The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-11-19 00:00:00

CUTTINGS FROM AMERICAN PAPERS,

-A Mormon never speaks of his better half, but of
better eighth or sixteenth, as the case may be.—New
York Cotnntercial Advertiser,
A. Truthful Editor.—Says an exchange: "So much
aPace is to-day given to editorial matter that a large amount
:11 interesting reading is crowded out." The editor
angfirya.nk, at all events, and should be honoured accord.

Mark Twain looked up at the moon and delivered
thia soliloquy : "How melancholy the moon must feel when
it ha o enjoyed the fulness of prosperity, and has, as now I
see it, got reduced to its last quarter."
Mu has has been written against the bassoon, but the
first eveoing after a young man who practised on one
Moved into the second floor of a house on Union Avenue, a
reile it urt the face of an aged citizen on the floor above.
said he was now reconciled to death.
w.„The American Rochefoucald says, even if a boy is
TC;;_aYs whistling, "I want to be an angel," it is just as well
aeep.the kep_of the pantry out of his reach.
,crElPeaking of the sentiment—" She who rocks the
-thtsdie rules the world," a Charlestown paper says : "In
ibeli_section she is generally a coloured girl, and we don't
""e a Word of it." -
A v
the DOllng man from Auburn, N.Y., who went to
Hills last spring, has telegraphed to his father,
Fatted calf for one."
Au Illinois lady, joking about her nose, said, "I
-mad
;present! nothing to do in shaping it. It was a birthday
'
Th:Western grasshoppers are very regular in their
, eating only one meal a day. This they begin at four
9 clock in the morning, and continue it until the correspond-
ing hour on the following day.
A Southern legistAter is actively advocating a bill
,',vcluiring the name of the phYsidlin whoulitteilded the
9.eocneased to be engraved on the tombstone. The consterna-
la this causes in medical circles may be imagined, but
-never, no never described.

AN EARLY CLOSING MOVEMENT.—A bulldog's
rnouth when taking hold of a burglar's leg. —Fun.

THE SEIZURE OF REVOLVERS AT
BRADFORD.

• A large number of revolvers, ammunition, and
papers relating to Irish affairs were seized in Bradford
early on Sunday morning. It appears that in July
last John Tobin assaulted a West Riding constable.
A warrant was at once issued against him, but he has
hitherto succeeded in keeping out of the way.
Hearing, however, that Tobin was in the habit of
visiting his house secretly on Saturday night, the
borough police communicated with the West Riding
officers, and shortly after midnight on Saturday
five constables went to a cellar in Silk-street
in order to apprehend him. The house contains
but one small room, and was found to be
occupied by Mrs. Tobin, her son, and a female.
John Tobin was not to be seen, but a policeman on
examining the apartment came across a large deal
box, 4 feet by 2 feet, containing a bed-tick, in which
were a large number of new revolvers, ammunition, and
documents. The articles were seized, and were re-
moved to the Town Hall. Tobin was arrested in
Middlesbcro' on Monday night. He has been in the
locality about a month, working at the Eston Steel
Works. He made no resistance on being told by the
officers that he was wanted. Ire was apprehended on
the warrant for having assaulted a constable at the
Shipley fair last July, as already stated.

On Tuesday, John Tobin, aged 40, of Alanninghatn, Brad-
ford, was brought before the Bradford magistrates on the
charge of having in his possession deadly weapons and am-
munition for an unlawful purpose.—We take the following
report of the case from The Times :

The Town Clerk (Mr. W. T. M'Gowen) stated
that from books found in possession of the prisoner,
along with fire-arms and ammunition, it was perfectly
plain that the prisoner held some official con-
nexion with what is called a " brotherhood "
for the establishment of an Irish Republic, and
one of the purposes of this brotherhood is to obtain
what they are pleased to call war material."
He (the Town Clerk) intended at present to put two
police-officers in the box to show how the prisoner's
connection with the illegal combination was dis-
covered. He might mention that his worship the
Mayor, as the chief magistrate of the borough, thought
that, in the circumstances, it was his duty to place
himself in communication with the Home Office, and
no doubt he would receive some letter from that
authority in the course of a day or two. The seizure
was effected early on Sunday morning, and the letter
was addressed to the Home Office on Monday.

Police-constable Coulson, of the Borough police
force, was called, and said that he had known the
prisoner for some time. For a while prisoner occupied
a place with his wife at 46, Beamsley-street, but he
removed from there to a cellar dwelling in Silk-street.
Acting upon information he received witness visited
the place where prisoner was supposed to live in
Silk-street, early on Sunday morning last. He found
there Mrs. Tobin, a son, and a young woman lodger.
The prisoner was not in the house. He there saw
a large box, which was supposed to have come
to the prisoner about eighteen months since. He told
the West Riding Police that that was what he had
been looking for for some time, and on opening the
box he saw a carpet bag containing revolvers. He
said, "This is what I have been seekinc, for for some
time." In another box, he found another carpet bag,
and altogether he got about 40 revolvers. They were
new revolvers. The two now produced were a portion
of them. He also found a quantity of ammunition.

•
The prisoner, in reply to a question by the Town
Clerk, said in an almost inaudible voice, he did not
wish to ask the witness any questions.

Superint3ndent Laycock said he was present on
Sunday morning at the prisoner's hq,use in Silk-street,
and his attenticn was directed to a chiffonniere, and
there he found the book produced. It contained a
number of rules relating to the " 1.R.8.." and was
entitled "Rules and Regulations of the Government
of the I.R B. in the North of England Division."

The Town Clerk said that this was supposed to mean
the Irish Republican Brotherhood. He then read the
following extract from the rules governing the brother-
hood :

"Rules, laws, and regulations for the government
of the 1.R.8. in the North of England Division.—
The North of England Division of the 1.R.8. ex-
tends from Stafford, in the south, to Berwick, in the
north, and embraces the counties of Northumberland,
Cumberland, Westmoreland, Durham, Yorkshire,
Lancashire, Cheshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire,
Nottinghamshire, North Staffordshire, and the
northern counties of \Vales."

The pamphlet then went on to state that "in ac-
cordance with that section of the constitution of the
I.R. B. which invests each divisional executive with
power to frame and enact laws for the Government
of their division, the Executive of the North of Eng-
land declare and promulgate the ensuing and fol-
lowing laws, which will be held binding upon every
member of the 1.R.8. in the said division, in addi-
tion to the constitution of 1.R.8., which is bind-
ing upon every member in Ireland, England, and
Scotland."
The laws for enlistment were then set forth, the first
rule being as follows :
" No man to be admitted into the 1.R.8., or recog-
nized as a citizen or soldier of the 1.R.8 „until he has
first taken the oath of allegiance to the Irish Republic.
Previous to the administering of the oath of allegiance
the man's name must be proposed and seconded as a
fit and proper person to become a member, at an ordi-
nary meeting of the .section or circle, and if the
majority of those present vote in his favour the oath
can be administered."
Rule 4 was as follows :—" No man to be recognized
as a member of the 1.R.8. unless elected by duly
authorized officers of the 1.R.8., the said officers being
the centre B.S. or C.S. of a circle, or authorized com-
missioners of the divisional executive."
The Town Clerk next read some of the rules regu-
lating the members' duties. One was to the effect
that every member of the 1.11.:Th in employment is
required to pay the sum of not less than 3d. weekly
towards the procuring of war material, and a further
sum of id. monthly to defray the expenses of the
organization, as also to contribute to the best of his
ability to all extra levies or appeals which it might be
necessary from time to time to make. Any member
in employ who refuses or neglects his duty in this
respect to be expelled. - Note 1) refers to war ma-
terials, and states that these rules are absolutely
necessary, not only for the safety of the material, but
for the safety of the organization, and that its prin-
ciples would be sternly enforced, as every weapon
seized not only endangered the individual from whom
it was seized, but it awakened police vigilance, and
tended to endanger the safety of the material and the
circle, and created almost insurmountable difficulties,
besides hindering future supplies. The earnest atten-
tion of members was called to these rules. Protection
was necessary in order to prevent exposure of the in-
terests of the organization at large, and therefore it
was deemed necessary to forbid a general distribution
of materials. Note E in the appendix to the
book of rules set forth that the object of the organiza-
tion was the immediate preparation for any emer-
gency. "No time," it is stated, "should be lost by
any circle in obtaining the requisite material ; the
opportunities today might not be ours to-morrow.
While arms can be obtained they should ; money can
be accumulated at any time, but the supply of mate-
rials, once missed, will be difficult to renew." The
Town Clerk said he thought he had laid enough before
the Bench to justify them in remanding the prisoner
for one week.
The prisoner was accordingly remanded until the
22nd inst.

THE RETURN OF THE MARQUIS OF

LORNE.

s.
On Alonday evening the Marquis of Lorne, Governor.
General of Canada, arrivel at Chester General Station,
from Birkenhead, on a visit to the Duke of West-
minster.
The Princess Louise, who had come to Eaton on the
preceding day, left the Hall at 2.30, on the receipt of
a message from the. Marquis that the "Allan Royal
Mail steamer Sardinian was in the Mersey. • A special
train was in readiness at the Chester Station, and leer
Royal Kighness, accompanied by the Duke of West-
minster, Lady Sophia Macnamara, Lord Walter
Campbell, the Countess Grosvenor, and Lady
Beatrice Cavendish, took her departure in it for
Woodside landing stage, reaching Birkenhead at a
quarter to four. The Princess immediately embarked
in a special steam tug and met her husband on board
the Sardinian.
The distinguished party returned to Birkenhead,
where a large crowd of persons had assembled.
Crimson carpets had been laid from the landing stage
through the ferry house to the train, and as the Marquis
and Marchioness of Lorne advanced they were greeted
with loyal cheers from the thousands who had gathered
together in their honour. The Governor-General and
.Princess both looked remarkably well..

-
Sir Thomas Gibbons Frost, Mayor of Chester, and
Lady Frost received the Governor General and the
Princess on their alightkg from the train, and con-
gratulated the Marquis on his return to England. A.
landau and six horses, with postillions and an out-
rider, with other carriages, drove up to the Mold
siding, at which the train was stopped, and the dis-
tinguished party were driven away to Eaton Hall
amidst loud cheers from the citizens who lined the
streets and rows of Chester.

On Tuesday the Marquis of Lorne was presented
with an address of welcome by the Town Council of
Chester. In reply he assured the'Corporation that he
attached all the more importance to the kind words
on behalf of Canada, as Canadians were very
sensitive to criticism passed upon them in the
old country. "It is possible' too, I think (said the
Marquis) that many of them lay too much stress upon
the very few words which may possibly be taken
as expressing a coolness towards her interests. Under
the influence of this feeling they May occasionally
speak of England as if she were the old woman who
had so many children she did not know what to
do. I need hardly mention to you that such language
is probably only used by one 'person in ten thousand,
and it can scarcely be said that there is one person
in ten thousand amongst us who does not attach
the utmost importance to your imperial connection.
It is of the utmost importance to the interests of
both countries that that connection should be
cherished, as our Transatlantic brethren in Canada
are already no small community. I have just lately
been across the country,* and any one who has gone
across the ocean and seen our heritage there must
agree with me that in all probability our nation will
eventually be quite as strong on that continent as it is
in these old realms. Already they are in number as
strong as this England of ours was in the times of
Elizabeth, and already their population is larger by
one-half than were the Americans .at the time of the
unfortunate war which divided them from, us. It is
because I know your words will he sent across the
water that I beg to thank you with all my heart for
the sentiments you have so kindly and loyally ex-
pressed." '

Mr.-and-Mrs. Gladstone arrived at OksltierlßNi:sal
station on Monday evening from Downing-street, at 7.20. A
large crowd cheered the Premier ,as he drove through
Chester to ILI warden, among the most enthusiastic in this
respect being a group of Irish cattle dealers. Mr. Gladstone
was followed across the country in a hansom by Deputy
Chief-constable Adams, of the Flintshire constabulary, and a
police-constable.

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