The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-11-05 00:00:00

STOURBRIDOE CRICKET & FOOTBALL
CLUB.

The annual meeting of this club was held at the
Talbot Hotel, Stourbridge, on Monday last. There
was a large attendance and Mr. H. Turney occupied
the chair.

The officers appointed for the ensuing year are
Mr. G. Timmis, hon-secretary; Mr. E. F. Otter,
match secret ry; Mr. T. Clulee, treasurer ; Messrs.
J. Penn, H. Bird, C. E. Leeson, H. Turney, C.
Westwood, F. Webb, and G. Simms, committee.
The report, which was presented to the meeting,
was as follows :

REPORT OR THE YEAR ENDING OCTOBER 313 T, 1881.

On resigning their charge at the close of another
season, your committee desire most heartily to
thank the Earl of Stamford and Warrington for
kindly continuing to allow them the use of the
ground; and also the Honorary Members for their
patronage and support.
In presenting to the members the financial state-
ment, your committee propose to deal with the
accounts in the following order, viz. :—First.
cricket ; secondly, athletic sports; thirdly, foot-
ball; and fourthly, the All-Eugland match.
FIRST, CRICKET.—The club now has 113 members,
as compared wi.h 123 in the previous year ; but, as
16 names included in the latter list have been
struck off as not being bona-fide members, the club
has really received an acce,sion of 8 to its number.
On taking office at the commencement of the
year, your committee found a balance at the bank
and in the hands of the treasurer of £ll5 7s. 3d.,
and out-standing subscriptions £94 18s. 01,
making in all a total of £2lO ss. 3d.; but, as £4l
16s. 6d. has been struck off as irrecoverable, this
amount is reduced to £l6B 9s. 9d. The amount of
subscriptions due from the members on May Ist,
1881, was £.84 6s. Od , which, together with .253
2'. 6d. unpaid from 1880, gives a total of £137 7 .
6d ; and of this sum £Bl 16s. 6J. has been collected,
leaving £55 lie. Od, still outstanding.
On reference to the annexed statement, it will
be seen that a less of £3l 4s. Od. has been sustained
on cricket; and the excess of this amount over that
of last year is more than accounted for by the extra
expense incurred in engaging professional bowlers,
as well as a ground man, from Ap.ril let to Sep-
, tember 3rd, at a cost of .£72 6s. Od Besides this,
your committee have expended £3l ss. 01 in making
a very necessary addition to the Pavilion. The
match expenses have been greater than in the
previous season, as your committee entertained the
Cheltenham Training College team on their visit
to Stourbridge, on September 3rd last. This year,
too, for the first time, a secretary was engaged at a
s lary of £l5 Os. Od.
The committee continued the subscription to the
Birmingham and district cricket association, but
the match in the first round against Salters' (the
winners of the cup for this year), was lost.
Of 22 first eleven matches played,-7 were won,
8 lost, and 7 drawn • of 5 second eleven matches, 2
were won, 2 lost, and 1 drawn. Your committee
have to congratulate the members on the greatly
improved result.
In the batting department Mr. E. F. Otter stands
first, with anaverage of 28.7 for 15 innings, Mr. A.
J. Otter being sec ind with 12.3. The bowling
analysis are, unfortunately, incomplete; but Mr.
5. Penn has taken the greatest number of wicke's,
47, Mr. E. F. Otter coming next with 29.
A portion of the ground is stil used on certain
days by the Stourbridge Grammar School club, and
for this they annual'y pay the sum of £3 Os. Od,
SECONDLY, ATILLETIO SPORTS. The fourth
annual athletic sports were held on August Bth ;
but your committee much regret that, owing to
very unfavourable weather, they have to report a
loss of LIO 18a. sd. on this account. Their
predecessor, on the other hand, bad a net profit ~f
£l3l 13s. 24, from this source; and it will thus be
seen that the difference between these two accounts
is £142 11 e. 7d. against the present eommitte3.
'Tr. ere is a SUM of 147 153. 61. donations out3tand-
ing. _

THIRDLY, FOOTBALL.—A loss of 3,. 10d. has been
sustained on ti.is account, mainly owing to the
expense your committee have incurred in becoming
numbers of the 3,lidlaT:cl Counties' Rugby Assocla-
tiou. The number of matches played was 11, and
of these 8 were won, and 3 lost.

FOURTHLY, TILE ALL ENGLAND MATCH. - Your
committee, in'equal shares with Mr. J. W. Parkes
and Mr. C. Westwood, arranged a match with Mr •
W. 11, Gilbert's All-England eleven. The balance,
sheet shews a loss of £52 Ws. 41, of which th
club's share is £1.7 123. id.

In conclusion, your committee, in laying before
the members a general stitetnent, have to regret
that, although they have ende Ivoured to curtail
the expenses in every possible manner without inter-
fering with the enjoyment of,,the members, and
have also tried to raise the club to a higher level as
a icricket club (in which they are glad to say
they have been in Fonie degree successful), the
various acccunts show a net loss of .£42 Bs,
against which there is £33 63. 6d. outstanding sub-
scriptions. This would leave a balance of £2l Os.
31, providing all these subscriptions were paid.
The value of the property is £215 Os. Oil.; s) that
the assets of the club may be considered as £236 Os.
3d. This shows a falling off of £lO9 lie. 2d., as
compared with the previous season. But when it
is considered that instead of a net. profit of £l3l
13s 2d., as received by their predecessora, on the
athletic sports there was, owing to very wet weather
a loss of Ald 18s. 5d., making, as befo:e stated, a
balance of £142 lie, sd. against your committee,
it will, they feel satisfied, be attributed, not to any
negligence on their part, but to circumstances over
which they had to control.

NEW ALHAMBRA THEd.T.a. Proprietress, Mrs..
W. Patch —During the week the celebrated Adelphi
Company, under the direction of Mr. James I:lphin-
stone, have been performing at the above theatre
to good houses. On Monday, Tuesday, and Wed.
tie.tday evenings a sensational drama, by Paul
Meritt, Esq., entitled "British Born," was admir-
ably performed by this high-el iss comlany. On
Thursday evening "The Lady of Lyons" was given
with great success, and last night East Lynne"
was gone through in a manner that gave the utmost
satisfaction to those present. To-night (Saturday)
tt Guy Fawkes" will be given, and will conclude
with a display of fireworks, Each evening the
burlesque of "Robinson Crusoe," has been played
to delighted audiences, who freq4ently showed their
appreciation of the performance by!giving loud and
deserved applause to those ladies and gentlemen
who so ably represented the various characters.
We are pleased to state that the company intend
staying at the fheatre another week, commencing
Monday next.
SUDDEN DEATH.—An inquest wag held at the
Swan Inn, Oldswinford, before J. Martin, Esq.,
(coroner), touching the death of William Coley,
shoemaker, who died suddenly on Friday night.
From the evidence adduced it appears that deceased
went to bed about Ii o'clock in his usual health,
and in the night the inmates heard a noise and on
guing to see what was the matter, the deceased
was making a gurgling noise from the threat. A.
medical man was at once sent for, but deceased did
not speak aud shortly after died. The jury fout,d
that deceased died from natural causes.
A CHILD BURNT TO DEATH. On Friday, hel
28.11 ult, a little girl named Elizabeth Brooks
residing in Summer Street, died from the effects of
being burnt. An inquest was held on the body on
TuticlaY efterueee, et 1t1r..13. 8494% the 4nm-

set Howe, before J. Martin, Esq., (coroner).
Emma Brooks, mother to the deceased, said she left
her child in the back kitchen sitting on a stool,
while she went out at the back premises. She heard
the child scream, and ran back into the kitchen,
where she found the ciild rolling on the floor with
her clothes on fire. She tried t 3 put the fire out
and having done so picked up the child and ran out
through the back door and a neighbour came to
her assistance. They found that the child's skirt
and frock were burnt. She put some oil where the
child had been burnt and fetched Dr. Eagar. The
accident took place on Thursday, and the deceased
died about half-past one o'clock on Friday. She
had often scolded the child for playing with fire.
There was a low fender in front of the fire, and the
child said she put her dress over the fender and it
took fire. Dr. Eagar said he was callel to see the
child at 5.45. He examined her and found the legs
and body very much burnt. He did not see the
child again alive. He considered the deceased
died from burns and shock to the system. The
coroner said it was quite clear the deceased's death
was caused by burns land shock to the system.
Mothers could not always be with children, but
cautioned the mother to get a fire guard to go
round the fire place, instead of a fender, The jury
concurred in recommending an iron guard and the
mother said she would have one. _

Mn. S. BRANDRAM —A. large audience assembled
in the Corn Exchange, on Tuesday afterneon, to
hear a rend: ring of " Macbeth " by the above gentle-
man. Mr. Brandram's elocutionary powers are
known to many of our readers, and the manner in
which he acquitted himself in ;his task on Tuesday
afforded the greatest pleasure to those present.
As a fiat of memory, Mr. Brandrarn's rendering of
" Macbeth " would have been remarkable, but its
salient merits lay in the able personification of the
different characters and the dramatic force he thre w
nto them. The entertainment was for the he nefit
of St John's Sunday School.
ENTERTAINMENT AT ST. JOHN'S SCHOOL. On
Thursday evening an entertainmen was given in
the 'above schools to a large enthusiastic and
appreciative audience. The reading of the Rev. L.
B. Penley and Mr. A. J. N ash were well given and
deservedly applauded. The flute solo was brilli-
antly executed and received an encore. The
singing of Mr. Cotton was loudly applauded.
The following is the programme : Pianoforte
duet " Burlesque quadrille," Miss Penley and
Ms s E. Penley; song, " The Friar of Orders
Grey," Mr. A. Cotton; flute solo, selections
from " Norma," Mr, Blenkarne ; song, "The
Maiden's Flower Song," Mrs. Penley; reading,
Mr. A. J. Nash; song, "The Jolly Young
Waterman," Mr. H. Penley; glee," You Stele my
Love," Members of the Choir ; pianoforte
solo, " Shades of Evening, " Miss Smith ;
vocal duet, "I know a Beak," Miss Cooper and
Mrs. Peulcy ; flute sole, selections from " Lucrezia
Borgia," Mr. Blenkarne ; song, " The Borderer's
Challenge," Mr. A. Cotton, ; reading, Rev. L.
B, Feeley, song," No I Sir! " Miss Cooper ;
glee, "The Carnival," Membersof the Choir;
"National Anthem."
DRUNK AND DISORDERLY.—At the Police Court,
held yesterday, before Messre. C. Cochrane and H.
0. Firmstone, Henry Homer was charged with
being drunk and disorderly, at Wollescote on the
29th ult. Police-constable Paynter proved ease.
Fined 6s 6d to include costs.
RIDING WITHOUT REINS. Thomas Richardson
was charged with riding on his wagon without
ems. Police-sergeant Herman proved the case.
Fined 5s and costs; in default 14 days.
DRUNK AND LicarenLE. Jane Pickering was
charged with being drunk and incapab:e on time 3rd
inst. Police constable Webb proved the case, and
said the defendant was helplessly drunk in Foster
Street, and caanoying the passengers coming from
the railway station, Defendant pleaded guilty.
Fined 5s and costs; in default 14 days.
WAGES CASE —lba,ac Nash and Son, vice and
hammer makers, were summoned by John (Hazard
for a 128 Cd wages alleged to be due. Mr.
Waldron appeared for complainant, who said that
he engaged with Mr. Nash, and was to give and
take 14 days notice. He had wet lied for three
weeks, and went again at the end of three weeks'
to see if there was any work. Mr. Ciulee said he
was to go to Mr. Nash. He did so and he referred
him to Mr. Clulee, who said if it was left to him he
should not have a stroke. He presented him-
self every day for a week, but did not have any
work, and he now claimed a 12s Od. A striker
to complainant gave corroborative evidence. Mr.
Nash fur the defence, contended that he had not
discharged complainant. He engaged him to
make hammers and nails. He could not make the
hammers well, and considered him incompetent to
make them. He had offered hian iron to make nails.
Mr. Clulee, manager:proved that the hammers made
were bad, and conld not be sent to customers. Richard
Pountney, warehouseman, said there were no
hammers to make and he offered him some bundles
of iron to make into nails. He did not make any
nails, and produced several hammers complainant
made, which were defective.; Defendant produced
other work which he considered perfect. The
Bench considered that complainant was engaged to
make hammers and nails, and that rods were
offered him to make nails and he refused, and
dismissed the summons.

DRErNICENNESS.—David Hill was charged with
being drunk at the Lye, on the 31st ult. Police -
constable Widdows proved the case. Defendant
pleaded guilty. Fined 6s 6d to include costs
Thomas Williams was fiu3d 6s 61 to include costs
for beim; drunk on the 26th ult. Police-constable
Dyer proved the case.
STEALING PIGEONS. William Price (1()), and
Joseph Price (12), were charged with stealing two
pigeons, on the 29th, the property of Frank Jorian.
Prosecutor said he caught William Price in the
pigeon pen with aaaigeon in a bag. David Morgan
said a toy named Cuncliff came and offered the
pigeon to him for 6d. He gave him the money.
Police-constatle Cartwright proved apprehending
them. The prisoner William was ordered to be sent
to the Workhouse for 7 days and thou to the
Industrial School, and the other prisoner was
ordered to have 6 strokes with the birch rod.
FRIENDLY SOCIETY CASE.—James Chance, nail
maker, of the Lye, summoned Thomas Parkes to
recover from him the sum of .£l2-40 weeks sick-
pay—money due to hi.n according to the rules
of a society, of which he was secretary; and also
claiming to be reinstated.—Mr. Waldron appeared
for Ch Ince and Mr. Stokes for Parkes.—Mr.
tokes objected to thejurisdiction of the Court and
contended that it was a case for the County Court.
That objeztion was over-ruled and the case was
proceeded wit h.—Mr. Waldron said this was a case
of very great importance to Friendly Societies
throughout the country. Chance lived at the Lye.
Pa kcs was the secretary of the Refuge Division of
the Or ler of the Sons of Temperance Society, held
at the Temperance Hall, Lye. Prior to the 17th
April, 1880, hii client was a member of that lodge
and paid his subscriptions regularly and was en-
titled t ) sick pay. Something was the matter
with his hand and he complained to the doctor,
and regel.rly produced the doctor's c:rtiflcates
entitling him to sick pay. Something occurred in
the soci,ty and they, took an illegal and improper
course and expelled him from that club. His
client refered it to an arbitra'or and it was held
that they had no right to expel him, and that he
was entilted to sick pay. His client after that
appeal went to the club and asked to be reinstated
and also asked for his sick pay. They refused to
pay him his money and to reinstate him. James
Chance then gave evidence as to the time he
ent-red the society and to the amount he was
enti.led to for sick pay, 'according to the rules of
the division, which he produced. Mr. Stokes in-
timated that he could prove that those rules
mentioned had been rescinded aad the case was
adjourned until Wednesday at 3 o'clock, for the
original rules to be produced. _

bOAAD OF GIJARDIANS.—NIr. Raybould presided
at the meeting of this Board yesterday.—The num-
ber admitted into the house during the week was
20; discharged 8; remlining in the house 531, last
year 540. Out-door relief, Kingswinford district,
£4l 5s id ; Stourbridge district, £32 2s 81 ; Stour-
bridge district, £2O 14s 6d; non-resident 6s 4d
Total £94 8s 7il against £B3 8s 2d.—Precepts for
county rates were received. The one for Stafford-
shire was £222 13s id, being an inerease on last
year's precept of £l7O Ss lid; and for Worcester-
shire £545 19s 2d, being a decrease of £4l 19s 11d.