The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-07-06 00:00:00

increase in the commercial business of the min-
try. The Post Office exhibits an increase of
£70,000, proving the vast expansion of cones. ,
pondenoe, owing to the increase of business
transactions and the advance of education. And
the same conclusion may be drawn from the in-
crease of .£55,000 in the telegraph service, which
has expanded pan i pima with the progress of
commercial activity,
If we turn from these Revenue Returns to
any other means of ascertaining our commercial
position, the same conclusions are inevitable.
The Board of Trade returns—though we confess
we place little reliance on their teachings—tell
the same tele. More reliable are the reports
from the manufacturing districts, and these on
the whole are decidedly favourable ; they tell of
continuous activity, large orders, and high prices.
We find, too, that the stock and share markets
are firm and active, that money is abundant,
speculation active—too active perhaps—and the
prospects of continued investment good. Of
the condition of our %orking classes as a whole
there can be no doubt; they never were so pros-
perous as now—that is a strong statement, but
it is generally admitted—and so far as increased
wages and decreased work are concerned, they
are still improving their position. Whether all
this prosperity is to last we will not venture to
speculate; but the lesson to be drawn from all
these facts is obvious—the lesson of self-culture
for the present and of providence for the future.

THE STOURBREDGE OBSERVER.
- -^me freely dealine

the orders come ..__, in, makers nes,— .0 to of the prisoners. _ _ . came to him a ____
transact them, except subject to ,quarter day time ago, and told him that the woman had
prices, robbed him (prosecutor), and had given the
watch to him (Goodinan).—Ellen Palmer, who
is had pleaded guilty to the charge of stealing the
watch, was brought up as a witness, and said
that on the Monday she told Goodman, with
, whom she kept company, about the watch. He
; was at first alarmed, but kept the watch, and
I said he would scratch the name out, as he meant
Ito keep it. He used to say it Was given him by
I his aunt, and he once asked her to get him a
chain. She had given the police every informa-
On Tuesday last Mr. H. _ held his first tion, and had made every:lreparation in her
sale of Fat and Store Stock in a field situate in , power. The girl was severely cross-examined
Church-street, near the Railway Station. The by Goodman, who alleged that he wanted to
site is well adapted for sales of this kind, and is know to whom the watch belonged, that he might
convenient for bayers and sellers. There was a return it.—Police-constable Rea received infer-
large attendance of buyers from all parts of the
Midland Ccunties, and, as will be seen by the matiou from Palmer, about the watch, and went
to Kidderminster on the 3rd May, in search of
statement below, the stock disposed of fetched Goodman, whom he found in bed, with the watch
high prices. Previous to the sale, hanging by the bed. Prisoner said he knew all
Mr. King said that he was very much indebted about it, but it was not his fault the watch was
to the kindness of those gentlemen and friends not returned. He afterwards said that the fe-
who had sent him such fine stock for sale that male prisoner had asked him not to return it.—
day. He need not enlarge upon the quality, as Mary Prosser, of Stourbridge, said that Palmer
it spoke for itself. Stourbridge, he considered, had lived with her about six months, and that
was a very suitable place for a stock sale, being Goodman often visited her there.—The Chair.
within an easy distance for railway accommoda. man said, in addressing the jury, that if there
tion. He intended to hold the sales on the first was an accomplice, it was not generally safe to
Tuesday in every month, and should be pleased convict on the evidence of that accomplice, un-
to receive any stock they might favour him with, less it was confirmed by other witnesses, but then
and he would do his best to obtain good prices. they had the fact that the watch was stolen in
He should not detain them by waking a long February, while no attempt was made to return
speech, as he was already behind time, but would it until May. The jury returned a verdict of
commence to sell the sheep first, after which he guilty. Goodman was sentenced to nine months',
should offer for sale some very fine beasts. and Palmer to six months' hard labour.
There Were 880 sheep, 28 cattle, and 190 pigs. 'IHE LATE
A TTEMPTED SUICIDE. At the
Highest-prie togs out of the wool realised 76s Worcester Sessions, on Tuesday, Mary Kendrick
each; fat cows, .631 16s: bullocks, £26; cows (22), no occupation, was charged with unlawfully
and calves, 1:1;+ I.os. The competition was very taking a certain quantity of a poison called pro.
brisk, and prices high. The eimpany was very cipitate powder, with the intention of killing
large, and the qitle was over £2,000. herself on the 29th May, at Oldswinford.—Mr.
- . Clive prosecuted, and called Mr. Lewellyn, as-
sistant to Mr. Morris, chemist, of this town, who
proved that on the 29th May prisoner came to
Mr. Morris's shop, and asked for one pennyworth
of the strongest precipitate powder. Witness
told prisoner it was poison.—Margaret Kendrick,
Sister of the prisoner, Said that on the day in
question the prisoner came home, and taking a
cup, went into the rad. Witness followed her,
and prisoner said she bad been taking poison.
She Was drunk at the time.—Mr. R. L. Camp-
bell, surgeon, of this town, said that he was
called in to see prisoner on the day in question.
He could not at the time tell whether she was
suffering from the effects of poison, she being
very drunk. The poison is very insoluble, being
composed of ammonia, mercury, and lead, and
cannot easily be dissolved in water. The Pup
when he saw it was empty, and her symptoms
were rather those of drunkenness than poisoning.
—Police-sergeant Jones apprehended the priso-
ner, who said to him she had taken poison, be-
cause she was tired of life.—That was the case
for the prosecution. The prisoner made no de-
fence, beyond asking for mercy. —The jury found
the prisoner guilty, but recommended her to
mercy. She was sentenced to be imprisoned for
two months.

Goodman