The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-11-17 00:00:00

BRIERLEY HILL.

DRUNKENNESS.—At the Police Court on Monday,
before H, Smith, H. Walker, and P. Foley, Esqrs.,
John Smith was charged with beiog drunk, on the
3rd just, at Quarry Bank. Fined 58 including
cos 's ; in default 7 days.—Thomas Williams was
charged with being drunk and disorderly, on the
sth lust, at Pensntt.
.Fined 2s 6d and cots ; in
default 7 days.
BREACH OF THE PEACE. —George Westwood and
William Geary were charged with committing a
breach of the peace by fighting in the public
street (n the 3rd inst. P.C. Hollins said he saw the
defendant fighting iP the street, Withdrawn on
payment of costs. _ .

- -DAMAGING A WlNDow.—Phoebe Corbett was
charged with breaking a pane of glass, valued at
one shilling, the property of Sarah Ann Cowhorn,
on the 6th inst.—Prosecutor said she was in the
yard when the defendant saw her and having a
grudge against her she ran after her and prosecutor
ran into her house and locked the door. Defend-
ant then put her fist through the window. The
case was withdrawn on'payment of costs.
FIRING OFF A GUN WITHOUT A LICENSE.—
Edward Williams was charged with firing off a gun
without a license, and within 50 feet of a carriage
way.—P.C. Hicklin said he saw the defendant
point the gun up a tree and fire it off. When de-
fendantisaw him he ran home. He followed him and
saw the gun hanging up in the house.—Defend-
ant said he was firing off the gun as he was going
to clean if. Withdrawn on payment of costs.
A BAD CASE.—Thomas Clasper, retort maker,
was brought up on remand and charged with neglect-
ing to support his wife and family.—Mr. Finney
said it was a very bad case as they had to fetch the
defendant 230 miles. His family had been in the
workhouse for 40 weeks and they had cost the
Guardians nearly £3O. Defendant had good em-
ployment its this district but had been discharged
owiug to his drunkenness and neglecting his work
and was a very clever workman. Sentenced to two
months' imprisonmentlwith hard labour, The
Bench said if he refused to comply with the order
to maintain his wife when he came out, he would
have to go back again.
STEALING PIGEONS.—John Moore, Samuel Bishop,
William Somers, and George Allen wire charged
with stealing two pigeons the p •operty of Josiah
Green, Fenton Street, Brierley Bill, on the 29th
ult.—William Henry Green said he fastened the
pigeons up at half-past four in the afternoon and
there Nycre five altogether. He put the lock on but
did not lock it. The next morning he went to the
pen and found the lock on the ground and the two
pigeons (produced) were missing. Hezekiah
Dunn said he met the three first name I defendants'
at the Lye and exchanged a pigeon with them.—
David Taylor was called and said he was a pigeon
dealer at the Lye. He remembered the three first
named defendants' coming to his house on the 30th
ult. to exchange two pigeons. On the 6th inst he
gave the pigeons to P.O. Hollins.—P.C. Daffy said
he arrested Allen and charged him with stealing
two pigeons the property of Josiah Green. He
replied "Lana and Moore took them out of the pen.
Somers and Bishop watched at the bottom of the
entry.' —Fiva previous convictions were proved
against Lane and two against Bishop. Lane and
Bishop were fined 20s; in default 14 days. Moore,
Somers, and Allen were fined 10s; in default 7
days. _ _

PEamirrisG GAMING.—Thomas Bloomert land-
lord of the Red Lion beerhouse, Mangham btreet;
Quarry Bank, was charged with permitting gaming
in Lis house on the 3rd inst.—Mr. Homer de-
fended.—P.C. Hyman said he was passing the de-
fendant's house in the company of P.C. Trotter when
they heard a man swearing. They went into the
house and he saw some men gaming and dating with
pennies. He heard one man say "You pay for a
b cup."—P.C. Trotter was called and
said he was in company with Hyman on the day in
question and when passing the Red Lion his atten-
tion was drawn by a man swearing. They went
into the house and he heard a man Bay "Now pay
for a b cup."—John Robert Jonee was
called for the defence and said he was selling fried
fish in the defendant's house on the night in question
and he did not se any gaming or tossing. He sold
a fish to a man named John Pugh who threw the
penny on the table. Several other witnesses were
called and swore there was not any gambling in the
house.—The Bench retired to consider their ver-
dict and on returning into Court fined him 40s
and cows.
CAUTION TO PUBLICANS.—ThOttIaS Wilcox was
charged with allowing a lottery to take place
in his house, the Saracen's Head. —Mr. Holberton
defended.—P.S. Salt said he visited the above
house and there saw a man shaking some dice and
turn them on a table and then called out
"Seven" which was marked down on a piece of
paper.—Mr. Holberton said it was the defendant's
birthday and he offered the ale for ballot in the
house and anyone in the house could have a ticket.
He did not think he was going against the law and
promised that it should not occur again. The house
bore a good character and the Bench t,:ok this into
consideration and ordered him to pay the COStO.
DAMAGE TO A. TRIE.—Job Sidaway, Samuel
Parkes, and Joseph Lawrence were charged with
damaging an oak tree, the property of the Earl of
Daley, on the 25th ult, to the amount of 2s..—
James Flavel said he saw the defendants' breaking
the branches off the tree, and he had previously
cautioned them. Sideway was fined is and costs
and the damage ;in default 14 days. Parkes and
Lawrence were fined ba including costs.
RESISTING THE POLICE.—This case was again
brought before the magistrates to day.--Mr.Homfray
prosecuted and Mr. Waldron defended. Mr.
Waldron said that for a number of years, to his
knowledge, there had been a road across the fields
from Brierley Bill to Penenett.—The defendant
said he had used the road for some twenty years
and he still thought he had a right to go that way
as he had done so ?or some twenty years and this
was the first time he had been stopped.—The Bench
said it appeared the defendant thought he had
a bona fide right to go that way and therefore they
had no jurisdiction in the matter. The case was
dismissed.
STEALING AN ULSTER.—Sarah Ann Perks was
charged with stealing a child's ulster, from the shop
door of Robert Arthur Yack, on the 3rd inst.—
Mr. Waldi on defended.—Robert Arthur Yack was
called and said he saw the ulster safe at the door
about 8 o'clock and missed it at 9 o'clock.—Pris-
cilia Hingley was called and said she was wife of
Jabez Hingley, pawnbroker, Brockmoor. The de-
fendant came to the shop with the ulster (produced)
and offered it for pledge, and asked for 4s on it.
Se could not give that and offered her 2s 3d. De-
fendant would not take that and went out. She
came in directly after and said she would ta,ke2s Gd
which she gave her.—P.C. Lafford said he received
the ulster from the last witness on the sth inst.
He apprehended the e..efendant and charged her
with stealing an ulster from the shop of B,oberi
Arthur Yank. She said "I know nothing al out it."
In the station she said 'I was coming out of the
shop (Hingley's) when I met a woman who asked
me to pledge the ulster for her, and say she would
fetch it out on Monday."--Mr, Waldron said that
it had not been proved that the defendant stole
the ulster, and prosecutor had sold about half a
dozen similar to the one alleged to have been siolen.
He hoped the Bench would take this into consider-
ation. The case was dismissed.