The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-01-10 00:00:00

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complainant, her husband, and daughter had got
him down, and were all ou top of him at open,
beating him. On being asked if he had any
witnesses, he said he had no money, and there-
fore could get no witnesses. If he had plenty
of money he could have had any quantity of
of witnesses—Several previous convictions hav-
ing been proved against defendant, Major Flet-
cher told him it was evident that he was a quar-
relsome fellow, and lined 20s and costs; in de-
fault one month's hard labour.
FATAL CASE OF BURNINCL—An inquest was held
at the Angel lim, Coventry Street, on Saturday,
before Mr. Corbet, Deputy Coroner, on the body of
Jane Phillips, aged 24, who died' from burns, on
Thursday last. Mary Ann Sharpe, wife of Us
Sharpe, labourer, said the deceased was a single
woman, and was her sister. Deceased came to
her house at midnight on Christmas-eve, and said
she would stay till the morning. She remained
st the house during the night, and till half-pant
two on the Christmas-day. Witness was up-
stairs at that time, and heard her scream. Wit-
ness ran down, and met her at the bottom of the
stairs all in flames, Witness's husband followed
her down. They tried to put the flames out, but
could not entirely, and some persons who ran in
cut her clothes off her. A doctor was sent for.
Deceased died exactly a week after the accident.
Deceased told witness that she was lying down on
a bench by the fire, when her clothes caught fire,
but she did not know how. There was no fender
to the grate.—Dr. Campbell said he was called in
to see the deceased on the after noon of Christmas-
day. She was burnt over the face, body, arms,
and legs. Ile treated her in the usual manner,
but she never rallied, and died from the effects of
the burns on the Ist inst.—The jury found that the
deceased died from accidental burning.
THE SUICIDE OF MR. JOHN PARKES.—An inquest
was held at the Angel Inn, on Saturday, before
Mr. M. Corbet, Deputy Coroner, on the body of
John Parkes, aged 35, Witcher, of Coventry Street.
—John Sewell, grocer's assistant, said he knew
the deceased, who had been in business in Coventry
Street. Ile came into the shop Thursday morn-
ing and began talking about a wedding which had
taken place the day before. There was something
peculiar in his manner which witness noticed, and
which he had never seen before, Parkes, after
talking a little tine, darted out of the shop sud-
denly.—Henry Powell, butcher, said he knew the
deceased. Witness went to grind some knives on
deceased's grindstones a little before ten on Thurs-
day morning. The grindstone was in the brew-
house, and he found the door locked, and the key
Witness looked throogh a window and
saw deceased hanging. Ile raised an alarm, and
the door was forced open. Deceased was cut
down, and he appeared to be quite dead. He had
never noticed anything peculiar in deceased's
manner—Solomon Walters, carter, said he went to
deceased's brewhouse on Thursday morning, and
burst the door open. He saw the deee sued hang-
ing by a rope from a hook in the ceiling. Witness
held him up, while someone cut the rope—Mr. A.
Freer, surgeon, said he was fetched to deceased
about 10 o'clock on New Year's morning. He
was quite dead, but warns, and appeared to have
been dead half an hour. There were marks on
the neck, and death appeard to have taken place
from strang,nlation.—A brother of the deceased
said his manner had been peculiar latley, and he
attributed to his drinking to much.— By a Jury-
man : He had never heard from deceased that lie
had received a letter from a solicitor on behalf of
a lady. but he had heed told so by others.— A
Juryman said he did not believe deceased des.
troyed his life from drink.—The jury returned a
verdict of "Suicide while in a state of temporary
insanity."

Mr. Hickman withdrew his motion, paying, at the
same time. a high compliment to Mr. North.
It was then unanimously resolvee to appoint Mr. North
vice-chairman.
Mr. Hadley thanked Mr. Hickman and Mr. Mingley
for withdrawing the proposition.
Mr. Hickman said it seemed to him that their Board
would be distinguished over all the other Boards in the
district fo.l its extreme moderation. He knew no Board
in whi the majority had not appointed officers from its
own numbers. The majority on that Board having begun
by appointing one of the minority as vice chairman, were
entitled to some credi. for moderation and good feeling.
The Chairman said the next business was the appoint-
ment of clerk. They were in tie offices of the Rowley
Regis Local Board, and it was a very central position for
a Board-room. Mr. Arthar Wright. of Oldbury, wits
clerk to the Local Board, and the room was really in his
hands, and he (the Chairman) thought they could obtain
his services more reasonably than any other clerk, be-
cause the work would run together very well
Mr. Hickman proposed that Mr. Wright be appointed
clerk to the School Board for the ensiling twelve months.
at a ealary of .160 per year.
This was seconded by Mr. Lewis, and carried unani-
mously,
The Chairman said the next business wall lippOintlllellt
of treasurer. They had received a communication from
Mr. Walker, the manager of the Cradley Heath Branch
of the Dudley and West Bromwich Bank, offering lots
services as treasurer to the Board. Ile (the Chairman)
thought it would better to have their banking account at
the Local Bank.

Mr. Hingley proposed that Mr. Henry Origin Walker
he appointer' treasurer to the Board It a salary of 1:10
per year.
This was seconded by Mr. Hadley, and carried.
'

After some desultory corversation, it WM moved by
Mr. Penn, seconded by Mr. Lewis, and carried. That
the School Board hold their meetings in the room of the
Local Board, and that the rent of the room be increased
io £OO, the School Beard paving £lO, being £2 aa an
acknowledgment to the Local -Board for the use of the
room ; and that the next meeting be held on the 2cd
of February, at twelve o'clock'
A vote of thanks to Mr. Allen for the services he had
rendered the Board closed the proceedings.