5 April - 12 April

9:26am Monday 7th April 2008

100 Years Ago:

Exciting scenes were witnessed at Little Witley on Tuesday morning when a fire broke out in a block of three cottages, the property of the Earl of Dudley.

At about 8am neighbours noticed that smoke was issuing forth from the cottages which stand on the main Worcester road and the alarm was raised. The hand fire engine was sent for from Witley but the flames quickly caught hold. Every effort was made to rescue the inmates and their effects.

First, an aged couple, both of them ill, were taken out. The occupants of the other two cottages - a man and his little daughter in one, and a widow and her six children in the other - were also successfully removed, as well as most of their household goods, before the cottages were given up for lost.

No one was hurt but no part of the block of three cottages was saved.

• Albert Clarke (44), a labourer of 13 Dent Street, Worcester, was charged at the city police court with assaulting his wife Louisa and was sent to prison for 14 days' hard labour.

150 Years Ago:

On Tuesday night last, a groom named James Chadd in the service of John Parker of Woodside House, Lark Hill, Worcester, made his appearance at the city police station covered in dirt and, with rueful looks, declared he had been knocked down by two men near his master's premises, kicked and rolled over in the mud, and robbed of £2.10s.6d belonging to his master.

Police Superintendent Phillips and Detectives Richardson and Holmes at once instituted inquiries and it eventually transpired that Chadd had entirely concocted the robbery story and had taken the money himself because he had got into debt.

He has since been discharged by Mr Parker from his service. Chadd was some time back employed as a whipper-in at the kennels near this city.

• Benjamin Ford, employed at Messrs Grainger's china manufactory, appeared at Worcester Police Court to answer a complaint made by Mr Holmes, master at St Martin's School, for having thrown dirt at his scholars and, with other lads, having created an annoyance near the school on several occasions. Upon promising not to repeat the offence, he was discharged with a strong reprimand.

200 Years Ago:

ON Monday last, a young man was killed at Evesham by the kick from a stallion which was standing in the public market of that town. Magistrates at Worcester some time since, very properly ordered that stallions should be exhibited only at a place appointed for that purpose so that they might not interfere with the business of the market, and we think it would be highly proper that a similar regulation should be adopted in every place, by which means accidents of this tragic kind might be avoided.

• The magistrates of Droitwich last week convicted a waggoner in the penalty of 20 shillings for driving in the footway of the road near that place. We understand that the commissioners of roads are determined to enforce the penalties against persons so offending.

• Wanted. A journeyman who understands the gingerbread baking business. For particulars, apply at No.8 Broad Street, Worcester.

250 Years Ago:

AT Worcester Assizes this week, the following four persons were sentenced to transportation to the New World for seven years - Susannah Guise, for robbing the dwelling house of Mr Houseman of Hampton Lovett; Jane Baylis, for robbing the dwelling house of Mr Spilsbury of Clifton upon Teme; Hannah Davi,s for robbing the dwelling house of Agnes Collins in the Tything, and William Allard. for stealing a kettle, the property of Lady Temple, and an iron timber chain, the property of Mr Baylis of Severn Stoke.

Richard Shallard, for stealing two jugs, is to be publicly whipped next Market Day.

• On Tuesday last was married John Vernon, Glover of this city, to Miss Harris, an agreeable young lady, possessed of every qualification to make a good wife, and a husband completely happy.

• It is said that the number of prisoners in all the different jails of England now amounts to near 60,000.

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