The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-11-30 00:00:00

THE STOURBRIDOX 013 SERVER.

The ,journal of the Medical Oil I;cr of Health
was laid before your committee. '1 he Post Office,
High Street, and No. 4 lodging-ho use have been
visited and instructions given in re ference ther to
have been carried out. Some rabbits were sei ed
in the Market Hall, being unsound and the paYty
exposing them for sale was fined by the Magis-
trates 18s 6d including costs.
Towx OsTieEß's REPORT.-NieLt Soil removed,
104 plivie3, 89 ashpits and 2 cesspools belonging
to 181 houses have been emptied and cleansed and
the contents removed. Number of loads, 234.
The registered lodging-houses and slaughter-
houses and bake-houses (except one slaughter-
house and one bake-house) have been reported to
be in good sanitary condition.
A letter had been received from Captain Graze-
brook in reference to the %huge made for the use
of the Corn Exchange by the Volunteer Rifle
Corps for drill and other purpoies.
After considering the application your com-
mittee advise that the charge be reduced from .215
to .210 per annum.
On the motion of Mr. Kelley, seconded by Mr.
Hicklin, it was proposed and carried that the
amount be reduced to .210 for the current year.
Mr. Kelley remarked that the volunteers gave a
great deal of their time 'in attending to their
The Clerk read a letter he had received from
the Gas Company. In reply to one he had sent
according to a resolution passed at the last meet-
ing in which the Secretary stated that the direc-
tors had constantly in view the desirability of e-
ducing the price of gas to the lowest remunerative
level, but the present very low price of cokes had
prevented them taking any step in this direction
since the last reduction was made. When the
company's accounts were made up to the end .of
the year they would again give the subject their
careful consideration. The committee thought it
desirable to wait till the close of the year in the
expectation that the company would then be in a
position to make a handsome reduction in the
charge to consumers.
REPORT OF THE IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE.

NEW BUILDINGS.—Your 'committee report that
plans for two houses to be erected near Lion
Street have been passed subject to their being in
accordance with the by. laws.
LOWERING 07 FOSTER STREET.—Your committee
have had a letter laid before them from Mr.
Lovatt, offering to take out the extra depth of
their street for 2s 9d per cubic yard but they
have considered it advisable to defer the work for
the present. The plans were again laid before
your committee and referred to a sub-committee
to act thereon as they deem most desirable.
The report was adopted.
Mr. Woolley, at a subsequent stage of the pro-
ceedings, expressed his regret that the committee
had not seen their way to accepting the offer to
throw a width of three feet into Wollaston Street,
on condition that a lime tree, now enclosed, was
left standing.
The Chairman said the Improvement Committee
would not alter their previous determination on the
point.
The Clerk was instructed to renew the notice
given to the Public Works Loan Commissioners
last year for a loan of £lO,OOO for drainage pur-
poses.
The Chairman mentioned that a farmer in the
neighbourhood who was willing to take the sewage
a the town for a period of fourteen years. They
'should, no doubt, have to pump the sewage when
they dealt with it.
Mr. Woolley and others deprecated anything
being done which committed the Commissioners
to a scheme of a Mr. Roberts, who was con-
sulted on the drainage of the town some time

ago.
The Chairman said they were not pledged to Mr.
Roberts, but they would find it difficult, after
going so far with him, not to have anything fur-
ther to do with him.
Mr. Kelley: It was an agreement come to be-
tween us that we should not be wedded to Mr.
Roberts, Mr. Marten, or anyone else.
After some further conversation the subject

dropped,
The Clerk reported that the Gas Company
had given notice of their intention to apply for
another bill, and amongst the provisions was
one as to supplying artificial light other than
gas.
THE ENVILLE HALL BURGLARY.

description of the one seen at Enville, and it was
also noticed that the horse they used in this vehicle
was too small for the shafts, which further increased
the resemblance. The Police accordingly decided to
watch them, and at length to apprehend them. A
Stourbridge officer saw 'hem drive- away from Clent
in a trap, and on the discovery being made that their
destination was the shop at Round Oak, Superin-
tendent Woollaston (Brierley Hill), and Superin-
tendent Wheeler (Stourbridge) concerted measures
for their apprehension. On Friday night these
officers, with some constables went to Round Oak,
and waited near the shop mentioned for the men to
make their appearance. It turned out that this
night had been pitched upon for the arrangement of
a bargain between the accused and a Stourhridge
gentleman for the purchase of the trap, of which the
former bad possession. Whilst the police were
awaiting them they drove up with the auctioneer
and a farmer's son, and on arriving at the shop ended
their journey by upsetting their vehicle and pitching
I themselves upon the road. The police seeing them
enter a stable opposite the shop, followed them, and
1 expressing . much commiseration for the accident,
took the opportunity to identify their men. They
eventually arrested Lowe and Ferrer, and went
across to the shop, where a large dog was found to
be chained. Lowe's wife, who was present, attempted
to let loose the dog on the intruders, but the police
prevented her from doing so. The men bad no
money in their pockets, and the place was destitute
of anything like furniture, while a load of hay was
at the door waiting to be paid for.
The men were conveyed to the police-station at
Brierley Hill. It is stated they have been living at
Beoley, and some communications are expected from
that place.
The police at Stourbridge have obtained possession
of the Bute dog-cart which has figured largely in this
case, and which furnishes a very strong link in the
chain of evidence against the two prisoners Lowe and
Farrer. Mr. Moore, coach-builder, stated that he let
a dog-cart to Lowe at 5s a week, and this vehicle,
which resembled by description the one seen at
Enville, was missing at the time of the apprehension.
This week Superintendent Wheeler, at Stourbridge,
received information that the cart was to be found at
Birmingham, and going over there on Wednesday
night, he received the dog-cart at the King's Head
public-house, in Barford Street. The landlord said
Lowe had brought the vehicle there. Mr. Moore
identified it as the one belonging to him, and it was
found also to exactly answer the description of the
cue at Enville. This leads to the suspicion that the
prisoners had some connection with the burglary.
When prisoneri were brought up before Col. Fletcher,
Messrs.C. P. Noel, R. L. Freer, and .Y. Holcroft,
on the charges as above, with burglary at Enville
Hall, with stealing a dog carland barrels.
Superintendent Woollaston said he asked for a re-
mand for afweek. .He had this morning:recieved fresh
information, and if he stated what it was, it would
no doubt defeat the ends of justice.
Mr. Tanner said he should like to cross-examine the
Superintendent.
Col. Fletcher said that they should go into other
cases first, and if necessary the Superintendent could
afterwards be cross-examined. Prisoner was then
charged with stealing a set of harness the property of P.
Cooper. James Corbett, in the employ of prosecutor
said he recollected the prisoner Lowe ordering some
harness which was made. Prisoner Farrer came for
harness, and said that his master Lowe was at the
railway station were he had gone for 300 bags of
potatoes, and said his master would call and pay for it
! the same evening, upon that representation he let
Farrer have the'harness.
Cross-examined: Farrer said that his master was
one of the largest potato merchants in England, and
lived at Holly Cottage, Clent. Have often passed Holly
Cottage, andhave since found out that Lowe is not the
man represented by Ferrer.
Alfred Price, Foreman at the goods station, said
that on the 4th just, there were not 300 bags of potatoes
at the station, or any. The first lot was received on
the 15th October, the second lot on the 11th Novem-
ber. The potatoes came from Londonderry.
Cross-examined: Fifty bags of potatoes arrived on
the 11th inst.
William B. Moore, said he visited Holly Cottage,
Clout, several times ,wbile the prisoner lived there.
Saw no sign of any trade being carried on there.
Cross-examined: I charged prisoner with stealing
my dog-cart.
The dog cart is found and in the hands of the police.
I had a dog cart from the prisoner to repair, did
not exchange, but agreed for price, and let dog-cart to
remain on hire. Agreed to let the prisoner have the
dog cart for £l5 and prisioner's old trap.
Henry Pearman, Farmer, Clent, said that he never
recommended Lowe to go to Cooper for harness.
Cross-examined: Saw prisoner Lowe one day who
said you have got a nice set of harness, and asked who
made it. ;Told him that Cooper made it. Did not say
that Cooper was as good a man as possible to get
harness from.
Superintendent Wheeler at this stage asked for a
remand, for the attendance of other witnesses.
Mr. Tanner said he should like to ask the Superin-
tendent a question.
Col. Fletcher, you may ask him, but he can please
himself, wether he answers or not.
Mr. Tanner, do you think if prisoners are remanded
for a week, you shall be able to committ the prisoners
with the Enville burglary.
Superintendent Woollaston said that he had re-
ceived some information this morning, and he be-
lieved he should.
Mr. King, to Mr. Tanner, it is but fair that you
should know that the charge of stealing potatoes will
be preferred against your client, prisoner was then
remanded for a week to Birmingham.
The Court was crowded to hear the case.

--

day night, at the Golden Eagle Inn, Brierley Hill. Mr.
C. F. Monckton, M. P., presided, and Mr. J. L. Holber-
ton was vice-president. There were also present Mr.
H.
B. Shiridan. M. P., Dr. Walker, Messrs. 11. 0. Firm-
stone, Geo. Thompson. It. N. Hall, It. S. Cason, F.
Stuart, Jos. Smith, C. B. Firmstone, C. Webb, H. C.

Edwards, J. Moore, and Rev. J. Hartley.
ater the usual loyal toasts.
Dr. Walker gave "rho County and Borough Members."
The Chairman, in replying, said that if the duties of
members of the House of Commons continued to increse
as they had been doing, they would have to ask Parlia•
inentary candidates when they presented themselves.
"Are you sound? Will your constitution stand the
strain of the House of Commons ?" (Laughter.) He
was not aware that there was any more want of legisla-
tion than a few years ago, but he thought a great deal of
extra strain noon the House of Commons was due to the
over-anxiety of would-be orators and statesmen to hear
their own voices and see their speeches in print. He
hoped that soon they might have a little relief in that
respect. and that they should come to an age of telephones
and microphones, when it would,be unnecessary for mem-
bers of Parliament to give orders for the Strangers'
Gallery. They would only have to touch a.wire in their
town halls and clubs, and they could sit and hear the
whole of a debate reproduced. If they did not know
now, they would learn then what were the sufferings of
members of the House of Commons. There were two
or three measures which came before the House last
session of Parliament interesting to 'licensed victuallers.
Of course, they had their old standard dish, the Per-
missive Bill. Then there was a short act, the Inn-
keepers' Act, which he thought they would find useful;
and a great deal of their time was taken up with the Irish
Sunday Closing Act. Mr. Earner Bass the other day
invoked the wrath of the licensed victuallers upon those
who supported that bill. He (the speaker) was one of
them, and he supported the bill because they were told
three-fifths of the people of Ireland desired it, and ha
believed that two dioceses in the North of Ireland had
voluntarily adopted the principle of the bill. He did
not see why licensed victuallers should not have a holi-
day on Sundays as well as other people, and he believed
a majority of them would be in favour of Sunday closing
if it was carried out generally. He could not congratu-
late them on the commercial prosperity of the country,
but the depression they were experiencing was as bad in
other countries. He believed they had now an assured
prospect of European peace, and the Berlin Treaty was
a beginning of the settlement of the question which had
so long agitated them, and that with this settlement
would come a return of trade. They were involved at
present in a war with Afghanistan, and the latest news
was what might have been expected—that they had
gained a decided advantage. He was not going to offer
an opinion on that war till the facts were before him.
Parliament was called together, and in a few days they
should have the whole of the correspondence issued.
The Government would be brought before the tribunal
of the House of Commons, and they would have to give
an account of the policy they had pursued. It had
always been his opinion that they should not interfere
to much with a Government, or tie their hands. Give
them plenty of rope, and if they did not do their duty
then come down upon them. Let them wash their dirty
linen at home, and not hamper the Government when
they wanted the unswerving and patriotic support of the
country. Next week they would have the reasons and
motives which had led the Government to take the
course they had, and when these were given he believed
the Government would be found not less deserving of
the confidence and esteem of the country than any of
their predecessors. (Applause.)
Mr. H. B. Sheridan, M.P., also responded to the
toast. The Chairman had said that a great deal of time
had been devoted to the Irish Sunday closing Bill, and
that great facilities were given by the Government for
the passage of that bill. Whether this sprang from any
new desire on the part of the Cabinet to become
teetotallers, as some wicked people suggested, Cr whether
it was because they desired to win to their side the Irish
vote, he was not prepared to say ; but let them hope
that the latter was the real reason, because otherwise,
to be consistent, the Government must next year facili-
tate a bill which would close public-houses in England
on Sundays. Why should they, the stronger power,
impose on Ireland, the •veaker power, a bill for closing
public-houses on Sundays, when in England they should
reject a similar measure? (Hear, hear.) Threatened
men, it was said, lived long; and, despite all the
measures aimed at the privileges of the licensed victual-
lers, their interests never stood so tvell as at present.
Following the example of the president, he could not
congratulate them on any improvement in the trade of
the district in a hich they were interested, a circum-
stance 'which must have affected them as much, if not
more, than most of their neigbours. Milton said, "in
the lowest depth there is a deeper still," and it seemed
as if they were destined to find the truth of that in the
gloom which had overspread the country. As English-
men, they were justified in asking where this state of
things was going ta stop, and what was the cause of this
universal stagnation in industry? They had not far to
seek, if they desired au answer. It was the same cause
which seventy years ago weighed down the people, and
sent up bread to 2s a loaf. It was the state of armed
preparation in Europe; it was that game of war at
which kings seemed so inclined to play, and which
choked up every source of commercial life. While that
state of things continued was it likely that capital would
be laid out and those great undertakings entered upon
which gave life au d activity to a community ? When
they were there last year his friend Mr. Staveley Hill,
in a very eloquent speech, endeavoured to calculate what
were the chances of England being drawn into the war
then raging. They were now at war, and what man
could calculate the conditions of the war, and what great
Powers might be drawn Into it? He was not an ex-
treme party man, but he said that no Government.
whether Tory or Liberal, was justified, at a time of fall-
ing revenue, and a general gloom and discontent, in
striking alarm drums and sending their forces out to war
in order to rectify a frontier. (Hear, hear.) He would say
no mote upon that subject, but if they were to go to
war, when they were better fitted for it would have been
the tine. They found Europe resembling one huge
camp; France, Germany, Austria, and Italy were en-
cumbering their people with taxation, all for the sake of
increased and increasing armaments, and they were will-
ing to spring at each other's throats. Mankind seemed
to be breathing an atmosphere of "villainous saltpetre."
He believed the time was coming when the people would
• have a word to say to this state of things. While there
were wars and rumours of wars, there was a rumbling
underground, There were strangely altered conditions
of society, which the legislators of Europe were trying
to find a remedy for ; and every week brought them news '
of an attempt on the life of a king. These kings would
take no warning, but unfortunately in this country they
were exempt from such things. The Queen reigned,
but did not govern. She reigned in the hearts of her
people, and there was no prospect in England of such
events as they saw abroad. 'They did not sympathise
with the sentiments of the witches in " Macbeth "
" we should rejoice when good kings bleed "—but they
should rejoice most heartily and enthusiastically if good
kings would take care that the people over whom they
ruled were not railed upon to bleed in unnecessary.and
cruel wars—(cheers)—in wars of pure ambition. in the
long track of the history of those crimes called conquests.
there never had been an instance where a nation had
waged a'war such as this in which its people had bane-
fitted. The motto of England should be "peace," if
they desired to thrive and prosper—s peace tempered
with that description of honour which satisfied the wants
of a great, patient, and noble people, and recognised
humanity as an essential element in the morality of a
nation. (C ceers.)
Mr. B. B. Sheridan proposed "The County and
Borough Magistrates," to which Mr. H. 0. Firmstone
and Mr. G. Thompson responded,
The President gave " Success to the Brierley Hill
Licensed Victuallers' Association," coupled with the
inameo aowoefd.W. I. Rollinson ; and a numberofoethonertritoastso
the
bieessprlse,ale ork and Camplon's glee party
KIN VER.
SollOol. BOARD PROsISCOTIoNs.—A. number of persons
were summoned by Inspector Bennett, for refusing to
send their children to school, and most of them were
fined 5s each to include costs. One charge was against
Willoughby Berrige. The defence was that he did send
his children to a private school and after that to the
Board School but they came home so dirty in their
heads and other things that he took them away. He
had them taught privately at his own house and he pro-
duced a letter written by his daughter, aged nine years
also a sum. The Bench considered the sum and
writing very good for a child so young. In answer to
the Bench defendant saidlthe young lady who taught his
otsiliren was Bliss Dickius. At the recommendation of
the Bench the summons was withdrawn.
GRAMHAIt &Hoof, ScasstE.—The scheme for the
management of the Kinver (*retainer School, and which
recently received the Royal assent, came before the
Kinver School Board at their meeting last week, when a
letter was read from the secretary to the Charity Com-
mission stating that the School Board should at once
proceed, under the provisions of the scheme, to appoint
three representative governors of the above foundation.
There are nine co-optative governors appointed by the
scheme, and it also gives power to the justices of the
peace at Brierley Bill to appoint three representative
governors, and to the School Board to appoint three.
The scheme, however, provides that no representative
governor shall be appointed by the justices of the peace
until the number of co•optative governors is reduced
below six. The following gentlemen have been unani-
mously elected by the School Board as representative
governors, namely, Mr. Samuel William Bunn, of
gathersley House, Stourbridge, gentleman; Mr. Thomas
Holyoake. of Kinver, surgeon; and Mr. Joseph Jordan,
of Stourton, Stourbridge. solicitor.

• OLD
ASSAULT Cesm.—At the Police Court, on Wednesday,
before Messrs. W. Bassano and B. Flingley, Joseph
Bannister and George Thompson were charged with
asFaulting Samuel Price, on the 23rd inst. Mr. Hayes
defended. Complainant said that he was talking to a
young woman at CrAdley Heath when the two defendants
came up to him, Thompson laid hold of him by the
collar and said " Its you is it." Bannister went and
lighted a piece of paper and put it into his face. They
both commenced to beat him, knocked him down, and
while down kicked him on the back and shoulders.
Kate Goodwin and Alfred Williams gave corroborative
evidence.. Samuel Price was then charged with assault-
ing Lavinia Thompson on the 23rd inst. Complainant
said that about half-past eleven o'clock at night she saw
tho defendant strike Bannister, Defendant then came
up to her, struck her several times, dragged her across
the street, and pulled a large quantity of hair out of her
head. Defendant threatened to kill all the lot. A
man named Tucker said that he heard cries of " Mur-
der." and he went out and saw the defendant punching
Mrs. Price as hard as he could. The Bench said they
did not believe any of them and bound them all over to
keep the pease.
Woxissas QUARBELS.—Blizabeth Barnett was charged
with assaulting Hannah Cattier, on the 20th inst. Com-
plainant said that the defendant was in a cart and she got
out and struck her. The defence was that complainant
first struck her with a bottle, Defendant was fined 51
and costs.
DRUNIENXIM—Joseph Foshan was charged with being
drunk, on the 18th inst. Polioeionstable Silvestro said

HILL.