July 19-26

12:18pm today Tuesday 22nd July 2008

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250 Years Ago:

A few days since, as Mr Need of Castlemorton, near Malvern, was firing off a gun, the barrel burst, though very lightly charged, and a large piece entered about three inches deep into his forehead, from whence it could not be drawn out but by the help of a large pair of pincers, and his brains likewise issuing from the wounds, there are no hopes of his living.

It was quite a new gun and bought but the day before in Birmingham. What punishment then is due to the person who dared to expose to sale an article of so dangerous a nature before it had been duly proved?

• On Monday, George Wilson of Harbottle in Northumberland, aged 105 years, was married to Lilley Forbes of the same place, aged 42 years, being his fourth wife.

They were accompanied to the church by most of the inhabitants of the neighbourhood and, after dinner, he danced with the bride and most of the ladies present with all the vivacity and spirit of a man of 40. He has been a subject of eight kings and queens of England.

200 Years Ago:

A melancholy instance of the effects of canine madness has lately occurred in the neighbourhood of Ledbury.

A girl about nine years-old was bit in the mouth by a pointer bitch which immediately ran off and, in passing through Ledbury town, bit several dogs before it was shot dead. The girl was taken to the sea and the usual methods of salt water cure resorted to.

However, a little time after her return home, symptoms were observed which rendered it more probable that the remedies used had failed. She refused to eat her food but snapped at it, and during the forenoon on Wednesday last, she foamed violently at the mouth and expired in convulsive agonies.

Though such undoubted instances as above of the madness existing among dogs have occurred in almost every part of the kingdom, we are deeply disturbed that we have not yet seen any attempt made to investigate the causes of this terrible affection.

150 Years Ago:

Emma Refrain, a lightly reputed nymph, living in Silver Street, was charged at Worcester Police Court with having stolen a watch belonging to William Burrows of Malvern on Saturday night.

In his statement to the police, Burrows said he had accompanied the girl to her lodgings and while there, she covered his head and face with a scarf. He suddenly lost consciousness and on recovering, he missed his watch and the girl.

As Burrows failed to appear to prosecute his case, the magistrates had no choice but to discharge the prisoner, exhorting her to take warning from her narrow escape from gaol and not to resort to such tricks again in future.

• As a wagoner in the employ of Mr Orgees of Cradley, near Malvern, was endeavouring to pass a cart belonging to the local board of health near the Brewer’s Arms in St Nicholas Street, Worcester, on Wednesday, he managed to run the laden wagon into the shop window of Mr Wainwright, hairdresser, which was entirely smashed to the great alarm of all the occupants of the premises.

100 Years Ago:

WHEN the driver of the 6.20pm passenger train from Wolverhampton arrived at Droitwich on Thursday evening, he reported that he had run over a man at Grantham Bridge near to the town.

Police Inspector Lewis went to the spot and found the body of a man cut in two lying on the permanent way. From the position in which the body was found, it is believed the man deliberately placed himself across the rails.

He was respectably attired, about 40 years of age and 5ft 8ins in height. It is said that the man had been loitering about Droitwich during the morning, but no one knew him.

• A horse belonging to Mr Rossiter died in a dreadful manner on Sunday. As it was jumping from one field to another, it got caught on the railings and disembowelled itself. A veterinary surgeon was fetched but the animal died.