The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-01-11 00:00:00

DUDLEY GARRICK CLUB.

The third performance of the season was given
on Wednesday night; in the Public Hall, Dudley.
There was a largo and fashionable attendance.
The plays selected for representation were A. Won-
erful Woman and All that Glitters is not Gold. At
the previous entertainments Othello and As You
Like It were given, and on these occasions the club
added to their popularity by excellent acting.
Well-merited praise was again evinced on Wed-
nesday. The first piece—A Wonderful Woman—
was gone through without the slightest hitch.
Mr. Joseph Muns as the Marquis de Frontignac
was remarkably effective. He delineated the
various feelings of such a changeable character
with requisite force, especially in the scene with
Hortense and Alpin in the last act, and on the
receipt of the letter from Hortense stating the
terms on which they were married. As the cobler,
Crepin, Mr. Joseph Illidge was a marked success,
his acting throughout the play being most natural
and easy, and he thoroughly deserved the applause
which was heartily bestowed. Mr. W. Walton was
an admirable Viscount Millefieurs, and will no
doubt be a great acquisition to the club judging
from his first appearance. Hortense and Cecile
were taken respectively by Miss Jessie Warner and'
Miss D'Alcorne, and both ladies acquitted them-
selves -with credit. The performance of All that
Glitters is not Gold was most praiseworthy. Mr.
John Ray, as Sir Arthur Lased', was certainly not
at home in the character, but his endeavours to
make the best of it under the circumstances are
deserving of commendation.
,Jasper Plum, in the
hand of Mr. W. Howard Baker, was a well-nigh
perfect impersonation of the rich cotton-spinner.
This character and that of Crepin by Mr. Illidge
were the "special features" of the evening's enter-
tainment. There was notable merit in the acting,
the "make-up," and the conception of the person-
ages represented. As Stephen Plum, Mr. Joseph
Morris looked like a "fish out of water," but he
made the best of a part unsuited for the display of
his acknowledged skill and ability. Mr. F. Grafton
enacted Frederick Plum, but could not be heard a
yard from the stage. Mr. T. Keogh again gave
evidence of sterling ability as a comedian by the
very meritorious and highly amusing manner in
which he sustained the character of Toby Twinkle,
Miss Jessie Warner played Martha Gibbs with
considerable effect, and deserved the rounds of
applause which greeted her efforts. Miss d'Alcorne
and Miss Melsoin represented Lady Valeria and
Lady Leatherbridge. I full band, under the
direction of Mr. Hale, was in attendance. The
proceeds will be expended in meat, bread, and
soup, for the benefit of the poor of Dudley.

BOARD OF GUARDIANS.—The weekly meeting
of the Board was held yesterday, Mr. H. Bit-
lingham in the chair. There were also present
Messrs. Raybould, liaskew, Pargeter. Hicgley,
Burr, Parkes, Thompson, Wood, Homer, Giles,
Mills, Baker, Plant, Fiddian, Lavender, Kelly,
and Brooks. Admitted into the house during
the week 25; discharged 17; dead 8; semis.

infr 477 ; corresponding week last year 446.
Oat-tioor relief liingswinford district £3O 17s.
81 ; Stourbridge district £23 129. Od ; Halos-
owen district £lB 17s. 4d ; non-resident 9s 4d ;
total £73 160. 10d ; against £5B 4s. Oid. last
year. Preceipts have been received for the fol-
lowing County Rate. Worcestershire £99 12s.
6d. being an increase of £49 16s. 3d; Stafford-
shire £334 16`s. 2d; being a decrease of £4O 3s.
31. The Medical Officer of Health's reports were
read which showed the death rate for Worces-
tershire 37 per 1,000 ; Staffordshire 36 per 1,000.

• :ACOUNTY COURT:
THE CASE- OF HOWES v. BLOOMER.—At the
County CourVOn .Monday, Mr. Perry, solicitor,
asked the Judge (Mr. R. Kettle) if he had prepared
his decision in the above case, in which damages
were claimed for the non-completion of an agree-
ment to purchase a public-house. The alleged
agreement was entered into botween defendant and
plaintiff's wife, the latter having, as plaintiff
alleged, his authority to act on his behalf.--His
Honour said he did not consider the wife had
sufficient authority from her husband to act on his
behalf, and the verdict was accordingly for the
defendant.

Till BOMB DRAMATIC CLIIR—As we noticed in
our issue of last week, the above club are going to
perform at the Corn Exchange, on Monday, Thee-
day, and Wednesday evenings, next week. The
performance on Monday night will consist of the
well known Comedy Drama " Megs' Diversion," to
conclude with the Screaming Farce "Chiselling,"
on Tuesday evening, the performance will be the
"Lady of Lyons," one of the few well-known
plays which will never die. On Wednesday even-
ly, will be produced the beautiful Comedy Drama
"Parted," to conclude as on Monday night, with
"Chiselling."—We have had thp pleasure lof wit-
nessing the club's rehearsals, on several occasions,
and we feel quite sure, from what we have already
seen, that the above entertainments will give both
pleasure and satisfaction to those who may grant
their support.
THE Dierngss.—A sum of X 22 168. se; has been
obtained, for distribution among the poor. from the
skaters on the Heath Pool. Mrs. Cochrane has
kindly allowed those fond of exercise on the ice
admission to her grounds, and the above sum, which
represents many individual contributions, has been
usefully employed among the neeestitous poor.
What has been done in this way at the Heath Pool
might be advantageously imitated in other places.
Tbe subscriptions to the town relief fund amount to
nearly £170., and the committee are distributing
weekly about 1,000 loaves of bread and 25 tons of
eoal. The number of applicants showed an increase
on Saturday, and if the committee are to keep up
the present scale of relief further contributions will
be needed. The local distress is mainly due to the
severe weather, and as soon as a charge occurs there
will be a fair amount of employment for a good
proportion of the persons who are receiving relief.
FATAL ACCIDENT TO A GOODS GUARD. —William
Hardwick, of Wolverhampton, an under goods guard
in the employ of the Great Western Railway Com-
pany, met with his death on Wednesday morning,
while engaged on the line. A train he was Mih
was picking Up some wagons at Churchill Station,
hen deceased was caught between two buffers. He
was put in a train to be sent to the hospital, but died
before he reached Stourbridge station. His body was
taken out there,:and placed in one of the waiting rooms,
pending the inquest. This was expected to have been
held at 5.30 on Wednesday evening, but the jury and
witnesses summoned for that time, after waiting for
two hours at the station' learned that the inquest
would not to he held that day. It was held on Thurs-
day before Mr. R. Docker. After hearing the
evidence a verdict of accidental death" was
returned. •

•
RUMOURED CASE- or Po/sow/No.—An inquest was
held at the Vine Inn, Waste:on Wednesday evening,
before Mr. R. Docker, coroner, on the body of Joseph
Pritchard (49), chainmaker. Deceased, after some
years being a total abstainer, had for the last six
months relapsed into habits of heavy drinking, and
this appears to have led to his deak It had been
rumoured about the neighbourhood that deceased had
stated when his money was all spent he should po'son
himself. Apost mortem examination orthe body had
been made by Dr. Kerr, who found no trace of poison.
Upon his evidence the jury returned a verdict that the
dccea?-ed died from apoplexy.
TRANSFERS.—At the Police Court, yesterday,
before Colonel Fletcher, the Hon. Spencer Lyttel-
ton,•Messrs. C. P. Noel, and R. L. Freer, thefollow-
ing licenses were transfered. The Angel Inn,
Coventry Street, from Henry Pagett to Mary Ann
Pagett ; the Market Hall Vaults, Market Street,
from John to James Brades Rhodes; the
Woodman Inn, Dutton,ent, horn Edward Wheeler, to
Samuel Meredith; the Rose and Crown Inn, Hay
Green, from E. S. Mobberly, to Benjamin Ealand
Adams; Blue Bell Inn, Cradley, from Henry
Forrest, to Benjamin Homer; the White Horse
Inn, Angel Street, from Harriet Moreton, to Charles
Moreton ; the Forresters Arms, Ridge Top, from
Richard House toJoseph Weatly. An application
was made by Edgar Webb for a transfer of the
Bridge Inn, Coventry Street, from Samuel Moore.
The Bench did not consider the applicant a proper
person to keep a public-house as he was convicted
the first day he took the house, and refused the
application,
CAUTION To CARTERS.—Joseph Southall was
chargei with being drunk while in charge of a
horse and cart at , Oldswinford. on the 4th inst.
Police-constable Davies said be saw the defendant
while in charge of a horse and cart. He was so
drunk that he pulled the horse down several times
Fined 5s and costs; in default 7 days.
Dnumc AND DISOILDERLEY.—Benjamin Kendrick
was charged with being drunk and disorderly at
Clint on the 15th December. Police-constable
Wallace said the defendant was very drunk with
others, and assisted in rescuing a prisoner he bad
in custody. Defendant also threatened to knock
his brains out, and made use of very bad language
Fined 5s and costs ; in default 7 days.
CHARGE OF COAL STEALING.—Harriet Price (20),
:.vas charged with stealing 951 b of coal, on the 2nd
inst, the ; roperty of Joseph King and Co. George
Plant said that he st..w the prisoner go on the tcp
of the mound. She picked up a pelr, and broke the
coal which was nearly 1 cwt. weight. The value
of the coal was 44d. The ease was withdrawn on
payment of is 6d costs.—John Thomas Hill (13),
was charged with stealing coal on the 4th inst. the
pi operty ef J. B. Fisher and Co. The case was
proved and prisoner ordered to be locked up for 4
hours, and to receive 10 strokes with the birch rod.
—William Perry was charged with a similar of-
fence on the 4th inst. The case was proved and
prisoner was fined 25 6d; in default 7 days.
CHARGE or DRUNRENNESI3.—Reuben Southwick
of Cradley, was charged with being drunk on the
4th inst. Police-constable Oakey proved the case,
and defendant fined ss. •

BREACH or THE PSACE.—David Luck was charged
with committing a breach of the peace by fighting
on the 26th lilt, at the Heath. Police-constable
Davis proved the case. Defendant pleaded guilty
and was bound (wenn £lO, and one sare'y
to keep the peace for one month; in default of
finding :a surety one month's imprisonment,
ASSAULT CASE.—Thomas Jordan was charged
with assaulting John Reale on the 7th inst. Com-
plainant said that a boy came tolhim for his wages.
Ae paid him, when the defendant milled into the
house, picked up a chair, threw it over his head,
and tried to hit him with it. He caught hold of
the defendant by the collar and prevented him
etriking. Defendant kicked his wife twice on the
leg and injured her Defendant then kicked him,
and threatened his life. Had not given the defend.
ant the least provocation, Police-sergeant Jones
proved previous convictions, and defendant was
fined 20s and costs; in default one month.