The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-09-10 00:00:00

SUPPOSED CASE OF POISONING.

On Wednesday morning a servant girl in the
house of Dr. Birt was found dead in bed, with a
bottle by her side containing laudanum. It is con-
jectured that she had taken some .0 relieve the
toothache.
An inquest was held on the body on Thursday,
at the Old Pipe Inn, before R. Docker, Esq , coroner.
The first witness called was Mr. George Birt, who
said the deceased was parlour-maid in his employ.
She was about 35 years old. He last saw her alive
about half-past eight o'clock at night. She was in
good health, hut complained of toothache. She had
been to a d-ntist but she got no relief. He told her
if she was not better he would give her a draught.
She had a drop of brandy and water in a wine:glass
and went to bed. He did not see her again until
half-past eight the next morning and she was then
dead, lying on her side, partially undressed, and
cold and stiff. On looking round the recur he saw
at the foot of the bed a small bottle containing
laudanum. There was a sm4ll quantity of laudanum
in a ttmbler glass. The bottle produced was like
those used in the surgery, and he had missed it. He
believed the laudanum was taken from the surgery.
He at once sent for Dr. Eager. She was in good
health except the pain from the tooth.
Mr. Robert Eager said he saw the deceased about
half -past nil-e o'clock on Wednesday morning, at
the request of Mr. Birt. The body was dead. He
should think she had been dead eight hours. The
hands were not c!enched. and the body appeared as
if not convulsed. In appearance death appeared to
be natural. There was no swell about .the mouth,
and tl,er-3 were no mar'sa of violence about the
body. He examined the contents of the bottle
shown by Dr. Birt, and had no doubt it was
laudanum. It was of the ordinary strength sold by
eragg as and used by medical men. A teaspoon
full was sufficient to poison an adult in one flour'
The patient would sleep away. He could not say
that deceased had taked laudauai. This being tho
evideeice, the Coroner in summing up said there was
no direct evidence at present to show how the
deceased came by her death. The evidence was
purely circumstantial, and he was afraid he should
have to adjourn the inquiry for the purpose of a
post-mortem. The jury were of the same opinion
, and the inquest was adjourned for a week.

PROPOSED TELEPHONE ARRANGEMENTS. - There
is some probability of the telephone being utilised
in this town. At present, however, there are some
differences as to the Inatter of way-leave for the

wires.
THE NAILERS AND THE HOP HARVEST.
strong migration of nailers' families from the Lye,
Cradley, and adjacent districts of the country has
commenced this week. On Wednesday morning
the strongest detachment which has started yet set
out by special train, the total being about 600. The
foggy morning added somewhat to the difficulty of
getting them off. On Tuesday about 300 went off
by train and the railway company have notice of
smaller contingents to follow. The hop pickers
are chiefly bound for the district between Bewdley
Tenbury, and also for the hopyards beyond Stour-
port, in the direction Witley.
LOSPITAL SUNDAY:& meeting was held on
Tuesday night, at the rooms of the Church of Eng-
land Association, with the view of making arrange-
ments for the annual hospital collections The
Rev. D. Maginnis was voted to the chair, and
letters of apology for absence were read from the
Rev. C. S. Wordsworth and several other gentle-
men.—A resolution was passed, on the motion of
the Chairman, seconded by the Rev. W. Wallace,
asking Mr. James, of the Stourbridge and Kidder-
minster Bank, to again act as trea*urer, and Mr.
Boden as secretary.—The Chairman then moved
that there should be collections in the churches and
_ _ _

chapels of Stourbridge and neighbourhood on the
last Sunday in October, unless it was otherwise de-
sired in any particular case, and that the amounts
should be divided between the Stourbridge Dis-
pensary, the 'Guest Hospital, Dudley, and the
Queen's Hospital, Birmingham. Early notices
were ordered to be is.oled as to the collections.
VICTORIA HALL AND RlNK.—During the week a
first-class variety company has lasen performing
here to rather indifferent houses. Henri and Louis
are certainly the strongest men that have ever been
on the stage in this town. Their entertainment
commences with a very graceful performance with
the Indian clubs. Then comes the 561 b. weights,
1201b5., 1801bs., and 2001bs. dumb bells, and the
heavy bars of iron which they lift and mave about
without showing the least exertion. Miss Grace
Harrington is a very pleasing- singer and dancer,
and her wardrobe is exceedingly pretty. Miss
Ethel Everleen is a first class dancer. Mr. R.
Linden possesses a good baritone voice and be ap-
pears with peat success as a Shakespearian
comique. Calvert and Clifford are A 1 negro
com.,Liians,: and keep the audience in a roar
of laughter with their eomicalities. Their sketches
re remarkably well gone through. To-night
(Saturday) being the last night of the 'company
here we hope our. readers who have not as yet
patronised them, will do so, as it is an entertain-
ment that certainly deserves the attendance of
good audiences.
MALrEEN RACES.—The Autumn meeting will
take place on Monday, October 18th, and will in-
end,' the Lsdbury Gallowing Stakes, Malvern
Stakes, Upton Gallowing Stakes, Worcester Pony
Race. and King Edward's Race. Excursion trains
in connection with the races will run from Birm-
ingham, Wolverhampton, Dudley, Stourbridge,
Kidderminster, Worcester, etc., etc,
BOARD OF GUARDIANB.—The usual weekly meet-
ing of this Board was held yesterday, Mr. Raybould
presiding. The members present being Messrs.
Fargoter, Haskew' Hingley. Williams, Thompson,
Browning, Wood. Homer, Giles, Crump, Lavender,
Rhodes, Foley, Forrest and Brooks. Admitted
during the week 19, discharged 47, dead 2; re-
maining in the house 502; c n-responding period
last year 449. Out-door relief. Kingswinford dis-
trict, £4O 13s 4d; Stourbridgo district, £32 7s 8d ;
Ilalesowen district, £2O Oa 8d ; non-resident 6s 4d.
Total £93 8s Od, against 34:77 las ed.
LOCAL FAILURIC—A pa ition was filoti in the
Stourbridge County Court, on Thursday last, by Mr.
Rowland Gill Jones, of High Street, Lye, cheniist
and druggist. The gross liabilities are estimated
at £1,200 ; assets not yet ascertained. Messrs
Corser and Walker are solicitors to the debtor.
STEALING ParaToEs.—At the Police_ Court, h..'

yesterday, before Colonel Fletcher, H. 0, Firm-
stone, and J. B. Cochrane, Esqrs., Francis Perry,
an old man, was charged with stealin:* a quantity
of potatoes on the 6th inst. the property of Henry
Smith. of Pedmore. • Police-constable Eaves proved
the case. Pleaded guilty. Fined is to include
costs; in default 7 days.
DiturtirsmiEss,—Tabiatba Kettle w,s charged
'with being drunk on the 3rd inst. Police .sergeant
Herman proved the case. Police-sergeant Jones
proved 3 previous convictions. Fined lOs and costs;
in default 14 days.
Nox-P.ezzeicwr Op POOR RATr.s.—The following
persons were summoned by Henry Yates for non-
payment of rates, W. H. Bedford, Sam-31 Simms,
Henry Morris, John Doughty, Travis Iliehards, and
John Nickuls. Orders were "Lade in cat:a case for
immediate payment and cost 2.
BREAKING INTO A Willi-REY:OUSE --eivorge Palmer
was charged with entsring t 2.0 ware-
house of William Platt and stealing bottles of
wine. Prosecutor said frcin infcr2-4;,.tion received
he found the bolt bent and the door 1.121-zt open and
missed 8 bottles of wine. Cave inforraatio-a to the
police. William Harris, agaistant zo T.5.r.. Platt, said
that he was in the sitting room w Polieeeon.
stable Hancock watching on the nigli•:. of the 7th
inst., and about 10 minutes to 1 o'elc-21i saw the
prisoner come over the wall th4t divides the property
of Mr. Apperson. Saw him go dowz. The yard in
direction ot the warehouse. Liz.tenf.•.-:: and heard
the door burst open, and thenhea.rc.: te raoving of
glass. Went to the door with the and saw
prisoner in the warehauso with £igat, which he
blew out, and ran out between himairlf and the pcille
officer. Prisioner attemped- to get over the wall
and was captured and taken into custody. Police-
constable Hancock proved appr3r-ding prisoner,
caonmd
Sessions.m corroboratedittedto ac
et the
slast i
trial
at nt etteh.e Prisonerriz cl aarwas
er
DRUNK AND DISSORDEIL7.-.-34316Mia1l iLacy wts-3
charged wit'a being drunk a. nd disorderly, on the
3rd inst. Defendant was further e,ha:ged with
assaulting Joseph Bird and William Jone, at the
same time. Colonel Fletcher said there was no
doubt as to his being drunk and disoriaarly, but
they did not intend to convict on the& Awe. km.