SOME paupers at Droitwich workhouse took the opportunity to complain about the plague of flies that was making life miserable, when one of the ruling guardians, Mr Holyoake Wight, paid a visit. They said bald inmates were particularly affected. The master was instructed to take steps to catch the insects, but he had already done so by ordering a quantity of flypapers.

A LAD, William Irish, said by his mother to be aged about 13, and in custody, appeared at Bromsgrove Police Court charge with stealing four threepeny pieces from the home of neighbour John Walters, of Bournheath, while his wife was digging potatoes in the garden. Irish had been in trouble previously for petty theft and the chairman was prompted to remark his was a "terrible story." He was sent to the workhouse pending arrangements being made for him to go to a reformatory in a bid to prevent him entering a life of crime.

BEN Crawford, a cowman in the employ of Mr Rowlands, of Lickey Grange, had a miraculous escape from death when he was repeatedly tossed by a bull when he went to fetch in the cows. The crazed animal had him on the ground and had torn his clothes to shreds. Fortunately, Crawford's plight was spotted by a woman in the Grange who summoned help to drag him under a fence to safety Crawford was taken home suffering from shock and a bad arm wound.

THE Blackpool Times newspaper carried an unusual story of man now farming in Dodford, a Mr G Hemming, who while previously, in the Lancashire resort, had used his skill as a phrenologist to entertain the trippers by attempting to explain the "bumps" on the sands.

MR Phillips, of the Coach and Horses Hotel, in Bromsgrove High Street, was appealing to townsfolk to support him after the Midland Railway banned him from picking up passengers outside the station in his omnibus. The company, which also planned to run a shuttle service, insisted the closest he could pick up passengers was from the top of Station Hill, but in wet weather people preferred to use the nearest vehicle.