The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-08-14 00:00:00

Rlisallantous
NOME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL,

A MISIANCHOLT EVENT.—An inquest has been
held at the Westminster Hospital. Lonchn, on the
body Id Captyin Frederick Bowker, late f the 109th
Regiment, who committed suicide on Friday last, at
the Charing-cross Hotel. It appeared that the de-
ceased gentleman was twenty-nine years of age, and
had been captain in the 109 M Regiment, with which
he bad been stati, mod in India for some time past. He
had suffered from two sun strokes, and was home on
leave. His mind was affected thereby, so that he was
gloomy at times and morose. lie had been staj ing atthe
Golden-cross Hotel, and went across to the C tearing.cross
Hotel at four o'cl 'en in the afternoon and intoned the
way to the smoking-room. Having been snown there,
he lit a cigar and went out into the balcony overlooking
the station. Thence he precipitated himself, as if
diving, on to a stone pavement opposite the inspector's
office, and on being picked up was found to be quite
dead. He was taken to the hospital, but death had
resulted from fracture of the skull. It transpired that
his friends resided at or near Whittlesea, in Cambridge-
shire, and it is understood he was well connected.
Ample evidence was given showing that he was liable
to sudden impulses which culminated momentarily.
After a patient inquiry the jury returned a verdict
'That he destroyed his own life while in a btate of

ten-air-Or:8;7Y insanity."
TEIE FENIANS AND TFIE FAIT/MD.—The Irish
newsletter in The Times states that a "0,880 meeting,"
numbering some 10,15,0 people, was held on Sunday
last week in Limerick on behalf of the Feniau pri-
soners. Don't suppose that this mass meeting con-
sisted of mass-goers. Had they been in the ha'it
of
going to mass they would, of course, have been taught
better than to sympathise with rebels and traitors.
Thry have all ceased goiLlg to mass and turned Pro-
testants. Such has already been the effect of Justice
to Ireland.—Punch. _ . .

_
A PROFITABLE CALLING —lt is anticipated (says
the Daily News), that the Bishops' Resignation Bill,
now passing through Parliament, will affect the tenure
of the sees of Winchester and Exeter. The diocese of
Winchester comprises the counties of Hants and
Surrey, and the Channel Islands, and Dr. Sumner has
presided over it for 42 years, having in 1827 been trans-
lated from the bishopric of Llandaff, then worth only
£l,OOO a year. The value of the see of Winchester has
been variously estimated from -£lO,OOO to £30,000 a
year, but it is officially stated at £10,417. The diocese
of Exeter is the largest in England. It enibraem the
whole of the vast district west of the county of Somer-
set, and includes the Scilly Islands. The see, which
has for a long time been in a state of ecclesiastics
chaos, has been held by Dr. Phillpotte for nearly 40
years. The Bishop holds a canonry in Durham
Cathedral, and his income is £6,700 a year. Within
the term of his episcopate Dr. Sumner has received
£438,514, and Dr. Phillpotts £268,000. It may be
added that in the passage of the Act for the simeran-
ligation of the Bishops of London and Durham, in 1856,
Dr. Phillpotts strongly adhered to the doctrine of
"once a bishop always a bishop," and opposed the
measure at every stage. He is in his 92nd year, and
the Bishop of Winchester is 12 years younger.
B,D MASNERS AT Ft /LICESTONM.—A corre-
spondent says that a few days ago he went down to the
p er at Folkestone to see the passengers disembark
from the Boulogne steamer after a very rough passage
and he was surprised at the very rude conduct of those
who daily repair there to witness the steamers arrive.
By the present arrangements all the passercers are
obliged to run the gauntlet of some hundreds of
idlers, who give vent to their feelings in loud and by
no means refined expressions of r dicule at the appear;
ance these sea-sick travellers present. Foreigners can
hardly fail to be thereby very unfavourably impressed
with the manners of the British public. Nothing of
this kind prevails on the Boulogne side of the Channel,
and the contrast is striking.
C 6 EVIAN OF A FORGER. -The New York
police have just captured in that city a young man
named Clement Harwood (otherwise Charles Hope
Chalmers), who lisil absconded from the service of a
fin., of merchants in Abehurch-latie, City, London,
after stealing a bill of exchange for £1,600, and for
whose apprehension the Lord Mayor had issued a war-
rant about ten days agii. It is stated that a consider-
able sum was found in Harwood's possession, and that
he was accompanied by two other persons, named
Hatcher, mail and wife. After the accused had
absconded, on the 23id of July. and the robbery had
been discovered, a reward of £lOO was offered by the
proseouti Ts for his arrest. In consequence of an inti-
!nation trona the American police authorities an ex-
perienced City detective sergeant is about t proceed
to New York with the necessary papers authorising
him to receive the prisoner and to bring him before the
Lord Mayor on his return.
A FIGHT Folk TIIE STANDARD.—An amusing in-
cident, illustrative of the contingencies of actual war-
fare, occurred while the troops composing the flying
column from Aldershot were manceuvring in the neigh-
bourhood of Chollam Ridges at the close of the week.
During the sham fighting a squadron of the Royal
Horse Guards (Blues) charged and took some gulls,
but instead of retiring they remained upon the spot,
and were in their turn surprised and surrounded by a
couple of squadrons of the Inniskillen Dragoons. A
sharp encounter ensued, swords were crossed, and there
was a smart contest around the standard-bearer, the
Inniskillens making a rush in order to take the standard
of the Royal Horse Guards, who gallantly defended
their banner, and retired with it in safety.
No LoNGER A FACLT. L cites who have the
privilege of offering their charitable contributions in
i=oo,
the presence of a gracious and charming Princesa, may
be pardoned if they feel a little purse-proud on the
occasion. (N.B. The gentlemen who attend them
should be slim in figure, not pursy.)—Punch.
BANK OF ENGLAND NOTEIB.—At the close of the
first half of the present year 1869 there were in circu•
lotion 1,682,600 £5 Bank of England notes. 444.400
kflOk
notes from 4:20 to £lOO of the aggregate value
o
£2OO to £5OO notes of the value of
£1,847 010, and 1,1423 £l,OOO notes. Thus the total
value of the Bank notes held by the public was
£23,393 000. The bullion held amounted to £lB 624.000,
the £15,000,000 securities making a total of £33,624,060
held against the notes issued or in reserve.
A CeNTENART AN IN A BALLOON.-- On the 3rd
instant Mrs. Hogg, an inmate of St. George's Work.
house, Chelsea, attained the age of 100 years. On
being previously asked how she world like to celebrate
that event, she replied, "Send me up in the great
balloon, that I may admire the world I have lived
100 years upon." Her wish was transmitted to
M. Godard, who kindly made every arrangement con-
ducive to her comfort. The weather on the third was
unpropitious, but the ascent was made on Thursday,
the sth. the day being calm. The full extent of the
wine, 2,000 feet, was reached, at which altitude the old
lady was provided with wine and biscuits, and presented
with a medal to commemorate the event. She was
accompanied by the medical officers of the parish, the
matron, and a party of ladies. Mrs. Hogg is in full
possession of all her faculties, has never required the
use of spectacles, can walk without assistance, and was
fully able to undertake her aerial voyage, which she
thoroughly appreciated and enjoyed. Mrs. Hogg is a
native of the Highlands of Scotland, but has resoled in
St. George's parish nearly half a century.
POISONED BY LABURNUM SEED.—On Snnday a
serious case of poisoning by eating the seed of the la-
burnum occurred in Carlisle. In the afternoon a num-
ber of boys belonging to Caldewgate went out into the
country, and while strolling along the road filled their
pockets with laburnum pods. On their return to Gar.