The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-07-24 00:00:00

OLD HILL.

DROWNING CASE. - On Monday, Mr. Edwin
Hooper, the South Staffordshire Coroner, held an
inques: at the British Oak inn, Old Hill, on the
body of Joseph lick (17), who wa. drowned in the
canal at Bloomfield, Tipton, on the 15:h just
Deceased fell over the side of a boat, and was
drowned before assistance could be rendered him.
A verdict of "Accidental death" was returned:
DISEASE AMONG Pis.—On Monday last, infor-
mation was brought to Inspector Walters that a
dinsim br9ko v4t meg min bitiogio

to Mr. William Rigby, .of Whiteheath. Walters at
once sent for Mr. F. Blakeway, veterinary surgeon,
of Stourbridge, who, on examining the pigs, found
that five were suffering from swine fever. The
pigs were at once killed and buried. Mr. Rigby had
a number of other pigs in different styes but there
was nothing the matter with either of them. The
pigs that were killed were bought on the previous
Thurs lay from Mr. Tandy, of Clent.
DRUNK AND DISORDERLY.—At the Police Court
on Wednesday before:Messrs. W. Bassano and B.
Hingley, Joseph Stevens was charged with being
drunk and disorderly, on the 12th inst. Police-con-
stable Johnson said that defendant was drunk and
using bad language. Defendant admitted having a
droplof beer but denied using had language. Fiued
Is and costs, or 14 days.—John Hampton was
charged with a similar offenc at Cradley.Heath, en
the 13th inst. Police-constable Wetton proved the
case. Twenty-four previous convictions were
proved against defendant. Mr. Bassano :If we let
you off this time when will you come again. De-
fendant : Not this year or next. Mr. Bassano :
Well you may go now, and keep that mouth of
yours closed. Defendant: Thank you sir.
ASSAULT.—Henry Mosley was charged with
assaulting Emma Richardson on the 14 inst. The
assault complained of was that defendant threw
some turf at her, and also struck her on the head
with his fist. The ease was dismissed.

SOUTH STAFFORDS [-LIRE AND EAST WOR 1
CESTERSHIRE MINING ACCIDENT FUND.
The quarterly meeting of the committee of this
fund was held on Wednesday afternoon at the Mines
Drainage Commissioners' Offices, Darlington Street,
Wolverhampton, Lieutenant-Colonel Thorneycroft
presiding. There were also present Mr. W. North
and the miners' representatives, Messrs. H. Burnes,
Joseph Gordon, and William Jones.
The funds available for distribution were an-
nounced as amountirg to £4B ss. 7d., and grants
were made to the following applicants at the rate of
£4 for each widow and 10s. for each child.
Sarah Hambury, whose husband was k illcd at
Homer's Hill Colliery ; Helena Brettle, British Iron
Company's Timber Tree Colliery; Hannah Barnes
Blue Fly Colliery ; Sarah Baker, five children, and
Matilda Gill, one child, whose husbands were killed
at the Cinderbank Colliery, Netherton. An appli-
cation was also received in a efts: where the
husband died last January ;but it was explained
that no application could be entertained unless
received a fortnight previous to the end of the
quarter in which the death occurred.
The Secretary (Mr. Daniel Jones) reported that
he had received from Mr. G. L. Campbell, secretary
the Lancashire and Cheshire Miners' l',.mnanent
Relief Society, a pamphlet setting forth the history
of miners' insurance funds, showing how they were
worked in various districts, and how t.sey had
developed. The pamphlet stated that the total
number of members of these socit ties was 117,688,
and that the amount of accumulated finds was
£112,466, with a revenue of £80,190. The number
of widows and children receiving relief from the
societies was 730 and 1,443 rewctively, whilst in
1877 the number of disabled cases which were re-
lieved was 19,894. The Secretary said the pamphlet
showed what had been done by the combined action
of masters and men in other places, and probably a
society of the kind might be established in this
district.

Mr. North said, with respect to the Employers'
Liability Bill, that some kind of insurance might
meet the case of both parties.
The Secretary thought the question would force
itself upon the district.
It was decided that copies of the pamphlet ehold
be obtained for the members of the committee.
The Secretary ti,en read an interesting history of
the formation of this fund, which he had compiled
for reference, and he was thanked for the trouble
he had taken in the matter.
Mr. Barnes said the Black Lake Colliery Accident
Relief Fund had just been wound up, the whole of
the persons receiving benefit from it having been
paid off. At a meeting held to consider how to dis-
tribute a balance of about £lB, he had called atten-
tion to the South Staffordshire and East Worcester-
shire Accident Fund, and it bad been resolved to
hand over .C 8 to this fund.
Mr. Barnes was thanked for having interested
himself in behalf of the fund, the Chairman
reuarking that the committee would be glad to
receive contributions from other funds of a similar
cha? acter that were being wound up.

THE END OF CHE HORSE-NAIL STRIKE.

The strike of the Staffordshire horse-nail makers,
which has been going on for several weeks, was
ended on Thursday by the masters sending for the
men and agreeing to pay the mere 'se demanded.
They will receive an adra,nce of 3d. per 1,000.