The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-07-05 00:00:00

BRIERLEY HILL.

ALLEGED ROBBERY OF FOWLB.—At the Police
Court, held on Monday last, before Messrs. F. Evers
and H. 0. Firmstone, James Southall was charged
with stealing five fowls on the 19th ult. Mr.
Waldron defended, and. said as there was no evi-
dence offered against his client, he should ask for
him to be discharged. Defendant was bound over
in £5O, to appear when called upon.
STEALING liioN.—Five lads named Daniel Darby,
15, Frank Price, 14, Edward Ward, 17, Walter
Hancor, 14, and James Smith, 12, were charged
with stealing a quantity of iron the property of
Thomas liinns, at Brettell Lane Railway Station on
the 21st ult. Henry iteynolds said on the 21st ult.
he was standing on the railway bridge. He saw a
quantity of scrap iron on the railway and the two
prisoners Haneox and Price picked some up, and
put it under their jackets. The other prisoners
were watching by a fence. Darby ran off with
some oi the iron. All the prisoners joined together
on the canal side. •When prisoners saw witness
they ran away, and he gave inferm.ation to Mr.
Penson, the station master. The iron they had
was about 501bs. Richard D. Penson, station
master, Brettell Lane, said a communication was
made to him on the morning of the 21st ult., and
he went in pursuit of the five prisoners. Two of
them had bags on their backs. He shouted to
them and they ran away. Darby dropped one of
the bags. The iron was consigned to Mr. Binns,
He caught Darby who said the others fetched the
iron, and be was taking it away. He gave the
names of the other prisoners. Police-constable
Wetion said he served the summons on DE rby and
Ward, and they both accused each other of com-
mitting the robbery. Police-constable Hollins
said he went to get the names of some of the
prisoners, when Smith said he knew what he had
come for, it was about the iron they bad from
Brettell Lane. In answer to the charge prisoners
all pleaded guilty. Ward WHE3 committed for 14
days hard labour, and the other four being under
16 years of age, were taken under the Juvenile '
Offenders Act, and fined lOs each, or 14 days...

DRUNKENNESS.—Joseph Parkes was charged with
being drunk at Brierley Hill, on the 22nd ult.
Police-constable Bucklsy proved the case. De-
fendant pleaded guilty, and was fined 2s 6d and
costs; in default 7 days.
STEALING A BASKET.— Helen Shepherd viTa
charged with stealing a basket on the 28th ult,
the property of Samuel Insull. Prosecutor said he
was a 0-eneral dealer at High Street, Brierley Hill.
About 1.30 p.m. he missed a basket from the shop
door. From information given him he followed a
woman into the Three Crowns public-house. It
was the prisoner, and she had the basket produced
on her arm. Her shawl was over the basket. The
basket was worth is 9d. He had not sold a basket
of that description thtt morning. He told the
prisoner he svanted her,and she said she would pay
him for the basket. Polce-sergeant Salt, stationed
at Brierley Hill, said le arrested the prisorn-r on
the 28th ult., and charged h'r with stealing a
basket the property of samuel Insull. She said,
" Dort't take me, I will ?ay for it.'' She asked Mr.
41141 W krgint heri Dam kioulie 194 9t

prosecutor, said the figures on the basket were his.
at the morning of the 28th ult., he did not sell
any baskets of the description of the one produced.
A. man called his attention to the fact that a woman
had taken a basket, and he at once missed the one
produced. Prisoner said the basket was on the
floor and she picked it up The Bench had no
doubt as to the prisoner's guilt. Superintendent
Wollaston proved a previous conviction agaitist
prisoner, and she was sentenced to ene month's
hard labour.

ASSAULTING A WOMAN.—Thomas Wy re, farm
labourer, of Kinver, was charged with assaulting
Mary Walker, of Kinver, on the 17th ult. Mr.
Holberton defended. Complainant, a single woman
said on the above date she was walking along the
road from her home to Kinver, when defendant,
who was driving a horse and cart, overtook her.
He put Mk arms round her and trial to push hr
into a bank. She resisted as well as she could, and
screamed out several times. She was struggling
with defendant ior nearly half-an-hour. She at
leagth got away from him and went back home
and told her mother. Mrs. Walker was called and
said her daughter came back home on the 17th ult.
after she had been out of the house a little over
half-an-hour, and complained of the manner in
which defendant had served her. Police-constable
Thorpe said he went to serve defendant with the
summons, and he said, "Yes, I am the man that
did it." Mr. Holberi on addressed the Bench for
the defence, and contended that complainant was
a consenting party, and that she was not at all
injured, as 'defendant only pushed her. Sergeant
Stevenson proved a long list of previous convictions
against defendant who was sentenced to two
month's hard labour.

WOMEN'S QUARRELS.—Luey Stafford Was charged
with assaulting Priscilla Webb on the 23rd ult.
The case was dismissed.—The two women were
then charged with committing a breach of the
peace by fighting on the same date, and were
bound over to keep the peace for six months,
themselves in £lO, and one surety of £5 each.
DAMAGING GROWING WHEAT.—At the Police
Court, held on Thursday, before Haden Corser Esq.,
Deputy Stipendiary, Henry Heathcoek and Jathes
Brearley m ere charged with wilfully damaging a
quantity of growing wheat, the property of Joshua
Parkes Mantle, on the 25th ult. Complainant
said that he saw the two defendants in the growing
wheat. He complained to them about it and they
both began to be It him. The damage done to the
wheat amounted to 5s Samuel Mills gave eon obo-
rative evidence. The defence was that they were
not in the wheat, but in the mowing grass Fined
is each and costs, and 5s the danroge. and is each
for the assault, and costs; in default 7 days in each
case.

A DRUNKEN CABMAN.—.Walter Walker was
charged with being drunk on the night of the 28th
ult., while in charge of a horse and cab. Police-
constable Ed n proved that he saw the defendant
at ten minutes to eleven e'clock at night. He was
quite drunk, and unable to take care of the horse
and cali. Pleaded guilty. Fined lOs and costs.
ASSAULTING A WOMAN.—Wilham Hammond was
charged with assaulting Maria Simmons on the
28th. Complainant said the defendant was beating
his wife, and as she was passing the defendant's
door she said, " what a pity," when defendant
followed her into the brewhouse, struck her a
violent blow, and knocked her against the boiler.
This was corroborated by a witness. Defendant
denied striking, but admitted pushing her. Fined
20s and costs; in default 14 day.
COAL STEALING.—WiIIiam Harper, (14,) was
charged with stealing coal on the 20th, the property
of William Beckley. Jesse Brevitt proved that he
'slw the defendant take the coal, and that it was
worth 3d.. They were loosing five tons cf coal a
week. Remanded for a week for the purpose of
gating to know who the coal was sold to.