The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-07-22 00:00:00

THE STOTTRMITDGE OBSERVER.

the revising barrister the appellant i,oLiini be tined a sant not
less than 58. or more than £2. 'the ainendinela was adopted.

The remaining clauses were then disposed of, and
Sir C. Dilke stated, in answer to Mr. Locke Mid Mr. Cross,
that those portions of the hill relating to the appointment if
legistrina would not apply to the metropolis, and that the
bill would not affect the mgistnition for the present year.

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Some new clauses were added to the bill, and an assurance
was given that it should he recommitted
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The House resumed at II quarter to six, and several
other Mlle having been advanced a stage, the Howie ad-
journed.

the inquiry probably there had been none since the case for
the prosecution had been placed fully before the court. In ,
court at luncheon Dille on Saturday, that is to say ant the two '
o'clock adjournment, the prevailing opinion was that the case
wax even then at an end, anti one old experienced frounenter
of the court near us had fettled aphis papers, and neatly tied
them up in red tape, in confident assurance that the jury
would relieve Sir W. Bolin from the seven hours' work he
afterwards went through. The foreman however anode no
signs, and the trial went through to the end Dunking the
twenty minutes consideration of the jury, just as the clock was
pointing to nine, there a as a little chatting mnongst the spec-
tators, aunt a good deal nit limb-stretching after so protracted a
sitting. and the misoner's pale face, which could not have been
!nailer, only showed the intenser feeling which the moment
brought with it by the brighter light which shone from mis dark
eyes. Ile retired to the back of the dock, spoke a few
words with the officers there, anal ultimately sat down,
rocking himself occasionally in his chair. The foreman
told his story, certainly anticipated, " bat breathless
silence. Then came a quick burst of applause, and a genenkl
uprising, during which the now nolonger prisonerdissppeared
to join his delighted friends. Throughout the trial 116
dernealloalr had shone much to produeo an impression
of his innocence. Though to observers it was sad to See
a slender. pale-faced lad, gentlemanly in manners and
intelligent of expression, arraigned on so temble kut in-
dictment, Ike betrayed no agitation. NVhen called upon
to plead he was standing wnh arms hatted, and directly
the case maimed he looked with unbroken calmness round
the court and into the gallery. During the first hour he
wrote a brief message and passed the paper with a faint smile
to his solicitor, but did not afterwards repeat such eumisalui-
cations. Occasionally sitting, occasionally tel ' g with his
ethOWel on the front of the loin, but during the greater part
of the day with arms folded, Inc seenneki keenly alive to what
wins pausing, though not, as a rule, markeklly attentive. Dur-
ing the speeches of Saturday the werislooking youth looked
more than once at the clock, yawned more than once, and
hail the air of nine who WOlll4l, quite apart from the question
of the verdict, be very glad when the whole affair was over.
Although, however, his demeanour betrayed no feeling, it
was grave and deferential throughout. °lnside the court the
excitement was visibly greater after tea than at any other
time. The cheer within soon travelled down the stairs and
out of the windows, and its meaning being at once apprek.
hended, was taken up lustily along the narrow street, by the
twin Inr three hundred persons who hail waited tin give the
acquitted youth a greeting. The lighted lamps were begimaing
to show themselves as the July sessions at the (11,1 Bailey were
concluded, leaving Edmund Walter Pook cleared of a fearful
charge by a jury of his fellow-countrymen.

The excitement in Greenwich respecting the result
of the trial was manifested in a very inarktsl manner
by the assembling of a disorderly mui,l, in the principal
street of the town. The verdict of the jury was not
delivered until seven minutes after nine o'clock, and
before ten o'clock printed sheets 14 lexper were Iwing
hawked, giving the finding of the jury. At the same
time a procession of men and boys, carrying flags, had
been arranged, the most conspicuous among theft' being
one wholly black, while others had on them the word
" !" Each succeeding train, as it arrived from
London, was watched by crowds, in the hope of seeing
the arrival of Punk. The men who carried the flags
were followed by a mob, who gave utterance to frequent
yellings near and omsmite the residence of the istrents
of the accused, and mobbed the solicitor who had been
instrumental in establishing his innocence to the satis-
faction of the jury. There were members of the police
about the street and in sight, but no interference on their
part was, it is said, made to stop the disgraceful scene ;
ana on a constable being requested
into
a gentlemsn to
take one of the tors principal instigators custody, he Was
told that he might apply to a magistrate for a summons
against the individual.
In connection with the forei,roing, the following letter
has been published in the ;lepers :

. .
My name has been brought into mod unenviable untioirly,
my solicitor, my son Edmund Walter rook, my fondly, my
Mends, and I have been hooted and yelled at Lip the public
streets in a most frightful and disgraceful manner, and for
the pub twelve Weeks an ftgollY and smipense have been en-
dured by use and my family width rarely fall to the lot of
mortals

matters more akin to their proper duties we find them
equally blundering through a preconceived theory of the
case Nothing: omiti be less skilful than the way in which
they oeglected to take any notice of the handkerchief,
or cloth, or cluster, which war; blond near the spot. If
they really had the acumen a ith which their class is credited
in fiction, this acid other circumstances; sleculd have set
thou at work afresh Independently of their first Idea But a
policeman's hypothesis, It seems, is sacred. The Force would
be disgraced if, after once having picked out their man, they
kt him escape. Hence we see onginally Intemperate haste
in forming a judgment followed by what looked like a de-
liberate attempt to make a case. The result is at all events a
failure of justice : for the murderer, whoever he may be,
remains unpunished.