The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-06-19 00:00:00

KLEPTOMANIA EXTRAORDINARY

A novel case of kleptomania has just been tried in
the Huntio don County, New Jersey, courts. The
respeci ability of the accuel made the case unusually
attractive, and the court-room was crowded daily while
the trial lasted. It appeared that a young man,
named Hiram Young, is the owner of a large farm in
that vicinity, kept a fast span of horses, and was quite
popular among the surrounding citizens. His brotner,
named Peter, resided on another farm with their
father. For some time past the neighbouring farmers
have been losing their poultry, particularly turkeys,
and although a vigilance committee was formed by the
farmers the depredations were almost nightly com-
mitted with impunity. The last night of the brothers'
raid on the turkeys was designed to be an extensive
arid profitable one, as their prearranged plans in-
dicated. Hiram resolved to clear his house for the oc-
casion, and so induced his wife to go on a visit to her
friends, while be gave his servant permission to enjoy
a few holidays, promising to allow her her wages as if
she had been working. He retained no one about the
place but a labourer, who was an accomplice in the
pillaging expedition. When night came, Peter Young,
the brother, went over to Hiram's and off the trio
started on their nocturnal rampage. They scoured the
adjacent country, and ba,ged no less than 8001bs. of
turkeys, as the Weighniaster at the Lambertville
Depot testified. When they returned the spoil was
secured in poultry boxes for transportation, and Hiram
conveyed the booty to that station for removal. A
neighbouring fanner was at the depot when Hiram
an ived, and on seeing so many fowls in his possession
remarked to the latter that he hoped there were none
of Lis turkeys in the lot. Hiram pleasantly bandied
the observation, and dispatched the poultry to its in-
tended destination. When the farmer went home, to
his surprise he found not a fowl on his premises but one
old rooster. Other farmers were similarly treated.
The affair was investigated and traced to the Youngs.
Hiram had frequently been seen plucking chickens
around, but the people thought it was only one of his
freaks. They were convicted after a long trial, and
Chief Justice Beesley sentenced them to two -
imp- each in the State Prison.

Lpria;:o-run- ent

LANCASHIRE "PROTESTANT
DEMONSTRATION."
The following account of the' Protestant Demonstration"
In Manchester, is condensed from The Timm:—
Three weeks ago some active members of the Cos-
servative party at Manchester originated the idea of
holding a great county meeting to urge the House of
Lords to reject the Irish Church Bill. The Constrva-
tive associations in all the populous towns of Lancs.
shire agreed to swell the assemblage, and on Saturday
the project was carried out on a scale comparable to
that of the greatest gatherings of the Reformers. A
procession of portentous length was moved through the
streets for hours in good order and unmolested, with a
host of I tanners aud some scores of hands. A countless
, multitude looked on, and many thousands—but how
1 many it is not easy to say— expressly concurred in its
I object. The question was put to them from eight
platforms simultaneously, which had been erected in
the open air; and the resolutions, advocated in not
less than a hundred speeches during the evening were
passed with the unanimity characteristic of swill occa-
sions. The procession numbered not less than
20,b00 in passing a given point. At another point,
. further on the route, there is gool reason to believe
th.it the numbers were swelled by bodies of men
who had arrived late by railway, and, instead of joining
in at the starting place, made a short cut to the desti-
nation. It was no such demonstration, either of 111.1121-
hers or sympathy, as lately gathered in Manchester to
see the funeral procession of Mr. Ernest Jones, or as
will block up the streets a month hence to cheer the
Prince and Princess of Wales. Making all deductions
it was an immense affair ot its kind, for besides the
crowded streets and the lengthy procession, so long that
at its outset it took two hours to move in a nearly tin-
' broken line, and at the end of its course, when it had
. become more straggling, three hours—the multitudes at
the Mace of meeting must be added. now far they