The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-06-20 00:00:00

TILE STOMIRRIPGF ORSFRVER.

edence could be asked to Rive their opinions on
s 'eh questiona—mnolanseh
The Chairman sail ;ti taking the position of
.;hairin in he begged t,) thank them for th•
nnear they h lone hi ii in pl.:eing lihn there.
ht the same time he felt 'hey ought not to loon
.'aet•J him ii th. positi,u whie.t 11,3 omen.
;ten hy keeping out non who hal hat :
spL rirnee lii ii himself. lie coithl on,y •
those present that he %nail do white,:.
1 hi: pow,r to eive hatisfuetiou to the I•
iii the town at large—(choer).
The next buAineas was the presentation et

;•:0 alllllllll liteelltlvtif (of 11CC0OILItb,
die followiog items of expeuditure: 0-
b•evoinett aeinuiit doling the year, •;
.5 t ; aud tLu I,l,;hway .•
hLi.e %.18 bal,aho duu !foul th.•
tile iultroventeut accouut of 1:17!) 96,1tiid ui 11
bigllWAy aecouut Xl7B 154 2,1 was due to the
re,gurer. rho ansottut expended on the Saul.

:ry seemeit amounted to £333 S.
Sr. Hughes moved thst tho anneal statement
accounts how preiented by the Commissioners
t,.. allowed, and that the (.:11.4'ainan be requested
• sign the slim..
rhii was scoundad by Mr. 3tanley, ar.,l car.
r:cd.

a:pointotent f perlous to audit the re-
counts.

Edw:ir:s !I...prim,' that Da i I Skid-
more be one of the iiudi:ors. Thi4 was :it:amnia
by Mr. R. Rilybou: 1
Mr. IVaterman peopose4 Samuel James, as an
iuditor ; and this w.is Ike:ill/lea by M. tired
Ureen.

There was no ot ber person proposed, and two
• !1...f the number r..quirecl, Messrs. Skil,tare
and James were deekred duty elected.
Tim meeting tGen terminated.

THE CEMETERY QUESTION.i

UPROAR:A/U.:I PICULIELDINGS IN Tab:
UNION HALL.

ensutd—, in so mach that Mr. Holland confessed
hims4f unable to read the letter, and, accords
ingly relinquished it to Mr. Prescott. The
e'• r contained six alleg,aiions. It stMed that
meeting held on May the 9th, signed by
B. Brooks and Jones as churchwardens,
Mgally convened, inns each as those
. e were not clutch Yardens at the time,
cm of olli -e expiring on Easter Tuesday.
~,.,natores of Messrs. King and Harw,rd as
t e newly.e acted churchwirde s were also
as they had not presented themselves to
lti:hop's registrar to be sworn in. The mini
:Aion wss that the ratepayers of the six
Irishes comprising the old eccie:iastical parish
Mffi Swinton' were against the establishment
e cemetery It alsm‘alleg, d that the Ley. H.
I ,rd, who acted as presiding officer at the
edroom, left the room part of the day and
IV. at oat cauvuseing, and returned at five o'clock
and teetered the poll, and neglected to make an
Nary in the minute book so that :inch voting
should be fie •from scrutiny. That the Hey.!!.
Sherrard acted unfairly and partially in the mat- '
ter, that there was no necessity for a cemetery, ,
awl he only took up the matter because be
wished to pocket. some of the fees, there being
no burial ground to his own church—ihear, hear,
and loud cheers)—that bribery, coercion, and
undue influence had been used by the proposer
and meander of the resolution in favour of the '
cemetery, and that in fairness to the ratepayers
Ohl Swinford churchyard could not be closed.
He therefore asked that an inspector ho sent
down to imptire into the matter (loud cheers,
alai silents of " Dowa with them," "1 declare
the poll closed," &c.)
Me. Mills rose and sail: You are the most re-
-Bepeetahle body of men --igroma. autl mies of
" Turn him 0111 " Sit down old sour beer.")
Mr. Edwards asked him to sit down, and
utually he did so.
Mr. Holland said they did not want any noise,
they wanted clear facts and statements. He
had just asked Me. Bernard to make any addi-
tion to the etatewents contained in the letters
he had forwarded to the Secretary of State
which he wiehed to put him in possession of.
Mr. Bernard arose and addressed some re-
marks to the chairman, when he was iuterupted
by.

Mr. Prescott, who said : I object to that.
Noy observations Mr. Bernard is to make mos:
but made t the immang as well as to the chair-
man.— (Great con:usitio and uproar).
Mr. bland :Mi. Dernarl will tell me the
facts, as this is not a meeting; it is en enquiry.
Mr. Herund Egan essiyed to address tin
••hairilian, when tie was imerruptml by a &dem
tog chorus ..f disc ,rdant yells, and almost ever
i tit opprobrious epithet %yes made use ol
coinst those gentlemen on the platform who
wen known to he in favour of a cemetery.
Mr. Holland told them that if they would not
allow him to conduct the busines“ properly there,
he must go elsewhere. If they would not permit
him to make thu eniquiry there he would have to
hare to go somewhere else. He would not stop
there to be baited. The matter rested with him,
and not with them.
Mr. Pre6cott rose. when

Mr. Edwards told him to it down.

Mr. Prescott : I shall not sit down for you. You
611,,a1d get u your. legs if yon have anything to

'Sir. Edwards rose, but was greeted with groans
aud cries of "Sit down," until he resumed hi,
seat.

--The confusion still continued, whereupon
Mr. Mills rose and tried to mollify the malcon-
tents by addressing them as, "Gentlemen," and
asking them if they would hear " his friend, Mr.
Prescott, speak P.
Mr. Prescott then rose and said Mr. Holland had
asked Mr. Bernard to tell him anything that he
had to add to the statement whieh had been read,
and he (Mr. Prescott) hoped that iii fairness to
himself and in fairness to Mr. Bernard they would
hear what he had to say.
Mr. Bernard said he should address Ms remarks
to the Chairman. To this Mr. Prescott again ob.
jected ; but the Commissioner told them that the
remarks should be made to himself; but if they
were quiet they would all be able to hear what was

Mr. Bernard then proceeded and said Mr. Hol-
land had just told them that the present enquiry
had resulted from some letters which had been ad-
dressed to the Secretary of State open the desir-
ability of having a burial board for the parishes of
Upper Swinford and Stourbridge. He would re-
mind Mr. Holland that he came down here about
two years ago, and instituted inquiries in this town
of a similar nature, resulting in the extension of
the Oldswinford Churchyard. He (Mr. Holland)
must have seen then that the alteration in Hi,
churchyard would only serve a temporary purpose,
and that sooner or later they must have a ceme-
tery. Neither of the two churches Mule township
had burial grounds attached to them, and it was
not too much to say that by the time they could
procure a cemeteryOldswinford Churchyard would
be filled up. It would not last for two years, and
then if they had not a cemetery there would be no
burial ground at all for either Oldswinford or
Stourbridge. There was an impression that Old-
swinford Churchyard could be enlarged ; but it
c add not.
Mr. Prescott : So it can.

Mr, Bernard : You compel people to let
you have land to enlarge a churchyard, and if you
can Ido not think it would be desirable to do so.
I' here is one addition I have to make to what I
have already said.

Here great confusion and uproar ensued, and
Mr. Bernard was unable to make himself heard.
Thee were loud cries of Look at that b---
Irishman grinning on the plat form ; pull the b.—
off; he wants his fee," '' Knock Timmy and MeEw,
off the. platform," &c. &c.

During this time 3lr. Prescott surveyed the
surging mob with smiling complacency and
triumph; whilst the latter pressed closer to the
platform and there was imminent danger of a
breach of the peace taking place. When a lull
Mid taken place,
Mr. Bernard remarked that the room was crowded
but he did not know what the audience was com-
posed of. He was given to understand that a
great many persons bad come from the Lye. If
so, they must have come there from curiosity, as
the question at issue would not affect them in the
least.

Mr. Prescott: Won't it though ?
Groans and derisive laughter.
Mr. Bernard: They would not be rated for a
cetnete.ry.

Mr. Prescott : " Oh, won't they though ;.' and
cries of' They're in the parish," and groans, and
confusion, mingled with cries of " Order, order,"
and "do be silent."

Mr. Prescott also called out "Order, order,"
upon which the "lambs' were immediately awed
into silence.

Mr. Bernard went on to reply to some of the
technical objections which had been raised as to
the legality of the meetings, and said even if the
former churchwardens had ceased to legally repre-
sent the parishes, their successors had hen r,-
gularly installed.
Mr. Prescott said he would produce th-ir own
book which would show the contrary, when hew
contradicted by Mr. Chamberlain, and retorted:
"Chamberlain, I don't want a liar here."

Mr. Bernard went on to speak, but the uproar
was so great that it was impossible to hear him
speak, and eventually he sat down.

Mr. Prescott then rose to reply, and compara-
tive silence was at once restored. He said : Mr.
Chairman and fellow ratepayers, the first question
which I shall submit to Mr. Holland is the same
that I submitted tc the Secretary of State. The
same question has been submitted to the Secretary
oi State if or 17 years ago. The same objection I
hold now was valid then—(cries of vote, vote.)
Mr. Prescott : Edwards, if you will be quiet, I
will go on.

Ore:it:confusion ensued, and there were groans
and di,..ordant yelling, mingled with cries of
'• Why don t yo:i be quiet P"
Mr. Prescott (oontinuing) said the great ques-
tion was this, whether the notices which were
signed by the churchwardens, were legal, as there
was a question whether those who igned them
were the churchwardens for the parishes of Old-
swinforcl and Stourbridge l••
hEr. Holland :, Is not that a question for a Court
of Law,

Mr. Prescott said he would explain it to him.
A voice : "That's the law, you knoa
Mr. Prescott : " I shall stop until midnight, but
I shall be heard." He then proceeded to quote a
section of an Act of Parliament which laid it down
that it was necessary to prove that a churchyard
was dangerous to health before it could be closed.
He contended that there was not a tittle of evi-
dence to to show that the churchyard at Oldswin.
ford was dangerous to health—(cries of "No more
it ain't, and general uproar.)
M. Prescott told them if they would be quiet he
he could go on, and Mr. Holland—(hear, hear).
He th:n went on to say that what We wanted to
submit to the chairman was this. 'Under the 58th
George 111. a vestry meeting could only be con-
vened by fining a notice on the parish church door,
three clear days before the meeting. According
to that the meeting could not have been held until
the Thursday. This act no doubt was passed with
a moaning so that the people should not be taken
by surprise, showing that they should go two Sun-
days instead of ozo, and they mad got held a

meeting unless this had been complied with. And,
again, he wonld submit that the churchwar-
dens—Messrs. King and Harward—were not
legally the churchwardens. The churchwardens
who were in office before Easter ceased to have
power after that date arrived, andthenew church-
wardens could have the power vested in them by
umrely going to the bishop, and telling him they
were appointed churchwardens. He also went on
to quote the ISth and 19th Vic., when
Mr. Holllnd reminded him that it had nothing
whatever to do with the subject at issue.
Mr. Prescott then went on to say that misrepre-
sentations had been made as to this parish. This
parish consisted of six townships, and the church-
wardens who had ealled these meetings were not
the churchwardens forth, township of Stourbridge
or parish of Upper Swinford—(hear, hear, and
tries of that's it; that's theway to g,ive it them").
They were not ehttrchwardens at all. He then
quoted another portion of the act which stated
that where the parishes had been in the habit of
it.iiug one burial ground, or of meeting In one
vestry together, it was necessary for the church-
wardens to call a joint meeting of the two parishes.
This had not been done, and the provisions of the
law had not been complied with. He, therefore,
submitted that no churchwardens of Oldswiuford
could convene a meeting to prevent four other
townships from burying in that churchyard—
(hear, hear, and applause). It was a misdemean-
our
! Mr. Holland asked him how was that?

Mr. Precott t, ad him it arose in this way. By
obtaining a certificate from Mr. Craufurd or any
other gentleman, and that certificate was used to
close the churchyard, the person burying in it
would he liable to misdemeanour.

Mr. lihodes,of the Lye, here stood up in the
body of the room and mid that was the question
he wanted to have tried.

M. Prescott (continuing) : Provided al ways—
(hear, hear, and applause). .

Mr. Prescott turned round and asked them to be
quiet—(eries of " Sit down," t• Turn him out," &e.

Mr. Holland said that had nothing to do with
the buFiness.

Mr. Prescott That is for yon to say. Mr. Chair-
man. I want to submit—
Here a scene of great confusion ensued, and the
crowd pressed nearer and nearer to the platform.
Mr. Prescott said it was Messrs. Turney and
McEwen's men who were making the disturbance
and hoped they would ask them to be quiet.
Upon this there were cries amongst the audience
of " Why should we be quiet, when they won't be
quiet." Foremost amongst those who were say.
big this was a man named Philip Adams, of OM.
swinford. He cried out "Look ut them sniggering
mad laughing on the platform. This is not the
place for laughing and sniggering. Look it that
b-- Irishman, and Tuniey, and 11L•Ewem
whit are they laughing for Fetch them off the
&c. &e.
Mr. Prescott here pointed to Mr. Mills, and
s II Mr. Forney had stated that, Mr. Milk was
n)t a ratepayer of the township of Stourbridge.
H should like to see how th: y would prove that
—leils of" He is a freeholdei 1, and " Bring
religion and put it up to auction. " I think the
is several of theni ought to be turned off."
" There's McEwen and that Irishman as can't
b !have themselves." " That's religion for you.
" People that's honest can't stand mutton and
drink to make peop:e drunk, and vote the wrong
way." " McEwen if you are a man or other-
wise leave the platform. These and othLr ciies
ant the air making a perfect Babel of sounds.
M,ssra. MeEweu and Turney acknowledged the
compliments i?) that were being showered ution
them by smiling sod waving their hands; whilst
11r. Prescott stocd at the front of the platform
is if he was " Monarch of all he surveyed,"
smiling approval of what was going on, and in-
dicating Messrs. Turney and McEwen by a
motion of his hands he invited the " Lambs "to
emus forward and turn them out. The uproar
grew every moment greater, and there can be
no doubt that if it hitil not been for the presence
of the police in the room there would have been
a serious disturbance.

At length Mr. Prescott said : Gentlemen, be
quiet. Allow inn to finish my remarks.
Mr . Rhodes : Mr. Holland, I have one question
to ask you. The question is this. Shall we, of
the Lye, be turned out of our churchyard if
there is a cemetery for Stourbridge, because
fault of Gone at the Lye arc under that impres-
O".—(cries of " Hear, hear, thee, is the ques-
tion").
Mr. dolland said he could not answer that question,
as that w-s not he had conic lowa to investigate.
Mr. Rhodes said he and his family had several graves
in the I.ye Churchyard, awl it appeared to him that se-
cording to the law it the cemetery was had for Stour.
bridge, his mother, and other members of his family
sou.d be drioured fr..m burial at the Lye—!tireat uproar
and confusion eased).

Mr. Holland edited the ineetiag t order, ant WI Vie
question they had to decide that night was whellter he
himid recommend the Secretary of State to MO!! i..n the
iormatiou of • burial beard tor Strawbridge, and tle
question Mr. Rhodes bad asked had nothing whatever to
tio with it.

Jdr. Rhodes said they thought it had, beeattte they
nhoutd have to go there (the Stoartiridge Cemetery) no 1
Inv theta bunt 1 fore, after th .3r It iye pit for g aves at
the

Tbr aceni which now took place 1. ffi deseription.
crass. shouts, and gr.,ans res ;untied from all part of th •
.0 on, and at length a rush was made for the ping .rut.
Upon this the ch.arin in came fuiward and said.
As you will not h-ar and allow the enquiry to !.roceed
UlUst, go ; 1 wt.)) you all good mglit.
The et...id theu ru.lsei tox.ard tign platf irm ea
and it was to be lealed that ioveral of the loominent
inoverd in the cemetery would liar Men taule4.-.1, but
he mob eveutually dispersed in a highly tx,,,e1,11 roil.
dal, 0, i,•gt Alr l'ielodt to his o!ii -e, r lie re
erictil th.• phut ails o! :be mob.

The adjourned etepiry wto hyl I at the Tell, ,t Hot,.
OR Thurs ser attertovot alit it Wtrl preV•OU ty all,llged
by the chairman that fifteen persona on each sdie shoold
autte what they Lad lo 14 for or spinet. Amongst those
ore.ent are Utast.. Parker, Torney, 11e1,:weu, Wood,
PE1,1,1,y, Perry, Platt, Nt/init, r, Mumma, Itrooks, het,
H. hit mod, r. J. Mel, Ird,r, au 1 1) 11g,unts
,iter wei,ing some tutentea after the appotnted liii, hi r.
Parker a-ked the edairthan to proeved still the hostiles,
as moat of thetu iu the reels were wen cf husit.,44 and
Letelf LITOr waS edith.t.

he chairman read a letter whkdi he said he sh..uld has,
read on tile preceding aVellilig. It was from Mr.
eott. dated June 11th, and wan as follows To the
;ker. trry of sitme,-1 trust in your turtle. *15,1 impar.
.jollity you will not allow Mr. Holland to come here on
Wsilueaday mat, to enquire intrithe cemetery question
ni the litrotillfi that the ratepayerla, eceived coin the
place of meeting."—The Chairman asked it anyone had
bean deceived ; and, as he had no evideuce on the point,
the let.er was pat donnas worthless.—Mr. Itnodra oal, •
the Lie people were willing to joiit in rehiring for a Genie..
tary, but tiny hal not been asked.—The Chairman cola
they should call &meeting. pass a resolution to that ef-
fect, and then aubmit it to the ratepayers of Upper Swirl-
ford and Sieurbridge, who would, no doubt, be glad to
join with them.

dist:en 'mantes after the opening of the meeting, a
letter was rt ceived from Mr. Prescott.

"I beg most respertfuliy to inform. yea that I mast
declne attending at the talbot Hotel to go flu with the
inquiry respecting the Burial Board; but I shall be quiie
prepared to atteud at Oloawinl ird Vestry, or at the Na-
tional Bello llroora. where the poll was declared."

The Chsirmau said if Mr. Prescott expected him to
ran all over the comory he would deceived—(laughter)
'throe petitions were then read from the ',entities of
Wolleacoto, Wollaston, and the Lye; but as those town.
ships hal nothing to no with the question, they wore laid
ou the t dile without cownierit. The Chairman Oleo
WOOL lino the allegations conmined in Mr. Presto ti's
ietter, nil of which were denied, foil to the greuod for
want of autlicient evidence, or were too absurd to be no-
ticed. The Rev. H. Sherrard. Me. d.sMcKiven, nod Mr
G. Perry gave supporting evideoce as to the meeting, the
eIeCLIOII, and declaration et the poll. At the clone Mr.
Holland said he should recommend that the appacgtioe
tor a Coll.:Eery be manteo-•(-hver4—and he Least nay
that he thought they hid been pat to • great deal of nu-
necessary trouble —(mar. hear. and cheers).
. . . .

•
Ou the motion of the Rev. D. Haan:mit, seconded I.y
the Rev. H. sherrard, a vote of thanks was unanituaa.i,
accorded to the chairman.