Preece Family Tree

J.P. Threatened by his Brother.

SEQUEL AT GLAMORGAN ASSIZES.

Ivor Griffiths, described as a grocer, was bound over at Glamorgan Assizes at Swansea, on Tuesday (before Mr Justice Atkin), when he pleaded guilty to a charge that he, on June 11, at Porth, feloniously and maliciously sent, delivered, or caused to be delivered a letter threatening to kill or murder his brother, Mr Thomas Griffiths, J.P., mining engineer, of Maesgwyn, Porth.

Mr Marley Samson, for the prosecution, recapitulated the facts, and said that on behalf of the family he wished to say that they believed it to be their duty to take steps to prevent the prisoner being a menace to his brother and the other members of the family in future. It was true the accused man had given way to drink, and was probably suffering from one of those delusions often caused by alcohol. He thought it was a case in which the prisoner should be placed under restraint for some length of time. He then called Supt. Gill, who said complaints had been made on two occasions of prisoner discharging a revolver in public. He was charged on one occasion but acquitted.

Mr Wilfrid Lewis, addressing the judge on behalf of the prisoner, said prisoner had lived on perfectly good terms with his brother and sister till the mother died in 1913. The prosecutor, Thomas Griffiths, had left the family circle in his younger days to seek his fortune elsewhere, and the prisoner remained at home for some thirty years, and assisted his father in making a considerable fortune. The father died, leaving the whole of his property to his wife. The prisoner said that it was always his father's wish that he should be provided for, but when the mother died she left the property to his brother and sister, leaving him the sum of only £20. It was after this that the trouble began, and the prisoner had written letters extending over a period of twelve months up to March, 1914.

Mr Marlay Samson, intervening, remarked that his instructions were that the prisoner was provided for.

Mr Wilfrid Lewis said that, whilst the prisoner now fully realised that he had done wrong, he was honestly labouring under a delusion that he had been very badly treated in-deed. It was further to be noted that the prisoner, although he had plenty of opportunities, had never attempted to carry his threats into operation.

His Lordship asked where the prisoner got the revolver.

Mr Lewis (after conferring with prisoner): The prisoner says he never bought a revolver. This is an old revolver he had 28 years ago.

His Lordship, addressing the prisoner, said "You have pleaded guilty to sending these letters threatening to kill your brother. I have read the series of letters which you have sent to members of your family, and very disgraceful letters they are - letters that no respectable man should write to anybody, and certainly letters you should not have written to your brother and sister. It is quite plain you have been suffering from what is a complete delusion as far as the property is concerned. They have done you no wrong at all. I hope that that is the view you now take yourself."

The prisoner nodded his head two or three times.

"If there is any doubt at all about that," continued his lordlship, "I should have to put you in a place where you could do no harm. (Prisoner again nodded). I am prepared to believe that for the future you will realise that your brother and sister are people against whom you have no grievance, and that you will live in peace with them. If you are wise you will keep off the drink. You have been in prison for four months, and, therefore, have undergone some of the probation the prosecution considered necessary. I think I shall be acting in the best interests, even of the prosecution, and I now bind you over in the sum of £20 to come up for judgment within the next two years if called upon." His lordship then explained to the prisoner the result that would immediately follow on the infringement of his bond, and he was discharged on entering into recognisances.

Priodas Dan o'r Porth yn y Mumbles.

Am un-ar-ddeg o'r gloch boreu dydd Mawrth, Awst 11eg, yn Addoldy y Wesleyaid yn y Mumbles, unwyd mewn glan briodas Mr. Rhys Morgan, Penpound, Porth, a Miss Elizabeth Griffiths, Maesgwyn, Cymmer, Porth.

Y Parch. J. D. Jones, Cellan, Sir Aberteifi, gymerodd at y gwasanaeth, fel hoft gyfaill i'r par dedwydd ac i deulu Maesgwyn. Yr oedd organyddes yr addoldy wrth yr organ, a melus ei seiniau. Y mae Mrs. Morgan yn ferch i un o arweinwyr enwocaf y fasnach lo, ac un o arwyr dewraf llawer o danchwaoedd pyllau Morgannwg, sef Mr. Thomas Griffiths, M.E., J.P., Maesgwyn, Cymmer, a Longfield, West Cross, Mumbles.

Hana Mr. Rhys Morgan o deulu gwir barchus, ei dad a'i frodyr yn swyddogion cyfrifol yn y Cymmer, etc., a Mr. Rhys Morgan ei hun yn athraw llwyddiannus a pharchus yn Abercynon bellach, ond gynt ym Mhenrhiwceibr. Mae'r ddau deulu yn flaenllaw gydag Ymneillduaeth Gymreig, ac yn cynrychioli dau enwad, sef yr Annibynwyr a'r Methodistiaid. Trefnwyd fod y briodas i fod yn y Mumbles brydferth, iach, lle y ceir cyfuniad o wlad swynol ogoneddus a'r mor a'i ramant a'i hud. Ac yn ol y dymuniad, cadwyd yr oil yn weddol o dawel, neb ond perthnasai a rhai ffrindiau mynwesol yn bresennol - yn y gwasanaeth syml ac urddasol yn yr addoldy, ac yn y wledd yn Longfield.

Gyda'r par dedwydd yn llawenhau, gwelwyd Mr. a Mrs. T. Griffiths, Maesgwyn a Longfield; Mr. Ebenezer Morgan, Penpound, Porth; Mr. W. T. Griffiths, Caerdydd; Mr. a Mrs. Thomas, Bargoed; Mrs. James, Abertawe; Miss Griffiths, Pencoed; Mrs. a Mr. Thomas, Cymmer; Mr. Griff Morgan, Bedwas; Mrs. Howells, Porth; Mrs. Morris, Mountain Ash; Mr. a Mrs. Evan Lewis, Abertawe, a Mrs. J. D. Jones, Cellan, heblaw Mr. Llew Morgan, brawd y priodfab yn "best man," ac ni chyflawodd neb y swydd bwysig yn rhagorach, a'r ddwy Miss Morgan, chwiorydd y priodfab, wnaeth gyflawnu eu gwaith fel llawforwynion yn deilwng o'r cyfrifoldeb.

Wrth y bwrdd ar ol gwledd mwynhawyd doniau hyawdl yn llawn cysuron a dymuniadau da i'r dedwydd bar. Tyner-dadol ydoedd anerchiad y tad, Mr. Thomas Griffiths, tra yn gollwng ei afael o'r ieuangaf o'i blant i wynebu ar ei byd newydd, ond gyda bendith gyfoethocaf calon tad. A swynol ac annwyl dyner ydoedd geiriau Mrs. T. Griffiths. Pa fam a merch sydd yn anwylach o'u gilydd? Dilynwyd yn deilwng o'r amgylchiad gan Mr. Thomas, Bargoed (yr hwn sydd yn briod a merch hynaf Mr. Griffiths), Mr. Evan Lewis, Abertawe, fel hen gyfaill i'r teulu Mr. E. Morgan, tad y priodfab, a'r Parch. J. D. Jones, yr hwn a ddarllenodd y tri phennill canlynol a gyfansoddwyd ar foreu'r briodas :-

"Un hynod o wylaidd oedd Morgan,
Fel carwr - rhyfeddol o 'shy,'
Fe dystiodd rhyw fobi pur egwan -
'Mi welais, rwy'n shwr 'German spy';

Datblygodd yr athro llwyddiannus,
A dringodd i ris ar ol gris,
Ond heddyw ei fyd sydd mor felus -
Mae Lizzie a'r 'ring' am ei bys.

Os rhua magnelau y ddaear
Nes crynu o'r cread i'w sail,
A syrthio o ddewrion mor hygar
Yn amlach na thorf Hydref ddail;
Daeth bore annwylaf eich rhamant,
Fu boreu erioed yn fwy braf,
Yn orlawn yw'r cylch o ogoniant
Mor agos yw mwyn wlad yr haf.

Ni welodd priodas annwylach
Na Lizzie o'r hyfryd Maesgwyn,
Fu bachgen erioed yn hawddgarwch
Na Rhys, iaith dyffrynoedd yw hyn;
Boed heulwen o'r byd gwvnfydedig
Yn llonni eich bywyd hyd oes,
A chofiwch mai gwir fendigedig
Yw'r cartref dan gysgod y groes."

Ymadawodd y par dedwydd am y Brifddinas a lleoedd eraill, ac una eu lluosog gyfeillion, gyda'r nifer yn y briodas ac yn y wledd, i ddymuno i Mr. a Mrs. Rhys Morgan dyfodol o'r fath oreu. Disgyned bendithion cyfoethocaf nef a daear ar eu haelwyd.

FFRIND.

translation:

Marriage from Porth to Mumbles.

At eleven o'clock in the morning of Tuesday, August 11th, at the Wesleyan Chapel in Mumbles, Rhys Morgan, Penpound, Porth, and Miss Elizabeth Griffiths, Maesgwyn, Cymmer, Porth, were united in marriage.

Rev. J. D. Jones, Cellan, Cardiganshire, took the service, as a close friend of the happy couple and of the Maesgwyn family. The organist of the place of worship was at the organ, and melodious were her sounds. Mrs. Morgan is the daughter of one of the most famous leaders of the coal trade, and one of the bravest heroes of many of Glamorgan's coal mines, Mr. Thomas Griffiths, M.E., J.P., Maesgwyn, Cymmer, and Longfield, West Cross, Mumbles.

Mr. Rhys Morgan is also of a well-respected family, his father and brothers holding respected offices of Cymmer, etc., and Mr. Rhys Morgan himself is a successful and respected teacher now at Abercynon, but formerly at Penrhiwceiber. Both families are prominent in Welsh Nonconformity, and represent two denominations, the Congregationalists and the Methodists. The wedding was arranged to be in the beautiful, healthy Mumbles, where there is a combination of glorious charming country and the sea and its romance and magic. And, as they wished, it was a quiet occasion, with none other than some close friends present - in the simple and dignified service at the place of worship, and at the banquet at Longfield.

Rejoicing with the happy couple were Mr. and Mrs. T. Griffiths, Maesgwyn and Longfield; Mr. Ebenezer Morgan, Penpound, Porth; Mr. W. T. Griffiths, Cardiff; Mr. and Mrs. Thomas, Bargoed; Mrs. James, Swansea; Miss Griffiths, Pencoed; Mrs. and Mr. Thomas, Cymmer; Mr. Griff Morgan, Bedwas; Mrs. Howells, Porth; Mrs. Morris, Mountain Ash; Mr. and Mrs. Evan Lewis, Swansea, and Mrs. J. D. Jones, Cellan; also, Mr. Llew Morgan, brother of the groom, was a "best man," and no-one carried out the important job any better, and the two Misses Morgan, sisters of the groom, carried out their duties as bridesmaids worthy of the responsibility.

At the table after the feast, we enjoyed a humorous talent full of comforts and good wishes for the happy couple. The father's address, Mr. Thomas Griffiths, while releasing the youngest of his children to face her new world, but with the richest blessing of a father's heart. And Mrs. T. Griffiths's words were charming and affectionate. Which mother and daughter are more fond of each other? This was followed up by Mr. Thomas, Bargoed (who is the husband of Mr. Griffiths' eldest daughter), Evan Lewis, Swansea, as an old friend of the family, E. Morgan, father of the groom, and the Rev. J. D. Jones, who read the following three verses composed on the morning of the wedding:-

"Morgan was extremely humble
As a lover, wonderfully shy,
Some oblivious hobby witnessed -
'I saw, I'm a German spy';

The successful teacher,
And she climbed up to him after a step,
But today is so sweet -
Lizzie and the ring on her finger.

If artillery roams the earth
Until shaking from creation to its base,
And such courageous falls of bravery
More often than October leaf crowds;
The most beautiful morning of your romance came,
Morning has never been nicer,
Overflowing is the circle of glory
The proximity of summer country ore.

He did not see an ungodly marriage
No Lizzie from the lovely Maesgwyn,
Boy has never been an eternity
No Rhys, this is the language of the valleys;
Let there be sunshine from the established world
Brightening your life to life,
And remember it is truly wonderful
The home is under the shadow of the cross."

The happy couple left for the Capital and other places, and their many friends, with the many at the wedding and the banquet, united to wish Mr. and Mrs. Rhys Morgan such a bright future. May the richest blessings of heaven and earth descend upon their home.

A FRIEND.