The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-09-20 00:00:00

EI,Ic touqribge 005erber.

:)41TCRDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1878.

CURRENT TOPICS.

There are probably no institutions which do '
a greater innouut of good in a quiet way than
the different hospitals throughout the country.
They not only give medical attendance of the
highest order, gratis, to those who cannot afford
to pay for it ; but in a large number of cases
actually find a home for those whose maladies
require more constant supervision than they
could afford to pay for. 'They thus save them
from the degradation of pauperism, by obviating
the necessity for applying to the parish for
relief; and at the same time relieve the rate•
payers from the additional burden which would
be cast upon them in the latter alternative.
There is also another respect in which their
services, are, if possible, still more valuable,
and this is in the splendid training schools they
afford to our medical men ; for there can be no
two opinions, that if it were not for the oppor-
tunities thus afforded them of meeting all kinds
of disease daily face to face, the science of
medicine would not have attained the position
which it at present occupies, and thousands are
rescued from the clutches of disease through
the experieuce which is gained in uealiog with
them at these places of refuge for the sick poor.
Centering such great advantages as these on
society at large, it is no wonder that they are
so popular, and that, although they are supported
solely by voluntary effort, their number is
daily increasing. '[he Guest Hospital, of Dud-
ley, is an institution of this class which has
lately sprung into life in response to the press-
ing wants of the district in which it is placed,
and it Is now appealiug for the necessary sup-
port to carry out its operations ; and we feel
confident that it will not appeal in vain. We
are glad to see that the local Friendly Societies
are taking the matter up. Last sunday the
" Foresters" of Ducliey, attended some special
services at the Methodist New Connexion
Chapel, Wolverhampton-street, Dudley ; and at
the close of the service it was found that they
subscribed Xld to" ards the funds of the hospital.
Next 'uuos e beileve the Odd-Fellows', Free
.•11.1'S, -lid other similar societies wilt
suf VlCali in the Court lard, Dudley
Castle, at whim' there will be a collection for a
similar benevolent purpose. hue is 51,0, but
as the peopie of Dediey are not the only
persons alii) are eutieled to share in the benefits
offered by ttle hOiltrital, SO it WOaki be unfair to
leave to them the entire burden et supporting
it. It is intended to hold—in accordance with
the example so successto!ly carried oil:, at 111r-
luiughaui—a nospikai Saturday sod Sunday, on
the .25;.11 o,n October hex., cud we sha•erely
hope that all viii spare whatever they CaLl—be
it but the At quoted-. Widow's mite "—towards
helping those eouuected with the foundation, in
their benevolent task of comforting and suc-
couring the sick poor. To iiirwiughael belongs
tue distinguished honour of inaugurating these
annual" Hospital Sundays" and they have now,
very -properly, become an institution in the
country; and we can only hope that the one we
refer to will meet with the support which it
deserves. We would recommend the Friendly
Societies of this neighbourhood—the Foresters,
Odd Fellows, 'c.,—to take the matter up, as
well as the men in large works or factories.
Let them give it that attention which a question
of such vital interest to themselves should
attract, and then we shall have no fear but that,
our own local Hospital Sunday" will prove a
glorious success.

A case to" point amoral "if not "to adorn •
tale," is that of Thomas Betbell, formerly a
solicitor's clerk iu this town, who was charged at
the Dudley Police Court, on Wednesday last
with neglecting his wife and family. The de-
fendant has held lucrative situations both in
this town and at Dudley, 48 managing clerk to
respectable firms of solicitors ; but a slavish
passion for drink which how seems to have
completely got tile mustery.of lion has caused
him to be thrown out of employment. This is
the second time he has had to answer the charge
of neglecting his family. On the present ee-
l:maims, .vnen the officers visited the house they
found the poor children iii a deplorable condi-
tion ; being very dirty and covered with vermin.
There was not a stool in the Louse, and the
mother, as well as the father, had left their off-
aprin.i; to their fate. In tie way ,f food there
were only two ounces of oreud in the house,
which the yuu.igest child witted that his Usti'sr
had left, but the eldest would not allow any of
them to warn it, lest lEs parent should w int it
won h rirti.).l. We osuuot imagine ain ire
0. ;hut this ; the poor child, id-
wilt', ring iron, time things of
beaver, fsis dig the bread* fir his absent father.
•• t father doing in the nbiantioie ;
i ,Irork what would rescue
e • f We trust

it •N'.l4

vhich he is
'sVe 'oust say we wieli
.4& f o.le.—witl do sodiething

t.wul.

oi lien to a sense of his tiisr:

ruled 4.01. • AC, 1111/ :1140 LO‘VI-trlig Iv,aning him
:rum J •V 6,1.11.7 ildSoion for strong
drink wr.ich h h.,ua hi•

Another cos 3 in whien theal,olheorbiu g passion
IT strung driuk 4139 C 333011 3 MAD t forget his
&dies and his position, occurred at Middleton
en Sunday last. The cur,.te of the place, who
lia4 been in the situation for three week,
went to conduct the often:ern service, as "ma,

. ,
_
at the ohavell. when he Atli LLIII,I te be" help-
drunk." The ehlivAwarlees, mot the
I,• .ling [members of the congecgation, reytiested
inn to leave the ehurL.:,, b.it, pogae•eed with
that dogged fatuity which 'intoxication brings
to -wee men, he ftrnaed Ludo 6o; untwithstand•
ing that a t`,.eet 01 Gend,ng fur the police we i

it is related of Grimaldi, the famous clown,
Unit he was once present at a rehearsal at the
circus of Ducrow, when the latter was beating
one of his apprentices with more than usual
seerrity. Docrow, seeing from the expre9sion
of irinialdi's face that he did um approve of the
proemAing, remarked apologetically, "You see,
Mr. Grimaldi, it is absolutely necessary to make
an impression." The clown, who was noted for
his kindly nature, replied " Yes ; hut it's not the
impression I object to ; it's the hada being so
hard.- We wonder what he would have thought
if he could have seen the brutal treatment which
some of the smack owners' apprentices at
Grimsby experience. They are mostly pauper
children, who are draf:ed from varioua work

' houses, and marched to their destination
chained together in gangs, like so many con-
victs. After they are once banded over by their
"Guardians"—heaven save the mark—they are
never inquired after agaiu, and they are totally
at the mercy of their new owners. The treat-
ment which some of them receive is brutal in
the extreme. Punishment of the most severe
kind is visited on them on the most trivial pro-
provocation—or, frequently without any pro-
vocation—at the mere caprice of those who have
thein in their power. We have heard of sonic
of them being compelled to " heave the lead, '
and lower it again for hours together ; or of
drawing up buckets of water and emptying
them again until their arms felt as if they would ,
drop off, or of having' to carry heavy weights I
round the ship for a lengthened period. These
are varied by blows from ropes, pieces of w?od,
iron, or anything else which is handy. and kicka
ad libitum. When it is added that their food is
of the coarsest and most meagre description, we !
think it will be readily conceded that the situa- I
tion of a Grimsby smack-owner's apprentioe is I
not the most eligible berth which a loving father
would like to procure for his son. No wonder
that some of them are only too glad to jump
over-board to escape the fiendish persecution of
their tormentors. One of these brotea—William
limey, master of the fishing smack jubilee—
was charged at the Grimsby Town Hall, on
Saturday last with the manslaughter of Frederick
Douker, his apprentice. It seems that Donker,
ho was 17 years of age, was set to cook some
ash, and the fish beginning to bum, the defen-
d int got hold of him and struck hi= three or
four blows on the hand with a stick over two
feet long long and over an inch thick. He then
told deceased to come further into the cabin,
and, on the latter complying, gave him another
stroke. The boy cried, then rushed on deck,
jumped overboard, and was drowned. It ap-
peased from other evidence that only a few
days before this defendant beat deceased with a
rattling line, giving him 20 blows or so over the
hands, and that the boys hands were swollen.
Defendant was seen also to strike deceased mu
other occasions with the tiller rope, for letting
the vessel go into the wind when they were
'shooting the net.- As a rule the boy did his
work properly, and was not saucy to the shipper.
We are happy to say the defendant is committed
to take his trial at the Assizes, where,we hope
he will get such punishment as his brutality
deserves.

An important meeting of isonmasters and
ooalowners was held at the Royal Hotel, Cardiff,
for the purpose of considering the rules npon
which an association designed to ensure their
mutual protection, should be based. There was
a very large attendance of influential gentt.emen
helongingto the locality, and eonsiderable Hine
was expended in discussing the deid of associa-
tion In a few days it is expected that the
precise basis upon which the society has been
founded will be wade known. Meanwhile, suffi-
cient has transpiied to prove that the masters
are determined, at any expenditure of money, to
form a compact organiaation which will enable
them to cope with the unions supported by the
men.

Tr-r,ti1iff..1.4..,1 in-yorrp

ME STOTTRBEIIXI-E OBSERVER-
,
made use of. They, however, managed to pre- I THE SOUTH WALES IRONNIASTERS
vent him from ascending the pulpit, and a COALOWNERS' ASSOCIATION.
neighbouring clergyman having been sent for,
the latter went through the service, mines the
sermon. In the meantime, the news had
spread, and hundreds of the inhabitants' collected
together in the vicinity of the church, and on
the appearance of the drunken minister they
greetrd bins with derisive cheers. which were
alternated with groans, as they saw him reeling
in the direction of his lodging's.

Potics INSPECTION.—The Stourbridge division
of police, consisting of Superintendent Freeman,
three sergeants, and 15 men; the Hales Owen
division, comprising Superintendent Kemp, two
sergeants, and 14 men; and the Kidderminster
sub-divison, numbering
six officers, were on Satur-
day morning inspected in the large yard connected
with the Stourbridge Police Court, by Colonel
Cobbe, Government Inspector of Police, in the
presence of the Chief Constable of the county,
Colonel Carmichael. Superintendent Freeman
being the senior officer, was called upon by the
inspecting officer to put the men through various
manoeuvres, which were done to the satisfaction
of Colonel Cobbe. The clothing and accoutre-
ments of the men were then carefully examined,
and found to be in a clear condition; and the
books kept by the police for the division were also
inspected and the entries compared with each
other. 'lle Colonel spoke in eulogistic terms of
the efficiency and good appearance of the respec-
tive forces, and the men were dismissed.
A WIFE BEATER.—At the Public Office, 011
Tuesday, before Mr. NV. C. Firmatone, James
Timmins was brought up on a warrant charged
with assaulting his wife, on the 16th July. Com-
plainant said she did not wish to press the case.
Mr. Firmstone remarked that he should like to
know the nature of the assault. Complainant then
stated that he had beat her, and as late as Satur-
day last, picked up a knife and threatened to cut
her head off. Defendant was bound over j
to keep the peace for six months'; himself in £lO, !
and two sureties of £5 each, and pay costs.
ADULT Evesruno Cutasss.— A handbill has
been maned stating that classes are about to be
formed in the *ollowing subjects :—Latin, French, j
Mathematics, Chemistry, English Literature, and
Political Economy. The teachers have not yet
been appointed. Those who intend to join will j
probs.bly prefer to avail these appointments before
sending in their names, as they are requested,
somewhat unreasonably, to do at once. The
appointments rest with the Executive Committee
of seven person, nominated by the larger com-
mittee of seventeen which was elected in 1871, and
whose powers expire in 1874. The executive com-
mittee consists of the following members :--Revs.
J. S. Bolders and A. G. Girdlestone, Messrs. E. B.
Marten, Newnan), Newman, George Hipwood, and
j B. A. Brooks.
DRUNK AND INCAPAIILE.—At the Publ.,: Office,
on Thursday, before Mr. R. L. Freer, Phillip
Farmer, of the Gig Mill, was charged with being
drunk and incapable in High-street, on the morn-
ing of the 17th inst. Police-constable Bladon
reuved that he found the defendant at 9.30 nem
drunk in the street, and had to get a handcart to
convey him to the station. Defendant pleaded
guilty and was fined Is and costs; in default 7
days'.
DRUNK LND DISORDERLY.—Euima Farrall, of .
Birmingham, was charged with being drunk and
disorderly in High-street, on the 17th inst. Police- j
sergeant Ray proved the case, and defendant was t
toed Is and costs ; in default 7 days'.
WOMEN'S QUARR.ELS.— At the Police Court,
yesterday, before Masan). R. L. Freer, J. B. Coch-
rane, and the Hon. C. G. Lyttelton, Elizabeth
Deakin was charged with assaulting Ellen Biggs,
at Wollaston, on the 12th inst. Complainant said
there was a quarrel about some children, and de-
fondant struck her on the face with a knife several
times. Defendant denied assaulting complainant j
with a knife, and said complainant threw the lid
of a kettle at her and she was compelled to defend j
herself. Defendant was fined 6d and costs, or 7
days'.
ASSAULT Cis.—Henry Evans was charged
with assaulting William Penn, at Oldswinford, on
the 15th inst. Complainant said he was walking
along the road when defendant struck him a blow
on the eye, without any provocation. They had
had some words previous. Defendant said he did
not strike complainant at all. Police-constable
Smith said he saw the defendant and complainant
wrestling together in the White Horse Inn, at the
Heath, but he did not see them afterwards. Geo.
Smith said he walked from the White Horse Inn.
to the Labour-in-Vain, and he did not see a blow
struck. The case was dismissed. _

Dauxxzwwass.—James Brac Rose Wall charged
with being drunk whilst in charge of a horse and
in High-street, on the night of the 15th inst.
Pilice-constable Griffiths proved the case, and
defendant, who pleaded guilty, was fined Ws and
costs.

1
.=
attelidance.
Pizey

descending almost the whole time of the
but there was, nevertheless, a large
A hymn having been sung, the Rev. R read
a portion of Scripture, and the Rev. Knibby Offered
prayer. Mrs. Wood Aston (Cradley) then laid the
first of the stones, Mr. Isaac Jenks (Mayor of
Wolverhampton) the second, Mr. Solomon Jeavons
(Birmingham) the third, and Mr. Thomas Rhodes
tLye) the fourth. The contributions laid on each
stone were—Mrs. Aston, £100; Mr. Jenks, £3O;
Mr. Jeavons, 134/ ; and Mr. Rhodes, £25. These
sums, added to the purses collected by the Sunday
school children, and the collection made among
the audience brought into the building fund up-
wards of .£250. At the conclusion of the ceremony,
the Rev. J. Harvard, District Chairman, delivered
an address in the adjoining school-room, on the
Methodism, and the relation in which it stood to
' other denominations. In the course of his remarks
he said that the Wesleyans believed in all the
three creeds, the Apostles, Nicene, and Athanasian.
He regarded the latter as a valuable statement of
Christian doctrine, though lie did not think it
ought to be used in public services, and he did
not agree with its damnatory clauses—Mr. Noah
iugley subsequently presided at a tea meeting,
at which there were about 500 persons present.
Addresses were delivered by ministers of the
circuit and others. The chapel will be in the
early English style, cruciform, and having a tower
and steeple. It will be seated for 400 adults, and
a gallery at the front end will accommodate the
Sunday-school children and the choir, as well as
give space for the organ.