The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-01-09 00:00:00

'ffittropotitan 6assip.

BY OUR OWN

Traarks under this head are to he regarded as the en.
~ oi iinlepoinient opinion, froth i the pcn 44 a gent lemaa
n in we have the greatest confidence, hilt for which ins
3.lre 11” W... hold oumelvea mwponaible !
The speech of the Emperor of the French to the
diplomatic body each New Year's Day has always
been looked for with eager interest, and commented
oti With a sense of its importance. Perhape this time
it has been somewhat less eagerly looked for than
rental, inaernuoll is the state of Europe, on the whole,
Is undoubtedly pacific, but the state of Turkey and
Greece has given some special interest nevertheless to
the Imperial utterances. Happily they are as pacific
as it is possible for them to be. It is in reference to
the Eastern question that be speaks of "the con-
ciliatory spirit which animates the different foreign
towers, and which permits of difficulties as they arise
being removed," Throughout Great Britain one
remark of the Emperor's, at least, will be echoed with
hearty god-sill. "I hope," he says, "that the-year
Imo, like IStki, will remove alarms and consolidate
petee, which is so necessary to the civilised world."
Of course this is vague and general in its tone, but at
least it it plain in its tendency. The Emperor must
he a thoriovh hypoevite, which be is not, if he do not
desire lit-ale', and fir hint to desire this, and say as
much, is to do much towards securing it.

There is a general expectation that the new Govern-
ment will devote its attention to a reduction of the
national burdens, and certainly relief in this direction
weulki not come a day too soon. The Revenue returns
and the Board of Trade returns, both loudly suggest a
reduction of taxation. With seventy-two ntillions of
national taxation, and with heavy burdens in the shape
of local rates, it is high time that some of these
pecuniary inflictions were lessened. Great expectations
are indulged in that a boon of this kind will be con-
ferred on the country, and the presence of such men
as Mr. Crladstme, Mr. Bright, Mr. Lowe, Mr.
Childers, Mr. Stansfeld, and Mr. Forster in the
Government, seems to give foundation for these hopes.
A very great deal of the popularity of the present
Ministry will depend on the Budget which Mr. Lowe,
for the first time, will bring forward. Some hundreds
of people have, perhaps, made the naturally suggested
joke that we shall have Lowe estimates. Shall we
have a reduction of the income tax? Many persons
lay the flattering unction to their souls. May those
who expect the most be the least disappointed. At
all events, I think we may reasonably expect some
reductions in army, navy, and ordnance estimates.
But less income-tax? Ah, no !
Most people will remember that Mr. Goschen, the
sit w President cif the Poor Law Board, not long ago
stated that pauperism in London had increased 29
per cent, within the last two years, but now
we happily have a statement which leads LIB
to hope that this gentleman was mistaken. The
statistics of the number of paupers in the London
workhouses on Christmas day show that, with
the exception of two of them, there was a diminution
of paupers, as compared with last year, the largest
diminution being in the Eastern districts, where pau-
perism ne ist abounds. Perhaps the new President
w ill turn his attention to a matter that has hitherto
wskeived too little, and which affects the Poor
Law unions throughout the country, it is the mal-
administration of the enormous funds raised for the
relief of the poor. If all the money that is raised for
flu ir relief were to be devoted to that purpose, the
class only just able to keep themselves above pauper-
ism might be relieved from part of their heavy burdens.
The follies of fashion are perhaps shown in nothing more
remarkablythan in the present fashion with the ladies of
dyeing their hair, which is already of aged colour, and
Ime which suits their complexion. Oneof our journals,
calling attentien to the mania for hair-dyeing, says that
cases are known in which children are taken by their
wicked, weak, and foolish mothers to be dyed, and
where whole families Haunt their stained locks in
unison. "Her hair is a woman's glory," says an old
poet, but it would now seem that it is also her shame,
or at least, that she is ashamed of it. I suppose that
lovers now, as they used to do, ask their ladies, fair or
dark, as the case may be, for a lock of their hair; but
can a lover now-a-days be certain that it is the lady's
hair? Slekkspeare speaks of a lover writing a sonnet to
his nasty cs's eyebrow, but at the present day, if a
sighing lover were to do such a thing, he ought to in-
clude praises of the virtues of somebody's hair-dye.
But where can Paterfamilias be to allow his children's
hair to he dyed? Such violence to nature is, in the case
~f artless, innocent children, positive cruelty, and deer.
'Tan en to nature. A great responsibility rests on
those who ore to a greater and less extent, leaders 0
fashi.m, owl it is their imperative duty to discourage
this o, te.table practice ; but who is to lead these

It wristiitcl some time ago that the vacancy of
d'ldi•l • mii1111.4470 Pllur of Police was not to be filled up
:it msisent, awl it was understood that some important
moOiro Hons were to be made in the entire police
iris; but the I hone Secretary, it is now stated, has
:printed Captain Labalmoniliere, hitherto Assistant
ti the Commissionership, pending the
elioice of Sir 'Richard Mayne's successor. The Govern-
sent, perhaps, at this very time are cogitating on the
reo oa of the metropolitan police force. Of
course, it must have a head, whatever he be called,
bna if tbe lb S,rotnry jelys much attention to the
plentiful Ravi,: that is offered to him, be must
r.tber puzzled how to sit. Lengthy descriptions of
he of man we want itight ni t tit have been given,
Int nolssly seems to know exactly what shied,' be the
rill:dine:Oh ins of the man we imoht to have. That
isdice reform is needed is, I think, beyond all ques-
thm, but about the greatest reform, in my opinion,
would be the placing of the whole of the metropolis
under one body of yolice, or, in other words, amalga-
mating the City and Metropiditan forces. Surely we
hove now a Government strong enough to effect this
reform.

The turf is certainly falling on evil days, or evil days
are falling on the turf, for one great patron after
another is giving up his stud. It is now announced
that the Duke of Hamilton has decided on breaking up
his training establishment. This is another heavy
blow and st. we discouragement to horse-racing, and no
one who has watched the history of the turf for the
last year or two can be surprised at it. But what is to
de its fate if honourable noblemen and gentlemen,
,:luhtly disgusted with the doings in the betting-
, the wahles, and on the turf, withdraw their
patronage from. horse-racing? The natural reply is
that it must sink lower.

Creat attention is just now being paid to the be
us des of preserving meat for exportation from South
A cica awl Auntralia to England. Our Government
officially isssivist a copy of a decree by the Ar-
. .

atine Mverument, offering a reward of 1:1.600 to
ti • " iovenb.r or introducer of the best method of
',reser%ii. meat." This will in itself be a great im-
petus to experiments, and a discovery of the utmost
importance will perhaps be the result. Large quan-
tities of preserved beef and mutton are now being sent
to us from Australia, in immense tanks, the meat
being kept from air by fat in a boiling state being
poured over it. This effectually preserves the meat
in a fresh condition, hut it gives it a flavour which is
fatal to its me by this who can get ordinary fresh
meat. I wish all success nevestheless, to the company
that is supplying us with this much-needed provision,
for .f this preserved meat is imported on a large scale
it will infallibly tend tri cheapen our home supply, a
consummation most de routly to be wished.

Almost every important trade has its representa-
tive journal, but hitherto the shoemakers, or boot-
makers, or whatever is the generic term, has been
without an organ in the press. Now, however, St.
Crixpin appears. All success to it if it be well con-
du.ted. Cobbett said that the trade of shoemaker
minds, among its members more men of sense and
public spirit than any other trade, but this is a
sweeping aasertion which it would be very difficult to
prove. Undoubtedly from thin trade have risen many,
very many, eminent nun. I could mention a dozen or
two fnass memory, but as the reader could probably do
the same I will not bore him, Were I in an ill-natured
frame of mind, I might say that the trade ought to
produce many men who gain eminence in literature,
the arts, or sciences, seeing that they ars no stupid as
bootinakem When will any courageous boitmaker
dare it, make loots more tO the shape of the foot than
now . Whrit h ill they cease to make those narniw,
pi:Med, absurditiea which render
walking agonising for the first few days of wearing?
Anil when will they cease to tell Us, with niocking
,dja,s, that if we wear them for a few days they will
"ire ii to the foot?" Yes, but what about the agony
mesntime? As to sine ladies' hoots, they are almost
no absurd as those of the l'hinese ladies, awl apparently
are as little intended for walking. St. Crispin, I fear,
will not dare to inaugurate a reform in this matter.

Dr:ATII OF A WATERLOO MA.—On Saturday
evening an inquest was held at the Union workhouse,
Swansea, to inquire into the death of one of the in-
mates, named Johnathan Thomas, who, on the night
previous, fell down a flight of steps and was killed.
The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death."
The deceased WAR Ki years of age, and was formerly a
colour-sergeant in the 23rd Regiment (Royal Welsh
Fusiliers), having (might at Waterloo, when his gallant
regiment was so fearfully decimated. It is somewhat
remarkable that there was another Waterloo veteran
at the inquest, named Collier, who was formerly school-
master at Swansea Union, and formed one of the jury
on Saturday to inquire into the cause of the death of
aged comrade n arms.ll

DREADFUL MURDER IN TIPPERARY.

On the last day of the old year Mr. Baker, a gentleman In
the prime of life, son of the Rev. George Cole Baker, owner
of the Ballydavid estate, near the village of Bansha,
Tipperary, whilst walking in the grounds, was shot through
the head. The facts are of a remarkable character, as the
°Bowing outline will show—
The I
settled •

Rev. M. Baker, now an old man, resides in
Ivid House, near Bandit'. A few years ago he
upon his son an income of £2OO a year during
hisl. father's) lifetime; and to secure this to him he
let him a portion of the Ballydavid property at such a
rent as would ensure him the stipulate income. Mr.
Raker, jun., married soon afterwards his cousin, and
with her resided at Ballydavid Wood House. His
portion of the property has been to a considerable
extent occupied by small farmers without leases;
and, the land being good and well cultivated, the
tenants have, considering the extent of their holdings,
been well to do.
Amongst the tenants are two brothers, named Thomas
and William Dwyer, who hold contiguous farms ; the
former having only twelve acres from Mr. Baker, with
a few acres from some adjoining proprietor, and the
other having a larger farm of forty acres. The two
brothers appear to have had frequent quarrels about
trifling matters, and amongst these causes of disagree-
ment was an alleged right of way which Thomas claimed
through a bareen on William's farm. Repeated efforts
had been made by Mr. Baker and his father to ter-
minate these petty disputes, and it was suggested to
Thomas by his landlord that he had better make a pas-
sage for himself through his own land to the high road ;
but this he refused to do. It is said that in conse-
quence of tins obstinacy and wrongheadedness of
Thomas Dwyer, Mr. Baker determines! to eject him ; a
notice of ejectment was served upon him, which stood
for trial at the Cashel quarter sessions for Monday, the
4th inst.
More than once since service was effected on him
Thomas Dwyer has called on the late Mr. Baker and
pleaded with him to withdraw the writ. On Wednes-
day morning, the day prior to the murder, he had a
private conversation with the deceased. These cir-
cumstances have all combined to attach suspicion to
Dwyer, who is at present in custody. It appears
from the evidence given at the inquest, that the late
Mr. Baker was a gentleman of early habits, and was
known to walk out every morning, from his own house
in Ballydavid Wood to that of his father, a couple of
miles distant, Ballyclavid Wood House in situate
within the verge of a wood v hich partly occupies the
valley, and runs up a good part of the side cf the
nearest mountain. The locality is extremely interest-
ing, and rather difficult to penetrate. A long tortuous
avenue leads from the high road near the Ballydavid
police station, between high hedges' partly through
the road, to the house. Down this avenue Mr.
Baker was crossing on Thursday morning when he re-
ceived his death wound. He left the house about half-
past six o'clock, and was never seen alive afterwards.
A woman named Jane Bearden, who does domestic
work at the police station, lives in the immediate
neighbourhood of Mr. Baker's house. About a quarter
to seven o'clock that morning, when in bed, she heard
two shots fired in rapid succession. She did not, how-
ever, attach any importance to the circumstance, and
in a few minutes afterwards dressed herself and came
out, intending to co to the police barrack to begin her
work. She had rase through Mr. Baker's back-yard
to get to the barrack; and when she reached the gate
leading out on tbe avenue she found Mr. Baker lying
dead on the path, over which his blood and brains
were scattered extensively, while his head was fear-
fully crushed and disfigured. At a little distance was
his .hat (a round felt), which, on examination was
found much broken, with a hole, as if occasioned by a
small bullet or slug, through the brim, close to the
body of the hat. She at once raised an alarm. The
remains of the murdered gentleman were conveyed in-
doors, and the most heartrending distress was occas
sioned to his amiable lady and young family.
The police, on being informed of the outrage, scoured
the wood and surrounding country with much prompti-
tude and activity, parties being sent in different
directions. The conclusion arrived at which bore
most appearance of probability was that the assassin
or assassins concealed themselves in an angle formed
by two intersecting hedges on the left hand of the
avenue, and resting the gun upon the ditch, which is
there about five feet high, tired at the unhappy gentle-
man as he came down the path. It is concluded that
he must have been much beaten about the head when
shown, to account for the after appearances; and that a
convenient retreat was then open for his assailant or
assailants through the wood, up the mountain. Con-
stable Purcell and party went at once to the house of
Thomas Dwyer, and there arrested his eldest son, also
named Thomas. The father was then absent; and it
was ascertained that he slept at Bansha the preceding
night, and was seen in the town of Tipperary early on
Thursday. All the menibers of his family were brought
to the Ballydav id station for examination; and on the
way the old man was met near the river, crossing the
fields from the direction of Tipperary. He was at
once taken into custody and conveyed with the others
to the r.solice-station.
The inquiry before the coroner took place on Friday,
but no evidence was adduced tending directly to the
inculpation of anyone, and the jury returned a verdict
of "Wilful murder against some person or persons
unknown."

The reporter of the Cork Examiner, writing from
Bansha on Thursday night, says
The melancholy occurrence has excited mingled feelings.
Those residing in the immediate neighbourhood, who knew
the murdered gentleman and esteemed his good I inalities,
feel indignant at the outrage but in more remote I..ealities,
even in the adjacent town of Tipperary. the first announce-
ment f the insider was received by many with an expression
of satisfaction at the doom of `• an 3ther tyrant landlord."
One circumstance which has pointed suspicion toward
Thomas Dwyer as the probable assassin is that he visited
Mr. Baker yesterday, with the object of inducing him to
withdraw the ejectment, but failed hi doing so. The elder
prixoner has a son and dangher in Atnerici, and hai two
sons and three daughters at home. .N othing was found
upon either of the prisoners—who are pennants of ordinary
appearance—or in their house to create additional suspicion
' them.

It appears that a letter signed "A Farmer," appeared
in the Tipperary Free Press of the 22nd ult., attacking
the Baker family. The letter stated that Christmas
was being made "an unhappy one from the operation
of the blood-stained laws of Ireland" :

"The Bakerg are oat ' strike '—the joke is a grim one,
but it is true Eject processes, the dread of the teminti-at-
will, are coming into operation at the suit of Mr. Geor;ze
Cole Baker. .1 P., of liallydavid. A tenant named Thomas
i.Twier, payin.4 425 per 3111111111 rent, has been served with
such:, document. Ills rent was increased ss. per acre last
November, nut sooner than unit Go old home in which his
father and grandfather were born he agreed to pay the ad-
. 111,0. The rent was paid up in full, Dwyer being rut honest
and industrious man, as are his wife and children ; and at the
next Cashel tniart,r Sessions the presiding justices will be
asked, and nnist, doubtless, issue the deeree, tn hurl hinisclf
• mid his family not I,n the highway—in point f fact, to ruin
him and his aeenntino to lam Since the service was effected
on him, Dwyer went to Mr. Baker, and asked him in God's
nanie what lie meant by such a proceeding his home
the home of his fathers ; he was a good tenant ; had paid his '
rent ; would li. anything to please his' honour '—all in vain.
'Twas as if addressed to the shrieking wind. Dwyer must
leave Ida homestead. This following snit to the work of a
few years past, when several respectable families were sent
forth to wander from this estate. The manner in which
John Keating° was improved off the property, from his home
too cabin, and from that to the roadside—the maddened
man cut his throat, recovered. and is since a lunatic. But
then—he was ioily a tenant farmer. The Rev. Mr. Baker now
farms the land, with that adjoining from which the widow was
evicted—a solvent tenant who paid £3 per acre. The Rev.
Mr. Baker is a Protestant clergyman, his son a Justice of the
Peace—Church and State—God help u,.—Tours