The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-12-05 00:00:00

THE ROMANCE OF ADVERTISING.

The following batch of " agonies " appeared in the
sensational column of Tuesday's Times
"Toots—Write at once. Something to communicate that
Is of importance to you."
" Whoolly Bear. Ch—rlton. Danger. Write fully to ' the
General's Friend' only. No. 21, or per Queen."
"S. IL J. 11, London, Dec. MlL—After two years of absence,
I long to see you. No humbug. Write tot, Jerrnynatreet,
S. W., "
"If. II to E. E. IL —I was unable to attend to the insertion
of the 24th, through illness Address the same. Trusting
you are well, with best wishes."
"N. . . . . C . ... . . . .—Too late for Tuesday. Can
give no positive assurance at present. You have the loving
hope and prayers of those at home. Communicate as kitten
as possible to M. V. M. only."
"A. 11 it. to IL It o.—She is sadly distressed at your letter,
and implores an opportunity of explaining her seeming un-
kindness. Misdirected real for your safety 16 blended with it.
Have some money."
"No. 12, L— Street—Although it seems I cannot believe
your oath, you may trust me. Send an address to which I
can write at once. It shall not be taken advantage of nor
communicated without leave. If after my letter you choose
to go, you may.—W."
"Annie Z ).—' A watchful eye' has keen kept on the NW.
district the suspected gentleman, with the 'whiskers
mentioned.' called, but did not enter. The reference to the
firm in Regent-street was duly honoured "—Address,
Temple.
"A. A.—l am anxiously expecting a letter from you but
am always so disappointed. Do pray, darling, send me a
line and relieve my anxiety. 1 am afraid you have pot seen
my last requests. In future all communications wRI he in
Saturday's Timex so that you may know which day to expect
as answer to your letters.—Believe me yours as ever, IL"

(From Wednesday's Times.)
"A W.—lt has been thought best for your good to remain
quiet, to say and do nothing; therefoe by all means return
at once, and no one will be the wiser"
" Monsignor. —Another tassel to the Oardinal's hat.
December the 9d.—Pellaky, private inquiry mike, 13, raki
dington-green, W."
" thild.—Perhaps either Thursday, Friday, or Saturday.
Write each day at the club when! shall be able t, see you."
" Bitterne.. Letter received, and advertised imme-
diately after returning. Had heard bad news, flurried
back. A miserable false alarm has prevented me seeing my
darling again. Wondered at her silence. But long and
frequent will atone.—Lone."

EXTRAORDINARY DEATH THROUGH
DRINKING VITRIOL.
An inquest has lwen held at Tunbridge Wells on the
body of a woman named Martha Burgess aged forty-
five, who was cook in the service of Miss Wilds, of
Mount Ephraim, and who met with her death through
drinking a quantity of diluted vitriol the previous

_
Thursday.
Joseph Barker, footman to Miss Wilds, said that
the deceased was a single woman, and had been for
some time in the service of Miss Wilds, but that she
was under notice to leave, which expired on Christmas-
day next. On Thursday last he noticed the deceased,
who was latterly addicted to drinking, dish the dinner
up in a very unsteady manner, and after he took the
dinner in, at about half -past two in the afternoon, having
gone down in the kitchen for an article he had h wgotten,
he heard strange moaning sounds, something like the
howling of a dog, in the knife-house, the door of which
was fastened inside. An entrance was effected, and the
deceased was found lying on her side. The footman
observed the bottle of vitriol and water whirls was
kept there, mid used for cleaning the coppers and
brasses, and on a shelf just above it he noticed a gin
bottle, which was partly filled with gin. Deceased
knew that the vitriol was very much diluted. It was
in a salad ~i 1 bottle, and the gin was in an ordinary
bottle. The only words the woman uttered were,
" Let me die!" She was in great agony, and screamed
violently.
Mr. M. Manser said the deceased refused to take
any antidote, and died at about six o'clock. He had
made a yat-otortoi examination, and found she had
taken a very powerful corrosive poison.
The jury returned a verdict of Accidental Death,
the foreman remarking that she might easily have
taken up the vitriol bottle in mistake, as he believes'
wine merchants very frequently mixed vitriol with