The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-05-16 00:00:00

COMMISSIONERS MEETING.

A Special Meeting of this body was held in the
Board room to take into consideration the desira-
bility of watering and cleansing the streets. Mr.
J. McEwen occupied the chair. There were also
present : Messrs. Hughes, Kelly, Woolley, Young,
Stanley, Billingham, Edwards. Perkins, and All-
church. _ .

The Chairman read the notice calling the meet-
ing, which, he said, was special to consider the
question of watering and cleansing the streets.
The Clerk read the contract made between the
Commissioners and Mr. Whittaker.

The Chairman said what they had to consider
was whether it would be better to advertise, or
whether the Commissioners would like to take to
it them.elves. . • . _

Mr. Billinghani suggested that they shonld ad-
vertise for the letting of it for one year.
Mr. Kelly supported this, on the ground that the
roads might be contracted for in conjunction with
the removal of. the night

After some further -discussion,
Mr. Billingluau moved that an advertisement be
inserted in the local papers, to commence on the
2ith June next, and to terminate with Mr. George
Horsley's contract.
This was seconded by Mr. Kelly, and carried.

The clauses of the contract were then discussed
seria btu, and it was considered that a guarantee
clause should be inserted in the contract for the
due fulfilment of it.
There was no other business.

SUDDEN DEATH IN FOSTER-STREET.—On Monday
last, Mr. John Nock, who was formerly a currier in
this town, expired very suddenly at his residence,
Foster-street. Deceased, who was about forty-nine
years of age, has been for some time complaining
of a pain in his forehead, and on Monday morning
he went upstairs about eleven o'clock. Not mat-
ing any appearance at dinner his friends became
alarmed, and at half-past four they went into his
bedroom, and found deceased lying flat on his face
on the floor, quite dead.—An inquest was held on
the body on Wednesday evening, at the house Of
Mr. Baker, All Hands to the Pump, before Mr.
Corbett, Deputy-Coroner.—The first witness called
was Frances Oliver. who mid I mu wde of Wil-
liam Orme Oliver. The deceased is my brother,
and was in his 49th year. He was formerly a
currier, but did nothing the last few years. Last
saw him alive the day before. Had heard him cons.
plain of a pain in his head and stomach.—Mary
Davis, of No. 1, Foster-street, said she lived with
the deceased e mother. She last saw deceased
alive at a quarter to twelve o'clock, in his own
house.—William Smith King, of No. 2. Foster-
street, said he saw the deceased about a quarter to
five in the afternoon. Iu consequence of some-
thing he heard he went upstairs and found the de-
ceased lying on the floor, apparently dead. He at
once sent for a medical man, and Mr. Gtles, sur-
geon, attended—Francis Giles, surgeon' said that
lie was called in to attend to deceased. He was
there about five o'clock. Found deceased dead,
and should think he had been dead for hours. His
body was quite cold, and from the appearance of
it he should think that deceased died whilst suffer-
ing from an epileptic fit; bnt he could not assert
p.3sitively that that was the case. He had no doubt
but that deceased's heart was affected, and believed
that he died a natural death. There was nothing
to show that the contrary was the case.—The
Coroner remarked that there was no positive evi-
dence as to the cause of death; but it was clear
what the surgeon had said that the deceased died
from natural causes. If the jury, however, wished
the enquiry adjourned, he would do so.—The Jury
did not think it necessary, and found that deceased
died from natural causes,

AccIDENT.—A serious accident occurred at the
railway station, yesterday, to a man named Nock,
who is engaged at the Engine Shed, as a cleaner.
it appears that as the 5.11 train from Dudley we
-
coming into the station, and when opposite Mr.
Ruftord's offices the man was on the line, and he
was struck by the buffer and knocked down, and
the engine and carriages passed:over him. The
unfortunate man was severely cut on the head,
chest, and back, and was at once removed to his
home at Cradley.
CHIMNEY ON Firm—At the Police Court, yes-
terday, before Messrs.C. P. Noel and J. B. Coch-
rane, Henry Hodgetts and John Hewitt were or-
dered to pay 5s 6d costafor allowing their ehimuies
to take fire.
OBTMUICTINO THE ROAD. William Tromans
was charged with obstructing the road in Coven-
try Street, on the 11th inst. P.C. Waldron proved
the case. Fined is and costs.

HIGHWAY OFFENCE.—WiIIiam 'Harris and Wm.
Butler were charged with card playing cards on
the highway, on the 12th inst. P.C. Harrison
provod the case. Each fined is and costs.

INFRINGEMENT OF THE FACTORY ACT.—Thomas
Attwood, of the Lye, was summoned by Mr. Jones,
Factory Inspector, for employing Da aid Skelding
in his factory, and not having a surgeon's certifi-
cate. Fined 20s and costs.—Thomas Hodgkiss
was lined 203 and costs for a similar offence, and
David Leadham was fined Is and costs, for neglect-
ing to send his son to school.

BREACH OF THE PEACE.— Jeremiah Timmins
and Edward Haden were over to keep the peace
for six months, for fighting, on the 11th inst. P.C.
Philpot proved the case.
CHARGE OF ARSON.—John White, labourer, was
brought up on suspicion of setting fire to a stable,
on the 13th just, the property of Mr. S. Leonard,
of the May Pole Inn, Cradley. Prisoner was die-
charged.