The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-08-07 00:00:00

INQUEST AT THE SPOTTED COW.

An inquest was held at the Spotted Cow, Union.
street, in this town, on Saturday evening last,
before R. Docker, Esq., Coroner, to enquire into
the death of John Osborne.

The first witness called was Albert Freeman, who
said he resided at Stourbridge. He had lodged
with deceased, who was'a married man. Deceased
was 43 years of age. Deceased's wife was living
in Kinver, and he was working in the neighbour-
hood. Witness saw deceased at breakfast time on
the day of his death. He then appeared to be in
his usual health, and went to work. Witness last
saw deceased alive about a quarter to eight on the
same evening, at his lodgings. Deceased was
standing talking to Mr. Hazledine, and appeared
to be as well as in the morning. Mr. Hazledine
left deceased sitting on his chair, and witness was
talking to a neighbour when he saw deceased fall
forward into Mr. Hazledine's lap. Witness said to
Mrs. Payne—the neighbour to whom he was talk-
ing—" I think that man's in a fit." Witness went
towards deceased to raise him up, and was followed
by Mrs. Payne. Witness found deceased lying
with his face Oh the chair, and he was in a kneel-
ing position. Witness believed deceased was dead
when he picked him up. Deceased never rallied
afterwards. Witness asked one of the neighbours
to fetch a policeman, and Police-constable Philpot
came, and he fetched Superintendent Freeman.
Witness had been living with deceased a couple of
months, and during that time he had never com-
plained of illness. Deceased was steady and regu-
lar in his habits,
Elizabeth Payne said she had known deceased
for about six weeks, and she saw him on the day
of his death, about ten minutes before he was
taken ill. During the time she knew him she had
never complained of any ailment. When she went
into the house where deceased was, he was
picked up unconscious, and never spoke after-
wards.

The jury returned a verdict to the effect that
"Deceased, John Osborne, died suddenly by the
visitation of God."

ODD FELLOWS' FETE.

On Monday last, the Manchester Unity of Odd
Fellows, held a fete in the grounds of Messrs. T.
and H. Shutt, at the Heath, in this town. Those
societies which had preceded them in holding there
annual festivals this season. had had but very mod-
erate success ; the weather, as, a rule, having been
very unpropitious for out-of-door gatherings. This,
however, was not the case, on Monday last; and,
hence, the almost unprecedented success which the
fete attained. About ten o'clock in the morning, the
members of the diffeant lodges in this district as-
sembled on the cricket ground, at Amblecote, and
there tormed themselves into a procession, and pre-
pared to parade through the town on their way to
the Heath.

The procession was headed by the Brierley Hill
Saxhorn Band.

The lodges represented were the Lord Hill (Duke
William), Morning Star ;the Chequers), Travellers'
Rest (Somerset House), Duke of Sussex (Turk's
Head), Queen Victoria (Bell Hotel), Pride of the
Valley (Vine Inn), Sir Stephen Glynn (Bridge Inn),
Good Intent (Saracen's Head), True Briton (Crown),
Miners' Pride (Cross Inn), Prince of Wales (Vine
Inn, Lye), Widows' Hope (Accrnlnn, Brettell Lane),
Lord Lyttelton (Lyttelton Arms, Hagley), All's Well
(Green Tavern, Wordsley Green). and Progression
(Commercial Inn, Brockmoor). The follow Ing bands
took positions in the procession:--The Cradley Heath
(Bandmaster, Mr. E. Curnock), Kingswinford Rifle
Volunteers (Bandmaster Fellows), the Stourbridge
Saxhorn (Bandmaster Bird).
Some beautiful flags and banners were carried in
the procession and the members carried the different
emblems of their order. There were several wag-
onettes and breakes, which were filled with widows
and orphans of the order. Most of the shops in the
town were closed, and crowds of persons lined the
streets along which the procession lamed. On ar-
riving at ground the following programme was gone
through :