The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-09-19 00:00:00

Soca' au b' pistrict Veto.

ltctvns?.—Afl inquest was held on Saturday last, at
Mr. Hill's, the Spotted Cow, Union.etreet, before R.
Docker, Req., Coroner, touching the death of James
Newman, who committed suicide by hanging himeelf, as
reported in our last issue. jamea Mann deposed ; I am
a joiner, and live in Love.lane. Hove known deceased
for twenty years. On Thursday morning I was at work
in Mr. Allsop's yard. About a quarter past seven I heard
the screams of a woman coming from the direction of
Neweam's house. I went to the house, and found Mrs.
Newnam lying down on the step. She was still scream-
ing on the step. Several persons were there. I went
up the step. The first thing I saw was a cord across the
door, which fastened it, and only allowed me to get my
hand in a few inch.. I cut the cord and went into the
workshop, and saw deceased hanging to the beam by a
pieco of rope, allieh was round his neck. lat nuce cut
the rope. The feet were off the ground about four inches
A stool WU near, but knocked over. Deceased was
dressed in his wmking clothes, without his coat. SOM.,
time ago deeensed told me that lie had gotvery nervous,
and that he had been overworked. He has had a good
deal of work.—Theinas Neweam, son of the deceased,
deposed: I lived with soy father, and Was at home from
a quarter past six till I weut to bed. My father was at
home. He did not go out that night. My mother and
sister were also in the house. Neither of us went out
till bed time. We all hail tea together: nothing else.
My hither did not eat anything, hat complained of being
v,iry nervous, and said that he had the rheumatics is the
bead. He has suffered a long time from nervousness end
rheumatism. On one occasion three doctors were called
in. It was very violent at times. My father did not talk
much to me. IVe all went to bed about half-past nine
o'clock. Did not see my father again alive. I got up at
a quarter to mix, and went to work at the Ridge Top. I
knew my father was up because my mother told me.
Hail not sem auything that led nie to believe that his
mind was affected.—William Underwood deposed: I line
ia High-street. and am an upholsterer. Have known the
deceased h,r many years, and often seen him. The last
time was the day previous to his committing suicide. I
noticed that his manner was etrange, and remarked it to
iny wife. By the Foreman: From his conduct I Was led
to believe that his mind was affected.—Yolice.sergesnt
Wigley deposed: I was at the deceased's house about
half.paat seven o'clock on Thursday morning. Amongst
other things I found the piece of cord produced, which
was festered to the nob of the door, ant the other end
Li snail. It was so fastened that it must Lave been tied
by smile person in the room—Mr. Docker then summed
up In doing so he said no doubt the best w.teess would
have been Mrs. Newnam, as she was the last to see him
alive, and the first after lie was dead; but if they (the
j.iry) were satisfied, these was no oecaeion for her to
attend. It was quite clear from the evidence given that
no one was is the warehouse at the time it was dime, and
he must have done it himself. It was also clear that the
deceased was of a nervous temperament, and suff..red
from rheumatism, and that he was suffering acutely pre.
vious to his committing the act. That being the case it
WRB for the jury to determ ne how deco/seed came to his
death. The jury then retarded a verdict of "Temporary

Insanity."
AINIVERSARY OF COMIT JAMES ALEXANDER FOEREST,
No. 4005, OF Tun ANCIENT ORDER OF FORESTERS
.
On Monday, September the 7th, the anniversary of the
above Court Was celebrated at Brother Pearm's, Roe-
buck Inn, Brettell Lane, Stourbriige, when upwards of
forty membere sat down to a very excellent repast. The
spread was most ample, and the entire arrangements re-
flected the greatest credit upon the worthy boat. The
chair was ably filled by E. Turner, Esq , surgeon, and
the vice chair by slr. Jones. After the usual loyal
toasts, &a., bad been given, the Chairman, in an appro-
priate speech, proposed "The Ancient Order of Forest-
ers," which was received with much applause and the
Foresters' Fire. The whole of the toasts in connection
with the Order were given ; but the one which deserves
mast attention was "Success to the Widows and Orphans'
Fund," the brightest gem of the Order. During the
evening song., recitations, &c , were given ; and to ado
to the amusement a grand balloon secant, with fireworks,
took place, under the able management of Brotlea.
George Noble, Professor, and a more pleasant evening
could not have bees spent.
PREIRNTATION TO Mae. COCRRANE.—On Saturday last,
the 12th inst. • deputation from the Glassmakei s and
Cutters' Friendly Societies, consisting of Messre. Dir.
chell, Everet, Nicklin, and Packwood, waited on Mrs.
Cochrane at her resideace, Heath House, to present her
with an exquisitely•executed Wang Centre Dish, Leering
a suitable inscription, the gift of the nocieties, for the
very kind and generous manner she placed her beautiful
grounds at the disposal of the committee on their recent
fate. Mr. Cochrane, on behalf of Mrs. Cochrane, after
eulogising the nature and workmanship of the present,
expressed his satisfaction on the orderly manner the fete
was cenducted, and hoped it had proved successful. The
deputation reported it had, and wrlnsirew highly pleased
with the neception and niutual expressions of approval
and satisfaction on the result of the undertaking.
DRUNK AND RIOTOUS —On Monday last, before J.
Holcroft, Esq., Patrick Wilcocks was charged with being
drunk awl riotous in High-street, on Sat:a:day night last.
Police-constable Hall proved the offence, and defendant
was fined Os and coats; in default 11 days.
FATAL ACGIDENT.—An accident occurred on the lth
just, to Mrs. Hartley, aged 74, residing in H4411-street,
which has terminated fatally by being knocked down Lv
• donkey. An inquest was held on Wednesday last, th
Mr. J. Hughes's, the Star Inn, before R. Docker, Esq.,
Coroner, when the following evidence was adduced.—
William Flayed, deposed : I live in High-street, and am
a haberdasher. On Friday, the 4th inst, about twelve
o'clock, 1 was pasesing near the Old Bank when I saw
the deceased, who wan about two yards from the pave-
' meat crossing the carriage way. As she was crossing I
, new a boy riding a donkey down Market-street towards
' the deceased, trotting fast. The Loy riding the donkey
was named Bowler. When first I saw Bowler he was
within three yards of deceased. The donkey ran against
the deceased, acid knocked her down. The donkey went
on a few pares, and was then pulled up. lat once ran
to the old lady. She was picked up, sod complained of
being hurt in the leg. She was taken home in • cab.
Deceased appeared to be walking slowly at the time.
Bowler had a saddle on the donkey. He called out when
clone to the old lady, but it was too late. Bowler had a
fall view of the deceased for some distance.—John Wil-
liam lie deposed : I am a builder, residing at Beauty
Bank. Did not know the deceatied, but was vasaing
Market-street at the time deceased was knoked down. I
first SIM her when she was two yards from the footpath,
crossing the carriage road. Bowler passed me about ten
yards before he came to the deceased, and when lie had
passed me he called oat; which would be when be was
within kliT yards of the deceased. The donkey was going
at the rate of six or seven miles an hour. The donkey
was gallopping. I thought it very fast for a donkey.
Bowler had a whip, but did not see him strike the don-
key. Bowler was nearly knocked off the donkey from
the collision. The animal had gone about fourteen yards
. before it was pulled up. I told the boy Le ought to be
horsewhipped for driving so fast. There was plenty of
room for him to pass with ordinary cane, without touch-
ing the deceased.—Richard Bricknall deposed: I am as-
sistant to Mr. Emery. I maw Bowler going at a fast rate
and knock deceased down. Bowler did not appear to
have control over the donkey, which was on the trot.
Bowler called out to deceased whets within five yards of
her.—ltiehard Leacroft Freer, eurgeon, deposed: I first
saw deceased about twelve o'clock on Friday, the 4th lust,
at her residence. She was T 4 years old, and very deaf.
I found ehe had been carried upstairs and laid on the
bed, suffering from the shock. She had a fracture of the
right thigh, and appeared in great pain. I net the frac-
tured bone, and so far as that went on well. On the
third day nn extensive hemorrhage took place, which was
caused by injuries to the kidneys. She rapidly sank after
the hemorrhage took place, and died cm Sunday from
coma. She appeared to have been very h-althy previous
to the accident.—The Coroner here asked the boy,
George Bowler, if be wished to nay anything. He need
not unless he liked; but whatever was said might be
taken down in evidence against him. The boy said he
should like to be heard as he only wanted to tell the
truth. He then said he lived with his father. On the
day of the accident he was goin down Market-street. As
he was passing a waggon belonging to the Great Western
Railway he shouted to the deceased. Had never rode
the donkey before. He was going at the rate of five or
six miles an hour. He was going home, and donkeys
always went faster towards home. He could not guide
the donkey.—The Coroner than seemed lip, and said
they had heard the evidence given by the witnesses, and
from their evidence it appeared the lad could not guide