The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-05-14 00:00:00

FRATRICIDE AT DULWICH.

William Holt Brandt, the young man for whom the
police had been seeking for several days, and who is
alleged to have shot his brother at Constance-road,.
East Dulwich, was apprehended on Monday night.
The arrest was effected under somewhat singulari
circumstances. It seems that after the inquest on,
Monday evening, Detective-Inspector Moore, of the
P Division, directed several detective officers to speci-
ally patrol various streets in East Dulwich. Detective
Bywater was ordered to keep observation on a number
of streets abutting on to Lordship-lane. While
engaged in this duty in Worlingham-street, shortly
after 11.30 p.m., the detective noticed a man
pass him carrying an ordinary garden water-can.
Bywater followed, and on coming up with the man
he was struck with his resemblance to the person for
whom he was searching. Closer observation showed
that the description exactly corresponded with that
circulated by the polica, excepting that the man was
wearing an ordinary long overcoat instead of a short
one. The detective followed the man, and meeting
with another constable he spoke to the man. The
latter replied, and Bywater then seized him. He
made a slight attempt at resistance, but was quickly
overpowered and taken to East Dulwich Police-
station. He at once admitted that he was Brandt,
and when searched a revolver, fully loaded in six
chambers, was found in his possession, while in his
coat pocket was a bag containing 40 other cartridges.
The prisoner was tben charged by Inspector Moore
with " wilfully causing the death of his brother,
Tom Seeley Brandt, by shooting him with a re-
volver," and, in reply, the prisoner made a state-
ment in which he wily admitted having committed
the crime. Early on Tuesday morning the prisoner
WAR quietly removed to the chief station of the P
Division at Peckham, so as to avoid the excitement
that would have attended his removal to the Police-
court from East Dulwich by daylight. The revclver
was the same one as was stated to have been sold to a
man of the prisoner's description at Camberwell, and
t has been ascertained that he purchased cartridgos
n the Borough. Nothing has at present transpired as
to where the prisoner has been or how he spent his
tinte since Friday last, and his possession of the
water-can has yet to be accounted for. This article
bears a price, and ban apparently been stolen. At
eight o'clock on Tuez.day morning the prisoner was
removed in the pri,.on van to the Lambeth Police-
court, and, after a iiia4isterial hearing, during which
he gave signs of insanity, was remanded.

BOGUS PARLIAMENTARY PETITIONS.

EXTRAORDIN&RY CONFESSIONS.

The Parliamentary Committee on Public Petitions
met on Monday at noon, Sir Charles Forster in the
chair.

For the first hour the proceedings were private.
The Exchange Telegraph Company learns that the
first witness examined was a Mr. Lee, whose name
was appended to the Haggerston petition in favour of
the %Vine and Coal Dues. This witness declared that
his signature was forged.
Mr. Carlton Roberts, who stated that he was re-
sponsible for the collection of the sigtatures in favour
of the continuance of the Coal and Wine Dues, wa
next examined. The letter written by Bidaread to the
Speaker, admitting the forgery of many names to the
petition, was written at his (Roberts's) dictation. Ile
felt it was the only course likely to mitigate the
punishment which the House of Commons would in
every probability inaict. He collected no signatures
himself but fixed the price of oolle2tion at Be. pr 100.
He sent the petition to Lord Claud Hamilton specially,
as he knew him. He had been election agent eight or
nine times. A list of payments made for collecting
signatures was handed in.
In reply to Mr. Donald Crawford, the witness
Roberts explained the circumstances which led to the
names of racehorses being inscribed as signatories to
the petition from Camberwell. He said that many
persons opposed to the movement for continuing the
dues filled in the sheets with disgusting expressions
and absurdities. Many sheets of the petitioners were
destroyed on this account. He could not personally
verify 90,000 signatures in six weeks. He employed
others, in whom he had confidence, to do this work,
for which they were paid. He must admit this work
was not properly performed. For the work of collec-
tion be paid Hallett £52 Ss. 6d., and £3 3s. per week.
To the Board he paid £lO5. He had no agreement
as to his own remuneration, and had received nothing
as yet.
Mr. Robert Thomas Wragge, solicitor, was next
examined. He said he was instructed by the City
Solicitor to initiate the collection of petitions in favour
of the bill. A desire for some such evidence of the
feeling of the metropolis having been expressed hy
members of the Government to deputations on tne
subject. He deputed the work to Mr. Roberts, whom
he knew to be thoroughly trustworthy. He entirely
disavowed flatlet and Bidmead. He regarded the
matter as most serious, and deeply regretted it.
Mr. Lloyd, hon. sec. to the London Municipal 'Re-
form League, was next examined. Ile said he had
sent in a large number of petitions to the House of
Commons against the continuance of the Coal and
Wine Dues. He believed he was able to identify
every one of the signatures if there was any question
raised about them. The petitions were sent to the
member for the district to be presented. Hew do you
know that the signatures are genuine ?—Because we
employ respectable men, and the signatures are per-
femly authentic, and not apparently forged. I have
25 petitions here. Select one which passed through
your own hands, and tell the Committee how you
know that the signatures are gennine.—Witness, after
examining certain petitions, could not produce one.
How many petitions have you prer.ented 7-250. How
much did you pay altogether for collecting signatures?
—LI23 14s. And how many signatures did you
collect for that money ?—About 20,000. I have some-
times noticed in petitions the signatures written in
many places with ink of the same colour. The Com-
mittee here cleared the room and deliberated for the
rest of the sitting in private.