The Amman Valley Chronicle and East Carmarthen News

Llandilo Police Court. I Saturday, February 3rd.-Before Mr. L. N. Powell, Carregcennen; Col. D. Lloyd, Pare Henri; Mr. J. Picton, Truscoed Mr. Evan Jones, Manoravon; Mr. W. Hopkins, Ep- worth House; and Mr. D. Pritchard Davies, Llandilo. Gwilym Williams was summoned for riding a motor-cycle without having on it a proper identification number. Inspector Peter Jones stated that the defendant called at the police station the previous night about half-past nine, and told him he was working at Llan- J debie, and had received a telegram calling him home. He couldn't tell him why, but he said it would be im- possible for him to attend the Court that day. He pleaded guilty to the offence, and said he had explained to the policeman the plate had been damaged P.C. W. J. Thomas said that at 9.45 p.m. on the 3rd December, whilst" on duty in Bradford Square, Llandilo, he saw the defendant driving a motor- cycle, BX 201, up Rhosmaen Street, coming from the direction of Llan- dovery and proceeding to Llandebie. As he approached the square he slackened speed and dismounted. Wit- ness noticed as he was passing him there was no identification plate to be seen on the cycle, and drew defen- dant's attention to the fact that the lamp in front was not fixed so to throw a light on the plate. Witness found the letter X and the figure 2 on the right side of the plate was eaten away by rust. On the left-hand side the letter X and the figures 2 and 0 were also eaten away by rust. In reply to witness, defendant said he was very sorry; he had had an acci- dent, and he had been unable to re- paint it; he would do everything next day. A fine of £ 1 was imposed. DRUNKENNESS. I Dd. John Davies, collier, Amman- ford, was summoned for being drunk at Llandilo, on January 11th. P.C. Prothero said he saw defen- dant at 9.30 p.m., accompanied by a soldier, proceeding down Alan Road, Llandilo. He was drunk, and stag- gering across the road. Witness went to him and advised him to pull him- self together. Defendant said he was going to Ammanford, and witness went with him to the station, and found the last train had gone. Defendant said he would go to the New Inn and stay there for the night. He went away stagger- ing. Defendant, who pleaded guilty, said this was his first offence, and asked the Bench to deal as leniently with him as possible. The Chairman said young fellows like him ought to be ashamed of him- self, coming up to Llandilo to get drunk at such a time as this. Fined 7s. 6d. George Davies, collier, Llandilo, fr a similar offence, was fined a like amount. P.C. Prothero said he saw defen- dant approaching Bradford Square, Llandilo, staggering, and he found he was drunk. He advised him to go home, which he did. NO LIGHTS. I Tudor Howells (16) was summoned for riding a bicycle which did not shew a white light to the front, on 23rd January. P. C. W. J. Thomas stated that at 5.45 a.m. he saw defendant in Llan- debie Road, Llandilo. He asked him why he was riding a bicycle without a lamp in front. and he replied: I am very sorry; I lost the lamp a few days ago. Fined 5s. 6d. Phillip Jones, Swansea, was sum- moned for leaving a motor-car without lights in front, and also for having no red rear light. P. C. W. J. Thomas said that at 19.30 p.m. on the 13th ult. he saw a motor-car in front of the Rose and Crown, Rhosmaen Street, Llandilo. There was no light in front, and none. behind. After the car had been there for twenty minutes, the driver came back with a can of petrol. He asked him why he had left the car there at that time of night for twenty minutes, and he replied: My lights won't stop in without having petrol, and my petrol finished when I came up here. I had a light behind when I left to go to the garage, but I have no oil lamps in front as side lights, only electric lamps, which won't show a light ex- cept when the engines are in motion. I have been with a party to Llany- byther to zt funeral. I hope nothing will come of it. The magistrates imposed a fine of 50s. for each offence. Griffith Jones was summoned for driving a horse and carriage at 6.20 p.m. without shewing a white light in front, and also for having no red rear light. P. C. W. J. Thomas stated that on the 29th last month he saw defendant driving a horse attached to a carriage in Abergorlech Road. He had lamps in front, but no lights. He said he thought it was too early. Lighting-up time was 5.30 p.m. The magistrates said they did not think this was so serious a case. Fined 7s. 6d. for each offence. Lewis Thomas was similarly fined for the same offences, P.C. W. J. Thomas stating defendant was behind the carriage of the last defendant, and when asked to explain, said he was delayed on the road owing to an acci- dent; he thought of being home before lighting-up time. Defendant said he had been forty years on the road, and this was the first time he had been summoned for any offence. The Chaiirman: This is wair time now; forty years ago was in the good old times. I LICENSING OFFENCES. David Jones, licensee of the Black Ox Hotel, Llandilo, was summoned for supplying intoxicating liquor, viz., beer and stout, to be consumed on the premises, at 10.10 p.m., contrary to the Liquor Control Order. Francis Jones, boot and shoe dealer, Carmar- then Street, was summoned, for con- suming the liquor. Mr. Hurley appeared for defendant, and pleaded guilty on his behalf. P.C. Prothero stated that at 10.10 p.m. on the 20th last month he, accom- panied by P.C. W. J. Thomas, entered the Black Ox, and in the bar he saw on the counter a glass contain- ing liquor, partly consumed, which appeared to be beer. On seeing him, the licensee's wife endeavoured to take the glass away, but witness seized it and tasted the contents, which he found to be beer. Turning from the bar, he saw on the mantelpiece two more glasses, and found both con- tained beer. He also saw Francis Jones sitting in the bar with a glass containing liquid, and he endeavoured to hide the glass under the chair in which he sat. Witness seized the glass, and found it contained beer. He pointed this out to Francis Jones, and he said: It is stout; I admit it is a mixture of stout and beer. He charged David Jones with supplying and Francis Jones with consuming; the former made no reply, and Francis Jones said: I admit it." Mr. Hurley: Did you see anybody else consuming anything with the ex- ception of Francis Jones? Witness: I didn't.. So far as you know, any other glasses containing intoxicants might have been there before nine o'clock? Witness: They might have been, but it is not very likely. Mr. Hurley stated that in these two cases he had pleaded guilty. There was no attempt to turn round and deny that the glasses contained intoxicants. He asked their Worships to deal leniently with and extend mercy to- wards these persons. The law under which they were prosecuted was not genera! throughout the country, but merely ,in certain districts, and he sub- mitted the object with which this law was passed was to prevent the progress of the war being interfered with by reason of intoxication. In a district like this, with no munition works or collieries, he thought the law should not apply. If it had been a munition area, the offence would have been far more serious than in these cases. Dd. Jones had been the licensee of the Black Ox for 20 years, and had never had a single charge brought against him before. He believed the police would corroborate him in this, that Jones had always conducted his house properly. The other defendant was a very respectable tradesman in the town, and no one could say he was addicted to drink. On that evening he hap- pened to go there with a parcel of goods after closing hours, and forget- ting the time, he called for a bottle of stout or beer, and was supplied with it. He had never been in a court of law before, and never had any charge against him. He was a man of most respectable habits, and nothing could be said against his character. Under the circumstances, he (Mr. Hurley) thought the magistrates would be justi- fied in dealing with the defendants under the Probation of Offenders Act. The Chairman said that having re- gard to the good character of both defendants, they would inflict a fine of 10s. only in each case. Mrs. Alice Potter, Angel Hotel, Llandilo, was summoned for attempt- ing to supply intoxicating liquor, viz., beer, to be consumed during prohibited hours; and Osmond Lewis, Bank Ter- race, and Thos. Williamus, Tygwyn, Llandilo, were summoned for attempt- ing to obtain the same, on the 20th ult. P.C. W. J. Thomas stated that at 9.55 p.m., on the date named, in com- pany with P.C. Prothero, he entered the Angel Hotel, Rhosmaen Street, Llandilo, and after passing the swing doors in the passage he saw the two men standing at the door of the bar. He also saw Mrs. Potter crossing the bar with two glasses of liquor which appeared to be beer. He seized both glasses and tasted the contents, and came to the conclusion that they were beer. P. C. Prothero also tasted them. He charged Mrs. Potter with attempt- ing to supply intoxicating liquor, and charged the two men with attempting to obtain it. Mrs. Potter replied: I am guilty; I have nothng to say; I admit it is beer. These persons asked me for the glasses of beer. Osmond Lewis ordered them, but I have not been paid. They have not drank any out of the glasses." The two other defendants admitted everything she said. Mr. Hugh WiHiams, pleading guilty for the defendants, said that he couild only adopt what Mr. Hurley had said in the previous case. Mrs. Potter had only been in the house since Sep- tember last: She was the wife of a person who had left a good situation to do his duty for his country and was now serving with the Colours, and in order to make it possible for herself and little child to live, had to take up this house to further her allowance. He thought the police would say since she had been at the Angel Hotel she had conducted the place properly, and on this occasion, through an oversight, this happened. In this case he could have successfully resisted a conviction on the technical grounds that the sum- mons was not properly formed, but Mrs. Potter did not wish him to take up that attitude. The two other defen- dants were respectable people who had been away on business, and he pointed out that there had been no consump- tion, although there was the intention. The Magistrates* Clerk did not admit the summons was wrongly framed. The magistrates imposed a fine of 10s. in each case. OBSTRUCTION. I Thomas Edwards, baker, New I Road, Llandilo, was summoned for obstructing the foot pavement, by leaving thereon a motor-car. P. C. W. J. Thomas stated that at 6.20 p.m. on the 9th ult. he saw defendant's motor-car, BX 356, stand- ing outside the arch which leads to defendant's back premises in New Road, Llandilo. The car was there for ten minutes, with no light upon it. He noticed a pedestrian go off the foot pavement in consequence of the car being there, the front pair of wheels being in the middle of the path. He went in to see defendant, and asked for an explanation, as he had warned him twice previously, on 21st Decem- ber last and on the 13th ult. Defen- dant replied: The car was in when I left it, and the boy must have pushed it out again." Cross-examined by Mr. Edmunds for defendant, witness said the attitude of defendant was very nice. He told witness he had pushed the car in. He accompanied witness to see the car, and expressed his suprise. He tried to push it back, and witness assisted him. The boy came out, and defen- dant went to him, but witness did not know what the boy said, as he went away. There was no congestion of pedestrian traffic there, it was a quiet locality; but there were passengers, as it was one of the main streets. Defen- dant wou!d net have come out if wit- ness hadn't called him. Mr. Edmunds: You were the only man. inconvenienced? Witness: I am the man to see to things. Defendant, giving evidence, said he was a master baker, and the only one in the town. He had been in busi- ness eleven years. He disputed the constable's assertion when he called on him, as he had left the car off the pavement altogether. The officer in- vited him to go and see it, and said he had timed it being there for ten minutes. He (defendant) found the car across the path. He kept the car in an archway, and had to push it in and out two or three times a day to allow people to pass in. It was easier to push out than it, and quite possibly some outsider had pushed it out. It was only five or ten minutes earlier that he had pushed it in. The Chairman said the magistrates thought this rather a trivial case, and they had decided to dismiss it. I WARNING TO EMPLOYERS. I David Davies, Cwrt Farm, Nant- garedig, was summoned for not keep- ing a list of his employees of military age. P.C. R. Davies said that on the 28th ult., at 6 p.m., he visited defen- dant's farm, at Nantgaredig, where he saw defendant. He asked him if he had anybody working there, and defen- dant replied: 11 Yes, I have Stepney, who used to be working, at AHty- goleu. Witness asked to see the list of workers he had between 18 and 41 years of age, as required by the Defence of the Realm Act, aitd he replied: I have not got one; I know nothing about it." Witness told him he would be reported, and he then said: Stepney came here from Allty- goleu, and told me he had left there; I kept him, thinking my son, who is at Ffynnongollen, would like to have him. I know I can't keep him here, as I have a son of military age who is exempted from the Army." In reply to Mr. Hugh Williams for defendant, witness said he. believed that statement. Defendant did not tell him he was not paying him. Defendant, on being called, said he and his son and daughter jointly occupied the farm, and all three paid the rates, so that his son would not be an employed person. The man was only at the farm temporarily until he could go to another farm, where he could be employed. He admitted the man worked while he was there. Mr. Picton, one of the magistrates, said the man had been before the Advisory Committee that morning, and he had been called up as a servant at Alltygoleu, as that farm was on his papers. The 'Deputy Chief said he had not brought this case for punishment, but because this Order was not generally complied with. He had to bring this case before the magistrates so that other persons might have warning. Mr. Hugh Williams said he did not think the Order was generally known. The Deputy Chief said there was a poster within ten yards of defen- doot's premises, and had been there for months. He did not know how better he could bring it to his notice. The Chairman said the magistrates had decided to dismiss the case on payment of costs, with a caution and warning to farmers that they must comply with the Order, and any fur- ther cases would be dealt with more severely.

i 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 11 111111111111111111111111111111111 HAVE you helped the I ?  'big push' that has I I started by putting all the I money you possibly can I behind it ? [ I If not—buy War Loan to-daY. = The more you lend-the sooner the War will end. = E A NY Money Order Post Office will hand you a £ 1 = ? ??- War Savings Certificate for 15/6. Any Bank will §= = buy War Loan for you from £ 5 upwards. Or go to your =j = local War Savings Committee, who will do everything for you. = I DAVID EVANS, Manordaf, Whitland. Joint Hon. Sees, to EE E I J. CALEB HUGHES, 24, Picton Terrace, i Carmarthenshire War = EE Carmarthen. J Savings Committee. — njllllllllllllllllllllilllllllllllllllllllllllllHIIIIillll llllllllliilllllllllllllllllllllllllllillllllllllllllllll

Llannon Parish Council has resolved to hold a Flag Day in aid of the Welsh Troops Comforts Fund on March 3rd. The parish has been divided into five distracts, with a sub- committee for each.

Welsh Whip on the War. THE SUBMARINE MENACE. I Mr. J. Towyn Jones, M.P., had a great reception at the- Palace Theatre, Ammanford, on Thursday evening last, when, as chairman of a perform- ance of a sacred cantata, The Holy City," by the Christian Temple Choir, he made his first public appearance since his appointment as Welsh Whip, Junior Lord of the Treasury, and his co-option bn the Carmarthenshire County Council. Wiith characteristic eloquence he gave an inspiring address, in the course of which he said he gladly accepted the invitation to preside at that gather- ing, for he knew, not only that they should partake of a musical feast, but that the proceeds would go towards providing comforts for the soldiers and sailors connected with the church. If any persons on the face of the earth demand of us our level best in these days, they were the young lads in the fighting forces who protect our country and our people. He made up his mind as soon as war was declared to go any- where and do anything, provided it was not against the dictates of his con- science, at the command of those in authority, so that he might be of some service to his country in the hour of her direst need. He had addressed some hundreds of recruiting meetings and some dozens of munition gatherings, and he felt he was doing sorrething in the carrying on of the war to a success- ful issue by presiding that night, for the reason that the proceeds were to go towards something which would strengthen the bodies and cheer the hearts of the sailors and soldiers. We were in the war not of our own seek- ing, but for the redemption of our plighted word, for the rights and privi- leges of small nationalities, for jus- tice, freedom, civilisation, democracy, humanity, and the ideals of the heavenlies. There was no mistaking the fact that we were engaged in a life and death struggle with the Ger- manic Powers, who are out beyond doubt for the domination of Great Britain and the world, and, to his mind, the domination of the Huns spells the damnation of the world. (Hear, hear). We had been re- peatedly told by those in authority that we had not the faintest hope of obtain- ing victory over the inhuman and for- midable enemy without an efficient Navy, an adequate supply of men, material, and money. We were very fortunate at the outset of the war to have a highly efficient Navy, which guarded our shores from invasion on the part of the enemy, and had cleared off the seas of the world every German battleship and mercantile vessel. It had helped our transports in moving from port to port, and continent to con- tinent, and had also helped our armies and the armies of our Allies. He was glad to think that although there were still some German submarines out in the open ocean to-day, we had time and again sent them to the bottom. Doubtless our greatest trouble at the present time was the submarine menace, but he had the fullest confidence that the genius and courage of our Navy would sooner or later destroy every German submarine that may venture out of German waters. May that day soon come. He trusted that the oppor- tunity of a splendid investment afforded by the present War Loan would not be allowed to slip by. Silver bullets would win the victory in the end-a victory over German domination, so that mnkind might be brought a step nearer to the ideals of the Holy City being realised on earth. (Ap- plause).

Collieries "Comb Out." Important modifications were pro- mised on Monday night with regard to the Order by which certain classes of colliery workmen are being combed out for military service, and Sir George Cave, the Home Secretary, in conjunction with the colliery experts of his department, have undertaken to consider other important points brought to notice by the Miners' Federation of Great Britain. It had been a day of prolonged con f erences. Naturally, the vital meeting of the day was that held at the Home Office in the afternoon. It lasted for several hours, and Sir George Cave personally thrashed out with the miners' leaders all their points of ob jection. For the time being exemption certificates are to remain in operation, but no objection was taken to the continuance of the work of the travelling Medical Boards. This is what Sir George Cave has definitely agreed to:- I Men who were temporarily out of the collieries on August 15th, 1915 the vital date in the combing out Order-but who were in fact old miners, are not to be included in the scheme. 2. Those who are at present work- ing at the surface, but who have been brought out from underground to do lighter work owing to illness cr o-her causes, are to be treated as miners arc not dealt with by the courts. Their exemption certificate, therefore, will not be cancelled. 3. That part of the Order dealing with men who had lost more than two days a week on an average for three months to be dropped. 4. The question of a two months' extension to all surface workers em- ployed in such occupations prior to August 15th to be re-considered in t* e light of the deputation's argument. 5. New arrangements to be made. if possible, as to the times and condi tions of holding the Colliery Courts. 6. No women to be employed on the surface.

Llandilo Brewster Sessions. The annual Licensing Sessions for Llandilo Division was held on Satur- day, when the Deputy Chief Constable (Mr. J. Evans) presented his report as follows:— There are 49 licensed premises in the division to a population of 9,062. This includes 48 public-houses—39 of which are licensed for seven and 9 for six days-and one off-licence for wine only. Of these, 34 are free and 14 tied. There is one public-house for every 188.7 of the population; for England and Wal es there is one for 339.6. Twenty-two public-houses were within the urban area of Llan- dilo, to a population of 1,932, being one to 87.7 of the population. During the year ended 31 st December, 1916, three protection orders and four trans- fers were granted. Two licensed per- sons were proceeded against under the Defence of the Realm Act, Liquor Control Order, during the year, resu't- ing in one conviction and one dis- missal, against two proceedings and two convictions under the I'censing law of the previous year. No notice ha? been received of any intended appli- cation for new licences, and the police do not offer- objection to the renewal of any of the licences. The conduct of the houses in general has been good. During the ylar ending 31st December, 1916, forty-one persons were proceeded against for drunken- ness; 35 were convicted, five dismissed under the Probation Act, and one withdrawn, as against 68 proceedings, 56 convictions, 9 dismissals, and three withdrawals in the previous year, a decrease of 27 in the number of pro- ceedings and 21 in the number of con- victions. One person was licensed to- keep billiard tables. The Deputy Chief added that within the last fortnight he had received formal complaint about the Railway Refreshment Room that soldiers arriving in the early morning were un- able to obtain, and had actuaHy been refused non-intoxicating refreshment at the railway station room, which was a great source of inconvenience and annoyance. He would like the magis- trates to acquaint the licensee with the matter and formally call her attention to the seriousness of the complaint, and if she did not improve that further steps would have to be taken to see that sh e complies with the Act. The Chairman said the Bench were glad to observe that the general con- duct of the licences was satisfactory;, but with reference to what had been mentioned by the Deputy Chief about the Railway Refreshment Room, they would like to have the licensee before them, and to express their opinion to her before renewing the licence. That would, therefore, be adjourned to the next session. Mr. T. H. Powell said he was going to make application in regard to the licence of the Refreshment Room. This was the first he had heard of the complaint, but he would be happy to convey the magistrates' wishes to her. He wished to ask for a reduction of the levy for the Compensation Fund' in respect of the Refreshment Rooms. The Chairman: We have decided to adjourn this case until the adjourned annual Licensing Session, and your appl ication had better come on then. The adjourned session was fixed for rhe 3rd March.

In a preface he has written to a new book called War Songs," General Sir Ian Hamilton makes the following interesting reference to the soldiers of Wales:—" Welsh soldiers are ex- tremely musical. There is a ten- dency in the Welsh military music to fall, metaphorically speakmg, into the minor key, and to dwell rather on the pathos of war than on its glories. The Scotch are in sympathy with Welsh pathos, but they seem more susceptible: to the glamour of war." Miming classes are flourishing in Carmarthenshire. In his quarterly re- port Mr. W. H. Bell in, the mining lecturer, stated fha-t the quarter just passed had been the most successful, so far, in the history of the mining classes in the county. We have. more classes and a better staff than ever before," he adds, and I think the prospects are brighter than ever, as. the colliery managers, as a whole, are taking greater interest in the classes, and the work done at them." Printed and Published by The Amman Valley Chronicle, Limited, at their Offices, Quay. Street, Ammanford, in the County of Cafe marthen, February 8th, 1917.