GEORGE Stanton, aged 43, a nailor and labourer from Bromsgrove, would rue the day he trespassed on to Mr Thomas Key's land at the Foxwalks to steal 14 pounds of mushrooms worth 7/- (35p). Magistrates at the town's police court fined him 10/- (50p) plus 5/6 (27.5p) costs with no time to pay. Stanton, who earned little more per week that the 15/6 total, opted instead for 14 days' hard labour at Worcester Jail.

RECENT wet weather combined with damage from rooks, pigeons and in particular sparrows was playing havoc with the harvest locally. It was thought that the damage from birds was as a direct result of an increase in numbers following the introduction of the Wild Birds' Protection Act and a falling off in the once popular winter pastime of netting. A major campaign to cull sparrow numbers in Bromsgrove was set to start in the autumn with farmers giving cash rewards.

THE death of Lord Salisbury prompted The Messenger to recall the time when he was Prime Minister and he visited Bromsgrove while staying with Lord Windsor at Hewell Grange. A large cheering crowd greeted him at the railway station but as he shunned the limelight he merely raised his hat in acknowledgement.

A PECULIAR accident befell William Edwards, aged 54, a saw mill operator at the Wagon Works who lived in Windsor Square, as he made his way to work. As he passed John B Wilson's grocers shop in Aston Fields a truss of hay fell on his head rendering him semi-conscious. He was conveyed to the Cottage Hospital where he was attended by Dr Rowlands.

AN inquest decided that Frank Warman, aged 27, a farm worker from Bournheath, suffered an accidental death. The jury heard that he was in charge of a heavily laden wagon descending a steep, slippery hill in Blackheath when the brakes failed. The load pushed the horses forward into a hedge and in his attempt to save the animals Warman was killed. He was buried in Catshill churchyard on Sunday.