The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-03-29 00:00:00

nt nbon ifortzspctthent,
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.0.333, °amain:Bw toor Correspondent's ,pinlona

The political crisis having passed over, and elabo-
rate explanations and statements having been made
on either side, "As you were !" appears to be the order
of the day. Recent events, however, must have a
tendency to hasten that dissolution of Parliament
which, under any circumstances, cannot be very far
off. Whatever may be the intention of Ministers or
the wishes of leading members of the Oppoeition in
this respect, people outside the House of Commons
seem to be mating up their minds to a general emc•
tion before long, and hence the flutter among innume-
rable pe laical cliques and coteries, and lome little
est iton,nt among the constituencies. Members of Par-
liament must individually be on the whole somewhat dis-
inclined to a dissolution, which for then; means con-
siderable outlay if they would retain their seats or
gain others ; and the country generally would rather
not have a dissolation just yet; but we all know it
must come, and that it may come in tLe autumn of the
present year.

- Are we to abandon all hope that, when Mr. Lowe
brings forward his Budget, he will propose a reductital
in the income-tax? It is to be hared so, if we are to
rely on the cold comfort which the right hon. gentle-
man bestowed on a deputation which waited on him a
few weeks ago, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer
lies subsequently said nothing publicly to • contrary
effect. But still there is neither rhyme nor reason why
we should not agitate for the repeal of the tax, or at
least for a reduction of it. True there used to be an
old couplet,

We have nothing to do with the laws but obey them.
And nothing to do with the taxes but pay them ;
but then that was satiricel, and nowadays we flatter
ourselves we have a good deal to do both with the laws
and the taxes. And' think it very much depends on our-
selves, by which I mean the people, whether we 'con-
tinue to pay Income-tax in its present burdensome and
inquisitorial form or not. There is not the slightest
doubt that Mr. Lowe wlll have a very considerable
surplus, and that, even after paying the Amerisan in-
demnity. there will be an agreeable balance on the
right side. He could do nothing better than to reduce
the Income tax. If he can't make it 23. less—and
many people maintain he could fairly do this—let him
take off id. The would please all political partite and
be a boon especially to the lower-middle cless which
now finds living so expensive.
Many of the greet social reforms effected in this and
other countries have been mainly bought about by
the persistent efforts of one man- -" a man of one idea,"
as the common phrase runs, and who, if his idea be a
good one, is just the man to promote the public
good. Mr. Plimsoll, in his famous Appeal on behalf
of our seamen, stated that his object in getting into
Parliament was to obtain a Royal Commission to
inquire into the condition of our mercantile marine,
with a view of improving the character of our mer-
chant ships, and thus protecting the lives of our
sailors. A better object to accomplish in such a
great maritime country as ours can scarcely
be conceived, and now that the royal commistion has
been obtained it is well that the uperations of the
Royal Commissioners should receive the moral support
of the people. The statements that vet re made at
the large meeting in Exeter Hall, last Saturday,
are naturally attracting considerable attention. It
is sad, indeed, to think what a va.st amount
of loss of life is continually taking place at sea.
Has the reader ever carefully studied the "Wreck
Chart r An outline map of the United Kingdom is
fringed with black dots, each dot representing a
wreck. I need not remind any one even who has not
seen this painfully suggestive (hart where these dots
are the thickest. We all know on what part of our
coasts wrecks are most frequent; but we are only now
beginning to learn how and why it Is that many of
these fatal marks ought nevi r to Lave appeared on
the "\Veeck Chart " that, in fact, many of cur wrecks
may fairly to classed as avoidable, and that muck of
the loss of property and lie at eea is owing to un-
eeaworthy ships, inadequa'e ((pilule:ids, and under.
manning. The speeches at the meeting alluded to will
do good service in directing increased attention to
this sadly important subject.
The French are well known to have an extravagant
idea of the powers, privileges, and prerogatives of the
Lord Mayor of London, but, although seemn this coun-
try take a more sober view of his lordship's functions,
we must all give the present Lord Mayor due credit for
doing a kindly, generous, and graceful act in inviting
the whole of the Mayors in the United Kiagdout to a
banquet at the Mansion Home, together with a goodly
number of Cabinet Ministers and statesmen. Such a
gathering of the representatives of the grand principle
of local government has never before taken place.
The question whether the State shouM purchase the
railways is beginniug to excite considerable interest,
but without entering on the affirmative or negative ar.
gaments, it occurs to me that ere long it will be ne-
cessary fur Parliament to exert further control over
railway companies in the interest of the companies
themselves—i.e. of the shareholders as well as in that
of the public. It cannot be disputed that railways are
in many respects extravagantly managed. There are, in
my opinion, two great evils affecting our existing rail-
way systern—amalgaruation and competition. These are
by no insane evils in themselves, but they may become
so, and frequently do, and they are evils which act in
a very different way. Amalgamation tends to the
benefit of the amalgamated lines or companies at the
expense of the travelling public; while competition
tends to the benefit of the public at the expenses
of the shareholders in the competing companies.
Now as the tendency of railway companies at the
present day is rather towards amalgamation
than competition, the (mesa in is becoming of
increasing importance whether Parliament should or
stionld not obtain additional power over the rail-
way internat. This question, I doubt not, will ere
long press for a solution, so that it behoves those who
have shares in railways, as well as those who merely
look at the matter from a public point of view, to study
the numerous quest:taus that an increased parliamentary
control over railway property involves.
An association is being formed with the title of the
National Monday League. It appearato have originated
with some railway employ& whose object is to counter.
act the present tendency to pleasure traffic on the
Sunday, which, whatever may be said for or against it
certainly entails a large amount of work on railway
servants. The idea of the new League is to provide
facilities for cheap excursions toand from London for
congregations, Sunday schools, temperance and benefit
societies, and the working classes generally. The
association has already obtained expressions of good-
will and in some cases the promise of support from a
few members of Parliament and several influential
clergymen and ministers', among the latter being the
Rev. Canon Gregory, the Rev. Canon Conway, the
Rev. C. H. Spurgeon, the Rev. Dr. Jobson, the Rev.
W. Arthur, &c. Such names as these—and I could
add many others, those of High and Low Churchmen,
Weselyane, Independents, and Baptists —w illnecesearily
bring a large amount of support to the new association,
the main object of which speaks for itself.
The demand for and the supply of coal, and its
enormous price, continue to constitute an exciting
public question, but it is one with regard to which we
now have a probability of learning hard, dry facts
which will be of immense impedance in endeavouring
to solve the elfficult problems connected with this
subject. The Select Committee appointed by the
House of Commons to inquire into the supply of
coal and the fluctuations in its pr:ce is now sitting,
and is bringing ant some valuable information.
The quantity of coal produced during the lad few
years is now definitely ascertained, and the facts
are worth noting in brief. Leaving out minor Sotres,
there were raised in IEO7, 104 millions of tons ; in
1868, 103 mildons ; in 1869, 107 ; in 1870,
180 millions; in 1571, 117 millions; and in 1872, 120
millions of tone. So that during the last yea'-, when
the price of coal was enormous, there was certainly
no falling off in the average production. 'This is a very
important pint. as we have been hearing so much
about the din inblied "output," which seems after all
to be a kind of bogie. It shows us that we must look to
other causes for the increased price of this necessary of
life, as coal has become. There is another important
fact. The House of Commons committee shows us that
during the past year a large number of new pits
has been sunk. This is a most encouraging feet for
the future. That demand causes supply, and In-
creased demand leads to increased supply, are
primary principles of political economy ; but un-
happily, with respect to this great coal question, other
eireinnstaecee have intervened to affe- t the operation of
this nature' law—for instance, the shorter periods of
time during which the colliers svill wink ; the combine
lion among coltiers, who have, naturally enough,
taken advantage of the increased demand ; the higher
wages paid to the men ; and the obstacles im-
posed by the railway companies to anything like free
trade in coal. But all these facts, I venture to say,
will ssoner or later succumb to this one great fad of
new collieries being opened, to which I may old the
formation of several companies to acquire and work
these and still other collieries. I believe that this
latter circumstance has had more elect in reducing the
price et coal than in generally th sight; but at any
rate we have the !anent g fa t that the trice has
fallen, and the prospect of a still further diminution.

The Englishman publiabee a telegram from Ravin!
Plndee, ander date Cafeutta. Starch 2b), stating that Major
Macdonald. the commander of the fort of Nlichni, ha v twen
asseash.ated by the Pathaus. lie was shot through the leg
Mid then ~.ut down Ile Comfalsaioner of Peshawar is
actively Investigating the matter.

EXECUTION OF MARY ANN COTTON.
Soon after eight o'clock on Monday morning, Mary
Ann Cotton paid the penalty of her crime on the
Peaffol.l, within the Lrecinets of the county gaol at
Durim m.
The horrible crime for which she suffered was almost
beyond doubt only one of a series of the most deadly
and detestable installers of secret poisoning which has e
ever disgraced the country if records, and must for ever
take a foremost rank amongst the annals of crime, and
i 8 recent occurrence renders it unnecessary to give more
than a brief resume of the extraordinary circumstances
which led to her detection.

Mary Ann Cotton went to reside at West Auckland,
about two years ago, with her husband, Frederick
Cotton, who obtained some employment at Trudele
Colliery. Their family then consisted of herself, her
husbaud, his two children, eye vise and the other six
years of aee, anti an infant child of her own. A few
mouths after going to West Auckland her husband
died, and the widow, it was said, received about g3O
cut of the British Prudential Ineuranee Sueiety. She
afterwards earned her living by taking irr lodgers,
awl she also received a small amount from
the parish. A few months after the eldest step-
son dim', and three weeks afterwards her own child
died swidenly. Suspicion to any extent does not
appear to have been aroused, as the mother appeared to
be very fond of it, and slim tly before its death it was
sitting prattling on her knee, apparently full of life.
At this time a lodger named Joseph Nearer., who it
was said was going to marry In r, was lying ill in the
house, and when Mrs. Cotton deferred the burial of
her child, alleging that "Joe,' the lodger, would die
either that day or the day after, and me expense
would do for both, some of the neighbours began to be
suspicious. "JO5" did die two days afterwards after
terrible suffering, but it was not until Charles Edward
Cotton, the last of her household, died four months
afterwards, that any action woe taken in the matter.
Mrs. Cotton had tern in the habit of nursing small-pox
patieuta during the prevalence of that clinease at West
Auckland, and h cd applied to Mr. Riley, the assistant
overseer, to get the boy into the workhouse, adding
that be was in the way of her getting out, and that it
was a shame bilk, should have him to keep when he was
not hers ; he prevented her making many a shilling by
going out to work or taking a respectable lodger, and
she could get married if it was not for him being in the
way. But, with a sigh, she added, 'He'll go like the
rest of the Cottons." 111,r. Riley replied, "Nonsense,
he is a fine healthy-looking boy." A week after this the
same gentleman heard thut the child was dead, and lost
no time in urging the necessity of an inquest being
held. Serjeaut Hutehinson, under the direction of
Mr. Superintendent Henderson, left no stone unturned
in order to make the evidence complete ; but from
the little time in which Dr. Kilburn had to make
the poet-mm.le nt examination he was unable to find
any trace of poison, and gave it as his opinion that
death resulted from natural causes. Public feeling,
however, had now got thoroughly aroused and would
not he satisfied, and Mr. Chalmers, an asciatant with
Dr. Kilburn, from a private experiment he had made
with some of the contents of the stomach, WM con-
vinced of the presence of arsenic, and induced Dr.
Kriburn to make a test. The doctor, to satisfy himself,
applied Reineka test to a portion of the viscera
which he had buried in his garden, and was then con-
vinced of the presence of arsenic, and went at once,
though late at night, to inform Supt. Henderson,
who caused the woman to be apprehended. The evi-
dence obained by Serjeant Hutchinson, which cul-
minated in the exhumation of the other bodies,
the detection of arsenic, and the ultimate conviction
and execution of the prisoner, will, no doubt, be
recompensed by his chief, but his great tact and
ability in tracing the career of the accused woman
from her birth to her apprehension can never be over
estimated, and to Superintendent Henderson, Mr. noes
Riley, Mr. Chalmers, and Sergeant Hutchinson is due
the discovery of one of the most extraordinary of
modern criminals. The evidence produced went to show
that they had all been insured for small amounts, took
ill, exhibited symptorns of vomiting and purging,
and died. The analysis proved death to have resulted
from poisoning, and the evidence that the prisoner at
tended them and administered to them what they tools.
A motive was traced, inasmuch as she obtained money
on nearly all of their deaths, and she had said the last
boy was in the way, amid hat tried to get rid of him.
Prisoneee career, which was traced by Sergeant Hutch-
inson, and which has previously beers published, showed
hereto be 41 years of age. She was the daughter
of Michael Robson, a tinker, who was killed when she
was 14 years of age. She went to service, and after-
wards learned to be a dressmaker. She has bad four
!nista:els, the third of whom is still living ; and she
left him suddenly one night, taking with her a young
child, which she left with a stranger in the street.
While she lived with loin fear of ha children and ime
of her own died in rapid succession, attended with
similar eymptiens to three who 'lied at West Auck-
land, and she got him, besides, into to end of debts
Besides three deaths, four children and her first hue-
hand, Wm. Mewbray, died at Hendon and South
Hetton. Her second husband, George Ward, died at
Sunderland, a few months after their marriage, and even
her own mother died suddenly during a visit of the
culprit. Mrs. Cotton, when the wife of Mowbray,
lived some years in the south of England, and in the
neighbourhood of Peterborough, and had four child-
ren die; but the most remarkable feature is that all
or nearly all the illnesees and deaths were atteuded
with similar symptoms. The culprit since her Sen-
tence has written to her husband and a number of
other parties, urging them to get up a petition to
spare her life, and has all along asserted her inno-
cence.

The prisoner retired to rest about eleven o'clock on
Sunday night, and rose at twelve minutes past six the
following morning. She slept well during the Light;
her only refrerhtnent on Monday morning consisted of
a cup of tea. Mr. Mountfort, Mr. Bennett, and Mr.
Stephenson. visited her shortly after six, and she spent
the remainder of her time in the company of these
gentlemen. The calprit prayed fervently, and t hankie&
all for the kinelnef re she had received. She made a
statement ti Mr. Mountford to the effect that, though
she had administered the poison, it was not done in.
tentionally. Previous to leaving the pinioning room
Mrs. Cotton prayed for her child and her husband
(Robinson). to win ni she said she had written three
times, but he would not come to see her. The melan-
choly procession started from the pinioning.roonu at
three minutes to eight, and the culprit, on leaving the
room, had her hands clasped and was heard praying.
She walked to the drop with a firm step, the whole
of her time being spent in prayer. On arriving
at the scaffold she was placed under the beam
by Cab raft and an assistant, and the former having
pinioned the culprit's feet, the wretched woman was
launched into/eternity. There were a few muscular
twitchings, and then all was over. All present were
deeply moved, paiticul srly the Under-Sheriff, whom it
was neoeissazy at one point of the pro,:eeding to
support.

Th-- e body was cut down after remaining an hour,
and an inquest was afterwards held.