Show constables Conn tables staves in tt ti e past the home secretary sir matthew white ridley has just secured from northampton two relics relies of the past that are peculiarly associated with the de part merit mett of the state of which he is minister these are two staves at once the badges and instruments 0 of f office of the village constables of long ago when mene mens lives were consider ed of less account than they are now ahe staff of those days probably sears ears ago was a formidable not to say ry instrument of offense I 1 have been able to obtain one of t the he same ame sort mine was formerly the I 1 II 11 of the parish constable 0 of arington Br ington england it consists of two parts truncheon or handle lathe turned ten inches long and a sphere three inches in its longest and two and a quarter in its shortest diameter both handle and hall ball are of boxwood they are united by a strong double thong of white leather fastened by I 1 on pegs into apertures bolted into both handle and ball the ball has two inches of play on the leather so that from end to end the instrument is fifteen inches long As the ball hangs loosely about the straight bandie di some degree of force is required to bring it into action but when this is 13 done the execution the weapon la Is capable of ie is something dreadful A moderate blow cannot be struck by it with very little exertion on the part art of the bolder holder a man s bead head leg or arm would be very easily broken N NU doubt some such powerful weapon was waa required in the good old times northampton mercury |