The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-03-13 00:00:00

Soul an gistrict gebls.

THE. LATE HORRIBLE DEATH OF A CHILD,

The inquest on the body Amy Cartwright (the
child whose horrible death we gave a brief
account last week), was held on Tuesday afternoon
last; iit the Park-street Tavern, before Mr. Ralph
Decker, Coroner.
The first witness called was Emily Cartwright,
mother of deceased. She said she was the wife of
Samuel Cartwright, tailor, and resided in Hanbury
Passage. The deceased was four years and six
inontha old. Between three and four o'clock on
Fkiday afternoon last, she left the child in the
back yard whilst she (witness) went for a loaf of
bread. When witness left the child she was play-
ing with a neighbour's little girl. Witness was
away a little over ten ruinntes. On returning she
went to open the baok door, but at first she could
not enter on account of the smoke. She went
in, however, and found the child by the pantry
door. "smouldering with fire." Deceased was
standing up. The front of her clothing was com-
pletely burnt away. Witness ripped the remain-
ing clothing off the child when she went in. She
was net screaming when witness went in, she was
mo.q.ning. Witness called for help, and her sister-
in-law came. The latter's name is Martha Hall.
She lives next door but one to witness. Martha
Hall ran off for witness's husband, who was at
work in Park-street. The child was badly burnt
all about her body and face. Dr. Bayley was sent
for, and he saw the child about a quarter of an
hour after the affair had happened. Deceased
lived until a quarter to seven the same night.
Cross-examined: There was not much lire in the
grate. There was no guard to the fire-place. The
deceased found some shavings, and was playing
with them in the fender when she caught fire.
She found them in the back yard. Witness had
two children now; a little boy who was older than
deceased, and a baby. The little boy was at
school, sad the baby was in the back yard.
The Coroner: Do you generally leave your chil-
dren alone like that ?--Witness: No, 1 don't; I
generally leave them with Mrs. Tombs, a neigh-
bour
Crosi.examined by a Juror: The front door was
fastened, but not the back. It would not be safe
to leay.e.front door open whilst she was out.
; Martha Hall said on Friday afternoon last she
%mint up the back yard to take her bread to the
oven, and saw deceased playing in theyard. After
she put her bread in, and saw deceased still in
the yard. Shortly afterwards she went upstairs,
and heard the mother scream, and asked her what
was the matter. She said her child had been
burnt to death, and asked witness to go for the
doctor. Witness went for Mrs. Cartwright's hus-
band, and he went for Dr. Bayley.
Mr. R. L. Bayley, surgeon, deposed that he saw
the child last Friday afternoon, about half-past
three. She was suffering from severe shock, was
in a seuzi..uncouscious state, and appeared to be
sinking. Her body was completely charred and
blackened. She lived a few hours, and then died
of shock, There were no other injuries about her
except the burns.
The Coroner summed up, and the jury returned
a verdict of " A.ccideutally burnt to death."

AMON FOR BREACH OF CONTRACT.

KING AND OTHERS v. PARKER.

At the liTorceiter Assizes, on the sth inst (Nise
Prius court), the following case was heard before
Mr. Justice Archibald.

Mr. Matthews, Q.C., and Mr. Jelf were for the
plaintiffs, and Mr. Powell, Q.C., and Mr. Motteram
for the defendants.

The actiowwas brought by the Netherend and
Cradley Park Company, near Stourbridge, against
151 r. Thomas Parker, railway wheel and axle manu-
facturer, who resided near Stour bridge. Its ground
was to recover damages for breach of contract to
deliver coal. The defendant, on Sept, 13th, 1873,
had agreed to purchase from the plaintiffs 4.a.)0
lots of " Kibbles," at 15s. 6d. per lot or parcel. It
was arranged that the coal should be loaded with
defendant's trucks, at the sidings of the plaintiff,
on the Cradley branch of the Stourbridge Railway,
and that this should be accomplished at the aver-
age ratio of two trucks per day. A stipulation
was also made that in the event of a "strike" or
accident the plaintiffs would not be required to
keep up tho daily supply. The supply was con-
tinued up to March. 1874, although, as alleged by
the plaintiffs, not with regularily, owing to the
.lefendant not sending his trucks as agreed upon.
After the above-named date (March 28th) the
collier' strike commenced, which lasted until the
SiOth of the following July. PlAintiffs then gave
notice to the defendant that their men were com-
mencing work again, and that they were prepared
to continue the contract. Several letters were
acidteseed by the plaintiffs, but no replies were
reesived, and since the strike defendant had not
torwa.rded a single truck for the conveyance of the
coal. Plaintiffs therefore claimed the sum of .£641
13s.

Some evidence having been adduced to
tiubstantiato the observationsof the learned coun-
sel for the plaintiffs, it was decided that as the
case involved certain points of law, a special case
should be prepared, and submitted for the opinion
of the Court above.

OBSTRUCTING THE ROAD.--At the Public Office,
yesterday, before Mr. R. L. Freer, James Evans,
wagoner to Messrs. Allsop and Co., was charged
with causing an obstruction in Coventay-street, on
the Bth instant. Mr. Collis defended. From the
evidence it :appeared that defendant's cart stood
opposite Mr. Parkes's for 35 minutes, causing an
Qbgtruetion. Mr. Collie, for the defeuee, said that

ID

defendant had to deliver 12 barrels of ale to Mr.
Parkes's house, and that the man was to and fro
all the time, and no time was wasted. Mr. Parkes
said defendant was actively employed all the time,
and no man could have done it quicker. Mr. Freer
said 35 minutes was a long time, and the street
was very narrow, and fined defendant is and costs.
—Elizabeth Pearson was charged with a similar
offence, and fined is and COStB.
WAGES CAE.—George Burgess was summoned
by Thomas Stanley for .21 lOs wages alleged to be
due to him. Complainant said that he went to
work for the defendant, who agreed to give him,
30s, and pay for his drink. This was denied by
defendant, and the case was adjourned for a week.
Mena PaosactrrroN. At the Police Court,
yesterday., before Messrs.' It. L. Freer and J. E.
Swindell, Joseph Fudge was charged by Mr. Otter,
r, Supervisor, with using acarriage without a license,
on the 30th November, and fnrther charged with
a similar offence, on the 10th December.—Samuel
Cardall proved that hesaw defendant with a car-
riage on the above dates. Someone was in the
trap with him, and no license had been taken out.
On cross-examination, witness admitted that it
was defendant's sister who-rode wiib.. him on the
20th November, and that on one occasion witnass
rode in the carria,,,e with him. Mr. Homer con-
tended that it had not been proved that defend-
ant carried passengers, but that it was his sister
who was with him on the 30th November, and
that-it was not proved- who rode with him on the
10th December.—After. some discussion, the Bench
fined defendant the mitigated penalty of £5 in
each case, with a recommendation ta further re-
duce it to 108.--,--Mr. Otter said he would endorse
the recommendation to the Board. _

_
USING OBSCINN LANGUAGN.--.-A. prostituie, named
Mousley, was summoned by Superintendent Freeman
for using obscene language in the Gullet, Angel
Street. on the 9th inst. The case was proved, and
defendant was fined 2s 6d and costs.
Wakeman v. Allen.—At the Count' Court, yester-
day, before Mr. L. Warren, Deputy Judge. This
was an action to recover the sum of ..€2 140 Bd. Mr.
Collis, appeared for plaintiff, and Mr. Wall, defended:
From the evidence given it appears that some time
ago, it was determined by the licensed victuallers, at
Wollaston to apply to the licensing committee for an
extension of hours, from 10 to 11 o'clock. That Mr.
Collis was employed to make the application, which
was obtained. Defendant's share came to £2 14s 8(1
and had promised plaintiff that he would pay his
share. But he has not done so, and still refused,
although defendant asked plaintiff to pay for him,
which he did. Defendant promised to repay the
money. Mr. Green gave corroborative evidence as
to defendant agreeing to pay hie part. Mr. Wall
for the defence conter.d3d here was no consider-
ation neither did defendant instruct Wakersau to pay
the money to Mr. Colli4, a d called def2ndant who
sail th It plaintiff called upon him after the appli-
cation and that plaintiff asked him to sign a paper,
but he refused. Defendant swore he never asked
the plaintiff to pay for him, neither did he promise
to pay him back. His Honour considered the case
proved, and found a verdict for plaintiff.
DRUNK AND INCAPABLE.—At the Police Court,
on Tuesday, before Mr. R. L. Freer, William Cox, of
Wollaston, was charged with being drank and incap-
able in High Street, on Monday night last. Police.
constable Philpot proved the case. Fined 2s 6d and
, costs.