The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-03-13 00:00:00

THE POLICE, AND THEIR EXTRA
DUTIES.

Colonel Cobhe, Inspector of Constabulary, in his
of the extra
annual reprlrt, just issued, gives a list
which shows the extent to '
duties perforFied by the polic3 of c
loading the force with odds and counties and
ow carrwl. The extra duties performed by
which this
systemo )ugi
th 3
of
ends of
the police of counties are very generally the ibe' pe
tion of weights and measures, partiallylthe
in
inspection of common lodging-houses, andh
relief of vagrants
. by the issue of tickets focr
.
e
the workhouse ; many Instances the inspe
tors of weights and nicasures have been appointed
to discharge duties under the Adulteration of Food
Act, In some counties the yolice are employed as
inspectors under the Contagious Diseases ( Azimals)
Aot, with and without the sanction of the Secretary
of State; some officers are appointed under the Ex.
plosives Act; and in most.of the counties the police are
employed to keep order in and about the courts of
assize. The Chimney Sweeps Act is carried out by all
force 3 in aounties and boroutllis, and registers are duly
kept. In boroughs the head constable Is generally
appointed inspector of weights and nleasure.s, and of
common lodging•houses, and assistant relieving officer
for vagrants, assisted by members of his force in the
larger boroughs. In a few towns he is superintendent
of a fire-brigade; and in some instances members of
the force belong to the fire-brigade—a duty that in
Colonel Cobbe's opinion ought not to be discharged by
the police, who on occasions of fires when there is
much confusion, should be other wise fires,
Mall Gazette.

Five hundred Turkish troops are stated to have
been despatched with a view to effecting the release of
Colonel Synge. -

Military precautions continue to be taken for the
preservation of public order at San Francisco, which city
large numbers of Chinamen are leaving for the Eastern
States.

.

en:i Es"64s(3/4

THE ATTEMPT TO SHOOT GENERAL

MELIKOFF.
Writing from St. Petersburg, the Correspondent of The
Times says
"The Trial and execution of the assassin who at-
tempted the life of General Melikoff on Wednesday
are a proof that proper and prompt severity will be
exercised in such cases. As your readers know, the
assassin, caught-red handed firing at General Melikoff
on Wednesday afternoon, was captured on the spot,
and a preliminary investigation was at once com-
menced. On Thursday the prisoner was tried by the
militory court, not the ordinary court-martial, but
what men, I believe, would call the drum-head court-
martial, as in the field, before which a spy, for instance,
can be tried, sentenced, and executed immediately.
The tribunal finished its inquiry by one o'cloA, and
sentenced Hipolyte Joseph Mladetski to death by
hanging. The prisoner, a Jew, about 30 years of age,
from the district of Slutek, province of Minsk, was
lately baptized into the Russian Church. He di i not
deny his crime, refused to take any part in his defence,
and even left the court during the latter part of his
trial. Upon receiving sentence, he said a few words
to the effect that he had sought to kill General
Meltkoff on the 2nd inst., the anniversary of the Czar's
accession, but had been unable to get near him. At
the preliminary inquiry he unhesitatingly said that he
had committed the crime on principle, and that
General Melikoff would be killed by others. Alto-
gether his bearing was insolent and indifferent, his
rather coarse, brutal features being occasionally
lightened by a cynical smile."