The Cotton Factory Times. — 1888-11-02 (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England)

THE TUNERIDGE WELLS MURDER.—The following letter has been received by the Captain of the Salvation Army at Tunbridge Wells from William Gower, one of the young men awaiting their trial for the Tunbridge Wells murder: "My dear Captain and friends of the Salvation Army,—l am now in my cell awaiting trial. I cannot say that lam unhappy, because I know that Jesus is with me. and is willing to help me through all my trials and temptations. All the officers and warders seem very kind. I was visited by the chaplain during the dinner hour, who spoke to me very kindly. He told me I was to prepare for what had to come. I feel sure that God has forgiven me all my sins. The day we got into the cells we bean to whistle praises to God for preserving us thus far, but we soon got stopped. Never mind, we can praise Him all the same. We are both in separate cells, so we cannot communicate with one another. I have several printed prayers and advice for Christians in my cell, also a Bible, Prayer Book, and hymn book, and a bound volume of solos. Please, Captain, read this in the meeting, and deliver this message to them all, especially on Sunday—' Prepare to moot polar Ged;--Yours,—W =taut Grow za."  The evidence of the operatives was almost wholly against the use of steam. It was stated repeatedly that steam was allowed to rash through the jets over the looms in some mills to such an extent, both in winter and summer, that enough water ran down the walls and pillars to completely saturate clothes that were hung there. The floor was sometimes so damp that instances were known where the ashes from the boiler house had to be got to kneel on when the weaver had to sweep under the looms. This state of things was aggravated by the fact that the ventilators were not allowed to be opened, and in some cases were nailed up. It was also alleged that in some instances the water from which the steam was made was obtained from the canal and brook in which cats and dogs were drowned, and that in consequence the smell was at times very bad. Repeatedly it was asserted that delicate women fainted in the sheds when the atmosphere was very bad, and in one case the sufferers could not be taken into the open air to revive on account of Ibis shed door being regularly locked, and so had to Be carried into the closet. It was further alleged that steam kept the size on the warp soft, and thus caused the antiseptic in it to get on to the clothes of the weavers, which ever afterwards felt cold and clammy, however much they were drie 1. In a few mills the weavers were allowed to turn off their own particular jets; in others they were discharged if they presumed to interfere with them. It was generally admitted that with the present system of heavy sizing the weaver could get more money with the steam than without, but with very few exceptions the witnesses said they would prefer to earn a little less and do without the steam. It was contended ,by a few of the weavers that if the masters would put less size on the warps and more cotton into them, the weaver would get more wages than he does now, would have better health, and the purchaser would not be defrauded. Weavers from light steaming sheds were called to speak as to the fact that they earned as much, and, in some cases, more, than did the weavers in sheds where heavy steaming was in vogue. A. large body of evidence was given to show that over and over again local doctors had ascribed the diseases from which weavers suffered to the presence of steam in which they worked, and the high temperature. In some sheds the thermometer had registered as high as 102 degrees. Witnesses said they could not eat their food; at night when they went home they felt a peculiar lassitude, they suffered from headache, rheumatism, sciatica, bronchitis, inflammation of the lungs, and consumption. Several witnesses alleged that they knew of cases where death was due to the unhealthy conditions under which they were expected to work. In a few instances it was admitted that the weavers had asked for steam to be turned into the shed, but this was due to the fact that they could not work the stuff they were weaving without it on account of the presence of so much size.