The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-08-09 00:00:00

OLD HILL.

HIGHWAY ROBBERY.-At the Police Court, held
on Wednesday, before Messrs. W. Bassano and B.
Hingley, Moses Martin and James Yardley, chain-
maker, of Cradley Heath, were charged with steal-
ing a watch and about 6s. in money from the
person of Mathew Evans, engineer, of Old Hill, on
the 14th June. Mr. W. S. Hayes prosecuted.
Prosecutor said he left the Duke William Inn, Old
Hill, about 11 o'clock on Saturday night, the 14th
June, and was proceeding up Powke Lane towards
Blackheath, when he met three men and a woman.
One man and the woman walked on and the other
two stopped him. One of them struck him and
knocked him down, took his watch and about 6s.
in money out of his pockets. They then ran away.
Prosecutor said that he went to Walsall with
Yardley, and saw Martin, who was then in custody.
Martin said that Yardley broke the chain and he
, took the watch and said he had pawned it and that
prosecutor could have it back for 50s. but after-
wards said he had sold it. Yardley said that
Martin wanted to stab prosecutor, but he stopped
him from doing it. Harry Dodd, forgeman, of
Cradley Heath, said he was at Blackheath, on the
14th June, in company with Elizabeth Prosser, in
the Shoulder of Mutton Inn. He saw the two
prisoners there at the same time. The prisoners
came from the direction of Powke Lane. He saw
Evans lying in the road and he saw the prisoners
pick him up, but did not see what they did at him.
A short time afterwards the prisoners came run-
ning past them but did not say anything to them.
Elizabeth Prosser, of Cradley Heath, who lives
near the prisoner Martin's home, said she was in
company with Harry Dodd, at the Shoulder of
Mutton Inn, Blackheath. and saw the two prisoners
there. As she was coming down Powke Lane she
saw the two prisoners in the road and went past
them, a short time afterwards they came running
past but she did not say anything. She went
home and went to the prisoner's house and asked
prisoner what he had been doincr. Prisoner said
"What, are you going to round on me" and wit-
ness made no reply. Police-sergeant Salt said he
arrested Yardley on the Ist mat, and took him to
Brierley Hill where the prisoner Martin was in
custody. He charged them with assaulting
Mathew Evans and taking from his person a watch
and about 6s in money. Martin said that Jimmy
broke his chain and held his arms while he stole
watch and money. He said with 4s. 6d. he fetched
his boots out of pawn and gave Bs. to Yardley and
9d. to Harry Dodd, not to round on him. He also
said that Yardley asked him for a knife to stab
prosecutor. He said "If you do, I'll stab you."
Yardley said as they were going down the road
Martin showed him a watch. He (Yardley) asked
him to take it back to prosecutor, but Martin said
he would stab him first. He said that he had none
of the money and Martin said, "Why don't you
t-11 the truth. You know you broke the chain and
I took his watch and money. You held his arms
while I did it." Yardley then made a statement
and said he was coming down Powke Lane on
Saturday, the 14th June, with Martin. He saw
Mathew Evans lying in the horse road, and said to
Martin" Let's help him up." Martin said "I
will, if he has got anything on him." He heard
him say "Here's a chain. He don't wear a chain
without a xatch." He saw the two wrestling to-
gether. They were:wrestlincr for about half-an.hour
and both fell against a cinder wall. He then heard
Martin say he had got a. watch, and while going
down the road he (Yardley) said "Why don't you
take it him back, again." Martin said "I shall
not have anything to do wita it. I'd sooner stab
him than I'd take it back." The prisoners were
committed to take their trial at the sessions. Bail
was refused.

NEGLECTING A FAMILY.—James Hill was charged
by John Taylor, relieving officer, with neglecting
his wife and family and causing them to become
chargeable to the Dudley; Union. Complainant
proved the case and said the relief amounted to 6s.
Defendant was committed for 14 days, in default
of payment.—lsaac Harris was charged by John
Taylor, relieving officer, for a similar offence.
Complainant proved the case and said the relief
amounted to 18s. Defendant was ordered to pay
the amount and costs; in default 28 days.
STEALING CLOTHES. Thomas Homer was
charged with stealing a quantity of wearing
app rel, the property of James Williams, et Cradley
Heath, on the 30th May. Prosecutor said the
value of the clothes was 50s. He said he lodged
with prisoner at Mrs, Garrats. He went to work
on the 30th May, early in the morning, and left
the clothes in a box He returned from work
about half-past seven and missed the clothes out o
the b)x. Marie Garratt said that prosecutor and
plisoner lodged with her. She got up that morn-
ing about 7 o'clock, and prosecutor had gone to
work and prisoner had gone off. Police-constable
Brezuer, who is stationed at Bromsgrove, said he
took the prisoner into custody at Bromsgrove and
charged him with stealing a pair of trousers, waist-
coat, and a pair of boots. Prisoner was wearing
the trousers at the time. He was committed to
take his trial at the sessions.

_
DRUNK AND REFUSING TO QUIT. Thomas
Bryant was charged with being drunk and refusing
to quit the British Oak Inn, Old Hill, on the 28th
ult. Priscilla Foley, landlady, proved the offence.
Defendant was ordered to pay costs.—Soloman
Cooper and Joseph Nock were charged with being
drunk and refusing to quit the Yew Tree lon,
Blackheath, on the 25th ult. Noah Priest, la d.
lord, said the defendants came into his house
drunk, and asked him to fill them some drink. He
told them he would not fill them any and also told
them to go out. Defendants refused doing so and
began to use bad language and said they would
not go before 11 o'clock. They drove all his
company out. Defendants were fined ss. each and
and costs; in default 14 days.
ILLTREATING A HORsE.—Reuben Willetts, surface
manager, at the Cottshall Colliery, was charged by
F. Woodhouse, inspector of Society for the Preven-
tion of Cruelty to Animals for South Staffordshire,
with cruelty to a horse, the property of the New
British Iron Company, on the 21st ult. Mr. Travis
prosecuted, and Mr. Shakespeare defended. A man
named Jeavons, colliery inspector for the New
British Iron Company, said be was at Cottshall
Colliery on the 21st ult, and saw the defendant there
who had a horse in his charge. He did not notice
the horse particularly at the time, but saw the de-
fendant beating the horse with a piece of wood. He
went into the engine house and on returning he saw
the defendant rubbing mud in the side of the horse,
and went up to him to see what was the matter
and asked him if the horse had been down. De-
fendant said said "yes, it had." He saw some blood
in the horse's mouth. Thomas Pearce, engineer, of
Old Hill, said he was in the engine house and saw
the defendant go by with a horse, and saw him
beating it with apiece of wood, abut 3ft,or 41t. long
and about five minutes afterwards he saw the defend-
ant rubbing dirt on the horse's side. James Clarke,
horse "fettler," at the Gottshall Colliery, said he
saw the horse on the morning of the 29st ult, about
7 o'clock. The horse was all right then. At about
half-past one o'clock the detendant came down the
pit to him and told him the horse had fell down and
had hit part of his tongue off. He went up the pit
with the defendant and went to the place where the
horse was, and saw it was bleeding from the mouth.
Mr. James Blakeway, veterinary surgeon, of Stour—
bridge, said he was employed by the New British
Iron Company, to attend to the horses generally.
He was sent for to the colliery to examine the horse.
Previous to going there a man brought to him the
tingase 'of the horse. He examined the horse and
found that it had had its tongue ripped out. The
defence was that the horse had his tongue hanging
out of it's mouth when it ran away and fell on some
timber and cut its tongue off. My. Blakeway said it
aas impossible to do so, as the mark was too far
down the tongue to reach the teeth. The Bench re-
tired for a few minutes, and on returning, said they
had very carefully examined the evidence, and
should commit defendant for trial at the sessions.
Bail was accepted.
STNALING PIGEONS.—Noah Ray (14). was charged
with stealing two pigeons on the 31st ult, the pro-
perty of James Tibbetts. Prisoner pleaded guilty.
Prosecutor said he fed the pigeons on the night of
the 31st ult, and they were all right then. The next
morning he found that some one had entered the
:hop, by the door. He went and looked at the
pigeons at Old Hill. on the 4th August. Hezekiah
of Old Hill, said brought the two pigeons
from the prisoner on the Ist inst. Police-constable
Sylvestre said he received the two pigeons from the ,
last witness. Prisoner was sentenced to 28 day's
hard labour.