The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1888-03-03 00:00:00

COMMERCIAL CERTIFICATES.

The local examinations and lectures syndicate at
Cambridge have reported to the Senate in favour of
the establishment of an examination for" commercial
certificates." The syndicate, however, are un-
willing to create new machinery for the conduct of
the proposed examinations. They believe that the
existing machinery of the December local examina-
tions will suffice. • The local centres now number 279.
The proposed examination, it is suggested, should be
so arranged that students may be prepared for con-
siderable portions of it along with those who are
being prepared for the ordinary local examinations.
At the same time they believe that the wisest course
is to establish an examination entirely separate from
the local examinations—that is, that there should be
no papers of questions common to the two, and no
common classification of successful students. Accord-
ing to the proposed regulations, there is to be no limit
of ago. The standard will be such as is suitable for
students of seventeen years of age, whose education has
proceeded for some time in the direction of prepa-
ration for commercial life. The subjects of examina-
tion will be: 1. Letter writing, precis writing, taking
notes in shorthand of passages read to the students,
and extending the notes to produce a verbatim report.
2. Arithmetic, algebra. 3. Physical and commercial
geography, English history from the commencement
of the reign of Elizabeth, the questions chiefly bearing
on the development of industry and commerce. 4.
Modern Languages—(l) French, (2) German, (3)
Spanish, (4) Italian. 5. The elements of political
economy, with special reference to the principles of
value, money, credit, banking, foreign trade, and the
foreign exchanges. 6. English literature. 7. Elem-
entary physical science. 8. Geometrical and
mechanical drawing. In order to obtain a certificate
a student would have to pass in Sections, 1,2, 3, 4.
No students would be permitted to take more than
two of the Sections 5,6, 7, 8. Students who had
obtained a first-class in the elementary stage of the
examination held by the Science and Art Department,
South Kensington, in any of the subjects of Section 7
arid 8, might have the fact entered On their certificate
without further examination.

trr

INSPECTOR LANDSDOWNE'S
ASSAILANT.
At the Central Criminal Court on Tuesday, before
Mr. Justice Hawkins, Charles Boulett, 30, jewellnr, and
Frederick Brenham, 22, labourer, were indicted for
forging and uttering a cheque for £5. •
Mr. Poland and Mr. Mead conducted the prosectition ;
the prisoners were not defended by counsel.
The prisoner Boulett was tried at the last sessions
for attempting to discharge. a loaded revolver at
Inspector Lansdowne, of Scotland-yard. A portman-
teau belonging to Lord Compton's butler, which con-
tained a cheque for £44 and some wearing apparel,
was missed while being brought with other luggage from
St. Pancras railway station. The next day the
prisoner presented the cheque at the bankers.
Inspector Lansdowne was called to the bank and
questionedthe prisoner as to how he became possessed
of the cheque. Boulett stated that it had been given
to him by a.person at Barnsbury. Inspector Lans-
downe took him
,to Barnsbury to make inquiries so
as to test the accuracy of his statement, but, finding
it was unsatisfactory, Inspector Lansdowne took
him into custody for'forging and uttering the endorse-
ment to the cheque. Boulett thereupon drew a
loaded revolver from his pocket and, aiming it at
Inspector Lansdowne, attempted to discharge it.
Fortunately, however, the weapon missed fire and
Boulett was secured. The jury at the last sessions
convicted Boulett of having attempted to discharge
the revolver at Inspector Lansdowne with intent to do
him grievous bodily harm, and they also found him
guilty of uttering the forged endorsement to the
cheque for £44. Sentence upon Boulett was post-
poned until these sessions, in order that he might be
tried upon the present charge. It seemed from the
evidence in the present case that the prisoner
Brenham on December 24 took a cheque for £5 to a
confectioner's shop near TaNistock-square with a
note purporting to be signed by a student at the London
University ordering some pastry and asking that
the change for the cheque might be given to the
bearer. The change was given to the prisoner
Brenham, and the goods ordered were sent by a
boy, but another man, alleged to be Boulett,
met Prenham and they told the boy that they
would carry the goods. The cheque was eventually
discovered to be a forgery. When Brenham was -
apprehended lie said it was a good job that the officer
lad not arrested him when he was passing the
cheque, as " Jack " (meaning Boulett) was waiting
outside with a revolver, saying that he would shoot
any one who attempted to arrest him. It was
alleged that the handwriting on the cheque was that of
the prisoner Boulett, who, however, denied the charge.
Mr. Justice Hawkins having summed up, The jury
found Boulett "Guilty" and Brenham " Guilty " of
uttering the cheque only. There were other indict-
ments, but Mr. Poland intimated that he did not
propose to proceed upon them. Mr. Justice Hawkins
sentenced Boulett to 12 years' penal servitude, and
Brenham .to 15 months' imprisonment with hard
labour. His lordship highly commended the coura,Yous
conduct of Inspector Lansdowne, and directed a
reward of £lO to be paid to him in recognition of his
valuable services. • • • • •

Ilgoas are so cheap now that the poorest people can
buy AO pwn tllern, and tlie riobest 9411 bPritly? 11110
lieep thorn:
110.1;v: a great difforenoo tcl a young mart who
riourting a girl veil:4lkm gho t4k?!! 13, LirPM intirit
13t0 wOrge, 114 (rye%
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