The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-10-07 00:00:00

KIDDERMINSTER.

000-FELLowsurr.—On Wednesday evening upwards
of ;20 of the:M.U.A..O.F. met at the Assembly Room,
Plough Inn, for the purpose of presenting Bro. Watson,
of Nottingham, with a handsome finger rug, together
with an illuminated address, as a token of their apprecia-
tion of his services in their cause, more especially on the
occasion of their great banquet at Kidderminster in
April last, when his stirring address was the means of
creating an interest in the order, and caused au-influx ef
new and promising members. Bro. A. H. Greaves oc-
cupied the chair, and in address of some length set forth
I the great principles of the order, and its moral and social
I advantages. He introduced Mr. Watson as an instance
of one who, believing in the advantages and admiring the
.principles of Odd fellowship. had become an apostle of
the order, and one who had by his:great exertions helped
to bring it into a state of great financial prosperity.
When they reflected that daily they expended no less
sum than £l,OOO on their sick members, they would see
of what immense usefulness it was to the country. They
seldom heard of an Odd-fellow coming down upon the
relief fund of the Guardians of the Poor, and he,believed
that the gaol rates were:not very much troubled by them.
He then proposed the usual loyal toasts, and, after a few
minor Ones, "The health of the Manchester Unity."
coupled with Rio. Watson, was drunk, and that gentle-
-Alan responded in a lengthy address, contrasting the
position such orders held in the country to fifty year,
ago.—Mr. Ainsworth (secretary) now produced the rug
and address, and in presenting them referred to Mr.
Watson's long services to the order. He explained that
the rug was designed after the ,same pattern as that pre-
sented to the Prince of Wales:in .1863. .The. rug, vraV
made by the same firm, the .artist being. a pupil of the
gentleman who designed the_rug_presented to the Prince
—Kr. Watson having returned thanks, other toasts were
honoured, especially that of thelßewdley brethren, who
were strongly represented at the Meeting, which broke
up after a most pleasant evening.
CHARGE oF PoAcHING.—A man of respectable appear-
ance, named George Henry Smith, an engine-driver on
the loop line between Bewdley and Kidderminster, was
charged on Thursday, before Mr. Henry Homfray and a
full bench of county magistrates with poaching on the
lands of Mr. Codsall, and those of the Earl of Dudley.
An Irishman, named Michael Graham,- was the only
witness, and he swore that on the 16th ult., at between
six and seven a.m.. he saw defendant shoot at a covey of
birds, bringing one down, which he pocketed. He also
swore that he saw him take a gun from Captain Spencer's
coppice, on the Stourport Road. Defendant cross-ex-
amined the witness, who showed unmistakeable signs el
animus against him, and for the defence called a man
employed as foreman, named William Sawker, whose
evidence tended to prove that Graham had made a mis-
take in the day, or was not accurate in his evidence, and
that defendant was not away from his engine from 6 am
till 11 p.m. that day. Defendant said also that a ness
who could prove this, William Stanley, had been ha it on
the line and was in hospital, teal also said that the day
the witness had sworn to was the day on which the acci-
dent occurred on the loop line. He requested an ad-
journment to produce this witness, and the Bench ac-
cordingly adjourned the case for a fortnight for the ap-
pearance of Stanley.