Weekly Mail

STRANGE STORIES IN SOUTH WALES. I MIDNIGHT SURPRISE AT CAERPHILLY. ADVENTURE ON LONELY I MOUNTAIN. AERONAUTS' HURRIED ASCENT. AND A SINGULAR LABEL LEFT BEHIND. Confirmation of a surprising character has to hand respecting the statement of a number of coal trimmers that they saw what appeared to bo an airship passing over the Cardiff Docks about one o'clock on Wednesday morning, ana a representative of the Weeiiiy lail" has been making investi- gations wIlkoa have provided many ciicum- t,tantial evidences worthy of serious con- sideration. Mr. C. Let):bridge, of 4, Roland-street, Car- < diff, came to our office about eleven o'clock on Wednesday morning (writes our repreeen- | tative! and told a story the truth of which 1 I am fully prepared to accept, in view of per- | sonal observations made by me later in the day. Ills story was as follows: — I work during the winter months at the Cardiff Docks, but in the summer time I j travel the district with my little Punch and Judy show, giving performances at the various schools. Yesterday I went to Seag- henydd, and, after covering- a few pitches, proceeded to walk home over Caerphilly Mountain. "7011 know that the top of that mountain is a very lonely spot. I reached it about eleven and when turning- the bend at the summit I was surprised to see a long, tube-shaped affair lying- on the grass on the roadside, with two men busily engaged with something near by. They attracted my close attention because o.f their peculiar get up. they appeared to have big, heavy fur coats, and fur caps fitting tightly over their heads. I was rather frightened, but I continued to go ou until I was within twenty yards them, and then my idea as to their cloth- ing was confirmed. The noise of my Uttle spring: cart seemed to qjtrac t them, and whan they saw me they jumped up and jabbered furiously to each other in a strange lingo—Welsh, or something else; it was certainly not Eng- IiDh. "ROSE IX A ZIG-ZAG FASHION." They hurriedly collected something from the ground, • and then I was really frightened. The long thing1 on the ground rose up 610wly-I standing still at the time, quite amazed-and when jt was hang- ing' a few feet off the ground the men jumped into a kind of little carriage sus- pended from it. and gradually the whole affair and the men rose in the air in a zig-zag fashion. When they had cleared the telegraph wires that pass over the mountain two like cloctric lamps, shone out, and the thing went higher into the air and eaned away towards Cardiff. I was too irjg-htenod to move for a time, but I pulled myself together, and as soon as I came home told my people about what I had seen. "Have you been reading the papers lately?" I asked. "Not I," wa.s the answer. "I don't read papers. Have you heard people talking about air- shins being seen about the place lately?" "Not I," came the answer again. "Such a. thing never occurred to me." "You are certain of the fur coats and capsP" "Oh, yes, positive, They were two tall, smart young men; and I am also certain that they did net speak English, for when they looked towards me they spoke very loudly to each other, as if quarrelling or excited, and I made up my mind at once that they were foreigners. It is no joke to meet &ii experience of that kind on top of a lonely mountain in the middle of the night with only the mountain sheep to protect you if the men turned up rough!" "What were they doing, do you think?" "I ca.n't imagine,.but I have been thinking since that they must have been doing some- thing to the gear of the thing, for they appeared to be picking some things up in a hurry—and they certainly did not look pleased to see me!" "Did you hear anything besides their voices ?" "Oh, yes. When the thing went into the air I distinctly saw what looked like a couple of wheels on the bottom of a. little carriage, and a.t the ta.il end of it was a. fan whirring away as you hear a motor-oar do some- times." THE SCENE OF THE ASCENT. Leth bridge's credibility was tested in various little ways known, to an experienced journalist, and as he came unshaken out of the cross-examination of several of the office I staff it was decided to take him to the spot. Caerphilly Mountain is well known to Cardifiians, because it is the highest ground in the district. For miles around the spot in question there is not a hedgerow to be seen. It is open hill land, with but few houses near, and the only living things to be seen on the expanse are the little moun- tain sheep which at this time of the year race over the whole ground with their lambs, unrestrained by any barriers. A more lonely spot, so near the centre of a vast population a1! Cardiff is. would be hardly conceivable The incline within a quarter of a mile of the spot in question is 1".0 steep that the taxioab failed to negotiate it. and had to be left tkvn" w>e conducted our investiga- Without the slightest hesitation Mr. Leth- bridge pointed out the spot shown in the accompanying photograph as the place where the airship lay aground. It certainly is about the most even patch in the vicinity, and in the little ridge of loose earth running diagonally across the patch of green between the two roads converging at this point there were found distinct traces of recent dis- turbance, as :f a plough-share or some euch hard contrivance had been drawn across it. Asked to indicate the extent of ground the objeot covered. Mr. Lethbridge marked ont the distance, which paced out at about 54 feet. The photograph will explain the position to GVT\\c6t^ Coming from the direction of CaeT- P v v turn a fairly sharp bend, which brought him on to the skyline of the men standing on the spot where a oigar- phapfd mark has been added to the picture. The ridg-e of l earth referred to will be plainly seen within that mark. Notwithstanding the hard state of the ground, owing to the drought, there were e-igns of recent trampling on the grass, and although the vicinity was very free from any loose substances, other than stones, there was quite a collection of torn papers &e„ on the ppot itself. One result of the uearch made was the finding of a red label attached to a chain and small plug. The accompany- ing photograph of it carries its own tale. Another find was of peculiar interest. It was the notehead of a London firm of stock, share, and bond dealers out in two. On the upper portion, which bears the firm's address, there is not the slightest traoe of a.ny writing, but on the lower portion there still remaÎ.1 faint outlines of a typewritten Tetter and amongst the words that can be deciphered on this piece, with some diffi- culty. are "provincial centres," "rest assured that we ehall not," "the fullest con- fidence," "this letter amply justified," Ac. Whatever kind of ink was used for this letter, it certainly is not of an indelible nature. ALL ABOUT AIRSHIPS. A glance over the slips of newspapers found on the spot revealed the very remark- able fact that almost every one of them contained references to airships or to the German Army. For imsta,nce> a piooe of a weekly newspaper bears an article with the headings. War in the air. Government appoints a committee of experts. Bid for supremacy. Wright Brothers have a con- ference with Mr. Haldame," Ac. A piece of the Da.ily Telegraph" has reference to the German Emperor and Army. Strewn all over the place were a.bout a couple of dozen of small bits of weTl-made bine paper, bearing a mass of figures and letters of the alphabet formed in a. style distinctly different to that of the average English caligraphy. There was also quite a quantity of pulpy paper, somewhat similar to papier-mache, such as might be used as packing, and not very dissimilar to the anpearanoe of a cartridge wad. The inference immediately drawn, of course, was that the machine had been grounded in order to repair, some of the gear, and that this stuff was used in the process. Another thing picked up M a strange find on such an outlandish spot was the lid of a tin box, bearing words showing that the box contained paste for polishing metal. Whatever the explanation of these finds may be, there appears to be absolutely no reason to lightly dismiss the Btory of Mr. < Lethbridge. In fact, they circumstantially bear him out, and, in view of the undoubted appearances of mysterious airships on other parte of the coast, there is every reason to conclude that the Bristol Channel is now claiming the attention of those sailing the aitf, with good or bad intent. SIGNALMAN'S STATEMENT. Robert Westlake, signalman, in a statement made on Wednesday, is reported to have said: At 1.15 this morning, while attending to my duties signalling trains at King's Junc- tion, Queen Alexandra Dock, I was startled by a weird objeot flying in the air. In I' appearance it represented a boat of cigar shape, and was making a whizzing noise. It was lit by two lights, which could be plainly seen. It was travelling a.t a great rate, and was elevated at a distance o< £ half- a-mile, making for eastward. A number of men working on the steam- phi p Arndale also saw the airship. It came a-mile, making for eastward. A number of men working on the steam- phi p Arndale also saw the airship. It came from the direction of Newport, took a curve I over the docks, and passed over the Channel towards Weston, being clearly in view for a minute or two before the lights on board were suddenly extinguished. It has been stated in some quarters that an official report concerning the nocturnal visitant ha-s been made to the Cardiff Rail- way Company, but this, we are informed, is not correct.

"A RIDICULOUS FINE." SIR MARCHANT AND MERTHYR MAGISTRATES. In a case at Merthyr on Tuesday in which a man was charged with being drunk and dis- orderly, it transpired that another man who was with him, and who, having failed to find bail, was brought before Mr. Andrew Wilson (the mayor) and Mr. Rhys Davies on Monday, was fined only 5s. and eoste. Sir Matchant Williams, who in such cases invariably imposes a penalty of 10s. and costs, was astonished to receive this intelligence. j He exclaimed: "I cannot have fines varied. I cannot have it said that when the stipendiary is here a large fine is inflicted, and when he ie not here a ridiculous fine is inflicted. "If this man tried on Monday was drunk and disorderly 5s. and costs was not a proper fine to inflict. If this kind of thing goes on I won't have these cases tried except on days when I am here. I don't care how long I have to stay. "There is nothing like certainty of punish- ment. That is the only way to correct people."

OUTLOOK MORE HOPEFUL. t THE WAY PAVED TO A SETTLEMENT. COAL CRISIS XEAPJXGAN END. CONFERENCE TO REPORT TO FULL BOARP. After a meeting in which no progress Waa made at Cardii" on Friday, the a&journed conference of the Miners' Eight Hours Sub- committee of the South Wales aid Mon- inouthshire Conciliation Board was held at t-bs Westminster Paia-ce Hotel, London, on Monday, when the "l ts at issue arising under the Act were dealt with in detail. At the Cardiff mating, it will be remem- beroci, the deliberations were confined t.o j practically a bare outline of the position, and much interest is, therefore, taken in the r'vmi of the proceedings in London, as :t spends greatly upon the report whiofa the commit-too wÜi uitvmately draft lor sub- Emission to the special meeting of the Con- ciLation Board next Friday as to how the I difficulties which have pre;*ented themseJvea caIl. "e satisfactorily disposed of. and thus avoid the open rupture which at one time appeared so imminent. THE CONFERENCE. Our London corrasixyndent, wiring on Mon- day, say-The proceedings are likely to extend over to-morrow (Tuesday), and will be regarded as private until reported to a general meeting of the board a day or two hence. Mr. F. L. Davis presided on behalf of the owners. Mr. W. Abraham, M.P. (Mabon), occupying the vice-chair. The other owners' representatives present were Mssrs. E. Heppcll, L. Llewellyn, M. Ha-nn, and W. Evans, with Mr. W. Gaseoyne Balziel (sec- retary). The miners' representatives were. in addition to Mr. Abraham, Messrs. A. On:on, D. Watts Morgan, Yornon Hartshorn, J. Win- etone, and T. Richards. M.P. (secretary). The conference met entirely to discurs details on the general situation in South Wales in connection with the putting into force of the Eight Honrs Act, and its com- mission was merely to report to the full meeting of the board, which is to take place in the course of a few days. Since the last conference matters have not been at a. stand- still. An important factor in the situation is, of course, the decision of the Miners' Federa- tion not to allow any of the constituent branches to accept a reduction cf wages as o, condition of putting the Act in force. The decision of the I/ancaahire owners to allow a reduction of hours to take place without asking for a reduction of wa,ges is bound to have an effect on the decision of the sub- committee, and also on the decision of the full board. because in Lancashire the average reduction cf hours is from nine and a half to eight, whereas that in South Walea is only from nine to eight. Another factor in connection with the deci- sion was furnished last week, when the Mining Association of Great Britain met "n London and castially discussed the Eight Hours Act. No decision was then arrived at which would fetter the action of the owners' representatives in the same way as the action of the Miners' Federation has affected the action of the miners' dele- gates, but the owners generally were of opinion tha.t nothing should be. done by one district which would have the effect of adversely affecting the gituation in the other districts. How far too intimation will induce the owners in South Wales to yield gracefuUy remains to be n. The points in discussion included also the extension of hours to nine in periods of pressure for not more than 63 days during the year, and the still more important matter of whether the passing of the Eight Hours Act ipso facto ruts an end to the existing Conciliation Board agreement as from July 1 next, when the Act comes into operation. WNDOX, Tuesday Night. The adjourned meeting of the Joint Miners' Eight Hours Sub-committee of the Welsh Coal Trade Conciliation Board was held at the Westulin-ster Palace Hotel, London, on Tues- day, and the proceedings ultimately resulted in an agreement on the part of the respective sides to submit a report on the position to the special meeting of the Conciliation Board to be held at Cardiff on Friday, but without arriving at a settlement of any of the con- n, troversial matters involved. To ore was a full attendance of members of the committee, Mr. F. L. Davis presiding over the owners and Mr. W. Abraham, M.P., over tne workmen, and, as the official report indicates, all the points of difference were touched upon, but there appeared to be a mutual understanding that each side was to give expression to its divergent views in the final report, and that it should be left to the Conciliation Board to reconcile the conflicting elements. As far, therefore, as to-day's proceedings are concerned, the harmonising process is far from being complete, and the committee was purely deliberative in its operation, and was practically confined to an interchange of views, without the semblance of finality as to the conclusions arrived at. To this extent, at least, the net result of these prolonged negotiations can hardly be regarded as satis- factory. The relieving feature of the situa- tion was the excellent feeling prevailing-a f 00, turc which has characterised the whole of the proceedings—and this was regarded as a happy omen by both sides. While the owners' side put forward their demands in explicit terms, there was an evident desire to avoid conflict, and there were not want- ing tacit, if not expressed, indications that when the crucial moment came there would not be an absolute insistence upon all the demands being conceded. The men's repre- sentatives, on the ot.her hand, appeared to have fully reciprocated, in that they, too, couched their objections to various proposals in equally conciliatory terms, so that, not- withstanding the indefiniteness and uncer- tainty of the^. position after this dialectic encounter, there is still a measure of justifi- cation for viewing the position optimistically on the whole. The whole gamut of differences was gone through, and each point dealt with, so that both sides were afforded opportunities of stating their case, and as matters now stand one side or the other, or probably both, tc some extent will have to give way ere pea-ce is established. OFFICIAL REPORT. The following official report was given to the press by the joint secretaries (Mr. W. G. Dalziel and Mr. T. Jlichards, M.P.) "The sub-committee appointed by the Con- ciliation Board for the Coal Trade of Mon- mouthshire and South Wales met again to-day at the Westminster Palace Hotel, the discussion having been adjourned from yester- day to consider the question of the arrange- ments necessary for adoption at collieries in consequence of the coming into force of the Mines Eight Hours Act on the 1st of July next. There was a full attendance of th, members of the sub-committee, there being present on the owners' side Messrs. F. L. Davis (in the chair), W. J. Heppel, E. M. Hann, William Evans, Charles H.Eden, Leonard W. Llewelyn, and W. Gaseoyne Dal- zial (secretaryi, and on the workmen's side Messrs. W. Abraham, M.P. (in the cbair), J. Williams, M.P., D. Watts Morgan, Alfred Onions, James Wins tone, Vernoi! Hartshorn, and Thomas Richards, M.P. (secretary). "After a full discussion of the several issues raised by the two sides of the sub-committee in connection with the matter, the su-b-com- mittee agreed to make a report to the Conciliation Board at a meeting to be held at Cardiff on Friday next, the 2 4ne MR. ENOCH EDWARDS'S OPINION. Mr. Enooh Edwards, M.P., the presi- dent of the Miners' Federation, stated to-day that he did not think the miners were in a position to make any objection where the situation in the pits was such as to call for it. He felt he saw that in South Wales, except in the oldest pits, there was nothing in the demand which would call for the working of double shifts. That, he said. was clearly a point which South Wales must determine for itself. If it came to the Federation he thought there would be no difficulty put in the way of such working.

CORNISH HOTEL GUTTED. EXCITING ESCAPES; SEVERAL PERSON INJURED. The Polurrian Hotel, Mullion, Cornwall, was entirely destroyed by fire in the early "hours of Sunday morning, the damage being estimated at About twenty visitors, who were staying in the building, had to escape in their night apparel, losing all their personal effects. Some of the guests who were sleeping in the upper stories had difficulty in escaping. Miss Lucy Harrison, who broke both legs, has been removed to Hedruth Hospital in a critical condition. Miss Carey Tonkin, who sustained a fractured skull, remains in a critical oondition. Miss Janie Gilbert, who was badly burnt, and Mrs. Holmes, who severely injured her spine in jumping from the halocwiy, are making good progress.

THE LABEL. INTERESTING POINT IN INTER- PRETATION RAISED. The wording of the label referred to, as wLl be seen by the photograph, is as follows: AVIS IMPORTANT. I Cette epinglette est destinee a repousser l'obus de la valve lorsqu'il est oolle sur son I siege. I Detacher l'epinglette et la nxer apres le tuyau de la pompe a. 1 extremite qui s'adapte sur la valve. I N.B.—Nos nouveauit tuyaux souples pour pompes voiture et voiturette sout tous munis de cette epinglette. I The interpretation of the label gave some difficulty to several people who were asked to translate it. As a last resort Professor Barbier, the French protocol' at tlH; South Wales and Monmouthshire University College, was asked to translate it. alK^ ,1pC at once remarked—without 'being told the history of the label—" This contains a military term, 'obus,' which means a shrapnel. The label is an important notice that the small pin attached to it is to be used to drive back attached to it is to be used to drive back the shrapnel from the valve when the shrap- nel is fixed on its seat, and gives directions how to detach the pin aad As it to a tube at some extremity." The professor, in order to be certain on the point, referred to Elwall's, the standard French-English dictionary, and this gives "shrapnel shell" as the meaning of "obus." A MOTORIST'S THEORY. -The label has given rise to several inte- resting points. Amongst those whose opinion was asked upon it was Mr. Willows, dentist, of Dumfries-place, Cardiff, whose son, jjr. E. iT. Willows, has invented a dirigible airship, and is now engaged at the Imperial Exhibi- tion in London in putting his machine together there for public inspection. Mr. Willows, sen., said he had never come across the term "obus," although he was a motorist- He, however, had an idea that the label and pin had reference to a certain kind of gas inflator for ia<iiaruboer tubes which did away with the use of a pump. It was quits probable, he said, that the la.bel had dropped by a motorist, but he pointed out that some dirigible balloons and all aero- pla,nes have tyred wheels under their carriages, so that a gas inflator such as he referred to would be equally usefui to the occupier Qf an air- ship. Moreover, he added the important fact that the gas he referred to was also used to extinguish petrol fire, and as petrol is always used on a dirigible in order to drive the engine, it might well be that tubes of this gas were carried as the best means, in a small compass, of combatting any petrol conflagration. Further inquiries of some artillery officers elicited the fact that obus i.s a term used in French artillery service books. The Royal Automobile Club Year Book is what every motorist swears by for informa- tion as to all the parts, however minute, of a motor-car and its appanages. It contains a foreign dictionary, giving the French and German equivalents of the English names of the parts, and a. careful search through the hundreds of French names in that dictionary of motor terms failed to find the term obus." The manager of Hill's Garage also remarked that he had never come across the word in the technical papers or anywhere else connected with the trade, and he had never seen a label similar to the one found on Caerphilly Mountain, which wa.s shown to him. He was, however, of the opinion that the pin had something to do with H tyre valve. Whatever the value of the find as a circum- stantial corroboration of Lethbridge's story. and even if it is proved that the tube-holder of a certain type of motor-oar tyre gas inflator has such an appendage as the pin in question, there still remains the fact, as pointed out by Mr. Willows, that inflated tyres are attached to dirigibles, and tJIat the gas used for inflating purposes is also a petrol extinguisher—a very important point in weighnig the pros and cons, of the ques- tion in doubt. A NORWEGIAN'S EXPLANATION. Mr. O. RiiddervoJd, a. Norwegian now in residence in Oa-xdifF, called at our office on Thursday to offer an explanation of the label found on Caerphilly Mountain yesterday on the spot where the mysterious airship is known to have rested. Mr. Itiddeirvold has been engaged in airship construction in France and England, and he gave an exposi- tion of the purpose to which the pin att ached to the label is applied in the motor mechanism of an airship. It was Mr. Eiddervold's conviction that the pin was the instrument used fo-r releasing the valve fixed to the pump in order to inject air from the atmosphere into the balloonette of the airship. This balloonette is concealed within the body of the ship, and when the gas escapes from the latter compressed air is pumped into it from the balloonette, so that the canvas shall not. Bag, and thus interfere with the control of the machine. Mr. Riddervold was convinced that the French word "obus" on the label, although meaning shell, was not intended to apply in any sense to a shrapnel shell. The pin, how- ever is worked on the same principle as the the time-fuse of a military shell, and that i6 how the word "obus" ca.me to he applied to the motor mechanism Off airships. Asked if the discovery of the labed on the mountain was evidence that an airship had been thore, Mr. Riddervold said it was un- doubtedly testimony that an ainship had either rested on that particular spot or had passed over it, and that the label had been dropped by the aviators.

AT MONMOUTH ON SUNDAY WATCHED BY AUCTIONEER AND HIS FAMILY. In Monmouth there is now believed to be no doubt as to the existence of the airship Mr. Oliver L. Jones, e. well-known auctioneer, of the firm of Messrs. Nelmes. Poole, Jackson, I and Jones, was driving with his wife from Tregiraoh at about 10.30 on Sunday night, and when about eight miles from Monmouth his attention wat called by ms brother, who was driving eom distance in front, to a remarkable object in the sky. I Speaking to a Weekly Mail" reporter on the subject, Mr. Jones stated that he saw four lights in front of the object most dis- tinctly, and about fifteen yards behind, taking the line of sigut, he saw another light. It was apparent at once that the object was under perfect control, and he and his relatives watched it for about half an hour. Next day he related the experience to his friends in Monmouth, but they treated the story as a, joke. Mr. Jonee further states that the objeot at xfLrst went in the direction of Chepstow, and then turned round and made towards Newport. It descended and ascended in a remarkable manner.

TREATED WITH DERISION. BRECON CHAUFFEUR'S STORY TOLD ON MONDAY. Further corroboration of Leth bridge's account of what he saw at Caerphilly seems to be forthcoming from the Brecon district. A young man named Lichfield, chauffeur to Arohdeavon Bevan, states that while he was returning to Brecon about midnight on Monday he distinctly saw an object amd flash- lights in the sky. He was a.t about four miles from Brooon, and he noticed the light waa flashed from either side of the object- first on the right and then on the left. He told his parents of what he had seen, but his story was laughed at and entirely dis- credited. On reading Wednefaday night'* Evening Express," however, he waa firmly convinced tha.t what he saw on Monday entirely corroborated Lethbridge's account of the Caerphilly experience.

SEEN IN PONTYPOOL DIS- TRICT. SAILS AT A HIGH ALTITUDE WITH POWERFUL LIGHTS. The mysterious airship said to have been sailing about in South Wales during the pa-st week is reported to have be&n seen floating over Pontypool and district on Wednesday night. About ten o'clock MT. Oarth Fteber,

SIR T. MEYRICK'S SON. 4 DROWNED WHILE CROSSING A POOL. A tragedy occurred at Wellington, Salop, on Wednesday which will throw various county families in Shropshire, Pembroke- shire, and Northumberland into mourning. Mr. Herbert Chiverton Meyrick, fourth son of Sir Thomas and Lady Meyrick, Apley Castle, Wellington, and Bush Hall, Pembrokeshire, accompanied by his groom, took one of his horses to Aplcy Pool, which is a short dis- tance from the castle, and, attired in I bathing costume, rode his horse bareback into the pool, with the intention of swim- ming it across When in the middle, where the water is about 10ft. deep, the deceased I gentleman slipped off the horse and began to swim, shouting' to the groom on the bank, "I'm all right; look after the horse." He was then seized with cramp and disappeared. I The horse made its way to the side and got out. The alarm was speedily raised, boats were made ready, and under the diroction of I Mr. Maitlarad, estate agent, and Superin- tendent FuJcher, dragging operations were commenced. Frank Cornish, one of the foot- men from the castle, dived into the pool with the object of recovering the body. During these operations there was a sd scene. In the park about 30 or 40 yards from the pool were assembled Sir Thomas and Lady Meyrick and Miss Meyrick, the deceased gentleman's sister, whose grief was intense. The dragging operations were continued, and about 11.30 the lifeless body was found, not many yards from the place where it had dis- appeared, by Mr. Jack Jones, one of the full, backs of the Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club. The remains were conveyed to the castie. The news of the tragedy was received with to the castie. The news of the tragedy was received with deep regret in Wellington, Shrewsbury, and other Shropshire town3. Mr. Herbert Meyrick belonged to a family which has produced some distinguished soldiers. His father com- manded the Shropshire Militia for some years, and Colonel Fred. Meyrick, who married a daughter of the Countess of Ravensworth, distinguished himself in South Africa, and was mentioned in dispatches. The second son of Sir Thomas and Lady Mev- rick, Captain St. John Meyrick, was killed in the South African war while serving in the Gordon Highlanders. The late Mr. Herbert Meyrick won the Foxhunters' Steeplechase at Wenlock Races a fortnight ago, and he had been equally successful at other country meetings. He was well known throughout the county, and greatly esteemed. The inquest was held at Apley Castle in the evening by Mr. Lander. The groom said that the deceased disappeared and came to the surface, again going under, and did not rise again. The jury returned a verdict of Accidentally drowned," and expressed sym- pathy with the family. The funeral will take place on Saturday. Sir Thomas Meyriok is the chief landowner at Pembroke Dock, bit for the last forty years he has not resided there, and has only paid brief visits to the dockyard town. Colonel F. C. Meyrick, brother of the deceased, is the commanding officer. of the Pembrokeshire Yeomanry. He has made his residence at Pembroke for the last three years or :0.0, since Bush Hall. burnt some 40 years ago, was restored. The deceased had not reside-d in Pembrokeshire.

MILITARY EFFICIENCY. MESSAGE OF GRATIFICATION FROM THE KING. The following order was issued on Wednes- day by General Smith-Dorrien, commanding at Aklershot:—" Hie Majesty the King has commanded the general officer commanding-in- ehdef to express to the troops of the Aidershot command his satisfaction that their training is progressing on sound lines, and that all ranks are zealously working towards war efficiency. His Majesty was much struck with the physical fitness of the men, and expressed his pleasure at the state of the Connaught Hospital. He expressed his interest in the formation of the Cavalry Club, and recog- nised it as an important addition to the comfort and happiness of the soldier."

I TRAGEDY AT WELSH FARM. 4 LONELY WIDOW'S FATE AT ABERSYCHAiN. The adjourned coroner's inquiry into the circumstances attending the death of Mrs. Cecelia Harris, the victim of the sensational outrage at Garia Wen Farm, Abersychan, on February 20. and whose death John Edmunds, a Garndiffaith collier, has been charged with having caused, was re-opened at the Town- hall, Pontypool. before Mr. M. Roberts-Jones, on Friday. Mr. Horace Lyne, Newport. appeared on behalf of the Public Prosecutor, and Mr. Harold Saunders, Pontypool, appeared as the legal representative of the prisoner. Tne accused man, Edmunds, was brought, in the custody of two warders, from Usk Gaol and placed in the dock at the police- court. He was respectably attired in a light grey suit of clothes, with low collar and orange-coloured tie, and walked with a steady 6tep between the warders. Prisoner ap- peared to be in a better state of health than I THE ACCUSED MAN, JOHN EDMUNDS. at any previous time since he has been in custody, and he has undoubtedly put on flesh silioe he was first arrested. Before calling the evidence Mr. Lyne sug- ges-ted to the coroner that it would hardly be necessary for him to call the whole of the evidence which the prosecution had available, because he thought. he would be able to satisfy the jury without taking up too much of their time. Mr. Saunders, for the prisoner, and the coroner agreed to the adoption of this sug- gestion. The first witness was Arthur Gordon Bab- bidge, surveyor, of Pontypool, who proved plans of the neighbourhood surrounding ¡ Garn Wen, and evidence of having seen Edmunds in the Langaen Wood, near the farm, on the afternoon of February 20 was given by Willia.mfAn.netts and Joseph Jaynes, colliers, of Abersychan. Albert Trmnper, a labourer, saw a man resembling Iktniunds about ZCO yards away from the farm on the same date. A Juror You den't swear that the man was Edmunds?—No; I didn't swear to him at the police-court. WHAT A BOY SAW. Percy Evans (12), Nantymailor Farm, stated that he saw Edmunds on the mountain beside Mrs. Harris's garden wall on Feb- ruary 20. Edmunds had a gun under his left arm, and on the following Monday wit- ness identified him as the man he had seen. Mr. Saunders: What were you told with reg-ard to the men at the police-stationP-I: was told to pick out the man I had seen on the previous Saturday. When you found him did you say, "That's like the man. I think that's him?" I said, That's the man." Kathleen Evans, sister of the last witness, stated that when she got near Garn Wen in the evening she heard a noise like a groan, and on looking down she saw Mrs. Harris lying on the ground near the little gate. She had blood all over her face, and at the sight of her witness was so frightened that she ran away. illiam Rees. tenant of the Penyrheol Farm, Abersychan, stated that he saw Edmunds near Garn Wen Farm on February 20. He had a gun with him, and was leaning ?/P ^Vr o'clock the same evening » to his farm. She looked i awful, being covered with blood from her face down to her shoes. Her throat was cut, and she had a wound in her face. The wound in her throat was such a large, gaping one that it could be seen 100 yards away. Witness asked her who had inflicted the ¡ injuries, and she replied, "Jack Edmunds." Wilness said, "What Jack Edmunds?" She replied, "Jack Edmunds, the poacher, of the Garn." On being asked if it was Paddy Carey's son, she replied, "Yes." She also said, "He threw me down and did everything to me. He said that if I told anyone about to me. He said that if I told anyone about it he would rip my inside out. She also r sta.ted that Edmunds shot her, followed her into the house, took a knife off the table. and cut her throat. She struggled with him for possession of it, but he dragged it through her hand and cut her. After Mrs. Harris had told witness what had occurred he hurried to Abersycnan and gave information I to the police. Polly Rees, wife of the last witness, said that during her husband's absence she gave Mrs. Harris paper and ink, and she wrote: I "Jack Edmunds shot me and cut my throat. He got my money." DECEASED'S DEPOSITIONS. The depositions of the late Mrs. Harris, which were taken at the police-court when Edmunds was charged before the magistrates were produced by Superintendent James and read by Mr. Lyne. They were to the follow- ing effect: — Mrs. Harris had known Edmunds for ing effect: Mrs. Harris bad known Edmunds for about eight years, and on February 20 she I saw him near the farm. She ordered him away, but he did not go, and later she saw him in the garden pointing a gun at her. She again told him to go away, but he re- turned, and when within about three yards Of her he levelled the gun at her head and I pulied the trigger. The gun did not go off, but she was so frightened that she ran into the house and locked the door. Ed- munds attempted to eater the hoase by =- smashing a window, and she then ran out of the house into the yard. Edmunds fol- lowed her, and just as she looked around he fired the gun. The charge entered her face and broke her jaw. Whilst on the ground Edmunds assaulted her and tried to choke her. After he desisted she asked hini if he had marked her face muoh, and he replied, Yes; it is in a devii of a mess." She subsequently got inside the house, and Edmunds, who said he would smash her face, took up a knife off the table and cut her throat witL it. He then shook her head up and down, and she appealed to him for mercy, asking him to think of his own mother, and offering him her money. He asked where the money was, and she gave him her purse, which contained five, shillings. Mark Williams, collier, Abersychan. stated that later in the evening of February 20 pri- soner changed a five shilling piece in a shop at Abersychan. Police-sergeant Jones, Abersychan, proved th,) arrest of prisoner at High-street, Garn- diffaith, about midnight on February 20. He took him to the police-station, and charged him with the attempted murder ot Mrs. Harris, but he replied, "I know nothing about it." On the follow- ing Sunday Mrs. Harris identified, him at the hospital, and safd, Ilxats the man who done all the injury to me." Superintendent James said that on Sunday, February 21, he gave Edmunds the oppor- tunity of telling him where he was and in whose company on the previous day, and told him that Mrs. Harris had accused him of injuring her. He replied, "Yes. I know she said so, but it ios not true." He also denied being nearer to Garn Wen than the! bottom of Abersychan. MEDICAL EVIDENCE. DR. M'Oormac, Pontnewynydd, stated that when he arrived at the iarm Mrs. Harris was suffering from shock and loss of blood. She had a wound in her jaw, which was frac- tured, and her throat was out. The wound in the throat might have been caused by the knife produced. The windpipe was severed' for about three-parts of its circumference, but no largo arteries were severed. Her life was in very great danger. After.conducting a. post-mortem examination on her body he concluded that death was due to heart failure end congestion of the right lung. In answer to questions, witness said he thought tne wounds accelerated death, j and that she might have lived considerably longer if they bad not boon inflicted. She j was suffering from heart and kidney disease, and the might have been contributory, causes to her eath through reducing her j strength of resistence. Dr. J. W. Mulligan, Abersychan, who was present at the post-mortem examination, corroborated. Mr. G. Rudd Thompson, county analyst, having given evidence as to bloodftains on clothing belonging to Edmunds and Mrs. Harris, The Coroner described the caee as one of the most horrible crimes that had ever dis- graced the county. The jury returned a verdict of "Wilful murder" against John Edmunds, and the coroner committed him fo:- trial at the next ass-izes

HUSBAND AND TYPIST. ROMEO AND JULIET POSTCARD TO I WIFE. The hearing was oonciuded in London on Friday of the petition of Mrs. Elsie Jon?s for a divorce from her husband, Mr. Percival Frank Jones, managing director of a Bir- mingham company, on the ground of alleged cruelty and misconduct' with a lady typist. Mr. Jones absolutely denied that he ever struck his wife. It was his intention to marry Bortha Read, the lady typist, if this divorce were granted. He complained that she had called him an insignificant pigmy, and had tormented him on her return from the Riviera by singing a song that she had sung to a naval oinoer at Cannes. Moreover/' he added, she put a great deal of passion into it." The following was the song, according to Mr. Jont-s's reoollec tion of it: — Oh, I shall be broken-hearted. Freely my t-ears will flow. If ever I am parted From you and the old banjo. "A difficult song to put passion in," re- marked Mr. Justice Bargrave Deane drily. It had been asserted that Mr. Jones had insulted his wife by sending her a German picture-postcard. She was quite mistaken a.bout its character, 1\fr Jones explained. It repre- sented Goethe's Dream." the original view being on a fresco in a famous and respect- able restaurant. Goethe was dreaming about champagne bottles, and in t.he air over him flitted "characters from poems, such as Romeo and Juliet, clad, not too extensively, in gauZY j attire." Mr. Justice Bargrave Deane said that he had never before heard such statements made about Romeo and Juliet. It was the old story, that when poverty came in at the door love flew out at the window. It looked as if when circumstances were not so good troubles arose. He thought there was no doubt that sufficient cruelty had been estab- lished, coupled with misconduct wh^ch was not denied, to justify him in granting a decree of divorce. ° A decree nisi, with costs, was, therefore, granted.

"ONLY HALF AN OATH." DEFECTIVE BIBLE AT PEMBROKE DOCK COUNTY-COURT. At Pembroke Dock County-court on Wednesday, after one of the witnesses had been sworn, his Honour Judge Bishop remarked that the witness had kissed half a Book, and had, therefore, only taken half an oath. (Laughter.) The state of the. Books was a disgrace to the court. Such a Book a<:¡ that should not be kissed at all. They ought to have something different. One of the counsel engaged in the case suggested testaments with celluloid covers. His Honour: You need not kiss the Book at all. You can affirm, and there are various other ways of doing it. If I were asked to kiss a dirty book like that, I certainly should object. The Registrar (Mr. S. H. Owen) said that new books had been on order for the last three courts. I His Honour: It is a great pity they did not arrive.

NO MORE SUNDAY PROSECUTIONS. ( ♦ DECISION OF THE SWANSEA COUNCIL. A quarterly w-ec-tilag of the council of the county borough of Swansea was held on Wed- nesday, Mr. M. Tut ton (mayor) presiding. PARLIAMENTARY WORK. Mr. David Davies aE-ked why counsel was retained in opposition to the Llanelly Water Biil, eonsiide-rins that the Llanelly Council were prepared to go further than Parliament were in meeting them. The Town-clerk said the agreed clause was such that it was felt to be most important if it could be retained in the Rill, and there was a probability of it standing, and, there- fore, counsel was retained in order that the feeling of Parliament might be ascertained on the clause in view of the Glamorgan Water Bill. Mr. Davies said they had been committed by a committee to two opposition:- in ment already, without possibility of a retura and without being consulted. The Town-clerk said the action had been sanctioned by the full council in committee, and he read the minute thereon; and the Mayor said that member? who did r.ot see fit to attend should not have raised objections. DEPUTATION: CF SABBATARIANS. 1f-r. Livingstone introduced three deputa- tions to the council on the question of Sun- day observance, viz., from the Imperial Sun- day Alliance, the Swansea Free Churches- Council, and the Swansea Sunday School Union. The Vicar of Swansea (the Rev. and lion. Talbot Rice) read a resolution of the Imperial Sunday Alliance. I What they desired to emphasise was that the council of the -t e r I borough had considerable influence, besides its authority, en the public, and they wished that influence to be crerted on behalf of one day of rest in seven. They felt that in the cause of brotherhood—a word much used to- day—men should be compelled, if they would not otherwise, to ccive their ieiiow-men a weekly day of rest. The Rev. S. Bryant, on behalf of the li&h Free Church Council, the Rev. J. Pearce, on behalf of tne Welsh Free Church Council, and the Rev. L. Warne, on behalf of the Sunday School Union, also spoke, emphaaising the growing spirit of selfishness and the need for the oo-oiierat-icn of public bodies in putting down tho evils of Sunday trading. Mr. George Williams presented a petition signed by 60 newsagents of Swansea asking the council to put down the sale of news- papers in the streets on Sunday. He had taken note of the parcels received by train, and he calculated that 8,000 Sunday papers came into the town, and they were not dealt with by persons seeking a livelihood. Mrs. Howells, a newsagent in business for 22 years, appealed to the council not to debar certain vory poor p:rsx>ns from a means of livelihood. If they were stoppsd she would have to open her place of business instead. A street hawker, named Arnold, then asked to speak, and in a spirited address he said he had a wife and family, an-d if be did not keep thom he was ;cop-t to gaol. It was a gross insult to the respectable public of Swansea for people to come and diota.te to them, as his "bi-oth-ers" there were doing, lie had a soul as well as they, and if he did not go to worship on Sunday morning, he did in the afternoon and evening. He advised them to remember the words, "Lift ye up the fa-ilen." Alderman Rawlings supported the views of the ministerial deputation, and said he was convimoed, from some liithy postcards he had received, that the opposition to this move- ment v,-as an ignoble one. They did not desire to step the reading of newspapers on Sundays, but their streets from being made a market on Sundays. Those who voted for teaching children religion in the schools must respect the Fourth Commandment. England had two great gifts-rthe Bible and the Chris- tian Sabbath. He appealed to them to vot2 in favour of the minute of the watoh com- mittee. viz.. that the chief-constable continue to enforce the law for the suppression of unnecessary Sunday trading. Mr. M. Hopkin moved that the minctte in question be deleted. Instead of attacking poor newsvondors, why did not Dr. Rs.wlings go for the rich-those who went motoring to the golf linke, and employed boys to chase the elusive ball?—Mr. Molyneux seconded. Mr. Thompson said that the question was one of religion entirely, and should be settled by each individual and not by the town council. Mr. David Daviea said the theological drum was being thumped in a narrow spirit., and lie contended that it was againsrt the interests they wished to serve to associate religion with tyranny and bigotry and class legisla- taoii. Mr. Gwynn eaid that at the local wovks men were compelled to labour every Sunday; here they were dealing only with people whQ worked of their own free will. They were only courageous enough to tackle poor and small traders; they dared not touch the large employer of labour. Alderman David Williams asked those minisiteTTs who came jkcre to convince them of this terrible sin to go to the lodging-houss* of Swansea and see the misery of the unem- ployed there. The Mayor wound up a three-hours'debate by speaking in favour or the minute. Mr. Love 11 asked if the deletion of the minute meant the cessation of Sunday prose- cutions. Dr. Rawlings replied in the afErmcUive stating that they had pledged themselves to abide by the council's decision. A vote whs then taken, when 22 voted for deleting the minute and eleven agaimst. WELSH NATIONAL PAGEANT. A circular wes read at the eaucntion com- mittee from the Lord Mayor of Cardiff to school-children seeing the full-dress rehear- sals of the Welsh National Pageant.—It was resolved that the clerk send a copy of the circular to the head teachers, and that they be informed that the committee was prepared to give facilities to head teachers who might desire to arrange excursions of children whose parents were prepared to bear the necessary expense. The committee also resolved that Empire Day be observed and that a special sub-com- mittee, consisting of the chairman and vice- chairman, Alderman H. G. Solomon and Councillors D. Davies a.nd J. Devonald be appointed to consider the arrangements.

PEMBROKESHIRE ASSIZES. The summer assizes for the county of Pembroke were held on Monday at Haver- fordwest before Mr Justice Walton, who took his seat a little after tiling o'clock Annie Miles, 23, of Pembroke, was indicted for bigamy, and Heroert Richard Whitefoot 23. hairdresser, with aiding and abetting' Both Pleaded guilty, and his Lordshin in passing sentence, said it was a curious g-on. He sentenced the fenmie prisoner to three months in the second division, and the n,ale prisoner to six weeks, also in the second class. ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. Edward Jones, 26, salesman, pleaded ^uiltv to an indictment that at Pembroke in &ApS 1.^1 of Planum intending tVnptfwi hirUTw T ^ariay Samson fin-' structed by Mr Jones Lloyd) appeared for txic C^oami, and Mr. Bovren Davvs ty Xr. Mors. Griffiths. fcS Counsel for the defence put in a plea cf ^emeucy on the ground that prisoner took the ii-Lid-iiilim to ease pains in his head. Ili,isoner was bound over on his own recog- nisances and discharged., his father under. takiag to look after him. SOLDIERS SENTENCED. Arthur Mandry. 21, soldier, and Geo. Grant, 20, soldier, pleaded guilty to stealing two clocivs and dor>g damage to a plate-s?lass window and showcases, the property of Charles Lea, Pembroke, on May 7. Man- dry was given three months' imprisonment, and Gramt six weeks'.

STOP PllESS. — -is 'Q STANHOPE PRIZE. lVbN BY CARDit.A-V STUD$XT. 4936 BLiaSarical &sea £ fictr the preaaftt yeir hts bean wen art 6i £ mv» by Ur. Leonard V. D ow-40. of Oardigaa. ilv. 0rr&a is one of three ■Welshman, wtc have a*taia.ed this tie being 6wen Y. Ed'rajds, M.A., Teikvw of Lincoln Cringe. Oxford Ö6fJ. is the eon cf Mr. John Owae., 2. Sron-tftrrace, Cardigan, and was educated iift LlkadicrFary Ooilag-a.

a-rchit-eat and surveyor, and his wife, who iles-ide at Penyg-arn, a village just out- side Pontypool, assert that they saw the vessel pass by, at a considerable a-ltitude, right over their house, and going in the direction of Herefordshire. r and Mrs. Fisher's impression of the ship was that it was cigar-shaped, and car- ried a piece of canvas. Thero was also a powerful light attached. A number of men employed at the town forge s.a,w it going over the mountain in the direction of Abergavenny. Passing over the forge, the airship darted off at right angles. A number of Post Office officials state that they saw something floating in the a.ir about the same hour of the night, and that it had a powerful light, which quivered. No one, however, appears to have heaid the norise of a motor working.