The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1875-10-26 00:00:00

HORRIBLE DISCOVERY AT SOUTHAMPTON.

=IRMO DEED CHILDREN ROUND IN COFFINS.

Much excitement prevailed in St. Mary-street, South-
ampton on Thursday morning lty • report that a number
of dead bodies of children had been found on the premiste
of Mr. Stephen Blundell, undertaker and funeral furnisher,
and • crowd of many hundreds soon rewenibled around
the house. On Wednesday, under a warrant of distraint,
• bailiff went into possession, when he detected there was
something about foul smelling. He accordingly com-
municated with the authorities, and on Thursday morn-
ing [Jr. Osborn, the medical officer of health, with Hazard,
the inspector of nuisances, went to the house. Ilasard
enquired of Mrs. Blundell if she had anything of the
nature of a nuisance there, and she replied no. Pointing
to a little coffin standing at the back of • desk in the front
shop, the inspector enquired " What she had there," and
she replied "Only • little stillborn child, which were
going to bury to-morrow." He saw the body in it, and
asked her if that one was all, and she rejoined that it was.
Hazard then opened • drawer behind the counter, where
he found • coffin containing another body in a decomposed
state. Dr. Osborn and the Inspector at once went to the
police station and gave information, and Mr. Supt. Breary
and Servant Hawthorn returned with them to Blundell's
house. They all went into the cellar underneath the shop,
used as • coffin factory, the floor of which was covered to
a depth of several inches with sawdust and wood shavings,
and, searching among this rubbish, Rowthorn "un-
earthed' one by one no less than ten small coffins, all con.
tainiug the remains of children, some of which, from the
condition of decay in which they were, must have been
there for • considerable period. In one coffin portions of
two skulls were found. Mr. and Mrs. Blundell were
immediately apprehended, and their workman, Frederick
Petty, who was engaged in the shop at the time, was also
taken into custody: ltowthorn then made further search,
and in • drawer forming the lower portion of the desk at
which Blundell was constantly in the habit of writing he
found another coffin, containing • body in a dreadful state
of corruption, and emitting, of course, a most horrible
stench. The police next took up the workshop floor, and
dug up the earth beneath, but made no further di..
Dr. Palk, the police surgeon, was called in, and he and
Dr. Osborn made a joint examination of the remains,
which are, we believe, chiefly those of stillborn children,
but the decay and corruption are so advanced that no
positive identification will he possible. The three defen-
dants were taken to the police court, and on the woman
were found 90 pawn tickets. They were remanded then
till Tuesday, the magistrates refusing to admit them to
bail. At midnight on Thursday the remains were con-
veyed by the police to the deadhouse, and the coroner was
communicated with, but we understand it is not likely an
inquest will be held, Blundell being possessed of death
certificates, and Identification, as we have said, being
virtually impossible. An order for the burial has been
given by Dr. Osborn. 13Iundell's house was closed during
Friday. The charge at present against him is that of
obtaining ba 6cL by false pretences from Mrs. Bennett, of
Queen's-buildings, East-street, by engaging to bury her
child, and not doing so. Ile admits having received the
interment fees for all the bodies that have been found,
though he says he neglected to bury the bodies, and was
only awaiting • proper opportunity of doing so. How
anyone could knowingly live in • house under such extra-
ordinary and disgusting circumstances is incredible.

ORNAMENTAL V. THR USEFI:I--Servant applying for A
ituation, "1 suppose. Ma'am, I shall not have to wait at
able r—Lady. '• 0, no ! I want • housemaid."—Servant,
I suppose, Alien], I shall not have to make the beds r
—Lady (surprired, but composedly). "Certainly not !"
—Servant (thinking the place will suit). "And I suppose,
Ma'am, I shall not be expected to answer the door r
Lady. Of course not! The fact is, I want • servant to
look at, and I don't think you will do.—Punelt
In a Glasgow Police court, on Monday, a witness, telling
about a crowd by whom he had been insulted, was asked
by the Rainiest 'Wore they acting in concert f' A pause,
The Fiscal: 'Speak out. man, were the prisoners acting
in concert r Witness (with • strong Ilibernian accent)
" Yer Hunour, they were not playing any music whin I
was there, but —"' The rest of the sentence was lost in
the roar of laughter which f 'Rowed.
THROAT IRRITATION.—The throat and windpipe are
especially liable to inflammation, causing soreness and
dryness, tickling and irritation, inducing cough and
affecting the voice. For these symptoms use glycerine in
the forth of jujubes. Glycerine in these agreeable con-
fections, being in proximity to the glands at the moment
they are excited by the act of sucking, becomes actively
healing, fkl, and is. packets (by post 8 or 15 stamps)
labelled "JAMES Errs rt Co., Homeopathic Chemistri, 48;
Threadneedle Street, and ITO, Picallilly, London.—Sold in
Weymouth by J. V. Wituams, Chemist, 23, fit,, AThan a
Row.
CURES OF ASTIIAM• AND COUGHS BY DR. Locixii's
PULMONIC Warge.s.—From Mr. Collins, f 'Monist, Brettell-
lane, Stourbridge : "I am much pleased to say that your
wafers give general satisfaction. Several of my customers
having taken them for asthma, coughs, he, and in every
case they have had the &mired effect. In my opinion they
anything that has been offered to the public." In
:=ll, consumption, bronchitis, coughs, colds, rheu-
matism, and au Aystarical and nervous pain. instant relief
Is given. They taste pleasantly. Sold by all aruggiste at Is
lid per box.
Irra—Eriteerrc Frre on FALLING SICENEPAL—A certain
method of cure has been discovered for this ilistrembig
complaint by a physician.who is desirous that all sufferers
may benefit from this providential discovery ; ills nsvor
known to fail, and will cure the most hopeless CAIN after
all other means have been uric L Full particulars will 1m
sent by poet to any person free of rharge.—Addrem :
Mr. Wittiams, 10, Oxford Terrace, Hyde Park, London, I
Co-operation is not unlikely to find a conaitierable rival
in the tradesmen associated with the Society called the
General Expenditure Assurance Company, St, OH Jewry,
London, which is Increasing by hundreds the number of
Ito member. in London. The Company has been in
existence alr.ut a year and a half, and its shareholders,
who are ile.tinet f r trade members, have already
received a very fair dividend. London tradesmen are
beginning to find their customers who leid deserted them
for the "Stores" returning to then. Mr the advantages
offered by the I 'upon system, which, without requiring
anything more than the payment of ready money, secures
the purchaser the ultimate return of the amount he ha.
exrDdedisn.mmer PRACTICE—For the sake of extra profit
scone unprincipled tradesmen, when asked for Receives
Pants BLUE IN NUARES, substitute inferior kinds in the
same form. The Paris Blue, "As USED IN THE PRINCE
or WALES' Lamsnav," is now so universally esteemed
for its splendid quality—above all other blues—that it is
important to observe it is only genuine when sold in
squares, wrapped up in pink paper bearing I. Reekitt and
Seas' name and trade mark. Refuse all Blue which is
not so wrapped.
Hottowar's oirriugs: & PILLS.—For the cure of burns,
maida, wounds, and ulcers, this justly celebrated Ointment
stands unrivalled. Its bWaaniic virtues, immediately on
application, lull the pain and smarting, protect exposed
nerves from the air, endue the vowels with the vigour
necessary to heal the sore, and confer on the blood &purity
which permits it only to lay down healthy flesh in plam of
that which has become diseared. Holloway's Pills 'inns'.
tanemaly taken, much assist the Ointments purifying and
soothing power. Together these medicines act like a charm
no invalid. after a fair trial, has found them fad to relieve
his Pain, or completely cure his disease. The metalled
beneficial action of the Ointment and Pills, in all disorders.
Is too irresistible to be withstood.

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