The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-11-23 00:00:00

OLD HILL.

CHARGE OF ASSAULT WITH INTINP.—At the Police
Court, on Wednesday, before Messrs. F. D. L. Smith
end B. Bingley, Thomas Hartland, of Baptist End,
Netherton, was charged with ass tufting Elizabeth Kirby.
Mr. Stokes defended, After hearing the evidence of
complainant the Bench dismissed the case,
CHARGE OF STEALING COAL —Wiliam Kendrick WAS
charged with stealing a lump of coal, on the 15'.h inst,
she property of the tirades Hall Colliery. Police-con-
stable McCrorty said he was on duty at half-past five.
He saw the prisoner go to the wharf and take a lump of
coal. He went up to him and asked who gave him leave
to take the coal. Prisoner threw down the coal and ran
away. Thomas Webb, manager, said the last witness
painted out the coal to him and th it the prisoner had in
his presence weighed it and it weighed 851bs. and it was
worth 61. Mr. Stokes, for the defence, said the Bench
were rakccl to brand the prisoner as a felon on the evi-
dence given by the police-officer. It had been his lot to
cross-examine the officer on several occasions and it had
always been to him most unsatisfactory. There was only
one witness and he contended that the officer had not a
good opportunity of knowing him. It would be most
unsafe to condemn the prisoner on the evidence given.
He could prove by prisoner's wife that he was in the
house at the time it was alleged he had the coal, but
the law did not permit him to call her and contenled
that there was a doubt in the case and asked the Beech to
give him the benefit of that doubt. The Bench did not
consider the evidence sufficient to convict and dismissed
the charge.
ASSAULT CASE.—Edward Johuson, banksmaa, was
charged with assaulting Harry Stevens, on the 11th inst.
Complainant said he was at a public-house and the de-
fendant struck him twice on the face and blackened his
eye and he said nothing to the dec.endant. Sarah Lowe
gava corroborative evidence. Tho defence was that the
complainant with others were playing at a game called
" tippet "at the Old House at Horns, Re idal Hill, The
complainant was losing and he began to haggle. He
give him two smacks on the face with his open hand.
Defend int was fined 2s 61 and coats; in default sevea
days' imprisonment.
CHARGE OF KEEPING A GAMBLING Heasz.—Joseph
Smith, rivet maker, residing at Gorsty Hilt, was charg .d
with aeeping a gambling hpuse, oa the 9th inst. Police-
constable Hicklan said from iufarm la° a received he
went to the defendant's house and was outside his house
ior linearly an hour. Ho heard gambling going on
every time an ace was turned up. The players had to
give one halfpenny teethe use of the room. He heard
the wife ask repeatedly for the money and it was paid to
her. He afterwards went to the house and then saw six
men playing at cards. Thera was on the table abut
two shillings in coppers and he picked up some of the
money. Police-constable Frost gave corroborative evi-
lenae. Police-sergeant Cooper said that one of the
men's wife earns to his station and complained that her
huaband was gambling at the defendant's house. In
consequ,,nca of that he sent the two officers to the house.
When he served the summons defendant said the next
door neighbour kept a worse house than he did. The
Magistrate s:asid that.the defendant had rendered himself
liable to a penalty of £lOO, or six months imprisonment
but this being the first case that had come before:them
they should Mae the defendant 40s and costs.
CHARGE OF STEALING C.lAL.—Elizabeth Adams Was
cLarged with stealing a quantity of coal, on the 9th inst
the property of Walter; Bassano. Police-coxstable Far-
nell ptoved that he saw the prisoner and about twenty
others picking 3osl, and when they saw him they all ran
away except the prisoner who had 561bs. of coal.
Jozeph Woodhall, manager, said ho was iattradted to
to p ess the case as they were continually being robbed.
William Adams, husband to the above prisoner, was
charged with assaulting Police-constable Farnell, on the
9th lust, while inathe execution of his duty- Complain-
ant said while he had the defendant's wife in custody the
defendant :came up to him and struck him twios. He
told him if he struck him again he should strike him
with his at if. Defendant was fined 55 and costs; in de-
fault fourteen days' imprisonment. Defendant's wife for
stealing coal was sentenced to Birmingham gaol for
fourteen:days'ihard labour.
DRUNK AND DISORDERLY.—David Woodhouse WAS
charged with beingldrunk and disorderly, in High threat,
Cradley Heath, on the 11th inst. Police-constable Syl-
vestre proved the case. Defendant pleaded guilty and
was fined 2s 61: and costsl; in default seven days' hard
labour.

REFIIBING TO QUIT.-A lam Phipps and Moses Phipps
were charged with being disorderly and refusing to quit
the Old house Bre very, Garratt's Lane, when requestel.
liza Tinkham, landlady, proved the case, and Mosta
who had been previously convicted was fined I.os and
cats, and Adam fis and costs,

CHARGE OF STEALING MONEY.--Sarah Bourne Wai
charged for that she did between the let October and
the 17th Noveznber feloniously steal £32 17s, the pro-
perty of David,Boarne. From the evidence of prosecu-
tor it appeared that the prisoner was daughter-in-law
to prostcutor and Was in .the habit of cleaning the house
at intervals. She had access to the money which was
placed in two bags and put it among some lumber.
rnere were tweuty-seven sovereigns and six half.
sovereigns in one bag, and silver in the other. No one
had access to the room but the prisoner. Reuben
Carter, a sinker, was called but he knew nothing about
he ro'qberj, and prisoner wai discharged.