The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-06-13 00:00:00

BRIERLEY HILL.

We notice that Mr. J. Walter Clulow, solicitor, Of NS
town, has been appointed a Commissioner to administer
oaths at common law in the Courts of queen's Bench,
Common Pleas, and Exchequer, for the Counties of
Stafford, Woreester, Warwick, Salop, and Gloucester.
WAtiES Coos—At the Petty Sessions, on Thursday
last, before I. Spooner, Esq , Stipendiary, Eli Cooper
was summoned by James Price for 15s -63 wages alleged
to be due. Mr. Holberton defended. From the evidence
of complainant it appeared that he worked for the de•
fendant as a collier. He originally engaged to work for
Is per week. Defendant afterwards raised his wages to
:Is per day, and again dropped him to is, without giving
him notice. The Bench considered that complainant
wax entitled to the usual notice, and ordered defendant
to pay 2a and costs, 17a 6d.

CHARGE Or STEALING A WATCH. —John Berry was
brought up on a remand charged with stealing • watch
on the 28th all, the property of James Bli'lewd. Pro.
senator said that he was a boatman, and lived at West
Bromwich. Prisoner was formerly in his employ. At
that time witness had • watch, sod missed it at night.
The watch produced was his property. Ann Si rout,
pawnbroker, 131-jerky Hill, said that the prisoner brought
the watch to her shop, and pawned it in the name f
if
John Davies. Site afterwards gave the watch to the
Police-officer. She lent 10a on the watch." Should think
it worth 30s. Prisoner pleaded guilty. The Stipendi-
ary : You are a very bad man. You have been aeuteueed
to tweive mouths already. I now sentence you to six
months' hard labour.

INIOLTEI-D—R-1-%:;;;ll—Joseph Pearson was charged by
Superintendent Mills with furious driving on the 2nd
lust, on the road leading front Brierley Hill to Dudley.
no as to endanger the lives of persons. Police-constable
Mee said he was on duty in High-street on the above
date, when he saw the defendant and another person in
a gig. Defendant wanted to take the reins out of the
other person's hands. The horse was going at the rate
of 14 miles an hour. Defendant was very drunk at the
time. Fined £2 and costs, £2 91 £1
BROTHERS' QC ARHELS.—John Whitingslow was charged
by Beniumin IVhitincslow with 1,1i11!: threstening lan-
guage to hini t'... 3rJ inst C 01 hinant said the de-
fendant was his eldeat brother. He had often threat,nuct
witness, who had summoned bins on onfi oseasion before

but afterwards forgave him. Defendant RR4 ordered to
enter into his own recognizance. in fli) to keep the
peace for sit months, and pay costs. Ida 6d.
RORBINO A G AIIDEN.—John Smith Was charged with
feloniously stealing A quantity of cabbages on the sth
inch, the property of John Jewkes. Proseentor said he
lived at Pummett. About one o'clock he got up and saw
the pri.oner in his garden getting the cabbages. With
assistance he took the prisoner to the Police-station.
Philip Powell said that he got up between one and two
o'clock. Ile beard a noise and looked into the garden,
and saw the prisoner lying down with a quantity of cab-
bages cut under him. Fined 6d (the value), and 53 and
costs; in default 11 days.

THE LATE ACCIDENT sr THE BRIERLEY HILL
RAILWAY STATION.
An invest was held on Thursday last, at Mr. Haw- I
kins's, the Town Arms, before W. H. Phillips. Esq
Coroner, touching the death of Emma Silvester, who
was injured at the railway station on the 31th tilt, and
who died on the 10th inst. Inspeetor Leek was p . t
nit behalf of the railway company, and Mr. J. Homfray
on behalf of deceased's friends.
The first witness called was Samuel Instill, auctioneer,
who deposed: I knew deceased. and it is her body which
the jery have seen. Deceased was my sistertin.law.
to fits.
She was 28 years obi, and the widow of It'illian Slices.
ter, formerly of Dudley. Cin the 55th nit deceased came
to my house to Resist in the bailee work. She left at
night toga towards the etatioe with a view if going home
t°AbDountlteleny.
o'clohcekwsr n
e
it state of insensibility. Had previously been eent for in
tensetenence of an accident, and she was conveyed to tny
I.agso brought
haehaltthh;genl ottson b
mce ethot.
id
house. Deceased nets Maensible for a week. Mr. I
Walker, surgeon, attended upon htr nyt to fin' death. I
Decnalsed did not tell me how it happened. I knew elle I
was injured about the head and feet. She died abOtit
one o'clock on Wednesday. Cannot give any account
how the accident happened.
Francis Northall deposed I live at Birmingham, and
am a gas fitter. Did not know the deceased. Should
not know her again, As she was covered with blood. I
had business at Brierley Hill, and was returning home.
I was standing on the Birrninhate side of the platform,
. and saw the hatter strike the deceased on the side. The
train was coming from Dudley. and deceased was walk-
ing down the steps in the act of crossing the line to go
by the train to Dudley, when an engine came and struck
her. The train was passing through the station, but the
engine-driver pulled up as well as he could. Did not
hear any one shout to deceased. It was not dark at the
time. There are lamps at the station. Deceased was
struck against the platform. I helped to pick her up.
elle was quite insensible. I did not think it was owing
to any fault of deceased, but to the neglect of the coins
pricy in not haring a bridge. Had there been • bridge it
would not have happened. There is no crossing. I was
not cantiuved ; neither did I hear any one caution the
deceased.
By a Juryman: I did not hear any one shout. Did
not see any porter present to caution any one.
By Mr. Homfray : The station is on an incline, and
there ie a curve. 'rho train comes without noise, and
has no steam on. Did not hear the whistle. Heard the
whistle with the train I Was going by, tel heard the hell
tine. Can see the trains best opposite the booking aide.
there are steps and a flap to make the platform level.
On the day of the accident the flap was up. I picked up
loaf of bread. a basket, runt a bottle. I pet the loaf and
bottle into the basket. This was after deceased had been
iejured.
Richard Wall deposed : I am • boot maker, residing
at Dison's Green. I was on the platform its the day in
qnestion, and was looking out for a place in a carriage
when I saw strain corning, and just after heard an out-
cry of an :welder I. I got out, and saw some persons in
the act of lifting deceased Mt' the rails us to the plat-
form, and saw a basket on the platform.
By Mr. Boni:ray : Did not hear the train coming. I
heard no steam or whistle. The train came very quick.
Did not see it till it came to the end of the platform. I
knaw the deceased, and have often travelled with her.
There is no bridge to cross over.
Selina Fletcher deposed; I live at Brierley Hill, and
am a widow. Did not know the deceased. Remember
the day it happened. I was on the platform on the 30th
ult. I stood on the platform with ray uncle, who was
going by train to Dudley. I saw deceased going down
the steps. Did not see her again till she was picked up
hurt. My ends was a few surds in advance of deceased.
lie had to pass down the same steps. I saw the express
train coaling very fast, mei very /pietist, and deceased
was throes milder the platforin. being struck by the
train. 1/id not hear any porter cry out, and tell her not
to Cross the line.
By the Foreman: There was no porter on that side of
the platform. They were all on the other side of the
railway. The doer was shut. but not faatened.
The Foreman here said it was the oust JiLl to fasten
the door.
The Coroner remarked that they must now deal with
facts. 'Die custom would come afterwards, if necessary
Bv a Juryman : There was no porter to have prevented
me from 'messing over the line if I had wanted ti pass.
Sarah Jones deposed : I live at the back of the Whim-
sey, Brierley Hill. 1/id not know the deceased, but satv
lie-r
picked up after the accident, and helped to Lathe her.
I went to meet toy husband rowing home from Dudley,
but he was too late for the train, and walked home. Did
not see any porter on that side, hut saw one on the other
side of the platform. I saw the deceased carried on the
platform, and thought she was dead. I had been on the
platform for more than half an hour. Will swear I
heard no bell ring.
By a Juryman : There was but one porter present.
The station door appeared to be !Amt. I only saw three
persons going by train.
James Cortield deposed: I am station-master at finer.
hill statien, and have been so for six mouths. I give the
tickets out. I bare one out-porter and one signalman.
It is my duty and the other porters' to attend the trains
if they have no other duties to perform. I was at the
train at nine o'clock. There was strain due each way—
one to call at 9.23, and the other to peels. Poss.-lagers
going by train are allowed to pass over the line sf
but if the train is in sight no one is allowed to pass. I
recollect the down train on the :111th tilt, and heard the
up train whistle loud, which caused me to look oat. The
small whistle is the first signal. It is usual to run
through at the ordinary rate, without steam, because it
is on an incline. It wati the break whistle I heard blow-
ing, which continurd till tbe train stopped. Did not see
the deceased knocked down, but saw bur about 20 yards
from the end of the platform on the up line. She was
insensible. I had her removed, and called in medical
assistance, who examined her, arid she was afterwards
removed to Mr. Insull'a House. At the time of the Reel-
dent there was no sine on the platform to caution any
one, or to prevent them from passing. There is only
one approach to the platform. 1 pulled the door to.
Cannot say that it was lotked.
John Carter deposed: I am passenger-guard on the
Great Western Railway, and was in charge of the 9.13
down train. which runs to Dudley and Wolverhampton.
It is due at 9.23, at Brierley Hill. As I was applying
the break, I first heard the small whietle blowing of an-
other train. I looked out towards the station and eaw a
woman on the rails. Before she was struck I shouted to
her. The train Was fifty yards away. Deceased was
standing still. At that time my train had not come to
a stand still. I shouted to her as she was standing be.
twsen the rails, when the train came, and the inside
buffer strink her. The train was travelling at the ordi-
nary speed, but after the accident nulled up. I gene•
rally meet the fret train between Brierley Hill and Bret-
tell Lane. No one shouted to deceased but myself. It
was twilight. Had she come on after nay shouting there
was tiine, but she appeared to have tamed back again.
There is no blame attached to the engine.driver. Ile
pulled up as soon as he could.
lips Juryman : The up-train was behind time. My
train was at its right time. Deceased appeared pars-
lysed. She hail no time to get on to the platform.
John Smith deposed: I am an engine.driver, and live
at Kidderminster. On the :311th sit I was driving the
8.30 train front Wolverhampton on the night in question.
We were ten minutes late, and should have passed Brier.
Icy Hill about 9 23. The signal was given as all right,
and the line clear. I canine into the station at the usual
speed. It is euatomary to blow the whistle as we pass
each station. I was about 20 or 25 yards all' when I saw
the deceased step nil the up platform. As she stepped
down I blew the break whistle. In addition to the other,
I put the break on. I saw deceased attempting to return
to the platform. At that time there was a train on the
other side. My engine struck her and knocked her
down.
By a Juryman: I first saw her about 20 yards from the
booking office.
George Herdman, out-porter, said be took all the par-
cels, and when at the station assisted at the trains. Did
not see the deceased till she was struck down. Deceased
WAS not on the line at the time the train was in. She
might have come out of the closet.
By • Juryman : I am part paid by the company, arid
part by the pemons whom I deliver parcels to.
Mr. basun, re-called, said that deceased had os and
some coppers in her pocket. The two shillings were to
buy something ; the coppers were to pay her railway
fare. The two shillings were found upon her, but the
clippers were missing.
The Coroner then asked if the jury if they should
like to examine Mr. Walker, surgeon, but the foreman
said it was unnecessary.
The Coroner then summed up,
After which the jury consulted together for a short
time, and returned a verdict that the dreamed came to
her death by mortal injuries she received from a pass•
ing train. The jury wished to append to their verdict
that, in their opinion, due precautions were not taken
to protect the public from the passing trains, by which
deceased came to her death.