The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1888-01-07 00:00:00

EPITOME OF NEWS.

The Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland has bee-, pleased to
commute the sentence of death passed en Denis
Flanagan for murdering his wife, at Stradbally, Queen's
County, to penal servitude for life.
A report has appeared in some of the morning papers
to the effect that Sir William Jenner was suffering
from illness. We are glad to be able to state authori-
tatively that he has only been labouring under what is
popularly known as a "a bad cold," and is now quite
well.—Lancet.
On the 13th of February and following days Messrs.
Christie will sell the first portion of the literary
treasures from Packington Hall. The Aylesford Library
is known to be rich in specimens of the works of the
early printers—such as Caxton, Wynkyn de Worde,
Julian Notary, and Peter Treveris. The collection of
Bibles is also unique; and there are some splendid
editions of the Latin and Greek classics, and fine Eng-
lish books.

The Queen has approved of the appointment by the
Home Secretary of Mr. John Forbes, Q.C., of the
North-Eastern Circuit, to the Recordership of Hull,
vacant by the resignation of Mr. Beasley, Q.C.,
' through ill-health. Mr. Forbes, who was only recently
appointed Attorney-General for the County Palatine
of Durham, was called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn in
1862, and was created a Queen's Counsel in 1881.
A Society paper says that Dr. Stainer contemplates
resigning his post as organist of St. Paul's Cathedral.
An Amati violin has been sold at Buda-Pesth for
£7OO. It, however, originally belonged to Louis XIV.
A fine specimen of the Golden eagle has just been
killed at Bagshot by one of her Majesty's keepers. Its
spread was fully Oft.
It is known that the Germany military authorities
have for some time past been making experiments with
carrier pigeons. These, our Berlin correspondent
states, have recently been followed by still more in-
teresting and successful trials with falcons. The latter
birds are being trained to catch pigeons, especially
with a view to capture those employed for the convey-
ance of messages.
The Dublin Gazette has published an order signed by
Mr. Litton Q.C., and Mr. Wrench, Land Commis-
sioners under the Act of 1887, prescribing alterations in
the judicial rents fixed for the years 1881 to 1885 in
areas (specified in a schedule) which comprise the whole
of 162 Poor Law Unions in Ireland. The alterations
are, in all cases, abatements of the judicial rents, rang-
ing from 6 to 22 per cent., the average being about 14
per cent. Mr. Justice O'Hagan publishes a note to the
order regretting that he is obliged to dissent from his
colleagues, azd cannot concur in it. The order affects
the whole of the judicial rents fixed up to the year
1885. _

An International Musical Exhibition, under the pre-
sidency of Signor ill be held at Bologna from
the Ist of May till the Verdi,ilst of October next.
Lord Lothian is now entrusted with the power to
advise her Majesty to remit the sentence of death in
Scotland. There is no case on just now, but should
one arise the Secretary for Scotland will act instead of
the Home Secretary as heretofore.
During the new financial year an extensive series of
experiments will be carried out by the naval authori-
ties to test the value of the spur rams which have been
affixed to so many of our war ships without being in
anyway supported by armour. The opponent of this
mode of ship construction contend that an unsupported
ram is a source of weakness, for whenever it comes to
be used the portion of the ship immediately behind it
will crumble up. The recent collision of the Canada
with a timber-laden barque in the St. Lawrence is con-
sidered to strengthen the contention, for the unsup-
ported spur was uninjured, but the frames adjoining
were broken and twisted right round.
It is not generally known that Sir Morell Mackenzie
is the son of the late distinguished and much-respected
actor, Mr. Compton, who was for years a member of
Mr. Buckstone's company. Mr. Corapton's name was
Mackenzie.
A notable man, Professor William Wordsworth, a
grandson of the great poet, is on the eve of arriving in
England from India. He has been for more than 25
years an officer of the Bombay Department of Public
Instruction, and for some years past has been principal
of the Elphinstone Institute.
It has been decided at the War Office to complete
the armament of the Irish Militia with the Martini-
Henry rifle before the next drill season commences in
March.
The London and China Telegraph states that after
nearly eight years' hesitation the Chinese Government
is about to fulfil the agreement into which it entered
with the German Minister in 1880 for the constitution
of bonded warehouses at Shanghai. The concession
itself is somewhat tardy, and the Telegraph observes
that it may probably be made in such a manner as to
'convert it into a grievance.
A paper was read the other night before the Vienna
Hygienic Society in which it was stated that the soft
part of a loaf is. an excellent disinfector for polished
wood, paper, and like substances, and that experiments
made in several hospitals have given very satisfactory
results.
In consequence of the closing of the Russian univer-
sities, large numbers of the students are leaving the
country to take up their residence in Switzerland.
It has been decided that the statue of the late Sir
Hugh Owen, of the Local Government Board, which is
being presented to the Principality by a committee of
London subscribers, shall be erected in Castle-square,
Carnarvon, close to the fountain which was opened
some years ago by the Prince of Wales.
The Government of India have consented to lend to
the Amir of Afghanistan for two years the services of
Mr. C. L. Griesbach, of the Geological Survey. Mr.
Griesbach accompanied the Southern Force on the
second Afghan campaign as geologist, in which capacity
he was also a member of the Afghan Boundary Com-
mission.

Intellectual progress is sometimes attended with
strange manifestations. A young lady in the city of
Mexico, Senorita Matilda Montaga, having been the
first of her sex to devote herself to medical studies, the
young men of the city were struck with such admiration
of her courage that they got up a bullfight in her
honour lately. It was a real fight, as the fact that two
of the toreros were seriously hurt proved. The receipts
were devoted to the purchase of books and instruments
for the outfit of the lady.
Count Kalnoky has just received the title of
Honorary Bailiff of the Order of Malta, with the
Grand Cross of the Order, appertaining to that com-
munity.
A Jewish benevolent society in Vienna announces
the receipt of a yearly subscription of 14,0001 from
Baron Hirsch.

The Rev. J. Gibson, of Philadelphia—a coloured
minister of Philadelphia—is 117 years old. His long
hair is perfectly white. He wears no beard, and his
skin, which is almost coal black, is a mass of wrinkles.
He says he feels as well as he did 30 years ago, and
that he expects to live to be at least 125 years old. In
his younger days Gibson was a Virginian slave.

On Sunday the members of the Liberal party in the
Hungarian Diet waited on M. Tisza to offer to him
their congratulations on the new year. In replying
M. Tisza said he was not one of those who regarded
the danger of war as imminent. He still hoped it
might be averted. Should, however, war be forced
upon her, Hungary would be found at her post.
Mr. Chamberlain has been entertained at the annual
dinner of the Toronto Board of Trade. In the course
of a speech which was much applauded he said the
prospects of improved relations with the United States
never looked more hopeful. It was not too much to
expect that the tariff against Great Britain would dis-
appear altogether in a few years.
Intelligence from China states that a powder maga-
zine exploded in Amoy and entirely destroyed one
quarter of the town. Fifty soldiers were blown to
atoms, and several hundred other persons are said to
have been killed.

About midnight on Saturday the temperature, which
had for some hours previously been above freezing
point, suddenly fell, and on Sunday skating was re-
newed in the London parks. There were a few immer-
sions, but no serious accident. Early on Monday morn-
ing the weather again became much milder.
Three traders at Drangan were sentenced at Mullina-
hone, county Tipperary, on Saturday to six months'
imprisonment with hard labour for conspiring not to
deal with an emergency man named Mitchell. Notice
of appeal was given and bail allowed.
A communication reached Limerick on Saturday
from the Irish Prisons Board, stating that the Rev.
Father Ryan would be permitted to procure his own
under-clothing during his imprisonment.
Two fish salesmen of Aberdeen were fined at the
London Mansion House on Saturday for having
unseasonable salmon in their possession, contrary to the
statute. The fish had been seized at Cannon-street
Station while in course of transit between Aberdeen
and Paris, and the question of jurisdiction, as well as
other legal points, was raised. In a similar case a
short time ago notice of appeal was given; but, that
appeal having been abandoned, the Lord Mayor now
dealt with the present cases, which had been adjourned
pending the judgment of the higher court.
The Duke of Cambridge returned to Gloucester
House, Park-lane, on Saturday evening from West-
acre, Norfolk, where his Royal Highness has had four
days' shooting with Sir Henry James's party.
The German Emperor on Sunday morning received
the congratulations of the generals and colonels of the
Imperial Life Guards, on the occasion of the New
Year. His Majesty subsequently gave audience to the
Ministers and the Diplomatic Corps.
On Saturday the Crown Prince of Germany took a
drive, and in the afternoon walked out in the gardens
of the Villa Zirio, San Remo. The sun shone brightly,
but the weather was cold. There was no snow there,
although it had fallen in the neighbourhood.
In consequence of Lord Rosebery haring again
caught cold, his meeting at Airdrie, Lanarkshire, on
January 13, has been postponed.
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Alexander Milne, G.C.8.,
according to the latest accounts from Inveresk, is repre-
sented as progressing towards recovery from his recent
serious attack of illness.

Duchess Maria Wilhelmina, mother of the reigning
Duke of Saxe-Meiningen, died at Meiningen, on Sun-
day morning. Her Highness had attained her 83rd
year, having been born in 1804.
' A general order issued by the Russian Minister of
War on December 17 announces that the Imperial
sanction has been given to the establishment of a third-
elass provision depot at Rovno (Volhyllia), in addition
to the second-class magazine already existing there.
Her Majesty's New Year's gifts to the poor of
Windsor were distributed on Saturday.
In the Revenue returns for the quarter And three-
quarters ending Dec. 31 decreases are shown respec-
tively of £138,965 and £109,988. The principal items,
so far as these figures of the National account arc
cative of the state of trade, under which a falling off
is shown are Customs £105,000 for the quarter, and
Income-tax £220,000; the former being accounted for
probably by the reduction of 4d. in the duty on tobacco,
and the latter by the remission of id. in the Income-
tax, which is now beginnng to take effect in the re-
ceipts. On the other side of the account, stamps show
an increase of £70,000, and the post and telegraph ser-
%does of £30,000; both factors giving evidenee of in-
creased trading activity. On the nine months the
Excise and stamps show augmentations qf £300,000,
an. 4 £550,000 respectively. The results now published,
it will be seen, are in general conformity with the
Budget anticipations.

The facts relating to a desperate poaching affray'
which took place some weeks ago at Redgrave, were
brought out before a bench of magistrates at Eye on
Monday, when Philip Wilby, labourer, and Frederick
Bryant, dealer, were charged with having with other
persons unknown, armed with guns, entered upon en-
closed lands to take game, and further with murder-
ously assaulting a gamekeeper named Taylor. The
keepers were attracted during the night by gun shots
in the wood, and soon afterwards encountered a gang
of poachers. A desperate fight ensued, in the course
of which Taylor was felled to the ground and left for
dead, his injuries being so serious that he was unable
to give evidence until Monday. The poachers de-
camped, but the prisoners were afterwards appre-
hended, Wilby bearing traces of severe ill-usage.
Bryant proved an alibi, and was discharged. Wilby
was committed for trial.
Joseph Bishop, a carter in the employ of Lord Hil-
lingdon, was charged at Uxbridge on Monday with
cruelly ill-treating a horse on Christmas Day. The
defendant agreed to take charge of a horse during the
afternoon of Christmas Day while a youth who gene-
rally looked after it had a holiday. In the course of the
afternoon the animal escaped from its stable and ran
into a neighbouring field. Bishop caught the horse,
and for ten minutes beat it severely. The animal was
afterwards found to be very much exhausted, and died
on the following Thursday morning, a veterinary sur-
geon stating that death was due to exhaustion, conse-
quent upon lock-jaw, arising from the injuries the
animal had received. The defendant was fined £3.
At Cambridge Town Council on Monday it was
decided, by 25 votes to five, that early application be
made for an Act of Parliament to enable the Corpora-
tion and the Chesterton Local Board to construct a
bridge or bridges over the River Cam. It was also
determined, by 22 votes to ten that it was desirable to
enlarge the Guildhall by building additional rooms,
and to give authority to employ an architect, to whom
it is to be an instruction "to arrange his plans so that
any new buildings erected may form part of a complete
and consistent block of municipal buildings."
Another attempt was on Monday made by the agent
of Mrs. M'lntosh, the lady of the manor, to put down
a weigh-bridge in the Romford Market-place, but the
efforts of the men employed by the agent were
frustrated by a number of men employed by the Local
Board, who threw back the earth as fast as it was
removed. The agent at the end gave up the attempt,
but stated that as no toll could be charged for cattle
brought into the market unless the weigh-bridge was
put down, the Local Board would be held responsible
for the loss.
Smallpox, which has been alarmingly epidemic in
Yorkshire of late, has appeared in Bradford. A
labourer named Alfred Dawson, living in a common
lodging-house, was on Monday discovered to be suf-
fering from the disease in an mute form. He was
sent to the Fever Hospital, but had been in the
lodging-house a week, and had been ill for the greater
portion of that time. During this period there was
the usual number of lodgers in the house, and it is to
be feared that other cases may be developed.
The annual council meeting of the Yorkshire Miners'
Association, held at Barnsley on Monday, considered
the demand previously made on the coal owners for an
advance of 10 per cent. Resolutions were passed
regretting that the owners had declined to entertain
the proposal for an advance or the formation of a
board of conciliation, and the association instructed
their secretaries again to write to the secretaries and
presidents of the Coal Owners' Association in Yorkshire
respecting an advance.
The Wirral (Cheshire) Highway Board have sent in
an account of £620 to Mr. Walker, contractor for the
Manchester Ship Canal, for extraordinary expenses
incurred by the heavy traffic of machinery passing on
to the Ship Canal Works. Mr. Walker refuses to pay
the account, on the ground that it is excessive, and the
Highway Board on Monday resolved to press for pay-
ment. The whole of this sum was spent by the board
during two months alone, when the roads were con-
siderably cut up.
An explosion occurred on Monday morning at the Bal-
burst workings of Diglake Colliery, Audley, North Staf-
fordshire. A portion of themine fired spontaneously last
week, and the manager had had the horses removed,
and had prevented the 600 men engaged at the colliery
from descending the mine. The fire was built off, but
on Monday morning flames communicated with some
gas, and a destructive explosion followed, rendering
descent to the mine impossible. No lives were lost.
The extensive warehouse and works of Messrs.
Fredk. Turney and Sons, leather dressers, of Bobber's
Mill, Nottingham, were on Monday night destroyed by
fire. The flames originated in the drying-room, and as
the contents of the building were oily the fire spread
throughout the building very quickly. The damage is
estimated at £40,000. Owing to the exertions of the
Borough Fire Brigade a naptha store in the immediate
vicinity of the fire was uninjured.
At the West Riding Sessions at Leeds on Monday a
grant of £2OO was made out of the police superannua-
tion fund to the widow of Superintendent Birkhill,
who was shot dead at Otley while attempting to appre-
hend a man named William Taylor, who had attempted
to murder his wife, and afterwards fatally shot his
child. Regret was expressed that the Court had not
power to make a larger grant.
In Seaham Harbour on Monday a young man named
Thomas Spence was drowned. The deceased had gone
into the sea on :the back of a horse to wash its legs.
The animal got beyond control, and swam out to sea.
The rider fell off, and before assistance could be
obtained he was drowned. The body was afterwards
washed on shore. The melancholy circumstance was
witnessed by a brother, who could render no help.
At the Coventry City Petty Sessions on Monday, a
local firm, trading as the Danish Butter Company,
were summoned for selling as butter a substance which
contained 90 per cent, of foreign fat, and only 10 per
cent. of butter. The defendants admitted that under
the Margarine Act they would have to describe the
substance as margarine. The Bench imposed a fine
of £l.
The Northampton boot and shoe operatives resumed
work at all the factories on Monday morning, with the
exception of that of Messrs. Cove and West, where
the original dispute broke out. The unionists decline
to work with the accommodators at this factory, but it
is anticipated that the difficulty will be arranged by
making separate shops.
Another explosion, caused by an escape of gas into
the sewer, took place on Monday in Percy-street,
Newcastle, near the spot where the previous explosion
occurred. A portion of the carriage-way was lifted
up, and some of the stonework in the street was dis-
placed.
A portion of the Wirral railway scheme which will
connect West Kirby, Hoylake, and the parish of
WaNsey with the Mersey Tunnel Railway, was
opened on Monday morning for traffic, without any
formal cerempny.
PleurO-pneunienia is spreading in Dorsetshire.
Another serious outbreak was reported on Monday on
the farm of Mr. Joseph Coombs, at Cherry Orchard,
Shaftesbury. The herd in this case numbers about 70
head.
At the Thames Police-court, London, on Monday,
Margaret Cain, 45, who has been convicted at this and
other courts in the metropolis upwards of 230 times,
was again charged with the usual offence of being
drunk, disorderly, and using obscene language. On
Sunday night she was on Tower-hill behaving in a dis-
graceful way. When Constable 72 H requested her to
go away she said, "I want to go home to see my
inspector." The officer took her into custody, and on
passing a Roman Catholic church she remarked, "My
priest is here." Defendant then dropped on her knees,
and commenced saying her prayers. The constable got
her up, when she offered to race him to the police
station, and, in order to get her there without further
trouble, the officer allowed her to rim on in front of
him, which she did till they arrived at the station,
where she was charged. Mr. Saunders: You are always
either here or in prison. I think you are better off in
prison than out. I shall now send you back again for
seven days, with hard labour. Defendant: A happy
new year to you.
A great popular demonstration took place on Sunday
at Florence, at the house of Signor Lacaita, in honour
of Mr. Gladstone. The right hon. gentleman, in
response to the acclamations of the crowd, appeared at
the window, and afterwards received a deputation from
the assemblage, who expressed to him the admiration
felt by the Democratic Liberal party of Florence for his
political achievements. Mr. Gladstone, who spoke in
Italian, thanked the deputation in cordial terms for
their kind expressions towards himself.
Several charges of burglary came before metropolitan
police magistrates on Monday. At Marylebone, Albert
Harding, described as a clerk, was remanded on a
charge of being concerned with another man, not in
custody, in breaking into a dwelling-house at Kilburn
and stealing various articles of jewellery. He was also
charged with assaulting Detective Langford, and it was
shown that a desperate struggle took place on the police
endeavouring to arrest him. At Westminster, Daniel
Golliker, a labourer, was remanded, and John Cronin,
a stoker, sent for trial, on different charges of attempt-
ing to break into houses at Pimlico. Charged with
committing a burglary at 30, George-street, Hanover.
square, Thomas Smith, a hawker, was sent by the Marl-
borough-street magistrate for trial.
The Portuguese Cortes were opened on Monday by
the King. In his Speech from the Throne he referred
to the opening of the Delagoa Bay railway, and tc
various measures which had been carried out in the
colony of Delagoa Bay for the development of its re-
sources. In conclusion his Majesty said the financial
situation was satisfactory.
Speaking at the anniversary dinner of the Druids at
Oxford on Monday night, the Earl of Jersey strongly
supported the principle of Free Trade, contending
that if Protection were adopted "everyone would have
to pay dearer all round." Mr. A. W. Hall, the Con-
servative member for the City of Oxford, also defended
Free Trade, and said he felt that Oxford had been
disgraced by the resolution passed at the recent Con-
servative Conference.
A Vienna correspondent reports: "The Crown
Prince Stephanie met with a singular accident on Mon-
day. While arranging her hair with a pair of over-
heated curling-irons her Imperial Highness burnt her-
self in the right eye, and for a short time there was
some fear that the sight had been injured. The doctor,
who was immediately sent for, declared the burn to be
slight, and is of opinion that it will be better in the
course of a week."
On Saturday last and Monday, at the rent audits held
at Aylesbury, Mr. Leopold de Rothschild returned 30
per cent. of the rents due from the tenants on his
Buckinghamshire estates for the half-year ended
Michaelmas last. This is the third half-year in which
the remission has been extended to 30 per cent.
The Prime Minister has forwarded to the Lord
Mayor of London, at the Mansion House, a cheque for
£lOO, in aid of the fund for the unemployed.
Lieutenant-General Sir Archibald Alison, G.C.8.,
commanding at Aldershot, has appointed Major-
General Philip Smith, C. 8., to preside over a corn
mittee which is to consider and submit proposals for
the silent movement of troops by signal. The other
members of the committee are Colonel Yeatma,n
Biggs, R.A. Colonel Ward Bennitt, sth Lancers;
Lieutenant-Colonel Coke, 2nd Battalion Own
Scottish 13orderers ; and Lieutenant-Colonel Wilson,
let Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment. -
The barque Carleton has arrived at San Francisco
with eight survivors of the barque Johanna, bound
from Shields for Iquique, which was burned at sea.
Eight men other than those on board the Johanna were
, lost,

SATURDAY, JAN,,7j_1881),..)

The Queen, through Sir Spencer Ponsonby Pane, °,l
the Lord Chamberlain's department, has expressed°
the Chief Commissioner of Metropolitan Police her
desire to present the sum of £lOO to be divided among,
the 42 men of the A Reserve, who so carefully kg"
guard over the Jubilee presents of her Majesty during
their exhibition at St. James's Palace.
The French Government has issued a Yellow-beck
containing the correspondence with the British 60'
vernment in respect to the New Hebrides and the,
islands west of Tahiti, of which Raiatea is the raos"
important.
The negotiations and documents with respect to the
neutralisation of the Suez Canal form the subject of $
Yellow-book, just issued in Paris. The official corre;
spondence dates from the 6th of January, 1886, all
extends to the 2nd December last. It records the
diplomatic events which led up to the Anglo-French
Convention with respect to the Canal.
The Reading Railway strike is practically over, the
men being defeated; but this has been succeeded by 3
strike of colliers in Pennsylvania, which affects 22,00°
men, and threatens to cause inconvenience to the
consumers of coal owing to the scantiness of the
supply.
Under the presidency of Lord Hobhouse, a meeting
was held on Tuesday night at the Lambeth Baths en
the subject of the incidence of taxation. He main-
tained that local financial burdens were not fairly dis"
tributed, being levied on occupiers, while owners,
whose property had increased, escaped. A resolution
in favour of direct assessment on ground-rents and
lands increased in value by buildings was adopted.
Sir E. Clarke, M.P., speaking at Plymouth on
Tuesday night, said it was a remarkable testimony to
the way in which Lord Salisbury had conducted out
foreign affairs that there was not a cloud between es
and any other country in the world.
The proposed revision of county boundaries engage.d
the attention of the magistrates in Quarter Sessions in
several counties on Tuesday. The Birmingham 'Dem
Council have decided to take advantage of the visit of
an Assistant Boundary Commissioner to promote an
extension of the boundaries of the borough.
The receipts on account of revenue from the Ist of
April, 1887, when there was a balance of £5,950.107.
to December 31, 1887, were £59,053,610, against
£59,463,598 in the corresponding period of the pre'
ceding financial year, which began with a balance of
£5,625,944. The net expenditure was £60,818.565,
against £62,733,632 to the same data in the previous
year. The Treasury balances on December 31, 1887,
amounted to £2,666,514, and at the same date in 1886
to £2,110,277.
As a train of the London and South-Western Cora°
pany was entering Tulse-hill Station early on Tuesday
morning, the engine left the rails and fell over on its
side, dragging with it three carriages. The passengers
were shaken, but no one was injured except the engine'
driver, and he not seriously. The line of the companl
and the Brighton line were obstructed for several hours.
The East London Waterworks Company were sum-
moned to the Worship-street Police-court on Tuesday
by Mr. W. C. Green, a baker, at Mile-end for neglect'
ing to supply water to his premises. The companY
maintained that they could not be expected to do 50
unless the complainant paid six quarters' rates duo 11
the previous occupier, and they relied on the provisions
of the Act rendering the complainant liable, although,
without prejudice to their proceedings, they had laid
on the water. The magistrate dismissed the summons.
George Parkinson, clerk in Holy Orders, was indicted
at the Bath Quarter Sessions, on Tuesday, on three
charges of obtaining money by false pretences. He was
found guilty and sentenced to one month's imprison-
ment without hard labour.
At Rutherglen, Glasgow, on Tuesday, a little 1,09
named James Wighton, in the absence of his mother,
took a bottle of whisky from a shelf, and consumed
such a quantity of the liquor that he died from alcoholic
poisoning.
Mr. Benjamin Davies, booking clerk of the Pembroke
and Tenby Railway at Pembroke Station, was on Mon-
day night attacked by three men near the town, and
the keys of the station were taken from him. The
assistance of the police was sought, but before they
could reach the station the thieves had succeeded in
entering it, and in extracting £34 from the safe. D'r°
clue to the thieves has yet been obtained.
The two men, Sharp and Buckmaster, described
as bookmakers, who were charged with alleged welshiug
at Ascot at Berks Michaelmas Quarter Sessions and
found guilty, and which decision has been upheld oil
appeal to the Court for the Consideration of Crown
Cases, on Tuesday surrendered themselves at the Berls
Epiphany Sessions, and were each sentenced to three
months' hard labour.
The measles epidemic in Canterbury continues to
spread, and a large proportion of deaths from this
disease is recorded. On Sunday there were as many
as 13 funerals of children who had died from it. The
malady prevails principally among the poorer classes.
In the villages in East Kent, where the epidemic
started, there is a now sensible diminution in the
number of cases.
Mr. T. N. Johnson, Deputy Coroner, held an inquest
on Tuesday at Stockport Infirmary, touching the death
of James Harkin, 32, of Cheadle. On October 22, "
a professional football player, he played in a match for
Heaton-park against Darwen Old Wanderers. Accord-
ing to his own statement, one of the players acci-
dentally fell upon him with his knee upon his thigh.
This produced an abscess, from which Harkin died le
Stockport Infirmary last Saturday. The jury found a
verdict of "Accidental Death."
Lord Aveland referred to the Allotments Act ifl
charging the Grand Jury at Kesteven Quarter Sessions.
Bourn, on Tuesday. He said the new Act had cause 4
a good deal of agitation amongst the agricultural
labourers in that district, and he was pleased to see the
spirit in which their applications for land had been met,
both by tenant farmers and landlords. Speaking for
himself personally, he was ready to afford every facility
to the labourers, so far as lay in his power, for the ac-
quirement of allotments.
During Monday night the church of St. Lawrence at
Ludlow was burglariously entered. It was discovered
in the morning that the lead work and glass of ono of
the windows at the north end had been torn away, and
an endeavour had also been made to break open the
front door, which bore the marks of a chisel. Inside
the church were the footmarks of a man and a hoit
and from these marks it would appear that the depre-
dators, after first obtaining a candle from the pulpit,
went to the porch and broke open a collection-box.
Fortunately, however, the money which the box con'
tamed had been taken out on Saturday.
At Maryport three months ago a woman named
Corkindale, living in the town, picked up in the street,
whilst on a visit to some friends, a dynamite cartridge;
Not knowing what it was, she took it home an
allowed her son to play with it. The boy took it to
school with him every day for a fortnight, and he and
his schoolfellows played with it. On one occasion
young Corkindale sat very near to the fire, and, point-
ing to his trousers pocket where his dangerous toy wo,
said "Feel how warm it is." The mother had tihnost
forgotten the cartridge, but on Tuesday her son arid
another boy quarrelled about the thing, and fought for
its possession. She thereupon took it from them, and
placed it upon the mantelshelf. Shortly afterwards
she accidently knocked it into the fire. A loud explo-
sion ensued, and the poor woman was dreadfully'
wounded about the head and face. An infant silo had
n her arms at the time escaped unhurt.