This thread is going to house snippets from all sources on ...
BLACK COUNTRY NEWS -that hit the headlines in days gone by.
So all you roving online reporters let's have your news and stories..... Happy, Sad, Gruesome, Scary, Fact and Folklore etc. Let's read between the lines and discover what really went on!
Most of us have interesting newspaper articles from our ancestors, share em here! Or maybe you have the Bugle annuals and there are some great stories in there that you can tell us about!
Please any stories/newspaper articles must be in your own words so just give us the bare bones.... Oh and not too gruesome please as regards the content remember the family audience
Jimmy posted a great link that gave some real interesting facts about the Black Country and its people-
It is about the notes of a Joseph Wheldon living in the 1930's at Blackheath, in a diary for 1933 he wrote down "a list of interesting events and dates, both local and national..."
and this one is about the goings on in Cradley Heath! From the diary of John Martin who kept a "log of interesting snippets of informatoin, mainly from the environs of Cradley Heath where he lived".....
I seem to remember reading about this in a bugle will try and find it. But something about the shoes she wore tied her into a local girl not too sure there.....anyone know any more?
John Tibbetts was a Butcher of Cradley Heath b 1881 son of Edward and Eliza, gd son of Thomas and Elizabeth Guest, gt gd son of Thomas and Elizabeth Watchorn, gt gt gd son of John and Elizabeth Martin, 3xgt of John Tibbitts and Susannah. (a reliable source on the Tibbetts made this connection).
The following fact has been mentioned in notes of Joseph Wheldon and John Martin.
It says John Tibbetts,(b 1881) aged 22 (May 8th 1903) and a butcher of Cradley Heath killed his wife (no name) by cutting her throat and then did the same to himself.
Here's a story (true) about a Darlaston innkeeper called Moses Whitehouse b abt 1779. He was known locally as Rough Moey a rough and ready charactor whose appearance wasn't helped by him being deeply pitted by smallpox and scarred by a pit explosion and with only one eye and one leg .....well he didn't have a lot going for him in the looks department- in fact it's a wonder that his beer didn't turn sour!
The Story goes that he put his Staffs bull terrier in an old sewer pit with another staffie to fight. But the dogs refused to fight. So Moey jumped into the pit. Crouching down he started to bait 'em. Unknown to Moey the dogs were being affected by the sewer gas and all Moey did was provoke them into attacking him! All 3 of them soon collapsed due to the poisoned atmosphere and poor Moey came off worse - ending up even more of an eyesore than he usually was!
A person should have an opinion on everything, It becomes tact whether you reveal that opinion or not.
THE CRADLEY STARVATION CASE Verdict of Manslaughter 1899
Yesterday evening Mr W. Topham Deputy Coroner resumed the adjourned inquest at Cradley Heath in the circumstances attending the deaths of Edith aged two years eight months, and John Thomas Westwood aged 1 and eleven months, the children of Thomas and Alice Westwood, of Corngreaves Road Cradley Heath. Caroline Westwood Grandmother was recalled today and identified the body of Edith Westwood deceased. Dr Thomas Standish of Cradley Heath said he undertook a post-mortem examination of Edith on the 19th Inst. Her body was extremely emaciated, but there were no external marks of violence. The weight of Edith's body was 8 1/2 lbs the average weight being a little over 27 lbs for that age. He could not trace any bodily disease whatsoever. There was an entire absence of fat or blood. The stomach was contracted and empty. Nothing could produce those symptons as far as his knowledge went except an absence of food. Referring to the death of John Thomas, he said that on the 24th December he made a post-mortem examination of the body and was told the child was 1 year and 11 months old. It was somewhat emaciated, and its weight was 11 1/4 lbs. There was a Scar below the angle of the mouth. Internally he found the organs healthy, and that there was an entire absence of food and blood and that death was due to starvation. In that case they would hold the parents responsible. If it was the Jury's opinion that their conduct was malicious, then they would return a verdict of murder. If they thought it was a case of neglect then they would return a verdict of manslaughter. A Juror asked if the children were insured. The Coroner said he could not answer that question, but he believed as a matter of fact they had been, but the Insurance had lapsed. The Jury in the case of Edith returned a verdict of manslaughter against the Parents, and in the case of John Thomas, death by natural causes. The Parents were committed for trial on the Coroners Warrant.
Here is another report on the same Inquest from a different Newspaper:-
Yesterday afternoon Mr F. Topham, Deputy Coroner, held an Inquest at Cradley Heath, relative to the death of Edith Westwood aged 2 and 9 months. Alice Westwood wife of Thomas Westwood, said she was the Mother of the deceased and resided at Corngreaves Road Cradley Heath. Deceased died on the 14th Inst. It had been consumptive ever since its birth. There were thirteen persons living at the house. Her husband earned 2s 6d per day. Police Constable Davis said that on the 27th Dec 1888 he visited Westwood's home and saw two children. Both were very dirty, and did not appear to have been washed for three months. One child was in a drawer, which was used as a Cradle. The children were poorly clad. The house was in a most filthy condition, and the stench was so bad as to force him to quit the building. Witness asked the Mother to account for the filthy condition of the house, when she replied that she had not got the means to keep it better. Witness reported the matter to the Parish Doctor, Dr, De Denne. There was only one chair and a broken table in the house in the shape of furniture. Sergeant Hayward said the other child was nearly dead. The Relieving Officer, William Cooper said that on September 3rd last he visited the deceased's parents house and found it in a most filthy and dirty state. It was raining, and the water was running into the house. The two children were lying on part of a bacon box, and were clad in dirty rags. The only food that was in the house was a small piece of butter on a plate, and some crusts of bread, which were on the floor of the house. The child was about 8lbs weight. Witness visited the house on another occasion with Dr De Denne, who examined the children, who appeared not to have been fed for a long time. The mother gave the children some milk, and they took it so eagerly as to demonstrate that they had not had any food for some time. He produced a Medical Certificate certifying that the children were in want of food, and in such a dreadful emaciated condition as to endanger their lives. He saw the father, and asked for permission to take them to the Workhouse Infirmary, when he replied that if the mother would give him permission he could if he liked. Witness saw the Mother, who would not consent, and began to abuse him. On the following Saturday he provided milk for the children. Witness laid information, and the Parents were summoned for neglecting their children, by the instructions of the Dudley Board of Guardians. On the 11th September the Parents were tried, and the father was committed for one month and the mother for three months. The children were ordered to be taken to the Workhouse. Edith the deceased, then weighed 10lb 6ozs, and John Thomas who was one year and ten months old, weighed 14lb. After seven weeks in the Workhouse, Edith on her discharge weighed 14lb and John Thomas 16lb 2ozs. When the father came out of Gaol he attended before the Board of Guardians, who allowed him to keep the children in the Union another fortnight. At the end of the fortnight he said he had got a home at Overend near Cradley. Witness did not hear anything more until the Mother applied to him for a burial order. The Inquest was then adjourned until the 27 Inst in order that a Post Mortem examination might be made. .
A tragic story told by the Vicar of St Giles (year to be confirmed but between 1800-1840- I forget for now)
NOVEMER 4, 'WEDNESDAY. This day was buried Mary Carter, one of the Sunday Scholars, a girl about fourteen years of age. On Thursday evening last, her clothes took fire, and she was so dreadfully burned, that she died on the Sunday morning. It appears, she was nursing a babe of a few months old, and had reclined on a bench near the fire, and it is supposed, there fell asleep. A sister, about six years of age, was the only person present. She observed Mary's clothes on fire, and told her. The terrified girl rose up, ran out of doors, and was quickly enveloped in flames. The neighbours were alarmed, and, with some difficulty, the flames were extinguished, but not till all her clothing was consumed. All proper assistance was had for the poor sufferer, as soon as possible, but not a hope of recovery could be entertained. Her whole body, arms, and hands were scorched to a cinder : but her head, face, and even her hair, wore untouched. During the short time she survived, her mind was employed, almost exclusively, on eternal things. She spoke frequently of Jesus, as her' Saviour, and was much in prayer. The last words she uttered were, " Glory to the Father, to the Son, and -to the Holy Ghost;" and, to use her father's expression, she seemed ready to jump out of the bed. Who can say, in that momentous crisis, that she was not, like Stephen, favoured with a sight of the opening heavens, and of Jesus Christ, in his own glorious kingdom?
Moses Rose Married Elizabeth Gaunt on the 23rd October 1720, they had ten children one being another Moses. A Richard Gaunt born Rowley 1739 was a Maltster and Parish Clerk at Rowley for 40 years; his daughter Hannah born 1799 (who Married William Francis Finney born Broseley 1791, on the 9.2.1833 Rowley Regis,) was the first Rowley School Mistress. Two of Richard's siblings were Surgeon's and another two were Clerics. Richard Gaunt was a direct descendant of John of Gaunt, son of Edward III.
Children of Wm Finney and Hannah nee Gaunt were:- Samuel Finney bap 18.11.1832 St Chad Shrewsbury Richard Finney bap 16.3.1834 Rowley Regis died 1864 Dan Finney bap Sep 1835 died 1839 Arthur Wm Finney bap 10.5.1838 died 1841
ALLEGED MURDERS Published in 'THE TIMES' Wed February 6th 1878 (Kindly Supplied By Carol)
A murder is reported to have been committed yesterday at Caithmore, near Halesowen in North Worcestershire. Joseph Harris, a miner, resided here with his wife and two children, aged five and three years respectively. The wife's father and mother also lived at the house, but were both absent at the breakfast hour. During this time Harris seems to have resolved to kill his wife and children. Shortly afterwards, the wife and younger child were found lying dead in the kitchen with their faces hacked with a chopper, and the elder child was fatally wounded in her bed. The discovery was made by Mrs Harris's mother, to whom the deceased had communicated fears of her husband. Harris was captured as he was walking unconcernedly towards his house. He denied having done the deed, but there were bloodstains on his clothes. In September last, he was discharged from a lunatic asylum, and has ever since shown jealousy of his wife. At the Birmingham Crown Court, yesterday, John Appleby, an operative toolmaker, was charged with causing the death of his wife Charlotte on the previous night, by violently throwing her down the cellar steps of their house. The deceased kept a small bucksters shop, and appears to have been a women of industrious habits. Her husband was, on the other hand, addicted to drinking, and when intoxicated was accustomed to ill-use and threaten his wife. On the evening in question, Appleby was the worse for liquor, and shortly before midnight was heard abusing his wife, who ran into the street for protection. The prisoner ran after her and pulled her back into the house, and immediately afterwards, the neighbours heard a crash, as of something falling heavily. The daughter of the deceased then ran out of the house, exclaiming “ He's killed my mother!†Appleby followed her and said to a neighbour named Noble, “My wife has fallen down the cellar; come and help me.†On entering the house, Noble, who was accompanied by a policeman, found Mrs Appleby laying dead at the bottom of the cellar steps. The Prisoner was remanded until Friday.
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