A SHOCKING suicide was the main talking point in Bromsgrove this week. On Sunday, William Morris, 56, a bootmaker from Worcester Street, was found in his shop with his throat cut just hours after attempting to take his own life by swallowing strychnine. Then a doctor had used a stomach pump to save him. This time however, the doctor had been just five minutes too late to help him. The inquest jury at the police station heard Morris had been depressed over a property deal at Rock Hill, which had led him to take to drink.

BROMSGROVE'S Ambulance Club successfully applied to the town council for permission to erect a large case on an outside wall of Bromsgrove Town Hall in which to keep a stretcher and other first aid equipment for use in cases of emergency. A similar facility was already in use at Aston Fields.

GEORGE Roberts, of no fixed abode, who had been held in custody, appeared before Droitwich magistrates charged with stealing a ham worth 7/6 (37.5p) from Mr Edward Somers' shop, in Queen Street. Roberts, in his defence, told the bench he had been haymaking and drinking heavily, which combined with the hot sunshine, had made him not responsible for his actions. Magistrates showed no leniency and handed him 14 days' hard labour at Worcester jail.

LOCAL residents suffering from the excessive heat and drought were praying for a wet summer like last year's to bring them some relief. On Sunday, the mercury at Barnt Green touched 82.8 F, the hottest day of the year. The heatwave was causing tempers to fray, the Messenger remarked, which resulted in six cases of using bad language being heard at the town's police court on Tuesday. Three of the defendants were women.

"KING" strawberry was having a short but merry reign in the Bromsgrove area this year, the Messenger reporting on the district's staple crop said, which at this time of year gave employment to hundred of casual workers. An indication of its importance to the local economy was highlighted by one large grower who told a reporter 45,000 boxes each containing a dozen pounds of the luscious fruit had been taken to Birmingham market last week. This was in addition to large consignments being sent to Leeds, Bradford and other major towns and cities. The price varied between 2/- (10p) and 2/6 (12.5p) per dozen pound.