The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-03-23 00:00:00

TUE STOTTIMIIIDGE 013SERVE1L

pany consenting to such alterations being made
in the ;a.id. Bill as the said committee may consider
desirable."

The resolutions passed by the Commissioners
on Monday, with regard to opposing certain sec-
tions of the above Bill, will, we understand, have
to be ratified by a meeting of the ratepayers
before they are effective, so far as the expenditure
of money goes. The closing of Foster Street is a
great grievance with the inhabitants generally,
from the way in which it will cut off communica-
tion with one important part of the neighbour-
hood. Under the powers the Great Western
Company possess for the construction of the
branch into the town they are authorised to close
this street, but are required to provide either a
sub-way or bridge for foot traffic. This was in
itself unsatisfactory enough; but in their DU
new befcre Parliament, the company go further,
and want to get rid of the obligation to provide
either foot, bridge, or sub-way. The o•-ten.sible
reason for this is, no doubt, that they an eon-
structiing a bridge for wheel and foot traffic near
St. fohn's Vicarage; but, as local readers are
well aware, this will be a tortuous and most in-
convenient substitute for the road they are taking
away. The Commissioners will seek to keep the
company to their bargain, to make provision for
foot traffic through Foster Street, and they will
also endeavour to obtain a bridge in Angel Street,
which is now closed by the railway company.
Surprise ia expressed that the company were
allowed to obtain, unopposed, the right to close
the streets named. The present opposition of the
Commissioners will not enable them to recover the
ground lost, but it goes to the preventing, if
possible. the railway company taking further
liberties with the right of way through the east
side of the town. The railway company are, inter
aiia, seeking an extension of time for replacing
Sta,mber Mill Viaduct with a. more substantial
structure, arrl in this point also they will be
opposed by the Commbsioners. The important
reports of the Government Inspector upon the
viaduct will not have been forgotten by the pub-
lic, and it will be a strong argument against any
further delay in the matter.

SILE OF PROPIRTY.--A. sale of property and
land was held oa Monday night last at Mr
Kelly's, New Inn, Euville Street. Messrs.
Rollinson and Beckley were the auctioneers. The
first lot consisting of two houses was started at
.2100 and knocked down to Mr. Joseph Hill for
-el5O. Lot 2 consisted of land in Dunbar Street,
Wordaley, but did not realize the reserve and was
net sold. Lots 3 and 4 consisting of a villa resi-
donee and laud at Wollastoa was withdrawn from
the sale, the highest bid. being £3OO. A second
sale then took place, the first lot consisting of a
grocer's shop and dwelling-house, situate in King
Wiltiam street. It was started at £lOO and after
some spirited bidding was knocked down to Mr.
lose,ph Hill for the sum of ..,e215. Lot 2 consist-
ing of five dweding-houses were withdrawn from
the sale, the highest bidding being £375. Mr. J.
W. Parkes was the solicitor for the vendor for
the last two lots, and Mr. I'. Wall, solicitor, for
the first two lots, and Messrs. Cipuld and Elcock,
solicitors, for the last three.

FOOTBALL.-•-••STOURBRIDOB V. HANDSWORTH.—
The return match between the above clubs was
played on the ground at Ainblecote on. Saturday
last, and wai one of the finest and best contested
matches that has been played during the season,
both teams played strong. For the firs 4 half-time
the home team had the best of the plty, Punn
succeeded in making a try for Stoarbridge, but
as the ball was not brought out in line with tne
goal post and the usaal mark not made the try
was not allowed and no advantage was gained
the first half-time. Both clubs then appeared to
pull themselves together and some fine play was
shown by Messrs. Trotter, Jefferies, Clulee, C.
Davis, A. Plant, and Brown when Trott,r suc-
ceeded in getting a try for the home ream aini4
great cheering. Messrs. Moore, G. Plant, Batter,
and others showed some fine play. The resuit
of the game was a win for the home team by one
try and two touchdowns to one touchdown for
Handsworth.

THEATRE ROYAL—This popular place of amuse-
ment has been doing a fair share of business Billet,
its re-opening by Mr. Jennings. On Monday
night the company performed the "Old Toll
liou4e," a beau mint drama in which Mr. Georg,-
Neison well sasta,ind the characzer of lichar I
Braxbourne and was well ssipported by the other
characters of the company. On Tuesday evening
the piece selected was "River, Road, Rail" on
which occasion Mr. George Nelson took the part
of Suorky ; Mr. A. Clifford, Ray Trafford; and
~‘l.rs. Julia 'Jennings, Laura Courtlancl. On
Wednesday evening for the first time in Stour-
bridge was produced an entire new drama in
three acts, entitled "Linda, the Pearl of Savoy,"
wnich character was ably performed by Mrs. Julia
Jennings who frequently received bursts of
applause. Last night was produced the now play
in three acts and prologue, entitled "The New
atagdalen." There was a very respectable.
-sembiy and the various parts allotted to each
porforrner were well sustained. The whole
4itair is tinier- the able oaaaagement of Mr. A.
Cliderd.

DRUNK AND DiBORDERLY.-At the Police Court,
on Monday, before Mr. It. L. Freer, James Bar-
t, laiJoue:, was charged with being drunk and
diAoruerly iu Eaville 6treet, on Sunday last.—
Volie•sergeant Jones proved the offence and de-
fendant was tined 5s and costs; in default 7 days'
imprisonment.
ANOTHER DRUNK AND D,ISOREERLY.—At the
Police Court, on Tuesday, before Mr. It. L. Freer,
Charles John Corragan was charged with being
drunk and disorderly, on the 17th inst.—Police-
sergeant Jones proved the case and defendant
was fined 5s and costs; in default 7 days' im-
prisonment. _

- A DRUNKZN WOMAN.—Mary Patey was charged
with being drunk and disorderly, on the 17th
iust.—Police-coustable Eaves proved the case and
gaid the def. uiaut was vQry vioient.—Fined 6,
and costs; in default 14 days' imprisonment with
hard labour.

SUPPOSED CHILD MURDER, AT OLDSVVINFOED.—
Considerable excitement has been manifested in
the neighbourho..al during the past week in con-
sequence of toe dead baiy of a female clued hav-
ing been found in a cistern at the house of Charles
Hill, boiler maker, New street, Oidswieford on
Friday last, the /sth inst. On Wednesday after-
noon Emma Hill (26), daughter of Charlei Hill,
was charged before Mr. R. L. Freer at the Po.ice
Court witia wilfully murderine• a female child and
with concealing its birth.—Dr. Bayley deposed
that he was of opinion that she had given birth to
a child recently, and after hearing the- circum-
stances of the lindiug of the bedy err. Freer re-
nanded the prisoner till yesterday.—The inquest
on tua body was opeued on.Thured m.,raiug
.at
the house of Joan Davi,e'the Swat inn, Oldswiu
befo:e li. Doeker, Esq., coroner. 'the
first witness called was Juen Davis, jun.. who said
he was the son of John Davie and heed at the
swan Inn. On the 15th inst, a!-,out two o'clock
he had occasion to go to the Lone of Cnarles Hill
who resides in New Street, Oldswinford. The
reason he went there was to take some gooseberry
and currant trees to Chaeles Hill. lie went to
the cistern and saw the top of it was rotten,
opened it out of curiosity an saw a bundie at the
top of the cistern in some stagnant water. The
bundle was floating on the top and there was
auout eighteen inches of water in the cistern.
Charles Lille, jun., then came up and he left and
did not thins any more about it.—Charles Joseph
Hill deposed that he lived in New Street with his
father. Lie was with John Davis the last witm.ss
about two o'clock on Friday last at his father's
nouse. At that time a bundle was discovered
dusting at the top of the water cistern and the
bundle was not then touched. About four o'clock
no asked his sister if she had thrown,anything
into the cistern and she said she had not. He
then sent for Mrs. Shilvock and all three of them
got it out together. Witness opened the bundle
which was tied outeide in a knot and it appeared
to Co a piece of calico. On looking at it he saw
a child's lace and he then saw the body of a
child. Ile left the body with Mr. Shilvock while
he went to tell Police-constable Woodhall and he
saw Woodhall's wife and she said her husband
was not at home.. Be then went to Stourbridge
to give information to the police and he saw
Ponce-constable Williams and told him. On re-
turning home he met Police-constable Woodhall
in pe.ses.sion of the c ild.—By the Foreman: I
11:ni no -eicion at the time that it was a child.
1 thwq, it was only a build.c of ra!;s.—Ainclia
Shilyoe- deposed that she lived in Field Lane.
About foot o clock she went in company with the
laet two witnesses to 4.;ha,rles Hill's house and
saw a bundle in the cistern which was got out in
her presence and she helped to open the bundle
which contained the body of a child. She re-
mained with the body until it was taken charge of
by Police-constable Woodhall and no one touched
it while Charles Hill was away.—Police-comitable
-Woodhall deposed that he was stationed at Old-
swinford. 9: little after four o'clock on Friday
last he went to Hill's house and saw a bundle
containing the body of a child. The bundle was
in charge of Mrs. Shilvock until he took it. He
then took possession of it and took it to the Swan
inn and locked the room door. He gave informa-
tion to I-Police-sergeant Junes and afterwards to
De. 13ayley. Tue body teat the jury had viewed
that day was the same body he had possession of
and in the same, state that Police-sergeant Janes
sae, it.—Robert Luther 13ailey, surgeon,- depoed
that 1.0 64.'4 the uo.ly of the child iu question about
ludo on Saturday morning last in company
with SuperinWiaawat Freamam, Poliee-Nergetiat

- Tones, and Police-constable Woodhall. The
body was enveloped in a quantity of dirty rags
composed of cotton prints which appeared to have
been tied by the corner of the rags. He found
the leody of a full grown female child fully
developed and newly-born and over the average
size. The length from head to foot was twenty-
one inches. The -body had been washed and
there werl rags over the face of the child and
pulled tight which caused the nose to be consider-
ably flattened. There were no other injuries
about the body. The skin was dark from being
in the water so long and must have been in
more than a week. In answer to the Coroner
witness said the body must have been in the
water from ten to fifteen days. He judged by the
general appearance of the body. On Saturday
evening he opened the body in the presence of Mr.
Coasham, surgeen at the Dispensary. On opening
the chest the lungs were both full and expanded
with bright vermillion colour which would be so
after the child had breathed. The lungs were
then removed attached to the heart and was
placed in water and floated well. There was no
obstruction in the lungs and they were healthy.
The cavity of the heart was empty and was in a
natural condition. The *stomach was empty and
there was no trace of any food whatever. All the
contents of the abdomen were healthy and he had
no doubt the child was born alive and lived some
trim The lungs were fully inflated but he could
not say positively the time the child lived, but he
should say thirty minutes. He next examined the
head and found it healthy and he believed the
child died from want of nourishment. There was •
no indication of any iujury whatever, internal nor
external. By the Foreman: There were no signs
of a string being round the neck. If there had
been he must have seen it. Thee.° was nothing
outside the body to cause death. I have no doubt
the flattening of the nose was caused after death.
Had it been done while living there would have
been symptoms of suffocation. At the birth of
the child it did not have proper nourishment.—
:dr. Docker said he did not propose closing the
inquest on this occasion. No doubt further evi-
dence will be obtained and the further inquiry
was then adjourned until Thursday next.—Emma
Hill was again brought up before a full Bench of
Magistrates yesterday, charged with concealing
tho birth of a female child at Oldswinford.—
Superintendent Freeman said that an inquest had
been held on the body on Thursday. After hear-
ing certain evidence the further enquiry was ad-
journed until next Thursday and he asked for the
prisoner to be remanded until next Friday.—
Colonel Fletcher asked the prisoner if she had any
objection to a remand and she said in a firm clear
voice that she had no objection. Prisoner was
then remanded until Friday next.
CRUELTY TO A Hou,3E.—At the Police Court,
yesterday, before Colonel Fletcher, Messrs. C. R
Noel, F. Fvers. and R. L. Freer, John Nock was
charged with cruelty to a horse, on the 15th just,
by flogging it with a whip, at Oldswinford,—
Police-constable Davis proved the case.—Defend-
ant admitted striking the horse.--. Withdrawn on
payment of costs.
CHARGE OF DRUNICENNESS.—JOSeph Howles, of
the Lye, was charged with being drunk, at Clent,
on the 17th- inst. Police-constable Wallace
proved the case.—Fined 2s 6d and costs.—Richard
Tremens was also charged with being drunk, at
Clent, on the 17th inst.—Police-constable Wallace
proved the case.—Defendant did not appear and
he was fined 5s and costs; in default 7 days' im-
prisonment.
CHARGE OF CRUELTY.—John A. Stanley was
Charged with allowing a horse to work, on the
18th met, at Oldswinford.—lnspector Doorbar
s Lid he saw the horse in question and it had a
raw wound on the shoulder and it was a little
Blakeway proved that the horse was a
tiLtle lame but did it not untit him for work. There
was a raw wound on the shoulder and it was unfit
for work. He should say the wound had been
there for a week.—Mr. Roskell, for the defence,
said that Mr Stanley was from home at the time
aad he knew nothing about it and he asked the
Bench to be lenient.—Defendant was fined Sc and
costs.

GAME ruzspAss.—Thomas George Morris was
charged with using a gun, on the 19th just, for
We purpose of killing partridges.-Ir. Holberton
def,nded.. —George Steel, gamekeeper, proved that
lie 59W the defendant shoot and as he shot a
brace f partri 12,%; got up on ground belonging
to 11r. Swiad-li. tie accused tue defendant of
shooting and in reply he said he only shot at a
sparrow.—Mr. Holberton addressed the Bench
for the defence and denied that the-defendant
shot at the partridge and called Alfrod Paynton,
who said he was with the defendant. He shot
at a sparrow and a partridge did not get up.—The
Bench said there was a doubt in their minds and
according to their usual custom they should give
the defendant the benefit of it and discharged him
with a caution.

CHARGE OF CRUELTY TO A. HORSE.—Frederick
Powell, a butcher, residing at Oldswinford, was
charged with cruelty to a horse, at Chawnhill by
leaving it out nights after being clipped. Inspector
Doorbar proved the case and said the society did
not wish to press the case.--Defendant admitted
the horse was out at night.—Withdrawn on pay-
ment of costs.

THE SKATING RINE. - On reference to our
advertising columns on the first page it will be seen
that the first entertainment given by the Stour-
bridge Juvenile Amateur Skaters will take place
at the above popular rink on Tuesday evening
next. We beg to call the especial attention of
our readers to this coshme skating performance
as in the first place it is given by the sons of resi-
dents in the town, who are well known, and in the
second place the ability displayed by the boys will
surpass anything of the kind that has as yet been
brought before the public of Stourbridge. The
boys have been well trained by Messrs. Lowry and
Pearson and under such able tuition they will no
doubt prove a credit to themselves and their in-
structors. The price of admission (6d) will not be
altered and under the circumstances the first per-
formance of the boys will be extensively patronised
The rink has been largely attended during the
week, and on Wednesday evening Mr. Thistlewood
went thr,,ugh a very clever and graceful entertain-
Lnent.

BOARD OF GUARDIANS.—The usual weekly
.neetmg or this Board was held yesterday; Mr.
drauger in the chair. There were also present
Alessrs. if. Biiiingham, liaybould, Hingley,.
G-rilfiths, Thompson, Wood, Hale, J. Billinghain,
Baker, Wright. Fiddian,
Lavender, Haskew, Kelley, Guest, and Smith.
Admitted, 2l; discharged, 27; dead, 1 ;
448; corresponding week last year, 357.- Out-
door relief, Kingswinford District, £24 Os Od;
Stourbridge District, £lB 5s 21; Halesowen
District, .tiB 3s Od; non-resident paupers, 9s 4d;
total, £0 173 6d; against, £62 lOs 3d last
year. •l'Uo usual quarterly contracts were entered
jute.

charge was utterly untrue; he hed never used the name
of Chance Brothers, or had an invoice in their name.
The primer then called a witness to show that he had
taken the wire miaa in his own name.—Prisoner was
committed t 3 the SeAgions.

EXTasvJ- aai,uns PROM RAILWAY COMPANIIie3,
John Pars..ins (3l), engiiie-tenter, Glasshouse Entry,
Samuel tiambl,tt (30), engine-tenter, Puppy Green,
Tipton. were charged with stealing an overeoat, belong-
iog to the London and North-Western Railway Com-
pany; with stealing a horse-rug, belonging to J. E.
Whitmore, Dwiley ; with stealing one gnu, two tins of
lard, one chest of tea, a vest, a pair of trousers, and
other articles, belonging to George Bishop and the
Great Western Railway Company and the Midland Rail-
way Company. The charges were seven in number.—
Mr. Lawrence (Wolverhampton) prosecuted for the
Great Western Railway Company.—Many witnesva
were called, ani Parsons was committed to the Sessions
on all charges, and Hamblett on the charge of stealing
a gun.