The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-01-07 00:00:00

THE STOURBRIDGE OBSFEVER.

administration in order to carry out the chief
object which it ought to serve. It ought to be I
given only on the understanding that it does
promote self-dependence, that it aids the weak
but would-be self-reliant, the struggling and la-
Louring poor who would fain keep themselves
one remove above the actual paupers. The
fourth cause, Mr. Fawcett says, is ignorance.
This is so obvious that it need not be insisted on
and we earnestly hope that as the cause will
now gradually be decreased the effect will be
lessened also. But there is another cause, which
Mr. Fawcett almost wholly overlooks, and that
is intemperance. Strong drink is a fertile cause
of poverty as well as of many other evils.
Drunkenness peoples our lunatic as) ;mos, our
prisons, and our workhouses; it makes the rich
man poor, the poor poorer, the poorer poorest.
The time must shortly came when Parliament
will devote its earnest attention towards dimin-
ishing the temptations to and facilities for
drunkenness; and if any well-considered scheme
can be passed for effecting this, it will be more
powerful than all other remedies for our peren-
nial pauperism.

LATEST NEWS.

PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEgRAMS.

(REUTER'S TELEGRA3II3.)

THE WAR.

FRANCE.

THE SIEGE OF PARIS.

GREAT FRENCH VICTORY.

(FRENCH OFFICIAL ACCOUNT.)

ARR ts, Wednesday.

General Faidherbe claims a great victory over
the Prussians at Bapaurue, on the Ist, 2nd, and
3rd instants.

On the let the Frenah Army walked out of ita
lines ; on the !,2nd took Achiel le Grand and
Bliencourt; and on the 3rd Sapignies, Favreinl,
Avosues he Bataurne, Grevilles, and Liguy Til-
loy: _ . .

-By 6 p.m. the Prussians were driven from the
entire battle field, with heavy loss in dead,
wounded, and prisoners.
French loss also severe.

SO kind at their bazaar in aid of the new schools.
In conclusion, the rev, gentleman said he was
surprised at one thing, and that was that such a
lot of women could have kept a secret so long.
He did not know of the presentation, and there.
fore was most agreeably surprised.—A musical
entertainment followed, in which the Misses
Jones, of Park&ld, and others took part, and
the whole programme was gone through in a
satisfactory manner.—The timepiece and book
here the following inscription :--" Presented to
the Rev. Thomas Williams, 8.A., by the mem-
bers of the St. John's Burial Club, ass memorial
of their esteem and gratitude—January end,
1871."

SERIOUS SMASH. —On Monday, abont one
o'clock, a serious smash occurred ut the shop of
Mr. W. Ick, tobacconist. It appears that a
waggon drawn by two horses, belonging to Mr.
W. C. Firmstone, of Hagley, was proceeding
down the street, and when near Mr. Ick's shop
one of the horses became restive, and ran against
a lamp post in front of Mr. Ick's window,
knocked it straight off, and it fell through the
plate-glass window, breaking a number of pipes,
Sze. The damage done to Mr. Ick's property is
estimated to be about X 1.5.

DETEEMINED SUR:MU.— On Saturday after-
noon last, a man named Benjamin Stone, la-
bourer, residing in lodgings in Field Lane, Old-
swinford, hung himself upstairs by the bedpost.
Assistance was called in, and Stone cut down,
but life was extinct.

INQUEST.—An inquest was held on the body
of the above deceased at Mr. P. Perrins's, the
Cross Inn, on Thursday, before R. Docker, Esq.,
Coroner. The first witness called was Benjamin
Siddaway, who said: I live in Field-lane, and
am a nailer. Knew the deceased, who lodged in
the same house with me. Deceased was a la-
bourer, and was 47 years old. I went to bed at
ten o'clock on the night of the 30th ult. We
slept together. Deceased was in bed. He woke
up and asked me what time it was. I told him.
Deceased had not got his clothes off, as he said
he should be warmer. I then got up. During
the night the deceased got up, lit a candle, and
smoked a pipe, and afterwards smoked a pipe in
bed, and then went to sleep. I got up at eight
the next morning, and left the deceased in bed,
who said that he should lie for an hour or two.
Did not see him alive again, but went up stairs
about half-past twelve, and saw the deceased
hanging to the bed-post by the neck. Was much
frightened, and ran down stairs and told the
landlord, and then fetched the police. After
went up stairs with the police, and the body was
cut down. Mr. Bayley, surgeon, was sent for,
and he came. Did not observe anything strange
in the deceased ; but he had got a little in debt,
and he complained that the County Court bai-
liffs wanted him. Deceased had plenty to eat.—
Police-constable Bailey said irom information he
received from the last witness, he went to the
house of deceased, and found him hanging to
the bed-post. He at once cut him down, and
sent for Mr. Bayley, surgeon.—Robert Luther
Bayley, surgeon, said: I saw the deceased about
half-past one e'clock. Should think he had been
dead from one to two hours. Examined the
body. There was a deep indentation round the
neck. There were no other marks. The body
had been well nourished. There was no appear.
anee of disease.—The jury found that deceased
hung himself while in a state of unsound mind.
VAORANCY.—At the Petty Sessions held yesterday, be-
fore Major Fletcher and the Hon. C. G. Lyttelton,
Henry Innis, a youth, was charged with loitering on pre-
mises at Brierley Hill, with intent to commit a felony.
Discharged with a caution, .

CHAR(7tE OF STEALING Boors—Sarah Hobson (13),
and Emily Aston (14), two girls, were charged with Selo.
nioubly stealing one pair of boots on the sth instant, the
property of Sampson Kendrick, boot maker, High.street,
Stourbridge. Julia Woodball said she assisted in prose-
cutor's shop. On the above date the two prisoners came
into their shop, and asked the price of men and women's
boots. She told them, and they want away, but came
again, and from a communication made to her ahe fol-
lowed the prisoners, and accused them of taking a pair
of boots. Hobson told her that Aston had thrown them
over a wall and took her to the place, where she found
the boots. Louisa North proved that she saw Hobson
take the boots, and that she told the last witness. Ser-
geant Jones proved apprehending the prisoners, who
pleaded guilty, and the Bench tined Hobson ids; in de-
fault 14 days, Abton de; in default seven days.
CHARGE or STEALING A PIGEON. Thomas: Benson
was charged with stealing a pigeon on the tat inst, the
property of William Edwards, of Wollaston, of the valise
of 2s. Prosecutor said that he keeps pigeons, and on
the above date he saw the prisoner catch one of his
pigeons and put it under his coat. Knew it by the color.
Henry Edwards proved that he saw the pigeon fly out el
the yard, and also taw it under defendant's jacket as it
slipped down. Could swear to it by the color. The value
of the pigeon 1. 2.. Fined ls and costs, and 2s the value,
In default 14 days.
COAL STEALING.—Ann Aston was charged with steal.
Mg a quantity of fire wood and 23ffis of coal on the 3rd
; Mitt, the property of Messrs. Mubberley and Bailey, of
; the Lye.—Llizabeth Gardner, Emma Cartwright, and
Ann Astin were charged with a similar offence. The
eases were withdrawn upon the prisoners paying 6s 64
costs.
. .

& DI6ORDEALY PAIIPER.—William Hall, • boy, was
charged with absconding from the Workhouse on the 10th
Mt, with the talon clothes. William Keightley proved
the offence. Defendant was discharged with a caution,
LECTURES.—On Wednesday the second of a series of '
lectures was delivered in the Corn Exchange, by Mr.
Turney, of Nottingham, the subject being "Russian su-
premacy in Europe." The lecturer said that the Russian
supremacy in Europe was a sign of the times. It was
epoken of 1,100 years before the Russian Empire came ,
into existence. From Ezekiel 38 c.. a prophecy relathl
to the extensioe of the empire. 162 years ago the Has.
sans had Ito ambassador at any Court in Europe. Now
they were represented all over the world. Peter the Great
worked at the dockyard at Deptford, as a shipwright, and
proceeded through the various nations of Europe in a
similar capacity. and then retureed to his can country,
and commenced the building of a fleet. Much attention
at the present day was being directed to what was called
the Eastern questson. It was very disagreeable to the
Turks, and a subject of anxiety to the English. The
present Czar of Russia had an eye to the subjugation of
urkey, which had for many years been on the decline.
Hie present war on the continent would be the means it
giving additional power to tire Russians. The following
extract from the will of Peter the Great spoke for itself,
as follows :—'• Constantly extend yourselves along the
shores of the Baltic and the borders of the Euxine. Do
all in your power to approach closely to Couatantinople
and India. Remember that he who.rulea over those
countries is thr real sovereign of. the world. Keep up
continued wars with Turkey and Prussia. Establish dock
yards in the Black Sea. Gradually obtain commend of
this sea as well as of the Baltic; this is necessary for the
entire success of our projects. Hasten the fall of Pens•
sia. Open for yourselves a route towards the Persian
Gulf. He-establish, as much as possible, by means of
Syria, the ancient commerce of the Levant, and then
advance towards India ; and there you will not require
English gold. Sweden dismembered, Prussia conquered,
Poland subjugated, Turkey beaten, our armie, united, the
Black and Baltic Seas guarded by our vessels, prepare
separately and secretly the first court of Versailles, and
that of Vienna to share the empire of the universe with
Russia. If one aticept, flatter her ambition, and make
use of one to crush the other, by engaging them in were.
The result cannot be doubtful. Russia will be possessed
of the whols of the East, and of a great portion of Lu-
rope." The lecturer stated how far that had been carried
out might be seen from the events that had recently
takezeplace. The remainder of his remarks were upon
the second advent of Christ —A vote of thanks to the
lecturer closed the proceedings. .

CHARGE OF RECLVING STOLEN GOODS.—At the Wor-
cester Sessions, on Tuesday last, before Mr. R. P. Amph-
lett, Q.C., Sarah Williams residing at Wollaston, was
indicted for having at several times in October received
a number of stolen al ticles belonging to William Rudd
Clarke, at Oldswinford. Mr. Godson defended.—The
evidence was very conflicting, and upon the case being
sent to the jury, the foreman, after a short deliberation,
said they were unable to agree, but subseqently acquitted
the prisoner.