The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1868-06-13 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

CICY ENGIN E.—A most singular and fatal accident occurred on the Brecon and Merthyr Railway, on Saturday evening last. As one of tire luggage trains was proceeding in the direction of I nom the driver fancied he saw something wrong with his engine, and stretched himself as far as he omit on one side to get a view of its movements, when just at that moment his head came in contact with a telegraph-post, killing him on the spot. On Monday I this particular engine was again the conspicuous actor in another tragedy. A new engine-driver had it in charge, and was going at the usual speed towards Talybout, when, from some cause or other, the engine ran wil•I, and passing through Talybout at a tremendous speed ran some distance, and then overturned itself down the embankment, pulling the carriages after it a heap of wreck and ruin. ihe jx.or engine driver was found under his engine much injured, but it is thought not fatally. For a long distance the railway was covered with luggage, and so cut up that the passengers by subsequent trains had to get out and walk some distance. Had the Brecon and Merthyr train been coming up in the direction of Talybout at the time, there is no doubt but there would have been I a frightful accident. - - - •  THE DRINK AGAIN !—A melancholy circnmstance has occurred at'the island of Jersey, involving the death of three soldiers of the Royal Artillery, stationed at Elizabeth Castle. It appears that one day last week George Sidworthy, James Willett, and Charles Wood, gunners, left the castle in a boat belonging to the canteen keeper, intending to have an excursion on the water. They crossed St. Aubin's Bay, and landed at the town of St. Aubin, where they remained till the evening, drinking freely. About six o'clock they left for the purpose of returning to Elizabeth Castle. They were then all very drunk. Nothing more was seen or heard of them or the boat , till the latter was picked up la' e in the evening, floating bottom upwards in the bay. About eleven o'clock next morning the body of one of the three missing men was picked up on Ncirtrumt manor, where it hail been washed ashore. Though the face was greatly disfigured from its having been eaten by crabs, the body was recognised as that of Charles Wood. HANGING TIIE WRONG MAN! An American paper incidentally mentions an instance in which Lynch law has miscarried in the State of lowa. A vigilance committee took upon itself to hang one Mr. Roberts, a supposed horse thief, between Jonesville and Waverlev. It subsequently turned out that the horses alleged to have been stolen bad not been stolen at all, lent hail only been "borrowed by two tipsy men, who had ridden them as far as Cedar Falls, and had then turned them loose. Warrants have been . taken out against the perpetrators of this murder, one I if whom is said to be the sob-sheriff of the country ; but a wealthy and influential party has declare,' itself in favour of Lynch law afid its anhnin•istrators, on the constitutional principle that authority must be supported, even at the cost of the life of an innocent man. AN