The Warwickshire Herald. — 1895-06-06 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

FATALITY AT A THEATRE.  At Lambeth, on Friday, Mr. A. Braxton Hicks held an inquiry with reference to the death of John Curtis Ashdown, aged 49 years, a plumber, who died at the Theatre Metropole, Denmark-hill, on Monday, after falling a distance of 25ft. from the thee to the stage. It appeared that on Monday the deceased had an appointment at the theatre with the clerk of the works, Mr. Brough. As Mr. Brough was not on the stage a workman named Gardner conducted him up the ladder at the side of the stage for the purpose of reaching the flies, where Mr. Brough was supposed to be. About 25ft. from the stagelevel Gardner asked him to stop at the landing and not to cross the bridge, while he (Gardner) went to find Mr. Brough. The deceased was then standing about sft. from the well of the stairs. A few seconds later Gardner heard a noise,and going to the edge of the well, saw the deceased in the act of falling down the ladder head first. The deceased, who was a man weighing about 17 stone, fell with a thud on an iron railing at the bottom of the ladder, and was picked up dead. The witness Gardner stated that he thought the deceased must have been seized with a fainting fit and have fallen headlong while unconscious.—The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.  The driver of the night mail-cart between Chaumont and Nogent, Paris, was shot through the head = Thursday night by some person unknown and killed on the spot. The mail bags were carried ca and their contents ransacked, but it is said there was nothing of very great value in them. The police ere on the track of the murderer. Her literary record is equally short All she has so far given the world is • small volume containing four tales, and these were only published a few days ago. But Ehe had made her mark before this. Some other tales had been read at conversaziones, and created nothing short of a sensation. Says our informant: "The quaintness of her ideas, the boldness with which she satirises public institutions, and more especially the Neo-Caesarism so prevalent in this country, the charm and sweetness of the descriptive passages, the almost Biblical beauty of her style, all combined to make her the talk of every drawing-room in the capital." She soon became the celebrity of the day, and now onlookers are wondering whether she will justify herself of her admirers.  "You remember Daubyn's new picture that he went about praising to the skies?" "Yes." "Well, that was where the committee hung it." Suggins: "Why all this talk about the new woman?" Muggins: "i suppose because it isn't tate to refer to any woman as the old woman.'" Spoons: "And will my ducky trust me in everything when we are married ?" She: " Everring, Algy, provided you don't ask for a latchkey.'  Dew or rain.—Collector s "Your water tax is due." Consumer (startled ) : " Due " Collector, "Certainly. What did you expect it to be? Rain F" "Jinkins, I believe you have some of the elements of a success about you." "Not a dollar, old man. Honour bright. You'd be welcome to it if I hat"  Fashion notes.--in spite or toe innuence or toe new woman, gowns will be worn this summer as usual. Bonnets should be worn on the head, unless they. are sun-bonnets. The latter may be worn hanging down the back. It is still good form to wear black gloves when cleaning the kitchen stove. At other times colours may be worn by those who prefer. It is not necessary for ladies to be in full dress when shopping. The essential about a costume for marketing is a purse. At theatre-parties ladies will wear opera-glasses and their own hair, if they have plenty. If not, they may wear someone else's. When long skirts are selected for walking-costumes le wearer should be particular to don well-fitting shoes.  The Erclingtou Tailor's Affairs.—At the Birmingham Bankruptcy Court on Thursday, before Mr. Registrar Parry, Alfred James Palle* High Street, Lrdington, clothier, was publicly examined. Liabilities £2BO, assets £B4.—ln this case the bankrupt attributed his misfottunes to illness. He mentioned that he had been advised in relation to his affairs by a Mr. Bloor, who, he luiderstood, was a solicitor, but who, as it afterwards transpired, w Lot a qualified praotitioner. Without any authority from the Ninkrupt, Mr. Bloor instructed an auctioneer to sell the effects, whereupon the creditors intervened, and he was made a bankrupt.—The examination wee closed.