The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-01-28 00:00:00

ji,lollbOlt orresponbtut.
11We Lteem It rlt to tat that we do not at all times
aurselrea'with our correspondent's opinions.J

Resent events on the fair soil of unhappy France
tend to stow that her chances or success in this sad
war are shadowy indeed. G: neral Bourbaki, who had
struggled noEy and desperattly to raise the siege of
Betfort, has disastrously failed; General Faidherbe
In another quarter has been forced to retreat; and
three two momentous failures, added t the previous
defeat of General rhanzy, bear out the boast of the
ruthless Cesar of Germany, "Thus all the three
armies for the relief of Paris are beaten.' Unhappy
Paris, learning these crushing facts (and we may
depend the Emperor—King William—at once took
care that Paris should know it) must be forced to the 11
onclusioa that she mnst rely on herself ; that there
is PO I lt,llhood—l was about to say no possi-
bility —of any army coming to her relief, and
that if the cannot znake a series of successful sorti. s,
it becomes enly a question of time bow long
she can hold out against the combined a ivory of claw
atarvation and a cruel bowl ardment. Ido lot enter
iota the question of the tight and the wrong of the
war, tut may re:m..ll that ita i robabilities are becom-
ing sometbirg more than probabilitirs—a'moit cer•
taintier. People who have hoped awl hoped ter
France, feel that now she has fallen so low in a military
settee, that she must, ere long, succumb. If so, why
prolong the agony? NVould it not be infinitely better
for herself to procure the best terms of peace that she
can obtain, and devote herself to the tack of establish-
ing • government and cultivating the arts of peace?
A Scotch newspaper btates that " Birkhall, near
Balloter, is not unlikely to be the autumn resident, of
the ALoquia of Lorne and the Princess Louise."
Very guarded this. "Not unlikely" id a degree
milder than "1 kdy." Supposing the statement is
verified, the thought will perhaps occur -how much
better would it be if the residence were in Ireland !
To say the truth, Caledonia is rather favoured, and
flits rnia rather slighted in ouch matters. By the
way, your Scotch contemporary is wrong in a little
rontter which may be just worth mentioning. "The
Marquis of Lcrne and the Princess Louise" is not
exactly the correct way of naming these distinoished
person& It should be the Princess Louise and tne
Marquis of Lorne.

Politics notwithistandirg, every one will be Berry to
hear of the continued illness of At Bright, who, from
this cause, is unable to address his constituents. On
die that the Queen has written to him condoling with
him on the state (f his health, and expressing the hope
that she may, ere long, see him at one of the royal
palaces. Equally honourable this to Queen and sub
ject.
If the old maxim Salsa pop-it sorrow& kr be true—
and that the welfare of the people is the highest object
of the law there con be no doul t the country
generplly owe a debt of gratitude to the Commons
Preservation Society for the eft ests they have for years
made to protect the rights of the people in connection
with the Comm um and Open Spans which afford so
much pleasure and minister to the health of the com-
munity. It is matter of general interest the rime that
Parliament next Session will be called npen to sanction
a scheme for the preservation to the public fcr ever of
Wimbledon and Wandsworth Commune. Opinions
d:ffer as to the merits of a park and a common. Pour
mat, I prefer a Common. It may be very agreeable to
haves park laid out withtrim paths, flower bed's, trees,
and rests; with a beadle or park-keeper armed with
a stick in waiting ((or the boys) ; and with notices that
the park gates close at a stupidly early hour, and that
people mustn't walk on the grass ; but as "one touch
of nature makes the whole world kin," so a little bit of
nature in the shape of a breezy h. ath or a plea-
mint Common, gives to the inhabitants of adjacent
towns unspeakable delight. We Cockneys dearly love
a lit of Ct mown ; we fancy we are in the country,
and cur children absolutely believe they are ; and we
are delighted therefore to find that Wimbledon and
Wandsworth are to be preserved fur 111/ "for ever,"
or, in other words, that those who come after us will
find pleasant Commons still preserved which, but for
efforts Lich have been persisteetly made for years to
effect the preservation, would have gradual'y been
absorbed by buildings.
The Workmen's Inteniational Exhibition which was
held at the Agricultural Hall, from July till towards
the close of November lag, was in many respects
(chiefly owing to the war diverting people's attention
from it) a rather unfortunate affair, andnow it instated
that although more than 1,000 medals have been
awarded to exhibiters, the Committee have no funds
for them, and do not like to give the order for their
manufacture. This is a very great pity, but the ex-
hibitors certainly ought to have the medals eomehow,
and if no better plan can be suggested perhaps it would
be well for the Committee to subscribe among them.
selves and, if necessary, appeal to the public for aid.
Small-pre has been eprrading so rapidly that the
attention of the Privy Council, of medical men, the
Boards of Guardians, &c., has been called to the whole
subj• cc, and in various quarter; creak efforts are
being made to arrest the spread of this frightful &acme.
New establishments for the reception of path nts are
being (rented, special wenta in workhouFe infirmaries
are being set apart, and re-vaccination is being largely
resorted to. The City Pros says that on the occurrence
of a cue ( f small-pox a short time since in a large
City house, the whole of the ernp/oy;s, to the number ,
of nearly 200, were vsecinated in( ne day at the ezpense
of the firm. That this should be proposed, and that
so large a number of people should submit to the
operation, shows how wide-spread is the alarm, and the
Registrar-General, who deals with hard facts, 'shows
that this alarm is nut without good grounds.
The gentlemen who are interesting themselves and
others in the necessity of legislation for the protection
of infant life had an interview the other day with the
President of the Poor Law Board on the subject of
baby-farming. Many persons are under the impres-
sion that since the execution of Margaret Waters for
r alleged (to say proved is, in the opinion of not a
few, to Fay too much,) murder of infants, the crime of
baby-farming has ceased. I wi-h I could think
so. I have not the s7ightest doubt that the
crime still xists, though not with such organisation
and not to so great an extent perhaps as formerly.
We do not now see those shameless advertisements
that were once so froluent ; but I have often noticed,
and even recently, advertisements that mean just the
same thing, though they are more guardedly worded.
Mr. Charley and his associates are not acting without
sufficient cauee, and the friends of belpless infant
humanity may heartily wish them success.
Prize-fighting dies hard ! We were me st of us under
the impression that all attempts to get up these dis-
graceful affairs hail ceased, and that no one now would
have the hardihood to engage in any attempt of the
kind ; but one of the old ece nes was reproduced early
the other morning, when a number of men (I will re-
frain from any adjective before the wort') were found
at the Fenctinrchatreet railway station ; they had
come in cabs and on foot, evidently by previous
arrangement, with the intenti nit assisting at a prize-
tight Happily, they were frustrated and one of the
pugilists being apprehended was bound over, with two
sureties of 4:30 eath, to be of good behaviour for three
namtbs.

Cones,-pent on a recent prosecution of coffee-hoose
keepers for selling coffee in "pint" and " half-pint "
muss which were not what they purported to be, in
come coffee-house windows may be men an announce-
ment of this kind No pints and half-pints sold
here, but only large and sma I cups." Some people
may regard such prosecutions as these as frivolous and
vexations, but I for csse do not. They still tend to the
compulsory use rf standard meatuses, which_ will be

. -
fir the benefit of imdermen as well as the public.
S:r Denis Le Marelont, who for many years filled
the important post of Clerk of the House of Com-
MOON has resigned with a ension, and bee been 1.110.
needed by Sir F. FrAine May, formerly Clerk Assist-
ant. The latter pesition has tern taken by Mr,
Beginblel Palgrave, who was previotnly second Clerk
Assistant ; while this post iv new filled by Mr. A
Milman, of the Public Bill office. The Home
of Commons is new ostd to le the fouptain of
reform, but it might be well for them to look at home.
The salaries of the officers of the House are very high.
For example, the officers just mentioned are very
highly paid. The C:erk has £2 000 a year, the Clerk
Assistant tl,o, and the second Clerk Assidant£l,Coo.
There are many other highly-paid officials—for ex.
ample, the Serjeant-at-Arms, whose duties are exceed.
ingly light, has £1,200, his deputy £iCO3 and the de.
puty's deputy Vieo ; the Counsel to the Speaker ha,
£I,S00; there are two Examiners of Petitions for psi-
vats £1 000 each ;and the Librarian hae 121,000.
Fy the way, mention of the Speaker reminds me that
thu Right Hon. J. E. Deniein will probably retire at
the commencement of the Session, and retreat into the
trar quil shades, and amid the venerable, associates of
the House of Lords—of comae, with a perish n.

The engineer of the Tower Subway reports that the
tunnel was opened fi r foot•traffie on the 24th of Do.
comber, and that the traffic has inerewel from 10,990
passeng.ris the first week to 20,000; and no doubt this
will increase, Co that .C5O a we, k from paseen;;ers pay-
ing a halfpenny each may fairly be rYpected. This is
very auggeetive. Thin subway wwi conarueted at a
coat of only £lO,OOO. Now, £5O a week is £2 GOO a
year, aiid, dedmiting all expenses, this would leave a
very handsome profit on the outlay. Why not subways
elsewhere ?—that lathe natural suggestion. We could
very well put up with a half.a-dozen under the Thames,
and why not subways under the Mersey, the Humber,
the Tyne, al, ? The question ha worth consideration,
perhaps.

THE EXTRAORDINARY JEWEL
ROBBERY IN LONDON.
Martha Terpey, a ilreseed, girlish-looking
woman, was brought before the magistrate sitting at
Mary lebone police court, London, on Feebly in lant
week, charged with b-ing concerned with a men, not
then in custody, in stealing jewelliry, valued at E 2,500,
belonging to M sirs. Lund n and Rider, jewellers, of
New Bond-street. There was a fuither charge of
us'ng violence to the prosecutors' aseiseant, from whom
the jewel, were stolen.
A detailed report of the circumetancrs attending the
robbery has already age eared in the papere, of whiell
the following is a resume' -Oa the l'eih inst. a well.
dressed man was driven in a &it° the shop of Memire.
London and Ryder. After looking at se me necklaces
arid tinge, he stated that his name was Tyrrell, and
asked the shopman who was serving him to tend POMO
articles which he had eelected to his Louse, No. 4.
Upper Berkeley-stri et, in order (hot they might be
seen by his wife bef, no he purchased them. One
of the prosecutors' assistants, named Parkes, was
mnordingly sent to the home with about Th,ooo
worth of jewellery. The door was opened by Tyrrell,
who took him into a room in which the prisoner
was seated. Parkes showed them several diamond
prudent,' and neme rings, tint did not take all the
stock he bail brought out of his hag. Parkes was
asked to sit down, and while Tyrrell was still examin-
ing a pendant the prisor er left the roe ni for a mix n'e
or two, and, on returning, suddenly placed a hareiker-
chief acmes the mouth and nostrils of the ehopman,
who became partially insensible. He struggled, hut
was overpowered and tied with leatbern Armee 'The
primmer and Tyr, ell then escaped, clrryiag with them
I two d-amend necklace., an og al and diamond pendant,
a diamond pendant, and three diamond rings, valued
I altogether at 'le 500, but leaving the rest of the jewelry,
whichstill remained in Parkes' beg.
'The prisoner was apprehended in Leamington by
Superintendent Lund, of the Leamington police force,
and taken before the magistrates at the Townffiall on
IThur. day, when the depositions of Parker, and Mr.
Lund were taken down in writing. The case was then
remanded to DI ail letione, Lends n, where the deposi-
tions were read over by the chief clerk.
' Superintendent Lund deposed that, from informa-
tion he had received, he had for several days kept a ,
watch en Windsor-villa, Campion-terrace, Learning.-
ton, where the prieoner and her husband had resided
F since June. On 'Thursday morning he went to this
Ihouse and found the prieoner in a front room. She
wee reading a letter, and when he entered and told her
who he was she paid, ‘• How dare you come into the
house of a lady? I renni st you will leave the
room immediately." She then began to read the
letter which she held in her hand. An opened en-
velope lay on the table. He noticed that her coun-
tenance changed, awl he snatched at the litter. She
crumpled it up in her hand, and he could not get
it from her until it had been torn into piecer. She
said, "You have no right to have that; it is my
husband's letter." Ho put the fragments together,
and was able to read it. He showed the prieoner a
letter, which she said was for her Lueband, Mrected
under cover t, a friend. He then told her that he
should teke her into custody on a charge of stealing
jewelry at No. 4, Upper Berkeley street, Marylebone,
and cantitned her that whatever abe might
Fay would be given es Hence against her. She let on
to cry, and exclaimed, "Oh, my God ! what will
become of my child and husband? I do not care
about being punished myself so long as my husband is
not, for he is mot strong enough to bear it." In the
afternoon of the same day he went to the police cell
and read to her a letter from her husband which had
arrived by the midday post. He again warned her
thet any thing she Fa d would be stated in evidence,
aid ehe replied, "Mind you, I am alone to blame in
this transaction ; my husband would not Face, d no
such a thing iii had not tenigted him to do it."
The Magistrate said there was sufficient evidence
to justify him in granting a remand.
Superintendent Williemron said he hoped that the
prisoner's husband woull be apprehended in a few
daye, and then the case could be completed.
The prisoner, who made no answer to the charge,
way the n remanded. During the examination she held
in her arms a baby, which she stated was oily five
weeks old.

The following letters, referred to in Mr. Supirinten•
dent Lund's evidence were put in and road at
Leamington on Thursday. One was dated "Ostend,
Tuesday, 11 am.," and was as follows :
My Own Pet,—The boat did not leave Dover until about
four this morning. This will, I am afraid, lose me a day.
We had ultimately a good passage. I was not sick at all.
I have just had I rockiest here. I start for Ghent at It 5;
thence .tut Corp, and will write you as soon as ever I touch
the first pr, cords. The Timex' report you saw, the Standarl
also. The Taegraph I could nut see, but the Daily Seto.
had nothing except an advertisement on front page, 'to
cabmen and others,' offering .C 5 reward. Iti this, however.
foetunately, there cannot be anything. The more I
think about the so tea, the less I fear them. Even If they
think of them, I believe now they can never trece them
Iron the first souses. Keep up your Write, my own
&tithe, and I she II return, certainly as soon es it is paesible.
It (us neauttful morning here ; the ice is only just breaking
up fee the harbour. They describe your dress in the Daily
New* as light brown with green trlmminss ; so clearly they
have little recollection of no With all my lure, and a kiss
to b ;by, ever your friend, SWUM.. I am golog to the
post with Us's, so I have no time for more."
Another letter, elated Antwerp, Wednesday, 2 p.m.,
contaned the following passages :
"My progress from fletend wait thus :—To Gheht two
in um. Could not dispose of anything, therefore came on
here.... I have been walking a'sout Once morning, but
conld not do anything. I asked for one .C2d- lot al IGO stone
place, hut he simply laughed at me Foul y I have decided to
go on to Rotterdam.... I will try there, then, If I cannot do
anything will come home at once. Sly money being nearly
gone, I was obliged to dispose of a single one of the ;A 0 lot.
I asktd £l3 for it, which I thought ab tit the market value,
bat ouly got 85 francs, about £3 Is. They said it was a
good one, hut light, 5,1 y rum main. General; apeaking,
this is not the place to get anythlt g done. . . They tell me,
i on account of the war, there Is little demand for diamonds,
I and that they have depreciated much. . . . 'intend getting
a pair of small vales, arid Bee what I can make out with
I regard to their val... Daps fact at least is clear—we shall
I have more difficulty in getting rid of them than we thought.''
1111.; letter closed also with expressions of endearment, and
was signed "Michael"

A c;xreponcl.nt, writing from_Leatrington, ems

"If., Mend ay, the R'h of January, Mr. Torpoy left In me as
usual with his carpet beg, and after he had goon his wife in-
timated her Intention of going ti London to j in her husband.
Letters and telegrams pruned, and on the 12 h Inst. Mrs
Corpey went to London by an early train, mentioning that
she wood positively return that night, and taking her baby
with hi r. The young lady who was left in sole charge
of the house waited until midn'ght for her, hut as the last
train from London had arrived_ she went to bed. At two
o'clock Mr. and Mrs. Torpey, however, arrived in a cab
from Rugby, having posted the fourteen The
housekeeper noticed a great change iu the am,earance
of the parties. The gentleman had shaved fi a part of
his beard and moustache, ea as to assume a foreign aspect
The lady had lost her chignon, and wore her hair loosey. She
had also a black ere—a tact which she accounted for by
etating she caused it by getting hastily into a eats. Mrs.
rpey also directed aitention to her husiamo's altered ap-
pearance, remarking that he looked like a Frenchman. !hir-
ing the next day the strange conduct of the lodgers excited
curiosity in the house. Anmittance was denied to the
dressing room, and particular attention was paid to hide
the address and contents of two brown paper parcels.
Ssising the opportunity she peeped into the dress-
ing-room. and there now two bottles of drugs and
an spell handkerchief. She lapel. honorer, to °b-
obtaia any definite knowledge of the contents of the parcels.
Win ascertained that Trrpey was studying the Patch routes
In " Era,' /thaw," anti he Intimated that he was about leaving
home. Ile left or, Monday morning, taking the brown paper
parcels and valise with him. He has not been since men. In
the course of the day Mrs. Tomo, handed Miss P.M a daily
paper containing an recount of the great jewel ronery at
Messrs. London and Ryder's, New Itond.street, London. On
reading the/acrotint and the description of the parties, Miss
Pitt entertained a strung conviction that Mr. and Mts. Terpey
were the criminals. Several letters arrived trod, the absent
husband, land at last Miss Pitt sent a gentleman blend to
Mr. Superiutendent Lund, the chief of the Leamington police
for assistance, and to c mmunieste her suspicions. Mr.
Lund bad in the meantime observed something eta suspielous
, character about Mrs. 'Curtsey, and on Wednesday evening
went to the house and arrested Sire. Torpey In the act of
reading a letter from her husband, as already stated in the
police report.'
Another correspondent writes :

tin the first visit at Leamington Mr. and lira Torpey
stopped at the Crown Hotel, and entered their names as
.0 Mr. and Mrs. Torpey, London," adding to the signatures
the words " very satiate...A rry," which, of course, we.
an enlogium on the hotel. Mr. Torpey applied to the
landlord to discount a bill for £lOO, but 'mice host,"
not being qul'e so well satisfied with his customer as the
Weer was with the hotel, respectfully declined. In June
• respectable-looking young couple, MI Ing.tte above-men
Moiled names, took apartments, as has bean already
stated, In a neat new villa in ore of the favourite
suburns of Learning' on. They represented that they were
nest respectably connected, and in the possession of an in-
dependent Inconie. There was nothing In their appearance
to eibting Web ttu m ft% m the many moderately well-to-do
persons who find a chum in the "mild excitement" of this
farhienable Midland Spa. The ger timers, who was evidently
of supteor education, and with "no occupation;' was
bearded like the part," of dark complexion, rather above
Ow average height, and with attaching my', re own! which
savoured a little of an nornaintance with " the road."
Subsequent ii quiries Indicate that he was formerly a
•' bagman." The lady was younger to yea., fair, with
light hair, speaking severs' language., and as agreeable
in mariners as in person. There le no doubt that she
Is a-ell connected, has money in the Funds, and will possess
more on the death alter father, who le represented tab° con-
nected with an old commercial dnn. They always presented
themselves on the public promenades as persons of good
means To the eft ets of excees of expenditure over Income may
be probahly traced the darker portion of the prisoners' later
career. Month after month wore on, bringing, less than live
weeks ago, "no Increase" which, under more favenrabls
auspices, would have augmented the evident domestic happl•
nets of Mr. and Mrs. T. rgey. Prior to this "interesting event,"
Mr. Torpey again plied his applications to have bills dis-
counted with redoubled vigour. Ile told the cv st plausible
of tales, cif end the most favourable tern., and the "host
security," and appeared withal lobe so much the gentleman,
that some of the tradesmen of Leamington felt half inclined
to comply with rho request. Ultimately their prudence t ro-
omer their liability. lie, however, menaced to mulct • few
of the tradespeople In small sums for " goods sold and
delivered."
The arrest of the man will, It Is thought, lead to some
revelations of a startling character,