The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-04-10 00:00:00

LONDON Vi

LAW AND JUSTICE.

Law is not always justice, even in a British
court. As instance the ruling of the judges
the other day in a case in which a well-
known musichall vocalist's wife was refused
permission to bring an action against her
husband for libel. She may or may not
have had good grounds for such a proceed-
ing; that did not affect the issue. A wife
cannot by law criminally prosecute or give
evidence against her husband upon a prose-
cution of personal libel against herself. The
Married Women's Property Act prevents
dishonest husbands from taking away the
separate real and personal belongings of
their wives against the will of the latter;
but if a husband is base enough to steal away
that most precious possession of every worthy
wife, her good name, the law takes no cogni-
sance whatever of the robbery. This is not
as it should be, and the woman's rights ad-
vocates have a good case if they will take it
up. Those who would fain see the law
carried into execution in the purest possible
manner may be glad to note a change which
the Government is initiating in a matter
affecting crime, though there are others who
will regard the projected alteration with a
disapproving eye. In connection with the
recent murder of Policeman Hine in Was-
Nvickshire, it appears that the Government
refused to offer a reward for the detection
and conviction of the murderers, or to advise
the granting of her Majesty's pardon to any
accomplice other than he who actually killed
the coastable. The home Office, in discon-
tinuing these rewards and grants, and an-
nonneing• that they will not be revived,
holds that they have, besides being objec-
tionable in principle, failed in their object.
That they are objectionable in principle no
one will deny, but to imagine that mysterous
'cases oF. crime can always be cleared up, and
wrongdoers brought to the bar of justice,
without holding out a substantial bribe to
persons in the knowledge of the fact, is, we
fear, a dangerous delusion. Easily obtained
gain, no matter how illgotthn, is the only
temptation at all likely to induce some de-
praved persons to make the police their con-
fessors; and to this depraved class the ac-
complices of mueder usually belong. Abolish
the temptation, the companion of criminals
keeps the seal of silence on his guilty know-
ledge, the murderer remains free to kill
othsrs if he wills it, and justice is cheated cf
her due. It is a case of the end justifying
the means ; welamenl; the dirty tools we have
to use, but the work must be done. If for
, the public good every person felt constrained
to proclaim the knowledge he has of crime,
or if, even, the police were able to root out
all mystery, then there would be no need for
reward nor grant. But as things are the
change the Government is making seems
ceEtainly calculated to lessen the chances of
detecting and convicting offenders. How
often has the assurance of pardon led an ac-
complice in crime to denounce his more
guilty confederate, and so deliver himself
from the haunting dread of the consequences
of his ill-deeds. A man who turns Queen's
evidence to save his own worthless neck is,
to be sure, always ars execrable object, but
he has many a time and oft brought in the
missing link of evidence which has fastened
home the guilt to the guilty. How the
Home Office have arrived at the conviction
that experience teaches that rewards and
pardons fail to assist the detective depart-
ment of police we do not know, but the idea
seems bad. Local authorities may, Govern-
ment tells them, offer rewards should they
desm it expedient. That is, " we think the
plan ineffective , and have abandoned it ; but
we offer no objection to your making use of
our discarded machinery if you choose to do
so." Not a very logical or dignified position
for the Home Office to assume, certainly.
And then the pardon part of the business,
by far the most valuable, is not to be em-
ployed in future at all, Human nature is
such that, even in the depths of depravity,
when the accursed coins of the blood money
have ceased to have a charm, the promise of
pardon has still a power which should not
be made light of. If the preregative of the
Crown is to be held in abeyance henceforth,
then the more mercenary payments for the
betrayal of companions may as well not he
permitted also. This subject, unsavoury as
it is, is one which requires well -weighing.
The Warwickshire justices in Quarter Ses-
sions aaaembled were ot oar way of thinking,
and we are much mistaken if the majority
of the magistrates of the kingdom will not
disagree with the Home Office on the sub-
ject.ir. I
alTilideekeynote o
oilier e
r clay i his r
f justice a
17 was struckey t
pl by
o
a deputation from Lancashire concerning
the Bankruptcy Law. The representatives
of the law societies of Liverpool and Man-
chester, and of the Chamber of Commerce
of the lattercity, pleaded for greater privacy
in the registration of what is known as
"private arrangements" between debtor and
cesditors. In this Mr. Mundella detected a
c.i for return to the mist of mercantile cor-
ruption which the new Bankruptcy Act has
done something to dispel. It was ea:
that the commercial atmosphere sh6Liel be
, purified, lie maintained, and with the a3E:ay-
!lnce that the whole mercantile corm-nullity
of the country wers at issue .cv!-' the Je-,-,c-
tation, lie scut them empty a . ,:i. 171aa's
cloaks these hole-and-corner pr:vate ass.
rangements would be for swindling if 6-Cl•
couraged, many a victimised trader can yea:
imagine. Let them be dragged out intas ',":.1.3
light of day and registered in sigh::, cf s:.:
.;
men, so that every one in business ina,y Is:sew
who pay for goods receixed by " prlvae ar-
rangement," and who by cash. 'rise _7sse
sident of the Board of Trade dia::, wel i
refusing to impair the integrity of the Bank-
ruptcy. Act upon tho prayer of a doputa.ticn
consisting largely of lawye...2. Anotivat.
vincial deputation to London on a law mater
the same day saw the Attorney-Gene:'-al au..l
the Home Secretary... Their case was a very
different one, Thev sought Govcirvzei?
sapiritt to lir! Whitley's High Ccc.rt of
Justice Bill, which would provide for con,..
;.iunoas sittings of the Supreme Court, cu,„i
create provinclat districts, Birminghia,
gaiigloitori and Livorpool boing,nuaed,
Maio is • gosa itustiisn, awl furled inW

4 A meeting was held in the Commissioners Room,
Corn Exchange, on Wednesday evening, for the
purp: se of establiihing a club in order to co-operate
with H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, the Executive
Presidtnt of the Royal Commission for the Exhibi
tion, with the view of orgauising a means whereby
the artizans and workpeople, with the wives and
families, may secure an opportunity of visiting the
above exhibition. Mr. W. Platt presided, and there
were also present Messrs. W. Jones, Woolley,
Brooks, and ttwood ; representatives from the
firms of Messrs. Harris and Pearson, I. Nash, Mills,
Walker, and Co., Bayley and Co., Timrnis and Co.,
and Thomas Rhodes and Sons.

The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, said
that a speech from him was not necessary, and he
would therefore proceed to read the teport sent
down by Sir Philip Cunliffe Owen, which was as
follows .

Workmen's Clubs.—The Mayors and principal
authorities ‘of nearly: all the large towns in the
Unite d Kingdom have expressed their willingness
to eO-operate with H.P.U. the Prince of Wales,
K.G , the Executive President of the Royal Com-
missi n fcr the Exhibition, with the view of organ-
iziu whereby artisans and other workpeople,
with their wives and families and other relatives,
may secure an opportunity during the present year
of visiting (as much for purposes of instruction as
amuseznent) the above Exhibition.
The steps which are being taken by the various
autl.orities referred to, are the estiblishment of local
clubs, to which fforn the present time and until the
month of S peiiiber, members of such clubs may
perio4.ically bubscribe small sums (the amount to
be witnin the discretion of the local Committee)
with a %iew of forming a fund to defray the expense
.if their journey to and from the Metropolis and
their stay in the same,

Th clubs are invariably composed of a President,
t number of Vice-presidents, an Honorary Secre -
tary, and a number" of suitable representatives as
ommittee-men in addition to Honorary Heathers
and Ordinary Members. Honorary members of the
!tube are those individuals who may subscribe dona-
tions thereto for the purpose of assisting deserving
and worthy members of the working class corn-
unity by grsnts to their invested savings in the
,dubs. Such grants of assistance will be made en-
tire) io the discretion of the local committee.
The railway companies of the United Kingdom
have, in compliance with a special request made to
then-, by H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, agreed to
.tesord considerable privileges in the matter of
r .ilwey fa. ilities to the members of the clubs.
The special cheap excursions which are run to
Linden by most of the railway companies are, as a
alle, fixed fora late period of the year, when the
earvaa operations and many other causes prevent
consi lereble number of people, who would desire
to visit London and the Exeibition, undertaking
• the joernev from distant towns and districts; con-
sequently His Royal Highness has felt that special
arraegements are needed, which will ensure the
vorkine classes being aLle to pay their visits to
London and the Exhibition at a time of the year
when travelling is agreeable and pleasant, and
shen the circumstances before alluded to do not
tend to operate as a disadvantage.
From the alst June next until the 31st October,
:he members of the clubs will be able, on presenta-
tion of a warrant (necessary copies of which will
ee supplied by the Royal Commission to the local
commAtee) at the booking offices of their respective
atilivey stations, to secure a ticket to and front
Londen for the price of a Single Third Class Fare.
these tickets will be available for any number of
lays up to fourteen, from the date on which they
are ismed : that is to say a club member may to-
solve, at his option, to spend one, two, three or
more days ',(up to fourteen) without imperilling
the velitlity of his ticket. The only requirement
imposed upon members of the clubs is that they
shall have been members for not less than six weeks
previous to the date of the issue of their warrant.
It will therefore be seen that any working.man,
who desires to avail himself of the privilege of
membership at the earliest date, will be qualified
to cO:tain such privileges if even he joins the club
es late as the fir t week in May next. It should,
iiowever, be piinted out that persons desirous of
becomieg r embers, would do well to enter their
names s soon as the club is properly formed; as
their subscriptions thereto would be of a smaller
amount than would be the case if the period of
of subscribing is confined to the exact number of
weeks for which it is necessary to secure the club
privileg s. No person can be admitted to club
membership after the 18th of September. The
responsibility of deciding what classes of individuals
resident eithin the locality should be admitted to
club membership, is ent'rely within the responsi-
bility of the local committee; but, as a gsneral
rule, it is suggested that persons of every class of
life, who tnev be in the receipt of weekly or monthly
was. slieuld be deemed eligible for membership.
It should be further noted that a man may make
his wire and any number of his children members
of the cilia. Single women may also become mem-
bers. Children under twelve ye.,rs of age`wid be
entitled to receive their rail-vay tickets at halt the
price to be paid by adults.
An important and necessary feature in the scheme
of there workmen's clubs has not been been lost
sight. of by lI,R. the Executive President of the
Exhibition and the Royal Commission. It is that
of the accommodation of members of the clubs on
tho'r arriving at the Metropolis. The Royal Coin-
ruhvtlials under the instructions of His Royal High_
nem hes been actuated by a desire to fetter mem•
hers of the clubs as little as possitee, whilst at the
same time affording them all desirable information;
and a ith this view the proprietors of all respect-
able small hotels, lodging houses, eating houses,
etc., uho may be disposed to offer accomcdation to
club membere have be-n asked to send in s'ate-
in specifying in delail the sum they would be
prspared to charge per head for bed, breakfast,
dinner and tea or supper, for adults and for children,
for one or more days not exceeding twelve. Due
enquiriee :ire tuade as to the respectability of appli-
cants, an I when these have proved satisfactory, the
eat-ass an I addresees and the rates proposed to be
charged are embodied in a list which will be stip-
plied to the Leal committees and sufficient cepies
provi tel to allow of members receiving a copy for-
their owe use. Applicants are assumed to agree
to make only such charges as are indicated in their
letters of application to be placed on the list. In
the event of any complaints being made to the
Royal Commission by club members, the same will
be enquired into, and if they are well founded the
names of those persons who have given ground for
such complaints will be removed from the list, and
an intirnalion will be made to the local committees
of the reasons for such college of procedure.
Every member of a club—man, woman, or child
—wli be supplied with a ticket, properly vouched
by the Authorities of the Exhibition and the local
committee, as a means of identification, and as a
claim to the special terms indicated on the loaging-
house lists to be supplied to them.
Where members of a club think fit to form thsna
selves into patties of not less than five in numbes,
the Royal Coin mission will arrange for the supply
of reliable and trustworthy guides at a very moder-
ate charge. The larger the party, the less would
be the expense of such a guide. Notice would have
to be given not less than a week previous to the
day upon which the party sets out upon its journey
Of their desire for a guide. The terms would then
be intimated, and on being agreed, the guide
would be iastrusted to meet the party by whatect r
''sra:l; they decide to reach London.
As a general idea of the cost of the journey to
-atention and the Exhibition by a member of the club,
the following figures may be safely takee as an ap-
proximale amount :
The price of a singh3 Third Class Railway Fare
IJ tween the place from where the member
starts aud London.
2. The price of the Exhibition which will be sup-
plied him by the local committee—sixpenceo
This sum will include a guide book and printA
particulars for thoroughly ccmprehencling the
mittere of the exhibition.
3, 'lwo shillines for bed and breakfast. The
maionote for ot%er meals can vary at to dis.
cretion of the members, from about fourpence
to ay price within their meats. Five shillings
rcr day for adults, and three shillings and six-
pence for children. 'might be taken as a liberal
esti:ll,2M to cover all expenses except the railway
ticket and a guide,
pile cost of a guide may I,e :taken at five sbil-
hings per day, or a thlllj:iltssr heal for the -
smallest patty.
All implications and onquiriu in respect of these
clubs, s/hatid be addressed to the Official Agent of
the Rojel Commiesion at the City Offices, 98, Lou.
Wo.11; 14adou,.t,C,,:when the same shall re.
c-vivelrisapkattnitos.

By order,
PHILIP CUNLIFFE-91VEN,
secrefaey to the Roya! Contnitssion.

After reading ths teport, the Chairman sa.l two
coanuuniJationa had reached him which he had
acknowlydged, and promised to lay them before the
Board (Commissioners.) They need not waste
their time in much discussion, and in order to get
to the c.mclusion they should make a resolution to
the t,ffect, "shall the project be entertained:"
Mr. Woolley said as they hat a few f:ienis there,
they sho.-11 ask them to exprass what the feelings
w,ro in the factorias.

Th.: representatives sated that their mastir3
were in favour of the pr)ject.
Air. Rossiter then moved, 'That the project be
entertained."

Mr, S. A. Brooks had much pleasure in second-
ing the resolution, and thought the country were
decidedly indebted to the Princ3 of Wales and the
Royal Commission for the way in which it had ben
brought forward, He thought it was a great ad-
vantage. _ _ _ _

Mr. Woolley thought they might invite the
stationmaster and some of the officials who might
give them great help in the matter. He thought,
without any reduction, the railway fate was a great
advantage. In his remarks he said the providing
of suitable lodging was a very wise provision. It
was a great thing, and they were advantages worthy
of their consideration.
Mr. Jones said he did not wish to throw cold
water on the subject, but he wished to make a f
remarks. It meant a great amount of work for
someone, and the first thing they wanted wal an
energetic secretary.
Mr. Platt said they wanted a man with 11.3lity
of time and plenty of "go" in him.
Mr. J. T, Short said it must be a man who could
make himself acquainted with the managers of th,-!
various manufactories.

The solution "that the project 133 entertained"
was then put to the 'pectin; by the Chairman, and
was carded /Intl voce.

It was proposed by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr.
nosFiter, and carried, that a meeting be held on
Tuesday next, at 7.30, when the election of Presi-
dent, Vice-presidents, 6ecr3tary, &c, will be pro-
ceeded with.

PALL AT THE UNION HALL.—The second ball
in connection with the Stourbridge Quadrille Party
was given in the above place on Monday evening.
The romn was nicely decorited, an the floor, which
had been polished for the occasion, was in good
da vein; condition. There was a fashionable and
good attendance of dancers, but the ladies wore
''sli;:ittly in the majority. The quadrilles and other
selections were .tersely and correctly accomplished.
The music was supplied by Messrs. Heatheocte's
orchestral band. Excellent refreshments were
supplied by Mr. A. Barnett of the Mitre Hotel
The ball was carried on till en early hour on Tues-
day morning-, when the company dispersed to their
several homes. Mr. M. Welch officiated as M.C.,
and the sccretary is Mr. H. J. Wharton.
ArrEmprno SUICIDE. —About half-past eleven
o'clock on Monday morning, two men were passing
through the Cover at Norton, when they saw lying
among some furze bushes a man, who proved to be
Mr. Ueorge Burton, head clerk to Mr. C. A. Baxter,
of this town. He had a terrible cash in his throat,
and a rez:r lay near him, which too clearly showed
how rio wound had been inflicted. Mr. Burton was
alive, ant the men ran off for medical assistance.
and ;dso gave information at the Stourbridge Police
Station. Mr. Hammond Smith, surgeon, was soon
on the sp,ct after hearing of the sad affair, and he
gave such immediate attention to the injury as the
circumstances admitted of. The 'wound in the
I throat wa-;. about four inches long, and the windpipe
had partly been severed. Sergeant Oakey, who
went to N.-.,rton after receiving information of the
affair, a,si,,ted in removing gr. Burton to the Grey-
hound, at Norton. He was removed to his home at
Beauty Kant- on Tuesday, It is stated that he had
been suffering from neuralgia for some time, and
had not b...en attending to his customary occupation
for sf v. 2- ti days. Mr. Barton is secretary to the
local C m.icrvative Amciation, and is well known
thr(n4ll- nt the distrizt.

MAIN DRAINAGE BOARD.—The monthly meeting
of Viis Beer,' was held on Monday; Mr. W. Platt
presid ng The Surveyor, in his report, steed
that rho ealuent drain from the sewage farm was
nearls completed. The quantity of sewage pumpod
in the pet month had been 9,655,000 a dilly
average of 312,000. In reply to a question, it was
stated that the cost of these works had been
£13,010 12s 2d, and, inclading purchase of farm,
compeueations, effluent sewer, law charges, dsc., it
was es' inyCod the total outlay would be £27,500.
THE BiENDAIti QUESTION. A special meeting
of the Co emissioners was held on Tuesday evening,
to consider the boundary question between Worces-
tershire nod Staffordshire. Mr. Platt presided.—
The Bsar.l considered the report laid before the
prey kers meeting as to the late Local Government
enquiry, and in this it was steted that the advice of
Mr. ilri,o Young had been taken since the Gov nes.-
merit ctor was down. He advised that the
Comneesi ners had too strong a case to be aband-
one,l.—Ti!e discussion on the matter was most pro•
longed, and at times grew heated as well. Several
prop ,sals were made, but they gave place to a re-
solurion moved by Mr. Nash, that, with a view to
the amicable settlement of the question between
, the Commissioners and the Overseers of the hamlet
of A ebleeote ai to the proper boundary line be-
tween Steffordslaire and Worcestershire, the ques-
tion b recommitted to a committee of the whole
Dowd, ad that the interested persons be requested
to submit all documents and other evidence in sup-
port of their case to the coannitt(e; Mr. Walker
second, d the resolution, which was eventual)
paaFe I.
BANRRUPTCT PHOCEEDINGS.—The public examin-
ation of J 'sepia Hand, laep merchant, of Wordsley,
.was resuTned on Wednesday at the Stourbridge
County Court, before Mr, Registrar Coais. Mr. C.
lie] bert Collis appeared for the creditors, and Mr.
Holbertwi for the bankrupt.—ln reply to Mr. Job—
son (the official receiver), the bankrupt stated that
sums amounting to £320, received in February. had
been peid away for sundry matters, but Mr. Jobson
uressed hielas to some of the payments to the
amount of £6O 3s 4d, being duplicate ones. The
Regisilar said it was quite clear he had not ace
coueted for £6O,
and be was ultimately oelesed to
furnish f !teller particulars. Bankrupt was also
questioee.l by the Official Receiver an-1 Mr. Collis
as to hops he purchased and afterwards sold throueh
Mr. Ski more, of Wolverhampton, and Mr. Humph-
rice, Beierley Hill, auctioneers. Mr. Humphries
had lee t him money, and kept the hops from Sep-
tember to December before he sold them. He had
£5O fro-a Mr. Humphries in September, and sums
of £2.) and £BO in October. He sent Mr. Humph-
riert ho. aas security. Ise could not tell how soon
the hops went to Mr. Ilumpliriee after he received
them. It was not a matter of being preesed by
other Cr edit ors that made hi in borrow the money.
Mr Hue.phries charged him £2 a month interest
on the 5.:.50, but what he (Hand) had agreed to was
.£1 a inoeth. On £lOO Mr. Humphries charged him
£3 a month interest.—The Official Receiver: a
mouth is 3t; per cent. —Debtor: I have never gone
into that before; I considered it was for a short time.
onty. Debtor continued, that he wanted money to
go and buy hops at Worcester for cash. The
Official Receiver: Then the Court understands you
were borrowing money on other people's bops to go
and buy fresh ones? Debtor. To buy for cash
certain-!y, because I was obliged to have Worcester
hops, and I could not buy them on credit. The
Official iteeeiver. . Then according to that account
you a.dtnit you were paying 36 per cent.? The
delstorwas several times reminded that he was not
answerieg the questions properly. The examina-
tion war again adjourned.
• BOARD OF GUARDlANS.—Mr.Thllingham presided
at the weekly meeting of this Board yesterday;
and th, re were present, Messrs. Ileskew, Pargeter,
11;ngley,. Sidaway, Parke, Thompson. Rollinson,
Dower, Bryce, Webb, Giles, Berson, Brooks,
Greer., Forrest, Yardley, and Hill. Tir e Master's ,
report showed that during the week Caere had been
18 admitted, 15 discharged, and 2 had died; there
were remaining in the house 565, agaiest 558 for
the corresponding week last year. Relief. King-
swinford, £46 13s Od; Stourbridge, £34 16s Gd ;
Ilelesowen, .228 8s ; Non-resident, £2 7s 2d;
total, .£llO Sc ; corresponding week last year,
£lO3 is Od.

DRUNIEENNES3.7—At the Police Court on Thursday
before Mes;srs, T. D. Thomas, W. J. Turney, and
A. Freer. Jesse Shilvoek, a private in the Royal
Engineers, was charged with being drunk at Old-
svritiford, on the 4th inst. Fined ss, including
costs—William Mills, Amblecote, was charged with
being drunk on the 3rl inst, at Portobello. Fined
2s 6d and costs.—Alfred Hughes, Clent, was fined
2s Gd for being drunk. John Kendrick was fined
23 G. and costs for being drunk near
...the Grange,
on the 4th inst. Henry Pearson was qined 26 6d
for beicg drunk at t'le Lye. David Partridge, of
Hay Green, was charged with being drunk on the
sth just, and was fined 58 and costs, Thomas
Wright was fin.d 23 6d and costs for being drunk.
—Eli Hart wt's charged with being dunk At the
Lye ol the 14 in. Fined 5s and costs. -- John
Little was fined 2+ Gd. aud costs for being drunk and
disorderly at Stourbridge on the 4th inst.
SCHOOL BOARD CASES.—Three persons were sum-
moiled by Inspector Baker for neglecting to send
their children to school :regularly. One was fined
2s 6d and the others 2s.

A DANGEROUS -1)- oo- —Edward Gray and George
Henry Abel, of the Lye, were charged with havin_
a dangerous and furious dog in their possession, and
not having it under control. George raylor said he
Wflti playing in the road on the let lost, when the
dog 0111110 running up to him. knocked him down,
and bit bitn,—.Benjamin Taylor said be saw the dog
jump ea a woman's baokilandialso saw itt at the here