The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-03-06 00:00:00

AMATEUR HANGMEN.

In answer to Sir 3. W. Pease, Mr. Childers stated
that the Home Office was not responsible for the carry-
ing out of sentences of death in any particular case.
That rested with the high sheriff. He had had no
official correspondence with reference to a case in which
it was said that a baronet had been allowed to act as
"amateur hangman" at one or more executions; bat
he (Mr. Childers) had given instructions for a circular
to be sent to the high sheriffs to the effect that no
person be allowed to assist the hangman, except with
the personal approval of the high sheriff.
LORD R. CHURCHILL'S BELFAST SPEECH.

Lord R. Churchill asked the Government for an
early day for the discussion of a motion by Mr. Sexton
to the effect that the House declared the conduct of the
noble lord at Belfast constituted a public danger and
merited the severest reprehension.—Mr. Gladstone
was sensible of the motive of the noble lord, but did
not think it was a matter in which the Government
could interfere by surrendering: any portion of its time.
—Mr. Semton said he would raise the motion at a time
when he would be able to take the sense of the House
upon it.
THE ALLEGED DISLOYALTY AT A LIBERAL DINNER..
In answer to Mr. Baumann, Sir Oharles Russell said
It was true that he was at the banquet given to cele-
brate the return to the House of Commons of 12
hon. gentlemen who were described as the direct repre..
sentatives of labour, and all of whom, he believed,
sat oh the Liberal side of the House. He wisbed to
state most distinctly, ia spite of what had been
stated, that he did not hear on that occasion any
hissing whatever.
THE POLICE AND THE RIOTS.

On the motion for going into Committee of Supply,
Ur. J. Stuart moved that no reorganisation of the
metropolitan police would be satisfactory which did
not ensure to representatives of the ratepayers of the
metropolis a direct control.—Lord Algemm Percy
hoped the House would not adopt the amendment of
Mr. Stuart. If the police force had not been in the
hands of the Home Office the riots would probably have
been worse. He thought processions that took posses-
sion of the streets and stopped traffic should no longer
be allowed. They made mob law. There was a doubt
in the mind of many whether the Government meant
to support law and order. On that point he asked
for a declaration to-night, for some Ministers
made speefloes that very much resembled those of the
Socialists.—Mr. G Howell thought that the inquiry
already held was inadequate, for it did not investigate
the causes of the riot, and the men who called the
tumultuous meeting together on the Bth were the same
that the Tories hired to disturb political meetings
during the general election, or to appear as bogus
labour candidates before the constituencies.—Mr.
Burdett-Coutts asked whether the House was satisfied
with the way that Colonel Henderson had been
treated, and what part the Home Secretary himself had
taken in reference to the riots? The police should get
the initiative from the Home Office in dealing with
these dcutonstrations.—Mr. Ritchie believed he was
doing his duty in taking part in the recent investiga-
tion into the conduct of the police, and that it was the
duty of the Home Secretary to make such inquiry.
I The Home Secretary was clearly responsible to die
; House of Commons for the preservation of order.—
After a long discussion, Mr. Childers said he could not
assent to the amendment of Mr. Stuart, and declined
to say when the bill for the reform of local government
I of the metropolis would be introduced, but till then the
Home Office must have control of the police.—Mr. W.
! H. Smith said there seemed to have been no sense of
responsibility in any quarter as to the necessity for
keeping order and security in the capital of the greatest
Empire of the world.—Sir H. Holland thought the
! report of the committee was a strong one.—Mr.
! Bradlaugh said he was prepared to produce evidence
I before a committee of inquiry to show who were the
! people brought together who were likely to riot.—Sir
I R. Cross was satisfied with the general character and
! efficiency of the metropolitan police, and praised the
! past achievements of Sir E. Henderson.—The amend-
ment of Mr. Stuart was ultimately negatived without a
division.