The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-05-21 00:00:00

'.l',ocal aub irstrict Ilan.

BOARD OF GUARDIANS.—The weekly meeting
of this Board was held yesterday; Mr. Granger
in the chair. There were also present: Messrs.
Brooks, Wood, Bird, Darby, 13illingham, Fere-
day, Griffin, Guest, Higgs, Oliver, Pardoe, Pas-
kins, Pearsall, Powell, Raybould, Weston, Rose,
Rhodes, and Rollinson. Admitted into the
house during the week, 20; discharged, 27;
born, 2; dead, 2; remaining, 399. Correspond-
ing week last year, 394. Out-door relief King-
swinford district, /41 Os 6d; Stourbridge dis-
trict, /28 18s 64; Halesowen district, /24 14s
4d; total, /92 13s 44, against /89 18s lid last
year.—The Clerk read a letter from Mr. Cun-
ningham, of the Lancashire Life and Fire
Office, acknowledging the receipt of one he had
sent.—The particulars which were moved for by
Mr. Raybould, to furnish the respective numbers
of the inmates, their trades and callings, were
produced, and Mr. Raybould said he had asked
for them because Mr. Plant was of opinion that
many of them were from the mining district,
and the facts now submitted proved that out of
the 120 males, only six were returned as colliers.
Mr. Brooks said he seconded the resolution be-
cause he wished to get at the truth. Mr. Fere-
day said Mr. Plant was not present to-day, but
he was quite sure that when he came before
them he would be able to clear himself in the
matter.

HAGLEY STOCK SALE. - An extra sale was
held on Monday last, at which more than 500
persons were present from all parts. Upwards
of 000 sheep and lambs were sold, but the sup-
ply of beef was limited. A very great attrac-
tion, however, was a selection of cows and hei-
fers from the milking herd of John Harward,
Esq., of W interfold. Good prices were realised,
but the competition was not quite so keen as at
the sale a fortnight previously. Fat tegs, out
of the wool, realised as high as 675, and lambs
as high as 43s a head. Fat cows as high as
£23, and milking cows as high as £25 each. The
sale realised upwards of £2,400.
OBTAINING MONEY BY FALBE PRETENCES.—
At the Police Court, on Wednesday afternoon,
before It. L. Freer, Esq., George Hill, late a
member of the police force, was charged with
obtaining Is 6d by false pretences, from Joseph
Hill, on the 12th of April, at Oldswiuford. Mr.
Prescott appeared for complainant, and Mr. G.
Perry for the defence.—Complainant said: I
am a nailer, and live at Oldewinford. My sou
threw a stone at a person named Shilvock. 1
went to Shilvock to ask him to forgive my SOD.
It was about eight or nine o'clock on the follow-
ing morning. I told him I was very sorry, and
1 hoped he would look over it. He told me to
go to defendant. I went and told him Shilvock
had sent me up to say that he would not have
any more to do with it. Defendant made me no
answer. I came down home, end defendant sent
a girl for me to go to the top of the Heath
Lane. He said, "Have you got the money to
settle this job ?" I asked him how much it was
to settle it; and he said 5s 6d for the summons,
and for serving it. The summons is out, and
you will have to pay for the service of it. 1
told him I had not got it. He said I must go
somewhere and borrow it, and he would wait
there until I got it. I saw my brother-in-law
in the road, and borrowed half-a-crown of him.
I had 3s, and I paid the Is 6d to defendant. He
told me it was for the summons. He sent for
me on the Monday morning. John Hill Went
with me. Defendant said, " What about this
job I will give you 8s to settle it, and say no
more about it. .1 told him that if I had any-
thing I would have my money back, the 58 6d.
I saw him on the following day, Tuesday. He
met me by the Fountain Inn, Haglev Road.
He said he would give me the money, but I told
him I could do nothing in it, as it was in Mr.
Prescott's hands. This was after I had seen
Mr. hing, the Magistrates' Clerk. I came to
the office to inquire if a summons had been is-
sued. Defendant told me one had been issued.
Defendant was remanded until yesterday, bail
being accepted in one surety of £lO, and him-
self in .E2O. The case was again called on be-
fore B. Littlewood, R. L. Freer, C. P. Noel, and
Holcroft, Esqrs. Mr. Bartlett, of Wolver-
hampton (instructed by Mr. Prescott) appeared
for the prosecution, and Mr. Perry defended.
Joseph Hill repeated the above evidence. Cross.
examined: On the night of the 11th my son had
thrown a stone at Shilvock. Did not hear that
Hill was requested to take him into custody. I
did go with a woman to Hill's house, at the
Heath Lane. Prisoner was with Shilvock. Pri.
soner said, "Whit are you people going to do;
are you going to make it np." Shilvock said if
I would pay for the summons and serving, he
should be satisfied. Prisoner said if the sum-
mons was issued he should have to pay for it,
and the service. lie said the summons was out.
Prisoner said it would cost Is 6d. I got the
money and paid hint. Shilvock said he wanted
the 28 6d buck, which he had paid. Prisoner
told him to go down to Mr. Freeman, and he
could have it. I have heard that Shilvock had
back 28 3d. I after saw Hill, and be said he
would give me 3s. I told him I dare not do it,
as I had put it into Mr. Prescott's hands. Had
Mr. Prescott been willing for me to have settled
it, I should have done so. By the Clerk: Hill
offered me 30 in the Hospital Walk If he had
given me the whole I should have taken it.
John Hill, nephew of the last witness, said:
I live at Oldswinford, and am a horsenail maker.
On Sunday night the 17th of April, I saw the
prisoner at his own house. I told him my uncle
had been down to Mr. Preecott's concerning the
yourek"
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summons, and that he was going to take pro-
iv,t'nushould
a
to-morrowl.The prisoner
r io
im
y c of
forme e t tm
ao tehr
vice out of his own pockt t. On the Monday
following I went to the prisoner's house, and saw
him. He said, "I suppose yott have come con-
cerning that summons ?" I said, "Yes." He
said he would rather pay the 3s out of his pocket
than it should come to the " Governor's" ears.
I said, "Then give him the money." My uncle
replied, " I shan't have the money. I shall have
it all or none. I can't afford to be robbed out

of a half-crown; I am a poor man." Prisoner
called me out of his back door, and asked ins
to lend him :Is. I refused. I said I had got a
shilling. Hill said he had not got a farthing.
The next day Hill came to me. I said I thought
it was a bad job with him, as my uncle had gone
down again to Mr. Prescott's. He then asked
me to meet him at the Labour-in-Vain in an
hour, as he was going to fetch his money, and
would settle it. I wanted it settled. Lewellyn
Hill said: I am a haulier, and live at Oldswin.
ford. On the 17th April I saw the prisoner, and
had a conversation with him, and asked him if it
was true ho had made up a case of assault with-
out the summons being issued. Prisoner said
" It's all a lie." I then said, "A summons was
issed ?" Hill said "Of course it was," and all
he should get would be a reprimand from the
" Govern& " for receiving the fee for the sum-
mons, and not serving it on the party. Super-
intendent William Freeman deposed: I am a
Superintendent of Police stationed at Stout.
bridge, and the prisoner was in my division. On
the 11th of April Shilvock came for a summons
about nine o'clock. Can't say the exact time.
I received is 61 He complained of a man hav-
ing struck him with a stone. I have the half- '
crown at the present time. Saw Hill the same
night, at eleven o'clock. Saw prisoner the next
morning, and he said that Shilvock's matter was
made up, and asked if he was to have hack his
money. I said yes, as no summons was issued,
and " Tell bins to call upon me, and I will give
it him back." The half-crown is still in my
box. Shilvock has not called for it. Cross- '
examined: Can't swear that I had a conversa-
tion with Hill when he came on duty. Shilvook
paid the half-crown on the Monday, or he would
not have taken instructions. A summons once
signed should not be made up unless sanctioned
by the Magistrate who signed it, and the fees.
Instructions are sometimes left on my desk for
summonses. If Hill had seen the instructions he ,
would know it had not been issued. Mr. Perry
addressed the Bench for the defence, and said
when they considered the whole ease and heard
the evidence, they would acquit him of fraud.
James Shilvock said : I live at Oldswinford,
and drive a horse for Mr. Lees. On the 11th of
April I made a complaint to the prisoner about
a young man having thrown a stone at me, and
asked him to take him in charge. He said I
was to have a summons. I after saw Superin-
tendent Freeman, and applied for a summons,
and paid a half-crown for it. When Hill came
down to the station, Mr. Freeman said if the
summons was served the next morning before
twelve it would do. I saw the prisoner the next
morning at the top of Field Lane. Hill said,
" They have been up to me, and said you would
make it up." I sent them to him, and Hill said
if it was made up they would have to pay 5s 6d
for the summons and service. I went on and
saw Joseph Hill. The prisoner, myself, and
Hill met at the Heath Lane, and prisoner said if
it was made up Hill would have to pay 5s 6d
Hill went to borrow the money. Later on I saw
the prisoner about it, and he said I should have
to go to the Superintendent's Office. Later on
the same day I saw the prisoner, and he gave
me a half-crown, and asked me what I was going
to stand. I gave him a pint of ale. This being
the case, the Magistrates retired for a short
time. On returning into Court, Joseph Hill was
re called and said it was Tuesday morning about
half-past nine when he paid the money. His
nephew and wife were standing near him. James
Shilvock re-called said he was with Joseph Hill
when he paid the money to the prisoner. Could
net say the exact time, but it was in the morn.
lug. Superintendent Freeman re-called said
that when he saw the prisoner it would be from
half-past eleven to twelve o'clock. Mr. Little.
wood said they did not think there was sufficient
evidence to prove that prisoner received the
money under fraudulent pretences, and did not
think that any jury would convict under the
evidence given, and should discharge him ; but
thought the policeman had done wrong in receiv-
ing the money. The Bench did not think that
a policeman should receive or pay any money
away. Mr. King, the Clerk, said there was a
law prohibiting a policeman from receiving any
money whatever, unless he had a note to do so.
The case was then dismissed.

ANOTHER CASE. Samuel Hopkins was
charged with obtaining Is lid and a pint of ale
from Daniel John Lovatt, by false pretences,
on the 17th. Complainant said : On the above
date defendant come to my house about half-past
nine. He presented the note produced. He
said Horace had sent it, and I was to give Lim
Os 5d and a pint of ale. He said Horace would
be responsible for it. I understood he meant
Horace Pearson. Pearson had worked with the
defendant. He said some of the men had sub-
scribed lid each. Pearson is always called Hor-
ace at the works. I gave defendant Is lid and a
pint of ale, in consequence of the production of
the note, understanding at the time Horace
would pay it. Pearson, with the defendant and
others, have been to my house together. Hot,
ace Pearson said: I work at Mr. Turney's skin.
yard, and am a flesher. Defendant worked
there three or four days last week. Did not
know him before he came in the shop. On the
10th and 11th instants was at complainant's with
defendant and some more men. We did not let
him pay for any ale. When he camel gave him
an order to get a pint of beer and some bread
and cheese at complainant's, and signed it with
Horace (my name). I did not write the note
produced. Police-sergeant Jones proved appre-
hending the defendant. Defendant was re-
manded until yesterday; when he was brought
before the sitting Magistrates and committed to
take his trial at the ensuing Worcester Sessions,
bail being accepted—himself in tO, and one
surety in £lO.
ASSAULTING A WOMAN.—Herbert Mann was
charged by Ann Morris with assaulting her on
the 14th instant. Complainant said as she was
going to Belbroughton on her donkey, when she
wet the defendant and another man. The de-
fendant put his hand en her dress in an indecent
way, and assaulted her. She told him if he did
not loose her she would cut his head off with a
stick. Defendant denied the charge, and asked
for the ease to be adjourned for a week to pro-
duce a witness, and the Bench adjourned the
Case.

CHARGE OF THEFT.—PINebe Gardener, of the
Lye, was charged with stealing six candles on
the 19th lust, the property of Appollace Homer.
Mr. Perry defended. Prosecutzix said that on
the aboN e day she was in a room adjoining a
shop, and was looking through a pane of glass.
Saw the prisoner in the shop in the shop in the
act of lifting something off the counter, near
where the tea and candles are kept. On going
into the shop prisoner made for the door, and
lifted up the latch, as if she had just come in.
Prisoner asked for a half pound of sugar, and
paid for it, and was making to go out. I fol-
lowed her to the door and told her she should
not leave until she was searched, and that she
had robbed me times enough. I sent for the po-
liceman, and while waiting for hie arrival, she
dropped some candles from under her clothes.
The candles were worth od per pound. The six
would be worth 2d. Crose-xamined : She did
not attempt to openthe door. She got close to
tho door. I did sot see the candles in her hand,
when I took hold of her. I saw her drop them.
The candles were in jars on the counter. Po-
lice-constable Caley suid : I am stationed at the
Lye. From information received, I went to the
shop of prosecutor. Last witness had hold of
prisoner. Found six candles on the floor of the
shop, by the side of prisoner. She was about
a yard and a half from the door. Police-con-
stable Rea proved apprehending the prisoner.
Martha Rea, wife of last witness, said prisoner
was brought to the Police Station, at the Lye.
I searched her, and found is sd. Mr. Perry
addressed the Bench in defence, and said there
was no evidence to show that prisoner stole the
candles. They were not found on her; they
were picked up off the floor. Mr. Rhodes gave
prisoner an excellent character. The Bench
considered the prisoner guilty, and sentenced
her to seven days imprisonment.

ASSAULT CASE.—Joseph Fozhall was charged
by Richard Tilley with asaaulting him on the
16th. Mr. Perry defended. Complainant said
on the above date he was coming down Angel-
street, when defendant struck him several times
on the face, cutting his lip. Complainant did
not return the blow. Several witnesses were
called on each side. The Bench fined defend-
ant is and costs.

A NICE FAMlLY.—Esther Herbert was charged
with assaulting Maria Houton on the 17th, at
Clout, From the evidence of complainant it
appeared that defendant lives at their house,
and on the above date she went home and began
beating complainant severely. Witnesses were
tailed for each side, but their evidence was so
contradictory, that tho Bench dismissed the
Case.