The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-10-09 00:00:00

Xatat attb Mistrift

HORRIBLE MURDER AT STOURBRIDGE.

A CHILD SEWN UP IN A SICK ALIVE,

Mr. E. Docker, Deputy-Coroner for East Worces-
terchire, held an inquest on Monday night at the
Vauxhall Inn, Stourbridge, upon an infant, mhos.)
body was found in one of Messrs. Ruflord and Co.'s
clay pills on the Ist inst. The remains of the child
were in a shocking state, from the body having
apparently ben in the pit ~onie time. The pit has
not been worked recently, but some men went down
on Friday and found the body. It hid been sewn
in a canvas bag which had been burst open by the
fall, end the child's skull wcs fractured.
Dr. Bayley said he believed that the child had
been thrown down the pit alive, the blood stains on
the bag being from a living body. He judged it to
be about three or four weeks old. -

'The police, it was stated, were making every
inquiry with regard to the case.
It was not thought necessary to adjourn the
inquiry, an,l the jury returned a verdict of " Wilful
murder against some person or persons unknown,"

MAIN DRAINAGR BOARD.—The monthly meeting
of this Board wits held on Monday evening; Mr. P.
Pargeter peeaiding.—Sincc the last meeting Mr. N
Forrest, a member of the Board, had died, and a
vote of sympathy was passed with his relatives.
The Cleric was directed to convey the same to them.
—The Clerk presented a statement showing the
estimated payments to be made by tilt. 13:iard
during the ensuing nine months, and it was resolved
to issue precepts fur the sum of £1,300., of which
£6BB will be payable by the Rural sanitary
Authority, and the remainder by the Stourbriige
Commissioners. Of the above total £Bl5 whs on
loan and interest ace tint, and about £lOO on works
account. During the last six months the Board
have had to expend £367 on permanent works
account out of reve.ue, the limit of expenditure out
of revenue, the limit of expenditure out of loans
having been reacned. A question has arisen
between the Rural Sanitary Authotity and the
hoard as to the right of the forme: to turu sewage
into the sewers of the Board, irrespective of its
place of origin, provided that a certain maximum
amount is not exceeded. The Clerk to the Board
contends that the Sanitary Authority cannot do so,
and correspondence is proceeding between the two
Authorities rogarding the subject.
BCARD OF UUARDIANS.—Mr. Pargeter occupied
Ihe chair at the weekly meting of this Bo: rd yet-
eriay. The Mastvr of the House reported: Ad-
mitted, 14; burn, 1; discharged, 7 ; .1i 3 , re-
maining in the House, 501; correop.:cling ptriod

last year, 544. The relief was as as follows:King
swinford. £47 2 t 0.1; Stourblidge, £3O 380 d; Hales-
owen, -£24 9s 4d; non—resident, 17s 51: total,
.2103 11851 ; corresponding period last year, £95
33 3d.

Sr. JOHN'S SCHO,I; L'iTournsittpor,. DIOC7S AN
TS SPECPOR'S REPORT, 18311. Boys' department,
divisioa. 1 (standard 1). The illustrations to the
c)turnAndments were rather I.veaker thin other
subjects Cat?chi-m exec.-lent-, bible very good.
Division 2 (standards 2 and 3) was Very bright and
intiligent. Catechism, old and new testament
and christian year. were all marked excellint.
Division 3 (standards 4,5, arid 6) did their work
raxiarkably well, particularly in their paper work.
which was really excellent. Catechism, old and new
testament were marked excellent. Prayer book
vcry good. It quite clear that the boys in this
school ar3 thoroughly well taucht, and that con-
siderable interest is taken in all scrip:ure lesEols.
There were no failures. The school received the
highest. mark for excellency, and was placed in class
A, the same as last year.—lnfants' Department.
The rep -3tition was particularly good and the mean-
ing of texts, etc., remarkably well known. The
3hildren were very bright and well behaved, and
altogether this is a very satisfactory school. The
Lord's prayer, picture lessons, texts, private
prayers, and hymns were all marked excellent..
This department received the highest mark for. ex-
cellency, and was placed in class 1 the same as
last year.
ALHAMBRA THEATRE.—The opening night of the
season at this theatre took place on Monday night,
when a good audience assembled to witness Mr.
Henry Hampton and his company give a good re—
presentation of the "Workman's wife." Mr.
Hampton is engaged for another week, so there is
an opportunity for everyone to see this talented
artist.

ASSAULTING A WOMAN,-At the Police Court,
yesterday, before Colonel Fletcher, Colonel Coch-
rane, and Mr. A. Freer, Walter Williams, labourer,
Giles's Hill, was charged with assaulting Emma
Cope of the same place, on the 3rd inst. A quarrel
arose over some children playing in front of defend-
ant's house, when defendant spoke to complainant
and struck her on the side of the face. Defendant
pleaded provocation. Colonel Fletcher said no
amount of provocation could justify a man striking
a woman, especially when she had a child in her
arms as complainant had, and fined defendant lOs
and costs.

SHOP ROBBERY.—Harriet Spittle, married, of the
Waste Bank, Lye, was charged with stealing three
cotton handkerchiefs, value 101,c1, the property of
Thomas Wooton, draper, High Street, Lye. She
was further charged with stealing a cloth jacket,
the property of Eliza Hall,olothes dealer, Chapel
Street, Lye, She was sentenced to three weeks'
hard labour in each case.

WILFUL DAMAGE.—William Parkes and Joseph
Taylor, two boys, of Wollescote, were charged with
damaging a horse chestnut tree. the property of
Joseph Bird. Parkes was fined 2s 6d and costs,
and Taylor was discharged with a caution.
013FCENE LANGUAGE. Judith Caßagful, Round
Court, was fined 5s and costs for using obscene
language.—Joseph Sankey, horse breaker, Round
Court, was fined 5s and costs for a similar offence,
CAUTION To OWNERS OF PIGS Albert Bowen
was charged with driving a pig through an infected
area at Pedmore, and was fined 2s 6d and costs.