The Portland daily press., 1885-12-24
glaokmaIIlng the Prince OF Wales.


LONDON, Dec. 23.-The magistrates examina-
ton of the case of John and Sarah Magee, who
were arrested on the 18th instant at Kensington,
England on charge of attempting to procure
money from the Prince OF Wales by writing
threatening letters, was held here today The
letters referred to stated that four men had been
appointed to murder the Prince of Wales for $500
each, and the Magees offered to inform of the
intended assassns provided they were given
eI 900 and a free pardon. The detectives who
were detailed to work up the case met the Magees
by appointment, and gave them package con-
tanning 500 farthings This was done to lead the
prisoners into believing by the size OF the parcel
that their request was being fully complied with,
othat the detectives might get the whole story
from the Magees and see if there was any truth in
il. When Magee discovered that the package
contained farthingS instead of ponnd pieces, he
upbraided the Prince for his treachery, demanded
e1500 and threatened TO SnOOJ tne ponce VINO
The crown prosecutor, believing that Mrs.
Magee was innocent OF the crime, and that she
was entirely under the influence of her husband,
Withdrew the charge against her, and she was
discharged from custody. 1t was proved Dy
draft Of the letter found in his pocket book that
the letters were in his handwriting. He was com
mitted for trial.
a Mine Horror.
LONDON, Dec ga despatch from Pont y
Prida, Wales reports that terrible colliery ex-
ploson has Just occurred at the Ferndale pit near
there, and that 400 miners are entombed. NO
details are given.
The explosion occurred in the upper of two
seams. There were $50 men in the mine at the
time, a majority of whom were in the lower seam,
otherwise the death list would have been much
larger AT least so men were killed in the upper
seam and scores were terribly burned. The i'll
iured were carried to places of safety by their
more fortunate comrades,
800 man have been rescued, seven of whom are
so fearfully burned they may dle
Affairs in Spain.
MADRID, Dec. % The Queen today signed a
decree appointing Senior Martinez Campos presl
dent of the Senate. Senior ConoYas Del costello
will be elected president of the Congress.
[LATER.]
Twelve dead bodies have been taken out Of the
Ferndale pit and 80 miners have been rescued
more or less injured. The remainder OF those
whow in the mine at the time of the explosion
are believed to be safe.
Concerning CIadstone's Intentions
LONDON, Dec. 23.-Sir T. D. Acland NJ. P, who
has Just returned from a visit to Gladstone al
Hawarden, addressed the electors OF Somerset
today In the course of his speech he referred tC
various statements in the newspapers concerning
GIadstone's intentions in regard to home rule fol
ireland and advised his hearers, not to put any
faith in these published reports which he afnrmet
| were utterly unreliable. He further declared
| that Gladstone does not desire to resume office
| of which he had had enough, but is ready TO dt
| his duty whatever that duty may be-.
Mr Michael Davitt, in an interview today re
! specting home rule for Ireland said: "Th'
| alleged proposals of Mr.. Gladstone recently pub
| lished are good basis for settlement of tn
! Irish question | advocate Daniel OConnell,
| plan for minority representation IN the IT'S
| Parliament. | would give 70 seats to the Loyal
| lists and 225 to the Parnellites. The police shoul
| be disarmed. Irish landlords would be Impossible
! under an Irish Parliament"
Foreign Notes.
The government of The Hague introduced bl