The Amman Valley Chronicle and East Carmarthen News

llandebie. Soldier Killed. Mr. and Mrs. Beynon, Plasbach Farm, have been notified by the War Office of the death of ther son, Priv. Alfred Beynon, Welsh Regiment, who was killed in action on January 28th, 1917. Priv. Beynon was in the Battle of Loos in 1915, and was then wounded in the back between the shoulder blades by shrapnel. His brother is* in the Pem- brokeshire Yeomanry. •_ 4

I 'Welsh Fair' at Ammanford. I A BRILLIANT SUCCESS. T The Welsh Fair," in aid of the National Fund for the Welsh Troops, held at Ammanford, on St. David's Day, was a striking success. The event —originated and carried through by Mr. Ben Johnson—was in many respects unique. In the variety and utility of the articles for sale it differed from the ordinary bazaar; sectarian differences were lost in patriotic zeal, all the churches in the town working whole- heartedly towards its success; and the Cymric aspect of the affair was not lost sight of, for at the opening cere- mony the vernacular predominated, and only the national colours—green and yellow-were used in the decorations, while several ladies who were attired in Welsh costume added a national touch to the scene. A large gathering witnessed ,the open- ing ceremony, which was performed by Mrs. W. N. Jones, wife of Ald. W. N. Jones. Mr. J. Davies, J.P., presided in his. capacity as Chairman of the Urban Council, and at the outset referred; to the death of the Premier's uncle, Mr. Richard Lloyd, and felt sure Mr. Lloyd George would have their sym- pathy. He said that some time ago a letter which he received from Mrs. Lloyd George impressed upon him the great need for augmenting the Welsh Troops' Fund. He placed the letter in the hands of Mrs. T. M. Evans, who took the matter up zealously and called together the Flag Committee. This committee set to work, with Mr. Ben Johnson as organising secretary, and for once church and chapel united in a common effort. Ammanford, with its population of between six and seven thousand, had sent 1,000 of its boys to the Colours. The town had had cause to know of it and feel it, and before the end of that day he had little doubt they would have shewn in a substantial way that they thought highly of these boys. (Cheers) Mr. Ben Johnson, as organising sec- retary, voiced his heartfelt thanks to all the ladies and gentlemen who had helped to bring the Welsh Fair to such abundant success. It had been organised in three weeks, but all had worked hard and worked splendidly. The affair had a three-fold purpose, namely, to help and encourage our boys who are fight- ing for us day and night in the trenches, in all kinds of weather; to celebrate St. David's Day in a practical way; and to commemorate the elevation to the highest post in the British Isles of the Right Hon. D. Lloyd George. Welsh- men ought to be proud that in this crisis the country had had to fall back upon a Welshmman to lead it to vic- tory. The speaker deplored that he was not sufficiently well versed in the intri- cacies of the Welsh language to speak it, having been educated in England; but on his mother's side he could claim descent from Llewelyn the Last Prince. He added that it ought also to be a matter of pride to them that the Premier had come to East Carmarthenshire for his Welsh Whip. (Cheers). Mrs. T. M. Evans then presented Mrs. W. N. Jones with a bouquet of choice flowers, and obsetved that Mrs. Jones was one of the best ladies in the district, always to the fore in every good movement. Mrs. Jones; in a neat little speech, said it was with much pleasure she came among them to open the Welsh Fair for the Welsh troops. She did so with greater pleasure because it was St. David's Day-a day near and dear to the hearts of all Welsh people. The English had their St. George, the Irish St. Patrick, the Scotch St. Andrew, and the Welsh sang the praises of Dewi Sant, who lived in the sixth century. The Welsh people thought so much of him that in the twelfth century they began to call him their Patron Saint. Thus on the day upon which his memory was revived she had great plea- sure in opening the Fair, in the confi- dent hope that by the close of the day they would have a substantial sum to hand over to the lads who are fighting for us, and whom they all hoped to soon see back with us'covered with vic- tory and glory. She formally declared the Fair open, and advised all to open their, hearts and purges, and give will- ingly and freely to a cause which deserved well at their hearts. (Ap- plause) Penillion having been sung by Mr. W. T. Rees, Bon Marche, a vote of thanks to Mrs. Jones was submitted by the Rev. W. Nantlais Williams, and seconded by Mr. T. M. Evans; and to the Chairman by Aid. W. N. Jones, seconded by the Rev. Tegfan Davies. Business throughout the afternoon and evening was very brisk, no leiss than 1,600 persons visiting the Fair, and the whole of the articles were cleared under seven hours, with the result that the handsome sum of £204 will be handed over to the fund. The secretary's expenses have been met without encroaching upon the pro- ceeds, Lord Dynevor subscribing. 13, Mr. A. E. Du Buisson, Glynh.IT, if Is.; Lady Howard, Lianelly, il; through Mrs. Towyn Jones, £ l; Mr. J. H. Barnet, Abertillery, I Os.; and Mr. Powell, 10s. On entering the room, the delightful artificial flower stall in the centre at- tracted attention, and it is worthy of note that adl the flowers had been made locally by Miss H. Marsh. The daffodils, in particular, were most artistic and realistic. I Solos were given during the pro- ceedings by the following:—Miss Ceinweri James, R.A.M., Madame May Roberts, Madame McCarthy- Edwards, Madame Vaughan- Joshua, Miss Gladys Powell, Miss Louisa Davies, and Messrs. W. T. Rees and Tom Walters. The Bettws String Band aiso p'.ayed selections of Welsh airs, under the conductorship of Mr. Geo. 1. Thomas, L.L.C.M., who was also the accompanist. Signaller J. Emlyn Thomas, R.N., was the harpist. The stalls were in charge of the following:— Christian Temple Stall.—Mesdames Tegfan Davies, E. Evans, D. Evans, J. Evans, J. Thomas, E. Morgans, V. W. Lloyd, Bessie Morris, artd Messrs. Emrys Harries and J. Watters. Weigh- ing machine: Miss Hilda Jones. Pur- chases, 137. Wesleyan Stall (Welsh and Eng- lish).—Mesdames Pyle, Phil. Evans, J. Prout, H. Owen, H. Morgan, Elias Jones, R. Jones, D. A. Roberts, J. Mustow, and Miss McCarthy. Pur- chases 19 1 Os. Ebenezer Stall.-Mesdames J. Phil- lips, E. Lewis, G. Jenkins, the Misses S. John, Williams, and Rees. Pur- chases, £ 18 16s. lid. Capel Newydd Stall.- Misses Harries, M. Richard, J. George, and L. A. Miles. Purchases, S-6 1 Is. Refreshment Sta¡'¡:-Mesdames J. Davies, J. Hughes, Price, Lewis, T. Thomas, H. Jones, and Jenkins. Competition Stall.-Misses Elsie and Eira Towyn Jones, and Miss Glaston- bury. Parcel Depot.—Mrs. Scarsi. Floral Stall.-Miss Marsh, Miss Doris Hughes, Mrs. R. John, and Mrs. Jack Jones. Church Stall.—Mesdames T. M. Evans, F. T. Evans, J. W. Jones, E. Inman, J. Carruthers, Shepherd, Davies (Tirydail House), and J. Evans. Pur- chases for above two stalls, £ 34 Is. White Elephant Stall.—^Miss M. Williams, Gwynfryn. Gwynfryn StalL-Mesdames H. Herbert, O. R. Evans, J. Morris, J. Thomas, E. Matthews, M. Griffiths, M. Evans, J. W. Waldron, and Misses Myfanwy Jones, M. Lewis, M. Rees, M. Evans, M. Morgan, J. Harries, E. Hughes, S, Griffiths, S. Rees, A. Lawley, M. Pritchard, M. Jones, A. Thomas, and N. Williams. Total of above, together with Com- petition, White Elephant and Refresh- ment Stalls, S,41 6s. Bethany Stall.-Mesdames D. James, E. Davies, T. L. Davies, Bowen Jones, M. Jones, D. G. Davies, and Davies. and Misses John, M. Owen, S. Thomas, A. Davies, N. Jones, and M. Thomas. Purchases, £ 15. Exhibition Stall.—Miss Emanuel, Misses F. Hughes, Winnie Evans, Ivy Lewis, May Jones, and M. Walters. Proceeds, £ 12. A number of gentlemen gave their services as stewards. Thanks are due to various tradesmen who lent conveyances to carry goods to and from the hall, and to the Vicar (Rev. J. W. Jones, B.A.) for the loan of the stalls. The Flag Day held on Saturday, and organised by Mrs. T. M. Evans, brought Ammanford's total contribution to the Welsh Fund to £ 225. The following letters have since been received by Mr. Ben Johnson:— House of Commons, March 5th, 1917. My dear Johnson,-Allow me to congratulate you, with all heartiness, upon the signal success which crowned your efforts relative to the Welsh Fair at Ammanford on Thursday and Saturday last. Really and truly you are a born organiser. With best regards, I am, Very sincerely yours, J. TOWYN JONES NATONAL FUND FOR WELSH I TROOPS. March 6th, 1917. Ben Johnson, Esq., 55, Wind Street, Ammanford. Dear Sir,-I am delighted to re- ceive your letter this morning, and to know that as a result of your in- defatigable efforts the Welsh Fair held at Ammanford hasrealised no less a sum than S.204 clear of ex- penses. I know that this could not have been attained without really hard labour on your part and all those who so kindly assisted you in the movement. I wish to warmly congratulate you upon the result, and on behalf of my Chairman and Com- mittee to tender to you and to your helpers their most grateful thanks for this substantial assistance in the work they are doing. I feel, too, that our thanks are due to all your towns- people, for all that effort would have been in vain had they not in turn responded so loyally and well; will vouDleasedo me the favour of con- veying the thanks of Mrs. Lloyd George and the Committee to them likewise? When the Welsh troops know of the readiness of Amman fod and other districts, as well as English towns, to provide this Com- mittee with the means of adding to their comfort and being of service to them, they will, I am sure, feel much heartened. Again thanking you.— Yours faithfully, WILLIAM LEWIS, I Hon. Secretary. < 6

I Llandilo Police Court. I Saturday, March 3 :Before Mr. L. N. Powell, Carregcennen; Mr. J. Picton, Truscoed; Mr. Pritchard Davies, Llandilo; and Mr. W. E. Richards, Felingwm. The licence of the Railway Refresh- ment, the granting of which had been adjourned from the Brewster Sessions, was now renewed. I DRUNKENNESS. John James, collier, Treforis, Llan- debie, was fined il for being drunk and disorderly in the railway station, on February 24th. P.C. W. J. Thomas stated the case. John Davies, Pontfaen, Llanddarog, was summoned by P.C. Prothero for a similar offence at the same place, on the 17th ult., and was fined 10s. I RATES. Margaret A. Rees, 3, Palace Avenue, Llanelly, was summoned by Mr. Dan Ambrose for non-payment of the general district rate of Llandilo. It was now stated that the rate had been paid, and an order for costs was granted. I AFFILIATION. After an adjournment for lunch, a case was heard in which considerable loca-I interest was taken. Daniel Williams, farmer, Llwyn- celincilwr, Talley, was summoned by Elizabeth Jones, Marchoglwynfach, Llanfynydd, single woman, to shew cause, &c. Mr. T. Ludford, Llanelly, was for complainant, and Mr. Thompson, Swansea, for defendant. Complainant stated that she was a single woman 17 years of age, and on 19th December gave birth to a female child, of which defendant was the father. He lived about a quarter of a mile from her home, and she had known him'six years. She used to go mes- sages for her mother to Abergorlech, and to reach there had to go through Llwyncelin, and sometimes used to see defendant, who would occasionally speak to her. On the 22nd March, on a Wednesday, she went to Abergorlech for her mother, but did not see anyone in Llwyncelin farmyard. She crossed the fields and into a wood, where she saw defendant. He spoke to her, and then caught hold of her and threw her down. He saids On my life, don't tell anyone; I'll do you no harm." She resisted him, but without avail. A fortnight or three weeks after she met him in the same wood, and misconduct took place then and on two other occa- sions, the last time after Sunday School at Pistyllgwyn. Defendant was there, and walked home with her. She found out in September that she was in trouble. Cross-exam i ned she, said she marked the first date on an almanac. She went to the same chapel at Abergorlech as defendant, and she used to attend meet- ings on week-nights. Defendant and his family were. generally there. She had been walking out with boys before. They used to attend prayer meetings and take her home. They used to have larks-she meant teasing one another. There was no kissing. Mr. Thompson: Larks are different to what they used to be then. (Laugh- ter). Witness, continuing, said Mrs. Roberts, a neighbour, saw her with defendant when he returned with her from Pistil gwyn. They had company part of the way, but went on together afterwards. They had to go along a lonely road and through fields. Mrs. Roberts told her, after the child was born, that she had seen them. Re-examined: She was too ashamed to say anything about it, because defen- dant was a married man. Mrs. Elizabeth Roberts, Llamfedw, Cwmdu, wife of Hugh Roberts, now on active service, said she saw defen- dant and the girl together on a Sunday. She was in the field, and saw them on the road. She saw the man place his arm round the girl, and later saw him brushing her clothes. John Jones, who went with the father of the girl to interview defen- dant, said' defendant denied having any- thing to do with it. Daniel Jones, father of the girl, also gave evidence as to a conversation with defendant, who said: If I knew I was going to have a child, I would have been over to you long ago to settle the matter. Defendant stated he was 38 years of age, and had been married seven years. He had one child. He attended Aber- gorlech Chapel and the prayer meetings on week-nights. He knew complainant and her people, and often met them there. He denied that he had done anything wrong to the complainant; he was quite happy with his wife. When her father came, he said it would be better to settle for small money and not say anything about it, but he (defen- dant) replied: I will spend every penny on fighting the case." Cross-examined, he said his charac- ter had never been besmirched until this case. He had never assaulted young girls, though people had been saying things about him. B. E. Stephens, Pant, Llanfynydd, said he went on behalf of defendant to see the girl's father, and asked him to withdraw the accusation agaainst defen- dant, but the father would not with- draw. Esther Williams, wife of defendant, said her husband denied to the girl's father that he had touched the girl, and told him to take his own course. Her confidence: in her husband was still shaken. flY The magistrates made an order 5s. per week, with costs and expensesl( also £ 2 2s. advocate s fee. If .'0 JUVENILE COURT. Victor Walters, Gurrey Bank, Llan- dilo, was charged with stealing Is. 3d. in money, Is. 8d. in stamps, and three; War Saving Certificates, the property of Mrs. Harries, schoolmistress at the; National School. P. C. W. Prothero stated that about 8 p.m. on the 1st inst. he received a complaint that a purse had been losit^X The previous day he saw Mrs. I~Lrr;es, and the boy at night. He asked him. to go to the police station, when he- said, Here they are," and hanced witness the articles produced. Prisoner pleaded guilty, and was ? dealt with under the Probationers' Act, on condition that his father gave him-a, thrashing in the presence of the police. n -.i,, A

Sv.fcma Gwaun-cae-gurwen Forgery- Case. /1 I", ?, ?, f;11 COMMITTAL TO ASSIZES. 1 1, ■ il.->. At Llandilo Police Court, on Satur- :i1;" day last, Elizabeth Jones, wife of John; Jones, haulier, Llwyncelyn Road „ Gwaun-cae-gurwen, was charged uttering two forged receipts of lOsw/l Hi each on the Llandilo County Court. f vji .n Mr. Ludford prosecuted on behalf'f' of the Crown. !f' Defendant, who is the mother of eight children, appeared in court w 0' J" 1, fi. a child in her arms. ii. ij Evidence was given that on the $th; < October, 1915, judgment was obtained .111 by Messrs. Williams and Hucley r against defendant, for £ 5 13s. 7d.,r to be paid by jnstalments of 10s. everyfd.'nrÍ 28 days. On the 24th October last a i warrant of execution was issued for £4r,1. 4s. 7d., and sent to Neath County r-.r,, Court. The bai,liff there would levy the execution. A letter dated 16tb> } November last was addressed to Mr. Lewis Bishop, and purported to, Re .)fiT signed by John Jones, and it was (ater found that the last two entries on the official receipt form were not in the handwriting of the County Court clerk, nor had he received the sums put down- j as The de f en d ant was seen b y as paid. The defendant was seen by. P. S. Shillum on the 4th January last,, and told her he was making enquiries respecting a forged signature on ,a. ')1 County Court receipt. He shewed her 1} the receipt and the forged signatures, also a letter received by Mr. Bishop, Llandilo, signed by John Jones. She,- said the first four instalments were sent to Llandilo by post, and the last two she paid personally at Mr. Bishop"# office. On the first occasion the clerk was very angry. She paid him tOs. and he signed the receipt. On the' second occasion she was at the office ,I,,¡ she paid him 10s again, and he again signed the receipt. The letter dated 16th November she sent to Mr. Bishop at the request of her husband; she also forwarded the receipt, as Mr. Bishop had written for it. The reason she did that was that the bailiffs had called and were going to take the furniture. She further stated she had not touched th e receipt; it was the same now as when ( she received it in Mr. Bishop's office, and she would know the clerk again. The Sergeant wrote down the state- ment, and she signed it. On the 28th F ebry defendant told the officer she had been summoned to appear at Llan- dilo, and that the statement made by her to him was all false. She wished to make a confession, and he told lip-r anything she said would betaken down in writing. She then said: The state- ,7 ment I made to you at my house is false. I forged the two signatures on the receipt you shewed me. I never went to Llandilo, and I don't know the clerk in Mr. Bishop's office. I told my husband I had paid at Handiio; am sorry I didn't tell you the truth before. I was afraid of my husband. I was short of money when I did it. I thought of burning the receipt. I called at your station on Saturday night last $> tell you the truth, but couLdn 'tget an answer. If my husband hadn't been at home when you called, I should have told you the truth." P.S. Richards, Garnant. who served defendant with the summons, said the woman made a similar statement to him, in the presence of her husband, as she first made to P.S. ShiHum. Her hus- band left the room, and she then said she wanted to see him privately. She called to see him at Garnant, and said the statement made by her to P.S. Shillum was false, and that she her- self had made the entries on the form of receipt to shew her husband that she had paid. On being formally charged, defen- dant replied, I made it mysel f." She was then committed for trial at the Assizes, bail being allowed in the sum of i 10.

GWAUN-CAE-GURWEN. At the Pontardawe Registry Office, on Saturday, last, a very smart wedding was sol emnised. The contracting parties were Miss Ethel Rees, Water Street, and Mr. William' Morgan, waun- cae-gurwen. The happy couple were accompanied by Mr. David (father of .tb,ht); Mr .,R (brother of the bride), and Miss Mor- gan (sister of the bridegroom). gan (s i ster of the bridegroom).