The Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1866-08-04 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

MURDEIL-At the Lancaster &seizes, John Banks has been tried for the murder of Ann Gilligan, at Preston. It will be remembered that the crime was committed about a month ago, and that the deceased, who was wife to a soldier on foreign service, cohabited with the prisoner. Returning together at night from a public-tem-le where they had been drinking, the prisoner charged the woman with having taken sonic money out of his picket, and just as they approached their home he beat her wost brutally. This brutality was continued inside the house, kicking and stamping upon deceweil, and dragging her twice upstairs by the hair of her head. The next morning she was in great pain, but prisoner again kicked her. After lingering for about a day the woman died. The jury found the prisoner guilty, and he was sentenced to death.  THE CAITLE PLAnufs.—The weekly return of the reported awes of cattle plague in Great Britain for the week ending Saturday, .July 21, Kays : " ' "  The present return Indicates a further diminution In the prevalence of cattle plague. The number of attack. officially reported in Great Britain was 2)7—vie, 195 In England, II lii Wales, and 1 in Scotland. The number—viz , 297, allows a decrease of l/7 on the Keeton. return Correcting the total, by adding an estimate of attacks commencing during the week, hut which may he subeemiently reported, the 0111,11ltr for the week will he .23? Froth outbreaks took place In 33 farms, or places where title are kept, the number of such outbreaks In the previous week being 41. In GIS counties and " the metr,ppolis" no canes have I,een reported aa oc.lirring during the week. Nine counties; and one riding of 1 orkshire chow an Increase of 44 easel; and eleven compile. and " the inetropolia and one riding ol Vork.hire show a decrease ti lit casts One animal ill every 29 of the ordinary stock of cattle in Great Britain has Ipeell attacked, awl to every I,COO attaeka, whose result, have been reported, S6l 11111111•111 perished. 150 sheep are re ported during the week to hove been attacked, making the total to the date of thla return 5,50e1.  THE HEIGHT OF LoulaY.—The Paris correspondent of the Moro log Star, in describing Baron James the Rothachibl's chateau at Firrieres, mays : Every single visitor finds at hie disposal • suite c,nsisting of:, splendid drawing room, boudoir, bedroom, and dressingroom. ON every dressing room table are the ordinary contents of a gorgeous dressing-case ivory brushes surmounted by the baron's coronet—sliver looses, containing every species of ,gonettepie, poridre fir riz, Am—exquisite hand mirrors, mounted in sculptured Ivory, sandal wood, or silver I net °silty tempted even old bachelors. A scent bottle of rare workmanship attracted my attention. As the spring flow back, to a jewelled watch, by Brequet, was revealed One:LK(' In the top—so while a fair lady inhale, the perfumed contents she Is Informed of the time of day. The grounds are extensive, and the conservatories may, indeed, be said to rival In beauty, If not In extent, those of far-famed l hatsworth The grounds are diversified by sheets of water, on which fairy boats continually ply, and rendered Interesting by the numbers of yaks, gazelles, antelopes, elands, and foreign animals of all harmh vs species, which roam at their own sweet will evidently enjoying this Rion as thoroughly aa their own native places  A