The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-07-17 00:00:00

DARING CONDUCT OF A POLICEMAN.

At the Dudley Petty Sessions, on Wednesday. Hannah
Jones (49). her daughter, Mae, Mormen (31), and William
Jones (22), appeared to a warrant charging them with
attempting to blow up with gunpowder • 11011I•behing.
ing to Ann Timmins, situated in Hilbstreet. Watson s
Green, Kate's Hill. From the evidence which was Live.
(after which the prisoners were remanded till next Mon.
day), and from other sources we learn that the prisoner,
Hannah Jones, lived for some years as the pareincur of
a blind man named Timmins, who died in September
last. Ile was • news agent, and formerly lived opposite
to South:Ws-lane. Previous to his death be made • will
leaving to small houses at Kate's Hill to his paramour.
Ax legatee, she was applied to for debts amounting to
about £3O, and declining to pay, a creditor's suit in
Equity was filed at the Hadley County Court, and an
order made to sell the property, and after paving the
"‘".e mortgage upon it to charge the &tits,
colts os -'v took place on Tuesday last, and,
The sale accornie.., ---,over, the property was
to the evident chagrin of to. Timmins,
purchased by the widow of the blind " dres-
I Superintendent Burton made a statement on
day before the Cll.* against the prisoner was opened,
winch ahowed that three attempts to destroy the pro.
perty had been made previous to the sale; that the pri-
soner Hannzli Jones had been heard to threaten to blow
, up the houbcs, and that in consequence of this he had
given instructions to police.officers to watch the pre-
mises. It was near midnight on Tuesday, when Police•
constable Clarke was carrying out the orders of his chief,
and observed a light glimmering in the back room of
one of the houses, lie went up the entry, and upon
heaving up the window sash, he new a light in the cup.
board. He entered the room and opened the cupboard
Idoor. Here was a sight at which most men would hare
beat a hasty retreat. About the shelf was a quantity of
I loose powder, and there VMS • packet containing RD addl.
ti.).l.ndlealywo pounds. Into this was stuck a piece of lighted
. and when it met the view of Police-constable
Clarke it bad only a quarter of an inch to burn before
the powder would have bean ignited. With great pee-
-1 seuce of mind he snatched away the candle, although in
I doing so he 'TM In imminent risk of causing the fall of
• a spark which might have blown himself into atoms and
razed the building to the ground. By this soot and in-
trepid act, however, he saved the property, and most
likely the lives of several people who lived in the adjoin-
ing houses. The coinplimentary allusion to Poliee.con•
stable Clarke was well earned which was made is, Court
on Wednesday by the chairman, Mr. S. Budge. He gave
the poliee.ollicer great credit for the collected manner in
• which, under such agitating circumstances, he bad acted.
Very few men, he considered, would heve displayed nob
courage.

CORRESPONDENCE.
We wish it to be distinctly understood that by inserting
leturs in this col ainn, edo not therell identify ourAlcts
with the opinions of ou! L'vrrespondents.

To Me Flitor of Me" Observer."

Sir—Would you kindly allow a small apace in yid
valuable paper to correct the errors which are frequently
made by some connected with the congregatioi. of fit-
John's Chinch, Stourbridge, respecting the choir, rcid
give their services voluntary. To those that have made
these errors, if they would step forward and aeslst tha
present choir on the same terms and not find faith, it
would show their Christianity. I myself am a regular
attendant, and eau certify as to the abilities of the pre-
sent choir—as to 1010 they are and what they are. tiled
credit is due to them, and 1, for one, sir, consider they
are worthy, and deserve to have some remuneration for
their services. And, again, why should such errors as
these be made? Why don't they join the choir ? For
what reason ? Is it because they are a small body that
have to wink for their daily bread; or, on the other hand,
is it because their cloth is not so tine as some. If such
as these are the reasons (and there can be no others that
I know of) I would address them most respectfully and
say what feelings and coolness there is aliown towards
their fellow-christians, instead of joining heart and hand
together with praised unto our (Md. I hope and trust
that these few lines, sir, will he the means for us all to
try and mend • fault, for our mend-fault is worth fifty
tinti-faults.

Hoping I have uot taken much time and space up in
your paper,
I am, Sir, yours respectfully,
EXCELSIOR.

Notires of Births, Deellia, and Marritteeq. When dale
authenticated, 1,111 be ibilel led in the Observer " free of
charge.

MARRIED.

On the 12th instant, at the Parish Church, Dudley by
the Rev. Dr. Browne, vicar), Charles Bann. thiird 0011 ,1
Mr. Charles Steediu.in, of Brom.Unot, to II umiak Mary,
third daughter of the late Ms. Thomas Stet:dm:in, of
Dudley. No cards.