The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-08-01 00:00:00

TT-1 tr, STOrPPRIPOF OPPFPTIIM.

HOCKING MURDER OF A CHILD !be very glad to hear what any member had
AND ATTEMIED SUICIDE AT to say upon the subject. For himself, he
considered they had an excellent officer, and
CRADLEY.
lie thought it desirable to keep him. He
It was reported on Wednesday night that believed there as ere additional duties to be
murder of an atrocious character had been performed, which had increased his work,
perpetrated by a woman at Windmill Hill, and, therefore, he did not see any objection
Cradley, and that the murderess had made why his salary should not be raised.
two desperate attempts to commit saidide. In answer to the Chairman,
The affair has created the greatest excitement The Clerk said the present salary was £75 ,
ill that neighbourhood. The house in which per year, but out of that sum he had to pay
the wretched mother dwelt was the second £2 12s per year.
of a row of small cottages, facing the road Mr. Stanley said they had a very good
leading out of the Birmingham road a way officer, but. he considered he had a very fair
for Careless Green and The Lye. The salary. If they advertised he had no doubt
mother of the little lad, whose head was well there would be 50 applicants at the present
nigh severed from its body by her hands, is sulai7.
named Sarah Ann Liddell, about 38 years of The Chairman said the officer's duties had
age. It appears that some nine or tea years increased and he considered they ought to
ago the husband of the woman left her, from increase his salary.
what cause connot now be ascertained, and Mr. Edwards said that since the removal
whether he now lives or not is regarded as a of ight-soil and other things, the duties of
matterof uncertainty. When he left her she the officer had considerably increased, and he
had given birth to four children, two of thought the officer was entitled to an in.
whom have since died, the two surviving off- crease of salary.
spring being girls, the one aged 15 and the The Chairman moved "That the officer's
other 18. The child who has been so barber- salary be raised £lO per year.
nusly slain was an illegitimate one, and it is Mr. Perkens said he should move as an
stated that after the departure of her hue. amendment. "That the officer be paid the
band the woman went out to service, when , £2 12s per year, he had to pay out of his
she gave birth to the male child whose life present salary."
1
she has taken away. Foo some time past the Mr. Hughes said the officer had done his
murderess has been living with her mother duty to the Board and to the public. He
at Two Gates, together with her child and considered that since the officer commenced
her eldest daughter. On Wednesday morn- his duties they had increased. They had a
ing, the mother of the prisoner (for she has very officer and he thought they ought to
been taken into custody), with her eldest try and keep him, and seconded the propo-
daughter, left home at an early hour for sition of the chairman for an increase of
charing purposes, leaving the woman and £lO.
her child alone in the house. The little Mr. Kelly remarked that the increase was
boy, aged 2 years and 8 months, whose fair equal to four shillings per week. He thought
complextion aud pleasing manners had en- it a great rise, and moved as an amendment,
deared itself to the neighbours, was seen by that the salary be increased £5 per year.
them playing in the yard in the early part of This was seconded by Mr. Young, and
the morning, and about mid-day the mother carried.
was seen to leave the house without the kid,
:1 circumstance which it is said she was not
in the habit of doing, as she appeared re-
markably fond of the infant. About two
o'clock, Mrs. Banner, sist,r-in-law to the
prisoner, went to the house, aud, finding no
one in the kitchen, called out, but receiving
no reply, and seeing someof thelboy's clothes
on the grate in that room, she went upstairs.
and there saw the horrible spectacle of the
murdered infant. The corpse was partially
lyiug on a bed which was placed on the floor.
its legs being stretched along the boards 01
the floor saturated in blood, and surrounded
by a large pool of human gore, with its bead
half off, the gash extending from ear to ear
A case knife and a penknife were found in
close proximity to the child. She immedi-
ately raised an alarm of murder, and the
neighbourhood in a few minutes manifested
signs of the greatest excitement. Police-
constable Heath, stationed at Cradltsy, hast-
ened to the spot, and found the body as al-
ready indicated. From inquiries made lie
learnt that when the mother lelt thelhouse
she was seen walking in the direction of
Lutley, and he at once set of in pursuit, over-
taking the woman in a lane near Lutley,
slowley walking alone in a meditative atti-
tude with her neck bleeding, having attemp-
ted to take away her own life by cutting her
throat. He took her in charge, and had her
removed to the nearest public-house, whore
Dr. Kerr attended her and dressed the
wounds, which are not regarded as danger-
ous and are unlikely to result fatally. Tin
police remained at the public-house during
the whole of the evening for the purpose of
keeping her in safe custody.
Rumours were prevalent that after the
deed had been discovered a neighbour asked
the prisoner how she could have committed
such a frightful act, to which she replied.
'.That it was a good job, for the lad was now
better off in heaven.' There s a touch of
the romantic connected with the melancholy
affair. For some months a widower in the
district has been in love with the prisoner,
and arrangements were made for the mar-
riage of the pair to take place on Sunday
last. On Saturday evening the wuld-be
husband went to the house of the prisoner,
and, after along, conversation, endeavoured
to induce the mother of Liddell to allow her
daughter to leave home that evening, but to
such a proposal she gave a blank refusal.
The woman Liddell did leave her mother's
house, and on the Sunday morning. instead
of the wedding taking place, the widower
demanded that the prisoner should leave his
premises, and, rumour goes, used threats to
her if she entered his beast; again. Poverty
does not appear to have been the cause of
the crime, for all the neighbours testify to
the kindness of the mother, both towards
toe prisoner and the child, and what could
have induced her to destroy her child still
remains a mystery. Since she has been in
charge her movements have been carefully
watched, and her conduct and language at
times is said to be very strange and unnatural.
The Coro :er for the district was at once
communicated with, and an inquest on the
body was held yesterday, at the Round of
Beef Inn, Windmill End, before R. Docker,

AUDITING THE ACCOUNTS.

The clerk said the auditor appointed by
the ratepayers to audit the accounts had
gone through the accounts for the past year
ending March last, and had accompanied,
with that sheet a letter, which stated that
the figures were correct. :no sum allowed
to the auditors £3 3s had been deducted
from the latter account.

Some discussion took place as to the am.
mint paid, and it was considered that £2 2s
was sufficient payment for auditing.

REPORT OF THEWNERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE

Your committee inspected the Medical
Officer's Visitation and Report Book. The
officer reports the deaths registered in the
township of Stourbridge, from June 25 to
July 16, to be seven. The number of births
in the same time is 24. Five cases of scar-
latina are reported; four of the cases slight,
and one of a severe nature. The general
health of the township continuesgood. The
Officer recommends that the town sewers
should be flushed with water ngularly, once
or twice a week if it be advisable.

The Town Officer's report is as follows :
Nuisances removing, 8; reported during the
week, 83; total, Pl. Removed—Old, 8;
new, 70; total, 78; carried forward, 13.

Removal of lv.7glii-soil.—The officer reports
that 60 privies and 56 ashpits belonging to
'A houses, have been emptied and cleansed,
and their contents removed. Number of
loads, 158.
The Officer reports that the contractr Ass
executed his work satisfactorily. The
slaughter-houses (with three exceptions) and
lodging-houses, arc reported as in good sani-
fary condition. The officer, reports that the
cleansing and watering of the streets during
the month have been done to his satisfaction.
With regard to the Corn Exchange and ad-
joining rooms, the committee recommend
that the same be thoroughly renovated. As
to the removal of the fire engine to the Mar-
ket Hall, and the future management of the
engine, your committee report progress.
On the motion of Mr. Hughes, seconded
by Mr. Perks, the report was adopted.

RPoite Fott TRIG
TCOA NS

irn•lemen,7

lit presentie, you with this me first twat .1 Report, I
.y.promioi i.e. aft, you did me tin, honour to oppoint
one to site el, or, ,ftice,fl.-4 no time to atirl•-•airouring to
wake myself writ in,' .a.wed with the 'which
title ar aof 4.411. 450 sore., c ,turtin. 2,053 toli.lb
h allet a P 00141104 of 9,8-0. or nprisrus.
Moo ausig bed, tar • ;0,0l will C.,,y of Dr. lis-
t ••t or. tip Sanitary Condition of dm swum
hrids tu- rim, I dsroyered there Was p elite is-rk
on out at fir 4 for shy MA's II eßlic r H II Go
conceneot Isolely fulfilled his du, iesoool toter lit'- gaid•
anes :Four "mill try troy. else, Mr. Ri dams. Ipr
ore SOS on ri• po.sible to imil,rake snd pa %L.,
temstic source of inve•tigstion into thos • puts of Lli
oistrict apecialLy alluded to in ihat Report which appeared
in Cons. queue° moat to require it, such as BoUCIISII
Birmingliarn Strtet. houud Court, New Street, &c.,
shish were for the most part, in anything but a esti.
factory cooditon.

_
Dori..g the fleet quarter, viz., from Midsummer to
Michaelmas. 1873. 1 visited, and gave instructions upon
Inspection at 73 separate localities, which instrucLons
,vcre tor the most our promptly complied with to
x vet) lu4u.f-st improvement in their noel
tt.ry Condition, ilicluxing Miils's yard, 11l Bt.:Qinghai:it
4 reei, and other places speciaily referred to iu Di. bat.
kris' report.
Daring the econd quarter, viz., from Michaelmas to
c,,y,„t.,,,. 1873, 1 violet sod Rare the necessary Matrix:-
upoil inspection of El separate localities, the prin.
„,pai nuisance vi. flog in which being overflowing 'un-
pile and bogbiiles. dine pigsties. and manure ItOCUILUIa
flu s sidle elm privy alcomodation,
Am, re,' psvin4 a... triin.ge 1 courts awl. yards—
c.pec silo in B.r...big-qua itreet, Mill Lane. York Street,
snrl New Street, *HI a few exceptions my instructions
'lave oeso canned out, sat then localities now present
4 very diff-rent app,srooce
Dorms, th • third quarter, viz . from Christmas. 1873,
to Limy Day, 1874 L have bad the smallest number of
rise, brought fluter my a' teutiou ; 40 different preemies
trio itimp one case of destased in. at. whody unfit for
ham as falai, which 1144 domosed iif by the Magi•trab s
4.050.4 ..f insufficient supply of water, of overcrowded
houses, of I dtiopflated buildings in • highly den-
gsrous condition, th 'me I. believe are now all remedied.

hiza Banner, daughter of prisoner, was
the first witness.
Phrebe Banner, sister-in-law to prisoner
gave evidence which went to prove that the
prisoner was about to be married to a man
named Thomas Williams, on Monday last.
and that she went to the house of Williams
on Saturday, and stayed until Monday,
when, instead of marrying her according to
promise, he drove her home; and this preyed
upon her mind.
Dr. Ker gave medical evidence as to the
cause of death, and the further enquiry was
adjourned until Monday, a full report of
which will appear in Saturday's issue.
Prisoner was also brought up before
Colonel Fletcher, and Colonel Barrows, at
the Police Court, yesterday, on the charge of
slaying her son Walter, and remanded.

During the fourth ant last quarter. viz . from Lady.
day to Midsummer prevent. 1874. a larger number of
case- demanded ms frolic,. 75, tusking S total for the
whdle year. of 252. to be disposed of. These cases
which !rave occurred in the quarter now ended comprise,
however not only imperfectdm of absence of dramage in
intlsing porti .... s of he disir.u. but also the inspioition
of the diff,rent üblic and some private aohoW• lodg-
ing bowie-, slaughter hoses, fishmongers, premises, the
si,c conditions of all til which is duly repeated in any
visitation hook I most tot however forget to add, the
iiispeetion of the Town Witerworke premises which wee
shown and explained to me be the manager, Nlr
Claxton. The purity of the water supplied from
them to the reservoir. at Amhlecnte, and the excellent
.towhinery employed fur that purpoae. lam fully satisfied
aiiv reports to the coutrary nevertheless itotwith-
, ,
standing.
. _ . .

13,nn" an impartial retrospoetiou of lOW has been
effeei.ll thr ingh tut toe loans ..p during the past twelve.
month.. I am 4 ..1 ion that there is a great cause for
satisfaction, as well as in its present Sanitary Coodition,
as nie.omit of whicL I have app tided to Isis report in a
ton a, form. but there are several !coalition *till re-
quir Or 0.0 Weston a,,1 fartaer rir.
misev. r km.B. iest 'lnto kits not bran allovm.i.

During the past yeer I find the tofiowtng -streets and
piaci, hue, eithei been partly or *both solvated, namely
Can 'greet, Beau y Bank Wheeler Mount itreet,
In Portobeiiii. e.t.a the f own Ditch, I find also that the
numner of Streets. already sew.-red is li, Is de
partly seweret is 17, do. to, not yet sewerei is 25.
The list number it is in be feared will constitute that
part i.f the townahip where disease is most likley to crime,
as I ni that out of the 73 ers,ei of °pedantic and zvinotic
disorders that have occurred during the past twelve-
months, oily eight are troceatile to those locsiities which
hare been thoroughly cowered, the remaining sixty-five
having arisen in those parts of the township, partly or
wog, Oter uAtewered as yet, of these, Angel Street. part
of New Street Birmingham Street, and Mill Lane,
Bouchall. ant the (lig Mill, principally in their torn will
retie. r.. itoprov. rnent
••" • • •

In the subject of tap water to which I have previously
freeing o know the demand for its use is
increa,iod the th • •uniner of hoos-s supplied therewith
is 1,030. so dnet 1.023. tram primps and wets, and tbst
only one .a 'p n. Lay knowledge hes been closed on ac-
count of c ft soling unwn.lee.me impurities.
Zhe r gtstered odgi .g ni.es in the Urban distrct,
ere eight in number, and in elaughter houses, twenty-one
over wiloh your Is•pector. Mr. William, keeps faithful
waken and ward.

In concliet-ing thiereport I cannot refrain fromexpre••
,ing my congratulation* upon the following reunite of
ih. year. vi , that the Town Ditch 1. covvred in and
rule - ted. that many of the open channelc formerley mi-
ring in o the Town Sewers ore to, ing absolved, that the
ti pave an.l bad v drained co irts are b .ing psve.l mv
Gra net by several drat. .uto the sewers That the
night soil and excrement of the popuntion are regularly
reintiveri, at •bur intervals, by imbue contract. That
ashes and reface are also regularly gad ardscastically

carried away, so as to avoid accumulation, and lastly,
that the Commissioners have directed their attention to
all other nuisances as are apt to recur, such se dirty,
tilventilated and overcrowded houses, unwholesome pig.
series, ttc., and have given the necessary instructions to
their officers to that eft: ct. under the authority of the
Simony Acts. These taken in the aggregate. have ten-
der equally to raise the Sanitary condition a the town.
ship to a far healthier average point, than that of other
-urroundiug places, is fact which the iuhabitahts may be
pleased to learn, as the results must be permanent, and
beneficial to every class of the community.
I have the honour to be, Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant.
William Moseley Richards,
Medical Officer of Hekith, for the township of Stourbridge
Sioarbrome. June 29th, 1074.
tota Damper of births during the year was 903 ;
Deaths for the same period, 149, being 14 8 per 1,000 on
the whole population.

Mr. llnghes said there were few towns
in England, the size of Storubridge, that
could present so clean a bill of health as the
one just read. He considered the report
very satisfactory, and it was ordered to he
entered upon the minute book.
The Clerk presented an estimate for an
Improvement Rate. The sum of ticl in the
pound would produce £6OO, which was re-
commended to be adopted.
Mr. Billingham moved that the polling
places be for the South Ward, the Market
Hall; for the West Ward, Beauty Bank
Schools; and for the East Ward, St. John's
Schools.

The retiring Commissioners for the East
Ward: Messrs. J. W. Franklin, J. Hughes,
and W. Griffin; for the West Ward: Messrs.
G. Thorne, J. Woolley, and W. Young;
South Ward: Messrs. J. Blew, H. Hughes,
and G. Perkin,