The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-09-17 00:00:00

FIRING ON THE CROWD.

The saddest incident of the proceeding then oc-
curred. The retreating police turned the corner of
the square and ran into the barrack. A number of
men and women ,v.r(, ~.auding about at the bottom
of the square, ta'sing no part in the dinturbance.
Immediately the police had reached their quarters
stones were thrown at thein, whereupon several of
their number—some say 30, others state more—fired
their carbines from the back doorway in the direction
of these people. Three men were struck by the
bullets, and an old man was stretched dead on the
ground, his brains being scattered on the stones
of the market-place, and his grey hair matted
with blood, which stained the pavement around.
Part of his skull was completely destroyed.
Death must have been instantaneous. He was
carried into an adjoining public-houFe, where
medical aid was summoned, but, of course, it was use-
less. Another man, John Shinnock, a car-driver, was
struck in the head by a bullet, and he, too, fell on the
road, and was carried in an almost helpless condktion
by some of the neighbours to the inn-yard, cloee at
hand. Mr. Ambroise Mandeville, a brother of one of
the thiendants, was another of the injured. He was
struck by a bullet on the shoulder, and so badly hurt
that he had to be removed to the local dispensary. A
young man, aged 17, named Casey, also received a
bullet wound of an aggravated character, and he had
to be carried off for treatment by the medical officer
of the town. Others were struck or grazed by the
flying bullets, which were fired in several volleys, but
not, it would appear, by order of Mr. Seagrave, the
resident magistrate in charge. Who gave the order
could not be ascertained.
NARROW ESCAPES.

An old gentleman named Condon, father of Mr. T.
Condon, M.P., had a narrow escape. He was stand-
ing near the wall at the corner of a house, in the line
of fire, when a bullet struck the corner, splintering a
piece of the stonework, which struck and cut his
hand. Several other persons were grazed with bullets.
Immediately after the shots had been discharged,
there was great commotion and excitement. The
Bight of the dead and of the wounds of the injured
seemed to rouse the people to an intense state of
exasperation, and they were with difficulty restrained
from following and attacking the police. Mr. Dillon
rushed down alone to the barracks and implored
Captain Seagrave to draw off the police and prevent
'further bloodshed. The police having made a second
charge up the square, Mr. Labouchere, who had wit-
nessed the entire scene from his waggonette, and was, in
fact, the only one of his party who stuck to his carriage
throughout, meeting Captain Seagrave, asked him
why he had allowed his men to fire on the people.
Captain Seagrave, who appeared to be greatly ex-
cited, replied. "Who are you, and what do you
mean ?" Mr. Labouchere told him who he was, and
said, "I am a member of Parliament, and I intend
to bring this matter before the House of Com-
mons." "You should not have held a meeting in the
square," said Captain Seagrave. "I have a right to
disperse it, and I have sent for the military.' Mr.
Labouchere then asked if the meeting might be held
elsewhere unmolested, and the resident magistrateAre-
plied that it might be held anywhere outside the town.
A police-constable, however, came up and said some-
thing, whereupon Captain Seagrave corrected him-
self, and declined to permit any meeting to be held.
After again protesting against the conduct of the
police, Mr. Labouchere withdrew. A company of the
Dublin Fusiliers, which had been held in readiness,
then appeared in the square, and impressed upon the
people the necessity of taking care of themselves; and
fresh detachments of police were brought up, and lined
the street leading to the barracks. Under these circum-
stances the National League contingent picked up
their banners and the bandsmen their instruments,
and defiantly played themselves out of the town,
while the boys expended their surplus energy in kick-
ing about the streets the helmets of a couple of police-
men which Lad been trodden underfoot in the fracas.
By six o'clock the town was comparatively quiet.