The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-07-24 00:00:00

COMMISSIONERS' MEETING.

A special meeting of this body was held in the
Corn Exchange, on Thursday afternoon last.
There were present Messrs. Packwood (chairman)
Hughes, Kelly, Perkin, Mills, Woolley and Ed-
wards. The Clerk (Mr. Taylor) stated that the
meeting was called for the purpose of electing
two Commissioners as Governors of the Grammar
School. He then read the notice callingthe meet-
ing which was to the effect that it was specially
convened for the purpose of electing two:represen-
tative Governors of the Grammar School, under
the new scheme. He next read a letter addressed
to the Board by Mr. E. H. Freer, Clerk to the
Governors in which he forwarded them an extract
of the regulations for the conduct of such election
and asked them to proceed to it as soon as possible.
At the same time he drew their attention to the
fact that it was not absolutely necessary that the
person elected should be a commissioner. The clerk
also stated that the persons elected would con-
tinue in office for four years.
Mr. Mills asked how it would effect it if the
Commissioners went out of office who were elected
went out of office during that time. _ _

The Clerk informed him that that would not
effect the matter in any way. They would Btill
continue to be Govenors ; and he also called his
attention to that part of Mr. Freer's letter, which
stated that it was not requsite that those elected
should be commissioners.

Mr. Packwood then proposed that Mr. Hughes
he one of the Uovenors representing the Commis-
sioners.

This was secondedby Mr. G. Perkin.
Mr. Mills proposed that Mr. Godfrey Rowley
Perkin be the second Govenor.

This was seconded by Mr. Kelly.
The two nominations were then put to the meet-
ing in turn, and their adoption was carried unani-
mously-
Mr. Hughes then said he should have liked to
have seen a larger number of commissioners there
that day. The question involved was a very ho-
portant one, as a great deal depended upon the
representative Govenors of their Grammar School.
Mr. Perkin, who was the other person they had
elected, would be the representative of a very dif-
ferent class to that which he (the speaker) repri-
sented. For his (Mr. Hughes) part he should
represent the whole of the inhabitants. Mr. Per-
kin would be the representative of a different
ciass—persons belonging to his own sect—though
no doubt he would represent the general public as
well, lie felt sure that himself and Mr. Perkin
would be always able to get on well together.
M. Woolley said this alteration in the Gram-
inas School Scheme had been brought forward in
accordance with the growing spirit of religious
toleration so prevalent.
The wee Ling then terminated.

MELANCHOLY DEATH OF A LANDLADY
OF A PUBLIC-HOUSE.

An inquest was held on Thursday last, at the
eester.s Aruu, before Ur. W. H. Phillip., Deputy-
.2erouer, on the body of Hannah Gamier, aged 51,
who was drowned in the Stour, on Tuesday morn-
ing.
111 r. Wyndham, solicitor, appeared to watch the
proceedings on behalf of Airs. Richards, the
daughter of deceased.
Tlit, first witness called was

Mary Ann Downes, who said she saw Mrs. Gan-
tier alive last on Monday morning, about eleven
o'clock. She seemed to be in a very low state.
Deceased waa the widow of William Ganner, malt-
ster, of Halcsowen. She was about 51 years of
age, and the landlady of that house (the Foster's
Arms). The reason she thought she was in a low
state was that she had been in the habit of having
change from her, and she had sent her £l2 worth
on the Saturday. She did not send the gold for
it, as usual, and witness came on the Monday to
ask her for the twelve sovereigns for the silver
she had had from her. Deceased seemed to be
very confused, and hesitating in her manner. She
reached to the drawer and gave witness the silver.
Witness did not see anything more of her until
Tuesday, when she laid her out. She was then
fully dressed, and her clothes were wet. There
were no marks of violence upon the body. There
was a scratch upon her nose, but that had been
there before. There was no mark or appearance
on her body of her having fallen upon anything.
Jane Hodgkiss said she was servant to deceased.
She (witness) was a single woman. She had been
in deceased's service about a fortnight. About
eleven o'clock on Tuesday morning deceased came
in the passage. Mr. John Clulee, hernephew, came
and asked witness where she was. She told him
she had just gone out at the back door. Deceased
had previously had her breakfast in the bar. Wit-
ness did not then know that deceased had left
the premises. It was a few minutes past elevou
when Mr. Clulee inquired after her. Witness then
went upstairs to find her, and then into the cellar,
and afterwards into the back yard. She next went
into a neighbour's house; but deceased was not
there. At length witness wont down to the pig
stye, which adjoins the Stour. Deceased had not
been in the habit of going out of doors since wit-
ness had been in her employ, She . did not find
her. Witness looked up and down the river, and
saw a foot mark on the side of the Stour. There
was an appearace as if some one had slipped. The
mark was about a foot in length. As she was re-
turning to the house she met Mr. John Clulee,
ani took him back to look at the mark. She re-
turned to the house, and there heard that some
one had jumped into the Stour. Deceased gave
witness a bag containing money before she went
out. The bag contained nothing but silver. De-
ceased was brought home about 16 minutes to 12.
She had been sober during the time that witness
had been in her service. Deceased had never done
anything to witness's knowledge, which would
show that her mind was affected in any way.
When witness gave up the money Mrs. Clulee told
her the bag contained twelve shillings.
By a Juryman: Deceased made no remark to
witness when she gave her the money. She only
said "Take care of the money." She saw nothing
different in deceased's manner that morning.
By Mr. Wyndham: Deceased had not beeen in
the habit of g.oingvery often to see the pigs whilst
witness had been there. The morning witness
referred to, the river was very much swollen, but
could not say it was level with the bank. She did
not notlce it particularly. There was a portion of
the fence gone from the bank. The place was a
dangerou3 one, where any one would be likely to
be drowned in, as it then was.