May 17-24

9:56am Monday 19th May 2008

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250 Years Ago:

AN extraordinary instance of ill taste was given last Tuesday evening in the Tything, adjoining this city of Worcester, by a blacksmith who, for a trifling consideration, ate entirely one kitten with its skin, about six weeks old, and part of another, then two candles and, in the intervals, drank two quarts of ale. But the circumstances of the poor creatures, being alive when he began upon them, is not a little affecting, though at the first snap he bit off the head.

* A gay young fellow of a very good family near Kidderminster, having lost all his money, which was a considerable sum, at a cock match in Worcester, applied to the recruiting officer of the local militia and enlisted himself. However, as soon as he had received the advance money, he returned to the cock pit and again deeply engaged in the bets. Being so fortunate as to win £10 more than he had before lost, he quitted the pit and immediately repaired to the officer with whom he had enlisted, came to terms with him for a discharge and then returned home, well satisfied that he was a very ingenious gambler.

200 Years Ago:About 4am yesterday, a male child was discovered at a person's door in the Tything of this city, without any clothing and wrapped in an apron. It did not appear many hours old.

The parish officer ordered proper care to be taken of it, and it is likely to do well. A reward of five guineas has been very properly offered for the apprehension of the unfeeling mother. If discovered, she ought certainly to be made a severe example of as a warning to others not to be guilty of such inhumanity.

* The progress of vegetation during the last 10 days has been rapid almost beyond conception and the country at the present moment presents the appearance of an universal garden. The wheat and barley crops are in a very thriving state and the fruit is well set. The late wet weather has caused the grass to wear a very promising appearance and, in the hop-yards, the plants are high and in a very healthy condition.

150 Years Ago:Hannah Wainwright of Dolday, Worcester, faced two charges at the police court of illegally pawning goods. James Dorrell of Russell & Dorrell in High Street said that the prisoner had worked for their shop since October.

On January 2, he gave her material for making six smocks and she took this home, later producing four of the smocks. Application was made to her for the remainder of the smocks but when PC Barker searched her lodgings he found pawn tickets pledged to Mr Gwynne's for 3s.9d.

The prisoner confessed that she had pawned the smock material "to get victuals". She was also charged with pawning a blanket and sheet belonging to Thomas Jones of Dolday in whose lodging house she lived. She was sentenced to one month's imprisonment.

100 Years Ago:AT Worcester infirmary WB Hulme, the city coroner, conducted an inquest into the death of eight-year-old Stanley Richard Bailey, son of Richard Bailey, a coachman of Kent's Green, Callow End.

Witnesses stated that the boy, leaving the school gates, suddenly ran across the road and was knocked down and run over by a motor car being driven by Colonel HH Peel, commander of the Sussex Royal Garrison Artillery, who lives at Callow End.

He braked and sounded his horn but, although he was travelling slowly, there was no time for him to pull up and prevent the accident.

The jury returned a verdict of accidental death, saying that the mishap could not have been avoided by Col. Peel.