The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-03-21 00:00:00

THE SUNDAY LIQUOR TRAFFIC.

Mr. Disraeli received a deputation an Saturday, at
the Oficial residence in Downing.street, consisting of
the llvv. Dr. Garrett. Archbishop Manning, the Revs.
Newman Hall and 1.1. M. Murphy, with Dr. Ellis,
Mr. Robert Rae, and Mr. Thomas Hudson. The
Rev. Dr. Garrett explained that Mr. Hughes, M.P.,
Mr. Baines, M.P., and many other gentlemen of in-
fluence would have attended if it was felt to be
necessary. He (Dr. Garrett) had the honour to
present to him as Prime Minister an address which
was originally intended for presentation to the Earl of
Derby, that it had been signed by 69 mayors of large
corporation towns, by 31 chairmen of benches of
magistrates, and by 148 justices of the peace in all
parts of England and Wales. The address was as
follows :
We, the undersigned Justices of the peace in England and
Wales, having considered the provisions of the bill Intro-
duced into parliament for regulating the sale of intoxicating
liquors on Sunday, beg leave to state that we believe the
measure to be safe and good for the country, and we hope
your lordship will secure the assistance of the government
for Mr. John Abel Smith, Mr. Bayley, allli lie. EhilICS, that
their bill inay be speedily passed into law.

-
Dr. Garrett added an earnest appeal that the Go-
vernmemt would give effect to the wishes of so influen-
tial a body of the magisterial bench of the kingdom.
The Rev. G. M. Murphy said that, the memorial
representing the upper chooses of society, he begged to
state that, moving amongst the working classes, he
knew that the passing of Mr. .J. A. Smith's bill would
be looked upon by them as a great boon.
The Rev. Newman Hall said the promoters did not
ask the government to support it as a religious but as
a social measure. He also was certain that if the votes
of the working classes were taken there nouki be an
overwhelming majority in its favour.
Archbishop Manning said that he had recently
attended a large meeting of working-men in Exeter-
hall in favour of the bill. The public-houses on tiuuday
were a greater temptation to that class than on any
other day, from the fact that they had both time and
money then at their control.
Mr. Disraeli said it afforded him pleasure to hear so
influential an address supported by gentlemen well
acquainted nith the wants and wishes of the working
classes, and that they might rely upon his laying the
memorial before his colleagues in a manner which
would command their best and most careful considera.
1 dom. . . . . .

--
The deputation, having thanked the right hon.
gentleman for his kind reception of thew, then with-
drew.

On Monday evening a well-attended meeting of
working men and others was held at the Lambeth
Baths, in London, in support of Mr. Abel Smith's bill.
The Rev. Newman Flail, who presided, said the
promoters of the bill disclaimed any idea of thrusting
religion down the throats of the people or of making
them religious by net of parliament, but they thought
they had a right to ask parliament to interfere for the
social benefit of the people, on the ground of health,
civilisation, comfort and happiness, which he contended
would be secured to the people by the passing of the
bill. The Rev. Mr. Garrett, during the course of a
long address, endeavoured to show that the working
classes, as a body, desired the bill to pass. If they
succeeded in passing the measure they would then go
in for the total abolition of public-house trade on
Sundays. Mr. George Murphy moved a resolution
pledging the meeting to support the bill, and adopting
a petition to parliament praying the legislature to
immediately pass the measure. Mr. Jewell seconded
the motion, which was supported by Mr. Parker and
carried unanimously. Mr. Lester moved a resolution
denying that public-houses were the clubs of working
men, but the original motion was carried, and the
meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the chairman.

Dr. Lankester has just held an inquest in Clerken-
well on the body of Elizabeth Rule, aged 32, who lived with
her husband and family at No. 9 Bowl Mg-green-lane.
Benjamin Rule, the husband, identilifli the body. lies wife
had been 'II ever since the explosion at the House of Deten-
tion, complaining of pains in her head, such as she had
never before experienced. She gat worse during the last
six weeks. She said the explosion had given her such a fright
that she was sure she would never get over it. She Was
alarmed for the safety of the children who were at school.
A few days ago she had a premature delivery of a stillborn
child, tier sufferings were very great, and the surgeon de-
clared that her death was to be attributed to the shock to
her system caused by the explosion. The jury returned a
verdict in accordance with the medical evidence.