The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-03-15 00:00:00

and Jobn Heathcock- were charged with falsly re -
presenting themselves to be travPllers, on the 9th
inst, and obtain ale from William Jefferies, a publi-
can of Cleat, during prohibited hours —Police-con-
stable Wallace said that he visited the Spring
Tavern, at 5.30., and found the three defendants
in the house. They said they were travellers and
had a half-gallon of ale. William Jefferies, landlord
of the Spring Tavern, said the defendants e !Le to
his house and asked for ale. Adams said he came
from Stomrbridge, and the other two defendants
said they had come the distance for travellers.—
Superintendent Wheeler proved that he had
measured the distance and it was under three miles.
The defence was that they were under the impression
it was over three miles and they did not wish to
break the law. Withdrawn on payment of costs.
CHARGE OF CRUELTY TO A SHEEP.—John Price,
farmer, of Clent, was charged with cruelly illtreating
a sheep, on the 3rd inst, by causing it to travel while
in an unfit state..--Roland Dance, inspector, said
that on the above date he met a ram being driven
to Hagley Stock Sale. A boy was with the ram.
He saw it walking lame, and found it suffering from
foot rot. He afterwards saw the defendant and
told him about the ram, when defendant abused
him--Police-constable Wallsce corroborated as to
the lameness of the ram. The defence was that the
ram was able to +ravel, and call, d James Boucher
who said he examined the ram and it was a case of
ordinary foot rot,and not a bad case. Fined 2s. 6d.
and costs.

DRUNK AND INCAPABLE.—jOhiI Powell, Of the
Longlands, was charged with being drunk and in-
capable on the Bth inst. Police-constable Davis
proved the case. Fined Fs and costs: in default
14 days.

NON-PAYMENT OF POOR RATES.—A. number of
persons were summoned by Mr. IX how, collector,
for non-payment of poor rates. Mr. Dullow proved
that the rates had been demanded and not paid. In
some cases the Bench ordered the rates to be paid
and others were adjourned for 7 days.—A number
of persons were summoned by Mr. Yates for non-
payment of poor rates fn. Stourbridge district, and
orders were made for payment.
CHARGE Or WILFUL DAMAGE.—Thomas Allchurch,
Isaac Pearson, and William Lyeett were charged
with wilfully damaging a finger post, at Clent, the
property of the survey ors. William Coi said that he
saw three persons throwing at the finger post at about
half-past-six o'clock. Saw the post next diy and
found it broken. Could not swear to the defendants.
Harriet Fox also gave evidence, but could not identify
them. The cases were dismissed. Mr. Waldron
defended.

CHARGE AGAINST A LICENSED VICTUALLER—James
Cook, landloid of the Bull's Head, the Lye, was
charged with permitting drunkenness on his premises
on the night of the Eth inst. Police-sergeant Payne
said from information received he went to the Bull's
Head. A man had been charged with stealing money.
Found the money and the man, but no proceedings
were taken. Wooldridge did not leave until 11.30.
He had two glasses of whiskey in the house, and was
drunk. Wooldridge was fined on Friday last. John
Wooldridge proved that he was drunk. He had five
pints of ale before going to the Bull's Head, and two
glasses of whiskey in the defendant's house. Fined
20s. and costs, £1 143 6cl ;in default one month.

SCHOOL BOARD PROSECUTION.—John Bevaa was
fined is for neglecting to send his child to school. A
case against Edward Price was withdrawn.

MINERS' MEETING AT OLD HILL.

A meeting for the discussion of various ques-
tions affecting the trade was held at the Duke
William Inn, Old Hill, on Thursday A considerable
number of colliers attended, and one of them
presided.—Mr. BREAKWELL, miners' agent for the
district, gave an address, in which he laid before
the men the reply of the Home Secretary to Mr.
Macdonald, M. P., as to whether the Government
could interfere to compel the owners of the Aber-
came Colliery to recover the bodies of the 260 men
embedded in the workings. Mr. Cross said the law
would not allow such an interference, and this
being so, the speaker considered there was great
want of an alteration in the law. Speaking of the
dispute with the New British Iron Company, he
said that thooe men who worked last week had (he
heard on good authority) only 2s. Bd. a day, and
when four o'clock came in the afternoon those NV ho
had watches were not allowed to pull them out, so
that the men were really being compelled in this
way to work more than the proper hours.—A reso •
lution was passed to support the men out of work
and another was also carried declaring that in the
opinion of the meeting the law as to colliery
accidents was not satisfactory, and that there
ought to be a speedy alteration.