The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-11-12 00:00:00

proud to shake hands with me if he meets Me in the •We shall see. If I give you anything now, it is
street before I have done with him. Stand on the only as an earnest that I wel buy what you have to
mat! I suppose my boots ain't clean enough for her! sell. I must have time to think. What sum will
I'd like to go deep into the river mud and then come satisfy you now, to leave me alone? You will get
back here and dance a hornpipe all over this gimcrack nothing by worrying me; for, in all probability, ex-
hall of hers! Stand on the mat, indeed! What would citement and annoyance will drive me mad, and then
she say if she knew, I wonder?' my help would be of no use to you; I should not
Mrs. Brown came back while he was communing have the control of any money to give you.'
with himself, a triumphant look in her eyes. She had 'Give me a hundred pounds now, here in my hand,
taken the message to her lodger, who had looked and I'll ksep quiet till, as you say, you have had time
from the book he was reading, calmly enough, she to think. But no pranks, mind.'
thought, but with such a wildly beating heart as 'What do you mean?'
almost prevented him frem uttering a word. 'No laying traps for me, and having me arrested.
' What is it?' he asked. You would only do yourself a mischief if you tried it
'Phil Donovan, sir, wants to see yon.' on. The things are not in my possession. They are
' Ah, I thought I heard a voice I knew. What does where they would be handed over to the police at
he want?' once, if anything happened to me. So it wouldn't
'I don't know, sir. I made so bold as to tell him pay to murder me, Mr. Gayford. You had better
that you were not quite well, and could not see any- trust me. I'm to be bought.
one. I don't think it is anything particular. He's A hundred pounds. Horace Gayford had more
impudent enough; but he wouldn't give me a message than that sum lying in his desk. He had drawn a
for you.' considerable amount of money for purposes of his
'You were quite right, Mrs. Brown, lam ill this own, and a hundred was not much to him now. But
morning; I feel quite stupid for want of sleep. Tell this was only the beginning. Would not this
Donovan I doh't feel equal to seeing him just now; Donovan prove like the monster in Frenkestein, a
another time, perhaps.' hideous nightmare, never to be got rid of? He must
'All right, sir; I'll get rid of him. You shan't be have time to think, and it would be cheaply purchased
troubled with him, if you don't want him.' at the price of a hundred pounds. He counted oat'
'I don't I can assure you.' . geogeie ,
....,k the money into the man's hand in notes and gold, and
Mrs. Brown reckoned without her host if she thought motioned him to be gone:
she was going to send Donovan away, He met her 'Go l' be gasped. 'I can do no more now. I must.
look with one as triumphant, as he refused point blank trust you. '
to go away until he had spoken to Horace Gayford. 'You may,' Donovan said, quietly. 'As long. as.,
'Can't see me, eh?' he said. these hold out, so will my silence. I said my fortune
. _ .
'Just. that.' e. ee, s.goie..
.4 4., ~,,t.-,t was made,' he said to himself, as Mrs. Brown led him,
'Won't maybe.' out, wondering, and went back to find her I,pdger,ien
'Can't or won't, it's all the same. You've got to a dead faint on the floor. s eft -esi 4 eirl4l ittla ,id
leave your message with me and be off.' (To be continued.)
'l'm not going to be off, and I shan't leave any . ..--
message with you. Just go back to Mr. Gayford, and THE "UNEMPLOYED" OF LONDON..
tell him that I have come here to see him, and 11l ______
wait, if it's all day, till I do see him.'
'You'll do nothing of the sort.' e‘oestikoon siss; 0 SOCIALISTS AND THE *UNEMPLOYED. v.:.
'I will.' Notwithstanding a heavy downpour of rain, a meet,
7- , A st.ito!,:,,,t ' - ~..
'Don't be a fool, Donovan. Tell tne what you want ing of the unemployed was held in Trafalgar-square
with him. I can take any message you want; and on Monday morning, at which over a thousand persons
you know what Mr. Gayford is, if you know him at were present. The police were not in such strong
all, what he says he sticks to.' ' - -, ~.....,- force as they were on Saturday. On the stroke of
t
'So do I.' " twelve a deputation from the English Land Restores-
es eadaide ser adaosfs 4 r.n.sioa naafi Ar
'Well?' - , --- tion League, including Mr. W. Saunders (ex-M.P. for
. ,
'Tell Mr. Gayford this: that I want to speak to Hull), Miss Drake, Dr. Barrows, the Rev. Stewart
him ; and I stay here still he chooses to see me.' Headlam, and Mr. Verinder, arrived, and when they
'Nonsense, Donovan. You know it's no use my proceeded to mount the plinth of Nelson's Column
taking such a message as that to him.' the crowd soon formed itself into a meeting. Mrs.
'lt's the only one I have to send, tell him,' and Besant was present. Before commencing the pro-
Donovan's face wore such a look of determination, ceedings the speakers were cautioned by the police
that Mrs. Brown was both puzzled and frightened— against using violent language, which might lead to a
'that if he will not see me now, I will say what I breach of the peace.
have for his private ear to everybody in Hillford. Mr. Saunders, the editor of the Democrat, acted as
The birds of the air shall carry it; it shall be shouted chairman. He said they had come as a deputation
at the street corners, and talked about in every public- , from the English Land Restoration League, the
house in the land. He'll wish he had let me whisper object of which was to reimpose upon the land those
it to him first in that case.' taxes which the land formerly paid. In London the
'l'll take your message,' Mrs. Brown said; 'and if landlords had property which was worth £418,000,000,
Ido not have to call in the first policeman that passes, while the whole of the buildings in London were
I don't know Mr. Gayford.' worth only £212,000,000. As things stood now,
'Maybe you will, but it won't be the parson that owners representing the £212,000,000 paid in taxa-
will call him; I may have to do it, and I shan't time £7,000,000 a year, while the owners of the
hesitate, I 'can tell you.' £418,000,000 only paid £soo,ooo—(cries of "Oh,
He laughed insolently, and looked the astonished oh !")—which was not just. It might be fairer if the
Mrs. Brown full in the face as he spoke, and she payment of taxes were reversed.
deemed it most politic to do his bidding. The Rev. Stewart fleadlam, who was loudly cheered,
'Got rid of him ?' asked the lodger, as she entered asserted his belief that if Christ were to come to the
the room again, earth again, and pay a visit to Trafalgar-square, He
'No, sir; he won't go; he's impudent enough would very soon be arrested. The audience ap-
for anything; he says he will see you,' and she re- parently held very strong confirmatory opinions upon
peated what Donovan said to her; Horace Gayford's this point. Mr. Headlam contended that the
face growing paler and paler as he listened, poverty from which so many people suffered, and
'Send him in,' he said presently, after a pause, his especially those who were out of work, was mainly
lies quivering as he spoke, and his heart sinking till the result of robbery by the landlords. They
he felt as if it would stop beating altogether. ' I will had a right to ask for ransom for the wealth which
see him.' had been stolen from the people by the landlord
'You don't look fit, sir.' system of this country. He concluded by asking
'I am not fit. But, if he really has anything to those present to claim their right to meet on Wednes-
say to me, I can soon get rid of him. It will be better day next, but also strongly urged them not to be led
than having him hanging about all day. And he is into any acts of violence to the police, even if they
quite capable of doing it. You will find him a were attacked. They must remember that the con-
nuisance.' stables were acting under orders. The one man
'Everyone does, sir.' responsible for all the riots and disorder which had
'Send him in, then; and don't let anyone else in taken place was Sir Charles Warren.
while he is here. I shouldn't care for anyone else to Miss Drake, who was announced by the chairman
catch me dur'ne such an unsavoury visit.' as the descendant of a real nobleman, Sir Francis
He tried to laugh, but the attempt was a signal Drake, also advised the unemployed not to be driven
failure. He could not force his lips into a smile now, to extremities on Lord Mayor's Day, but even to
do what he would; and Mrs. Brown saw the shaking submit to having their heads knocked about without
hauls and the quivering lips, returning the blows. There were many people who
'There's somethinr wrong,' she said to herself, as would be very glad indeed if they would lose patience
she went out and beckoned Donovan in—' something and give the enemy the chance of running them in.
that that fellow knows of. What is it, I wonder?' She might perhaps be run in herself, but she did
Donovan went into the pretty room with a con- not care about that. She believed in the people,
fident air. He was not afraid of being cavalierly and as long as she had life, she would work for them.
treated there, whatever Mrs. Brown might have said She had been told that she was the first woman who
to h.m. had spoken in Trafalgar-square. If so, she was
'I thought you'd see me,' he said, shortly. proud of it.
'I only consented to do so to save myself and the Dr. Burrows also spoke, and then the deputation
rest of the household the annoyance of your presence,' left. Mr. George assumed command of the meeting,
Mr. Gayford raid, hardly looking at him. What do which was of the usual character, except that they
_ . :
you want?' had the assistance of Mrs. Besant, who, it was stated,
' e e ~34. at t'i IA ti. i,f,"Wz.. s .
'Money.' . had attended in order to see if the police had pluck
meet -es ink •
'W'hat for?' enough to arrest a woman.
Donovan went to the door and threw it suddenly Mrs. Besant herself then explained that she had
open, not so suddenly but that he detected Mrs. come there because she had seen ono poor man after
Brown's skirts vanishing down the stairs to the break- another run in by the police for complaining of his
fast MOM. condition. She had promised James Allman to come
'I thought so,' be said. 'lt might be better if you down to Trafalgar-square to see if the police would
stopped that keyhole. For your sake our talk had arrest her as they. had others, and she had also come
better be private' down because the newspapers said that they were
'As you please,' Horace Gayford said. 'I suppose "loafers and vagabonds " and "the scum of a great
you want some reward for your assistance last night. city." (" No, no.") That was not true. Talk about
It was foolish of me to be out in the wood at that loafers! How many wealthy loafers were there?
time; and I believe I asked you two fellows to hell (Hear, hear.) Something ought to be done for the
your tongues about it. But it is not of such terrible unemployed. It was true that it was only by a great
consequences that you need make such a mystery of change that poverty could be completely removed;
it. Eseapades like mine are common enough; only but it was true also that until the people had the
this particular one had a somewhat unpleasant land and capital they would have pauperism in
ending. their midst. It was the budneFs of our governors
He spoke carelessly and lightly enough, and, as if to deal wills the evil, and in the coming winter stop
he wanted to talk on and hinder Donovan from say- some of the misery. They were going to send a
ing much, that gentleman waited very quietly for his deputation to the Local Government Board to tell
innings, them what they could do. They would urge Mr.
:oh; r
olvoicdael
'I did come about last night,' he said; ' not about Ritchie to send a comenunicettoio
that part of it, though. I don't want pay for helping guardians in the metropolis
i ' care whether they starved or not. Rash men urged
a fainting man. I was in the wood last night, t(20.1, work for the unemployed. Many persons did not
' You ?' ee
• the authorities to stop their meetings, because they
'Yes.' 41POIty Ja?l- - I wij *-,, vigirq : gnettotheamli
' Where ?'
'Aye, it makes you curious, doesn't it? A good opinion they should be driven back to the
their op .
way from the place where the ghost comes. Nowhere slums again and starve, , .
where they could not be seen.
were half-starved and were not nice to look at. In
near Girton's hole I wasn't. I was fishing.' They should, notwithstanding this, meet there day
after day until for shame some way was found of
' Fishing?' strongly urged them not to
The word came from Horace Gayford' e white lips
in a gasp; and Donovan laughed—a short spiteful use language which authoritiestattack
enabled the o
giving them work. She
laugh.
them; and in conclusion Mrs. 'resent announced that
'Yes, fishing,' he said. 'Will you buy my fish an association was being promoted cf persons who
master?' _ ' would give bail, so that every man who was arrested
'I do not understand you.' •': ', a' e .111•4 Oka and against whom there was only police evidence
'Oh, yes I think you do. Will you buy i'bat I should have a fair trial.
caught under the trees by the whirlpool last night, or George followed, but was at first scarcely recog-
shalt I make a market for myself in London. It would nised, as he had altered his appearance considerably
fetch money there.' by shaving off his whiskers and moustache. He began
'You are talking riddles. I don't know what you
by asking his bearers whether they wanted to go home
got out of the river. How should I?' or not, and a show of hands was given n favour of i i
'You know what you went there to fetch for your-
self. You know that, whatever you expected to find must have been wet through. George then proceeded
staying, notwithstanding the fact that nearly everyone
in that bag, it held only stones and dead leaves. You not to attael3kactihe
were just too late, Mr. Gayford. I had been there tone, and advised those present . .
before you.' -.-- s e. ._ . police, as they were
.working
men, like his hearers.
with his remarks, but he adopted a distinctly • a
other chiefs Sir
• this?' and Donovan unrolled what Charles Warren—(groans)—en e . of
'I don't believe it ! I--os" eee-tr re nie ease se ;,.• They should reserve their censure
the
persons like S'
' Do you believe
he held under his arm—only an old thin overcoat, tornmaintained there
would be proclaimed, but he • ere was
and wet. the police. It was stated that the meeting on Nov. 9
'This was wrapped round the rest of the things,' he They had met every day for
said ; 'and amongst them was this.. You did not ing than any other.dw would continue to meet. He ax-
no more reason for the authorities to stop that meet-
know you had left such a damning enece of evidence weeks past, an .
under water, did you, Mr. Parson ?' but to parade
It was a cambric
handkerchief, all stained with day was not to attack the procession, p
plained that what they wished to do on Lord Mayor's
water and dark splashes, that made Horace GayforiAs he would be held responsible for
shiver with a sick horror as he looked at it. It was any language y used b "detectives in disguise"
who
one of a set that some ladies of his congregation had their poverty.
might pretend t BYninPyone who was not personally
o atbise with the unemployed
a
presented to him, with some slippers and bands ; and for police purpo
as
ses 'a
trustworthy man would not be
ho had smirked and simpered over them, and made a known to them
eak.
neat speech of gratitude and pleasure, and declared allowed o
that it would be the greatest satisfaction of his life to Subsequently the meeting gradually dwindled in
use them. He recoiled from the one suddenly put dimensions, until only three persons were present,
e,
before him now, as if it bee been a poisonous snake. and these did ne remain long to withstand the
'lt is not mine,' he said in fretful agony. 'Take it downnour o! rain.
away, and that other thing too, I have nothing to do _ MORE ARRESTS.
with them.' • &AVM] men were before Mr. Vaughan at Bows
'lt is yours,' was the merciless reply. 'Here's your street on Monday, on various charges arising out of
name on it in full.' How Horace Gay ford cursed the the disorderly proceedings in Trafalgar-square. Two
wer3 ,entenced to imprisonment, one was fined, ore
officious hands that had worked that delicate
embroidery. 'Will you make it worth my while to remanded, and one discharged.
hold my tongue, Mr. Gayford, or shall I take what I TUESDAY'S PROCEEDINGS.—PRESS MEN
have found to Scotland-yard?' IN CUSTODY.
'Take it where you like, and have done with it,' The usual crowd of men assembled at noon on
retorted the tormented man impatiently. •'I don't Tuesday in Trafalgar-square, and awaited the arrival
know what you mean. It is nothing to me.' of their le4ders. Nothing of consequence occurred
'lt is everything to you. A hangman's rope with a until soon after twelve, when a rush was made by the
noose at the end of it, maybe. It's a suit of clothes, major portion of those assembled to the tooth side of
that very nearly got a guiltless man banged for the the square, where a man had suddenly appeared die.-
murder he was as innocent of as any baby—the clothes playing a large red handkerchief, and walking briskly
you wore when I took you for Barney Grubb, in the towards Nortlaumberland-avenue. Noticing the ex-
wood yonder—and very nearly swore his life away.' citement which his behaviour was causing, a police.
There was no answer now, and Horace Gayford's inspector tore the red emblem from the man and
: face was hidden; and Donovan went on mercilessly, directed his arrest, and he was conveyed temporarily
' There was someone else in the wood that night— to Scotland-yard, being afterwards removed, when
someone who saw and heard as much as I did, and the crowd had returned to the square, to King-street
more, may be. And whoever it was will speak in police-station. Shortly before one o'clock George,
good time, I daresay. I'm not the only man that can accompanied by other speakers, mounted the plinth
wear that a man in a ferryman's dress, exactly the of the monument and proceeded to deliver speeches,
same as Barney, Grubb's, was about the wood that There was an extra body of police on duty, and
night. But there's no man living, except one, can tell shortly after two o'clock the police called upon the
how that man slipped his skin and came out a gentle- speakers to desist, and set about clearing the square.
man in broadclothr-a good man, sorr swful for the loss Some altercation arose, and three persons were
of the poor young fellow his own hands had made arrested and taken to lung-street station amid FOlllO
away with.' excitement. .
'Have you done? gasped the miserable man' lift- The three defendants were subsequently brought
ing his head for e. moment from his supporting hand. up at Bow-street police court. They were described
' Very nearly. I watched, and waited, and searched, as Albert Foukes Winkes, aged 46, of Sand mere-
till I haddound out what I sought. You showed me road, Brixton, a Isev,paper advertisement canvasser ;
yourself Where you had hidden' the things. You Joseph Knight, of Musiab-road, Carlton-road, Batter-
could not keep away from the place; but you were sea, a painter; and Bennett Burleigh, aged 45, of
always too frightened to attempt to :get the bag out Orlando-road, Brixton, a journalist. They were
of the water. When I lead seen you half-a-dozen charged with being "loose, idle, and disorderly per-
times or so at the same spot, crouching and listening, sons, and disturbing the public peace with intent to
I said to myseff, "It's there," and I made up lII' commit a felony." Winkes and Burleigh were
inopportunity, and further charged with obstructing and resisting the
last
you had police while in the execution of their duty in Tra-
dhitgehthaitve came,it. l
nwotal a temdin foru te my
soon,
If
been half an hour earlier you would have caught me, falgar-square. Owing to the pressure of business the
and murdered me, I daresay,' he added, catching the hearing of the charges was postponed, and the de-
expression in Horace Gayford's eyes as he spoke?' m
fendants were released on bail. .
' I•think I should,' was the quiet answer. y.en say ,
much?' 0 len a:ne wee
you want money. How_,. All, Illy menses, 681C1 a good Irish priest to some of
'All you can get for me. I t ' b I'm going o e your his people who had been mixed up in a fight
haven't a helfponny to bless your, , you
pensioner till you ha should have more toleration.—Yin your riverence, re-
on you afterwards
self with, and have revenge plied the ringleader; we looked for some, but there
for Scotland 'n ni
re will be enough left, of you . a t was nonena be found, and so we used stones.
othenena. . eo, eneneeen 14 en) s.- • - V 3, .0481.1,0 L i Cili4 ',,,,, tii,p):;.; 6414 i.t., ...i•_. r: ~.•::.i

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