The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-01-29 00:00:00

DUDLEY.

Tows Couxera B.EPORTS.—The Streets Committee
report states that the Town Clerk has had some
correspondence with th solieitors to the prom ters
of the Nethertol, Old Hill, and Cradley Tratnways,
who have inforrae I him that some opposition had
been given by the frontages, but that many of the
niticas of opposition had, been withdrawn • mil
tat it W 0.4 proposed by the company to withdraw
their application for tramways along Farthing's
Lan) to Wolv,rhampton Street. The cietates re-
port mentions that nutice has been given to de-
telm'ne the tenancy of the Shambles on the 24th
june next. The Public Works Committee have
been inform i by the Mayor (Al&rman Walker),
that Vie Memori il Committee had asked the
Countess of ;)alley to (rive to the town on be-
half of the Giradia,ns of the Earl of Dudley--,so
much of the si.e of the two houses now outside the
Castle g des as would allow of a footpath and car-
riage road at the back of the proposed statue to the
late Earl. Tie (the Mayor) was pleased to say that,
subject to the approval of the Court of Chancery,
her ladyship had acceded to the request, and the
guardLns hacragreed to take down at their expense
the houses. and set back the present boundary walls;
also that he •.had further been in communication
with the vicar and chtrch wardensof St. Edmund's
Church, who were willing for the Council to take
down the pre eat wall forming the corner of the
churchyard and set it back.
SUICIDE OF A POLICE-SERGBANT.—On Wednesday
morning, "Pelice-sergeant Benjamin Rudge, an old
and highly re,pected officer, was tound dead in bed
with his throat cut. He has been suffering for some
- time from a bad leg and Las had to keep his bed.
He suffered most acute pain, and i: was expected
thataan operation would have to be performed.
This, with the pain' he h:d to endure, seems to
have caused giant depression of spirits. His son
took him upaa cup of eaffee abo at seven o'clock in
the morning', and he then appeared in his usual
frame of mind. Shortly afterwards his daughter
went upstairs and made the ghastly discover c. lie
was able to speak, and was understood to say that
the pain had calmed him to commit the rash act.
The deceased Las be n a police officer fo: thirty
years, and for twenty years cf that period he was a
sergeant. Ills hr. ther efficers are deeply glieved-
at his untimely en I. On Thursday Mr. Percy
Jobson (Borough Corner) held an inquest at the
Saracen's He id Hotel, Dudley, resaecting the d ath
of Benjamin Rndge (56), in the barougli police
force. Alfred Benjamin ltu Age, a sun of the de-
ceased, stated that hie father had been suffering for
about two years from two or three complaints, bud
several time, he t ad been compelled to go off clut7.
He suffered acute rip ain in Lie leg, and for rn(ra
- than a foitnight he had be aeaufined to his bed.
Witeessal pt in the seine room in order to attend
to the deceased, At half past six o'clock in the
morning he asked witne,s it he woald get tiim s e
coffee. Thia he precur,al, and deceased asked him
to place it on a chair at tha side of the bed. so th t
he aould get it himelf. Dr. Messiter sad he was
called in to tee the dewased a few minutes after he
had cu- his throat, and found him conscious, but he
died w-th n five minu'es. liopotor Spoke said he
found a psnknife near to the deems ad's bet, and
, asked him why he comraitted the rash act, and he
raplied could not endure the pail any longer."
The Coroner said there wa3 no doubt. the deceased
was of unsound mind when he committed the !aih
act. He afterwards referred to the honourable
manner in which the deceased had always pr-
formed his-datie s as a police-sergeant. Mr. Chief-
superintendent Bur on sad, in a .clition to the
great pain he had to endure, the late sergeant's
wife and daughter were in a consumption, and
another child non coupes lamas, and tire day he
committed Buick° his wife's father was buried. A
verdict of !;3trie de when of unsound mind" W4B
returned.