The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1881-01-01 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

ENVILLE.  CHRISTMAS GlFTS.—There has been a seasonable distribution of gifts to the labouring poor of Enville and Kinver this Christmas by the Countess of Stamford and Warrington, and some 300 homes in these places have been made all the happier by her ladyship's well-timed kindness. The recipients of the gifts assembled at the Picture Gallery, Enville Hall, on Friday. and Lady Stamford supplied them each with meat and bread according to the number in family. Her ladyship personally presented the gift to each one, and altogether upwards of I,ooolbs of beef, 5001bs. of mutton, and 200 loaves were given away. Lady Stamford also gave each one a ticket for soup, which will be given weekly through the winter.  DUDLEY, SurcfnE.—Late on Christmas night or early on Sunday morning, Lamech Harper (29), single, the son of Mary Harper, of the Freebodies Inn, St. John's-road, Kate's-hill, Dudley, committed suicide in a detei mined manner. On Christmas night he vvas missed at an early hour from the family circle, and his absence being thought somewhat strange, search was made far him, and it was found that he had retired to bed. About half-past eight o'clock on Su..day morning upon a brother of the deceased's gecting upand going down stairs he came into collision in the dark wi h the dead body of the deceased, which was suspended by a scarf from a hook in the passage aijoining the kitchen. PoliceconAable Beddowes was sent for, and he cut down the body which was stiff and cold, and had sup h t netlybteetiiehha deceased lay necgaingeforseqvueiely in bed ratlboursb.ltanids p ihtwiealriciateiesodctliofuTfo prutohetnhsedewaD:poht,uihnd he r he e inmatesimmediately o f the hrooussee and to retire mitted the rash act by which he lost his life. The cause of the suicide is conjectured to be some private trouble. He was until recently himself the landlord of the Freeboclies Inn. Schoolroom, Kingstreet, by the Mayor WESLEYAN BAZAAR —A two days' sale of articles was Esq.) Among those present were the Mayoress. openedlDudley Win I theeY a nA lemi circuit (H . M-uP. ilt Wainwrighttee fu uSde Alderman North and Mrs. North Mr. R. G. Walker Dr. Higgs, the Revs. H. F. Kelvey and J. Burrows, Mr. It. Preece and others,—The Riv. H. F. Klvey, in introducing the Mayor, remarked that he was sure his Worship would be interested in the knowledge that Methodism througlactit this district had, during the past few years, been making steady progress. The present effort was being made in order to maintain, as efficiently as possible, the present staff of ministers in the Dudley circuit. At . the present time there was a debt upon the circuit of £122, which it was hoped the bazaar would ba successful in removing.—The Mayor then delivered an address, and declared the sale open. Afterwards upon the maion of Alderman North, seconded by Mr. R. Preece a cordial vote of ithanks was passed t ) his \Vo, ship for his services. T:te lalis in care PI bn ails were Mesda,mts .!--oy, Walker foser, Clarke, Simps. n, ACI ristleas ree was presided over b ie Miss. a Crawford, N. Preece, Butt and Southall ; the refreshment "stall was in charge of Mrs Preece and Miss Walker, and an "art" gallery was attended to by Mears, Crawford and T. W. Hill.