The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1887-09-10 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

GLADSTONE." There are now 32 vice-presidents of the National Footpath Preservation Society, besides the Duke of WestminAer as patron and the Earl of Bective president. More than 40 members of the House of Commons (irrespective of party) have joined the society, which is frequently applied to from all parts of the country for advice respecting the closing of public footpaths and encroachments on roadside land. Three branch or local societies have lately been formed at Scar/eorough. Leicester. and Bristol. waiter H. rrestidge, commercial traveller to Messrs. Roberts and Leete, wholesale stationers, Bermondsey, Leedon, was on Monday before the Lawfords-gate magistra es charged with embezzlement, he having been apprehended while on a visit to friends near Bristol A metropolitan detective said the defalcations were alleged to be £264. The accused was handed over to the London police. The Dowlais Steel Works, where about 4000 men are employed, are re.starting in all branches, as a large quantity of water has now flowed into the reservoirs. For the past few months little more than labouring work has been done in this large establishment. A remarkable character has lust died at Warrington in the person of Elizabeth Taylor, familiarly known as " Happy Ned." She was on board one of the vessels which r in the blockade during the American war as a sailor, her sex being unknown. She afterwards worked as a labourer in the dockyards at Liverpool, and more recently as a farm labourer in the Warrington district. A year or two ago she discarded her male attire, and lived in a little house on her savings. She was 60 years of age. Arthur Bishop and Walter Sevenoaks were finally examined before Mr. D'Eyncourt at Westminster, on Mon' ay, on the charge of stealing a large quantity of jewellery and other goods belonging to Mr. J. W, Brooks, barrister at-law. They were; both committed for trial, and Bishop also on the ferther charge of uttering a forged cheque. The prieoners, it appeared, had gaited access to the house by visiting the servants during the absence of the family. Dr. Diplock held an inquest on Monday OD a mat named Chasemore, who lately hanged himself in Fulham parish church. The deceased had earned a precarious living as an organ-blower, and was known to be almost destitute. The jury found that he committed suicide while of unsound mind. The Duke of Connaught arrived at Bombay on Monday, on his return from England. The Duchess of Albany arrived at Arolsen Castle on Sunriay on a visit to her parents, the Prince and Princess of Waldeck-Pyrmont. _ _ _ .  „ The attention of Mr. Gladstone was drawn to the action of some English Liberal members in joining the National League, and his opinion was asked as to the wisdom and expedien:y of the step. Replying to the correspondent, the right hon. gentleman writes from Hawarden Castle : ” Sir,—l fear that the subject on which yno have addressed me is one on whlc'n I should not he justified in tendering any advice unasked to tba gentlemen whom you name. I am, indeed, ignorant alike of theii intentions and of the reasons on which they may propo:e to take any particular course Yours very faithfully and obediently, W. E.