The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1866-10-27 00:00:00

THE STOURI3RIDGE OBSERVER

he had tried to remove the goods, and should if the
pianoforte question had been settled. I did say there
was a grave doubt about the transaction of Hughes being
bona fide. Hughes did sign a note giving up all claim to
the overseers. I knew that Hughes went with Meredith
to get a loan, at Dudley.
Re-examined : The memorandum was signed after the
seizure. Mv suspicions with reference to it being a bona
fide transaction, were grounded on the relationship.
Thomas Haden, deposed: I am a bailiff, of Dudley.
On Wednesday, the 17th inst, I went iuto possession of
a house that had recently been occupied by Mr. Meredith.
Mr. Hughes was there. Martin Durkin was also in pos-
session. We remained in possession till the 19th. On
that day, about half-past one, Coley and Warr came and
rang the bell. There was a lawyer with them (Mr.
Prescott), They got over the wall. There were about
41) or 50 with them with sticks and staves. Warr said,
" Open the door." I said I should not. Ile said if I
did not lie should force it. I then went into the house.
The doors were locked and barred. Coley and the mob
came up and cried oat," Open the door." They banged
open the door on the top of sic and the other bailiff.
They broke the door open with a staff. It was the side
door of the house. Coley said go in, and don't be
frightened. Mr. Prescott was in the lane. He asked me
to open the door, but I told him that I should not. Ile
mid he should force it. The roughs they had got with
them said," Come out, you b-." I should think
about forty came in. One man pulled out • staff and hit
Mr. Hughes on the back of the head. Iloghes and
Durkin were pushed out. They came in to me. Due
gave me a smack on the back. I said, "Don't kill me, I
will come out quietly." I came out.
Cross-examined : Coley and Warr did sot have sticks,
but they said to the others, "tie on; don't be afraid."
They were both inside the house. Coley spoke so loudly
that he could be heard half a mile away. There were
forty or fifty in the house, and more than twelvo with
staves in their hands.
Crosas-examined by Mr. Prescott: I did notice you try
to force the door.
Martin Durkin, deposed: I live at Dudley. On the
18th I sent in possemion at Mr. Meredith's. Thema.
Haden was there. I first heard a bell ringing between
one and two o'clock, in the daytime. I got up the well
on a ladder. There were about forty peesoas present,
shot tweuty of whom were armed. A lawyer was with
them who said, " Put ii man or two over the wall, and open
the door." They threatened to break open the door. The
door was broken in, and Mr. Hughes said Coley bad done
it. About fifteen eaine into the house and other men were
trying to get in. I was struck on the wrist, and Haden
and Hughes were struck. We were turned out. The
whole transaction did not occupy more than five
minutes.

Mr. Barbary then addressed the Bench in a forcible
and telling speeeb, pointing out how his clients had been
previously injured by Meredith's conduct. lie should
prove beyond all doubt that it was not his clients who
made the forcible entrance, bat that the bailiffs had
made an illegal seizure. His clients were men of posi-
tion and respectable men, and he hoped the lieneh would
not send them for trial. The following witnesses were
then called

Charles Clare, painter, said : I was first attracted about
three o'clock. 1 11, ard sonic vans coining slowly up the
road, by my workshop. Nome men were talking, and I
opened my window and looked out, as I was requested by
the tax collector to du no. Mr. Hughes said, "We must
sot mention names here, but call each other mates." I
then called out if Mr. Chamber lain was there. The
answer was "No." I said, "You are removing a piano-
forte belonging to Mr. Chamberin ; I shall go and tell
him." I went and told him, and he came back with me.
The van bad started. I ran after them and asked if they
had is pianoforte, and told them to take it back again.
They did so, and put it by the side of the road. At half.
Past five o'clock I saw a number of persons standing to-
gether, but Coley and Warr were not with them. The
rabble took my ladders and steps and got over the wall,
and said they meant to take possession. I did not know
their names. Coley and Warr came up after.
1;y Mr. Prescott: You were in my house, and had no-
thing to do with it.
Cross•examined : I called up Coley, Wan', and Cham•
berlsin ; the two first because they were overseers, and
Chamberlain because he had a pianoforte there. Coley
and Warr did nothing, but said they should take legal ad.
vice. I did lend Meredith some harness and some kind
person threw it Into my field. Ido not know who did it.
, There were some sticks used, for the roughs took forcible
Possession of acme blind rollers belonging to me, and
have not returned them.

...
Louis Marks, glazier, said that Mr. Coley was there,
and he called him to help to seize the books belonging to
the parish. Two bags were carried away, at least a bag
and • belt—a big bag and a little bag. There was no
noise, only people talking and joking.
Ity Mr. Prescott : You told me to tell Coley and Warr
not to have anything to do with it. I delivered the mei,
sage.
Thomas Powell said he was bondsman to Mr. Meredith
and sem Mr. l'reseott on the subject.
In answer to Mr. Young, he said Le did not know what
be was worth.

Mr. Prescott : The bond is not worth the paper it lion.
Thomas Cook, tailor, said he ':ced near Mr. Meredith's
house. On the 19th he was in his house. About two
o'clock in the day there were about 20 persons standing
about, talking about removing the furniture. Coley and
Warr were there, and passed through the door about ten
minutes otter the others had passed through. I did not ice
the defendants go into the house. They had no stick with
them ; neither did they take any thing away.
Cross-examined: I followed them up close. The door
was broken open then, and the staple gone, but I did not
stay long. Coley and Warr were there while the things
were being removed. I stood there for two hours.
. . . .

This being the case for the defence,
The Bench said they were of opinion thata forcible
entrance bud been made, but there was no evidence to
%bow that the defendants did it ; suit roust demi, the
ease.

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Which course should be taken. The report would show ,
what the secretary pro. tem. considered might be done
with the means of the association, and what would be
rentowt6yseat
the best coarse to adopt. The association daring the few •
years in which it employed Mr. Jones, had an income
from annual subscriptions, fees, and contributions from • •
associations in anion, of about £l3O or £l.lO a year. ,
The effect of strikes and of some other circumstances
I ad not been favourable—had indeed been unfavourable
li
nations held by that association and by the Society of
h—atod
itnhcereparsoesdp rnidt association.yfloofutehe,ivcry
much, T
aenndi gthhte s,cxhamoo
, Arts had kept up very fairly ; but the mechanics institutes
and working Metei clubs had very greatly fallen oir dur-
ing the lust year or two. It was under these eircumt
stance. that Hr. Jones—being rather discouraged in his
work as organising agent, and having been offered more
lucrative employment elsewhere—left, and the office be-
came vacant. The question would be, if the appointment
of organising agent was iii he resumed, and a fresh ap-
pointment made, what would be the means of paying the
ss'ary of such as officer. There was reason to suppose,
from what was the case elsewhere, that the office could
not be efficiently filled up without probably a salary of
£l5O a year. That was more than the association had
The income ought to be 1:200 to enable the association
to pay the necessary salary. The question was, there-
fore, what other system could be adopted? The income
of the association might be taken at £l.lO a year from all
sources. There were considerable arrears to be di.
charged by the association from the operations of former
years, which had to be met when Mr. Jones resigned.
He did not know that the association would have been
able to meet them without what turned out to be a large
resource—the Fine Arts Exhibition lately held in Ihniley. •
I That exhibition was prompted by the association, and
Mr. Jones was a very important officer in connection with
it. The agreement was that one•fourth of the proceeds
should mane to the funds of the association. Ile under-
stood that the proceeds were in round numbers £OOO. '
One•fourth of that would free the association from em.
harassment; and from March next—the beginning of the
financial year—an assured increase of £l3O or £l.lO a •
year might be reckoned upon. Then the qnestion was,
what should the permanent constitution of the associa-
tion be from March next. For the present it was to be
hoped that Mr. Talbot would continue in the office of
secretary pro. kln.—(cheers).
Mr. Talbot, the secretary pro. tene„ read the report of
the committee of which the following is an altatt act
"The existence of the association was still marked with
much that was discouraging. On the whole, however,
the results of the institution work did not appear to be
lower than in former years, and the committee hope that
before long the Association would witness a wide-spread
advance in education. The committee had to record the
resignatiuu of Mr. Jones, who was employed by the as.
sociatiou at its foundation, and whose duties were dia-
. charged to the satisfaction of the committee, till he
exchanged his post for an important position in York-
shire. Ile assisted in organising the Fine Art Exhibition
. at Dudley, and the cumulate° rejoiced to find that his
efforts, in conjunction with those of other gentiernen list
, met with marked success, and that a suitable testimonial
, had been presented to him—(applause). The report like-
wise referred to the removal of the Rev. Julius Lloyd,
• and the death of the Bev. J. W. liner, who had been
great friends of the Association. The committee re•
gretted to find that the institutes in the union seemed
, still unable to establish classes. In some eases effort*
. appear to have been made, but with very little success.
The best results seem to have been secured at Willenhall
, and Kinver. From the example of the Birmingham and
Midland Institute and the lituldersileld Institute, classes,
, if organised under good paid teachers, seemed to be
. tries-ably certain of success after a time. The committee
. had little to record respecting the delivery of lectures,
several institutions having provided none at all during
, the year. From the returns which hail been sent in it
appeared that only four institutes bad added to their
libraries last year. The Stourbridge Institute had
. adopted the plan of connecting themselves with a large
circulating library, and the committee recommended the
. principle as worthy of atloption. The committee were
j sorry that it was not in their power this year to congratu-
, late any ii,stitution upon the acquisition of new build-
ings, the want of which was much felt in several locali-
-1 tics. The committee had no favourable report to pre-
, sent regarding working men's clubs. They still did not
3 flourish in this district. The very excellent one at Sir.
mingham Heath maintained its ground w.th some dial.
catty; and at Oldbury and Wednesbury they were rot
, supported by the clan for which they were intended.
The West Bromwich and Bilston bad boils ceased opera.
I Cons, soil it was feared others would do the same. Mir-
, teen institutioes sent in 49 candidates for the Society of
Arts' examination, of these 33, with 5 others, gained 63
r certificates. The committee regretted that this scheme
. of examination was not more largely taken advantage of.
The association would be glad to send a deputation to any
meeting to explain the provisions of the scheme, and it
would likewise examine periodically any members of in
j stantes submitting themselves for examination. To en-
courage institutes to stimulate candidates to present
, themselves for examination the association would offer
, this near a prize of £5 to the institute MIIO6O candidates
, should obtain at the next year's examinations the largest
number of first-cla a ertificate.. such number being not
j less than five. The committee would sugeest that when+
, there is no regular institute any nutuher of young men
3 mizla easily fonn themselves into a mutual improvement
Class cr society, under • president or chairman, for pre-
paration for these rxrunnations. The committee bad
mach pleasure in reporting an increase in the number of
j candidates for the evening school examivations. Th
3 examination of evening scholars who had attetelea the
elementary examinations in March for the special prizes
uttered by Lord Lyttelton for money matters, by Lord
3 Dartmouth for domestic economy, and by Lord Lichfield
for animal physiology, took place on September 3:2. at
four centres, and there was hope that time experiment of
giving these prizes would be anccessful. The second
annual tueetibg of evening scholars I r athletic sports
was hold on the 13th August last, in Bagley Park, and •
very pleasant day was spent by upwards of 3,000 scholarS.
enableacCe, would
tinium
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outline these
having on
ratiencheetwYeen
aeeniag r's?cirdtntrioalf exhibition, bnietsiotnann, aualnd welleveytiernkgnildn
. be gild to do what they could to help forward the design.
The report concluded with an expression of confidence
is the (attire of the association.
The report was referred back to the committee for
consideration.
, At three o'cloek a meeting of the officers, promoters,
. ant friends of the variotis institutions in Union with Fie
. association was held, for the purpose of hearing papers
on the condition of the inslitations, inclusive of evening
, schools and working men's clubs.

club where they should meet the faces they had seen all
day, they would always go to Mr. A or Mr. It,who bud
stood behind the counter conversing with customers all
day, and knew all the news. Iron workers were just like
intrn in all other stations of life. The noble lord knew
that in the London clubs men were split into sets who
differed in their ideas and their mode of life ; and similar
differences prevailed among the working essees of Month
Staffordshire. They were not all factory operatives; and
a master roller would no more associate with his subor-
dinates than the noble lord would with the master rollers.
Ile thought this spirit would always prevent the estab-
lishment of working men's clubs in South Staffordshire.
tie did not see that anything could be offered sufficiently
attractive to draw the superior grades of workmen from
their associates outside their own class, and clubs shunned
by the superior woiltmen could hardly be expected to take
root. Then there were unionists and non-unionists—
another in area of quite sufficient dissension among the
working classes to prevent their associating together in
the way that was expected. The establishment of work-
ing men's clubs, where all classes of working men could
meet in harmony and fellowship, seemed to him to be-
long to the willenial period, which was so remote that he
cared very little about it —(laughter).
The President said Mr. Fosters arguments told against
all club life. That men differed in their idens and
modes of life did not present the formation of clubs in
1 London. He saw the difficulty of drawing within the
pale of working men's clubs those who, as Mr. Foster
hail observed, were of a superior grads, and associated
with tradesmen; but surely, if master rollers would not
associate with peddlers, the puddlers would associate with
each ether, and there were enough of them in South
Staffordshire to form stew working men's clubs.
Mr. Wood confirmed an observation previously made
by the Rev. H. Solly that middle-class assistance was
essential to the success of wet king men's clubs. At the
Lye a number of working men refused to pay their sub-
scriptions because they were not assisted by the middle
classes in the way they were led to expect.
The Rev. H. It. Sandford said the great success of the
Rev. 11. It. Peel's club at Handsworth was attributed to
the interest taken in it by the middle classes of the
neighbourhood. aentlemen visited the club occasion-
ally, but did not interfere too much.
The discussion then terminated.