The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-01-04 00:00:00

13ti0.11bblitt) vi.

DETERMINED SUICIDE —A. determined act of self-
destruction was committed on Monday morning by James
Hanes, a labouring man, 55 years of age, of Bumble Hole,
Bournheath, in the parish of Broms4rove. Deceased, who
has been in a desponding state for some limo, win left in
the lower room of the house of his brother, wii h whom he
lodged, when he took a loaded gun, and, it is supposed,
discharged it with his foot, for the back part of his head
was found to be completely blown away, leaving only the
face, the brains and skull being scattered all ever the
room.

CHARGES AGAlllsr A RELIEVING OFFICER.—At the
fortnightly meeting of the Board of Guardians, on
Wednesday —Mr. J. Russon (chairman) presiding —Mr.
Humphreys, clerk, laid before the Board an estimate of
the average cost of maintaining the inmates of tha house
during the p half-year, the amount being for provisions
3. 511 per head; for clothing, aid. per head ; total, 3s.
; in the corresponding half of last year, 3s. Mt
The Chairman read a letter from Mr. C. White, of
Redditch, giving a flat denial to statements made at the
previous meeting by Mr. Booker, a Redditch Guardian,
that on the Friday previous to the last meeting Mr.
White, who was acting on behalf of Mr. Bladon, relleviug
officer, who was ill, did not go to the place to pay tho
out-door pour till after half-past nine o'clock, ant con-
sequently poor people were kept shivering out in the
coid.—Mr. Bo ,ker, in ra-ply. expressed regset that Mr.
White had writers to the Board, as he had made no
charge against him, the statement having been made
incidentally. Be, however, maintained the truth of
what he had stated, and offered, if the Board thought
proper to iaxestigate the in atter to bring numerous a it-
nesses to prove the truth of what he had asserted. Mr.
Booker al-o expreased the opinion that Bladon, the
relieving officer, was dishonouring the Board by not
using the room as a pay place which had been offered,
and which it was ordered ten weeks ago should be so
ased. At the last meeting Bladon told the Board that
he had to give a quarter's notice before he could give up
his present pay-place, but he (Mr. Booker) did not
believe the place was taken quarterly, but only weekly,
as he had ascertained from the owner of Vie premises
that the occupier from whom Bladon rented the .roam as
a pay-place was only a weekly tenant, and c mid be
turned out any time with a week's notice being given.
Mr. Gilbert expressid the opipion that the charges snide
were the paltrteet that a man could talk about, and
there was not a grain of sense in them. He knew noth-
ing of Redditch, but believed Bladon was a good officer,
and there was some sort of a clique against him. The
Chairman, Lord Lyttelton and others expressed their
disapproval of Mr. Gilbert's language. Mr. Booker an
Mr Wrigat, another Redd,t,ll Guardian, denied that
there was any pre j dice against the relieving officer.—
Mr. Bladon was called into the room and etated that he
pail for the pay place he now rented quarterly, and tail
given aqu srter'a notice to leave it. He did tot know
that the occupier of the place was a weekly tenant. Ile
wss instructed to ascertain if it was se, and if s t
leave after a week's notice had been given, and to use the
r loin at the Rel Lion, as previously decided —some
conv.rsation took place between Mr. Bladon and Mr.
Booker as to the former Whig frequently late in paying
the poor, and allowing them to come into his pay place
only one at a time. Mr. Bladon then left the room. Mr.
Booker again xpleissed his determination to do his duty
as a Guardian if Mr. klation did not do his duty to the
poor, and asked the Board for an expression of opinion
as to whether he or Mr. White had told the truth. Tae
Board declined to give one, as it wassimply a matter of
a few minuses, and there might have bedn a difference in
timekeepers' watches or clocks. Mr. Gilbert made some
more remarks, and advised the Board to let the matter
drop, and left the room.—After the transaction of some
routine business. Mr. Booker asked the Board to express
their disapproval of Mr. Gilbert's remarks, as he had di I
not like it to go forth that he (Ur. Booker) had been
charged with bringing charges which wire untrue, and
that it had been passed over. The Chairman expressed
an opinion, in which the Board concurred, that Mr.
Gilbert's attack was especially immoderate and uncalled
for, and he reminded Mr. Booker that what he said could
not be taken as the expression of opinim of the Board.
The subject then dropped.

OLD HILL.
HIGHWAY OFFENCES.—At the .Police Court, on Wed-
nesday, before Messrs. F. D. L. Elmiih, and W. Bassano,
Herbert Hall was charged with obstructing the highway,
by leaving his horse and cart there longer than necessary
for loading or unloading in Halesowen Road, Old Hill.
Police-constable Farnell proved the case, and defendant
was fined is and costs.
DisuNKENNEss.—David Lewis was charged with being
drunk on the Halesowen Road, Old Will, on the 26th alt.
Police-constable Wickstead proved finding defendant
lying accross the road, and he was drunk. Defendant
said he sprained his ankle, or he should have got home
al right. In answer to the Bench Inspector Price said
there was no previous charge against defendant, who was
fined Is and costs.—John Rush was charged with being
drunk and disorderly at Cradley Heath on the 16th ult.
Police-constable Gaskin proved the offence. Fined 28.
6d and costs.—Thornas Malpass was charged with a
similar offence at Perry's Lake, Rowley. Police.
c.mstable Frost proved the case, and defendant was
fined 28 6d and costs.
.....

--iiBl7o- PROFANE LANGUAGE.—Willialll TrODlall was
summoned for profanely cursing and swearing at Rowley.
Police-constable Styles proved the case. Fined 23 and
co3ts.

--o.i-oTton To CARTEns.—..ioseph Parkes was summoned
for not being in a position to have control over his horse
and cart in Foxoak Street, Cradley Heath, on the 16th
ult. Police-constable Sylveitre proved the case. De-
fendant said he only went into the house to thaw the oil
in his coin, and whilst he was thei e the horse started off.
Ordered to pay costs.

A WIFE -BiATEß.—James Lowe was charged with
assaulting his wife &ma Lowe on the 27th ult. Com-
plainant said defendant struck her and injured her a.)
severely that she had not recovered from the effects of
it. As thi, was n,)t the first time defendant had
assaulted 1113 wife. He was committed for 14 days with-
out the optiln of a fine.—Ann L We, the complainant in
the last case, was then summonea hr threatening hor
sister-in-law, Hannah Lowe on the 29th ult., and was
bound over to keep the peace for six months.
Fuaious DRIVING.—JOIIII Priest sas charged with
being drunk whilst in charge of a horse and cart at
Garratts Lane, Old Hill, on the 16th November, and'
further charged with furious driving. Police-constables
Farnell and Parker said defendant was drunk, and gallop.
ing the horse up the street, Defendant denied the
charges and nailed a witness who said defendant was not
drunk, and that the horse was only trotting. ?..he
charge of drunkenness was dismissed, atid for the furious
driving defendant was fined 2s 6d and costs.

A tiL E Y.
ATTEMPTED SVICIDE.—On the 31st nit., considerable
excitement was causal in tt e village of Upper Arley by
the news that Charles Parton (45), a cirpencer, had at-
tempted to commit suicide. It appears he was discovered
by his wife lying insensible on the floor of the bed room,
with a thin cord round his neck, partly embedded in the
flesh. Blood was issuing from his nose and mouth, and
some time will elapse before he will be sufficiently re-
covered to be brought before the Magistrates.