The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-09-07 00:00:00

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THE STOURBRIDGE OBSERVER.

CHARGE OF STEALING MONEY.—JOhtI Dean, horse
dealer, was brought up on remand, charged with stealing
83 in silver money, on the 26th ult, from the Duke
William public-12.11,e, the Delph.—Mr. Waldron de-
fended. Amy James, wife of Robert James, said the pri-
soner came into the house about half-past six o'clock
and called for a glass of ale.—Prisoner went to the back
premises and shortly afterwards returned to the bar:
He sat down opposite the counter and moved his glass
of and she gave him the change out of sixpence. The
till was near where the defendant sat and witness went
into the kitchen after moving the ale. She was I
suspicious and watched him and she heard the money
rattle in the till. At that time there was not less than
10s in the till or more than 12s. She heard the noise,
got up, and saw the prisoner with a wooden bowl in his
hand and that bowl was her property. She saw him
drop it in the till and try to shut it. Prisoner at that
time had silver in his right hand. She caught hold of
his right hand with the silver in and asked him what
business he lid at the till. Prisoner said " Can you
swear what money was in the till" Lied witness said "No."
Prisoner said " Can you swear what amount of money
was in the till " and witness said " No." Prisoner then
asked witness if she was going to give him in charge
and she said most certainly. He then tried to strike
her to make his escape and she then closed the door of
the bar and held it so that he should not make his
escape. She saw prisoner put his right hand into his
pocket. He afterwards had a second glass of ale and
gave her a two shilling piece for it. Witness's husband
then came down stairs and asked what was the matter.
She toli him that prisoner had been robbing the till.
Crass-examined by Mr. Waldron: I had been to the till
five minutes before prisoner came in. There was a two
shilling piece and the ren.ainder in shillings and small
coin. Under the counter is a pipe cupboard. After pri-
soner left I found three shillings and sixpence in silver
loose in the drawer. The counter is the same as in Mr.
Higgs's time and pipe cupboard the same. In putting
back the bowl into the drawer the money ivent into the
• drawer. Prisoner was within three feet of the drawer.
He had not a pipe. He was smoking a cigar when he
left the house in custody. It is unusual for customers
to put beer on the side table. The drawer when I
rushed into the room was half open. He pushed the
drawer with his closed hand. It was then I saw the
money. I saw money between his thumb and forefinger as
be closed his hand. He did not say "if you charge me
with robbing the till I shall stop and face it out." Pri-
soner did not ask me whether I had seen any money
taken or what I had lost, I did not say I heard the
rattle. The women in ray house did not speak to Dean
Mrs. Simpson, Mrs. Hill, and Mrs. Phillips were in the
kitchen, Mrs. Hiil followed ue from the kitchen. She
was a yard from me when I took hold of Dean. She
was inside the bar. Dean's hand was in the drawer.
He had hold of the bowl. It was lifted off the bottom
of the drawer. The drawer is about six inches deep.
Re-examined by the Bench: I was about two yards in
the kitchen when I watched prisoner. Frances Hill,
wife of William Hill, boatman, Great Bridge, said on
the 26th of August she was at the Duke William Inn
about half-past six. She saw prisoner come in. He
had a glass of ale. Mrs. James was speaking to her in
in the kitchen. She saw her go into the bar. Witness
saw the prisoner in the bar. Mrs James took hold of
him with her right hand. She heard same money drop
in the till. Mrs. James sent her to fetch assistance.
Witness saw prisoner at the till and the till open. Cross-
examined : 1 saw prisoner's hand near the till. I saw
peiscner's hand in the till. I had a little conversation
with Mrs. James this morning about the case. I saw
the bowl in Dean's hand. He was holding the bowl
with his fingers underneath and thumb on the top.
Mrs. James took hold of him by his left arm. When
Mrs James came :into the kitchen she only brought a
pint of ale and went back. When Mn. James rushed
into the bar prisoner was smoking. I cannot say what.
I d:d not see a stick in his hand. Prisoner was
smoking a cigar. I cannot say whether he had it in
his hand or not. I saw him light a match.—Francis
Phillips, labourer, the Delph, said on the 26th of
August last he was at the Duke William Inn. He saw
the prisoner sitting in the bar. - Prisoner had a glass cf
ale. He was sitting in a chair, He got up and went
towards the till. Witness eheard the till open and the
money jingle. Mrs. James went into the bar and took
hold of the prisener by the right arm. Prisoner said
"Are you going to take me in charge" and she said
" Ys" Witness " You naughty man you have been one
of them Birmingham prigs I suppose." Cross•ex-
&mined : Mrs. Hill was in the kitchen when I heard the
till open. Mrs. Hill followed Mrs. James directly.
Mrs. James was in the kitchen when,l heard the money
jingle. I heard prisoner say "can you swear to the
money." He had his right hand shut. I could not see
whether money was in it or not. I did not go into the
bar. I did not notice whether he had a stick in his left
hand. When Mrs. James had hold of him by the right
arm the till was pushed to. I did not see the bowl.—
Joseph Pearson, innkeeper, Brockmoor, said on Monday
the 26th of August the prisoner called at his house
about mid-day. Prisoner asked him to lend him half a
sovereign. Witness lent him five shillings. Prisoner
said he had been out with a few friends and was short of
money and odn't like to go through Brierley Hill with-
out some in his pocket. Cross-examined : 1 lent him
two two shilling pieces and a shilling.—Police-constable
Mountiord, stationed at Brierley Hill, said on the 26th
of August he received the prisoner into custody. Witness
was present when prisoner was searched. Prisoner had
twelve shillings and eightpence in his right hand
pocket. Witness charged him with stealing six to eight
shillings from the ti.l at the Dake William Inn. Pri-
soner said "1 have no money at all." This was before
he was searched. The coins prisoner had were one
half-crown, eight shillings, two sixpences, one fourpenny
piece, and tenpence in coppers. Cross-examined: He
did not deny stealing the money. He said to Mrs.
James in my presence " can you swear to the money."
P.risoner was sober.—Prisoner was committed to take his
Utial at the next Stafford Sessions. •
leasniee OF STEALINH, A WATCH.—Thomas Fletcher,
labourer, and George Grove, cooper, both of Enville
Street, Siourbridge, were brought up on remand
charged—the former with stealing, and the latter with
felonious receiving, a watch and chain, the property of
John Ebrey, of Dennis Park, Brettell Lane,
on tho 11th of August. Mr. Waldron
defended.—John Ebrey, carpenter, Dennis Park. said on
the 11th of August prisoner Fletcher and prosecutor
went to the Whittington Inn kept by Lucas. We had
something to drink when Grove, Gilbert, and Partridge
joined us. When they joined us wa had more to drink.
At that time prosecutor had his watch. We were there
*bout one hour. Prosecutor said they had half a dosen
quarts of ale. They were on the green. They all went
to the Green Dragon at Sinver. At the Green Dragon
prosecutor ordered ale and brandy. Prosecutor could
not say how much. Prosecutor was drunk. Prosecutor
was taken to the,stable to sleep. Fletcher fetched him out
of the stable at half-past two. After prosecutor left
Cooper's house he missed his watch, He said to Grove,
Fletcher. and Gilbert " I have lost my watch." One: t
said " Come on its all right." Prosecutor said if its all
right show it him. Prosecutor then pulled two half-
crowns oat of his pocket and said "If you'll tell me
where it is I will give you these or spend them." Pro-
secutor said "I shall put it into the hands of the police.'
He went back to the Green Dragon and complained of
his watch being lost. On the following day he saw
Grove and Fletcher. Prosecutor said to them "If
you've got it or know where it is, or pawned it give me
the ticket and I shall say no more about it, or if you
will giveit we I'll pawn it and spend the money." Pro-
secutor informed the police. The watch produced was
his iroperty. It was numbered " 2823." Cross ex-
amined by Mr. Waldron: I spend a pound in chink on
Saturday night. I slept it the Crown Inn in Euville
Street. I was half and half when I went to bed. I
can't tell whether I had spirits when I went to bed. I
don't recollect how I got into the stable. I told Bailey
my mates took the watch off me. I did not say " I
could not say how my watch was gone." I did not
authorise any of them to pledge the watch. Nor to sell
it.—John Millward Higgs, licensed victualler, Stour-
bridge, said prisoner Grove worked for him. Grove
went to his house with a silver watch. Police sergeant
Stevenson came to his house on a Saturday-night
Greve came to him the Tuesday or Wednesday week
previous. Grove asked him to lend him some money
upon the watch. Witness advanced him fifteen shillings
upon it. Grove brought us 6d. The watch was the
ono produced. Witness gave the watch to Superinten-
dent Wheeler in Police-sergeant Stevenson's presence.
Cross-examined: I have trusted Grove. I believe him
to be an honest man. He did uot say where the watch
came from. Grove brought the watch openly.—Police-
sergeant Stevenson, stationed at Kinver, said from infor-
mation ha received he went on the 23rd of August to
Grove's house. Witness asked him if he knew anything
about Ebrey's watch which had been taken from him.
He said "I know nothing about it." Witness went to
Fletcher's house and asked him about the watch. He
said " I know nothing about it." On the 24th of August.
witness went to Higge's house. Witness received the
watch and chain produced. Witness then went to
Grove's house. Witness said did you take a watch to •
Higgs and get 15s upon it.- He said " o, I have not."
Witness then took him into custedy and charged him
with stealing a watch, chain, and whistle, the property
of John Ebrey. He said "I did not steal it, Fletcher
gave it to me to go to Higgs to get 153 on it. I got the
money and brought it to Fletcher. I don't know how
he came by it, I did not steal it," Fletcher was in
custody. Witness charged him with stealing the watch
and chain. He said "I did not steal it. Witness put
both prisoners together and again charged Fletcher.
Ile made no reply. Witness then charged Grove with
receiving the watch and chain knowing them to be
stolen. He said " That's right I received them from
Fletcher here."—Police-constable Wood, stationed at
ianver, said I Police-sergeant Stevenson and himself
escorted the two prisoners from Stourbddge to Brierley
Hill. Grove said to Fletcher "1 have not stole the
watch." Fletcher said "I etole the watch and no one
else. Witness went with Police-sergeant Stevenson on
the 23rd of August to Grove's house. Police-sergeant
Stevenson asked him if he knew anything about Ebrey's
watch. He said "I don't anything about it." On the
24th of August witness want to Grove's house again and
asked him if he knew anything about Ebrey's watch.
He said "No."—Prisoners were committed to take their
trial at the next Stafford Sessions,