Papurau Newydd Cymru
Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru
15 erthygl ar y dudalen hon
DENBIGHITES IN THE WAR.
DENBIGHITES IN THE WAR. The following are extracts of letters received by Mr. R. Parry, Maltster of this town, from Private J. E. Pritchard, of the C Company 1st Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers, now on ser- vice in South Africa, who at one time was a compositor in this office, and since he was on the reserve was employed by Mr. Parry. After alluding to family matters, Mr. Pritchard, in a letter dated the 30th of October last, written from the steamship 'Oriental,' and posted at Cape St. Vincent, says: We have had a very pleasant voyage so far. We left Pembroke Dock last Sunday night (the 22nd) about 10,30 for Southampton. We had a great reception at Pembroke before we left there, and all the way to Southampton, people were up all night at all the stations we went through. The sta- tions were beautifully decorated and lighted up. We arrived at Southampton about 10 o'clock on Monday morning, and got all our war material on board in a very short time. By about dinner time the docks were crowded by civilians, and there was great cheering and singing when we were about to start off at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. There would be about 2,000 troops on board, made up of different corps, and there were two other transports going out with us, numbering about the same each. We passed a place called Tenneriffe on the north-west coast of'Africa on Saturday (the 28th), which was the first bit of land we saw since we started from England. We stopped at the Cape of St. Vincent for coaling and pick- ing up the mail on Monday (the 30th), so we have some few days yet to sail before we arrive at our destination. They say we will arrive there on or before the 6th of November.' Writing again, in a letter dated the 1st of December, Mr. Pritchard says I have been through a little serious businesi5 since I wrote to you last. I daresay that you have seen it in the papers before now, about the shelling and firing we had on us by the Boers at a place called Mooi River on the 23rd of November. We were out that day for six or seven hours under fire. I was out in the first lot of sentries, and they began firing at the Mounted Infantry, a distance of about 900 yards from us. We had only a few wounded that day, as it came very misty and rained heavily towards evening, and so the fire stopped for that day. Next day, the Boers started shelling our camp heavily. The shells were dropping about the camp in all di- rections, so they shifted us, and we had to take up a position with our artillery firing at the Boers at a distance of 4,700 yards. Our artillery fired very heavily on the Boers for some time, so that they made the Boers shift away from there towards this place (Estcourt). That was all they did that day. Since the 20th we marched away by night from Mooi River to this place- a distance of 21 miles-to relieve the other troops who are here, so that they can proceed to Colenso. I daresay you have seen the result of the big day they had at Colenso on the 20th. The British made a good day of it there, taking everything in front of them. I daresay by the time you receive this letter we will be up to- wards Ladysmith. As we go up we stop in a place for a few days, and send on troops to the front as we go on. We had a lecture on the field the other day by our General-General Barton-and he said he had received a telegram from General Buller praising us for the work we had done from Mooi River to this place- moving through the enemy's country without being seen or fired at; and he was telling us that. we won't be long again in this expedition be- fore the enemy gets what he deserves.'
VOLUNTEERS FOR THE WAR FROM…
VOLUNTEERS FOR THE WAR FROM THE VALE OF CLWYD. Three members of the Denbigh troop of the Denbighshire Yeomanry Cavalry, viz.,Troopers William Lloyd, Brookhouse Farm, Henry Evans, Green, and John Walcer Jones, butcher, Ruthin, left the VaJe of Clwyd oa Monday for Wrexham, en route for South Africa. They, amongst other members of the regiment, volun- teered for special service at the front, and for the next fortnight they will undergo a special course of training at Erddig Park, which has been placed at their disposal. As the men had to leave on very short notice, their numerous friends and welfwishers had no opportunity of giving them a send off,' but they may be sure that they will leave these shores with the heartiest wishes of all for their safe return. We understand that several other members of the Hussars from the immediate neighbourhood of Denbigh and Ruthin also volunteered for active service, but for various reasons, they were not accepted. It is said that one non commissioned officers of the regiment has been offered a charger and a gift of 950 by a public spirited gentleman in Denbigh, should he be called upon to join his comrades at Wrexham. In addition to the Yeomanry, several members of the Denbigh Company of the 1st V.B.R.W. Fusiliers will probably leave the town on Satur- day week for Wrexham, viz., Sergeant Roberts, Lance-corporal Robert Williams (a time-expired army man), Privates T. Shill (Grove House), E. J. Edgar, and Robert Williams. Sergeant Roberts will leave if it is decided by the con- trolling authorities to take a sergeant from this company, but not otherwise. Private Robert Williams was the first in the company to volun- teer fer service, he having done so by letter to his captain at the outbreak of hostilities. The letter was read by Captain Watkin Davies at the annual volunteer dinner held some months ago, and caused a great deal of enthusiasm among the company on that occasion. The men will join other members of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers (Volunteer Battalion) at Wrexham on Saturday, when they will be played from the station to barracks by the Battalion Band (the Denbigh Volunteer Band), under Bandmaster Humphreys. The following reply has been received from the War Office, in answer to the offer of Lieu- tenant-Colonel T. A. Wynne Edwards' volun- teering the services of the 1st V.B.R.W.F. for service in South Africa :— War Office, London, S.W., 6th January, 1900. Sir, I am directed by the Secretary of State of War to acknowledge the receipt of a telegram of the 18th December, 1899, from the officer J commanding the 1st V.B.R.W.F., offering the sersices of his battalion for service in South Africa, and, in reply. to acquaint you that Lord Lansdowne and the Commander in-chief highly appreciate the spirit in which this offer is made, but are not, at present, in a position to say whether it will be possible to meet the wish for employment expressed by the corps, except as provides in special army order of 2nd January, 1900. 1 am, sir, Your obedient servant, (Signed) H. BARRETT, I.G.A.F. The special army order referred to is the per- mission to form a Volunteer Company for ser- vice in South Africa with the 1st B.R. W.F., and to form a Reserve Company. The two companies have now been selected, and will probably mobilise about the 22nd instant at the Barracks, Wrexham, We might als) add that, since the above was written, Lieutenant Bamford, of Llanrhaiadr Hall, has been accepted as subaltern officer to go out with the Volunteer contingent to South Africa.
I RUTHIN.
RUTHIN. THE RECENT DROWNING FATALITY. The SUm collected amongst the jury at the inquest on the body of the young lad drowned in the river Clwyd last week, was 9s.|8d. This sum was taken charge ot by Sergeant Woollam. After paying the balance due on coffin, he was able to hand over to the mother of the de- ceased the sum of 5s. 8d, which was very ac- ceptable to her under the distressed circum- stances. RETIREMENT OF THE POST MISTRESS. The inhabitants of Ruthin and district will learn with regret of the retirement of Miss Jones, after a service of over 33 years. It is the testimony of all, that a more faithful pub- lic servant never was, highly respected alike by the staff and the public, and we feel sure that the people of Ruthin at this fitting time will not he behind in showing their apprecia- tion of such faithful services. It is not yet known who Miss Jones' successor will be, but we trust the department will appoint a person conversant with the Welsh language, which is so highly desirable in a town like Ruthin. COMPETITIVE MEETING. On Monday night, the 1st inst, at the Bap- tist chapel, a competitive meeting was held. The Rev. Isaac James occupied the chair. There was a crowded room, and the meeting turned out a success. Much credit is due to the secretary, Mr. P. R. Davies for the success- ful arrangements. The programme and prize winners were as follows:- Congregational hymn, I Hyf rydie Tenor solo, 'Gwlad y Delyn' Mr. Benjamin Jones. Competition in reciting from hymn boak, 1, Messrs. John Clwyd Williams, 2, Richard Williams. Glee by a party conducted by Mr. John Jones. For the best dialogue, 1st Messrs, John, Williams, T. D. Evans, and P- R. Davies. Baritone solo, Cwymp Llewelyn' Mr. Fred Jones. Impromptu speech, Mr. John Williams. Recitation of the 1st psalm, equal first, A. Hallej, G. Dowell, 2, Annie Halley. Bass solo, Mr. E. Williams. Reading an unpunctnated piece, Mr. Emlyn Davies. Baritone solo, Mr. J. R. Mc'Gown. The adjudicators were, recitation,, &c., Rev. Moses Roberts, and Mr. J. E. Ro berts; music, Mr. Enoch Davies. BRYNHYFRYD SUNDAY SCHOOL. On Wednesday last at the Brynhyfryd Sunday School, the annual sunday school treat was given to all the members. The tea was provided by Mrs. Edwards, 40, Well St. Following the tea an entertainment was held, which had been well arranged by Mes- srs. J. Atkinson and G. Edwards. The pro- gramme consisted of songs recitations, &c, in which the following took part, Messrs., Cecil Evans, T. D. Jones, Joe Roberts, Norman Simpson, John Williams, Joseph Atkinson, G. Edwards, W. Coleman, Walter Drockle- hurst, Mrs. Malley, Misses. Daisy Royles, Jennie Williams, Ellis, Catherine Wil- liams, Garnelt and Edith Williams. The accompanist was Mr. D. Lloyd Jones. At the conclusion, a vote of thanks was pro- posed by the Rev. J. Fisher, to all who had assisted to carry the meeting to such a suc- cess. CONCERT. At the Town Hall on Thursday last, a concert was given in aid of the local fund for the relief of sufferers in connection with the Transvaal war. The mayor occupied the chair. The room was crowded, and much credit is due to the Secretary, Mr. J. E. Morris, for the splendid success of this entertainment. The programme was as follows:- PART I. Pianoforte solo,' The Siege of Paris,' Miss A. Maysmor Gee. Song, Who carries the gun,' Mr. W. T. A. Jones. Mandoline solo, Mr. W. Cromar. Song, 'Y bachgen ffarweliodd a'i wlad,' Mr. D. Evans. Song, 'The-Best Man,' Mr. G. BroklehurstM Duett, Cymru yn barod ar y Wys,' Messrs. Evans and Jones. Comic song (in character), On the back of Daddy 0 Mr. W. Brocklehurst. Song, Baner ein Gwlad,' Mr. Owen Jones. Song,' Soldiers of the Queen,' Mr. J. Atkinson. Recitation, 'The absent minded Beggar' (By permission oj the Daily Mail). Mr. J. H. Gibbs. N B.—After this recitation, a collection was made in aid of the Daily Mail War Fund, during which the Ruthin Volunteer Band played Sir Arthur Sullivan's musical setting of Rudyard Kipling's famous poem. PART II. Songs an,1 choruses by the Llanbedr Black Swallows' Minstrel Troupe, Followed by a comic sketch entitled-' The two Musicians,' Chorus, Good Night,' The Troupe.
POLICE COURT. ]
POLICE COURT. Monday, before Chancellor Buckeley Jones (in the chair), and Sir W. Grenville Williams. A YOUNG OFFENDER SENT TO A REFORMATORY.. John Edwards, the eleven years old son of Mary Edwards, Mwrog Streeti Ruthin, was charged with having, on the 25th of December (Christmas Day), stolen a pair of spectacles valued at 2s. 6d., from the house of Elizabeth Ann Piatt, who resides in the same street. The prisoner's mother (who is a widow), appeared with him in the dock. The prosecutrix is deaf, and the questions had to be put to her on a piece of paper. She stated, that the spectacles produced in court were lost from her house on Christmas day. She could put no value upon them, and only prized them because they belonged to her mother. About four o'clock on the 25th ult, she saw the spectacles in a glass dish which was placed on the top of a box on a table. She missed them the same day. She had seen the prisoner about her house that day, and on many other occasions, and had often to correct him. Robert Jones, 12 years of age, son of Thomas Jones, Mwrog Street, said that on Christmas day, the prisoner came to his house. At the time, witness was making tea for his little sister, and prisoner, asked for a piece of cur. rant bread. He gave him the bread, and the prisoner offered him the spectacles. He told prisoner that he did not want them, but the prisoner left them there. Thomas Jones, father of the last witness said that when the police constable came to his house, he knew nothing about the matter. Subsequently, however, he went to his bro- ther's house and got the spectacles, the latser having been carried from Jue house to another by the children. P.C. Howells proved having received the spectacles at Jones' house, and apprehending the prisoner. Sergt. Woollam said he received the prisoner into custody on Saturday, the 6th inst. He charged him with stealing the spectacles. Prisoner replied I gave them to Thos. Jones' boy for a piece of currant bread. I ran after a dog to Miss Platt's garden, and found them there. There was no one with me, and nobody saw me in the garden.' On being formally charged, prisoner, through his mother, elected to be tried summarily, and made a statement which amounted to a plea of 'not guilty.' For the defence, prisoner said he went to the prosecutor's garden after a dog, which was molesting the fowls. While there he found the spectacles on the ground. The m igistrates, after a brief consultation found the prisoner guilty, and the Chairman asked was he not one of the boys who were recently convicted of breaking into the Goods warehouse of the Railway station, and stealing therefrom a quantity of articles. Sergt. Woollam said that was so. This was the boy's third appearance before the court. He was charged, in June 1898, with stealing a bag of tools from a bicycle in the town. The case came on, but the prosecutor did not put in an appearance, and the prisoner was discharged. In January 1899, he was charged, with others of having broken into the railway goods ware- house, but was then let off although he was ordered to witness the whipping of three of his fellow prisoners. The Bench ordered him to be sent to the Bradwell Reformatory School for five years.
. DEATH OF MR. EVAN DAVIES,…
DEATH OF MR. EVAN DAVIES, PWLLGLAS. We regret having to report the death of Mr. Evan Davies, Pwllglas, which took place, after a short illness, on the 6th inst. The deceased was one of the best known residents in the neighbourhood of Ruthin, having for many years carried on an extensive business as stone mason in Ruthin. He was also a faithful deacon of the Congregationalists at Pwllglas, an office which he filled for many years, and in his death the church at Pwllglas has sustained great loss. He was an ardent supporter of the Sunday School, and took a leading part in the Sunday School Union of the Congregationalists of the Vale of Clwyd, having tilled the position of President of the Union last year. For some years past, he was a member of the Ruthin Rural District Council and Board of Guardians, and, a short time ago, he gained considerable notoriety as a result of a resolution which he submitted to the District Council dealing with the question of Sunday cycling. He leaves a family to mourn his loss. The burial took place on Thursday at Efenechtyd, when the Rev. David Jones (C.), Llanelidan, read a portion of the Bible, and the Rev. David Jones, Ruthin, prayed at the house. The service at the grave- side was conducted by the Rev. Mr. Thomas, the curate of Efenechtyd. The tuneral was a public one, and the Chairman of the Ruthin District Council (Mr. Thomas Jones) and other members were present. There was also a large gathering of the general public.
LETTER VII.
A series of letters addressed to my cousin, John Jones, of Denbigh. LETTER VII. A piece of good news for you, John, amidst all the sadness of the failure of our generals in South Africa, and the pitiable inaptitude of our Government at home. Mr. Wason bas just been returned for Clack manan and Kinross. At the close of this stubbornly fought election, the successful candidate openly attributes his victory, in great part, to his upholding the principle of the taxation of land values.' Haven't I said all along that the flowing tide is with us, and that nothing under the sun will be able to dam it for very long. It is advan- cing, as you see, even amidst the great dust of battle. Whilst our brave soldiers are preserving our Empire on its far-out con- fines, there is another army of reformers in the old country grimly in earnest to make the Empire worth preserving. What is the use of us shouting Empire Empire! if the great mass of our people at home are rot- ting in poverty and misery. It is just like putting a clean shirt on a dirty skin. Continuing again the main topic of those letters, allow me to say that our modern material progress is like a huge wedge driven through society, the few that are on the upper side, it raises to higher affluence and power, whilst those on the nether side, it crushes into lower poverty and more abject helplessness. As we s'tw in our last letter, neither Peasant Proprietorship, Trades Unionism, Co operation, neither the Temperance, the Thrift, nor the greater in- telligence of the worker, can place the wedge under the lowest strata and raise all to material comfort. And let me add, neither will Old Age Pensions. It is merely a plaster on an ugly ulcer, but does not purify the blood. It is a red-herring dangled about very much these last couple of years to draw the attention of the work- ers away from the real evilof land monopoly, that so grinds them down. O! that they be wise in time, and not be so deluded and be fooled. Let them not be like the dog in the fable, who went through a hole in the door for the bread and cheese that he es- pied on the {table in the shepherd's cot. The hole was large enough to admit his lean proportions, but tco small for him to come out afer he had filled himself. Admit- ting that an old age pension could feed, clothe, and house the done-up labourer, it would be at the price of his real liberty, and of his natural right to the soil. If the people had justice, they ivould not need charity. Real capital would be vastly encouraged and increased by the taxation of land values. I hope you have not forgotten the picture of the Well at Holywell. It is a perfect synopsis of political economy. You will remember the man with the donkey and barrel, the capitalist, who was so enabled to out-bid the mere labourers, A B and C, for the privilege of drawing water from the well. If the Well-oivner were made to let go his grip by our new system of taxation, the labourers, A B and C would have a direct access to the bounty of nature they would enjoy the full product of their labour, out of whichjit would be possible for them to lay something aside, beyond the needs of sub- sistence, with which they also could obtain a donkey and barrel, that would enhance their effectiveness in the natural competi- tion. For what is real capital but stored up labour. As a flame kindles a flame, so would capital draw out capital. Indeed, I see the time coming, when the opportuni- ties and the reward of labou'r will be so multiplied by the destruction of land monopoly, that capital or wealth (they are exactly the same thing) will be so abun- dant, that they who are wishing to borrow it, can do so without paying any interest whatever. For, interest arises from the scarcity of capital, and the need of borrow- ers. When I have plenty of food in my owu cupboard, 1 will not go and beg of my i neighbour, I venture to go further and prophecy, that in many instances the owner of capital will not only be glad to lend his wealth for nothing, but will be glad to pay -the borrower for looking after it. Instead of receiving interest, be will be paying in- terest, or wages, to speak more scientifically. Invest a thousand pounds (in houses, and immediately the elements, like frost, heat, rain, and atmospherebegin to crumble them bit by bit; put machinery down, and the rust will corrode it; stock your warehouses with cloth, and the moths will eat into it get a donkey and barrel, and you must be continually feeding the one, and frequently patching the other. If it takes labour to produce capital and to use capital, it takes labour, also to preserve capital. Verily is the Scripture justified, along with some of the wisest teachers of mankind, Plato, Bacon, and Ruskin, when they condemn such as put out their money on usury.' If land had not being privately appro- priated, interest or usury would be impos- sible, which takes £ 270,000,000 every year from the wages of labour. Consider that, my dear relative, and see how monopoly breeds monopoly, how evil comes out of evil, bow injustice begets injustice. Kill the she-wolf and the cubs tnat feed upon her will soon follow suit. How happy I should feel if I could launch her a few well-directed blows on the head, that my children may have a fairer world to dwell in. I am afraid of wandering from my subject, but you have asked me whether I am an Individualist otl- a Socialist? I hope you will not run away under the cover of words, but I have no hesitation in answering, I am an Individualist. It is not so much repres sion or control by the huge machinery of the State that people want, but freedom to develope their God-given faculties, to follow their own particular bent, and choose the calling best suited to them, and which they themselves know better than any outside authority. If a man in this way has a right to himself, to his own life, he has a right also to material nature to sustain that life. He must have somewhere to rest his sole upon, before be can begin to develop his soul. 'Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural, and afterwards that which is spiritual.' This is why I call poverty a great crime, because it makes individualism impossible, engrosses the energies of vast multitudes in the bitter struggle for a mere animal exis- tence, and stunts the growth of the better, nobler part of their nature. Thomas Grey has for ever expressed this benumbing influence of poverty in his classic, immortal elegy. You know the lines well enough. 4 Chill Penury repressed this noble rage, And froze the genial currents of the soul.' Full many a gem of purest ray serene, The dark unfathomed caves of ocean bear; Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, And waste its sweetness on the desert air. Poverty a crime Poverty a crime I have been always taught the contrary.' So I have, but I hope I have got rid of the cant from my mind for ever. It is not criminal on the part of the poor themselves, but on Society as a whole, on you and me who allow such a state of things to continue to the un- doing of so many. Here is a verse from the wise men to clinqh my startling statement, 'The destruction of the poor is their poverty.' It has been one of the most puzzling problems to me to understand the so called champions of Individualism, like Herbert Spencer, Auberon Herbert, and the Liberty and Property Defence League, who will grant the individual any and every right, but the one foundation right of all, the right of each to the soil. To rob a man of his inheritance to the earth and then say he is free, is the most cruel mockery it is as if he were pitched-to the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, and then told he is free to swim ashore. Truly, the Nihilists of Russia are far wiser after all, when they inscribe on their banner, Land and Liberty.' To the Socialists I answer in a parable. Once upon a time, a working-man returning home one evening was waylaid by male- factors he was robbed, cuffed and kicked, then bound hand and foot and flung into a ditch. A number of people passing by, were attracted by his pitiable condition, and began to debate how the poor man could be got home. 'Let us carry him,' says one; 'Get a barrow,' says another, 'Is'nt there a St. John's Ambulance in this neighbourhood I wonder, where we could get a stretcher?' No, no, can't we get a cart or a trap from yonder farm?' Thus the debate went on for a considerable time, waxing more and more hqt, when a common sense straight- forward fellow steps up,' You lot of old women,' he said, why are you so excited, and why do you lose any time palavering, as to how this poor chap will get home ? Cut those ropes at once and let him get on his feet and he will soon show you how to get home.' Moral. Destroy land monopoly that binds down labour and there will be no necessity for some huge State machinery to rescue the labourer. In my next letter I hope to show how the taxation of land values will affect the farmers, making some special references to the letters of Labourer' which have re- cently appeared in your valuable paper, on the Land Question. Till then adieu. Yours ever affectionately, TOBIAS JONES.
[No title]
Mrs. Jactwed-Nly husband has quite lost histaste' Miss Rival—' Yes, he must have lost it before he married you I' She—4 If I &ere to die^ou would never get another wife like me.' l He-' What makes you think I'd ever want another like you V
TRAGEDY AT LLANGOLLEN.
TRAGEDY AT LLANGOLLEN. INQUEST AND VERDICT. The Deputy Coroner, Dr. J. H. Davies, held an inquest at the Courthouse, Llangoll- en, on Saturday, on the body of David Wil- liams, who committed suicide the previous day by shooting himself with a revolver, after having attempted to murder a comrade named Tom Goodwin. Mr. J. Rowlands was foreman of the jury. Robert Williams identified the body as that of his brother, who was 42 years of age. He last saw him alive about eight o'clock the previous morning. He did not enjoy good health, and was very low-spirited. He never heard him threaten to do away with himself, or to harm anybody else. Mrs. Eliza Davies, with whom Williams lodged, sent for him the previous morning, on ac- count of the peculiar disposition of his brother. He hastened to the house, and afterwards called at the police station, Eliza Davies, Pryce's Square, said Wil- liams had lodged with her for toe past twelve years. He was a very quiet, but not a sober man. He had been drinking very heavily about six weeks before Christmas. He left Llangollen last Monday morning, and returned on Thursday evening. He was not drunk, but had had a glas3 or two. When the witness opened the door he said, I have come once again.' He retired to bed a little alter twelve o'clock. Beforfi doing so, however, he opened his coat and said, Look and she saw something like a revolver inside his pocket. She was afraid to sleep that night. The next morning Williams went downstairs rather early, and returned about 7.30 a.m. with 8s. in hi* hand, which he put on the table and saic, I Eliza, you may as well have them as j somebody ehe.' He then left the house, and she did jot see him afterwards. Seeing that there was something funny about him, she sent for his brother. She had never beard him threaten anybody, but he told her when he was going away on Monday morning, that it was h rd lines to have to part from one's country through one man, mentioning Tom Goodwin. She did not know what bad happened between Williams and Goodwin. Shortly after Williams had left the house, she was informed that he had shot himself, and the body was subse- quently taken to her house. Thomas Goodwin, 11, Queen Street, Llan- gollen, said he had known Williams from childhood. He had not seen him for some two months. He came down stairs the previous morning about eight o'clock, and sat by the fire, with his back to the d )or. He saw Williams pass the window, but could not say that he saw him afterwards. He rushed into the house without knocking at the door, and he heard him say, Do you see this?' holding a revolver in his hand. He looked up and saw the revolver, and im. mediately afterwards Williams fired at him twice in succession. A third shot entered the door as the witness was leaving the house. He heard a fourth shot on entering a neighbour's house. The witness bad always been on the best of terms with Wil- liams. They might have had a word or two when drinking together, but he did not 'count that anything.' The witness did not know that Williams bad done any harm to him after the shots had been fired until lie entered the neighbour's house, when he felt something burning in his back. He opened his clothing, and fouad that two bullets had penetrated his clothing, but had not entered his body. By a Juror: He did not make any offen- sive remark to Williams some two months ago. By the Coroner: He had always been on friendly terms with him he had even been taking drink with him on Sunday morning before now. Jane Goodwin, wife of the last witness, said that about a quarter to eight on Friday morning, Williams knocked at the door, land at his request she gave him a small bottle of beer, which he drank. He afterwards asked for her husband, and she replied that he was in bed. About 8.30 he rnshed into the house and said to. her husband, who had come down stairs, Do you see this?' pointing a revolver at his face. Her hus- band said Yes,' and he immediately fired three shots one after the other. Her hus- band rushed through the back door, and the witness said, Well, David, what are you doing?' He said that somebody ought to have it a long time ago, and then she saw him put the revolver to his mouth and shoot himself. He fell immediately. Her hus- band and Williams had always been good friends. Thomas Hughes, who was walking up the street, gave evidence of hearing the shots fired. The last witness came out of the house and said, 'Come with me; Tom has been shot.' He accompanied her to a neigh- bour's house, and Goodwin said,' Dear Jane, are you alive.' The witness then looked into Goodwin's house and saw the revolver on the floor. He noticed David Williams lying on his left side with his head on the sofa. He was bleeding through the nose and mouth. The police were afterwards sent for. Dr.. Drinkwater said he was sent for to Goodwin's house on Friday morning. He examined Williams and found that he was dead. He bad only been dead a few minutes, as his skin was quite warm. Blood was flowing from his mouth and nose, and he found there was a penetrating wound at the roof of the mouth going to the brain. The injury was caused by a revolver bullet, death musthave been instantaneous He also examined Goodwin and found him to be suffering from two slight wounds, one in front of the chest near the heart, and the other a little above. The wounds were super- ficial, owing to the amount of clothing worn by Goodwin, and were in his opinion pro- duced by a revolver bullet. Police Sergeant Wyse said when he arrived, he placed Williams on his back, and found life to be extinct. There was, however, a slight pulse. Beside him on the floor was a six- chambered revolver, four of the cartridges having been used. He sent for a medical man, and upon searching Williams found in his pos- session a pawn ticket for a suit of clothes, six unused cartridges, a bottle containing rum, and various articles. In his breast pocket he found a letter written in lead, which was very difficult to understand, but it referred to Goodwin, the revolver, and other things. The Coroner, in summing up, said it was most important that they should understand the contents of the letter referred to by Police Sergeant Wyse. There, was, however, no connective sense in any of the statements made therein. Over and over agaia Williams refer- red to Goodwin, and it was evident that he in- tended killing him, and with that intention went to Chester and purchased the revolver. He thought they could not come to any other conclusion than that he committed suicide by shooting himself whilst temporarily insane. The jury returned a verdict accordingly.
THE REVENUE OF THE UNITED…
THE REVENUE OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. OVER X4,000,000 INCREASE. The Press Association says the Treasury has issued an account of the total revenue of the United Kingdom for the nine months ended December the 31st. The total revenue was £ 82,777,044, compared with £ 7S,340,468 in the corresponding period of the previous year, showing a net increase of £ 4,436,576 Customs produced E16,457,953, increase £ 674,214; Ex cise, £ 26,938.543, increase £ 1,127,994: Estate, &c., duties, £ 12,271,353, increase £656,172; stamps £ 6,460,000, increase £ 860,000; land tax X50,000, increase E15,000 house duty £ 555,000; increase 440,000; property and in- come tax, 5,990,000, increase £ 310,000; Post- office, £ 9,050,000, increase £ 460,000; telegraphs service 92,575,000, increase £ 155,000; Crown lands 9375,000, increase 920,000; receipts from Suez Canal shares and sundry loans f,503,839 increase 969,226; miscellaneous £ 1,570,356, in crease f,148,979. Of the total revenue there was paid to local taxation accounts E6,886,819, and into the Exchequer £ 75,890,195, compared with E6,829,460 paid to local taxation accounts, and £ 71,510,998 paid into Exchequer in the corresponding period of the previous yeir. During the past nine months there was paid into the local taxation accounts from Customs f,156,953, compared with £ 143,739; Excise E3,598,543, compared with Ç3,490, 549 and es- tate, &c., duties £5,13L3.), compared with £ 3,185,181 in the corresponding period of the previous year, making a total of E6,886,849 paid to local taxation accounts, compared with 96,829,469. Of the £ 75,890,195 paid into the Exchequer, Customs showed an increase over the corresponding period of the previous year of £ 661,000; Excise increase, £ 1,020,000; es. tate, &c.. duties increase, 9720,00; stamps in- crease, £860,00; land tax increase, £ 15,000; house duty increase, F-40,000 property and in- come tax increase, £ 310,000; Postoffice in- crease, £ 360,000; telegraph service increase, £ 1,555,000; receipts from Suez Canal shares and sundry loans increase, zC68,226 miscel- laneous ^increase. £ 148,970; altogether a net increase of £ 4,379,196.
[No title]
11 love you, dearest girl he said, Oh, be mine She handed him her card. It read i Ida Kline." Mr. Chalkley Waters, the retired milkman, leminds me of the whale that swnowed Jonáoh: «Ho^'sj tnati 2'1 Because he got a profit out of the water.'
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(Eoirfsponbcncc. 2' We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our correspondents in the following letters.
VOLUNTEERISM VERSUS COMPULSION.
VOLUNTEERISM VERSUS COMPULSION. Fa the Editor of THE NORTH WALES TIMES. SIR, A certain section of the community in and around Denbigh, have all but lost their heads over the South African war, and the rubbish to which they give utterance seems to me to indi- cate a very erroneous idea of what a man's duty in a crisis of this kind ought to be. We have entered into war with two comparatively small States in South Africa. Opinions differ as to the causes of the war, and whether we, as a nation, were justified in bringing the contro- versy into such a state as to make war inevi- table. I am not going co enter here into that question and I will also abstain from dubbing anyone that may differ from me 'an ignominious crank' vide the ungentlemanly and cowardly phrase applied by the stately Lord lieueenant of thelcounty (Col. Cornwaliis West) a few days ao to those who differed from his mighty self. I But there is jusc another question con- nected with the war scare which affects a num- ber of men in this locality. A section of the community in this locality think that it is the duty of members ofcthe Denbighshire Yeomanry Cavalry and the Volunteers, whatever their circumstances may be, to place themselves un- reservedly at the call of the Government in order to be sent at once to the front. Now, it is known that only a small proportion of these men have actually volunteered, and it is equally wellknown that only the services of a etill smaller number have been accepted by the military authorities. We all admire these men for their courage and faithful devotion to the country's cause. Those who have not volun- teered are, however, numerically stronger as far as the local Hussars and Volunteers are con- cerned, and it is the opprobrious epithets ap- plied to the men, by tire-eaters and their coterie, that induces me to protest against the way these men are referred to. No doubt, many of us who are active volun- teers would wish to assist in upholding British prestige in South Africa by actually offering our services to hght the Boers but there are other considerations which appeal to us with invincible force, to stay at home, and to do our duties in respects other than fighting with the sword and rifle. Many of us have large fami- lies to keep, and I say that any man, unless compelled, who turned his back on a houseful of tender young children, in order to fight the country's battle, would be unworthy of the name of father. His first duty is clearly towards his family. There are other circumstance? which made it well nigh impossible for many of us- married and unmarried alike-to volunteer for active service at the present juncture. That being so, why should the section of the community, to which I have already alluded, everlastingly refer to us as cowards, and men unworthy to wear the Queen's uniform. It is done in public places, and I have, before now, seen individual members of the two regiments held up to ridicule,and characterised as cowards, because they have not volunteered. I think it is time that this practice should be discontinued. There ought to be no taint of compulsion in the matter. If a man likes to go to the front, let him volunteer. If he does not, then let no one find fault with him on that ac. count. Yours very truly, DISGUSTED.
RUTHIN GAS.
RUTHIN GAS. To the Editor of the NORTH WALES TIMES. SIR, The noxious illuminant supplied to the town at present is really insufferable. The stanch must be injurious to health. Li fact, I know of in- stances where persons have bcome ill from its effects. One householder could not trace the origin of it, and had his cellars overhauled in the expectation of exhuming a dead cat in an advanced state of glorification. I wonder what the article is made of It is called 'gas' (Oh, ye gods and little fishes!) It can t be coal. I am inclined to the 'dead cat'theory personally. If nothing is done to remedy the state of things, this town will be 'to let with vacant possession shortly, the tenant to provide his own candles. Pity the poor gas consumer On one hand, his Champion (?), an imbecile Town Council, consisting of persons connected with the Gas Company, either as directors, lawyers, shareholders, or their 'wives and relations;' on the other, a rapacious Gas Company with no body -to kick or soul to damn' subjecting him to a slow, but sure process of asphyxiation at only 5s. 9d. per 1,000 feet. What can he ask for more at the price ? Some people are never satisfied. Yours, &c., A SURVIVOR. Ruthin, January 8th, 1900.
THE FLINT MILK CASE.
THE FLINT MILK CASE. To the Editor of THE NORTH WALES TIMES. SIR, We have had such a large number of inquiries as to why we did not carry the above case to appeal, that I shall be much obliged if you will kindly allow me to inform the public of our reasons for not doing so. The case was decided against us on Wednes- day, December the 6th, and we had to decide within three days from that date whether we would appeal or not. It was pointed out to us that an appeal to quarter sessions would be a costly affair, and moreover that the mental worry of having this most serious indictment against our character hanging over our heads for a further period of two months, would be such a terrible strain upon vs, especially upon my wife, that at the last moment we reluctant- ly decided to abandon the appeal. But knowing positively, as we do, that we were entirely innocent of the charge, we could not, in justice to ourselves and our children, bring ourselves co the point of paying the fine and costs without letting the law to take its most extreme course of exacting the money, hence the sale of oar only horse by public auc- tion under an order for distraint. We are fully aware that this has entailed a very considerable addition to the costs, which, as poor struggling farmers, we can,ill afford to pay, but against this, we have the immense satisfaction of knowing that our determined and resolute stand in ths matter has led the public to study carefully the whole facts of the case, with the result that we believe it is no exaggeration to say that 99 out of every 100 of them have been convinced that there has been a miscarriage of justice, and it is due to them to acknowledge that since the fasts of the case have become known, we have had a great many offers of assistance to carry the matter to ap- peal, for which we are extremely grateful, but they came coo late. Yet this practical testi- mony of their belief in our innocence has been to us a source of th^ greate^comfort, which immeasurably outweighs the^uestion of pounds, shillingl-, and pence. Thanking the press most heartily for the manner in which it has allowed this subject to be ventilated, I am, Yours truly, JOHN HUGHES. Maesydre Farm, Flint, January 11th, 1900.
COUNTY SCHOOL.
ing Body to the effect that after the 31st day of el March the appointment and dismissal of the vocal master would rest with the Governors. The matter was deferred until the next meet- ING' BURSAKIES. Three applications for bursaries had been re- ceived, viz., Joseph Jones, Pant Glas Oanol, Bontuchel, Ruthin a son of John Evans, Cross 1 Foxes, Henllan; and Aneurin Lloyd Davies, Old Vicarage, Llanrhaiadr. The Chairman said that the Governors had paid in bursaries more than what they had in the fund, and he was afraid they would get themselves into trouble. A letter was read from Mr. John Evans, Cross Foxes, Henllan, apologising for taking his boy from school, but he had obtained a situa- tion for him, and if he did not go to it at once he would lose it. He also begged the Governors to grant a bursary to his third boy. Mr. Ellis Williams-What are the atten- dances of the boys that receive bnrsarie9? The Clerk-I really cannot say. Mr. Ems Williams said he thought they ought to receive a report from the Headmaster of the boys that receive bursaries. Mrs. Humphreys Roberts said the Governors ought to make a rule, that if the boys do not attend the school their bursaries be discon- tinued. Mr. Ellis Williams proposed that the register be made-up-to date, and to be left on the table at each meeting. Mrs. Humphreys Roberts seconded, and it was carried. The boy from Bontuchel, Ruthin, being in the Ruthin district, the Governors waited for a reply from the Huthin Governors. The Rev. James Charles proposed that a bur- sary of dE2 be given to Aneurin Lloyd Davies, and it was agreed to. There was no resolution passed in the case of the Henllan applicant.