The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-10-16 00:00:00

SHOCKING OCCURRENCE AT BRIERLEY
HILL.

A painful sensation was created in Brierley fill Police
Court, on Monday, when it came known that during the
proceedings a priscaer had committed suicide in an ad-
joining cell. At about midday Police-constable Holland
left the Court for the purpose of bringing into the dock
a prisoner named Thomas Pearson (40), carpenter, and
a native of North Wales. When he entered the cell he
found Pearson lying motionless upon the floor, with his
head in one corner and his feet near the door. An alarm
was raised, and Mr. J. H. Houghton (Dudley) and Mr.
Hodgson (Cradley Heath), surgeons, who happened to
be in attendance as witnesses, at once left the Court ;
but-upon Examining the lean, they pronounced life ex-
tinct. Around the neck of the deceased was a narrow
piece of sacking torn from that which is used in the cell
as a pillow. Another piece was hanging from the grat-
ing of the ventilator, near the ceiling of the cell. De-
ceased had evidenty jumped from the cell closet, and it
is surmised that the sacking broke after death had en-
sued. It appears that some time ago Pearson obtained
a situation under Mr. Edward Lucas, landlord of the
Whittington Inn. Kinver. He worked for a month, and
on the 20th September was seen upstairs, under auspi-
cious circumstances. Ile left the premises, and Mrs.
Lucas afterwards missed a cash-box, containing 1:25.
On the 4th October he returned to the Inn, and infor-
mation was given to Sergeant Stevenson, who arrested
him. On Monday week he was brought before the mag-
istrates and remancied. Inquiries were subsequently
made respecting him at Lougton, where his wife and
family .reside', and it was ascertained there was another
warrant against him for stealing a quantity of brasses on
the Ist October from the Lane End Ironworks, belong-
ing to Messrs. Thomas Goddard and Sons. He was also
" wanted " for other ofiences. Police-constable Lowe
and John Bland, foreman at Messrs. Goddard's works,
came to Brierley Hill on Monday morning as witnesses
in the charge of stealing brasses. They asked to go into
the call for the purposes of identifying the prisoner.
When they inquired if he knew them htt became pale,
dropped his head, and turned away. The cell was visited
afterwards by Police-sergeant Rienarda. who saw nothing
about Pearson to create suspicion; but in twenty min-
utes, however, the other officers found him dead. An
inquest was held on the body. at the Bell Hotel Brierley
Hill on Wednesday, before Mr. Phillips, Coroner, and a
verdict, of felo de se was returned, auct the body was in-
terred at midnight.

BRIERLEY HILL, PENSNETT, AND KINGSWIN.
FORD LICENSED VICTUALLERS' ASSOCIATION.

On Thursday, the second annual meeting of the mem-
bers of the above association was held in the Public Hall.
Brierluy Hill- Mr. A. Staveley Hill, QC., M.P. for
IVcst Stafforshire, occupied the chair; and he wit; sup-
ported by Mr. Isaiah Bollason (the chairman of the as-
sociatoh), Dr talker, Mr. Holbertou, Mr. W. J. Clulow,
Dr. Ashmead, Mr Whitehouse (secretary), Messrs. Die-
hod Mason.deputation( from Birmingham), Mr. Chal-
lingworth (deputation from Dudley), Messrs. Edwards.
Pagett and Bowkett (Stourbridge). The Vice-chairs
were occupied by Mr. Thomas Wood and Mr. H. Hum-
phries. The company numbered about ninety. After
dinner, the Chairman read a letter of apology from Mr.
H. B. Sheridan, M.P., who said he deeply segretted his
absence, but he was suffering from bronchitis and his
medical man had strictly forbidden his removal from
town. He concluded by:wishing the association success
(Applause.)
After the usual lo) al toasts, Mr. Hill proposed, " The
Army, Navy, and Volunteers," and in alluding to the
second arm of the service, said that as Judge-Advocate of
the Navy he could not but allude to the matters which
some people thought had lowered some of England's
pride in her marine. They had had collisions, it was
true, butitheyllmust remember that misfortunes never come
singly. When matters were closely investigated however
it.weuld be found that there was really no deterioration
of the navy. They must remember that now-a-days their
ships were of such bulk and carried such complicated
michinery, that it required the closest knowledge and
strictest management to prevent accidents. Their sailors
had hardly time to master one huge system of maclhnery
before another plan was tried, anti they had to go ovei
the matter again. He could not help refering to the
fact, showing tha; the service was what it always had
been, that when the accident did happen there was the
same coolness of head, willingness of hand, determina-
tion to do the best. (Hear, hear, and applause)
Lieutenant Holberton responded.

Dr. Walker then proposed' The County and Borough
Members," and claimed for the member for the county
that he -vas always willing to render any assistance to
his constituents, irrespeztive of the claims on his time as
a leader in his circuit and a busy berister.
Mr. A. Staveley Hill, in response, spoke of the rising
intelligence and p.nsperity of the district in which he
was then speakiug. He had considerable knowledge of
the district in which he was born—and he was proud to
be a Staffordshire man—and the spread of intelligence
was to him one of the greatest pleasures in life. The
Black Country had had its good tunes and its bad times,
and he was willing and anxious to believe that one of its
worst times had past, and that those who work in the
lower scale in that great district would not be led away
by a shadow, and grasp at somthing which would really
drive away the trade of the district to leas congenial
spheres. In saying that he hoped all would remember
that he was not speaking fur one side, but that his
greatest desire was for the general and tiniverval good.
ieor a long time past he had liken great intend in li-
censed victuallers' associations ; long before he was a
member of the House of Commons he was an honorary
member of an association. ("Hear, hear," and ap•
plause.) Since he had been in the House he had very
carefully attended to their interests. When the first
bill of Mr. Bruce was brought in he had felt it his duty
to move its rejection, for the bill was universally objec-
ted to, and ultimately withdravin. Mr. Cross had dealt
with the question, and although he could not Say that
everything had been done which he (the speaker) thought
should have been done, the bill had gone a long way to
settle matters which wanted settling, and enable the
trade to understand its position. Mr. Hill then went on
to say that he should have been heartily glad if, whilst
the question was being disictissed and disposed of, the
law had bean consolidated, so that when one wanted to
refer to the law on a particular question, a section could
be referred to and the question settled. (Applause.) It
was, however, too late to talk of any alteration now, and
so he would refer to the present state of affairs in their
trade, and the necessity for such assoaiations as theirs.
in the first place, he knew of no trade which required
associations more than theirs, for they were attacked all
round. It had seemed right to the Legislature to
gather a large amount of taxation from their trade, and
it had also seemed right to the Legislature to fence them
round with a vast amount of police supervision. This
made the trade very difficult; but, in addition to this
there were to be met attacks from fanatics without, and
some little danger from within, from scandals which
associatiohs of that kind would prevent. He learned
that they had 100 members, and he learned also, from
the superintendent of police in that district, that since
the formation of the society there had been a decrease
in the numbes of couvictloha. Mr. Hill then strongly
denied that he or the licensed victuallers were what
those who objected to alcohol said they were—advocates
simply and solely of drink, for the purposes of leading
men to take what was not good for them. He could
safely say for all in that room that they were as great
enemies to intemperance and druLkenness as any. (Ap-
plause.) What they really were, was a body of men
bound to serve the public, and bound to contribute to
the general welfare and comfoit ; not to swell the general
injury, but to add to the general convenience. He had
seen in the paper that day that the hive of bees at Brign-
ton had been histening to a speech by Mr. Dawnson
Burns, who was still in favour of more stringent regula-
tions. He found much applause, but he found at the
head of the report, as president of the section, the
name of Omit old friend Lord Aberdare. (Loud
laughter) The Chairman then proposed the toast of
the evening, `• Success to the Association." and said lie
did so because he found that they, as licensed victuellers,
were determined to be united to carry out, in a proper
mode, their trade, and prevent unjust and vexations pro-
ceedings from outside. Believing that their objects
were correct, and that such institutions would really
benefit the trade by purging it of whatever they recog-
nMed to be wrong, he was there that evening. (Applause.)
Mr. Rowland Thomas responded.
Mr. Witherington proposed "The Honorary Mem-
bers," and Mr. Clulow responded.

Mr. T. Wood proposed" The Deputations from other
places and Visitors," and Mr. Bishop and Mr. Ashmead
responded.

Mr. Holberton proposed "The Chairman," which was
drunk with much cheering. Mr. Hill, in responding,
bald, in answer to a questing put by Mr. Bishop, he
would give his best opinion on the question of structural
alterations now exorcising the Birmingham magistrates
if. Mr. Bishop woui4 send him the elms.
Several other toasts followed.

TIIN THROAT AND WINDPIPS are especially liable to
inflammation, causing soreness and dryness, tickling
and irritation, inducing cough and affecting the voice.
For these symptoms use glycerine in the form of jujube&
Glycerine in these agreeable confections, being in prom
mity to the glands at the moment they are excited by
the act of sucking, becomes actively healing. 6d andls
boxes (by post Bor 15 stamps), in tins, is 6d, labelled.
Jannis EPPS it Co., Honiceopathic Chemists, 48,
Threadneedle St. and 170, Piccadilly, London.—Sold in
Stourbridge by X. P. Morris, Chemist, and J. H. Bland,
Chemist.

Holloway's Ointment and Pills.—Rheamatism, Neu-
ralgia.—lt is sometimes difficult to determine which o
these diseases is afflicting the sufferer, but such uncer
lainty will be immateral if Holloway's remedies be used
They alleviate and cure all muscular and nervous pains,
In hereditary rheumatism, after bathing the affected
part with warm salt water, Holloways Ointment should
e well rubbed upon the spot that it may penetrate and
exert its soothing and regulating properties on the deep-
er vessels and nerves which being unduly exited, cause
e Ali pain and swelling. Holloway's treatment has tthe
ebit of rewoving the diAease without debilitating the-
crtstitutiou which was the inevitable result of the bleed.
on mercury, and colchicum practice formerly adopted
inthese complaints.