The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1880-09-18 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

THE STOTTRTMTDGE OBSERVER.  HOME NEWS.  At the annual dinner of the Bucks Agricultural So;:iety atffinslow, Lord Carrington, responding for she House of Lords, said he was confident that wrong sympathy exited between the House of Lords and tbe e )untry at large, These hundred and sixty or seventy peers, created during the present reign ,o;ved their positions to no accident of birth, but to their distinction in law, in the army, or in politics. The agitation against the House of Lords had proved a:complete failure. Lord Cottesloe, who followed, remarked that it was the Lords' duty to reject ill-prepared measures, but the Lords had always agreed to what the country desired. Sir Charles Duke was better on Thursday.  Tlr? Accrington Weavers' Wages Association on Thursday issued an appeal to the country for support during the period of the impending strike in the cotton trade. _  Their Royal llighnesses the Grand Duke of Hesse, the Hereditary Grand Duke, and the Princesses Irene and A'exandra, ai rived at Buckingham Palace on Thursday._  Gavin Inglis, the fireman of the express train which was in the late collision near Paisley, died on Thursday afternoon in the Royal Infirmary, Glas gow. This makes five deaths by the accident. A demonstration of the Liberal party took place on Thursday evening at Bury St. Edmunds consequent upon the restoration of Mr. J. A. Hardcastle to his seat for that borough at the general election. The Earl and Countess of Derby left their town resiience in St. James's Square, on Thursday, for their country seat in Lancashire, Knowsley Hall. where they will probably remain for some time. The Queenborough justices on Thursday fined Francis Berkessell, a Roman Catholic priest, a passenger by the Flushing steamer, in penalties amounting to nearly £lO, for endeavouTing to smuggle six pounds of cigars. The Right Hon. W. E. Bax.er, who presided at a meeting on board the Mars training ship on Thursday, at Dundee, said he always advocated liberal Support by the Government to such institutions. He was indignant to hear men, wig), for party political purposes, alarmed the cluntry by slanderous accounts of the inefficiency of the British navy. He maintained that our navy was stronger and better appointed than any navy of any combination of Powers that could be brought against us, and he was no patriot who rt fused to glory in its strength Our Merchant Service was also in a satisfactory condition, and bade fair to monopolise the carrying trade of the world. At the Central Criminal Court on Thursday, James Donovan, a footman, was indicted for senaing threatening letters to Lord Oranmore and Browne. The prosecuting counsel, in opening the case, said the jury would remember that last session a bill was introduced relating to the occupation of land in Ireland, and Lord Oranmore, uho took great interest in that measure had written t ) the Times on the subject. Inimeeately after te publication of his communication he received a number of threatening letters (The letters were read, and all contained threats to murder Lord Oranmore.) They were signed, "One of the Queen's soldiers, but a Fenian at heart," and dated Wellir.gton Barracks. Lord Orantnore proved the receipt of the letters, and Dr. Pigott, of Jermyn Street, in whose service prisoner was, was also called, but could not give any upinion as to the handwriting. Inspector Butcher stated that when he arrested the prisoner he found his clothes packed up ready for removal. Some further evidence having been given the jury returned a verdict of guilty, but recommended Donovan to mercy on account of youth and Previous good character. Mr, Justice Stephen passed ontence of six months' hard labour _ _  On 'Thursday, a single woman named Fanny Goddiug (39) was charged before the Poltsmouth magistrates with having attempted suicide, and also with the pilful murder 01 her illegitimate daughter, 4 years old. The prisoner tried to drown herself at Portsmouth, and on being apprehended confessed to having kept the child under water in the mud banks at Gosport, on the other side of the water, until it died She was con— signed to the custody of the Gosport police pending the inquest.  At Blanchester, on Thursday, John Sullivan, alias Simpson, was charged with decoying girls to Manchester for immoral purposes. A git 1 named Shoal, 15 years old, gave evidence of her correspondence with the prisoner, by whom she bad been visited. The Stipendiary said it could not be proved that the girl was under any legal control, but said she ha I had a narrow escape of being ruined. The prisoner was discharged. Sir John A. Macdonald, Premier of Canada; th.e Hon. J. H. Pope, Minister of Agriculture; and Sir Alex. Galt, High Commissioner of the Canalian Government in London, sailed on Thursday by the Allan steamer Sardinian for Quebec. Sir Charles Tupper, Commissioner ail Canadian Railways, is unavoidably detained until the 23rd, when he takes his departure by the steamer Peruvian of the same line.