The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-11-13 00:00:00

THE STRIKE IN THE NAIL TRADE,
INTIMIDATION BY WORKMEN.

Thomas Begot confirmed the statement of the
previous witness. The defendant said that ifhe
(witness) and Nation wont to work they would
aet something for their "nuts," i.e., their
heads.

Clara Nation stated that she was present when
her husband was attaeLA, and one of the men
strnek her.

Mr. Lloyd deposed that there had been a strike
in the nail trade generally, and it was not yet
ended. The men in his employ took part in it.
France was a society man, and had been in his
employment. He had engaged new hands,
amongst others Nation, who was a non-society
man, and Ragot. Some of the men on strike
had threatened his phme, and besieged it for a
forte ight.
Mr. Duke said he had in the beginning of the
case advised his clients to express contrition for
what had taken place, and promise never to in
terh-re with the other men. They would be
willing to go to work again, but Mr. Lloyd did
not irant them, he said.
Mr. Lloyd said he had suffered so mush an-
noY:weei and there had been so many threats
used, that he could not consent to take the pro-
mise of the defendants not to offend again.
•Mr. Duke : If you show such vindictiveness
, you
_may_ get further annoyance. - - -

.
Mr. Lloyd : Unless they are punished. T am
sure that My men and I shall not be safe. There
are a gang of more than a hundred on strike,
and they have threatened to smash my gates in.
Mr. Kynnersley said that both master and men
must be protected from tyranny of the kind des-
cribed. There wan no law to prevent workmen
going upon strike, but they had no business
whatever to interfere with men who did not join
with them, and those not on strike regnired to
be protected from violence. Mr. Lloyd had
stated that it was necessary for the protection
,if himself and his men that some punishment
should be inflicted upon the defendants; he did
not eKpress any vindictiveness against them.
Ile (Mr. Kynnersley) was bound to enforce the
law, and he should sentence each of the defend-
ants to a month's imprisonment, with hard la-
bour. If this sort of thing continued he should
, be compelled to inflict heavy punishment upon
the offenders.

POLICE ALTERATIONS.—PoIiee-sergeant Wig.
ley has been removed to Dudley, and Acting.
sergeant Jones has been appointed full sergeant
in his place.
MEAT CONNERS.—A short time ago, in eon•
sequence of some information communicated to
the local authorities, the chairman and the clerk
to the commissioners, and three medical men
visited a butcher's stall in the market to exam.
ine the meat upon it. The experts called in
pronounced all ths meat they saw sound, and lit
for human food; and that being so, of course no
seizure was made. Since then, the butcher in
question has advised writs to he issued against
the following ;—Dr. Campbell, Mr. Giles (sur-
geon), Mr. Bayley (surgeon), Mr. K. Stringer,
Mr. J. Taylor, and Sergeant Jones, and the
matter is likely to crop up in the Law Courts.
BOARD OF GUARDIANS.—The weekly meeting
of this Board was held yesterday, Mr. Grainger
in the chair. There were also present :
Messrs. Brooks, Guest, Pargeter (Wollescote),
Maurice and Griffin. Admittei into the house
doting the week, 16; discharged, 19; dead, 5;
remaining, 223. Corresponding week last year,
440. Out-door relief, Kingswinford district, /44
15s 81 ; Stourbridge district, /25 12s 858 ;
owen district, /22 17s ; total, 195 5s tlAd,
against /88 2s 25-d, last year.
ASSAULT CASE. —At the Police Court. yester-
day, before Major Fletcher, W. C. Firinstone, ,
B. Littlewood, and R. L. Freer, Esqrs., Jesse
Cartwright (who did net appear) was charged by •
Joseph Boughton with assaulting him on the
9th inst. Complainant sail he was sitting in
the Lord Dudley Arms, when defendan; came in
and struck him, knocking one of his teeth out,
without any provocation whatever. A witness
corroborated complainant, and defoatut was
fined ia 6d and costs; in default 14 days.
REFUSING TO KEEP A MOTHER. Jeremiah
Barnbrook was summoned to show canes why he
had not supported his mother, Ellen llarnI•rook,
who has been chargeable to the Union to the
amount of 12s. James Barrett, Relieving-officer,
said on the list of August, he served un order
of Is per week (produce* on tile defendant,
who said he would never pay any money. His
mother was still chargeable to the Stourbridge
Union. An order was made to pay, otherwise a
distress; or in default to go to prison for one
month.

VAGRANCY.— Alfred Hodges, a tramp, was
charged with begging on the I.2th inst, at Ped•
more. Police-constable Lane sAid on the above
date he saw defendant go to several houses, and
ask for alms. Defendant said he was not beg-
ging, but having lost the use of his fingers, he
was selling a few books. Defendantikas ordered
to leave the town at once.

STEALING A JACKET. Elizabeth Green,
young woman, was charged with stealing a cloth
jacket, the property of John Bonfield, on the
10th ult. Emily Bonfield, wife of prosecutor,
said she resided at Portobello, Missed the
jacckt produced on the 15th ult, It was in the
house, on the book door. Could swear to the
jacket, from various marks. Prisoner lived next
door, She was in witness's Louse on the 15th,
and on the 10th it was gone. No one else was
in the house except the prisoner, The jacket is
worth 2s 61, George Whitwell, pawnbroker,
High•street, said he took a jacket in pawn on
the 28th of October, in tho mune of Elizabeth
Green, for is, Polioe,sergeant Jones said be
searched the room of the prisoner on Wednes.
day last, on a search•warrant, and found in a
small box the pawn ticket produced. The priso.
nor was present. Witness charged her with
stealing the jacket, the property of John Dan.
field. She said, "1 am very sorry I took it, but
I wanted a shilling to pay Mr. Campbell, a
Scotchumn, and I took the jacket, and pawned
it for Is," Prisoner pleaded guilty, and was sen-
' tenced to 14 days' imprisonment.
OPERA AND BURLESQUE COMPANIES. Mr.

Rosenthal's Opera and. Burlesque Companies
have been pia) ing to crowded houses at the
Corn Exchange, during the week. The princi-
pal artistes in the former are the Misses Altos-
sandri, (soprano and contralto), Mr. F. Gaynar
(tenor), Mr. E. Rosenthal (baritone), and Mr.
Lewens (basso). Where all were first-class, it
would be an invidious task on our part to select
any for particular praise. Suffice it to say that
the company is the best that has ever vis:ted
the town, and well deserves the patronage they
have received. At the bead of the burlesque

company is that inimitable actor Mr. Brinslsy
Sheridan, who is well-known to BondJit and
Birmingham audiences as one of the finest bur-
lesque actors on the English stage. We believe
that last Monday evening was the first occasion
of his making his bow before a Stourbridge au-
dience, and it is needless to say that his gro-
tesque antics, and exaggerated acting caused
roars of laughter, and at once stamped him a
general favourite. Miss Romer and the other
members of the company performed their parts
with great ability, the lady we have mentioned
. .

especially receiving several encores for the pleas.

At the Birmingham Police Court, on Thurs-
day, before Mr. T. C. S. Kynnersley iStipsodi-
ary), William Baker, Thomas Horne, and Wm.
France, nail casters, were summoned for having
by threats and intimidation endeavoured to force
Wm. Nation to leave his employment, and Sam-
uel Bishop was charged with assaulting Nation.
, Mr. .1. W. Cutler appeared for the prosecution,
and Mr. Duke for the defendants, except Bishop,
who was undefended.

Mr. Cutler said that Nation was a caster in the
employment of Mr. Lloyd, cast nail manufactu-
rer, Charles Henry-street, Birmingham, who
prosecuted. Some of the defendants had for-
marly worked for Mr. Lloyd, and they were
members of a club in connection with the nail
trade. A strike occurred in the trade some time
ago, in which the men at Mr. Lloyd's works
joined. He was consequently compelled to ob-
tain the services of men altojether unconnected
with the club, and amongst those who went to
work for him was the complainant (Nation).
The charge against the defendants was for inti.
midatiou on the 3rd of November, and he urged
that in order to show the 'wilier prepense enter-
tained against Nation it was necessary that they
should have evidence of what transpired on pre-
vious days.
Mr. Duke objected to the introduction of evi-
dence as to what took place previous to the '
of No.eloher. The defendants were only t0...t.
to answer for what took place on that day.
Mr. Kynnersl.l decide:l iii favourof Mr. Cut-
ler, who t Leo stated the facts lead in, to the al-
leg ,1 istiurirditi it, which in, said would oe given
iii et hence h) the witoesses present After it
h I been or., ed to the satisfaction of the Bench
I that the juts had intimidated Nation and
I annoyed Mr. Lloyd, the question would be
I whether, under the circumstances, the case was
not one la which it would be shown that the men

in and spirited m,anner in which she sang the
various airs allotted to her. The band was also
repeatedly applauded for their skilful and artistic
rendering of the various pieces which they
played during the intervals of the performances.
The scenery, dresses, &c., are excellent. To-
night (Saturday) is the last night of their per.
formances, and those who have not yet paid
them a visit, would do well to do so.
THE ILLUSTRATED MIDLAND NEWS.—The
local attractions in the /llustroted Midland News
are very great, and the paper is got up in true
artistic style. The engravings in last week's
number were very beautiful, and in this week's
issue will be found a well-executed portrait of
the Bishop of Worcester, to be followed by other
Worcestershire notabilities. Mr. Hatton is de-
voting his energies to this new project, we ere
happy to see, with every prospect of a great
success. The Li/tato/tad Mi///a//// News is in
every respect equal to its great London rival,
viewed either as a pictorial or a literary journal.
READINGS.—On Tuesday evening last, Dr. G.
F. Bodington gave a selection of readings in the
Union Hall, for the benefit of the Stourbridge
Church of England Association. There were
about 150 persons present, amongst whom were
the Revs. W. J. J. Welch and H. Sherrard,
Messrs. H. 0. Firmstone, J. Collis, E. B. Mar-
ten, J. Walker, P. Walker, J. King, W. Roberts,
A. Freer, R. L. Freer, Smallman Smith,
Dixon, E. Webb, W. Webb, C. Evers, H. Spen-
cer. If.inmoind, F. Roberts, F Firnistone,
J. Oates, 11. Nies :thin, &c. 'lie re idi:
interspersed with music and singing, as the fol-
lowirn., programme will show : Duet pianoforte
—Mrs. A. Freer and Miss Blakeway ; reading—
Dr. Rodington, selections from Shakespeare's
" Ilande• ;" song—Mr. H. Spencer; reading—
Dr. B 'ington, Lord Macauly's " Horatius ;"
1 slng—Miss Kate Freer; song—Mr. F. Firm-
stone; reading—Dr. Bodington, selections from
" As you Like it ;" song—Miss Blakeway ; song
Miss Freer; reading—Dr. Rodington, Sheridan's

who worked for Mr. Lloyd ahonlii be protected to my rendering some assistance to this society. 1 Farce of St. Patriek'a Day: pianoforte trio
ag,sinst the threats and violence of those who I have aIWaYS said that we asked no favonr, hut Miss Freer, Mrs. J. King. and Miss Colia. The
were on strike. The men had expressed their merely asked to he plan n 1 on tho same footi ig 1 readings of Dr. Bodington were very fine, cane-
willingnesa to return to work for Mr. Lloyd upon as other tradesmen, which we are entitled to— , chilly Horatius, and Sheridan'a farce of St.
the olditerma, but he was not disposed 'to cast (applause). We are heavily t ixed, restricted to I Patrick's day. The grand language of the for.
off the men who had gone to work for him in his hours, and under the surveillance of the police , mer, and the comic manner in which the latter
time of need. That was the cause of the pre. RS no other tradesmen are; yet we have the WAS read, rendered it exceedingly pleasant to
sent grievance against Mr. Liond and his men, same risks and ;oases, you have also refeired , those present. The singing and music were also
Mr. Duke: If the prosecution will withdraw to my being a Commissioner. I was, :Ind at. . very good, reflecting great credit on the perfor-
the canoe, the defendants will apologise and pro• tended until I had other engagements which pre- fliers. The proceedings were brought to a clone
miss not to interfere with the men. I vented me from attending the Board. I have by a vote of thanks to Dr. Bodington and the
This proposition was not acceded to, and Na. also been a member of the Board of Guardians, I ladies and gentlemen who so kindly took part
Lion was then sworn. He deposed that he went and am now first Vice-Chairman. He had at- in the entertainment.
to work for Mr. Lloyd on Tuesday fortnight, tended to the interests of his fellow-townsman. , CHESS MATCH.—A match took piece at the
I
He knew that the defendant France had worked If a pauper came for relief, and lie was descry-
Great Western Hotel, Birmingham, on Saturday
for that gentleman. On Monday, the Ist of No. ing of it, he had it. At the same time the I the 6th instant, between twelve members of the
vember, he saw the defendants Baker, Horne, Guardians had a duty to perform to their fellow. Birmingham Club, and six members from each
and several others. The defendants told him ratepayers to see that they were not imposed of the Wolverhampton and Stourbridge Clubs
' that if he went to work they would "-- well upon. On several occasions, when the election
allied. The conditions of the match were as
follow : —The players on each side were divided
kill him." They wanted him to go and join for Guardians had taken place, I am happy to i
their club, end as he Was afraid to refuse for fear say my own name always headed the poll—ihea into two sections, according to their estimatedr, 1
of violent treatment at their hands, he WAS com- hear). The chairman very kindly alluded to my strength, and paired by ballot. Each pair was
pellf d to go with them. They went with him bride. I think, and feel sure, that I have made ,to contend till one player had won three games,
in the morning to a place in Edgbaaton-street, choice of one who will endeavour to make me if time allowed ; all unfinished games to be
but the secretary was not there, and they took happy, and am quite sure she will do all she can, considered drawn. The match commenced soon
him again in the afternoon. His name was put SO far as her sphere wiil allowher, to further the after three o'clock in the afternoon, and WAS
down, hut he did not sign to become a member. interests of the town —(hear, hear). lam sure continued till 9.15 p.m.., the result being a vie-
On Tuesday, after he had been at the works, he You have only y for the Allied Clubs, A short interval was
m to know her to respect her. MY tor
et Baker and Horne, who charged him with acquaintance of her is not of a day, week, or allowed for tea, hospitably provided by the Bir-
Is tying been to work. Faring from their de. year. She is thoroughly domesticated, and I mingham Club for the gentlemen who were pre- I
meanour that he might ho subjected to violence, can speak well of her—(hear, hear) In receiving sent. The following will show the names of the
he got away, and took refuge in a police station, this present, I hope it will stimulate me to do p`ayera, and their respective scores :
On the Wednesday, Biker accosted him, and more than I have done; and hope I shall he ...nri
w by Wolverhampton Won by
after using bad language. said, " You have been i spared many years to render any assistance to the and Stourbridg,e Birmingham Binning-
at work. You will get your brains knocked out the town I can—pipplansel. I have not attended Allies. ri,,yer..
if you go to work." Thereupon he took off his the Licensed Victuallers' meetings very often, 1,),1ain02. Dr..aw2nl
3 W. A.. 8aiter....... T. Avery
Jacket, and wanted to fight witness. Begot, who but when requisite, or anything important, have
was working at the time for Mr. Lloyd, was with always endeavoured to be present. 'Mr. Brookso 0
witness when this took place. In the afternoon again thanked the Chairman and those present, 3H. Eagles ...... v. EP. Warren 0 1
the four defendants and others followed him to for the veey handsome cup, and hoped the chair. IS. Moore
his home in Alleock-street, and sent for hint out man would make known to the subscribers his 1 .2.lMughty v. Dr. Freeman
2 F. Morton v. S. G. E.^mpson .... 0 .. 0
of the house. When he got to them they set graCtude for the kindness evinced towards him 0 11. 9. Pirmatone vO. F. Sutton
about him. Bricks were thrown at hint, and and hisbride. He should place the cup on his 1 .1. Neve
Bishop struck him with one on the shoulder. i sideboard, and should ever value it. 0 O. Bodes
France said to witness, "It you go to work I I The deputation then withdrew. 8 110 v 0. C. Tooth r. HH . aselden
will kill you and knock your brains out." Hor 3 B. Freer v..2. Price
arid Baker also threatened him, the former say-
ins; "Kill him; I would not mind doing six
months for him." Witness got away from them
and went into the house, and closed the door,
A man, named Jones, attempted to burst open
the door, which was locked. In cross-examina-
tion by Mr. Duke, witness said the defendants
threatened him. They did not tell him that
others had used threats about him.

Re John Bunn, chartermaster, residing at
Mount Pleasant, Brierley Hill. came up for his
first examination on Tuesday last, before Mr. J.
Harward, Registrar, supported by Mr. Stokes,
of Dudley. Mr. Addison appeared for five
creditors, and Mr. 0. B. Lowe, of Dudley, on
behalf of the judgment creditors. A number of
witnesses were examined to show that a portion
of the hankrupi's goods had not been delivered
up. The examination lasted from eleven in the
morning until six at night, when the further
hearing was adjourned until next Tuesday.