The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-12-19 00:00:00

MELANCHOLY DEATH.

The anxiety caused by the mysterious disappearance
of Mr. Wiliam Brooks, 8.A., Student of Christ
Church, who had lseen missing for nearly a fortnight,
was too well founded, for his body was discovered on
Saturday morning in the lts•kof the canal, near Ilythe-
bridge, Oxford, by James Beesley, a fishermanresuling
near the spot. The body of the deceased gentleman
having been removed to Christ Church a Coroner's in-
quisition was h eld on Saturday afternoon. From the evi-
dence it appeared deceased was in his usual state of health
on Sunday week, and had arranged to go down during
the following week. He left college at about twenty-
five minutes to eight o'clock on the evening in question,
and was observed by the sexton of St. Thomas's, Church,
who put Lim into a pew. The evidence of the sexton,
however, was very conflicting AR regards the time but
he was most positive as to the identity of the de
From that period no traces of Mr. Brooks could be
discovered until Monday morning, when a pot hat was
found by Beesley, who from that clue dragged the
river and canal, and discovered the body of the missing
gentleman at the bottom of Louses Lock, which
divides the river from the canaL This spot, it appeared
from several witnesses, was dangerous to foot passen-
gers, in consequence of a cross post fixed near the lock,
which is commonly used as a footway, although there
is a bridge for the accommodation of passengers. It
transpired that a case of drowning had occurred a short
time since at the same spot, and that any one falling
into the lock, even if a good swimmer, could not get
out without assistance. After a protracted inquiry the
jury returned a verdict of "Found drowned." Deceased
was a son of Mr. Wm. Brookes, of Much W enlock,
and was a man of great ability and much respected in
his

-I;eme' d.

EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN AND
CHILDREN IN AGRICULTURE.

------ -
Mr. Norman, one of the Assistant Commissioners
appointed to inquire into and report upon the employ-
ment of women, children, and young pers.ons
in
agriculture, attended a special meeting of the members
of the Warwickshire Chamber of Agriculture, on
Saturday, under the presidency of Mr. Caidecott, to
ascertain its opinion as to what extent and with what
modifications the principles of the Factories Act can

be—aopted for the regulation of such employmen
and especially with a view to the better education of
such children. There was a very large attendance of
the members, and among those present were, the Earl
of Camperdown, the Right Hon. Lord Leigh (lord-
lieutenant of the county), the Hon. C. B. Adderlev,
M. P., Sir It. N. C. Hamilton, and Mr. Bromley
Davenport, M.l'.
Mr. Norman having explained the working of the
Factories Act, a lengthy discussion followed. It
was finally decided that no girls be employed under
eleven years of age, except for a short time in the
spring and winter. That employers would not be put
to any inconvenience if they employed no boys under
ten years of age. That as a general ride none except
wives of labourers were employed in field work, but it
was necessary to employ women in the spring in
picking stones and weeding of eon], and in hay and
corn harvest, and in eleat.ing roots. Their hours of
, labour are from eight till five, and their health very
good. Boys are often sent out too young in charge of
horses, but the employers of labour suffered mo:e from
it than the boys themselves. With regard to educa-
tion, the chamber presses the necessity of requiring a
certificate of proficiency to that of school attendance.
' Night schools are, in thinly-populated parishes, diffi-
cult to maintain. Women emplovtal in field labour
a-e usually the best disciplined and more tidy in their
own homes.