The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-06-26 00:00:00

PROVISION.

LONDON, Monday, June 21.—The arrivals last week from
Ireland were 325 firkins Butter, and 2,480 bales Bacon ; and
from foreizn ports 28,186 packages Butter, and 4,406 bales
Bacon. The finest qualifies of Butter met a steady sale
during last week, at little alteration in value of Normandy,
except the inferior qualities, which were lower. Jerseys
met a better sale at 2s. to 4s. advance for the finest; best
Dutch advanced to 1183. to 120 s. The Bacon market ruled
steady, with a fair demand.
Butter, per cwt; s. s. Cheese, per cwt; s. s.
Dorset ........ 138 to 138 Cheshire ... ... 72 to 90
Friesland ...... 116 120 Dble.Giouc new
Jersey ..... ••• .. 96 108 Cheddar ...... 78 90
Eng fresh, per doz. 13 15 American new 50 62
Bacon per cwt; Rams: York .... 108 110
Wiltshire,
Irish green I. ob. 84 86 Irish
RAY.

WHITECGAPEL, SattlrdaY, 4une, 19.—There has been a
short supply of hay and straw on sale to-day. The trade has
been steady, and prioes have been rather higher. Prime
clover, 1005. to 182 s. ; inferior, 85s. to 98$. ; prime meadow
hay, 90s. to 180 a.; inferior, bbs. to 79'.; and straw, 861. to
88A. per load.

I

'

TO THE STOUBBRIDGE PUBLIC!
TH MIDL A N D CO U NTI ES'
EVENING .TRESS!

Published Daily, at liiree and Six. p.m.,

CONTAINS Fall Reports of the Local Police
Courts, all Important 'events occurring in the
District and is supplied with the Principal

IRON, COAL, CATTLE, CORN, AND
PROVISION MARKETS, .14 TELEGRAPH),

As well as
SPORTING NEWS
Of the Latest and roost Authentic Cliarticter,*by
sp.b.ciA.L CORRESPONDENTS.

Stonrbridge Agent :
S. FIELD, HIGH-STREET.

Proprietors : MARTIN and
.FORD,

• Offices :-
1 and 2., If.-11:10E7',STREEL
TVOLVERETA3fP7I9.N.


THE IRON TRADE:-

WOLVERHAmrrox, Wednesday.

The wages question was the principal topic of
discussion on 'Change this afternoon, and until
the matter is definitely adjusted business is sure
to be more or leas unsettled. It seems pretty deer,
from the tone of yesterday's Conciliation Board
meeting, that the men will vigorously resist tl-e
the suggested minimum of Bs. d. per ton, instead
of 9s. 6d., as heretofore, and it is no means ejsar
that even Mr. Barker's offer of compromise inEtlie
shape of a giinrantee that for tile next three
months the minimum should not be less than 95.,
will meet with acceptance. The ironworkers ad-
mit the need or relief in the iron trade, but they
think it should be derived from cheaper coal
rather -than from lower wages. It was pointed
out this afternoon that the works in the district
were only, in a few exceptional cases, being car-
ried on at a profit, and that in niimprous instances
their operaticns involved positive loss, yet in the
face of this it is clear that a reduction in selling-
prices is the only panacea for the sluggish de-
mands, and the general depression which pervades
the industry- Several blast furnaces, which are
already "damped down," will shortly be alto-
gether put out, unless a revival in the trade should
take place, and it is impossible that the finished
ironworks can be much longer carried on under
existing conditions. Altogether the aspect of the
trade is becoming very serious, and the resources,
even of strong firms, are being most severely taxed.
The rates for pig-iron this afternoon ranged from
..t3 to ..t2 ss. for common cinder; £3 15a. to ..£4 for
mixed cinder and mine of fair medium quality;
and ..£5 to .25 ss. per ton for best native all-mine.
Cold-air pig for foundry purposes is in request,
and prices are firm on the basis of ..t6 10s. for
-firleshall make. A good deal of North Country
pig-iron is coming into this district at about the
rates last quoted. There is a moderate degree of
animation at the sheet mills, but with this excep-
tion the finished iron trade is decidedly flat. Com-
mon (unmarked) bars were presentedfor sale to-day
at .28 10s., and a good order might have been
placed at as low as £8 7s. 6d. Other classes of
common iron are.offering at proportionate rates.
For good medium bars of reliable quality, the
price is £9 10s. per ton. Earl Dudley, Messrs.
Barrows, and other leading firms, have not altered
their quotations for finished iron of their respec-
tive brands. A reductive is to-day announced by
circular in the price of Cannock Chase coal. Best
deep coal is Is. lower; medium, 25.; and common
and slack, 3s. per ton lower. Best deep coal is
now 14s. per ton. It now remains to be seen what
influence this step will have upon the.coalmasters
of the South Staffordshire district proper. The
ironma,sters seem to be agreed that no change in
prices will be made on quarter day unless a re-
duction in coal is previously declared, so that the
attitude of the coalmasters will be watched with
great interest and anxiety. -

Birmingham, Thurslay

There is little that is new to report with regard
to the trade of the district. The market is far
from being in a healthy state, and it is to be re-
gretted that there are no immediate signs of any
improvement. The demand is still very small, and
the majority of firms have barely enough orders
on their books to keep their works engaged more
than three days a week. Export orders. it is said,
never more scarce than at present. This is, no
doubt, owing to the strong foreign competition
which has to be contended against. The home
consumption has fallen off lately. Purchasers are
evidently keeping back orders, beyond what will
last satisfy immediate requirements till quarter-
day in the expeCation of a reduction of prices.
Sheets and hoops are still in fair request. Quota-
tions remain on the basis of ,ElO, £ll, and 021.1125.
(Id per ton for marked bars. Very good qualities,
however, have cheng,e.d hands at £9 10s., and the
commoner kinds eau be obtained at £8 7s. 6. The
pig-iron trade is in a somewhat depressed state.
pig-iron is quoted at .t 3. ani part mine at
lie. {id.; while 1-it., native all-mine ranges from
to L 10*. S.D:-2e aetion riay be forni9cl o: the
state of trale in ttniz, lire.neh from the fact frit
11,a7 17 1121 01'3 fu,n ..e.s are lying idle. The coel
LaJe remeine :•;.duj condition.. Th 3 r 31u .tion
of :3. per.tin in th Cil is distiet ms
into force, tc.-.3 Feom the cireulars which h eve
I)een iand .it iii oeiLa that till:3 priAcc at et-
diari.Ot now V iLI 1:3 1,13 fotlow eef.l
:48 laiiny;a r.lst tiou.o is.; shallow, 1?-3
dm,tien of 2s. ; b.)..tm coal .9.3. 131.., and eo-reic n
eoal !Qs. M p .pCtuetion of no. in caeh. C.lB The
ilanregsion pretty fr.n.:31.3.1.thAt the Southforilshi:e aal Erl3t Slror-esbershire district. s Will
soon alopt a similar. course. If this slioald. i.the
.7.a3,3, it is highlj wolalele that a drop of Li per
ton in .the prim of the leading qualities of irenwi 1
take place.

TIE ‘VY 11.1'1111E-; AIIAINT, THE
MIDLAND 11.-kriLIV 1" CO :IPANY.
O.i M 8t the -tKI iitier County
(3•Airt, (-1 in`.‘ a 16, by Mr. Wican
,f \V :re P 11) for ti,t wt.! '4 w f
of t,t)e pl iiwiff, in Fe'lralry a t year, 1 ft, IV•)r.
c ,•er '1; e.x-nr.ii ii-r 4i:t f..) • 13-
•,,,7--,4 ,!ko.pn to see the panio•di.ll4
±1.7 .111-IiLLY •,
fr s :,• S e ).11 • rosi
vf 410,7,1 (,1) siii•
fcli t) the g.-.,;40ti
i•I her right:all-1d
;, i.)n.4 it pries. Ii
AT 4 a . .-11-rh...,re
;•tri 3 ..3.14, •3t su.o
h -r ‘m wore, fl •:',
it.;IWO at r&ivray fe;Rtiori ; 1,
: C:ir
nr••p, r
r.tAaverdict, for 2150,-
WI, a t::.5.:4;

. +•• - ...••••• ••• ••••• " -•
•,•t r
t 4,,
•

!3(vAIZ!) OF GUARDIANS.

n ;•;111- ri,eutin!; of this Boarl W 1.3 'lel:l4t.t
the 13:)m1 11),?!.1l, yestprday, Mr. Gran-qr
tha wz.ro atso.pre,sent :
1. B. n J.. 11,.,,inf;10.
Pa k s, F-rr, Fe. J. ITra:,lZ-;, ;131..
Per-z
-T, torn, r, 1V,101,.
haw, ard Aamitted into tho house
8; d 501it,..1 9; flied 0; born 0;
'298 ; e,Ott=tl-4-, 325 1.4 3.ear. Out-d9or foaef,
:r 1:21164
district £l7 11 W ; lialeti•owen diattict, £l5
153. Iti ; no-a•Tesident panper, 11$ : tow-
-55 lls 2-14, agl.n3t tO3 ss. 7.1. Lis,. yea-. ,
The.e wils an invitation from the Wolver
hainptoli Loyol Orth,r of Old Fellows, for the
Workhouse Chi:chez] to attend, a piersic at
Lawnswoor.i, on July
~9th. . The invitation was
accepted with thanks. • •

STOURBRIDGE WORKHOUSE TREti.T TO THE AGED
POOR.--By the kind invitation'of Mrs. B. St. John
Matthews, of Wordsley, the aged women of this
Workhouse were entertained at tea on Wednesday
last. At 430 p.m., they proceeded to the above
lady's house, in care of the master and matron.
Kr. and Mrs. Hudson. It WEIA rather a novel pro-
cession. There were the lame, the blind, and
others bent down with agi, in whose cases sticks
and crutches had to be brought into requisition.
whilst those whose infirmities were heavier were
by the lady's kindness conveyed with way by car.
In looking into those aged faces many traces could,
he seen of bett u. days gone by,andnow brightened
up with the expectation of the treat that was in
store for them. Arrived at the lady's house all
was in readiness and there was a plethora of
luxuries; tea, currant cakes, buns, sponge cakes,
preserves, jams, shrimps, Sze., and everything was
well patronised. The guests were most kindly
waited on by Mrs. B. St. John Matthews, Mrs.
H. Matthews, Mrs. Fletcher, Miss Glover, Revs.
A. G. Girthestone and T. Williams. Teaover they
were allowed to stroll through the gardens of the
house, and after singing two hymns and being
charmed with some piano-forte morceaux they re-
turned to the Workhouse evincing marked and
evident signs of thankfulness for the kind and
and noble consideration of Mrs. B. St. John Mat-
thews% The number that had feasted was about
45.—Com,municated.

ADAIR AND THE LONDON VARIETY COMPANY.—
This talented company of artists gave an enter-
tainment in the Corn Exchange last night, and,
as will be seen on refering to our advertising
columns, they will give another this evening.
Of Adair, who is well-known to Stourbridge audi-
ences, we need say little, as his marvellous featsof
Strength and agility have been frequently exhi*-
bited in this town, and have always elicited rap-
turous applause from his astonished beholders.
The ease with which he throws about 561 b weight
and cannon balls is truly astonising ; while the
style in which he decends a cord from the summit
of the exchange to the floor slbwa that hi- agility
is quite equal tohisstrength. The other members
of the company, too, are all very clever in their
particular lines, and the entertainment altogether
constitutes sne of the most varied and amusing
we hava had the pleasure ot witnessing. We
would remind our readers th.at this evening will
be the last occasion on which the will have an
opportunity of wi nessing this really excellent
outertailusent.

HORSE-SHOEING COEITETITION AT THE CROYDON
SHOW.—The authorities took the opportunity of
testing in this competition a new Portable Forge
the "Keystone," exhibited by Messrs. Rownson,
Drew and Co., of London. These forges aremade
entirely of iron; are light, strong, andvery power-
ful. The blast is produced by small fans, instead
of bellows, so that there is no leather or wood to
decay. Both judges and workmen were well
pleased with the trial, which was very satisfactory;
when well known, they will, doubtless, supersede
the old style.

MONSTRE FETE AT THE LICKEY HILLS.—WS wish
to remind those of our readers who have leisure time
at their disposal, that a fete will be held at the Old
Rose and Crown Hotel, Lickey Hills, Bromsgrove,
on Monday next. Several well-known artistes are
engaged to amuse those who are present, and there
will be frequent balloon ascents ; whilst the services
of an excellent siring baud will be called in to requi-
sition to enable the votaries of Terpsichore to engage
in the mazy dance. The fete will be concluded with
a magnificent display of fireworks, under the super-
intendence of Mr. J. Wilder, the celebrated pyro-
technic artist, of Birmingham,
EXCISE PROSECTITIONS.—At the Public Office,
yesterday, before Colonel Fletcher, Colonel Bar-
rows, and Mr. J. B. Cochrane, Charles Haywood,
of Bobbington, was charged by Mr. Otter, Super-
visor, with carrying a gun on land belonging to
the Earl of Stamford, on the 30th April, he not
being duly licensed. A witness proved that he
saw the defendant carrying a gun. The defence
was that he was carrying a gun to Mrs. Corfield,
which be had been repairing, and he understood
that he was exempt from the license. The Bench
were of opinion that he was exempt, and the case
was dismissed.

WAGES CASE.--Arthur Rowley, builder, was sum-
moned for refusing to pay John Murphy .21 7s id,
Edward Mactoy .21 12s 11d, and Charles McDonald
.21 :1s 2d. Each of the cases were proved. De-
fendant admitted the claim, and orders were made
in each case, for payment and costs.
DRUNK AND INCAPABLE.—WiIIiam Gauden was
charged with being drunk and incapable at the
Lye, on the 22nd inst. Defendant pleaded guilty,
and wAs fined is and costs.—Edward Lloyd was
charged with being drunk and disorderly, at Cracl7
ley, on thd 19th inst. Police-constable Tarrant
proved the case. Police-constable Roe proved a
previous conviction. Pined 5s and costs.

- HIGHWAY OF7ENCE.—George Mallen, of Bel-
broughton, was summoned for allowing a horse to
stray on the highway. Defendant admitted offence,
and was fined is and costs.

CARD PLATING.—David Perks, Thomas Bridg-
water, John Parrish, Thomas Deeley, Caleb West-
wood, Elijah Johnson, and Christopher Weston,
were charged with playing at cards on the high-
way at Cradley, on the 21st. Police-constable Roe
proved the case. All the defendants pleaded
guilty. Fined 2s Gd each and costs; in default 7
days.

DRUNK AND INCAPABLE. - Joseph Burton, of
Wollaston, was charged with being drunk and in-
capable on the night of the Eith. Police-sergeant
Jones said he was on duty, and on going towards
Wollaston found the defendant lying in the road
drunk. He woke him up, and persuaded him to
get up, go home, and go to bed. With that, the
defendant pulled off hi z shoes, and began to un-
dress himself. A woman afterwards took him
home. Fined 5s and costs.

ASSAULTING THE POLICE. Henry Adcock was
charged with assaulting Police-constable Wallace
on the 6th, whilst in the execution of his duty, at
Clent. Defendant was, with others, creating a dis-
turbance, and had been previously fined, but the
defenda, nt got 'away. The officer proved that de-
fendant struck him twice on the head, and jaw.
Defendant pleaded guilty, and said he ilraS very ,
sorry. Fined 40s and costs; in default two months'
impris.onment.
DISORDERLY CONDUCT AT THE RAILWAY STATION
—At the Police Court, on Tuesday, before Messrs.
R. L. ,Freer, ,and F. Evers, William Felton, Isaac
Felton, and Georg,: Felton were charged with be-
ing drunk and dieorderl2; at the Bailway Station,
on the night of the 20th inst. Mr. James Phillips
station-master, said that his attention was called ,
to the defenda.ats, who were making a great dis-
tnrbancee They were all drank. lie orlered
them t COUI2 out of the carriage. They refused
to ao so, and he ha..l to put them out. Thomas
Welling:, of Old Hill, said he was a passenger
with his wife en 1 others. Isaac Felton unhut-
tmed his.treusere, to expose his person. h. re-
menstrated with him, wlien he threatened to Lnock
his- head off, and tried to get at him to strike
'out the other two prevented him. They
were all three druak: and disorderly, and he called
the attention of the station-master to it. Isaac
Felton was then charged with assaulting Titemas
Elgley, on the night of the2.oth, whist in the exe-
cution of his duty. Complainant who Is eignal-
. man, said that his attention was called to a tow in
! the train. He caught hold of the defendant to
get him oat of the carriage, when the defendant
caught hold of bins by the arm, and threw him of
the platform outo the rails. Defendant said they
both fell on the rails together. William Felton
was then charged with assaulting Joseph Ruck, a
port,?r, whilst in the execution of his duty on the
sane date. Complainant said there was a row in
the trait', and Mr. Phillips, stopped it, and asked
all the &fen lant4 to get They refuse ', and
he caught 11,,141 of the defendant to pall Mu out,
when the defendant struck him a violent 1; Jet on
the ferhead, and several about the body. The
train was (I.2lneed tarelve minutes, through their
in scan tact. -Th-anas Meredith said thrt he niw
tae dtfondAnt,...ti• ke Rnek, and kno.:lx him
113-hij,aecito ge hhu off the compla'nant. D
f cln it eteneir at hi rt ,-bnt. he got awa.e Wi!, ia.711
Me .ei;z, veto ;?, rid that he sqw deft.neant s'eike
several tirn 8.. Defendant tried to
'him but he got out 01 the way. This was under
• lit eteiis of the carriage. George, Felton wai
t ten C:utr4.:ld r;:t11 assaulting William MeaNiss, at
the anne,ti tt,el place. Complainant, who was
*ALL,. t • f ;In tr tin, said he came by the 9.30. train
, t) Stou.b id. e. 11 had the signal from the:sta. on.
mastea, te sl art ih • train, and did so. Just as it
tarte (1, he heard screams of " stop the trai
He at once pet the brake on and showed the red
1:4r1i!, an,l the train was stopped. Defendant was
•
out of the carriage and came to him, and asked if
he wae the stnLien-master. Before he could reply
defendant struck him a blow on the side of the
.head. He con z Herod him the Worst of the three,
as he was enconraging the others to create a dis-
thrbanee. All the defeudants pleaded guilty to
being drunk - and said they were very sorry, The
Bench cfnisiderod the conduct as disgraceful.
They did not think the charge of indecent exposure
had been proved and should dismiss that. For
b Aug Ira LI aid. aie;orde .Iy, t'aey should fine
them 103 each and costs; in default 14 days:
William Felton, for assaulting Ruck fined 104 and
costs; George and Isaac Feltou..for assaulting
Mewiss 5s and costs; in default 7 days.

EXTRAORDINARY SCENE AT AFNERAL.

Oldswinford churchyarel was on Monday last the
scene of proceedings which are happily unpre-
cedented in the memory of the "oldest inhabitant"
of Stourbridge. To give a proper description of
the affair we shall have to give a brief account of
some of the circumstances which led up to it. One
day last week a. Mrs. Susannah Brooks, wife of a
publican who la3eps the King's Head, High-street,.
in this town, died,
,and arrangements were made
to bury her remains in the family vault of the
Attwoods at 01,1swinford churchyard, where her
parents have already been interred. It is also
asserted that one of her own children has been
buried in the same vault. Another member of the
family however, resolved to prevent the interment
of Mrs. Brooks from taking place in the vault
aforesaid, and we are. informed. that through the
representa.tiona luade to him Archdeacon Hone
was induced to-write to the Rev. F. Adley, curate
of Oldswinford Church, advising him not to allow
the vault to be opened. The va,ult, however,
WM opened, and the vicar, who is lying very
gave permission for the burial to take place in
the manner in which Mrs. Brooks' friends wished
it. All matters, thus far, were going on apparently
smoothly.; but on the Monday morning the sexton
on going into the churchyard was surprised to
find about a. score of men round the Attwoods'
vault, which was closed, and they expressed their
determination not to allow it to be re-opened. In
this dilemma he made application to the vicar to
know what he was to do, and was told to dig a
grave for the reception of the corpse as near as
possible to the family vault. In the meantime,
the news of the contention spread with the rapidity
of lightning all through Stourbridgc, Oldswinford,
and the Lye, and it was confidently asserted that
so determined were both parties—one to have the
vault opened and the other to keep it closed—that
there was a probability of there being a scene of
great violence at the funeral. With the object
of preventing :this, if possible, Superintendent
Freeman, with a posse of Police-constables, pro-
ceeded to the ohurchyard. For a long time be-
fore the hour announced for the funeral (two
o'clock p.m.,) a large number of persons had as-
sembled in the churchyard, many of them openly
avowing their intention to resist any efforts that
might be made to prevent placing the remains
of Mrs. Brooks in the vault of the Attwoods.
Punctual to the time, the funeral cortege arrived
and drew up at the gates near the entrance to
the church where was already standing unnoticed
and alone, the flat handcart in which the corpsesof
paupers are usually taken to their last restingWace
The coffin of Mrs. Brooks was then conveyed to
the church, at the entrance of which it was met
by the Rev. F. Adley, who performed over it that
portion of the funeral service which is gone through
in the church, and it was then carried towards its

final resting-place. Meanwhile, an immense throng
of persons had congregated inthe churchyard, and
some of them mounted the trees in the vicinity of
the grave and others the tomib stones, with the
evident object of getting into the best position to
see and hear all that would pass; and there were
frequent and loud threats as to what would be
done in the case of any opposition being raised to
the placing of the remains in the vault, many
confidently asserting that if they were not placed
there then they would be so before nightfall. At
length the corpse was brought to the newly-dug
grave which had been prepared for its reception.
Whilst exception was on tip-toe as to what would
be (lone a shrill cry of women arose in the air
"Put her in the vault," "Put her in the vault,"
and one of the bonnetless naked-armed Amazons,
with the intention, doubtless, of showing that she
was prepared to resort to force if their behests
were not obeyed, hurled a clod of turf in the direc-
tion of the grave. Whether or not this influenced
the minds of those who had the conduct of the
funeral we cannot say, but directly afterwards a
man was sent for a mattock, and the welcome
news flew round that the vault was about to be
opened. and the corpse placed within it. Mean-
while, the last rites had been perfomed over the
corpse of the pauper, and Mr. .A.dley came near to
the grave whereon rested the coffin of Mrs. Brooks,
but seeing how matters stood he retired for a
time to the church. The work of opening the
vault progressed rapidly and on its being an-
nounced that all was in readiness the clergyman
was sent for, and came and finished the funeral
%rites and the coffin was placed in the vault, the
result being greeced—notwithstanding the solem-
nity of the occasion—N%ith ringing cheers fromthe
immennse crowd, which now numbered at least
1,500 persons. After the cerermony, a bricklayer
was ordered to close the vault there and then, and
he having done so, the entrance to it was rapidly
filled up by willing hands, and the crowd quietly
dispersed, there having been no attempt at violence
with the exception of the one mentioned above,
and that of a man being struck near the grave.
The police, as a matter of course; did not take
sides in the affair,- but rendered valuable services
in keeping order near the grave. Itis confidently
asserted that the matter will eventually be
brought before the law courts; but whether this
will happen or not, time alone will show. We
are only happy to say that an affair which threat-
ened at one time to be of a very serious character
passed off in a conparatively harmless manner.