The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-03-09 00:00:00

OLD HILL.

CIIARGB op VAGRANCY.—At the Police Court, on
Wednesday, before Mr. W. Bassano, Joe.'ph Nock was
charged with being on premises, on the ith met, belong-
ing to Mr. Hingley, with intent to commit a felony.—
Thomas Hall, watchman, proved that he found the de-
fendant in Mr. Hingley's works in one of the furnace
holes about one o'clock in the morning.—The defence
was that he had rather too much beer.—Defendant was
sentoneed to 7 days' imprisonment.
AaoTama Casa or VAGRANCY.—AIfred Hill and John
Hampton were charged with vagrancy on the morning of
the 6th inst.—Police-sergeant Cooper proved the case
and each of the defendants was committed for seven
days.
A BAD FATnan.—John Trenchard was charged by
John Taylor, relieving officer, with neglecting his wife
and eight children and allowing them to become charge•
able to the Dudley Union.—Complainant said that the
defendant's wife and eight children became chargeable
to the Dudley 'Union on the 21st December last and
proved that they had cost the Union £s.—The defence
was that he left home for the purpose of getting work
and that he had only, done one week's work and he had
sent his wife 10s out of it. He could not get work of
any kind and that he hid written to the officer to sead
him a pass to get home from Scotland.—Mr. Taylor
said he must press the ease for they were getting so
numeroaps. Mr. Bassano said they had no alternative int
to send him to prison. With the expense it amounted
to £9.—Defandant was sentenced to one month's hard
labour.

Wlcrun DAMAGE.—William Bills was charged with
wilfully damagiag a window, on the 3rd inst, the pro-
perty of James Crew.—George Willitts proved that he
saw the defendant who was with a number of other boys
throwing stones and broke the window.—James Crew
proved that the damage done amounted to 4s. He did
not wish to press the case but summoned the defendant
as a caution to others.—Fined 2s 6d and costs, and 2.
the damage ; in default fourteen days' imprisonment.
ASSAULT CASs.—John Foxhall was charged with
assaulting Lucretia Bissett, on the 18th ult.—Complain•
ant said she was on a visit to an uncle when the defend-
ant came to her and struck her several times and she did
not give defendant any provocation.—Frederick Higgs,
uncle to the complainant, said that he saw the defendant
strike complainant on the face and black her eye.
She then it uck her and knocked her down and com-
plainant did not give the least provocation. It was
done it the house of another sieiee who keeps the Crown

and Anilrollnn, Cradley Heath.—lnother witness gave
corroborative evidence.—The defence was that complain-
ant struck him first.—William Clark was called and
said the complainant struck first, but he could not say
the cease of it. —Fined Si and costs.

ASSAULT Can.—Richard Poole was charged with
assaulting Ann Cox, on the 3rd inst.—Mr. Hayes de-
fended.—Complainant said she had some words with the
defendant who .then struck her and he afterwards
threatened tokill her husband.—James Cox gave cor-
roborative evidence.—Mr. Hayes, for the defence, said
there was a dispute about some manure and he should
prove by an independent witness that defendant did not
strike a blow,—After hearing the evidence;of John
Smith, who sail they had a struggle for a shove
and defendant caught her face, the case :was dis-
missed.

CHARGR oa Asseutanra • POLICK Orsiosu —John
Bennett and Henry Stone were charged with assaulting
Police constable Cross, on the 16:h ult, while in the
execution of his duty.—Air. Hayes defended Stone.—
Complainant said he was taking a man into custody and
the defendants threw stones at him, one struck bins on
the helmet and broke it arid another on the back. The
defendants began in Park Lane and continued to throw
at him until he got to the Old Hill police-station. He
charged Bennett to aid and assist him. He could not
swear that Bennett threw stones but he had a witnese to
prove that he did --Wiltiam Cocker said he was at
Blackheath at the time of the row and the officer
charged him to aid and assist. He saw Stone throw a
stone at the officer but he could not say it struck the
oticer and he also saw Bennett throw.—Mr. Hayes on
behalf of Stone denied that he threw any stones but was
present in the crowd.—The Bench considered the case
proved Defendants had both followed the police-officer
and seen men stone and did not assist the police when
called upon, and committed them to Stafford Gaol
for two months' hard labour without the option of a
fine.

CHARGE or PERMITTING DIITTLENNESS.—David Darby,
landlord of the Beech Tree, Haleaowen Street, Wii
charged by Superintendent Woo Heston, with permitting
drunkenness in his house, on the 19th ult.—Police-ser•
geant Cooper said he visited
_defendant's house at
._

half-past te-u o'clock at night and he found a man named
William Hodgkins drunk, cursing and behaving very
bad. He saw another man named Priest quite drunk
and he had a pint of ale before him but he was so drunk
that he could not get the jug to his mouth. He called
the attention of the landlady for allowing the men to be
in the house drunk, and she said she was very sorry but
she did not know they were drunk.—Police-eonstebles
Gross and McGorty gave corroborative evidenee.—Mr.
Hayes, for the defenoe, denied that anyone was drunk,
but that the last witness had something to eat and drink
with Hodgkins and the man was sober. He called Ellen
Darby, who said that McGorty had some ale and food
with Hodgkins. Priest came into the house but had
nothing to drink.—The lienoti considered tho case
proved and fined defendant 5s and costs and cautioned

Ditunx on LICENSED PREMISES.—WiIIiam Hodgkins
and L. Priest were charged with being drunk on licensed
premises, on the 19th ult.—Police.ergeant Cooper
proved thatjhe saw both the defendants drunk on David
Derby's premises.—Police-constable Cross corroborated.
—Hodgkins said he had no drink in the house, and
several previous convictions were proved and defendants
fined 5s each and cost;; in default 14 days.
DRUNK AND DlioilDEELY.—James Davies was charged
with being drank and disorderly, at Blackheath, on the
2nd inst.—Police-sergeant Cooper proved the case and
said the defendant was very drunk.—Fined 21 6(1 and
costs.—Abraham Sidaway, chainmaker, Cradley Heath,
was charged with being drunk and disorderly, on the
night of the 27th ult.—Police-constable Gaskin said at
one o'clock fn the morning he found the defendant lying
drunk in the Halesowen Road.—Defendant pleaded
guilty and was fined 2.1 6d and costs.