The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-11-13 00:00:00

EPITOIVIE OF NEWS.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

Mr. A. Cohen, M.P. presided on Saturday at the
opening of the twenty-fifth series of the Lambeth Baths
winter meetings. Mr. W. A. McArthur, M.P., Mr.
Shirley, M.P.. and other gentlemen delivered addresses.
Mr. 0. B. M. Talbot, M.P., in a letter to the Secre-
tary of the Welsh Congregational Union, has rec m-
mended that the Welsh members should not form
themselves into a Parliamentary party.
Gounod's "Faust," well known in its Italian ver-
sion, was brought out in the original French text at
her Majesty's Theatre, in London, on Saturday night,
which was opened for a series of performauces of
French opera
It is stated in the "Police Gazette" that 77 persons
are known to have been bitten in London during
October by dogs not known to have been mad, and
that the number of dogs found in the street rabid and
savage has rapidly declined.
At the inquest on the body of Emily Bobbit, who was
shot at Highbury, London, by her husband when
cleaning a gun, the jury returned a verdict to the effect
that death was caused by an accident.
Evidence against two men of conspiring to commit a
burglary at South Kensington, London, was given on
Saturday at the Westminster Police•court by Henry
Gosling, a porter out of employment, who had been
made acquainted with the plan, and who gave informa-
tion to the police. The prisoners were surprised close
to the house which it had been arranged should 4be
broken into. A remand was granted.
A number of charges arising out of the Guy Fawkes
celebrations came before the magistrates on Saturday,
and in most cases fines were imposed. At Hammer-
smith a young man named Brown was sentenced to four
months' imprisonment for inciting a disorderly mob,
which included two persons dressed as guys, to commit
wilful damage and an assault.
A daring attempt at highway robbery was made be-
tween Coventry and Warwick, at a late hour on the
night of Friday the sth inst. Mr. Mallabone, a corn
factor, of Warwick, was driving home from Coventry
Market when, on reaching a lonely part of the road, a
man sprang out from the hedge and tried to seize the
horse's reins, but missing his mark grasped the side of
the trap. Mr. Mallabone was prepared for emergencies,
i.nd dead the fellow a heavy blow on the side of the
head with a life preserver. The man hung to the trap
for some distance, until another blow felled him to the
ground. This is the third attempted highwsl outrage
at this spot within six months, and is within a short
distance of where the carriage of the Hon. Miss
Agnes Leigh, daughter of the lord•lieutenant was at"
tacked.

A fatal accident took place on board the Metropolitan
Asylum Board training ship Ex 'tenth, lying off Grays,
on Friday afternoon, the sth inst. A lad named
William Brooks, aged 13, of London, was sent aloft
with other boys for exercise. While in the starboard
fore rigging Brooks lost his hold, and fell a distance of
42ft. into a gig that was lying alongside the ship. He
was immediately conveyed on shore to the infirmary,
when it was found his spine had been dislocated, and
from this and other injuries the lad expired the same
evening. An inquest was held on the body on Satur-
day afternoon, before Mr. C. 0. Lewis, Coroner, when
the jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death."
A meeting of farmers and tithepayers at Llantysilio,
In the Vale of Llangollen, was bnld at Gyfelia on
Saturday, under the presidency of Mr. T. M. Shaw.
The chairman said communications had again been
received from the tithe-owners, in whicu tho farmers
were offered an abatement of 20 per cent. on the
present tithe-charge. As he believed this was the
largest reduction conceded in the Principality, be
strongly recommended them to accept it. After dis-
oussion, in which several farmers took part, the abate-
ment was accepted. Resolutions in favour of dia..
establishment in Wales were udanimously adopted.
A little boy, the son of Mr. T. ScaLtlebury, farmer,
near Lostwithiel, has met his death under sad circum-
stances. The little fellow, who was only about five
years old, was watching the farm boy clean Mr.
Scantlebury's double-barrelled gun. By inadvertence
the weapon pad been left loaded, and the gun, in being
moved about, went off, the charge entering the eye of
the little fellow, and passed through the top of his
bead. He was killed instantly.
Nearly all the members of the Mancheater division of
the Lancashire County police force attended the
Divisional Court ma Saturday, to see 22 officers receive
certificates of proficiency, awarded by the St. John's
Ambulance Association. The presentation was made
by Mr. Leresche, stipendiary magistrate, who spoke of
the value of first aid knowledge to police, bud men-
tioned cases in illustration. Of the total county force
about 300 men have joined the classes.
At the Manchester County Police-court on Saturday,
Thomas Mellor, furnaceman, was remanded on a
singular charge. On the previous night there was a
bonfire at Patricroft. The prisoner borrowed a pistol
charged with powder, and in a " lark " discharged it at
the clothes of a female onlooker. Her clothes were
set on fire, and the woman was so badly burned that she
will not be able to leave home for several days.

judgment was given by Mr. Justice Kay in the
Chancery Division, on Monday, in the Oxford Building
Society case, ordering the directors to refund to the
creditors of the society a large sum of money which it
was alleged they had misapplied by paying dividends
out of capital and awarding to themselves remunera.
tion and commissions.
According to a telegram from St. Petersburg, pub.
Belie on Monday in Vienna, Prince Dondokoff Kossa.
koff and two Generals have gone on a visit to newly
acquired territory on the 1. fghan frontier.
At half.past eight o'clock on Monday evening Arthur
Riches, aged 36, a fish hawker, residing at Beccles,
Suffolk, met his wife in Norwich mai ket.place. He
put his arm around her, and with a razor inflicted a
terrible wound in her throat. The unfortunate woman
was conveyed to the hospital, and died almost upon the
thresLhold. Riches, with his clothes saturated with
blood, was arrested on the spot and lodged in prison.
The murdered woman was 30 years of age, and had
been separated from her husband for a fortnight,

The returns relating to lunacy in the county of Kent,
which have just been presented to the Court of General
Sessions by the medical superintendents of the Barming
and CharthAm Asylums, show a large increase in female
insanity. At the present time there are in the two
asylums as many as 1225 females to 882 males.
The Lord Provost's Committee of the: Edinburgh
Town Council have, by eight to six votes declined to
accept the exhibition buildings. with £5OOO for their
repair and £5OOO for their maintenance. It is held that
the meadows on which the exhibition buildings stand
must be cleared as a public park.
In connection with the change in James's. street
Brewery Sir Edward Guinness intends to present each
member:of the commercial staff with three months'
salary,whilst to each of those engaged in manual labour
he will give one month's wages each. This will involve
aa outlay of over £50,000.
Lord Chelmsford presided at the distribution of prizes
to the Second Middlesex Artillery Brigade in London,
on Saturday night, and in the course of his speeeh re-
marked that the Royal Artillery was on the Eve of
great changes. Every year the work of garrison artil-
lery became more important, and required more know-
ledge and science than the two other branches of that
service. He believed there was a grand future before
them, and that the service at large was beginning to
recognise their importance. Lady Chelmsford dis-
tributed the prizes.
A number of men were engaged in making excava.
Mons for a new sewer near tbe Midland Railway Station
at Hereford on Saturday, when a quantity of earth fell
on a young man named Thomas Johnson, crushing him
to death.

Lord Fife has agreed to become president of the
Unionist Liberal Association for the counties of Aber-
deen, Kincardine, and Banff, and has &iven a donation
of £5O towards its funds. His lordship, in a letter to
the secretary, says that his action in severing himself
from the Liberal party had been abundantly justified
by events which had recently passed.
At a council of war held on Saturday at Rangoon it
was resolved to give commissioners and officers in
Burmah more power to despatch troops to points where
their services may be needed. It was also decided to
organise four mounted columns to scour the country,
between the Kyendwen and Moo Rivers, for the pur-
pose of hunting down the rebel leaders and destroying
their haunts.

The Lord Bishop of Ely has become one of the
patrons of the Church Army. The work has just begun
at Belfast, Burton-on-Trent, Sheffield. Yarmouth, Ash-
ford, Shorncliffe, and is soon to commence at South-
ampton, Hastings, and another parish in Nottingham.
One of those converts recently confirmed had in his
former days, under the influence of drink, pitched his
wife positively out of the window, and nearly killed his
daughter for interfering on her mother's behalf.
The First Commissioner of Works has now set aside
a portion of Regent's-park, North London. for foot-
ball, in addition to the ground on Primrose-hill, hitherto
appropriated to that game. The new football ground
is that portion of the park allotted to volunteer drill in
summer. It will be reserved for matches only, practice
not being allowed on it, and its use will be subject
generally to arrangements similar to those in force for
the cricket ground.
On Saturday a serious accident occurred on the lower
portion of the North Shields Pier, whereby a locomo-
tive and three trucks were precipitated into the sea. It
appears that the trucks were attached to the locomo-
tive for the conveyance of blocks of concrete to the
works at the end of the pier, and when to engaged the
engine suddenly ran off the rails and dashed over the
pier into the sea. The engine and trucks are entirely
sabmerged by the sea. The men in charge of them
escaped.
Nearly 20,000 nailmakers in East Worcestershire and
Staffordshire received an advance of 10 per cent. It
has, however, been decided by the Nailmakers' Associa-
tion that all the operatives who have received the
increase shall go out on strike until the Oradley Heath
and Rowley Old Hill makers, who have been on strike
for 13 weeks, have received the advance. The Stafford-
shire rivetmakers have also strick for an advance.
The Youghal Branch of the National League met on
Sunday. Mr. Lane, M.P., and Mr. J. C. Flynn, M.P.,
spoke, and between four and five thousand persons were
present. Resolutions were carried thanking Mr. Glad-
stone for his endeavour to grant Home Rule to Ireland,
and of continued confidence in Mr. Parnell until a
Parliament is restored in College-green. The Ponsonhy
tenants who were present were advised to carry out the
plan laid out by "United Ireland," and to boycott those
who opposed this measure.
A largely attended National League meeting was
held at Skibberepn on Sunday. Dr. Kenny, M.P., Mr.
O'Shea, M.P., and Dr. Tanner, M.P., spoke, and
advised the farmers to adopt the programme published
by "United Ireland," and to pursue a firm and un-
yielding attitude towards rack-renting landlords.
The tenants on the Ponsonby Barker Estate, county
Limerick, paid their rents on Saturday, less 25 per cent.
reduction. Lord Dunraven offered a reduction of
from 15 to 25 per cent. on the judicial rents. The
tenants met the agents at Limerick on Saturday and
demanded a reduction of 30 per cent. Upon their
being refused they left in a body without paying any-
thing.
Mr. John Deasy, M.P., speaking at a Nationalist
meeting at Castlebar on Sunday, alluded t • the evic.
tions in the district, and denounced the evicting land-
lords. The prosperity of Ireland, he said, could never
be achieved except by the unanimous voice of a whole
nation, when the Premier's Peace Bill—the Home Rule
had been triumphantly sealed and presented to Ireland
as 9 nation.

The weekly retuins issued on Tuesday from the
headquarters LI the Kent County Constabulary show
another very long list of cases of swine fever, which is
spreading so rapidly all over the county that it
threatens to put an end to pig-keeping altogether for
a time. Serious outbreaks are reported from the
Sandwich,Cantexbury, and Chart Sutton districts. An
urgent appeal has been made to the Privy Council on
behalf of the county authorities that they will make
the slaughter of all infected animals compulsory in,
stead of permissive, as at present, and also that they
will reinforce the Markets and Fairs Order, so as to
prevent the exposure of swine for sale in the markets.
Mr. Alderman H. F. Wilkins, solicitor, has been
unanimously elected Mayor of Chipping Norton for the
ensuing year. He is 82 years of age, and retains all
the vigour and freshness of youth. He was a member
of the unreformed Corporation, was Mayor of the
Borough when the Queen ascended the Throne, and
has been a member of the Town Council for the past
fifty years. To commemorate the election of Mr.
Alderman Wilkins to the Mayoralty for the eighth
time, and at his advanced age, he inhabitants sub-
scribed a fund for the purchase of two oxen, which
were roasted in the market place, the beef being given
away to the poor.

Owing to the length of time last winter during which
the Clheshire hounds were unable to hunt, an unusually
large number of foxes were left about in the covers.
The consequence is that this season foxes are more
plentiful than were ever before kno*n in the county.
On Tuesday, when the South Cheshire hounds were
thrown into the Watlass cover at Huxley no less than
14 foxes broke away in different directions, eliciting the
remark from the huntsman that there were as many
foxes in the cover as hounds.

Judgment was given at Glasgow on TuesclEy, in the
Board of Trade inquiry into the stranding of the ship
Ben-y-Gloe, 1678 tons, in the Bristol Channel, in which
one of the crew was drowned. The vessel stranded
through the anchor chain snapping. The Court, while
unanimously of opinion that Captain Dill should be
censured for neglecting to adopt necessary precautions,
under the circumstances did not interfere with his
certificate.

Thomas Conway, fifteen years of age, on Tuesday
met with a shocking death in -a cinder heap at Rock-
hay, near Wednesbury. He went to the cinder heap and
made a hole for the purpose of finding coal. Whilst in
the hole a large quantity of earth fell upon him and
buried him. Although some workmen speedily removed
the earth, Conway when found was dead.
_ _ _ _

The Ramsgate- Town Council resolved on Tuesday
that a reward of ten pounds should be paid to Police-
constable Williams for his meritorious exertions at the
late fire at Rose-hill. Other contributions, in recogni-
tion of the constable's bravery, were announced.
In consequence of the unremunerative prices for
Mid-Kent hops this season, and the depression in the
hop industry generally, Mr. H. A. Brassey, of Preston
Hall, Aylesford, late M.P. for Sandwich, is having 100
acres of his hop land grubbed up.
While on the passage from Invergordon to Wick the
boat Mary Macleod picked up a box off Dunheath
with 501 b. of dynamite. The explosive was thrown
overboard, but the box was brought ashore.
From retu7ns compiled on Tuesday it appears that in
136 municipalities Conservatives were elected to the
mayoral chair; in 111 Liberals were chosen (17 Liberal
Unionists). In nine cases the politics of those selected
did not transpire.

Mr. John Morley, who was announced to speak at a
meeting of Liberals at Hawick on November 23rd las
intimated that he will be unable to attend on that date,
and the meeting has accordingly been adjourned until
November 30th, when it is understood Mr. Morley will
be present.
A supplement of the "London Gazette" on Tues-
day night announced the following appointments to
the Order of St. Michael and St. George: Knights:
The Right Honourable John Staples, Lord Mayor of
London, a Royal Commissioner for the Colonial and
Indian Exhibition; Walter Lawry Buller, a member of
the New Zealand Commission in London for the said
Exhibition. Companions: James Edward Mason,
Executive Commissioner for the Colony of Fiji;
Robert Hamilton Lang, Executive Commissioner cf
Cyprus; and Hugh Hastings Romilly, Deputy Com-
missioner for the Western Pacific, Assistant Commis.
sioner in Charge of the New Guinea Exhibits at the
Exhibition.

A Parliamentary return issued on Tuesday showed
that during the present and last year the number of
paupers in every thousand inhabitants in the metro-
polis was 21.1, the lowest percentage with one excel).
tion since 1857, the first year for which a return is
given. The highest rate (42.0) was in 1868. Last year
the percentage in the whole of England and Wales was
25.0, and this year 25.1: The returns are based upon
the actual number of paupers in the last week of Sep-
tember in each year.
Canon Wood, of Worcester, died on Tuesday morn-
ing at the age of 81. Ha was domestic chaplain to
William IV. and chaplain in ordinary to Queen
Victoria. He had been Canon of Worcester for 45
years.
Arthur Riches, 36, fish hawker, Beccles, was com-
mitted for trial on Tuesday by the Norwich magistrates
for the wilful murder of his wife fon the previous even-
ing. Deceased left her home at Beccles a fortnight
since, coming to Norwich, where the prisoner, who had
tollowed her, met her in the market place, threw his
arm round her neck, and stabbed her under the ear
with a clasp knife. She died before she reached the
hospital, whither she was conveyed in a cab. The pHrn
soner, when questioning a witness, said he swore at the
time that he would cut his wife's ears off before she
should wear earrings.

The ease Moses v. Arrowsmith came on in the
Westminst-r County Court, London, on Tuesday, on
the application by the plaintiff, Lewis Moses, for the
defendant's committal. The latter did not appear.
The plaintiff said the defendant was the chief constable
oi Dewsbury, and was in receipt of a salary of £2OO a
',tar. Plaintiff had received a letter saying that some
of the money had been paid into court. As no money
had actually been paid in the learned judge committed
the tlefendant for 12 dap.

SATURDAY, NOV. 13, 1886.

Tuesday was the forty-fifth birthday of Alberb
Edward, Prince of Wales, the eldest son of her Majesty
the Queen and the late Prince Consort, and Heir
Apparent to the British Crown and the Sovereignty of
the Indian Empire.
The Queen, on the recommendation of the Secretary
for Scotland, tas been graciously pleased to appoint
the Rev. Robert H. Story, D.D., Minister of Roseneath,
to be Professor of Ecclesiastical History in the Ufa-
yersity of Glasgow, in the room of the late Rev.
William Lee, D,D.
The Viceroy arrived at Baroda on Monday afternoon,
and was received with great pomp by the Gaek war.
Visits of ceremony were afterwards exchangqd between
his Highness and Lord Dufferin. The day was
observed as a public holiday.
The Queen has forwarded through General Sir 11.
Ponsnnby her annual subscription of £5O to the Army
and Navy Pensioners' Employment Society.
The living of South Somercotes, which is in the gift
of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, has been
offered by Lord John Manners to the Rev. revere!
Johnson, who has accepted it.
A widow named Rebecca Grosvenor, residing at
Newtown, Montgomeryshire, has just attained her
102nd year, having been born in 1784. Her health in
excellent, and her eyesight is so good that she can read
and threed a needle without the use of glasses.
Application has been made to the War Office for an
increase in the establishment of many volunteer corps.
Among the proposals are the following: Permission to
form another railway company and a submarine mining
company in the let London Engineers; a company of
engineer 4 for the 2nd Tower Hamlets E.V., at Bedford
Grammar School; and an additional company each for
the 2nd Oxford R. V., at Woodstock; let V.B. Royal
West Surrey, at Croydon or Caterham ; and for the 2nd
Power Hamlets R.V.
At the London Guildhall, Alderman Sir Reginald
Hanson on Monday was inaugurated Lord May or of
London, was invested with the chain and robes of
office, and received the officers of the Corporation.
The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have
awarded the good service pension of £l5O a year to
Captain George Digby Morant, naval officer in charge
at HongsKong, in succession to Captain George
Parsons, placed on the retired list.
The International Exhibition at Liverpool vfne
brought to a close on Monday night. During the day
it was visited by 53,000 people. The total admissions,
exclusive of exhibitors, &c., from the opening, on May
11, were 2,682,510.
Mr. Justin M•Carthy, M.P., has arrived in Montreal,
and was received there by an influential deputation.
The Italian Parliament is summoned to meet on the
23rd inst. No speech will be delivered from the
Terone.
An old German, named Levi Isaacs' a pedlar of
sponges, jewellery, and Turkey rhubarb, has been burnt
at his house in Ashburner-atreet, Bolton, and died the
following day from his injuries. He lived alone in the
house for many years, and the police, suspecting that
valuables would be found, have searched his house, and
discovered concealed in various nooks and corners up-
wards of £6OO.
Prince Henry of Battenberg drove from Windsor
Castle to East Hempstead Park on Monday morning,
and hunted with Mr. Garth's foxhounds. The weather
was beautiful, and the field was a large one.
Prince and Princess Christian left Cumberland
Lodge, Windsor Park, on Monday morning, on a visit
to the Prince and Princess of Wales at Sandringham.
Lord Randolph Churchill, the Comte and Comtesse
of Paris, Prince and Prircess Christian, and a number
of other guests left St. Pancras Station on Monday
afternoon, by special train, for Sandringham, to join the
birthday party of the Prince of Wales.
Mr. Spurgeon has arranged to leave London next
Monday for Paris, en rout for Mentone, where he pro-
poses to spend the remainder of the year.
The freedom of the city of Newcastle was on Monday
conferred on Sir W. G. Armstrong.
At the Altofts Colliery, near Normanton, where the
disastrous explosion occurred about three weeks ago,
resulting in the loss of 22 lives, six more of the bodies
were on Monday recovered from the pit by a number of
explorers. Five others remain unrecovered.
Dr. Moorhouse, Bishop of Manchester, consecrated
a new church at Tong Moor, Bolton, on Monday. The
church is dedicated to St. Augustine, an i has been
erected at a cost of £6OOO, raised by voluntary sub-
scriptions. It will accommodate between 500 and 600
worshippers, all the seats being free.
An exciting prize-fight took place early on Monday -
morning at Witton, near Birmingham, the combatants -
being well-known pugilists. The contest, which lasted
nearly an hour and a half, ended in a draw, both men
being so badly punished as to make it necessary for the
seconds to withdraw them. _ _

On Sunday night a destructive fire occurred at the
Richmond Public Baths, which were erected a few years
ago at considerable cost. The offices and the whole of
the front part of the building were entirely burnt out,
the swimming bath alone remaining intact. The ad-
joining property wos also much dau. aged. The damage
is covered by insurance.
The Greek gipsies, who are on show at Leeds, were on
bunday the victims of gross brutality at the hands of a
crowd of roughs, who broke into the encampment, tore
down the tents, extinguished the fires, and maltreated
the people. "he police were powerless. About
14,000 persons paid for admission during the day to see
the gipsies.
The unemployed of Glasgow held a mass meeting
on the green at Nelson's Column on Monday. It was
agreed to wait on the Lord Provost to see what mea-
sure the city proposed to take to relieve the starving
artisans and others during the winter. The crowd
marched through the principal streets, followed by a
body of police. There was, however, no disturbance.
The Croydon magistrates on Monday morning COM
mitted for trial Thomas Ainsley, who was charged with
a burglary at Farnleigh-road, South Croydon, and -
stealing jewellery.—James Davis, knowa as "the
Countryman," was also committed for trial in con-
nection with two burglaries at Croydon and South
Norwood, and stealing a variety of articles from each
place.
The dead body of Mr. Walter Moore was found on
Monday morning in a lonely wood near Neath. It
was at first reported that the bpdy bore marks of
violence, and that it had been rifled, but this subse-
quently proved to be incorrect. When last seen Mr.
Moore was going home with a friend. Re complained
of feeling unwell, and his friend offered to accompany
him right home, but he declined, saying he felt better.
It is supposed that before reaching home he was
seized with a fit. - _

An attempt has been made in vain to settle the
strike of spinners at Darwen. Two-thirds of the
hands in the spinning department resumed on M'onday
morning at the old rate of wages pending amicable
negotiations with employers for a settlement on the
basis of the Oldham Standard List, which means pay-
ing by measure instead of by weight. The card-room
hands refuse to resume on these terms, contending
that they would lose 4s. per head per wear. The
result was that all the mills were closed again by
dinner-time, and the spinners have yet to face the
threatened 5 per cent. reduction.
At Colchester on Monday Messrs. Hyam wholesale
clothiers, summoned four of their female employes fsr
a breach of the Employers and Workmen's Act. One
of the defendants, named Bennet, had summoned
Messrs. Hyam for damages for imprisonment,
she having, it was stated, been kept in the
factory against her will. It appeared that
dissatisfaction existed at the rate of pay
for work, and that on some clothes being given out to
be made at a certain price the defendants left. All the
defendants were fined 3s. and costs with the exception
of Bennett, to whom the Bench awarded 10s• as com-
pensation.
Dr. Thomas, coroner, held an inquest en Monday
touching the death of Arthur Egan, who, after shooting
his wife, committed suicide last week at their residence
in Montague-street, Bloomsbury. Evidence was given
to show that the deceased had been deta:ned in an
asylum, and had exhibited homicidal tendencies. The
jury found that he killed himself while in a state of
temporary insanity. Hopes were entertained at the
inquest that Mrs. Egan might yet recover.