committee. Personally, he favoured the appointment of a deputy clerk to hold office until a permanent clerk was appointed, but the resolution was carried in the other form, which made a great difference indeed in the appointment, although only carried by a majority of one vote. Mr. Lumley said there was one observa- tion dropped by the chairman which he should like to refer to, and he did so on a point of order He wished to ask the question whether the chairman should take upon himself to inform the committee that the motion adopted at the last meeting of the committee had only been carried by a majority of one. Should the chairman not be content to state the fact that the motion was carried. The Chairman There is nothing what- ever in your point of order. Mr. Lumley: Let me say that you, sir, are only in tne chair by a casting vote. You are chairman by one vote only, and the want of importance which you a. e seeking to attach to a vote last week, applies also to your election. The Chairman Your point of order is, as I understand, that I said the resolution ap- pointing Mr. Roberts a Deputy Clerk of the Peace was only carried by one vota. I say that that point of order is absurd. It is stated in the minutes that the resolution was carried by one vote. Capt. Cole And it was also in the news- papers. The Chairman said it was the committee's duty to take the necessary steps for the ap- pointment of Clerk of the Peace, and went on to explain that prior to the passing of the Local Government Act of 1888. the ap pointment was in the hands of the custos rotulorum of the county. By that statute the Standing Joint Committee now appoint- ed a Clerk of the Peace. The committee had also the power to go into the question of salary. He also informed the committee that although the Lord Lieutenant formerly appointed the Clerk of the Peace, the ques- tion of his salary was settled by the magis- trates at the Quarter Sessions after having gone into former salary and emoluments. He proposed that the same course be adopted now, and that the Standing Joint Committee, which had the appointment, should appoint a committee to go into the question of salary and fix the same, after the emoluments and salary of the clerk in the past had been considered. This would be done before taking any steps to the ap- pointment, which he presumed would be done in the most open and fair manner pos- sible (applause) and duly advertised in this county. They must first decide what the salary would be for the Clerk of the Peace Mr. Lumley: I wish to rise to a point of order (order, order, and shouts of chair). The Chairman: I am perfectly in order in what I am going to suggest. Mr. Lumley: I rise to a point of order, upon the standing orders. I do not wish to be at all obstructive or to interfere unduly, but I wish to ask you a question, sir. Ac- cording to the standing orders, are we not to take the business on the agenda in the order placed thereon ? Col. Mesham said that if Mr. Lumley looked at the end of Rule 6, he would find that it was in order for the chairman to introduce a subject mentioned on a supple- mental agenda, before that of the ordinary. The Chairman then explained that the matter which they had now in considera- tion, and which was placed on the supple- mental agenda was of the utmost impor- tance, and should therefore be taken immediately after the reading of the minutes. Mr. Lumley contended that the commit- tee could only vary the order of business, on a vote being taken as to how that should be done. The Chairman then ruled that the busi- ness should be taken then, and then moved that the committee consisting of an equal number of members representing the Quarter Sessions, and the County Council on the Standing Joint Committee, be ap- pointed to go into the whole question. of salary and general emoluments: of all kinds received by the late Clerk of the Peace, and that the committee be empowered to call for all documents and informations relating to the matter, and that the same committee should also fix the salary of the Deputy Clerk of the Peace. Mr. W. G. Dodd seconded. Lieut.-Col. Saxon Gregson Ellis said as he understood it, the committee vvould go into the question of the Deputy Clerk of the Peace's salary. He presumed that with re- gard to Mr. Roberts they would fix the salary from the time he was appointed up to the election of a Clerk of the Peace, on a different scale to that of deputy clerk, because what would be ifair remuneration .as deputy clerk, would not be fair for him when he is doing the whole work of the -county (applause). The Chairman agreed that Mr. Roberts stood in a different position until the Clerk of tha Peace should be appointed, therefore he thought the salary should only be fixed until then. After further discussion, the chairman said Mr. Lumley had stated he had been appointed chairman by a casting vote. He did not think that was true, but as long a.* he was chairman, he was to carry out his duties as such. As chairman, he had never taken upon himself to suggest what mem- ber, or who should sit upon any committee, and his present motion was that the mem- bers appointed should equally represent the two parties on the Standing Joint Com- mittee. The motion was then carried. Sir William Grenville Williams moved that the committee should consist of six members, three representing the magis- trates, and three representing the County Council. The Chairman thought that three was rather too small. Mr. Isgoed Jones was of the same opinion, and suggested that five each side should compose the committee. Mr. Lumley proposed that four from each side should be appointed. Mr. Hooson, seconded Mr. Lumley, and suggested that five should form a quorum. Sir Grenville Williams then withdrew his motion. Mr. Thomas Parry seconded Mr. Isgoed Jones' motion, that the number be five. It being put to the meeting, Mr. Lumley's motion was lost by one vote, and the amend- ment carried, ten voting for the amend- ment, as against nine for the resolution. The following were then appointed to form a committee:—For the magistrates, the Chairman, Col. Heaton, Capt. Cole, and Col. Saxon Ellis; for the County Council, Messrs. Simon Jones, J. W. Lumley, W. G. Dodd, Isgoed Jones, and Edward Hooson. It was then decided that the committee should meet at Denbigh. THE DISPUTE WITH THE COUNTY COUNCIL RE COUNTY BUILDINGS. VICTORY FOR THE COUNTY COUNCILLORS. Mr. Lumley calling upon the Chairman to Apologise The next business was to consider the correspondence which had taken place with reference to the case to be submitted to the High Court under the provisions of Section 29 of the Local Government Act, 1888. It will be remembered that a dispute arose be- tween the Standing Joint Committee and the County Council with reference to the alteration, &c., required at the Llanrwst Court House. The members of the Quarter Sessions sitting on the Standing Joint Com- mittee, who, through the casting vote of the chairman, are in a majority on the commit- tee, contended that the committee have a right of ordering the provisions of buildings to be used for magisterial and police pur- poses, without consulting in any way, the County Council, the body responsible for the expense thus incurred. On the other hand, the County Council argue that they should not be called upon to provide the money, without having first of all an oppor- tunity of inspecting the plans and specifica- tions of the buildings so required. At a recent meeting of the Standing Joint Com- mittee, it was decided by a majority, to submit a case with a view of settling the dispute, to the High Court, without sub- mitting the case so prepared to the County Council. Subsequent to this, a lengthy correspon- dence took place between tie Clerk of the Peace and his London agents, and between Captain Griffith-Boscawen, and also Mr. Lumley and the Clerk of the Peace. The following are the letters addressed on the subject by the two gentlemen last named.- Heulfre, Ruthin, 3rd Dec., 1898. To the Clerk of the County Council. DEAR SIR, Re case for submission to the High Court. As this is a matter of very great impor- tance, I wish to draw your atcention to the rule of the High Court, affecting the sub- mission of cases under Section 29, where it appears that a special case must be agreed upon by the parties,' and as I take it, that the County Council are parties interested, as well as the Standing Joint Committee, the County Council have a voice in agree ing to settling the cse, and if neces- sary, to be represented at the hearing. You know that at present, the County Council have had no voice in this matter, and although I know your London agents' views on this point, I would be glad if you would refer them to the terms of the resolution of the Standing Joint Committee of the 14th October last, and obtain their further opin- ion on the question now. raised by me as chairman of the County Council. Yours faithfully, J. WATKIN LUMLEY. Trevalyn Hall, Rossett, Dec. 7th, 1898. MY DEAR SIR, Case under Section 29 Local Government Act, 1888. I have received your letter of yesterday's date, with copy of letters from Mr. Lumley and your London agents. Looking-to the very distinct terms of Section 29, it appears to me that it is competent for any one of the persons acd bodies named therein to submit a case, and I certainly take the view stated in your agents' letter, as your Joint Committee could not be over-ruled by the opinion of any individual. If you as clerk, and legal adviser, have come to the conclu aion that the committee acted ultra vires in deciding to send up the case independently, the committee could be called together again, and so told, before their case is hand- ed over to the County Council. Yours faithfully, T. B. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWEN. Ll. Adams, Esq. The correspondence, which was read by the clerk, showed that the Clerk of the Peace submitted the case to his London agents, to be lodged at the Crown Office in accordance with the requirements of the rules of the High Court, and that they were informed by the officials there, that it was absolutely necessary that the case should be agreed to by the County Council as the other party thereto. After the correspondence had been gone through, The Chairman said he had consulted the members of the committee residing in the Wrexham District as to whether a special meeting should be called to consider the subject, but they were of opinion that it should be left to the present meeting. Capt. Cole: I hope we shall never give up, but that we fight to the end. I am sure we are right. The Chairman said there was nothing to he done now but refer the case to the C unty Council, on the understanding that it should come back to the Standing Joint Committee. He, however, still held to his original view, that this dispute was a dis- pute between the two halves of the com- mittee, and not between the Standing Joint Committee as such, and the County Council. He would now move that the case be sub- mitted to the County Council at its next meeting. Mr. Lumley. I should like to say a word or two on the matter. The Chairman We cannot go into the case now, as it has already been settled by the committee. Mr. Lumley: I am not going into the case. The Chairman: The only question to be discussed now is, whether the case should now go into the County Council or not. Mr. Lumley said he was going to make one or two observations on what had fallen from the chairman. If the members of the committee would just look on the draft case as submitted to them,! in the first instance, they would find that it was the opinion of whoever drafted the case that the dispute was one between the Standing Joint Committee and the County Council, whatever may have been the opinion of the chairman on the question. For in the case as originally drafted, there was a clause- the very last clause which the Standing Joint Committee, at the Wrexham meeting, took care:to eliminate from it; that clause read as follows:—' The said County Council concurs in the statement and submission of the above facts, and agrees that the facts herein stated are correctly stated.' The very fact that that clause had been origi- nally inserted, showed that the person who drafted the case, was of opinion that the dispute was one between the Standing Joint Committee and the County Council, and not between the two factions of the committee, as stated by the chairman. The Chairman: Have you any motion to make. Mr. Lumley If you wish to stop me from proceeding, Mr. Chairman, I will sit down with all grace. The Chairman I do not wish to stop you, but is it worth our while to discuss the matter at all ? Mr Lumley then said that every member of the committee, whoever he might be, deserved the respect due to a man, and when even the chairman took upon himself to write letters to the clerk of that com- mittee, he should refer to the members of that committee with due respect, and not refer in his letter when speaking of a par- ticular member as 'one individual.' He (Mr. Lualey) had every right to his opin- ion, just as much as the chairman had. The chairman had already taunted the commit- tee with disregarding the law-- The Chairman I never did anything of the kind. Mr. Lumley: Pardon me, you did so at Wrexham. Mr. Walker rising to a point of order said there was no motion before the committee. Mr. Lumley I am speaking on the mat- ter in the communication, relative to the submission of this case, and I have a perfect right, when I have a grievance against the chairman of the committee, to call atten- tion to the disregard and disrespect with which he referred to myself. The Chairman said he had no intention of showing any disrespect towards Mr. Lumley. Mr. Lumley: But you have done so, and I want you to withdraw the impertinent word individual.' Why don't you call me a member of this committee ? The Chairman I repeat that no disres- pect was intended. Surely I have the right to speak of persons as individuals. Mr. Lumley complained that some mem- ber referred to him some time ago as a 'unit'with no individuality or something of the kind (laughter). He had a perfect right to defend himself in the committee. The Chairman Will you move that the case be referred to the County Council ? Mr. Lumley; lam going to move that this case be referred Col. Mesbam pointed out that Mr. Lumley had already spoken for 5 minutes, and was therefore out of order according to the standing orders. Mr. Lumley: I now move that this case be submitted to the County Council as originally drawn out. The Chairman said that would not do. The case would have to be submitted as settled by the Standing Joint Committee, or not submitted at all. He would rule that as-- Mr. Lumley: I think it is quite imma- terial-- The Chairman I again rule that we can- not re-open the case. Mr. Lumley: But we can re-open it when we get it (laughter). And there is another step that we can take, viz., to call in an arbitrator if we don't agree. The Chairman ruled that the case must be submitted as already settled upon, and refused to accept Mr. Lumley's motion. Ultimately Mr. Lumloy moved his resolu- tion in the terms suggested by the chair- man. Mr. Hooson seconded. The Chairman said that if Mr. Lumley was offended with anything he had said, the offence was quite unintentional on his part He did not say anything in the correspon- dence which he was ashamed of in any way. The motion was then agieed to. CRIME IN THE COUNTY. CHIEF CONSTABLE'S REPORT. The Chief Constable submitted his report for the quarter ended the 31st of December as follows :— Crime and Offences as compared with the corresponding quarter of last year, show an increase of 15 in Indictable Offences, a decrease of 23 in Non-Indictable Offences, and an in- crease of £ 722 9s. 5d. in the value of Property Stolen. 194 Indictable Offences were reported during the year being an increase ot 45 as compared with last year, 157 persons were proceeded against, 35 of whom were discharged, 97 sum- marily convicted, and 25 committed forjirial for the following offences:- Murder, 1; sending threatening letters, 1; unlawful wounding, 3 indecent assaults on females, 1; rape, 2; bigamy, I; sheep stealing, 2; larceny person, 2; larceny dwelling-house, 1; larceny simple, 5 receiving stolen pro- perty, 1; forgery, 2; obtaining food, &c., by false pretences, 1; embezzlement, 2; total, 25. 2,449 persons were proceeded against for non- indictable offences, 1,909 of whom were fined, 4 delivered to the army, 9 to industrial schools, 20 bound in recognizances, 56 other punish- ments, 129 committed to goal, 319 discharged, and 3 committed for trial. 25 publicans and beerhouse keepers were pro- ceeded against for breaches of the Sunday Closing Act, permitting drunkenness, harbour- ing prostitutes, &c., 11 of whom were dis- charged and 14 convicted, 1 license being en- dorsed, as against 22 last year, 9 discharged, and 13 convicted. 983 persons were charged with drunkenness, 80 of whom were for being drunk on Sundays, as against 969 and 112 last year. 5 men have left the force during the year, 1 dismissed, 2 resigned, and 2 superannuated, these vacancies have been filled and the strength of the force is complete. SERVING POLICEMEN IN PUBLIC HOUSES. SEQUEL TO A DENBIGH POLICE PROSECUTION. Mr. Lumley asked whether the Chief Con- stable's attention had been called to the evid- ence that came before the Denbigh juiitices with reference to a policeman being in the public houses, and obtaining refreshments. It was a case that the police had against Mr. P. E. Story, when it came out in evidence that policemen in Denbigh were in the habit of hav ing permission from their superior officers to have refreshments at public houses. The Chief Constable I know about the case. I saw it in a newspaper, and I immediately wrote to the Superintendent at Denbigh asking him if he had given permission for such a thing to take place. The Superintendent is here, and will tell you upon what occasion it occurred. Superintendent Hugh Jones then said that he had given the Sergeant such a permission once. The Chief Constable: And I hxve issued orders that that once' shall not occur again. Mr. Lumley: Knowing what the general re gulations issued by the Chief Constable are, I knew that the policemen were not entitled to refreshments as described in the evidence ten- dered at the Dbnbigh court. The Chief Constable: No it was all wrong. Mr. Lumley said that as the Chief Constable had taken cognizance of the matter, he would not take any further notice of it. At the same time, he thought it a hardship on the publicans for the police to place them in the difficult position of risking their licenses by having police on their premises. If a publican were summoned for supplying a policeman on duty with drink, he was liable to Jose his license. On the other hand, if he refused to serve an officer. he was liable to be a marked man in the future. The Chairman A publican is certainly liable to a heavy penalty if any constable on duty is served by him without the authority of his superior officer. Mr. Lumley That is the reason I mentioned the matter. I think it is our duty to do all we can in this matter, by instructing our Chief Constable to direct the police not to enter pub- lic houses for refreshments whilst on duty. The Chief Constable Every publican in the county has been served with a notice to that effect. Mr. Gomer Roberts referring to the clause of the Act quoted by the Chairman, in which it was stated that no policeman on duty should be supplied with driuk 'except by authority,' asked what was meant by this authority. The Chief Constable sab that if the Super- intendent found that a policeman was really in want of refreshments, he gave him a written order. Mr. Gomer Roberts: Then, the written or- der is not given to the publican ? The Chief Constable: No, the policeman. Mr. A. O. Evans said he should not like to see this discussion affecting the police officers of Denbigh prejudically. He had an office nearly opposite the police station, and could say that the town was never supplied with better officers (hear, hear). Mr. Isgoed Jones: If the men here are equal to our men in the Llanrwst division, no com- plaint of this nature can arise. The subject then dropped. INCREASING THE INSPECTORS' PAY. The Chief Constable said he had been peti- tioned by Inspectors Roberts (Abergele), Beres- ford and Bagshaw (Wrexham), for an increase of pay, and begged to recommend that their petition be acceded to, as he found that they were paid much less than Inspectors serving in other forces of similar, and a good deal less strength than the Denbighshire force. The scale now in vogue was as follows :-Salary on appointment, £ 86 13s. 9d.; after three years, 991 5s. after five years, £ 95 16s. 3d. after eight years, £100 7s. 6d. The new scale which he recommended was:—On appointment, £ 91 5s after two years, JE97 15s. 6d.; after five years, £ 104 6s. and after eight years, £110 16s. 6d. Mr. Hooson said he should like to know the ages of the three Inspectors. He did not object to an increase, because he did rot think that the officers of the Denbighshire force should be under-paid. At the same time, the pension allowed to the officers on retiring was very large, and he would not willingly agree to an increase of salary in the fcase of an officer likely to retire in two or three years. The Chief Constable replied that not one of the Inspectors would be entitled to retire be- fore 12 years at least. Mr. Lumley said that the salary of Inspec tor Beresford had only just been increased. The Chief Constable said he had held his pre- sent post for over 20 years, and the pay of the Inspectors had not been increased during that time. Mr. Lumley again reiterated that Beres- ford's salary had been recently increased. The Chief Constable: Not his salary as In- spector. He got an addition for extra work done by him as my Clerk. The Chairman: That is so. The extra allowance must not be considered as his salary. Mr. Lumley: A man cannot do two thing!?. If Beresford is obliged to stay in the Chief Constable's Office as Clerk, he cannot be out to carry out his duties of Inspector. I am not going to speak against an increase of salary to these officers, but I think some reference should be made to the increase already granted to Beresford. The Chief Constable: But Inspector Beres- ford is always as available for dutjy as the other Inspectors. Mr. Lumley But he does not do his duty as Inspector if he acts as Clerk. The Chief Constable: No. because he has no time. Mr. Lumley: Then if that is so, why should he be put down as Inspector. The Chairman Because he holds the rank of Inspector. Mr. Lumley again contended that if Beres- ford was the best Clerk the Chief Constable could get, he should resign as an Inspector, and receive salary as Clerk. If the force could not be complete without three Inspectors, then the fact that Beresford as holding both offices, deprived some other member of the force from the right of having the Inspector- ship. The Chairman: The question now is whether au will advance the pay or not. Mr. Lumley then proposed that the matter be refe red to a Committee, to report to the next meeting of the Joint Committee. Mr. Hooson seconded, suggesting that it be referred to the Committee appointed to con- sider the salary of the Clerk of the Peace, &c. Mr. Lumley agreed to the suggestion. Mr. A. O. Walker proposed, and Captain Cole seconded, thas the scale as revised be now adopted. Eleven voted for the amendment and five for the motion. On being put as a substantive motion, the amendment was unanimously agreed to. SEQUEL TO THE LLANARMON ASSAULT CASE. THE FINE AND COSTS IMPOSED ON A POLICEMAN TO BE PAID BY THE COUNTY. The Chief Constable applied that the sum of JE3 3s. 6d., being a fine of £1 and costs imposed by the Ruthin magistrates on P.C. Evan Wil- liams, Llanarmon, on the previoua Monday, for committing an assault upon a man named Hughes, be paid by the Committee. He (the Chief Constable)- believed that the man, who was a poor witness at best, was telling the truth, although the decision of the bench went to prove that he was perjurying himself. If a policeman incurred such expenses as these in the execution of his duties, he would hesitate before doing the same thing on other occasions. Mr. Lumley characterised this as a most ex- traordinary statement. It was as much as to say that the opinion arrived at by a court of law was wrong. He thought it a monstrous thing for a Chief Constable to make such a statement. In his (Mr. Lumley's) opinion, the Committee had nothing to do with the matter. Mr. Gomer Roberts proposed that the appli- cation be refused. Mr. Lumley: Take no notice of it. Mr. Gomer Roberts: If the man b-is been wrongly treated, he can proceed in the proper court. The Chairman was of opinion that it would be a great hardship if the man had to pay the money. Captain Cole: Have we power to pay it? The Chairman: Yes, I think, nnder section 66 of the Local Government Act, 1888. Capain Best moved, and Captain Cole se- conded, that the amount be paid by the Com- mittee. i Mr. William Griffith considered that a grea question was involved in the application of the Chief Constable. The county could not get their police officers to do their duties, if that went hard with their pockets. He favoured the payment of the money. Mr. Lumley moved, as an amendment, that the Committee be not saddled with expenses of this character. He would suggest thac the members of the Committee, and particularly those gentlemen who showed such kindly feel- ing towards the police, should put their hands in their pocket and subscribe the money (laughter). The Chairman You do not seriously mean that, Mr. Lumley ? Mr Lumley: I do, and I shall give a sub- scription along with other members. The Chairman Your amendment is a direct negative, and cannoi be put. Thirteen voted for the resolution and two against, and the application was, therefore, agreed to. There was no other business of interest be- fore the Committee.

INQUEST. Mr. Bodvel Roberts, the Carnarvonshire coroner, on Saturday night held aa inquest at the Police Station, Conway, upon the body of Edward Evans, the driver of the goods train which was wrecked on Thursday evening by tailing into the sea at Penmaenmawr, through the giving way of the permanent line. Mr. Fennd. appeared for the London and North western Railway Company, and Mr. Neale, the district superintendent, was also present at the inquiry. Mr. Fenna said that he had also received short notice of the inquiry. The company, who had received no notification from the Board of Trade, to whom an official report would have to be sent, that they intended to be present. The brother of the deceased, who lives at Holyhead, gave evidence of identity. Replying to Mr. Fenna, the witness said that he was an experienced driver, having been in the service ot the company for upwards of 30 years. The Coroner I don't see that that matters much. Mr. Fenna: I only want to show, for his own sake, that he was a steady, reliable man. Thomas Charles, the brakesman in charge of the train, said that they left Manchester for Holyhead during a heavy gale, which increased as the train went on. Llandudno Junction was left at 10 52, and in Penmaenbach Tunnel he felt a jerk as though the driver had put on his brake; in two minutes or so. just outside the tunnel, they came to a sudden dead stand. He could not see anything but a heavy sea, com. pleteiy covering the train. Looking out on the right bank side of his brake, lie saw that the line was washed away. There was with him another brakesman named Thomas Roberts, travelling as a passenger. They both got out on the down line, which was about half a foot in water. Witness said to Roberts, I cannot see anything of my train, or what has happened to it. I can see nothing of the engine nor the engine men.' Witness told Roberts to proceed at once to Penmaenmawr to protect the up line, v hilst he (the witness) walked along the line to the signal-box at Conway—nearly three miles —and informed the signalman that some of the waggons of his-train had left the road, and that the up line had been washed away. Witness remained in. the signal-box. Witness had his ordinary lamplight, but nothing could be seen of the train owing to the influx of the heavy I tide. Three fish trucks remained on the rails, the others being smashed up. The Coroner What time would this be ? Witness: It was five minutes past eleven when I left my brake. There was a platelayer in the tunnel, and he had his lamp at danger, and this was the reason the driver shut off steam in the tunnel, and he told me that the line was giving way and he was going to protect it. In answer to Mr. Fenna, the witness said that the train was made up of 13 vehicles in all. When he felt the brake applied by the driver, he noticed sparks coming from the wheels. At the time of the accident the train, which was an express goods, would be travelling at the rate of about 30 miles an hour. There was nothing irregular in having Roberts in his van. In ad- dition to his cautionary signals with his lamp, fog signals were placed on the line. In answer to the foreman of the jury, the witness said that his conjecture was that the engine had broken loose and gone ahead with the trucks He heard no report of fog signals- as the wind wa& so high. The driver must have gone over a fog signal before shutting off steam. William Williams, Owen Terrace, Conway, the platelayer in charge of the length on which the accident occurred, said that he and two of his gang were on duty on the night in question. They started duty at a quarter to eleven, and watched the scene of the accident, there being. special instructions that it should be watched in. rough weather, whatever the tide might be. On getting through the tunnel he saw that the line was all under water. He told his mate to put his lamp on 'danger' and go towards Con- way, and instructed the sub ganger to obstruct the up line by going towards Penmaenmawr. He heard three fog signals fired from the direc- tion of Penmaenmawr. He saw the train dis. appear. The Coroner What do you mean by disap- pearing ? Witness: I could not see because the sea broke over the whole place, and a great crush as the waggons collided together. I saw two men on the engine, but at once lost sight of them. I could see that the speed of the train had been slackened, and I called out stop' several times; but they could not have heard me. My lamp showed the red light as a caution, and by such signalling a train on the other line was warned not to proceed. Mr. Fenna: When you saw there was a breach in the line, did you do all in your power to prevent the passage of traffic ? Yes. Mr. Fenna And as soon as possible ? Yes. Do you know when the last train passed over this part of the line? The carriage of Mr. Dawson, the divisional engineer passed on the down line about half an hour before, and also a passenger train for Chester. William Edwards, a platelayer on the section since 1891, said that on the evening of the ac- cident he had instructions to watch the tide, together with two others. He gave in the tun- nel the caution light with his lamp, and the decea.,ed whistled. He saw nothing to show that the brake was applied, and he went on to block the road at the Conway end of the tun- nel. He next met the brakesman, who told him that the train had gone down. John Rimmer, a fisherman, living in Berry Street. Conway, deposed to picking up the body of the deceased, which was lying in a little pool of water which had been left by the tide, about half a mile from the scene of the accident. His theory was that the body of the stoker would be found at the mouth of the Mersey. Mr. Fenna: We don't think it is under the engine. Superintendent Rees said that the watch found upon the body of the deceased had stopped at ten minutes past eleven. Several of the jurymen complained of the absence of Mr. Dawson, the divisional en- gineer, who ought to have been present to give evidence. Air. Fenna understood that the inquiry was to be adjourned; Mr. Dawson was under the like impression, and was now engaged in looking after the reconstruction of the damaged line.' Several questions having been asked respec- ting the structural condition of the wall, the Coroner invited the jury to withdraw and con- sult. The jury, after a long consultation and with- out calling upon the Coroner to sum up the evidence, returned a verdict of 'Accidental deat,h,' urging that the sign s! station at Pen- maenbach should be kept open daily and night- ly, and that greater security should be provi- ded for the sea wall.

COLWYN BAY. PETTY SESSIONS. Saturday.—Before the Rev. W. Venables Wil- Hams (Chairman). Dr. Bold Williams, Dr. M. Venables Williams, Messrs. G. T. Osborne, A. O. Walker, T. H. Haugliton, and Joseph Jones. PRESENTATION TO A POLICE SERGEANT. Before the business of the court was pro- ceeded with, Mr. J. H. Roberts, Clerk to the Urban District Council, said that he had- been requested by the subscribers tc the testimonial of Acting Sergeant Jones to ask the Chairman to present, on their behalf, a watch and chain and a purse of gold to that officer on the occa- sion of his removal from Colwyn Bay to an- other station. The Chairman expressed his great pleasure in complying with the request. Acting Ser- geant Jones had been in the town for about 8 years, and this presentation was intrb.e!l to show the way the people of Colwyn Bay appre- ciated the active manner in which he had done his duty. He (the Chairman) had, on a previous occasion, spoken of the excellent way in which Sergeant Jones performed his duties at Colwyn Bay, and hoped that he would continue to per- form them in the same way at Coedpoeth. They had in his succesor an able officer who, up to now, had done his duty well, so in 'speeding the parting guest, they welcomed the coming guest.' He had great pleasure in handing to. Sergeant Jones the watch and chain and purse of £10 in gold. Mr. Amphlett, as one of the advocates practising in that court, expressed the pleasure he felt in the fact that the way Acting Sergeant Jones had done his duty had been acknow- ledged. He endorsed every word the Chairman had said n bt ut the officer. Acting Sergeant Jones, in acknowledging the presentation, desired to thank the sub- scribers for their kindness. He also wished to thank the magistrates, the magistrates' clerk, the solicitors of the town, and the residents, for the encouragement extended to him in the execution of his duty. The watch and chain were of silver, and the watch bore the following inscription 4 This watch and chain, with a purse of ten sovereigns, were presented to Acting Sergeant Jones by his many friends in Colwyn Bay, on his leaving the town aft,er S years of service, to take up his duty at Coedpoeth, Wrexham.' DEFRAUDING THE RAILWAY COMPANY. John Jones, carter, Colwyn Bay. was charged on the information of Detective Weaver of the London and North Western Railway Company, with travelling from Abergele to Colwyn Bay without paying his fare, and with intent to defraud the company, on the 16th of Novem- ber. Mr. Fenna appeared to prosecute. Defendant pleaded guilty. A clerk named Downing gave evidence to the effect that, on the evening of the day in ques- tion, he was collecting tickets, and saw de- fendant on the platform when the down train left the station. He spoke to the defendant, and asked him for his ticket. He denied having come by train, but afterwards admitted that: he had. A fine of 10s. and 6s. 6d. costs was imposed. Mary Ellen Hughes, Brynelwyn, Colwyn Bay, was summoned for travelling on the rail- way without paving her fare with intent to defraud on the 28th of October, and further with giving a wrong name and address. Mr. Fenna again prosecuted, and the defend- ant did not appear. Arthur Roberts, a porter at Colwyn Bay Station, said that he was taking tickets at that place when the 9-30 mail came in on the night in question. Defendant came by the train, and when asked for her ticket, she said she had not got one, and that she wanted to pay from Mochdre, at the same time giving him a shill- ing, and telling him to take twopence out of it. He told her that the mail did not stop at Moch- dre, and defendant then said she had come from Llandudno Junction. He then asked for her platform ticket, but she replied that she had not got one, and that she had come from Con- way. When asked for her name and address, she gave 7, Erskine Terrace, Conway, as her address, but that turned out to be incorrect.