The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-01-15 00:00:00

DRIBBLET BILL.

SUDDEN DEATH.—Some consternation was caused at
Mount Pleasant Chapel on Sunday Morning by the and-
been death of of Mr. George Bra.zer, of Bower Lane,
Quarry Bank Deceased sat in the vestry for a short
time before the commencement of the service, and was
afterwards proceeding through the yard towards the
chapel when he fell down and immediately expired. Mr.
Braizer was a much-respected local preacher for a period
of fifty years.
DKUNSEENNESS.—At the Police Court, on Monday, be-
fore Messrs. H. Smith and L. Freer, Joseph Baker was
charged with being drunk and incapable at Pensnett, on
on the 2nd inst. Police-constable Storer proved the
case, and defendant, who pleaded guilty, was fined 2s 6d
and el:HAL—Edward Charles was charged with being
drunk and incapable at Kingswinford, on the 3rd inst.
Police-constable White proved the case, and stated that
defendant was unable to attend in consequence of rheu-
matism. Defendant was fined 5s including costs
Thomas Smith was charged with being drunk and riotous
at Quarry Bank, on the 30th ult. Police-constable Godly
proved the case, and defendant, who WAS convicted for a
similar offence on the previous Monday, was fined 5s and
cost..—Joseph Angel, Eli Hunt, James Beckley, and
Joseph Brown were charged with being drunk and riotous
at Wordsley Green, on the 25th ult. Police-constable
Hume proved the case and defendants were fined 2s 6d
and coats each. _ _

DISORDZRuIt AND REFUSING TO QUlT.—Jarues Pad-
dock, Henry Payne and Joseph, Payne were chervil with
being drunk and disorderly :ansl refusing to quit the Rad
Lion Inn, Bobbingtou, on the 31st ult. Mrs. Nick°lls,
the landlady, said the defendants came into her house on
the above date. The two Paynes got on the table and
commenced to dance and annoyed the company. She
refused to fill them any drink and ordered them out of
house several times but they would not go. The two
Paynes were further charged with assaulting John Nickolls
For refusing to quit def,mdauts were fined 10s and costs
each, and for the assault, the Paynes were ordered to
pay Costs.
ASSAULT CASE.—Daniel Haden was fined 5s and costs
for assaulting James Jones, on the Ist inst.

CHARGE OF FOWL STEALING.— William Pearson and
Thomas Knight, two colliers, were charged wan stealing
a fowl, the property of Edward Corser Giles, farmer,
Ashwood Lodge, Kingswinford, on the 7th inst. Mr.
Addison defended. Police-constable White slid ha
was on duty at a qua' ter to four in the morning, in com-
pany with Poice-corostable Banton, near Ashwood Lodge.
He saw two .persons on the roof of a pigstye belonging
to prosecutor. They were taking some fowls from a
tree over their heads. They jumped from the roof with
the fowls in their hands, and ran away. He started
after them and caught them. Before catching them,
witness saw both prisoners throw some fowls out of their
hands over a gate into the adjoining yard. He took the
prisoners to prosecutor's house, and they gave their
names. He chat ged them with stealing fowls, the prop-
erty of Edward Corser Giles. Prisoners said they were
very sorry. They had walked a long way and got into
the pigstye to sleep, and wanted to stay there till morn-
ing. They caused the fowls to make a noise. At the
Police Station the prisoner Knight again said they were
very sorry, and hoped the officers would be as lenient as
they could. Witness found one fowl near to were the
prisoneri were eangle. The bird was a!most strangle'.
He afterwards went with Mr. Giles into the yard and
found three mere fowls in the same condition. Prose-
cutor identified the whole of the fowls. Police constable
Banton corroborated White. Mr. Giles, the prosecutor,
said he was a farmer and resided at Ashwood Lodge,
Kingswiuford. About four o'clock on the morning of the
7th mat, he was called up by the police. White showed
him a fowl he had got. The four fowls were worth 14s,
and they were partly strangled. The birds produced
were his property. Mr. Addison, in defence, said phi-
sonars were two very respectable working men and nothing
had been brought against them before. On the day in
question they had been to F.nville, and had had a lot of
drink, and came round prosecutor's farm as it was their
neareeit way home. Being the worse for liquor they lay
down in the pigstye near where the fowls were. Finding
it cold however, they got up to go home, and in doing so
whether they shook the tree where the fowls were or not
the birds fled over into the farmyard. Mr. Smith said
there was no doubt in their minds respecting their guilt.
In answer to the charge prisoner Knight said they had
been to Enville and got drink. They had walked a long
way, and feeling tired they got over the wall into the
pigstye and slept there some time. Finding it cold they
gut up to go home. They were not guilty of the charge.
Prisoners were committed to take their trials at the ad-
journed Stafford Sessions, bail being accepted in two
sureties of £lO each.

IMPORTANT TO TOE PUBLIC.-Mr. smith, the presiding
magistrate, stated thet under the Explosives Act of last
session all persons keeping gunpowder for sale by retail,
must send descriptions of premises where gunpowder is
kept, with their names and address to Mr. King, the
Magistrates clerk, with the fee of is, and he will register
the name and premises. Persons not complying with
these regulations will be liable to penalties.