The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-06-11 00:00:00

LOCAL WILL CASE.
BEFORE LORD PENZANCE,
7TH JUNE, 1870.

COOKE L. HOPKIAS AND ANOTHER.

This was a suit instituted by Mr. John Cooke,
of Norton, near Stourbridge„ gentleman, Exe.
outer of the will of the late Miss Elizabeth
napkins, who up to tht. time of her death, which
happened on the 30th April, 1.868, resided at the
in the parish of Oidawthford, to admit ti•
Probate the draft of deceased's will, dated 3ru
.sagust, 1567; the original of which could not
Je found.

Spinks Q.C., and Mr. Pritchard, (in.
Atructed by Mt s,rs. Bernard and King), up.
peared furylitintiti.
- .

TILe defeudents were not represented by
Counsel, as they did not contest the will.
. . _

. • .
Evidence was given by Mr. Bernard and hi,
c:eik Waterman), as to the preparation and
..xeuutiou of toe will, awl by Dr. Wood, of
Shrewsbury, an intimate friend of Testratrix's
who was staying at the Firs nine days previous
to her decease, as to a conversation Testratrie
odd with hioi about her will, which she informed
him was prepared by Messrs. Bernard autiliing,
and sbe requested him to write and inform one
of the legatees named Mrs. lienery, who re.
sided in Amtrica, that she was provided for
by her will, which he accordingly did.
Mrs. Griffin, a nurse, who was constantly with
Testratrie for the last 6 days of her life, also
gave evidence showing that TestratriX Was in
too feeble a state to have torn any document
with her own hands, and that reetratrix never
alluded in any way to her will, or to her affairs
at all.

His Lords Lip without hearing ang further evi-
dence admitted to Probate the of the will.

THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE STEW
PONKY BECHER CLUB AND
ALLOTMENT SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of the Stewponey Becher
Club and Allotment Society was held at the
Foley Arms, oil Tin atlay hit. A number of the
members met in the morning, and proceeded to
ninver Church, headed by the Brierley Hiii
Volunteer Band. A sermon was preached by
the Rev. G. D. Doyle, vicar of St. Mary's, Kid-
derminster. The service being concluded, tin
members re-formed themselves, and marchea
hack to the Stewponey Hotel, when they assetn•
Wed on the Green ; the cindr being occupied by
.1. H. lo:ey, Esq., in the absence of Lord L) t-
teflon (the President). There were also present
Rev. R. P. Turner, Rev. Hale, Rev. G. D.
Boyle, Rev. J. Hodgson, B. William, I:sq.,

Os rising, Mr. Foley said the first business
was to read the Trustees' Report, which had al.
ready been printed and circulated, and to read
the supple:ointary report, which has not yet
been appended; and called upon Mr. John Tay-
lor, the secretary to read thew. They were as
follows:
TWENTY-EIGHTH REPORT OF THE STEW.
POSEY BECHER CLUE, 1569.

Daring the put year 81 male members and twe
females have entered the club Eleven male members
end one female member have been erased for con.p,y.
went. ()ye mete member has died and one Ilea sold hre,
usslranre to the club owing to his leaving the country.
The number of benefit members in the club is now
249 (honed an increase of DlG...teen since last year;)
namely. 2;4 males. arid 25 females; which. with 40 hon-
orary ine-mbers, makes a general total of 289.
AM.Mg the benefit members 27 have received sick pay.
The pi.) ments for sickuesa amount to £67 15, 23, and the
money received from the members on this account ha,
been £129 3s 513. The balance in hand on the sick fund
amounts to £.598 13, Md.
The balance in hand on account of the burial fund i.
£547 4n 10111. Five members here received from the
annuity fund £39 14s. The balance on that fund now
amounting so £2 831 3. 213. The expenses of the nun
diary fund ho, b in 646 7, 91. leaving a balance
hand rif 4.31.1.'
lie halanee in hand On tit'iirnefi. account 14 £4,993
6.811. be,ns au increase of £327 6.811. since last year.
and is the largest balauce ever reported as belonguig to
tie eaten

The members will observe, with satisfaction, that the
auxiliary fund, es we last year anticipated, iv now vie-or:
haYieg a small balance (as 3id) in bend.
The number of annuitants is five, increased since the 1
date of this report to six, and the club is now paying One
Pound per week.
The interest last year was .£l7O 2s.
It is needless to remark on the highly sstisfactory
eharacter of this statemeot, and the trustees have only
to coogratalate the members upon it, and to hope that
the report will be even more so in future.
In some of the reeent reports on the employment of
wemen and children in agriculture, some observations
1 are to be found about Friendly Societies. The Corn-
-1 toie•ioners speak with approval of such a society founded
In Osfordebire, be Captain Dash.loo6 la the "Appendix
Pert 11, to the Sod Report, page 359, that gentleman
lays down certain roles for such societies, of Which the
followina lath.. substance :-
I.—That they be not held at inns.
2.—That the nuiaber of the benefit members be about
150.
3.—That they be wholly managed by the benefit mem-
ber..
That there be • quinquennial revision of funds. !
and either division of surplus or rattling of the scale if
found requisite by etperieneo.
s.—That the tables include several slimes, with pay- •
meets ranging according to age.
6.—That members be allowed to choose different medi-
cal officers if they like.
7 —That there be • benevolent or auxiliary fund.
The membera will be Riad to perceive that all the more
important of these rules are in force in the Stewponey
Becher Club.
The trustees however think that 150 is a needlessly
low number of members, nor do they think that in a
moderately•eized district • limitation need be placed on
the number.
The sixth rule bits not, so terse the Committee know,
been called for by the members. With regard to the
third rule the truAree and committee have never seen
reason to think that the absolute confinement of the
management to the benefit members is desirable, or
w ild be et all popular with those members themselves ;
though they are aware that it hi. often been recommended
on good aethority. They have hitherto been content
with their present practice, by which a eubetantial infu-
sion of benefit members into the management is secured.
laded If such mem .ere would attend the committee,
even in Mali numbers, they would form a majority, and
the committee only regret that they do not attend more
than they do.
The trustees have observed, with interest, that the
Government hail indicated some intention of legislating
so as to give even greater security to the funds of bene-
fit societies than they now poesess. They do not doubt
that something might advantageously be done in this
direction, and they trust that the subject will not be lust
-wit of in Parliament, provided that nothing be done to
interfere with adequate freedom of local management.
SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT TO WRIT•TUESDAY