Barry Dock News

FRIDAY. Before Mr J. B. Ferrier and Mr J. W. Pyman. CAPTAIN REFUSED TO ATTEND A BOARD OF TRADE INQUIRY. There came on for hearing a case of an unusal kind, in which Captain J. Le Gac, master of the s.s.Racine, belonging to Messrs Gueret and Co., shipowners, Cardiff, a weekly trader between Barry and French ports, was charged, at the instance of the Board of Trade, with refusing to attend, as witness, a Board of Trade inquiry.—Mr Ivor Vachell, solicitor, Cardiff, appeared to prosecute, and Mr J. Sankey, B.A.L. (instructed by Messrs Downing and Hancock, solioitora, Cardiff), defended. In opening the case, Mr Vachell said it was one of very considerable importance, the point being a very interesting and simple one. The charge against the defendant was shortly this, that he did not attend to make a deposition before the Receiver of Wrecks. Mr Vachell called the atten- tion of the justices to the Merchant Shipping Act, which provided that where a vessel had been in distress off the coast of the United Kingdom, the Receiver of Wrecks had powers of an inspector of the Board of Trade to call upon the captain to answer certain questions, the replies given to be made use of. Ten or fifteen years ago an attempt was made by a captain to decline to act as witness, but ultimately he did. Coming direct to the pre- sent case, Mr Vachell said the Racine left Barry on Saturday evening, the 21st of April, and got in collision the same night off the Foreland with a sailing ship, the name of which was unknown. The Racine arrived back at Barry Docks on the following day with her bows stove in and the forepeak full of water. Of course, the Receiver of Wreck requested the captain to attend as witness, but he declined to do so, and handed in a state- ment. It might be contended by the other side, Mr Vachell suggested, that if the vessel was in the Channel and off the Foreland, she was not in distress off the coast of the United Kingdom," but quoting from eminent legal opinion, he remarked that if a vessel was in an Estuary-in the jaws of the land-she was then off the coast of the United Kingdom. Mr Vachell again referred to the Act under which the Receiver of Wrecks was legally entitled to examine the captain. The Act said that a witness should be allowed expenses. If any person refused to attend as witness after the expenses being offered, and neglected to give the answers, he was liable to a penalty not exceeding £10, Then, again, it might be contended that this was a foreign ship, and there was no need for a foreign captain to take notice of the provi- sions of the British Merchant Shipping Act. In support of the argument, Mr Vachell said, "any ship," as the Act specified, meant British or foreign. He assured the justices that the Board of Trade looked upon this case as one of the greatest im- portance.—Mr W. G. Boucher, Receiver of Wrecks, then gave evidence as to the return of the steamer Racine to Barry after the collision on the 22nd of April. He summoned the captain to attend before him as a witness. On the 2nd of May the master turned up, but refused 5s which was tendered to him as expenses. Handing in a written statement, defendant refused to be examined, and absolutely declined to answer any questions.—In reply to Mr Sankey witness said he wished to know something of the affair which the defendant refused to give particulars of. For instance, what position the lights of the Racine were in, what orders were given, what efforts were made at life-saving, the orders of the engineers, &c.-Mr Sankey, address- ing the Bench for the defence, said before the Receiver of Wrecks could obtain jurisdiction, the vessel must have been in distress on the coast of the United Kingdom, as the Act stated. The question was, what did the" coast" mean? By the Territorial Waters' Jurisdiction Act the coast extended three miles from dry land, whilst the place where the collision took place was nine miles off the Foreland. His friend wished to punish a person who was not a subject of the British Government, and they should not make him suffer for misdemeanours which had been committed out of the United Kingdom.—The Bench thought the vessel was on coast, and fined Captain Le Gac £1 and cost.—Mr Sankey gave notice of appeal. WOMEN'S SQUABBLE. Ann Norman and Jane Carrol, two women of Barry Docks, were charged by Ann Lee, a neigh- bour, with assault. Complainant said on the 2nd instant she was pulled into the road by the hair of her head, -and one of the defendants bit her finger,A witness for the defence said com- plainant ran out in her hasty temper and "scrammed" the defendants on the face. (Laughter.)—The cases were dismissed. BONVILSTONE PUBLICAN FINED. Edwin Deere, landlord of the Red Lion Inn, Bonvilstone, who was defended by Mr A. F. Hill, solicitor, Cardiff, was charged with selling intoxi- cating liquor during prohibited hours.—P.C.'s William Davies and R. Polmeer said they visited the defendant's premises on Sunday, the 3rd ultimo, when they found thereon a man who lived a mile away. He was drinking.-For the defence it was pointed out that the man in question entered the house in company with some bonajide travellers, who came in a trap, and the barmaid, Mr and Mrs Deere being away, supplied him with a drink by mistake.A fine of 20s and costs was imposed. FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY. In connection with the last case James Clarke, gardener, St. Nicholas, was fined 5s for being on licensed premises during prohibited hours. Defendant pleaded that he had only left the north country a fortnight, and was not aware of the Welsh Sunday Closing Act. SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST AN ITALIAN FIREMAN. An Italian fireman named Carotho Tomaso, of no fixed abode, was placed in the dock charged with indecently assaulting an eight-year-old girl, named Mabel James, daughter of Moses James, coal-trimmer, 27, Pyke-street, Barry Docks. Mr A. Kershaw, from the office of Mr A. Jackson, solicitor, Barry Docks, defended. The evidence of the little girl, who was bright and intelligent, showed that she was playing with another child on Weston Hill on the previous Wednesday, when the prisoner came up and carried her away to some trucks at the east end of Barry No. 2 Dock, where the assault took place.—Cross-examined by Mr Kershaw, the child said she was crying on Weston Hill, and prisoner gave her some sweets and lid.—Emily James, mother of the child, went into the witness-box, and completely broke down, whilst the child also began crying. — Arthur Russell Marsh, a moulder, of 30, Tydfil-street, Barry Docks, said he saw the prisoner giving the child sweets and money, and becoming suspicious he followed the man, and informed a constable. The prisoner took the child to the end of the dock.-Dr Wilde, who examined the little one the same afternoon, said he found no marks of violence upon her.-P.e, James Davies spoke to following the prisoner, and after what he saw, he arrested the man, who said, in reply to the charge, I found the little girl crying on the dock, I took her in my arms, and asked her what she was crying for. I tried to coax her, and gave her some sweets and money. I have children of my own, and would not assault a little girl, as I am a father."—The accused was committed to take his trial at the Quarter Sessions. INDECENCY. A warrant was ordered to be issued for the appearance of George Hibbert for committing an indecent act. For using indecent language on the highway, Patrick Maloney and William Courtney were fined 5s each. A half-crown penalty was imposed upon Benjamin Forse; a warrant being ordered to be issued for the appearance of Nora Ellen McCarthy for a similar offence. Charged with indecent behaviour, Margaret Martell, described as a prostitute, was sent to prison for 14 days Leif Reberg being fined 7s 6d for the same offence. SORROW AND DISMISSAL. Elizabeth Smith, a Cadoxton widow, pleaded guilty to stealing a quantity of growing flowers, value 3d, the property of William Cruise, market gardener.-Defendant having expressed sorrow, the case was dismissed. A FEW DRUNKS. Daniel Carey and Alexander Malwaly, for being drunk and disorderly, were mulct in fines of 5s each. Margaret Morgan was ordered to pay 2s 6d and a warrant was ordered to be issued for the appearance of Ellen Morgan;

MONDAY. Before Mr J. Lowdon and Mr J. G. Thomas. YOUNG MAN CHARGED WITH UNLAWFUL WOUNDING. Alfred Miles, aged 18, a mason, of Gilbert-lane Pencoedtre, Cadoxton-Barry, was placed in the dock, charged with unlawfully wounding Cyril Whitney, aged 20, an insurance agent, son of Mr W. H. Whitney, 12, Dovedale-street, Cadoxton- Barry, on the previous night, Prosecutor was not able to appear.-P,C. James Davies said he arrested the accused at his father's house about one o'clock that morning. He conveyed Miles to Cadoxton Police Station, and charged him with unlawful wounding, to which prisoner made no reply. — Police-sergeant Ben Davies stated that about 1.30 that morning prisoner told him at Cadoxton Police Station that he wished to say all about it." Miles was cautioned, and proceeded to state that about 10.30 on the previous night he was going home from Cadoxton, and on Pencoedtre- road he saw his sister and Whitney together. Asked by her brother if she was going home, she replied, "Yes, directly." Prisoner then went home, and waited about ten minutes. He told his mother he was going to meet his sister, and took the stick (produced) with him. He proceeded to Pencoedtre-road, and asked his sister again to come home. She replied Yes," and walked towards him. Prisoner then told the sergeant that he asked Whitney why he kept his sister out so late. They had a few words, add Whitney took his hand out of his pocket as if he was going to strike him, when prisoner struck him on the head with the stick. Whitney fell upon his knees, and Miles, on seeing the former bleeding from the head, ran home and told his father. They returned to the spot, but Whitney was gone. — Dr E. J. H. Budge, Cadoxton, who examined Whitney after the assault, stated that Whitney, who had a scalp wound above the forehead, was in no danger at present.—The accused was remanded till Friday, being admitted to bail, himself in £ 10 and one surety in £10, RATES. The Barry District Council were represented by Mr T. W. Lewis (rate collector) and Mr W. C, Howe (assistant overseer), on the application of whom orders for payment of arrears of general district and poor rates were made upon Rebecca Thomas, John Doherty, and Charles Smith. STOLE THE SHOES AND AWAY HE RAN. On a charge of stealing a pair of shoes value 39 6d, the property of Mr J. T. Davies, bootmaker, Holton-road, Barry Docks, a Dutch seaman named Kanel Elbick was placed in the dock.—It appeared that on the previous Saturday afternoon prisoner walked into prosecutor's shop, picked up a pair of shoes and ran away. The shopkeeper gave chase, but lost Elbick in the crowd. The man was seen with the shoes in his possession aj; the house of Max Schuster, in Travis-street, where he lodged. Schuster gave information to the police, and Elbick was arrested by P.C. Rogers.-On being charged, prisoner denied the theft, but he was fined 20s, or 14 days' imprisonment. "A VERY BAD CASE OF CRUELTY." Thomas O'Donnell, a labourer, and his wife Mary O'Donnell, of 35, Evans-street, Barry Docks, were charged, at the instance of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, with neglecting their children in a manner likely to cause them unnecessary physical suffering, Mr A. Kershaw, from the office of Mr Alfred Jackson, solicitor, Barry Docks, appeared to prose- cute, and in opening said the case was a very bad one. The two worst features of the case were that both defendants had been convicted on a similar charge at that Court in May, last year, and the woman was worse than her husband.— Inspector William New gave evidence of visits which he paid to defendants' house. The children, with Aspect to whom the summons was issued, were Henry (eleven). Edward (seven), Mary (four), and Catherine (three). The inspector's evidence showed that he generally found the woman in a druken state. At the first visit paid he found the children named lying in bed upstairs. Their bodies and shirt were filthy dirty their clothing, which was lying on the floor of the bedroom, was swarmed with vermin, their bodies were covered with vermin marks, and lice were crawling about the shoulders, legs, and heads of the little ones. Inspector New paid a number of subsequent visits, during which, after the inspector had begged the woman to reform, there were evident signs of im- provement, but she gradually drifted back to her former bad habits, and the children were again allowed to suffer.-Acting -sergeant A Poolman spoke as to an early morning. visit which he paid to defendants' house, when he found the female in bed with five children, one of whom was sitting up in bed scratching its head viciously with both hands. Poolman had known the both defendants for a long time. They were addicted to drink. The woman could generally be found in a public- house with bad characters.—Dr P. W. Kent swore to examining the children, when he found them in a dirty neglected state.—During the hearing the male defendant seemed to feel his position, and cried bitterly, but his wife was very demonstra- tive, and continually interrupted the witnesses. The former pleaded that he could do nothing with his wife when she was in drink.—The woman was sent to gaol for three months with hard labour, and the husband for 21 days. TOBIN ASSAULTS CASEY. Dennis Tobin, 124, Merthyr-street, Barry Docks, was charged by Daniel Carey, of Newland-street, with assault.—Complainant stated that on the previous Monday evening he was in Merthyr-street with his wife and children, when Tobin struck him down several times, giving him a black eye. Tobin swore that Carey challenged him to fight, and produced a pocket-knife, which Carey claimed as his, and which Tobin suggested Carey tried to cut him with.—Complainant said Tobin must have taken the knife out of his pocket when he was on I the ground he did not use it.—John Cunningham, Kate Cunningham, and Ann Carey, father-in-law, mother-in-law, and wife respectively of the com- plainant, corroborated. — Defendant and other witnesses having been called, the Bench fined Tobin 20s and costs, or fourteen days' imprison- ment.—Mr A. Kershaw, on behalf of Mr Alfred Jackson, solicitor, Barry Docks, appeared for the complainant, OTHER CASES. George Elston was fined 7s 6d for being drunk and disorderly.—Police-sergeant Abrahams said he saw the defendant hanging on to a lamp-post. (Laughter.) A warrant was ordered to be issued for the appearance of Elizabeth Davies, on a charge of soliciting prostitution. For using indecent language, James Hopkins, a Cadoxton youth, was fined 5a. William Trask was fined Is for allowing the chimney of his house to be on fire. I A VIOLENT PRISONER AT BARRY DOCKS. Val Williams, a coloured seaman, was charged with assaulting the police. P.C. Rogers said he was called to the shop of Messrs Michaelson9 pawnbrokers, Holton-road, Barry Docks, whete he was informed that prisoner had tried to pledge a gold ring, of which he could give no account. Rogers asked the man to go to the Police Station with him, whereupon Williams made a snatch at the ring and struck the constable in the face. A scuffle ensued, in which the constable was kicked. The man was taken to the Police Station with difficulty.-The Bench imposed a fine of 20s, in default 14 days' imprisonment.—On leaving the dock, prisoner assumed a threatening attitude towards P.C. Rogers, bub he was promptly removed to the cells. ALLEGED THEFT OF A PACKING CASE. Samuel Durbin, a Barry Dock labourer, was charged with stealing a packing case, value 4s, the property of the Barry Railway Company. The man was seen by Dock-constable Harpur carrying the case from the docks. Defendant said the chief officer of a steamer gave it to him, but this proved to be untrue.-When charged with the offence by P.C. David Lewis, Durbin said, I am not guilty."—Inspector Pugh identi- fied the case as the property of the Barry Railway Company.-Durbin was dismissed with a caution. THE INEBRIATES. Charles Tucker and John Hill were fined 7s 6d each for being drunk and disorderly. Crown penalties were imposed upon Matthew Helingsen and Mary Ann Cronin a warrant being ordered ?, to be issued for the appearance of Timothy Gallivan for a similar offence.

INDIGESTION SEVERE VaIN, SISKNESS, LOSS OF SLEEP, PERMANENTLY CURED BY MOTHER SEIGEL'S SYRUP. Mr. Walter Bunch, Tobacconist, Snow Hill, Wolverhampton, writing on Nov. 10th, 1904, to the Proprietors of Mother Seigel's Syrup says :—"The cure wrought in me by Mother Seigel's Syrup has, I am glad to say, proved most thorough and permanent. After twelve years or more I am still in good sound health i a fact which I think proves the worth of your excellent medicine. I had endured all the tortures of in- digestion-severe pain, sickness, and loss of sleep, when my brother who is a well- known Chemist in Birmingham, advised me to take the Syrup. Where doctors had hopelessly failed Mother Seigel's Syrup speedily and effectively cured, and as I say, that cure has been permanent." You can test the truth of this statement for one penny, by writing to ,Up. Bunch, or you can prove for yourself the curative halm of Mother Seigel's Syrup for haif-a-crotvn, by obtaining a bottle from your Chemist and taking it according to the directions.

BARRY GOLF CLUB. Saturday last was a quiet day at the Links of the Barry Golf Club, owing to the absence of the Rector of Barry (tbe Rev H. H. Stewart), who was playing in the cricket match Barry v. St. Fagan's, at St. Fagan's, The semi-final for the club championship has not yet been completed. The only event at the Leys on Saturday, therefore, was the mixed foursomes, for which there were five entries. The ground was in excellent condition for play, the weather ideal, and most of the players displayed gcol form, the result of the competition being that Mr sal W: Price Jones tied with Mrs Pardoe and Dr. King.