THE date for the execution of Samuel Middleton, who had been found guilty of murdering his wife at Foxlydiate, had been set for July 15 at Worcester Jail. He was reported to be indifferent and not appearing to dread the fate that awaited him. He had recently been visited by his son to whom he had given 9/- (45p). He would be allowed to see his children for the last time four days before he was hanged.

n

THE Dodford Inn, together with four adjacent cottages, six acres of land, stabling and a cow shed, was set to come under the hammer at an auction conducted by Cotton and Chappell at the Bell pub in Bromsgrove. The inn was described as being a free house and well able to accommodate the crowds who annually visited the village throughout the strawberry season. The fruit was the district's main crop on which many smallholders depended for their livelihoods.

n

A ROW over drainage at the New Buildings in Birmingham Road erupted between a councillor and the authority's medical office during a meeting of Bromsgrove Urban District Council. Cllr Crane said the council could only compel a landlord to connect his premises to the main sewer if a nuisance was being caused and in his opinion one wasn't. But, Dr Kidd declared conditions were so foul that when he and colleagues had inspected the premises recently they had to light cigarettes to mask the stench.

n

THE price of strawberries at Birmingham market, where many worried growers in this district sold their produce, had reached rock bottom. Thousands of pounds were being sold for just 10d (4p) for 12lbs. And on Wednesday choice fruit was being hawked around the city streets on sale at only 2d (1p) per lb.