The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-05-23 00:00:00

THE CEMETERY QUESTION.

Last night, a large and influential meeting was held in
St. John's Schools, having for its object the diecoamon
of the above QUetltiOn.

On the motion of the Rev. T. Williams,
Mr. J Shepherd occupied the chair, and read the no-
tics calling the meeting. He said he apprehended that
most oflthose present were in favour of having* cemetery,
sad the principal business of the meeting was to form
committees to canvass and assist at the poll. It had been
said that more ground could be bad at Oldswinford,,,but
the authorities l.sd considered that in a very short period
more ground would be required, and as it was not desir-
able to extend such places too near dwellinAhouses, a
cemetery would force itself upon them. He believed
there would be required about four acres of mud, which
would cost Is per yard, about E 970. The greatest ex-
panse would be incurred by building • wall round the
laud, which would cost about flak) or .000. Then there
would be • house, and other expenses. The whole of the
costs would be about 22,000, which could be borrowed
from Government at. cost of 3I per cent., for a term of
fifty years, and the expenss to the ratepayers would be
about £lOO per year. A 'peony rate in the pouad for
Oldewinford and Stourbridge would cover ths.t. The
cost might not be so much as he anticipated. Coder all
the circumstances, he thought the best thing they could
do was to have • cemetery as soon as possible.
The Rev.. T. William., H. Sherrard, li.Meginnis,
Messrs. H. Hughes, W. Richards, and other., aldressod
the meeting in favour of the proposed cemetery.
In answer to a question from Mr. Haskew,
IThe Chairman said he was afraid their Catholic friends
woule have to pay their fair share of the rates, but he
I trusted they would be so light that they would pay it
I cheerfully. By law, they had no power to exempt them,
but he hoped the beautiful cemetery they possessed,
would compensate them for any small coed they may be
psi to. . .

r "nUmber of gi-ntlemen volunteered to canvass the
various wards. and make the necessary arrangements for
polling on Wednesday.

ALLUDED INDECENT ASSAULT.—At the Police
Court, on Saturday last, before Mr. H. L. Freer,
Daniel Willets was charged with that he "in the
parish of Pedinore, unlawfully and indecently
assaulted Mary Thomas, in the mouths of May
or April, 1873. ' Complainant, a girl of between
13 and 14 years of age, stated that she lived at
Mr. Smith's, at the Tree Urns. Towards the
end of last simmer, she was going from Stour-
bridge to the Tree Urns, when she wet the de-
fenduet near the Green Lane. It was between
three and four in the afternoon. Defendant
asked her what her name was, and she told him.
He a:- id he thought her name was Smith. He
wanted to kiss her, but she did not allow him to
do so. He then put his arm round her waist,
and partially " heaved - up her clothes. She
then broke from him and ran away. She saw a
women about 20 yards from the place, but she
did not say anythieg about the circumstance to
her.—Mr. Wall, who appeared for the defendant,
cross-examined complainant at some length, and
elicited that although the affair had occurred 12
mouths ago, she had not mentioned it to any one
until about two months ago. She then told her
fellow-servant about it, because defendant was
passing by at the time. She was also uncertain
about the time, and could not state positi.ely
whether it was a year, a year-and- a-half, or two
years since the affair happened. —Police-con-
stable Willetts, proved apprehending defendant
on the charge. After he had read the warrant
to defendant, the latter said, " Oh, they don't
know into two or three months.- Defendant
afterwards said, " I don't know no more about it
than that table,- and pointed to a table under-
neath the wiudow.-Mr. \Vail addressed the Bench
for the defence, and said it was very hard at this
distance of time that the defendant should be
called upon to answer so serious an offence; an
offence which was so difficult to disprove. The
essence of such complaints as the present one
was that they should be made as early as pos-
sible. The little girl had given her evidence in
a very straightforward wanner. According to
her own showing, directly after the affair had
occurred she wet a woman ; but she made no
complaint to her. Neither did she mention the
affair to any one until about two mouths ago.
He considered it would be very improbable that
complainant would he able to identify the man at
this distance of time, she having only seen him
on one occasion. The conduct of defenuant
turoughout was that of a man conscious of his
own innocence ; and with reference to what he
had said to the policeman when the warrant was
read over to him, about them not knowing to two
or three months, it was just such a circumstance
as would have struck him. (Mr. Wall) after hear-
ing the warrant read to the effect that it occurred
in the mouths of April, alay or June. He con-
sidered, under these circumstances, there was u
doubt in the case, and, therefore, hoped the
Elan, h would give defendant the benefit of it
mud dismiss hiw.—Mr. Freer said the little girl
had given her evidence very straightforwardly,
bat t this distance of time he could not send the
wan kr trial, and dismissed him.
WILITaUNTIUE kAilt —The inereaecil acodmmolatiou
provided fir Mr. H King for hit cattle tales has led to
acm respouttiog increased interest is the mart, sad in
nJsility, when Ile held lra aunust Whitsuntide-fair, Mr.
Ka..g real:set a larger sum meter the hammer thau at
soy previous side •-rice the establishment of the market.
There were GOO sheep, 40 fat lambs, 301st calves, 40 head
• rattle, and about 100 pigs iliqhwed of, the flier)
taken amounting to upware• of .12 510. The auetioneri
ofteree two prizes fa- the purcha.e of the best sheep, Mr
Li s, of Aehwoud, taking hist, uhti Mr. J. 14 ',homer, 01
CourAiiii, taking eecoull prize, the la ghe.t pr.ze for tees
out f the wool 'being '63s. '1 he quality of beasts via.
remaikab.y govt, the beat in the fair selling for £35;
fat in ves her £5 iihd limbs ed. etch. The
tvar..ge quetet.ons were—for beef, 9.1 ; and mutton, Std.
per lb.
tiPOIITING.—A match w I take place on the old Stour-
brelge rectcouree, at 11 o'clock on Tuesday morning
nex,. between two well-known sporting gentlemen of the
ociitiibonriz.o for £lOO, 4 miles, owners op. Convey,
anees will have the Talbot Hotel fir the c ,urse.

1/artiseNsiass.—At the Police Court, yesterday, bi-
tde Messrs. B. Littlewosd and li. L. ',rear. Samuel
Ltietell, Jolla Hart, and John Robinson wore each lined
2. 6 and coats, for being drunk and disorderly, ¶hoas
aaegir ass Sued 5s and coats, for a similar offence.;
Ate:AU/MN° 15€ POLICE. Thomas Foley, Adam
Webh, and Joseph Woodcock were charged with assault.
iog P.C. Tomlin, on the 17th just. Mr. Waldron de-
fended. Complainant said he saw the defendants beg.
ging at Cleat. Ile told them he was a police-officer, and
If limy begged be should lock them up. Webb said,
•• Iseia give the
sad knocked him down, and the others kicked lain.
P.C. Illation issid defendants surrendered themselves, and
admitted the assault. Sentenced to 21 days hard labour.
MIDLAND CoUNTIns VICTERINARie MILDICAL AssoCIATIoN.
—Toe 27th meetiug of this society was held at the Bell
Hotel, 'Aerate', oti Tuesday, May 19th; Mr. H. Pyatt,
of N•rtingbam, presiding. A letter was read from Mr.
F. Blakeway ;the Prrai"ent) of Ha. towu, stating that
throng)m an accident he was unable th attend. Mr. Hill,
of Wolvelliampton, read an excellent paper on The
Actual Cautery," which was much approved of. and at the
earnest Wish of the meeting it was scat to The You rims-
riuu bar publication.

CAI:110'N TO OWNERS OF DOGS. In consequence of
ths continued spread of hydrophobia, and it having been
rep -s ti-el that • mad dog has lately been at large in elent,
and another in Stourbridge, the Magistrates sitting in
Petty Sessions, yesterday, have issued an order that all
dogs most be kept under proper control during the ensu-
ing m mth, from this date leerdoos allowing unmuzzled
dogs t be at large after this date will be prosecuted.