The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1888-03-10 00:00:00

COMMENTS ON CURRENT NEWS

tiAT long. Buffering individual, the 11 ritish
jiuymnn, has some cause for thankfult. 'Bs to
Mr. Frank Lockwood, a barrister and
member of Parliament, who has had ample
opportnnilies of gauging the wants and
wishes of the citizens who are cAlled on at
assize times To leave their private business
and weigh the evidence for and against
Prisoners arraigned for felony. The popular
counsel recognises the had usage which con-
demns a panel to keep together, sans inter-
miss' on for rest oo refreshment, all through
a case, however lengthy its duration. Thus,
for the ostensible purpose of preventing a
jury being "got at " by interested parties,
the good men and true aro kept practically
impLisoned. sometimes for several days and
nights. Mr. Lockwood would change all
this. And why. not? Jury-wen are not
looked up in misdemeanour and civil cases,
and the judges engaged in criminal trials
are at liberty to mingle with the world after
court hours. If a man has integrity enough
to justify his summoninfl for jury duty, he
should also have sufficient manhood to with-
stand all improper approaches. And the
common juryman has a right to expect the
same confidence to be reposed in his sense of
justice as is extended towards the occupant
of the bench.

SOME absurd testaments from time to time
occupy the attentions of the Courts of Justice.
It is doubtful, however, whether caution has
ever over-stepped the line of ridiculousness
more distinctly than in the case of a woman
who died now nearly 60 years ago, leaving a
small property under certain conditions to all
the descendants, in equal proportions of a
relative, the bequests to fall due on the
demise of another person who was ad interim,
to enjoy a life tenancy. The little estate
has now" fallen, in" and it has to be par-
titioned into no less than 120,960 shares,
worth 21pence each. Justice Chitty had no
choice but to make an order for the division
of the property according to the desire of
the testator. Law in such cases should have
power to aside the blunders of the " dead
hand," and to distribute a late relative's be-
longings in the manner most likely to please
and profit all those who have most claim
upon the deceased's property.

THE demise of the Duke of Rutland is
much lamented throughout the Midlands,
where the lord of Belvoir was held in high
esteeml as a fine type of the English country
gentleman who makes the interests of his
tenants- and neighbours his own, does his
share in th* work e the county, and
patronises sport with zest and enthusiasm.
Time was when the bachelor duke seemed to
have a brilliant political future before him,
but more restless and ambitious statesmen
stepped in; and the Marquis of Granby who
was in the running with Disraeli for the
ead of the Protectionist party, retired to his
parks and his coverts, and the rural life he
was so fond of. Now Lord John Manners is
master of the old castle which commands the
view of so many miles of rich pastonrage,
and his eldest son, the Premier's courtly
secretary, is now known as Marquis of
Grandy. Society will boast a Duchess of
Rutland for the first time for many years,
and her grace is one well known in cultured
circles as a social reformer of spirit and
originality, and also as the weilder of a busy,
graceful pen. The Marchioness of Granby
of the fatue, too, is a star of the first
magnitude in all the best drawing rooms,
being a" beauty," and a most winsome and
accomplished lady. Ministers lose a
chivalrous defender in the Commons by the
calling up to another place of Old Nobility"
Manners, but the new duke is scarcely likely
to retire althogether from public life. His
experience, and on occasion his sharp sarcasm,
will still be available in the Conservative
battle.

POOR Prince Ferdinand appears to have no
better chance than his predecessor of sitting
securely on the Bulgarian throne. Turkey
has succumbed to the restless solicitations cf
Russia, and as Germany seems likely also to
give passive encouragement to the Czar's
scheme for ousting the electot the Bulgarians,
there is little prospect of the Coburg Prince
remaining much longer at Sofia lie may,
as Alexander of Battenberg %I'm forced to do,
retire for Russia will have her way.

TEM feeling in Britain abont the Crown
Prince is one of the most painful uncertainty
All are anxious that the popular husband
of oar Queen's eldest born /Should, if possih:e,
be re3tored to heahh again, and a very
keen interest is taken in the variable news
from San Remo. But the medical bull,,tins
are so tortuously worded and hazy as to
leave the reader in perplexity, while the
many extraneous reports as to the Prince's
condition are of the most conflicting and
contradictory character. The doctors are
\V rothful because inaccurate and exaggerated
statements are circulated concerning theii
patient's condition; but they thembelvei.,
might do away with all mischievous end
painful rumonra if they would only issue
candid bulletins in language to be easily
understood by lay people.

EVERYONI joins in the Silver Wedding
congratulations which are being showered
upon the Prince and Paincess of Wales and
the rest of the Royal family. For twenty-five
years past there has been no lady more pop-
ular in these isles than the " Sea Kin's
daughter from over the seas," who came to
no the bride of our coming King; and the
Heir-Apparent himself has inspired such
personal esteem by his assiduous interming-
ling with all ranks and conditions of men
that he is a favourite everywhere. The Prince
and Princess are at once the best-known and
most highly-esteemed married couple in the
country. All felicitation to theirs and them
on the completion of a quarter of a century
of happy wedlock.

AIV, r. It GRATIS. A. Medical man upwards t 4
thirty years in London prac ice haa at,h ish d a wor '
showing t• e 'TLI3 csuse of Nery us, M. n al a d Physic,
Debility. lowness of spirits, indigestion want of erterg3
pum urc dee ine. Sm. wit I CUT 4 ;wli .reby the foil ,w
ing male ties are spa dily and perrnunenttly temovel
ad vigorous healtn res ore I Every form and v .riety
of debility, s-ermatorrliocea :assitutle d press on Lf
epirit., L,ss of energy sppet to. pains ii the b CiC an
limi' lot ity stlf-nistr st. dizzin es. love Of solitude,
gr, on lets tt;.rs, pulp tation of the boa t, noi4e in toe
rid ml '-are II I cis on imp i e.l sight and m miry
in ige.itioa is (I b tlily prostration rf the whole cyst
T. 6 in rt Lop rt lit 13 1 thit slanutno c ropia fits
may be easily removed, i ele rl y demonstrated. ani the
1112`ire y new tnd u if rruly succes ful ire trnent as
,to out by the :nano- fully exp.,,, ed,l‘y which all
thilerer4 sr.. enable' t ) cure t .entselve, fectly. a4l
at •he least poseitr e cost. without takin,4 qiiKelt medicines
r it.t, i g a joctor's b.ll The b Olt wi Ibe sent en-
v -loped. on tec,ipt of 2 penry stamps by Dr.
RUiSbLL, 55, Bartholomew Road, Kentish Towu.
Loudon. Thousands of suffereis who had fall° , into a
bad state, have borne grateful testimony to Ile value
nuci situ lkity of the advice giv,n, which has perfectly
rest red them to health Dr. LIUñSELb wi I tend to
any Futlerer his ico, and autp!e direc ions
for the speedy restoration of he dth. on receiving a full
history ,f t e casd, and detail 4 of sympt,hu ,wt , a
, stamped and dir &el envelope.