The Pontypridd District Herald and Rhondda Valley, Llantrisant, Caerphilly, and Mountain Ash News. — 1891-05-16 (Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

BRIGHTON SENSATION.  ROMAN'IIO S'rOUY.  At Brighton on Monday Frederick James Mospratt, aged 24 years, was charged with having maliciously sent to Ethel Guest, of 12, Walpole. terrace, Brighton, a letter threatening to kill asmurder her.—Mr. Mardian Hall, who appeared for the proaectution, said it warn one of the most painful cases of its kind that had been brought before a court of justice. The prisoner, who was an undergraduate at Cambridge University, and was studying for the Church, was in a good position. He been engaged to Miss Guest for some time, and then it was alleged letters were sent by him to Miss Guest of such a character that her mother felt compelled to make her daughter break off the engagement. The learned gentleman stated that the letters showed that the prisoner had allowed his passion to overtake his sincere affections, and all except one, which was burned after being received, were returned to the prisoner, together with the presents which he had made to Miss Guest. The prisoner hat, he continued, followed her friends about from place to place, and eventually the letter complained of was received. The counsel added that the prisoner purchased a large army revolver, bought a loook of Shakespeare's plays, and shot a bullet through the pages of Othello, and then sent the book to Miss Guest. The pages of the book were also streaked with blood. It was further alleged that he wrote lettere, apparently in blood, to Miss Guest and another friend, but by mistake put them in wrong envelopes. Mr. Hall said bliss Guest now went in fesr of her life. Evidence of arrest was given, and then Mrs. Guest, the mother of complainant, was called. She stated that she was a widow, and that Miss Guest, was her youngest daughter, her age being 17 year". ' About 16 months ago the prisoner became engaged to her daughter, but it was broken off in February last as stated by manse!. Since then she had received a number of letters, in one of which he stated that he could not live and could not die Without Ethel. He also wrote to Miss Amy, another daughter, asking her to plead his cause, and stating that he did not wish to bring shame or diagram on two families by doing that which could not be undone. In crossexamination Mrs. Guest said the cause of the breaking off of the engagement was because she was disgusted with the violent temper the prisoner had exhibited at her house:—The Rev. Alfred Hamilton Waller, curate of Tonbridge, stated that he was at Queen's College when the prisoner was there. He received a telegram from the prisoner, asking him to do all he could as be was utterly deepest.. He afterwards saw the prisoner 46 Brighton, and the latter told him he had planned to carry off Miss Guest, and had arranged all details, but had failed to carry it out, as one of the men who had promised to help him was alarmed at the prosped of penal servitude. The prisoner gave him some particulars of the scheme which he had devised, and produced a pair of handcuffs and a dagger. He said he had intended to use the dagger upon himself if he failed in carrying out the abduction. —An assistant to Messrs. Laird and Company, of Bishopegate-street Without, proved prisoner)! purchasing a very powerful Army revolver and ammunition.—Mr. Topham, for the defence, said If a man intended to execute threats of this kind he would not be likely to publish what he intended dn:nage.Prisoner's only object had been to obtain with Mime Guest. The case might be met by his entering into reoornistincea and leaving the country.—Mr. Marshall Hall was willing to accept these terms if prisoner's friends would undertsffie that he did not return for three years.—The stipendiary magistrate did not look upon the threats as mere braggadocia, and committed prisoner for trial, bail being refined. Dr. Carl Peters was entertained at Berlin on Saturday night to a farewell dinner by the Beat Aides Company and left next day for Earn . Africa. On Tues&y a divisional Court quashed the committal of Mr. S. Storey, M.P., for perjury, with costs against the individual magistrates responsible for the order. A woman named Connelly, aged 110, committed suicide on Saturday night at Hamilton, Ontario. According to a telegram she set fire to her bed, and was burned to death. As the Portuguese Government are in debt and difficulty, we venture to suggest how they may, with advantage and propriety, emancipate themselves, and at the same time confer a favour on mankind. Let them negotiate with the British Government for the tranfer of Deiagoa Bay and the land adjacent for a handsome sum, to be mutually upon. Such transference would diminish glerred responsibilities, and brighten the prospects of Africa.  wr°l!g  said  intended