The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-05-30 00:00:00

DEMONSTRATION OF FARM
LABOURERS.

On Monday was held in the Frying Pan, Ham-hill,
near Yeovil, the fourteenth annual demonstration of
farm labourers, and more than usual interest was
evinced in the gathering, from the fact that Mr.
Mitchell (" One from the Plough "), who was the
prime mover in these demonstrations, had come for-
ward as a candidate for Parliament for the Southern
Division of Somerset, Three bands were present,
and the procession started from Montacute, Mr.
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early 1000 persons, including men, women,
and children. It was evident that there were some
present who did not agree with Mr. Mitchell's candi-
dature, and when his name was mentioned as a pro-
bable candidate there were shouts of "No, no,"
mingled with "Yes, yes." The proceedings were
commenced by Mr. George Potter (London) being
voted to the chair. While Mr. Potter was speaking
a man in front of him caused considerable interrup-
tion, whereupon the chairman invited him to take
the chair. The man stepped into the break to do
so, and whilst addressing the crowd was pulled down
by a labourer, and considerable uproar and a free
fight resulted. At length the man was hustled
from the Frying Pan, and on order being restored
Mr. Seymour Stephenson (candidate for Eye) pro-
posed the first resolution, thanking Mr. Gladstone
(whose name was received with cheers) for his
efforts in conferring the franchise on the agricul-
tural labourer, and wishing him prolonged life to
carry further reforms. The speaker dwelt more par-
ticularly on the necessity of reforms in our land laws.
Mr. Albert Bath (Sevenoaks) seconded the resolution.
He extolled Mr. Gladstone, and contrasted the
Agricultural Holdings Act passed by the present
Government with the one passed by the previous
Government. At the coming election he said they
should vote for candidates who would go in for
reform of the land laws. The resolution was carried.
The Rev. T. Neave (Dorchester) proposed a resolu-
tion in favour of pledging those present to support
candidates who were favourable to increased promi-
nence being given to the disestablishrnent and the
disendowment of the established. church. Ile con-
tended in the course of his remarks that there was
no reason why bishops should have special privileges
above such men as Messrs. Spurgeon, Dale, and other
prominent nonconformist ministers. This resolution
was seconded by the Rev. Mr. Heath (London), and
carried. Mr. Burrows (London) proposed a re-
solution in favour of the nationalisation of land, and
moved that the following petition be presented to
Parliament: "That your petitioners, seeing that
the population of this country has increased to an
extent which the limited area of the United
Kingdom cannot feed save by greatly increased cul-
tivation of the soil, do therefore pray that a bill may
be framed giving such cultivable land into the charge
of a special representative body, in order that all
those willing should be allowed and assisted to pos-
sess as much as they require on such terms that the
land may be their own in thirty years, and that a
fair compensation should be given to present owners
.according to the taxes they pay." Mr. Walter
Munford (Crewlerne) seconded, and the resolution
was carried. Mr. Judd (an agent of the Agricultural
Labounrs' Union) proposed a resolution advocating
, the cause of the union; Mr. Ball (vice-president of
the un;on) seconded, and Mr. Mitchell supported.
II This being also carried, the proceedings shortly after-
wards closed;

TIIE SZINISH NAVY.—For some time past an agita-
tion has lown proceeding in the Madrid press and in
political piceles to remedy the notoriously inefficient
condition of ,the Spanish navy, and a bill has now been
laid before Congress embodying these reforms: No
special roan will be contracted, as was at first contem-
plated, but It is proposed that the Minister of Marine
shall be authorised to dispose of 26,000,000 pesetas
annually ifot ten years. The strength of the navy is
to be augmented by the construction of eight first-
class at mour-clads, eight cruisers of the first class,
seven of the second, and 40 of the third, including in
the latter coastguard vessels, 30 gunboats for the
colonial service, and 65 torpedo boats. The new vessels
are to be of the best construction, both in build and
armament, and to exhibit all the modern improve-
ments. As far as possible it is proposed to early out
the work in the arsenals of the Peninsula, but mil-
tracts ¶5ll also be made with foreign firms, both for
building and arming the ships; and power is asked to
suspend the law of public tender, or " subasta," as
occasion may demand.

On Monday afternoon a correspondent had an
interview with some relatives of Bertha Dennis. Her
friends place the utmost reliance in.the whole of her
statements. It seems that she had been for upwards
of three years in the service of Mr. Newman, a gen-
tleman residing at Station-road, Reigate, as cook, and
an elder sister fills a similar situation next door. On
March 3rd, one of her sister's fellow servants pro-
posed that as they had both got a holiday on the
following day, she and Bertha Dennis should go to
London together. Before starting in the morning,
she (Bertha Dennis) was paid her quarter's wages,
amounting to £3, and it is said to have been quite by
accident that she took the whole of that sum with her.
Her intention was to place the greater portion of it
in her box, but she forgot to do so. Owing to some mis-
understanding she missed her companion at Reigate
Station,and the first intimation of anything being wrong
was received when the other girl called at Mr.Dennis's
in Church-street the same night, and asked "Whether
Bertha was ready to go home." Nothing was heard of
Bertha Dennis fromlhat day until eleven o'clock last
Tuesday night, when she knocked at the door of her
brother's shop at Croydon, having changed in a period
of ten weeks from a respectable-looking young woman
to a perfect beggar to all appearances. She was
emaciated to a degree, and all but insensible from
exhaustion. According to her account, which she
was only able to give after restoratives had been
administered, she had been exactly twelve hours
tramping from some place near London—she believes
it was New-cross—to Croydon. When she left
Reigate she had in her possession a new mackin-
tosh, a handbag, an umbrella, a brown paper parcel,
a silver watch, two silver chains, a locket with
" Bertha " engraved on it, and a gold ring set with
stones. The whole of these things, with the excep-
tion of the watch, had been taken from her.
While Mrs. Dennis, her sister-in-law, as attending
to her she not iced that she was holding the watch in
her band, and she sobbed, "I would not let them
take that." The unfortunate girl had only been to
London twice in her life. She states that she noticed
the old lady who drugged her in the booking-office
first, and she seemed very anxious to know where
she was going. When they were anted in the
train she said, "It is a nice day, miss," and then it
was that the handkerchief was waved in her face. She
often saw the same old lady in the house, and was
certain that she could identify her, provided she
wore the seine clothes. The other women in the
house not only wore wigs, but they painted their
faces and lips. They told her that she Would have
to go out and do as they did; and when she said she
would not they beat her. All her clothing was worn
by the women. The jacket was altered te tit a bigger
woman. (Mrs. Dennis found that the buttons had
been shifted some few inches forward.) On the
morning that she was blindfolded she remembered
coming down a great many stairs. 'When she arrived
at Croydon she had not a farthing, and her linen is
said to have been as black as one's hat. Her
friends have never known her to tell an untruth,
and she has never before been the cause of one
hour's anxiety to her mother and father, who have
resided in Reigate all their lives. After staying
the night with her sister-in-law she was taken
home on Wednesday afternoon, and has since been
under the care of a doctor. Superintendent Rogers,
of the Redhill police, has the matter in hand, the
girl's parents believing she was kidnapped for the
purpose of iobberc, if not nothing more serious. The
first to give information to the Scotland-yard
authorities of her disappearance was a Mr. Grey, of
Redhill, in whose service she formerly was, and who
Ihas alw-ys taken a great interest in the family. The
I brown pa per parcel which she had with her contained old
paper bags, which she was in the habit of saving for
use in her brother's business at Croydon, and Miss
Dennis states that the women burnt these directly
they opened the parcel.
The Press Association's Reigate correspondent on
Monday wrote: No credence is attached to the story
of the young woman, Bertha Dennis, of Reigate, who
alleged that she was kidnapped at Croydon. She
returned to Reigate a fortnight or three vaeks ago—
not on Wednesday, as stated—and she has made an
I altogether different statement to
_that published to
the local police.

AN EXTRAORDINARY KIDNAPPING SHOCKING SCE3.2. AT AN EXECUTION.
ROMANCE,
From Croydon it was reported at the close of last
week that a young woman, named Bertha Dennis,
who left her home at Reigate on March 4,
had made her reappearance under singular circum-
stances. It appears that every inquiry had been made
by the Criminal Investigation Department, and adver-
tisements containing her description were inserted in
most of the London newspapers. The young woman,
who is the daughter of Mr. James Dennis, a master
bricklayer, of Mead Vale, Reigate, left that town, it
is said, on the date above mentioned to go by rail to
Ladywell to visit an aunt. She was then in good
spirits. After changing carriages at Redhill Junction
she was completely lost sight of. On Wednesday
afternoon she suddenly returned, looking, as her
father stated, at least ten years older, and being in a
truly deplorable condition. After being well cared
for she was questioned as to the cause of her absence,
and she told such a remarkable story that the p
were communicated with, and set to work to investi-
gate what would appear to be an extraordinary case
of kidnapping. She says that on the day she left
home she reached East Croydon Station and
walked round to the Addiscombe-road Station,
where she purchased a ticket for Lady.
well. She got into a carriage, and in the same com-
partment was an elderly lady, who entered into
conversation with her. Miss Dennis avers that the
train had pro .ded but a very short distance when her
fellow passenger shook a pocket handkerchief in her
face, which had the effect of causing her to fall into a
stupor, and she remembered nothing more until she
found herself in an attic at the top of a very high
house. She had not the faintest idea as to where the
house was situated, but the apartment in which she
was imprisoned for upwards of ten weeks was almost
destitute of furniture, her bed consisting of an old
mattress in one corner of the room, She states
further that she was visited daily by an elderly woman,
who generally had a child with her. Her principal
food was bread and water. The female told her that
the house was occupied by five women, "who gained
their livelihood by thieving," and that when the
Prince of Wales opened the Inventions Exhibition
" they did a good day's business." She was further
informed that these women used to go out in different
dresses, and that they sometimes wore wigs.
There was only one window in the attic,
and that overlooked the backs of some
very big houses. Her clothes were taken
away from her for the purpose, as the old woman told
her, of being worn by the "ladies," who also .appro-
priated her money—about £3. Asked to account for
the fact that she still retained possession of her silver
watch (this was alluded to in the advertisements and
reward bills), she explained that she fastened it in her
back hair, which hid it from view. When she told
the elderly woman where she came from, she said
"Ah, 1 knew you were a country girl as soon as they
brought you here. You won't get away yet, but when
I get an opportunity I will give you your clothes and
take you out." On Wednesday morning she was
blindfolded, and, after being led a considerable dis-
tance, the wrapper was removed from her eyes, the
woman who had been leading her disappeared, and
she found herself in a strange place. After inquiring
her way to Reigate she walked home. She states
that she is quite unable to give the police any
further information with respect to the locality or
position of the house to which she alleges she was

On Monday morning the executirp of Moses
Shrimpton, aged 65, of Birmingham, for the murder
of Police-constable Davies at Alvechurth, took place
in the Worcester County Gaol. After condemnation
Shrimpton's behaviour- was becoming, and he paid
due attention to the ministrations of the gaol chap-
lain, the Rev. A. Telfer. In his letter; to his family
he expressed himself as willing to die, and as believ-
ing he should meet them. in heaven. He, however,
made no confession, as far as can be ascertained; the
gaol officials, however, are very reticent. Three re-
portef s were admitted to witness the execution. The
condemned man was understood to have slept well on
Sunday night, and arose at six o'clock on Monday
morning and breakfasted, and up to the time fixed
for his death—eight o'clock—he was attended by
the chaplain. A few minutes before that hour a pro-
cession was formed from the condemned cell to the
Treadmill House, where the drop was erected,
Shrimpton being attended by a warder on each side,
the hangman (James Berry) following, and the Rev.
A. Telfer leading, and reading the Burial Service. All
arrangements being complete, Berry performed the
last offices, the fatal bolt was drawn, and at the same
moment tho raising of the black flag announced to
outsiders the carrying out of the final sentence of the
law on one who for the greater part of his life had
set it at defiance. Death was instantaneous, but the
body presented a shocking spectacle—the long drop
had had the effect of partially severing the head from
the body, and a terrible gash appeared in the throat.
The usual formal inquest was held.
Shrimpton was a native of Long Crandon, Bucks.
His first conviction was for apple stealing, when, at
the age of 15, he was sent to Aylesbury Prison for a
month, a Mr. Dodswell being the prosecutor. On a
subsequent occasion he effected his escape from gaol,
and was pursued for ten or twelve miles, bloodhounds
being employed in the chase. Finding that he was
being overtaken, Shrimpton jumped into a millpond,
and remained there until his pursuers came up and
arrested him. He was about 25 years of age when
he weet to live at Headless Cross, near Redditch. At
the time he was apprehended for the capital offence
he was living at Birmingham with the woman Moreton,
who was indicted-with him as accessory after the fact,
she being, however, acquitted.