June 21-28

12:09pm Monday 23rd June 2008

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250 Years Ago:

AT our assizes in Worcester on Monday, Isabella Jackson was convicted of keeping a disorderly house in this city and is to stand in the public pillory for one hour on Saturday between the hours of noon and 2pm and afterwards to be imprisoned for two years. She was duly placed in the pillory at the Cross for one hour amidst a vast concourse of spectators.

* Yesterday, a gardener at Droitwich, being in a despairing way, though in good circumstances, cut his throat in so terrible a manner that he died in a few minutes after.

* On Monday last, Thomas Bryan of the parish of Hartlebury was committed to our county gaol in Worcester to await trial, being charged with assaulting and barbarously wounding Mary, the wife of John Davis of Ombersley, with a mowing scythe, whereby her life is in great danger.

* Yesterday was found in Barbourne Brook the velvet pulpit cloth which was stole out of Claines Church several months ago.

200 Years Ago:

A daring robbery was committed on the Kempsey road near this city a few days since. A young woman was going along the road about 9am and was met by six or seven Irish recruits who stopped her and rifled her pockets, but were disappointed in not finding much booty as she succeeded in securing from them the principal part of her money. These men were marching to the Isle of Wight and it is hoped they may yet be discovered.

* His Majesty’s birthday was on Saturday observed in this city with the usual demonstrations of joy. The Severn Rifle Corps had a grand field day and sham fight at New Town near this city and went through their various fatiguing manoeuvres with much credit. The sight being rather novel, a large concourse of spectators assembled to witness it.

* The three troops of the Worcestershire Yeomanry Cavalry were inspected at Defford Common by Lieutenant Colonel Houstoun, who expressed himself highly satisfied with their appearance.

150 Years Ago:

JOHN East, a little boy aged eight years, was charged at Worcester police court with having wheeled a barrow upon the causeway in Edgar Street, contrary to the Street Act, and also with wilfully bringing the wheel in collision with the door of the residence of Mr Wells at number 9 doing damage to the extent of half-a-crown. The boy was stated to have no father nor mother living and to be in the care of an aunt. Mr Wells kindly declined to press the charge and the boy, who wept copiously, was cautioned and discharged.

* The Very Rev Dean of Worcester has issued a circular notifying that it has been determined to make arrangements for sermons to be preached on Sunday afternoons during the summer season in the nave of the Cathedral (which will be suitably fitted for the purpose) with the view of supplying additional religious instruction to the inhabitants of this city.

100 Years Ago:

THE medical officer of health for Worcester, Dr Mabyn Read reports that 90 deaths due to tuberculosis occurred in the city during the past year. One death in every nine registered in the city was due to this disease and of the 90 deaths, 13 were of infants under one year of age and another seven of children between one and five years. Dr Read writes: “What a lamentable loss of life.”

* William Jones, butcher of 15 Southfield Street, Worcester, was summonsed at the city police court for furiously riding a bicycle in High Street. PC Sparkes claimed the defendant was going at the rate of 15 miles an hour but Jones protested that his machine would go no faster than 12 miles an hour. However, he was found guilty and fined 10 shillings with 7s. costs.

* After extensive laboratory studies, medical and veterinary experts reported to a Worcester inquest that the sudden death of Albert Edward Smith, a 29 years-old cowman of Tower Hill, Droitwich, had been due to anthrax contracted from a Jersey cow in his care.