The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-11-11 00:00:00

A CHADLEY HEATH WILL CASE.

GRIFFITHS U. GRIFFITHS AND ANOTHRIL—This
was a suit heard before Lord Penzance, to try
the validity of the will of Isaac Griffiths, late a
pork butcher, of Crsdley Heath, who died on the
18th of February last, possessed of property
valued at £2,000.

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Mr. liuddleston, Q.C., Dr. Tristram, and Mr.
J. L. Warren (instructed by Mr. Homer), were
counsel for the plaintiff; and Serjeant ballantine
and Mr. lnderwick (instructed by Masers. San-
ders and Smith), for the defendants,
it appeared from the opening statement of
c. ,tinsel that the deceased made his will ten days
previous to his death, and the real question was,
not as to whether he was of a sound disposing
mind, but whether the document was properly
ettented, one of the witnesses having been ap-
p,inted an executor.
Sepuen Farmer, examined by Dr. Tristram :
Witness said he was a journeyman butcher in
the employ of the imitator, Isaac Griffith.. who
had resided at Five Ways, Cradley Heath, in the
county of Stafford. Remembered, on one occa•
sion, early in the year, the deceased speaking
about his will. Mr. Homer drew up a docnment

.„„-- --.—
which was signed by the testator and Hower and
witness. The will was taken away; but it was
returned shortly afterwards, and the testator
then gave it to his wife.
Cross-examined by Sergeant Ballantine Ho-
mer and 'lranian were appointed executors. The
foraier signed as executor as well as a witness.
When the will was prepared, it was about eight
o'clock in the evening.
Janice Frederick Homer said he was a fitter
at Dudley Wood, and he married the late Mr.
Isaac Cirilliths'e sister. On the Bth February
laid the testator desired witness to make his
will. He gave witness the directions, and the
\Ciii was duly prepared. Mr. Griffiths then
niaile his !hark. with the assistance of his wife.
and he then asked witness to sign it as executor.
The will was afterwards given to Troman.
Cross-examined: The deceased merely asked
bin, to sign, and he did so. He told him to
sign as executor—those were his words as nearly
21.1 possible. When the will was made Mrs. Orif-
fiats read it, and then it was handed to her has-

band, and afterwards signed.
By his Lordship : "1. Lie deceased said many
months before bis death that he wished to make
him one of his executors.

Mrs. Oritliths s,il ihie was married to the do-
iii 1870, previous to whim.
she was a widow. Her liu•iliand had frequently
expressed his intention of making • provision
for her. Witneha detailed the eireuoistances
under which the will was prepared, and add her
husiiand was perfectly sane at the time, and
knew what he wasjdoing.
Serjeant Ballinitine said he should not call any
witnesses, but would contend that it was not
properly executed. It appearcdto him in tlic
first plait. that ths miles of the a itnesses were
nil written at the Wee t u.; 110 t hiv!.,g 'heard
their tVIOOI.IOO. he lint tat tiii.y Itual told the
• ruts, and enoulti merely rely teat it was not
legally caseated.
Lord VleUAtllao4:l said he desired to look into
previous decialcrae odor° he gave jodguiebt.

Mr. Alison then addressed those present. RIM
said there used to be a song about tue streets—
There's a good time coining ; wait but a little
boys." He could only say that good time had
come. There never was such a time for young
wen. There was everything both for the body
and soul considerably different from the tinic
when he was young. The question was whether
they were benefitting by each other's company.
It was a very important question how they
should pass their nights away, especially as now
there were so many institutions with such at-
tractions for young men, as were not in his
young days. Ile dare say they would say as he
had said when lie was a boy. " Old men are al-
ways fond of talking about themselves ;" but old
men had looked back with regret upon the way
in which they had spent their time. He math
a discovery when he was arriving at the age of
maturity, and he began to feel his own ignor-
ance, and he began to look ahead to see what
the consequences would be. He wade up his
mind that something should be done, and in ordiv
to do it he made what appeared at the first onset
a sacrifice. He made up his mind to leave his
associates, so that he could go into something
like solitude. He did not read a great deal, but
he kept good company. He found there was
something that was wanted, and be was deter-
mined to try and better his position in life. He
left home, and set to work in good earnest. He
did not waste much time. His nights were pro•
&ably employed. He bought good books, and
made tolerable good use of them, and he had
been thankful ever since for the course he took.
If they were not doing good, or getting good,
they should endebwour to do so at once. He
should like to make a suggestion to the young
men present. He did not know what course
they intended to pursue that night in reference
to the readings and lectures. He thought the
suggestion would be not only for those present
a benefit, but for their benefit as long as they
lived, it was in reference to other reading. It
is always well to know what was going on, but
he advised them to read those things that would
make a lasting impression on their minds, and
they would find they would have a better position
in society. In reference to their trade, he would
advise them to learn the why and wherefore of
everything they were culled upon to Use. He
would suggest that instead of reading papers
every night, some one 81(041 read some peeedges
of good standard works. He was sure It would
be very much more to their advantage to read
some of those standard works, than reading the
papers and periodicals.
Song, Mr. J. Nosey --i• Let we kiss him for
his mother."

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An interval of ten minutes was then allowed.
Dlr. T. Southall said the object of the inter.
vii was for conversation, F4O that they could get
an expression from the young men as to what
they would like for the winter eeason. As the)
knew an association like theirs could not go on
without members, he could, therefore, receive
any proposition for any one that night. The
subscription was very low—only is per quarter.
They wanted to work for the benefit of the
members. There were friends who took claeses.
The persons were nominated, and the names
were then put before the committee. Eight
persons were then nominated. After some fur-
ther conversation respecting the clarses. it was
decided to bring the question before the COM -
mittee. A large number of the members x-
pressed their willingness to join a drawing
elass.

Reading—Mr. W. Wagstaff.
Mr. J. E. Southall proposed that the best
thanks of the meeting be presented to Mrs.
Allsop, for so kindly presiding at the tea.
This was seconded and carried unanimously.
Song—Mr. J. E. Southall.
Mr. H. Newnam then delivered an address,
and said he would just draw the attention of the
young men of the association to the words which
Mr. Allsop had so kindly brought before them
That gentleman said at the opening of his
speech there was never a better time than the
present. There was never such a time for doing
good and getting good as the present. He was
very much struak by the beantiful piece which
was read by Mr. Woodcock. The remarks which
Mr. Alleop made were most valuable to younc
men. He was very MUM struck by the order in
which that gentleman brought them. There.
was first of MI the sacrifice to ioaks. No young
man can get on in this world without he makes a
sacrifice. He mast fore zo his companions if
they will not go in the direction he wiluts them.
They all had a better oppdrtunity then Mr. All.
sop aver had. They bud every opportunity of
making themseives famous. If they did net
take the proper steps new, the would find they
would have to take a very low Wand, for in De
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course of 20 years or so the rising generati, n
would all be educated, and then they would ft d
their deficiency. He strongly recommedded
them to grasp at every opportunity of gainin;
information. He concluded by proposing th i•
the best thanks of the meeting be given to the
Chairman for presiding.
This was seconded by Mr. T. Southall.
Mr. Billingham Jeri, fly responded.
It was proposed by Mr. T. Southall, seconded
by Mr. Gittins, and e.irried unanimously, that
the thanks of the meting be given to Mr. E.
. Cook and Mr. 'Filtibr,dge, for the trouble the:.
had taken in th, ..v, mng., entertainment.
1 The Doxology WAS tll, n sung, and the meeting
11 separated.