MR. CHURCHILL INJURED .sx Knocked Down by Motor-Car .sx FEARED SERIOUS DEVELOMENT .sx NEW YORK , Monday .sx Mr. Winston Churchill , who arrived in New York on board the Europa on Friday , was last night knocked down by a motor-car as he was crossing the fashionable Fifth Avenue at Central Park , and he had to be taken to hospital .sx Mr. Churchill is in danger of pleural hemorrhage as a result of his accident , according to a statement to Reuter to-day by Dr. Otto Pickhardt , who is attending him .sx Mr. Churchill sustained a sprained right shoulder and lacerations of the forehead and nose .sx The driver of the car which knocked Mr. Churchill down came from the Yonkers district in the north of New York .sx The police did not consider it necessary to detain him .sx DRIVER EXONERATED .sx The policeman who picked up Mr. Churchill after his accident , and helped to convey him to hospital , says that the injured Statesman exonerated the driver of the motor-car , declaring that he was in a hurry to keep an appointment with friends , and crossed the street although the traffic lights were against him .sx Dr. Otto C. Pickhardt , a bone specialist , has examined Mr. Churchill thoroughly , and at two o'clock this morning he announced that Mr. Church has no further injuries than those already diagnosed by the hospital physician .sx Later , however , came the announcement that Mr. Churchill is in danger of pleural hemorrhage as result of his accident .sx Failure to observe the traffic signals - an even more dangerous oversight in New York than in London - " jay walking , " in fact , involved Mr. Winston Churchill in the accident .sx Mrs. Churchill was informed of the accident at her hotel about 11 o'clock last night , and stated , after hearing the physician's report , that she was not alarmed as to his condition .sx Both she and Mr. Churchill himself were most anxious that this impression should be conveyed to friends in England .sx - Reuter .sx P.E.T. CAPITAL REDUCTION .sx Confirmed by High Court .sx In the Chancery Division to-day Mr. Justice Eve confirmed the reduction of the capital of the Potteries Electric Traction Company , Ltd. , from 660,000 to 244,730 .sx STATEMENT FOR COMPANY .sx Mr. Uthwatt , for the company , stated that it was formed to carry on a tramway and light railway undertaking , and that , owing to the opposition of omnibuses , the capital to be written off had been lost .sx The capital was divided into 300,000 Preference and 300,000 Ordinary shares of 1 each , and the Preference dividend was in arrear .sx The Ordinary shares would be reduced to 4s .sx each and the Preference shares to 7s .sx each , and the arrears of dividend would be cancelled .sx The share would be sub-divided and consolidated into one class of Ordinary shares .sx The tramway undertaking has been entirely abandoned , and the company was now running omnibuses itself and making a profit .sx MAGISTRATED MURDERED IN INDIA .sx SHOT DEAD BY WOMEN .sx POLITICAL MOTIVE .sx Mr. Charles Geoffrey Buckland Stevens , District Magistrate and Collector at Tipperah , Bengal , was shot dead this morning by two Bengali women .sx Both have been arrested .sx Only the barest details have so far been received .sx The motive of the crime is believed to be political , and one of the women is said to be only 20 years of age .sx This is the first time women have actively joined , as assassins , in the Indian terrorist campaign .sx REVOLVER SHOT .sx Women's Part in Indian Terrorist Campaign .sx Official news reached London to-day of the murder in Bengal to-day of Mr. C.G.B. Stevens , a collector and magistrate of the Indian Civil Service , by two young women armed with revolvers .sx His assassins have been arrested .sx Only the barest details are so far available of the murder of Mr. Stevens ( says Reuter from New Delhi) .sx They show that one of the women was armed with a revolver , with which she shot Mr. Stevens in the stomach , causing death .sx One of the two women is stated to be only 20 years of age .sx The motive of the crime is believed to have been political .sx This is the first time that women have come actively into the field as murderers in the Indian terrorist campaign .sx Hitherto , they have only joined revolutionaries as accomplices , as in the case of the bomb outrage on the Viceroy's train , in connection with which a trial is now proceeding in Delhi .sx A number of women are alleged to have played a subordinate part in that affair .sx Mr. Stevens , whose home is believed to have been at Blackheath , was 42 years of age .sx He was the district magistrate at Tipperah .sx He was educated at the Old Merchant Taylors School , and at Emmanuel College , Cambridge , and had been in India since 1914 .sx Before being appointed Deputy Commissioner in the early months of 1922 , he had served in Bengal as an assistant magistrate and collector .sx The list of Indian outrages has steadily grown in recent years .sx Previous to to-day's news the number of attacks on British officials and others since last January totalled 16 .sx CABINET MEETING .sx First of Series to Formulate Permanent Policy .sx The Cabinet met in full at No .sx 10 .sx Downing-street , today , the Prime Minister presiding .sx It was the first of a series of meeting which will be continued to-morrow and Wednesday .sx Many hours will be devoted by the Ministers this week and on the weeks ahead to the big task of detailing the main features of the permanent policy of the National Government .sx BADGES FOR LORD MAYORS .sx Question Raised at City Council Meeting .sx Opposition to a resolution of the General Purposes Committee , instructing the Town Clerk to obtain a further supply of ex-Lord Mayors' badges , was raised by Mr. G.B. Rogers at the Stoke-on-Trent City Council meeting yesterday afternoon .sx Moving the deletion of the minute , Mr. Rogers said many people thought the Lord Mayor had a " soft job , " and 500 a year was not a bad salary .sx He thought it was a disgrace to insert such a minute while they were talking about economy .sx Mr. Barks seconded the motion .sx The Town Clerk ( Mr. E.B. Sharpley ) , said the badges cost about 6 each .sx Supporting the minutes , Mr. W.H. Kemp said , " If Mr. Rogers becomes Lord Mayor , people may not be aware of it afterwards , and I want him to have a badge so that they will know .sx " Mr. Rogers' amendment was lost by a large majority .sx " NOT PLAYING TO THE GALLERY .sx " No City Committee Reports for the Public .sx It was reported to the Stoke-on-Trent City Council yesterday that the General Purposes Committee had received a request from Mr. Barks to consider supplying members of the public with a copy of the committee reports on entering the public gallery at Council meetings .sx The Committee had resolved that the suggestion be not entertained .sx After it had been proposed by Mr. Barks and seconded by Ald .sx C. Austin Brook that the suggested be entertained .sx Ald .sx Arthur Hollins remarked :sx " We are not playing to the gallery .sx It is a pure public request , and one to which they are entitled .sx " On a show of hands the proposal was declared lost by 46 votes to 20 .sx Mr. Hugh Williams urged that names be taken and the voting was then 30 for Mr. Barks' proposal and 42 against .sx FATE OF CITY PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT .sx CAREFUL INVESTIGATION OF THE POSITION BEING MADE .sx CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT TO CITY COUNCIL .sx There was another long debate on the future of the Stoke-on-Trent Public Works Department at yesterday's meeting of the City Council .sx Mr. Len Timmis , the new Chairman of the Public Works Committee , said the committee accepted the very definite expression of the ratepayers' opinion on the department and the decisive mandate given at the polls .sx A thorough and careful investigation of the position was being made .sx He asked for time to prepare a detailed statement for the Council , and said :sx - Information has come to my knowledge which is very disturbing to me , and I am determined , as Chairman of the committee , that the thing shall be investigated thoroughly and carefully and honestly , and that when the investigation is carried out the Council shall have the results of it .sx Ald .sx A.C. Harvey said when the investigations were completed , they could " discuss the whole matter , with a view to closing down at the earliest possible moment a department which has already cost the ratepayers a very large sum of money .sx " The debate arose out of the following draft powers and duties of the Public Works Committee , which were before the Council :sx - 1 .sx To have control over and the management of the Public Works Department and to have charge of all works on which the Department shall be engaged .sx 2 .sx To be responsible for the engagement , supervision , control and dismissal of the employees of the Department , and to arrange for premises to be used as office , depots , or stores for the use of the Department .sx 3 .sx All resolutions of the Committee involving the spending of money shall be submitted to the Council for confirmation , except , in the case of sums not exceeding 100 provided for in the year's estimates .sx 4 .sx To tender or to submit quotations for the repair and painting of Corporation properties and to carry out such repair and painting works as they may be ordered to do by the Committees of the Council .sx 5 .sx To tender or to submit quotations for the creation of Corporation property and the repair of houses dealt with by the Council under the Public Health Acts and the Housing Acts , and to carry out such work as they may be ordered to do under any such tender or quotation accepted by the Council .sx 6 .sx To tender or submit quotations for the carrying out of private street works under the Private Street Works Act , 1892 , and carry out such works as they may be ordered to do under any such tender or quotation accepted by the Council .sx 7 .sx To report to the Council upon any proposal to extend the scope of the Public Works Department .sx Alderman A.C. Harvey said :sx Speaking on behalf of the Independent members of this Council , I have to say that it is not our intention to press for an amendment to the Standings Orders at this meeting of the Council .sx The present Chairman and committee , I understand , are investigating the whole position relating to contracts and the general working of the department .sx You remember statements were made at the last Council meeting by the late Chairman of the Public Works Committee regarding savings in certain contracts .sx Up to to-day the present Chairman of the department has not been able to get the full figures regarding these contracts , and so it is impossible to reply to the statements of the late Chairman .sx We feel that the time has arrived when each member of this Council should know the exact financial position of the Public Works Department .sx ( Hear , hear .sx ) When these investigations are completed we shall be in a position to bring certain recommendations forward to the Council so that they may discuss the whole matter with a view to closing down at the earliest possible moment a department which has already cost the ratepayers a very large sum of money " Question" ) The elections on November 2nd were fought on this question - .sx There were several interruptions at this point and Mr. Alcock objected that Alderman Harvey's remarks did not deal with the powers and duties of the committee .sx The Lord Mayor :sx So long as he does not exceed his time limit he is all right .sx " AS AT PRESENT " .sx Mr. Hopwood :sx What is the resolution or motion before the Council .sx Alderman Harvey :sx I am moving that we do not press with the amendment to the Standing Orders .sx The Lord Mayor :sx I cannot accept that .sx Alderman Harvey :sx then I move that the rules and regulations governing the Public Works Department remain as at present .sx Alderman Harvey was again interrupted by several members , and he said :sx The elections on November 2nd were fought on this question .sx ( Cries of " No .sx " ) The ratepayers have emphatically told us to go on with the job and , so far as we Independents are concerned , we mean to carry into effect the mandate given to us .sx ( Hear .sx hear .sx ) 1 .sx