The by-election was caused by the expulsion from Parliament of the sitting Liberal Unionist MP, George Hastings.
In his summing up the judge, Mr Justice A L Smith, said that Hastings’ actions had left the four children of Major Brown “on the verge of want”.
This was against the background of a number of Liberal Unionist disputes with the Conservatives over candidate selection in the Birmingham area going back some years.
Joseph Chamberlain was keen to ensure a Liberal Unionist candidate to shore up his position vis-a-vis the Tories on his home patch, particularly as his family residence, Highbury Hall fell just within the northern boundary of the East Worcestershire seat.
The Chairman of the local Conservative Association, Victor Milward, tried to insist that Chamberlain must pledge to oppose any move towards disestablishment of the Church of England.