The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-06-30 00:00:00

FATAL COLLIERY EXPLOSION NEAR
BRIERLEY HILL.

On Tuesday morning the District Coroner (W.
H. Phillips, Esq.,) held an inquest at the New Inn,
Qaarry Bank, touching the death of Thomas Clay.
ton (34), miner, Sheffield-street, which occurred on
Friday, the 22nd inst., from the effects of burns
received on the 9th inst., whilst he was working in
Grainger's Leasow Colliery, at Cradley Heath,
belonging to Messrs. Parsons and Cooper.
Richard Ulayton, miner, Quarry Bank, brother to
the dec2ased, stated that on the morning of the 7th
inst. he went to work with his brother in the pit
named. It was a thick coal mine, and the under—
ground manager was George Glaz s. After several
lots of men had descended the pit, the deceased
went down ; witness followed in the next band, land
then upon arriving at the bottom he found that
deceased had gone into the workings. Glaze went
down with witness, and set him and the others to
work in the first stall as they went in. The
examiners of the pit were Samuel Glaze and Thomas
Buckwell, and on the morning in question they
said they had been round and found no sulphur
anywhere. There were three or four safety lamps
in the pit. Before witness went down that morn.
lug he received orders from Gl,se not to go to the
stall where they had worked the day before, as it
stirred the other side. Deceased, who worked with
him, was present, and must have heard the order
given. About twenty minutes after witness and
his fellow-workmen had descended the pit they
heard an explosion in a stall about twenty yards
from where they were working. Deceased was the
only one burned by the explosion, the burns being
about his chest, stomach, back, and face. After
the explo,ion he went to witness and goad he had
been up the wrong side with his candle and fired
the sulphur. No one else could have fired it. He
walked home, and would not go to the Hospital. He
continue to get worse every day, and died on
Friday night the 22nd inst. Witness had previously
noticed a little gas in the pit, but it was always
brushed out. There had never previou.ly been an
(22tplosion in the pit attended with loss of life On
the morning of the explosion witness heard nothing
abourthere being sulphur in the pit. He knew
nothing in connection with the explosion which
would cause him to attach blame to anyone. There
was plenty of air in the pit.
The Coroner said the usual notice of the occur-
rence had been given to the Mines Inspector .
Scott), who had written stating that he was that
day en;a;ed at Wednesbury Police Court, and a,k-
ing that the inquest might be adjourned for a few
days to allow him to attend. He had inspected the
pit, and would attend and give evi lence at the ad-
journed inquiry.
The inquest was then adjourned.

THE ALLEGED SHOCKING NEGLECT OF
CHILDREN AT KIDDERMINSTER.

At the Kidderminster Police Court on Wednesday
Charles Gittens, rug weaver, was brought before
Messrs. Banks, Green, and Boycott, charged with
not providing sufficient food and clothingfor his two
children.—Superintendent Haigh said: On Tuesday
morning, about eleven o'clock, in company with
the Relieving officer (Mr. Wallis), I visited thelpri-
Goner's house. I there found in a back room,
huddled up amongst some rags, two children, aged
ten and eight years respectively. They were badly
clothed and very thin—indeed more like living
skeletons than anything else. I had them removed
to the Workhouse. They were bathed and seen to
by the nurses, and their hair cut, Their heads were
in a most filthy state. I had the children weighed.
The one ten years of age weighed 291b5., and the
other one—eight years of age-181bs, I afterwards
arrested the prisoner. I asked him how he
accounted for the children being in such a neglected
state. He said it was net his fault, b3eause he
had to go to work. He washed them a night or
two ago. He said "I will go and drown myself."
I said, "No, you won't, for I shall take care of
you."—Mr. Banks: Has he a wife ?—Mr. Haigh:
No; he has a housekeeper. Her children all appear
well.—Mr. F. .Burcher (the magistrates' clerk) :
Do the children appear to be suffering from want ?
—Mr. Haigh : They do. I have never seen such
objects in my life. I have seen Mr. Stretton (the
medical officer to the union), and he says it is as
well to have a remand so as to enable him to
ascertain whether they are suffering from disease,
because it had been alleged that that was the case.
—The Clerk (to prisoner) : Have you anything to
say why you should not be remanded ?—Prisoner:
No, Sir.—Mr. Banks : Then you will be remanded
until Friday, at eleven o'clock.—Prisoner then said
to the Bench that the children had their food when
be was home.—The Clerk told him he was not on
his trial at present, and it would be as well for him
to reserve anything he had to say.

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BRIERLEY HILL
DRUNK AND DISORDIRLY.—At the Town Ha
on Monday, before H. Hall and T. Wilkes Webb,
Esqs. John Hudson was charged with being drunk
and disorderly, on the 23rd inst. P.C. Hollins
proved the case. Fined 2s. 6d and costs; in default
14 days.
PROFANE LANGUAGE.— W. H. Truman WIN
charged with using profane language on the 23rd
inst. P.C. Hollins proved the case. Fined 5s and
costs, or 14 days.—Fanny Hill for a similar offence
was ordered to pay the costs.
Daurocararess.—Richard Cartwright was charged
with being drunk on the 20th inst. P.C. Hioklin
proved the case and defendant was fined 2s 6d and
costs; in default 14 days.—William Klee was also
charged with being drunk on the 17th inst. P.C.
Stevens proved the Case. Fined 2s. 6d and costs; in
d -fault 14 days.--Arthur Williams was charged with
being drunk on the 18th inst. P.C. Barker proved the
case. Fined 2s 6d and costs; in default 7 days.—
Isaiah Haines was charged with being drunk on the
17th inst. P.C. Hicklin proved the case. Fined
2s Oct and costs; in default 7 days.—James Moon
was charged with being drunk on the 19th init.
P.C. Booth proved the case. Fined 2s 6d and costs;
in default 7 days.—John Mantle was charged with
being drunk on the 18th inst. The ease was dis-
missed.

FIGHTING.—RoIand Bill and William Wood
were charged with fighting on the 18th inst. W.
Stokes proved the case and said that he lived op-
posite the defendant.. Fanny Hill went into
Wood's house and took out a poker, and then W.
Wood went to take the poker off her, when Roland
Hill interfered and a fight took place. The case
was dismissed on payment of costs.
STEALING A CASH Box.—Joseph Farrell was
charged with stealing a cash box and 14s 7d the
property of Joseph Randle, proprietor of the Com-
mercial Hotel, Round Oak, on the 23rd inst. Mr.
Waldron defended. Florence Randle was called
and stated that about 9 o'clock on the 23r1 inst the
prisoner came into their house and had some
spirits. He went out of the house and came back
again, Then she saw the pri-oner going out of
the door with the cash box under his arm. She
called to him and he brought the cash box back and
upon looking into the box she found that there was
a bag containing sixpences missing.—Mr. Joseph
Randle stated that he came into the vaults and
asked Farrell where be got the box from, and pri-
s mer said" down there by my feet?' Randle then
said there was some money gone out an prisoner
asked him if h.t suspected him. P.C. Barker was
then sent for and upon searching prisoner found a
bag containing 9 sixpences which were missing.
Mr. Waldron addressed the Bench for the defence

and the prisoner was fined V, or in default 2
morths.

AS3AULT.—J. Hunt was charged with assaulting
Samuel Payne on the 12th inst. Mr. Waldron pro-
secuted but the case was dismissed.—Alfred Adams
was charged with assaulting James Huff on the 6th
inst. Mr. Waldron defended. James Huff said
that as he was leading his horse down a lane
the defendant came up and told him to go off down
the lane. The complainant would not go, so
Adams pushed him down, and starting his horse
down the lane, ran ever a heap of stones and cut
his knees. The case was dismissed.
THREATEL—Sarah Ann Pedmore Cartwright was
charged with using threats towards Ann Allchurch.
Jane Hunt was also charged with using threats
towards the complainant. Mr. Waldron prosecuted.
Bound over to keep the peace for 6 months.
STEALING C OTll2B.—ElizaCowhorn was charged
with stealing 3 nightdresses, the property of Ann
Harris, on the 23rd inst. P.S. Banton proved ap-
prehending the prisoner and charged her with steal-
ing the clothes. Fined 108 or in default 7 days.