biglam/hmd_newspapers huggingface dataset:
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-07-05

A VISIT TO THE CLAIMANT.

Mr. S. S. Pearce, formerly Sheriff of Southampton,,
accompanied by a friend, on Saturday visited the
Claimant at the Portsea Convict Prison. Extracts
were read to him from the Australian newspapers
with reference to the identification of the lunatic
Cresswell, now confined in the Parramatta Lunatic
Asylum, New South Wales, as Arthur Orton, and the
application by his brothers Edward and Charles to
have him handed over into their care, on the under-
standing that they would give him proper treatment
so long as he remained insane. The Claimant
anxiously inquired how his children were getting on.
lie was informed that his eldest, Roger, was
still employed in one of the large Manchester
houses of business; his youngest son, James, was at
Cherville College, Romsey, and his two daughters,
Hettie and Agnes, were at school at Guildford. He
specially referred to the kind treatment which he had
received from the officials of the prison. He stated
that he did not believe that he should be released
until the 25th of November, and he thought that the
Home Secretary must have made a mistake in filing
the date for the 21st of October. The Claimant
added that his health continued to be good. Asked
by what means he intended to support himself when
released from prison, the prisoner emphatically said
that he did not intend to be made a public show of
but the very fact of his case having remained in the ;
public mind for so many years, although £482,000 of
the public money was spent to prosecute him, made
him feel that public sympathy would still continue
in his favour, and he should have no difficulty in
satisfying his wants.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-07-05

THE STOURBRIDGE OBSERVER.

SINGULAR WAGGON ACCIDENT

In London, on Tuesday, the Deputy Coroner for
ast Middlesex, held an inquest at Ratcliff on the
body of Sarah Ann Graves, aged 13. §usan Toms
said she saw a van loaded with old iron coming along
Brook-street, and whqpropposite to her shop the horse
reared and backed, and the fore part of the van be-
came detached fronrthe hind part. The horse here
ran away, and the driver fell. The deceased walked
into her shop and sat down, and witness afterwards
found her on the floor, apparently dead. Witness
did not see the child knocked down, as she was watch-
ing the driver. Police-constable Coldwell proved
seeing the horse rear and plunge, and afterwards saw
him running away with only the shafts. He then
went to the last witness's shop, and found deceased
there in an unconscious state. The driver was also
injured, and witness assisted him to the London Hos-
pital. The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental
death."
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-07-05

WORCESTERSHIRE QUARTER SESSIONS

The Court resamed business on Wednesday morn-
ing, before Mr. G. W. Hastings, M.P,
EMBEZZLEMN,NT BY A RATE COLLECTOR AT STOUR-
BEIDGE.—Heary Yates (50), ra.te•c3llector, was
charged with emb-zzling certain moneys belonging
to the ratepayers of Scourbridge, in February. -Mr.
Godson proecuted, Mr R. H. Amphlett defended.
-Prisoner pleaded guilty, and Mr. Amphlett said
he had done so of his own aecoun:, and desired to
I throw himself upon the mercy of the Court. He
had Inen rate-collector to the mercy
Itoird of
Guardians for nearly twenty years, during which
time probably £lOO,OOO had passNl through his
hands. Until recently he had borne an exemplary
character, his books were well kept, and he had
performed his duties to the satisfaction of his au-
thorities. Latterly his duties had very much in-
creased, and whether in cons-queneo of that or not,
he had given way to drink. There was no doubt
he had committed these acts, and he desired to ex-
press to the Court his great regret and contrition.
Within a few months of this time prisoner would
have been entitled to retire, and would, without
doubt, have received from the Guardians a libera'
superannuation allowance. In ans,ver to the
ch oh man, it was stated that the pris mer's defalca-
tions amounted to £2OO, and they had been going
on for about a year. The prisoner received an ex-
cellent character.—The Chairman said thaf, taking
into c,msideratien all the circumstances, he Court
venal I pass a sentence of three months' It trd labour
only.
ATTEMPTED RAPE AT DUDLEY. Joint Holt, a
boy was ctiargod with attempting to commit a rape
upon a girl named Walker (14), on the 16th Jane.
Mr. 0, Smith prrosecuted ; Mr. Marshall l'odd de-
fended.—The jury found the prison,r guilty of an
indecent assault, and he was sentenced to three
months hard labour.
INDECENT ASSACT AT TILE LYE. Richard
Sole), (67), puddler, convicted of an indecent :assault
upon Elizabeth Parker, a ltitle girl, on the the 25th
June, was sentenced to six months' hard labour,—
Mr. Marshall Todd prosecuted.
ALLEGED INDECENT ASSAULT AT KIDDEEMINSIER.
—Edward Matthews (32), tveavcc7, char,el with in-
decently assaulting Sarah Jane Fenny, a little girl,
on the 16th June, was acquited. Mr. 0. Smith
prosecuted.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-07-05

AFTER THE MAYFLY SEASON.

There is no question that after the mayflies hay
ceased to flutter on the stream, the best of the trout
fishing season has fled. The riverside, lately so joyous
with'numerous happyfisherm en,now reminds its solitary
visitor of Bond-street at the°end of August. The
flowers have most of-them faded from the banks,
although honeysuckles and sprays of wild roses
flourish in the hedges; birds sing much less than they
did, and a darker shade has fallen upon the foliage.
-Visions of a salmon river in Ross-shire or a loch in
Sutherlandshire arise in the mind. Perhaps your
river is an early one, and if so, after the mayfly
season, it will not be of much use to fish it more.
The largest fish have been_.taken out—those cannibals
which are so destructive to a trout stream, together
with, it may be hoped, plenty of good fish early in the
year, and now it is as well to leave it till next
February. Of course, the trout would continue to
rise; here-and there fi—goodfish might still be taken,
but the cream of the angling is skimmed.
If at all careful of his stream, pastures
new should now claim the devotee of trout-fishing. If
a man will, in spite of these disabilities, try his
stream, he will find it altogether changed. The fish
have been taken at all the good eddies and pools, and
every big trout which delighted to hold its favourite
position under some big willow or by some projecting
post, where the current carried every fly past it, has
either been killed or effectuully driven from its
hover. It is true that they will soon be replaced,
but successors as yet have not come, the same process
of depletion having gone on all down the stream.
Consequently the fisherman's views are reversed. Fish
i are sporting n the currents and shallows, and there
are none in the well-known haunts. Flies have also
altered. Instead of the artificial May-fly, so cunningly
tied with bustard's feathers, gold list, yellow silk, and
every Other seductive material, the alder fly, the red
spinner, and, above all, on a dull day and every even-
ing, the coachman are de rigeur. The artificial May-
fly, indeed, is frequently very disappointing. Some-
times the fish will rise wildly at it, especiaily on a
windy day, whereas on a calm, dull day it is at times
scarcely worth using. Indeed, we have never known
it serviceable in the oveninff
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-07-05

DUDLEY.

ELECTION OF CORONER.—On Thursday, at the
Town Hall, a meeting of freeholders was held for
the purpose of electing a coroner for the borough,
in the place of Mr. Watts, deceased. The Queen's
writ having been read by order of the Under
Sherriff (Mr. Hand). the Mayor (Alderman Howat)
proposed as a nominee Mr. E. Percy Jobson. He
said he was only expressing the thoughts of the
whole town when he said that it was with mingled
feelings of regret and pleasure that ho was there
that day. There was regret for the late Mr. Watts,
and feelings of gratification that Mr. Jobson was
to be elected coroner. (Applause.) He had no
doubt but that Mr. Jobson would carry out the
duties in the careful, courteous, and gentlemanly
way he bai previously done. (Loud applause).
Alderman Garratt seconded the proposition, and
spoke highly of the late coroner and his successor.
The Under Sheriff asked for another nomination,
but none being forthcoming, he declared Mr.
Jobson duly elected. The Coroner then took the
oath, and
•in reply, thanked the freeholders for
electing him. He promiscd a faithful fulfilment of
his duties, so that he could band down his office to
his succe:sor without impairment. (Applause.)
Mr. Tilley proposed a vote of thanks to the Under
Sheriff, and Mr. Higgs seconded this. Mr. Hand
briefly acknowledged the compliment, and hoped it
would be long before he officiated in Dudley again.
(CheerF.) Mr. R. N. Hall acted as agent to the
Under Shezife,