The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-10-30 00:00:00

A TRIBUTE TO LORD DERBY.

The Globe says:—" The death of the Earl of Derby
is a national misfortune. Whigs and Tories, Radicals,
and Conservative, will all join in lamenting the ex-
tinction of one of the brightest stars in our political
sky. We Englishmen, whether politicans or not,
will feel that a mighty man has gone from among us;
that we have lost one who, to high birth, eminent
rank, large possessions, distinguished abilities, and
commanding political poeition, united the virtues
dearest to the English heart. He was a sincere
and simple-minded Christian, a good son, husband,
and father, an excellent landlord, an unwearied
philanthropist, a good man of business, an ele-
gant scholar, a finished gentleman. And he was a
man who, with every temptation to domestic life, and
with a keen appreciation of its pleasures, was ever
ready to sacrifice his own inclinations, and even his
own health and life to what he believed to be the call
of public duty.
"Few men have had so many and such various func-
tion imposed upon them, and fewer still have die.
charged them of well. He was emphatically one
whom it was impossible to find at fault. Whether as
Premier of England or as leader of the Opposition ;
whether as an Irish landlord or as the chairman of a
Lancashire Distress Committee, whether addressing
the Convocation at Oxford in re holarly Latin or a
Demitation of working men in vernacular English,
Lord Derby was always at home, always ready, always
fluent, always graceful. Ile has passed through
stormy times, and has taken an active part in many a
conte4 ; but he passes away from us amid univer,al
regret, and there 16 not an opponent but will add a
kind word to the tribute of goodwill which England is
ready to pay to her departed favourite.
"Lord Derby was not what we now call an old man;
but, if life be measured by actions rather than by years,
he had lived longer than most men of his age. For
forty years he had filled an important place in the eyes
of the nation ; and though the time had come when he
felt himself obliged to retire from the ranks of party
warfare, men hoped that some years were yet left
during which he might have given us the benefit of his
counsels, of his experience, of his sagacity, and of that
authority with which high character, long service, and
acknowledged disinterestedness would have combined
to invest him. It has been otherwise ordered. Our
great leader has been taken from us at a critical time,
nor will it be long ere his lose will make itself severely
felt. But his memory will not speedily perish; and to
all three who have had the honour to call themselves
his supporteis, in however humble a capacity, the
name of Edward Geoffrey, Earl of Derby, will long
be an incentive to honourable exertion, and the
watchword of high-minded patriotism."

MYSTERIOUS MURDER OF TWO
LADIES IN BRUSSELS.
The city of Brussels, which has long been happily
free from crimes of a heinous character, has just be-
come the scene of a barbarous murder, the vistims
being two ladies named Vandepoel, who resided in one
of the busiest thoroughfares of the city.
Since the death of an only son a few months ago
Madame Vandepoel and her daughter have resided
alone in a large house in the Rue de Brabant, the
street in which the arrival side of the Northern Rail-
way station is situated. They have always been very
reserved, hence their neighbours have had little inter.
course with them and seen little of their movements.
They possessed considerable property, but it is stated
that they did not keep ranch money in the house. On
the 17th instant, a relative called at the house, but
found it closed and the word "absent "placed on the
door. He called again twice during the week, and find-
ing this unusual notice still on the door, and being un-
able to affect an entrance, his suspicions were aroused,
and he communicated with the police. On Wednesday I
evening the premises were forcibly entered, when both
the ladies were found in one of the lower apartments
dreadfully bruised by some blunt, heavy instrument
like a hammer, and having been apparently dead seve-
ral days. The elder lady, who was more than eighty
years of age, was on a sofa, her head beaten in, and
ber daughter, aged thirty-six, was in a pool of blood on
the floor, her skull fractured in the same way.
There seems to be an absence of motive for the crime,
as the appearance of the house bears no indication of
having been plundered, much portable property of
value being undisturbed. In all probability the horrid
tragedy was enacted on Thursday night, Ha the daily
newspapers to which the ladies subscribed were lying
in the lobby, having been placed under the door, and
dating from Friday morning. The deceased had ap-
parently partaken of supper, as the remains were on
the table with a lamp, which had burnt out. It is
probable that access to the house had been obtained
through the garden, which adj,6ns the railway. The
neighbours heard no noise or cries on the night of the
murder.
The authorities are endeavouring to unravel the mys-
tery, and the premises are in possession of the police.
Large crowds of spectators visit the scene of the
tragedy.
The further accounts received make it more myste
rious than ever. Two examining magistrates have
visited the house throughout, and from the fact of a
sum of 500 f. in coin being found in an unlocked desk, as I
well as securities payable to bearer for a considerable
amount in a cupboard, the key of which was in the
lock, robbery does not appear to have been the motive
for the crime. A sketch of the positions in which the
ladies were found was taken before the removal of the
ie.. Seals were placed on the doors of the house,
wide?. is guarded by gendarmes. Six weeks ago Mmes.
Vanderpoel were paying a visit to Madame S., &friend
of thiers, and the youngm iias complaining that they
could not keep a servant, and relating that she had
recently dismissed a woman who bad told her mother
that she would eertsinly some day kill her, and that the
old lady should die only by her hand.

Later advices say that it is now clear that the in- i
citing motive to the commission of the dreadful crime
Wahl plunder. It was not usual for the deceased ladies
to retain large sums of money in the house ; but a few
days ago Madame Van de Poel, went to her notary,
and complaining of the small interest which her invest-