The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-02-11 00:00:00

ACCIDENTAL DEATII !"

The finding of a verdict of " Acc,dental death " by
the coroner's jury in the cave of Humphrey
the bailiff, who was shot lately at Foxford, county
Mayo, has excited great sturprhs.i, and is strongly come
mented on in the local j surnals (remarks The Times'
Correspondent). At the inquest the wife of the de-
ceased swore positively that she was seated at Ids bed-
side, where he lay in the act of feeding one of his chil-
dren when a idiot was fired through the window. She
called to her husband to get up and fire out at the
SWAVALI, and receiving no reply else re potted the re-
quest. He then raised himself on his rib tw, and
throwing • ff oho clothes showed that Le had been shot.
On this she ran out and alarmed his brothers. Mar-
garet M'Hale, a servant, swore that before tits shot
was fired there was one pane of glass broken in the
window, end after the shot she Paw two more panes
broken. A woman named TlNalty had come twice
to Ilse lonise that evening to inquire whether her
master had come home. After hearing the shot the
witness, who bad been in the kitchen, ran into the room
and PAW what had lispnene 1. Her master's gun was
standing against the wall, where shehad often before seen
, it. The doctor who attended the decewed st.t sd that he
found six punctured wounds on Davis's head and fees,
and extracted 8.011.10 slugs, wh'ch were formed of pot
metal. There wee no mask of powder on the face,
which be thought there would Late been if the shot
ha.] been fired close to the deceased, and there was a
black mark on the window outeide which looked like
powder. Another witness swore that he was; carrying
water from a well when he beard the shot, and im-
mediately afterwards two men walked briskly past
him, He took no notice of the ehot. N. he had often

heard shota at a late hour, and he supposed that it was
fired by the deceased or his brothers, who were the only
persons in the locality having arms. The head
constable of the police swore that he found pieces of
metal and glass about the bed. He also saw the
deceased's gun standing between the bed and A press.
It bore no mark of having been recently dii charged.
He did not examine it to see if it was loaded until the
day of the inquest, when he drew the charge. He
believe it was in the same state on that day as on
the night of the occurrence, lie acxiunted for his
not examining the gun carefuly and not searching
the house before by stating that he did not think it
necessary, as the gun exhibital no sign of having been
discharged, and the family was so afflicted that he did
not wish to search. The jury expressed dissatisfaction
that he did not make a complete examination at the
time. Some witnesses deposed that the deceased was
in the habit of using pot metal for shot, and one of
them stated that ten months ago he lent Davis a
hammer for the purpose of breaking a pot. The coro-
ner pointed out the strong facts positively sworn to by
Davis's wife, and corroborated by other witnesses,
while there was no proof that the allot was fired from
the inside. A inajority of the jury, however, returned
a verdict of 'Accidental death." This finding is
hailed with satisfaction in the district, as it is sup-
posed that the effect will be to exonerate the inhabi-
tants from the payment of a tax for compensation. It
ite not likely, however, that the verdict of a coroner's
jury will be allowed to defeat the intention of the
Legislature in passing the Peace Preservation Act.

EDUCATION IN DOMESTIC ECONOMY.
A meeting of the Victoria Discussion Society was
held in London, on Monday night, at which Lord
Lyttelton presided, and where a paper was read by Mr.
Phillips Bevan, "On the Necessity of Education in
Dome•tic Economy."
A discussion ensued, in which several ladies as well as
gentlemen took part. The main interest of the pro-
ceedings centred in an announcement by MiFS
Faithfull that, under the distinguished patronage of
the Earl of Shaftsbury, the Countess of Warwick, atel
others interested in the undertaking, a propos:tion Is
about t be made to remedy the lamentable ignorance
which prevails in this country with reference to domes-
tic economy and household management, and to
supply several requirements which have long been
felt by ladies resident in or temporary visitors
to London. With this view it is hoped to form a self.
supporting training school, to include the thorough
teaching of a certain number of resident servants in
the several duties of 000 k, kitchen, house, chamber,
and parlour maids ; whilst instruction would be given
to daily learners in the culinary and confectionery
departments. Among other advantages it is proposed
that a course of 24 lessons in the art of cooking and
general household management should be given to
ladies who are subscribers of £2 24.

7 '
Lord Lyttelton, in summing up at the close of the
discussion took ezcasion to observe that hehoped that
in future girls would participate to a greater extent in
the advantages of the old foundai ions of the country,
and by way of instancing the injustice done to girls
through their non-participation in these endowments,
he rtmarked that in Christ's Hospital, with an annual
Income of more than £-10,000 the benefits of the install.
thin were extended to more than 1.000 boys, but only
to 18 girls. He expressed his confidence that in future
educational arrangements disparities of this kind would
undergo alteration.