The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1886-11-06 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

COCOA  A MYSTERIOUS DEFENDANT.  At the Westminster Police-conrt on Monday, a tall. stylishly-dressed young woman, who gave the false name of Annie Hills, and do=cribed herself as a nursery governess, was charged on remand with attempting to commit suicide. Mr. Bernard G. Wilson, solicitor, appeared for the defendant. The case has excited considerable interest. Since she has been under remand a number of personal inquiries have been made at the court respecting missing girls, and letters have been recieved from different parts of the country, and even from the Continent, photographs of young women who had left their friends being in more than one instance enclosed. The accused, it may be recollected, was seen reclining against a lamp-post in the neighbourhood of Belgrave-square by Lord Norreye, while on his way home on the night of the 21st ult. She was groaning, and told Lord Norreys that she had taken poison. Ile informed a constable, and the young woman was conveyed to the station. Although the doctor could find no evidence of it she asserted that she had swallowed laudanum, and, furthermore, she stated to a police officer that she took it because she was friendless and destitute. In court she refused to give her correct name, and would only state that she was last employed in Paris. On Thursday last, when again brought up, it was stated that the result of inquiry had been to ascertain the fact that her real name was Alice Somers, and that she had been educated in a Roman Catholic convent school. A gentleman, who then appeared on behalf of her solicitor, said that she was known to the Rev. Father Bowden, of the Brompton Oratory, and also at Fulham. In court she still adhered to her determination not to disclose her antecedents, and she was interrogated privately before the magistrate in his room. 1 She was then again remanded until Monday. when Mr. Bernard Wilson attended, and stated that she was willing to leave with a lady in court who would look after her. She was then dismissed in the name of Hills.  The Land Commission met at Armagh on Monday, Earl Cowper presiding. Borne witnesses were examined, but very few farmers attended, the local branch of the National League having met on Sunday night and resolved to boycott the Commission. The members of the Surrey Sessions Bar Mess entertained Sir E. Clarke, Q 0., M.P , at a complimentary dinner at Willis's Rooms on Monday evening, in celobration of his recent appointment as SolicitorGeneral. The chair was occupied by Mr. Serjeant Robinson.  rad/it  Lsag. slt to AtiL4ti,ti: taci;  ..00FING, Now and Second-hand 'i intr. ~1....nt • , • , , l'avil. . ,5,..%•• , •bleA. . ..N.47f,,,..,,,,,,..- • ic. ~,-• ~._ ~ - '''k ••-I -• ~- of Iron —• , P.,-.^- 0 Stud, •',.- gostinn. London. &W. Off  IRON BUILDINGS and .. ____. ~ Churchat, Chapel!, IC ............„0.-...intgnii.. T,,ldn ;ic! t-.,h'(l7i'clal' It'a, if f.,:. •:,,,:j7",„ . , ' f'''' ,; . ions, ottages. Star Farm Buildintra, -,7 414. • • • '-, , .k. Iruu Buildingb nere • 07 .....„. . -.V Ytew. 100 tuns -' - • a. .ofing ul ISt,