The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-09-11 00:00:00

STOTTRBRIDGE OBSERVER.

eleven o'clock, Audenet was seen at Chateaudun,
where it was noticed that he attempted to remove some
stains from his trousers. The next morning he bought
some clothes, patent leather boots, linen, a gold
watch, chain and locket, a revolver, cartridges, and
.a portmanteau. He left a pair of blood-stained boots
at the shoemaker's and told the barber who shaved
him that a murder 'had been committed in the neigh-
bourhood. Thence he was traced to Brou, Fraze, ,
Oornbes, - and Montigny. lilVàlit arrested at
Happopvillers, where he was 'working for a M.
Couroelle; Audenet avowed his guilt, and said that
-hating beaten his victims till they were apparently
ead he had stolen 436 f. from a drawer, and spent the
remainder of the night in debauchery at Chateaudun.
It seems that in the month of January Audenet paid
his addresses to Mdlle. Bouillon, a dressmaker of .
Combes, who had been introduced to him by a man
named Besnard. Audenet wishedto marry her.- He said
thatalmly who bad been in love with him hadgiven him
je". wels, clothe's, 200 f., and a revolver. In March Mdlle.
Bouillon reproached Audenet with having told her a
pack of faleehhods„but he swore he had told her the
truth, and Offered to show her the articles in question.
'From this moment :he seemed determined to murder
some one, and 011 the 4th of April wrote the following
letter, which .was found on him :—" Have pity on a
poor father of five children who are dying of hunger.
Misery has pushed me to the crime which I have Just
committed." That same night about twelve o'clocls he
knocked at the door of a Madame Thenaisie, who
re-
refused to admit him. On the 12th of April, lat
9 p.m., Audenet went to the house of one M. Brdsse
and told him he wished to buy some straw, as he was
a shepherd. Brosse's suspicions were aroused by
seeing a thick stick in the intruder's hand, so after
two hours' conversation he asked him to go away.
Audenet refused, saying he was ill. Brosse seeing
his danger acted on the defensive, and kept his
unwelcome visitor company till the small hours
of the morning, when Audenet at last departed. The
murderer then went to Basnard and told him that he
would come back the next day with the things which
he had promised to show Madlle. Bouillon. The next
night he returned in a most joyous state, and
triumphantly exhibited the things which he had
bought at Chateaudun. At the trial the unfortunate
Madame Brule, now a widow, whose evidence was re-
peatedly interrupted by tears, told how Audenet had
managed to gain admittance to their cottage, and
described the frightful scene which ensued. Her
appearance in the witness-box caused a painfulimpres-
sion in court. After the Innkeeper at Chateaudun,
Besnard, and Mdlle. Bouillon had been examined,
Brosse appeared and described the manner of the pri-
soner on the night of the 12th.
The President, to the prisoner: You went to rob
this man?
Audenet: Yes.
The President: And if you had found money, you
would have taken it?
Audenet: Yes, if I could.
After the Procureur of the Republic had declared
there was not a tittle of evidence to call for any mercy
on the part of the Court, and M. Petit Manguin, the
prisoner's counsel, had replied, the President summed
up, and the jury retired. In twenty minutes they
returned and gave a verdict of "Guilty, with extenu-
ating circumstances." It is but just to add that loud
indignation was expressed by the spectators at this
evident miscarriage of justice; but, under the circum-
stances, the presiding Judge could only sentence
Audenet to penal servitude for life. Your readers may
draw their own conclusions from the above cases,
which, unhappily, are not solitary exceptions.

the salt water, and the water will be pumped up
through them from the reservoirs into the several
tanks by two engines of 20 horse power nominal, but
capable of woriimg at a much higher power. All the
large tanks for fish on the north and south sides of the
centre avenue have polished granite sills and are
lighted both from the top and the back. 'The plate
glass in front of them is one inch in thickness. The
whole of the flooring will be laid with encaustices
on concrete cement which is now being laid down.
The promenade, or winter and summer garden, is
about 400 ft. long by 160f1, wide, and is approached by
two bold entrances from the Tothill-street frontage,
which are surmounted by pediments ; in the centre are
representations of Neptune and the sea horse, above
which rises a figure of Britannia, 121 t. in height. The
roof over the central portion or avenue is semicircular
in. form, and is chiefly of iron and glass. It will be
glazed on the principle of Rendle's patent. By this
invention all woodwork is covered by the metal and
glass, no putty is used in glazing, and bent glass is
entirely dispensed with. The width of the main avenue
or promenade is 801 t., being Bft. wider than that of the
Crystal Palace. The height of the gallery from the
floor of the promenade is 16ft.' and from this level to the
springing or the vaulted roof is about 161 t. The whole
height from the floor level to the top of the roof is 721 t.
The galleries extend all round the building, and are
401 t. in width, a large portion at the east end and ad-
joining the dining rooms being set apart for refresh-
ments. On the north side in the centre is the large
orchestra, 601 t. by 401 t. The concert room at the
west end is a noble and lofty apartment, and is capa-
ble, from its height and dimensions, of being converted
into a large and handsome theatre. It is 106 ft. long,
and 661 t. in width. The stage will be 30ft: in width to
the sides of the proscenium, and 401 t. in depth. There
are also two galleries, in which, together with the
ground floor space, there will be accommodation for
an audience of 2,500 persons.
About 800 tons of iron have been used in the con-
struction of the building. Mr. Bedborough, the
architect, is personally superintending the works, and
Messrs. Lucas Brothers, the contractors, are under an
engagement to hand them over by Christmas.

as a test of fitness, it is incalculably more accurate than
when men are selected either by political favour or for
family connection. One very important advantage
must undoubtedly result from the spread of these
university examinations, and from the gradual exten-
sion to the entire country of that system of university
teaching which is now heing carried out with
such marked success in many of our large towns No
one, I think, can deny that a very powerful stimulus
will then be given to higher education. Not
only will instruction of a superior kind be brought
within the reach of many who will other wise not be
able to enjoy it, but great numbers in every class of
society will be encouraged to continue their studies
when they know that the knowledge which they may
acquire will be fairly tested by some of the ablest men,
in the country. It cannot be too constantly borne in:
mind that the great problem of national education will
not be solved by simply securing the elementarry
instruction of the people. We should not rest
satisfied until the vast educational and other en-
dowments possessed by the nation are so ad-
ministered that the children of the humblest and the
poorest shall have an opportunity of continuing their
studies if they possess such special faculties as to
enable them to profit by high education and to attain
intellectual distinction. I am glad to hear that a move-
ment is commencing here, which I trust is an indica-
tion of what will Utile place in other parts of the
country, to utilise some of the endowments possessed by
this ancient city to promote the intellectual advance- I
ment of its inhabitants. No one would desire to see
bequests which have been left to the poor by munifi-
cent benefactors in the past diverted to the exclusive
benefit of other classes; but it certainly seems to me
that few things that could be done for the poor would
confer on them a greater advantage than opening up to
them avenues of higher education by enabling those
children who may most distinguish themselves in the
elementary schools to be gradually advanced by the
aid of scholarships and exhibitions to second and first
grade schools. During the last few years I have so
often seen those who have gained the highest honours
at Oxford and Cambridge obtain their first success in
these university local examinations, that I believe it is
not too much to expect that some of those who have
this day been rewarded with certificates and prizes
have a future before them in which still greater suc-
cesses will be gained. In conclusion, the hon. gentle-
man offered the students present a few words of advice
and enr tent.

tcouragem