The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-09-25 00:00:00

MONTENEGRO AND THE ALBANIANS.

The Times lies published the following letter :

Sir,—Hitherto I have refrained both in and out of
Parliament from offering any opposition to the foreign
policy of the Government, or even from. making any
criticism on the subject. But I think myself entitled,
with your permission, to call attention to the real
object of the approaching naval demonstration. It is
simply this—viz., to employ the whole force of united
Europe on the subjection of the Albanian race to an-
other race, the Montenegrin, alien in nationality,
habits, religion, and political inclination.
So long as the European concert was directed to
coerce the Sultan and his Government to the Perform-
ance of treaty obligations, there was in the proceed-
ing the semblance, and, perhaps, the reality of justice.
But the Turks have now retired from the conflict, and
the bombardment of Dulcigno and any other belli-
gerent acts will be directed wholly and solely against
the persons and independence of a race anxious for
freedom and resisting foreign domination. When, under
Lord Palmerston, we surrendered the lonian Islands,
one of the pleas for this act was the desire of the
lonians for annexation to a Government of their own
descent. The sympathy of this country was elicited
on the same grqunds for the italiaas and Hungarians
when struggling for nationa existence and indepen-
dence. A similar feeling prompted the demonstrations
in favour of the Bulgarians and others who revolted.
against misgovernme. nt. But it is a strange develop-
ment of the principle of nationalities which now
deputes a British admiral to scatter death among a
people resisting subjugation to a foreign and tradi-
tright,Gladstonet
to
tionally hostile race.
Some time before the prorogation
ecrl\oillre.
admitted, in an answer -given, if
Mr. Labouchere, that the Albanians were entitled
as were other nationalities to be Consulted as to the
Government under which they were to live: No
telegrams or letters have informed us that such con-
sultatioff has taken place. The only communication,
as far as can be learnt, that has been aVressed to the
Albanians is that inforuaing them that the fleets of
Europe will be employed to force on them the dis-
tasteful yoke of foreign masters.---I am, Sir, your
obedient servant, H. DRUMIOND WOLFF.
Sept. 21.

The Duke of Buccleuch presided at an agricultural
dinner held at Thornhill, on Tuesday, and, in pro-
- the toast of "The Army, Navy, and Reserve
Forces," said our Navy was engaged in what seemed
a most extraordinary proceeding—a demonstration of
the fleet to bully and overawe the poor Turk. And
after :all what could we do? We could only say,
"Mind what you're about. We will fire our guns at
you if you do not behave yourselves." Instead of
leAving these people to fight it out between them-
sAlves, which would have been much better, we were
running the risk of having some damage done to our-
selves.

The baby Spanish Princess occupies a splendid rose-
wood cradle made in Paris, hung with blue satin and orna-
mented with gold. On one side are .the 6'panish arms carved
in relief. lier two nurses wear gay peasant's costumes of
pale glue velvet, with silver buttons, their hair hanging down
in long plaits. On gala days they don crimson velvet toilettes
trimmed with gold fringe. •
„ , e4414.u.i

FOUND DEAD ON THE BRIGHTON
RAILWAY.

On Saturday Mr. W. E. Baxter, the East Sussex Coroner,
held an inquiry at the "Fox" Hotel, Three Bridges as to
the. death of Mr. John Laurie Brown Laurie, 44, a gentleman
of independent means, of Blackett-house, Leamington, who
was found dead on the metals of the London, Brighton, and
South Coast Railway, near Balcombe Tunnel, midway
between London and Brighton, on the night of Tuesday, the
14th inst.—We take the following report of the case from
The Times of Tuesday :

Mrs. Jane Douglas Power, of Beaumaris-house,
Eastbource, deposed that she kept a boarding esta-
blishment, and had known the deceased about three
months. He had been at her house off and on for one
month. He came from Leamington. The deceased
had been very forgetful lately, and had complained of
pains in his head. He had not been drinking on Tuesday
to her knowledge: He was obliged to take whisky for
heart disease. He lunched at the witness's house on Tues-
day afternoon, and had a small quantity of whisky and
soda-water. Witness believed he would occasionally
take too much to drink. On Monday she telegraphed
to his sisters and to his medical adviser. The witness
did that because he was so very forgetful, and she was
afraid he would come to some harm. She did not
think he had had any disagreement with his sisters on
money matters. On Tuesday he went out at one
o'clock, and he then seemed very ill, and his memory
failed him very much.
The Coroner : Is it true that during the last few
days the deceased drank a bottle of whisky daily,
and that you watched him closely on Tuesday be-
cause you were afraid he would do himself some
harm?

The witness said that was the case. The deceased
eluded her, and took a room at the Burlington
Hotel, but she could not remain there with him. She
lost sight of him at one o'clock on that day. His sisters
arrived shortly afterwards. The deceased did not
tell the witness what he was going to do on tllat
afternoon. He told them at the Burlington that he
was going to stay for three weeks, and he unpacked
his clothes.
The Coroner said that a letter had been found on
the deceased couched in very affectionate terms, and
addressed to a "Miss Mary Clementina Scott, at
Brighton," saying "that he could not call and see
her."

---1-he witness knew Mr. Laurie was very fond of a
Miss Scott, but she was only a little girl, twelve years
old. Witness could not account for his extraordinary
conduct. She did not think he had any domestic
troubles or commercial difficulties. She believed he
had a tendency to softening of the brain. He was a
most abstemious man when witness first knew him,
and he did not have pains in his head, but his memory
was bad. For instance he would call Brighton East-
bourne, and vice versa'. She did not think he wag'
suffering from softening of the brain at that time. ,
Henry Smythe' a signalman, stated that shortly
after eight o'clock on Tuesday night he was on duty
in the Balcombe Tunnel signal-box, when he received
a telegram from Hayward's-heath to the effect that
the 7.25 up goods train had knocked something down,
and asking him to go and see what it was. Witness
took the first opportunity, and proceeded up the line
to the Cinder:bank-bridge, a distance of 500 yards,
and there found the body of the deceased lying in the
four-foot-way of the up line. His hat was in the
water table. Where the body was lying the railroad
was in a cutting about 15ft. deep, and there was a
bridge crossing the line about 36 yards from where he
lay. No one could get on the line by mistake as they
would have to climb over a fence.
Richard Jenkins said that on Tuesday evening he
was driving the 7.25 up goods train, and as he passed
the distant signal at Balcombe Tunnel he heard a
rustling of the ballast, and, that being something un-
usual, hestopped as soon as he could and examined
his engine. Finding there was nothing wrong, he
went on to Three Bridges. It was raining fast at the
time, and the wheels were very muddy. That would
in all probability account for his being unable to
observe any blood.

Police-constable Ralph stated that he searched the
deceased on Tuesday evening, and found three certig-
cates for 40 shares each in the Eastern Telegraph
Company, and the three letters produced. One was
addressed- to a young lady at Brighton, another was
from Messrs. Greenway, bankers, Leamington,
enclosing the above certificates, and saying that they
had some shares for an advance, and another from the
same firm saying they held certificates for £260 North
British stock, security £lOO. The witness also found
a first-class return ticket from Eastbourne to
Brighton, issued on the 14th, the first-journey half of
which was clipped and had been torn in the ordinary
*ay; a gold watch and Albert chain with two seals,
watch key, and pencil case attached: 14s. 2d. in
money, three gold rings—two on his fingers and one
on his scarf, two gold sleeve links, several cigars and
other things of little value.
Y.dward Scammell deposed that on Tuesday last he
was guard of the 5.35 p.m. train from Eastbourne to
London. He had seen the body of the deceased, and
recognized him as a passenger by that train. The
witness first saw him at 4.45 on the arrival plat-
form at Eastbourne. He was dressed in knicker-
bocker suit and had a bunch of flowers and some
newspapers in his hand. He did not appear strange,
nor was he intoxicated. Witness next saw him
on the -square where they label the luggage, and he
then dropped his flowers and papers on the ground.
The witness picked them up for him, but he made
no-reply. Witness then went to take charge of his
train, and the deceased followed him through the
barrier. Witness asked him where he was for, and he
replied, "Brighton." The witness put him into a
compartment, and told him to change at Lewes, but
he made no reply. When the train arrived at Three
Bridges witness saw him get out of the train, and as
the train was leaving the platform the deceased was
walking leisurely. up and down, as though he was
waiting for another train.
Dr. J. J. Simple, M.D., of Crawley, deposed to
being called to see the deceased and examining him
upon his arrival. He found half-a-dozen deep scalp
wounds extending from the back to the front of the
head. The bones of the nose were broken and the base
of the skull fractured. One arm was completely ampu-
tated at the shoulder, the severed portion being
smashed right down to the hand. The lower half-
dozen ribs on the left hand side were broken, and
there were a few simple bruises elsewhere. The
wounds on the head were longitudinal and oblique,
and were inflicted, possibly, by coming into contact
with stones. The injuries would cause instantaneous
death, and were such as would be caused by a train.
Mr. Francis de Paravicini said that he was a Fellow
and Tutor at Balliol College, Oxford, 'and had known
the .deceased between 17 and 18 years. He visited
witness at the end of May, and he then seemed as if
his brain had partly gone. He took in things extremely
slowly. He seemed vacant. He behaved in the same
way as a friend did who died from softening of the
brain. He said his doctor had told him that he must
not take any exercise at all. His brother died
from heart disease. When in Naples the deceased
had a fit, and was in it nearly an hour. He also
suffered from sunstroke while in Naples, and was very
ill from it.

The Coroner, in briefly addressing the jury, said that
great credit was due to the railway company for the
way in which they had got the case up; the evidence
placed at the disposal of the court was all that could
be desired.

The jury returned a verdict, "That the deceased
met his death on the Brighton Railway, but there was
no evidence td show how he came on the line."