The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-02-08 00:00:00

TIM STOtTRBRIDGE OBSERTEit.

prices will rule. Meanwhile the only remedy Is that economy
In the Ilse of coal which hal been so often morel in val.,.
We waste four fifths of the heat evelted by the twat we
burn . and If Vie coal (amino results In the alp-
Moo of methods for economising that hat and making It nil
I ft,ctive cosi will he °beeper at fifty shillings a Poi than it
has been at fire and twenty. Ws may hope, too, that other
method, of heating may he introduced. The WA price of
coal Is the hest posoible premium on inventions. We are
tt. n promisei hydrogen from water RR a means of heating.
and h)drocsrhon gases for lighting. A tide in the affairs ..1
such schemes has corn, which, if they are really practic dee,
and their promoters are wine, will float them on to tot Pito.

Noticing the above, Messrs. Minton and Co., Chins
Works, Stake upon Trent, writes to The Times :
Sir William Armstrong, President of the North of Eag-
land lastitute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers, de-
livered an address at Neweastle-On-Tyne an Saturday last,
which chiefly referred to coal—its enormously increased
consumption of late years, the great waste in using it, and
tiis nieaus of preventing that waste. The statement Sir
William makes of the output aa compartd situ the con-
stamp Jim of i- of points to the coot:lusou that the p
of all tualmf adoring where coal fume an inapiirtaut eletuont
of production is becoming a very "grave one "—too grave,
perhaps, tie the public, as yet, fully to realize. Tr e re•
deleted labour itt coal mines and the increased consume-
Moe are now interferiug most seriously with the staple trade
of this district. Most of the manufacturers are only work-
ing st.ort time. Tiny have to pry in some eases neatly
treble former pace,. The quality, too, is often very
inferior, almost anything black being now sent Irons
the pita as coal. It cannot be gainsayeal that the
waste la enormous, and might be considerably !visored
were it possible for manufacturers to adopt other means of •
heating their workshop., drying stoma and firing the
ovens. That it is possible to a considerable extent we may
quote the results of our own experience. We think that
we a' all be rendering • !service to the public by making it
known that for some years past we have been making changes
with this view. We find that the cost of heating workshops
anti drying stoves by means of steam conveyed through small
piper, both direct from the boiler and the exhaust steam
from the engine effects great economy, and is lento pro-
duittive of the best effects upon the workpeople The
shops being maintained at the same temperature dur-
ing the night, they are enabled to commence erotic on
is cold froity morning, or whatever the weather may
be, aithoUt loss of time and with comfort. Further-
more, and perhaps of greater importance, because septic-
I able to all our mantesc (ores, the adoption of General Scott's
principle for the construction of the mouths or fire-places of
each OVell effects a saving of at least one-third in the
quantity of coal necessary. All our ovens have been re-
citostructed on this principle and, with various alterations
which our practical experience has led us LO adopt, we have
been enabled to effects saving in fuel, less time is necessary
to fire the ovens, and we have been able to use coal eta far
inferior quality than would have been potable bail we
not adopted General Scott's principle. Another point cf
great importance, though not immediately affecting the con-
sumption of coals, is the great saving to the manafseturer
who adopts this system In bricklayers' repairs to the oven.,
and we believe that the saving in this item alone worth! soots
reimburse anyone in the cost of the alteration.
-•• • • •

We trust, Sir, that the importance of the subject mooted
by Sir William Armstrong will Induce yon to tied apse.) for
this communication.

----
Oon••• ernitinnts were found, and some think that the to.
"Ohs of not • few of the people drowned in the Nortkifref
may he Idokerl for on the French coat, to whicts a
strong current sets from Dungeness Point . . .
lii
Lelai,d's time Lydd was only a mile from the set.
"ididde stay hi tween Romney and Lyilddo- he sa)s,
the marsh land begyntieth to nose sod some to tun
sea" The town Is now four miles distant, and to strong
westerly gales frona forty to fifty yards of pebbly beach
have been known to be thrown up at the Poiot. An
inscription In thd prtsent lighthouse, built In 1792, Ades
that the oil structure which It replaced ito34 p4O >ad'
to the northward, but by the formation of new tumuli it
"became useless to navigation." Not many genera-
I thins may elapse before the some epitaph may he
written of the present lighthouse, which, when buil, wm
100 yards distant from this sea at law-water mark, but
cutout now be less than 350 yards distant. Thus Dunge-
ness point, sh fting in a south ea.terly direction, makes
every year slow advances towards the French coast, a cu-
rb us natural formation which has hardly attracted the
attention it deserves.

The official inquiry ordered by the Board of Trade
into the loes of the Northfiect av,Ut opened .0 Tuesday
at the Greenwich Poltce.court. The first witnees
Mr. John Patton, jun., the owner of the ship, who
desaribed her build, tonnage, and lading. She was
insured for £9,300 on ihe bull, and £5OO on the freight.
The other witnesten were Mr. It. W. Lleyd, clerk to
the charterers; Mr. J. L. Sinclair, manager to Messrs.
Devitt and Moore, the loading brok,rs ; Mr S. T.
Cornish. of the Board of Trade, who surveyed the
Iforthfica prior to her departure; and Mr. J. T.
Webbe, clerk to the searchers' othce of the Custom-
house. The inquiry now stands lu-bourne/J.

their house, and you will be at once set free. Indeed. I
almost think we bath wished I might he picked ant, tor then
Wohlebr would be free, and At clear RN my 4itri that I took
it as of Curse that i could not he In comtody losurer than
until night. Had !kis an the &tenth law as I know it now,
i should not have run the risk, blight an it seemed.
Ws stivil in a half circle in the magistrate.' room. I Wu
the second lr the right, one of the t migrants being first.
Stalker came in, stalked along the Esse twice, came back to
or, scanned we from head to foot, and said, 'That's the
man.' I smiled, for I remembered what Consal ilmaslond
had said the day bs ore on board ship, • You know the pro-
verb—a ship Is always unlucky alien a parson is on board,
I.ladcterwir eYol"ewIltl mbee tal'ireaj,gog,hattirucrlrerei7S'it, Ttrat'caagee
man '—quite abruptly, without looking elsewhere. Then the
two witnesses were broucht in together, and I was
called upon to speak English. I said but a few
words /shell Stalker made • gesturc with his hands
and cried, 'Enough, Enonch, that's him rough voice
—now rlll quite sure ' F.arlr was equally sure, abso-
lutely positive. All the coil, rants were smiling, anti the
captain of the Waugerland said jestingly, 'I) .ctor, I con.
gratulate you on being capable of so great a crme,' and all
burst out IsuAliing. Wohlehe was released, and I wan told
by Mr li rout that I was in Lustoly, whereupon I made
the statonent to him of having been 11l in London at the
time of the murder, just as the °facer tecountei In his as
d mine,

'Two ceeetables In melform took charge of me. I sent
for my wife and she came—situ smiling. • The affair.' she
said, ' will, of amine, he setihe to dry' I teld ler what
the two e Koester. had done. Then ehe smiled no more, but
said, ' It in ridiculous ; I eat by your bedside till four to the
morning. and lied will bring the truth to light.' Ihe comul
came, and said it was an awkward business., but thee the
proof of an alibi must he easy. I 'emended in reply that a
telegram should be sent off at once to London, that K roll
and his servants should come down by the next train
and clear me. The consul said that the London detec-
tive. had telegraphed to Superintendent Thompson for In-
structions, and must wait instructions. At five o'clock In
the afternoon I had heard nothing raaore, and I claimed that
come what might I should be sent immediately to London
ti go before the magistrate there. But the London detec-
tives returned to Lotion without communiestine either
with the consul or myself, and I Was kept in the Town-hall
of Ramegate during the night, pending Instructinne from
London as to my disposal. .My wife remained with me all
night. A couch for her was made up on the floor with the
cushions brought in from the chairs of the magiatrates. She
was wearied and slept a little; I I ever closed an eye. A
policeman remained in the earne room with us all night.
"On Monday morning there came from London a number
of other witnesses along with Mr. Superintendent Thomacne
Alter they had seen me I was brought before tire Ramegate
Inaghtrete, and having been formally charged, was heeded
over by the itainsgete to the metropolitan pOl-co. I was
, brought in a carrioge with Mr. Harnett ti the station.
where I met my wife. In the etatien were soon' if nay friends
of the IV angerland arid some Rams tate pa pie of any ea
qualutance, alit shook hands with its and wished me well.
We started in a second.class carriage, and after passing two
or three stations the two boys of Flack, the green-
erocer, were put into the same "tette°, and re-
nedued with its lietil at a efatioe peit outside lan-
tern we were transferred to a first-class carriage, in
which we found Mr. Sul eriutendent Thomson. From
Victoria we were taken in • gab to Bow-street, and
after about half an hour of waiting, I was placed In the dock
arid formally charged. I gave up to Mr. Harnett all the con-
tents of any pockets. Iler luggage heel alreedy been searched
in if unsgate, in the presence of my wife. After leaving the
dock I was placed in a cell which was quite dark, and which
contained two benches. The cell was clean, hut very cold.
I asked and obtained a glass of bitter beer. The jailer sub!
he would make moss comfortable as lee could, and gave me
a blanket, which was out, torn, and not very sweet. I was
allowed to take my Portuguese kook., and use them
for a pillow. The cell door was allowed to remain
open all night,, coaetable standing by le I wee
allowed to read an.. write. The light came in from
the passage, through the open door. The Jailer brought me
paper and also an old watch-coat to help keep me warm.
Three or four prisoners were talking and laughing nearly all
night in the neighbouring cells. Women were shrieking,
and two little boys were brought in late who the jailer
told me had stolen two shillings worth of cigars. About
four in the morning t had to leave off writing, my fingers
got so cold. Then I managed to sleep about two hours ;
ane at eight was teken into the waiting-room to wash.
I had for breakfast—the tare bane my own choice—
beer and bread and butter. At ten came my wife, and after
weeds Mr. Wilke, the German Consul General, accompanied
by Mr. Mullenainvel Mr. le meets Straight and I cheerfully
confided nry defence to their hands. When I asked whetear
the witnesses to my alibi could not give their evidence di-
rectly, I was told that this could net be ; but that I might be
of good cheer, since in a few days all would be well. Before
being placed in the dock I had no opp rrtunity to change my
under-clothing, or to brush my clothe' and after two nights
spent without uedressing I felt that my aspect could net be
in my favour. (In removal from the dock I was taken to
a great black carriage, through cremes of people who
tressed me as I passed, and brought to the Clerkenwell House
of Detention. Arrive I there, I, with the rest of the cargo,
was called forth to give nay !name in full, and was forced to
reply, in answer to the question, that I was charged with
murder.' I was then brought Into a little cell. where I
waited game ten nrinutes. sitting on a bench, and then taken
' into scold mem and obliged to take off all my clothes and
stand quite naked before • man who examined me carerully
, all over, as I believe, to see whether I was suff,ing
from any disease. Everything I hal in my pockets
I had to give up, lecludleg a photograph of me
Sly wedding ring was also taken from me.
The (*archer laughed when I told him I was a German
clergyman mimed with murder, ant that my wile
was in London, and would visit me. My clothes were carried
into a bathroom, and I in my shirt followed, and got into a
bet bath. H svelte dressed, I was brought back abruptly into
the cold cell, and waited till au officer crime, who pointed nit
. . .

out nip dinner in a little tin box upon the floor. It was a
piece of bread ant some c rid meat Presently I was taken
upstairs and put into No. S cell, bringing my dinner aith
me, which however I could not eat. The cell struck very
Calif. In It was a good bed with three blankets and two
pillows There was a small board for • table, and another
as s chair. The floor was of cement. About six p.m.
I got a pint of gruel arid a riece of bread. No knife
or fork was allowed me, and I had to eat every-
thing with a large wooden spoon or with my fingers At
half-past six came an officer, who ordered me to take off all
my clothes, which he took away, as also the towel, brush
breom, comb, and indeed tt hing it mined at all possible
to commit suicide with. At a request that I should have a
pocket-handkerchief left bi caws I had a hut cold, the man
laughed, and said it could not be alloa ed. I could not sleep
all night—the third night—on acci tint of thinking on the
disgraceful position iu which I was placed. Once every
110111 on this as on all otto.r nights a warder CIIIII3 and oil-
looked my cell door, and asked All rieht 1' sod Iha
to reply in the same words. On thee following morning,
as on every other morning, my clothes were brought
back at seven, and I found the comb and the
wooden spoon ill tie same little box. With the badge
No. 8 on my arm, I was taken cut into the yard to exercise
with the other prisoners, and after three-quarters of an hour
of this was brougnt in to breakfast, which consisted a
pint if gruel ami a piece of ly emit. At eleven I was brought
into the chapel to prayers along with the other prisoners
At twelve came toy wife to visit me. I begged her to leave
s 'me money, no that I might obtain food at my own expense.
My wife was allowed to see me every day, but only for ten
minutes each day, and she was obligee to stand two or three
feet away from the grating of the clotted door of my cell, and
forbidden to touch the door. She was not watched, but
often asked whether she had given me anythir g. We could
only see each other dimly through the grating.

"At two on the Tuesday I was able to get some food with
the money my wife had left—two eggs and some beer; and
I afterwards paid for all my own rations. I used to breakfast
on coffee with toast; have for lunch two eggs with half a
pistol beer, and for dinner chope and steaks, with bread.
rho food was charged for very moderately. The chops and
steaks were always cut up into pieces before I got them, so
that I should not require a knife, and I had to eat with the
big wooden spoon or with my lingers. At three in the after-
noon there was walkiog exercise again, with some running
by way of variety. At live the gee wa, lit In the corridor;
It shone through the grating Is the cell door, but was
so dim and flickering that it was not possible to read
by it continuously with any comfort. I had to
go to bed at half past six my clothes being taken away from
me. On the Sunday, for the same reason, I was forced to go
to bed at five o'clock. On the second day the Bible and
rrayerbook in my cell were taken away, I imagine, because
I had written a letter to the German Consuldleneral, and
that it was thonght I might use the blank fly leaf for the
same purpose. The Governor, however, supplied me with
paper and a pen. on the afternoon of each day I was per.
mined to sea my solicitor in the cousultati di room as long
as I chose, and in this room also I wise permitted to see Drs.
Cappel and Walbaffign but I was 'rot allowed to see Dr.
&tinter, another clergyman, who is &relative of my own, hot
illy friend Wohlebe, nor any other person; nor could
I get permission, notwithstanding my entreaties to set my
wife In thie room. By request of my solicitor, I was nitl
mately allowed some clean linen, but neither studs nor ties.
Books wore given me on thefourth day—via., Good Words,
for 1871, and Schwebes life of fiddler in German. I was
obliged to clean my mess-tin with a cloth, to clean my boots,
and to wash and scrub the floor of my cell on my knees, as
also to wash the boards which served for a table and a chair,
and to sweep down the walls and the little locker in the cor-
ner. I made my own bed, but once was told to leave t
unmade until it hat been examined by an official to we
that nothing was concealed under the blanket. Almost
dad y the physcian tusked after my health. The Governor
visited me, I believe, three times; he was very friendly, and
desired to know whether I had any wishes or complaints.
When he came I had to stand to attention in the c duer by
the door. Once there came the visiting Indices who allowed
niece the last day of my imprisonment to sea my wile for
twenty minutes, lint still with the ce'l-door between us.
She was not allowed to silt me on the Sunday.

"I have said my cell was Very cold. I wag told there were
hot-air pipes, and the air-grating was shown me through
which the hot air was supposed to come in, but whenever I
touched this I always found it cold. The ventilator was
above my bed head, so that between it and the grating in
the cell door there was • continuous draft over me as I lay
In bed When I had to rise, I had to tread on the cement
floor with my naked feet. My previously severe cold was
thus greatly aggravated. After being taken before the
magistrate last Tuesday, I wee subjected to the bath, and
peraonal search, which I had undergone winn I brat was
brought in. I saw the chaplain several times. One day,
after he hat given me books, ha came to my cell, and in
gratitude I held out my hand to shake hands with him. Ile
drew bark and raid, 'I never shake hands with prisoners.'
but before I went away for the last time to g before the
ma datrate, he waked nie good sumss and shook hands
with me.

" I dealru to record my gratitude to the German Consul-
General for his continuous and assiduous ',indium, and
speak well of the order and cleanliness of the Hotlee of
Detention, and of the kindueu of all it.

The Rev. 11_1. Woolrych, formerly Chaplain of
Maidstone Gaol,
.writee to the Daily Ne :

As the English law presumes every man to be Innonent
before his guilt Ir proved, it would seem that in all cases
in which bail I aut of the question a prisoner en trial
might to enjoy the comforts as well as the hare neces-
saries of life. Having _hew -freeiwry. veacw-askarcion' ara
first Miss county prison I was frequently pained to think that
some of the trial prisoners were probably perfectly fiance :tit
men ; yet there we, the cold cell, the meagre diet, the
suspicious warder peering in and ready to enforce silence
or to report to the governor in the case of these men as
readily as in the case of old and oft convicted on enders. It
is perfectly true that many of these trial prisoners were
snspicionsdookiug fellows, and some had been previously
convicted; others, however, were poor heart-broken look
lag creatures, who had never b en inside of a gaol lidera,
and appeared aghast at their novel position. ;lonely •
superior set of cells made to resemble ordinary chambers,
chain of docent appear mce,- cocoanut matting, a small
fireplace to each chamber, and wardsmen chosen toe snown
civility of demeanour, would add little to prison expenses
and trench little on prison discipline. If the prissier were
proved guilty, he would even •ith therm luxuries not find
much cause for boasting afterwards ; if innocent he would
feel that he had been treated as a human being endowed
with holy, soul, and spirit. As Cis diet, it should be given
according to the previous life 0/ the man in a fair and just
ratio, and so as to secure Leath and spirits.

BERMAN OPINTON OF DR HE,,ECS CASE,
The National Gazette of Berlin commen.a severely upon
the Enedsh crlminsl law pro°. dure, and says tint the con-
duct of the police was uniavole. they ought to have
investigated the credibility of th tnessee and have tnade
proper Inquiries at KnOl fi .fore arresting Dr. Ilene?.
The Journal asks what would tne English public any If
Medlar treatment had been inflicted upon WI Englishman
abroad.

Lose FROM CATTLE Dissesr. —One third of
ti e t Ael head of horned Ptock in Cheshire (says the
Chamber of Agriculture Journal) felt with the lot and
mouth disea-e during the past year. Of the 51,1,97
attacked in 1872, it appeals that 561 died or were
killed for bnr,aL Toes, may be valued at 215 per
head, or .28,145. Taking the 50.536 catt'e which did
not (lie as damaged £4 per head, we have a toted
loss of £210,559 inflicted by one disease in the third
year of its continuous visitation. Reckoning the value
of the whole head of stock in the county at £l5 per
animal, or £2,20%000, it appears that the sacrifice in a
single year hae amounted to Ili per cent,