The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-12-19 00:00:00

TN'S STOTTRITRIDOE OBSEIZVER.

His first objection was that the rate collector should
get directions from the Commissioners to institute
these inquiries —Mr King (magistrates' clerk) said
that Hipkins could take proceedings as a rate col-
lector without getting directions from the Commis-
sianers.—Mr. Hinds said the bye-law was entirely
duff -rent. He contended that Raybould's premises
wet e situa ein Mamb e Square and not in En ville
Strict —Mr. Hipkius, rate collector, admitted that
the front door was in Mamble Square, and that
Ms nable Square was not cleansed or lighted by the
Commis,ioners.—Mr. Hinds read the bye-law on the I
subject.—Mr. Thomas said they were not agreed.
upon the Act, and they should adjourn the case for ,
a fortnight.—Sloysius Joseph Roskell was sum- I
awned for non-payment of Highway, Improvement
, eaadGeneralDi-trict Rates. Defendant askedlthe col-
I led rif any of the incorporation accounts were in-
cluded in the rates, and he said they were not. An
order was made for payment.
NEG LECTINO A FAMILT.—Sidoey Philips, carver
and chair maker, Chesterfield, was charged with
allowing his wife and family to become chargeable
to the common fund of the Stourbridge
Mr. Mills, relieving officer, said defendant's wife
and children had been at the Workhouse since the
27th of November. The defendant was a carver
and chair maker, and he understood he was a very
skilful man.—P.C. Pitt said he had ascertained that
defendant's average earnings amounted to about 26s
per week. Defendant said if the Bench would
allow him a chance he would pay every halfpenny.
Committed for one month.
- THEE ATS.—John Gauden, clay miner, of Hay
Green, was charged with using threats towards his
wife on the 16th inst.—Complainant said defendant
picked up a poker and threatened to break her
nee'. He looked very wild and she had to get out
'of his way. He struck at her twice with a poker.
He had been in a lunatic asylum once.—Mr. Mills
said notice had been given to him respecting the
state of defendant's mind. The father was callel
and said defendant was was awfully jealous of every
one of the neighbours. Defendant caught witness
round the threat and threatened him. Medical
testimony proved that defendant was undoubtedly
insane and was ordered to be taken to the lunatic
ettOrEC rioN ORDBIL—Mr. Collis made an appli-
cation for a protection order for Emma Page,
Lower Tingley, against her husband. Mr. Collis
stated that her husband was a drunken man, and
that she had no home for some time, and went to
the Workhouse. The Guardians wrote to the de-
fendant and he promised to get a home. She went
to the house but it was shut up. She had since
gone into a little house, and wanted a protection
order to keep her husband away, as she was quite
able to keep herself. Complainant said she was
married on the last day of August, 1870, and her
husband left on the 2nd just, and he hai only given
her 2s in four mouths. She was now living at
Gower Hagley and got her living by washing, and
she thought she could get her living now and sup-
port her children. Tilers was no reason why her
husband should have left her. She:had been
keeping herself for the last thirteen months. She
found it necessary to go to the Workh ,use be-
cause she did not have enough food. She had
kept him for 5 or 6 months, and she could not do it
any longer. The application was granted.
STELLING A TIN or COFFER Charles Price,
labourer, Stourbridge, was charged with stealing a
tin of coffee on the 11th just, value 6d, the pro-
perty of George Whitwell, who said on:the day
in queation he was in his shop and saw the pri-
soner there. He missed a tin of dandelion coffee.
He accused prisoner of stealing it, and he saw
prisoner turn it out of his pocket and gave it him
back. P.C. Webb proved arresting prisoner in
Mr, Whitwell's shop, and charging him with steal-
ing a tin of coffee. Prisoner dmade no reply.
There was a further charge wi:h stealing a ball of
string, value 6d, the property of Nathaniel Yates,
o t the 11th inst. Sarah Ann Yates, wife of prose-
cutor, Enville Street, said prisoner was in her hus-
band's employ on the 11th inst. The string Oro-
duced was her husband's make. She did not mho;
the string, as they had so much. The prisoner had
been in their employ 2 years and they had not
found him dishonest before. He was not hardly
right in his faculties, nut! she ;lever suspected 'him
at all. The Bench gave the prisoner a were-
caution, and on account of his good character he
was distnissed.
ALLEGED INDECENT ASSAULT.—Levi Packwood,
of Round Hill Farm, Kinver, was charged with
indecently assaulting Mary Davis, et Wollaston, on
the let inst.—Mr. C. H. Collis defended.—Com-
plainant said that she was a widow, living in Coven-
try Street, Stourbridge. On the lst iust she was
returning from Kinver about 4 o'clock, and came
across the fields at the back ef Mr. Whitmore's
farm, Wollaston. When she had crossed 4 fields
from the Cemetery she saw prisoner at the last
stile on Mr. Whitmore's ground. Prisoner was
sitting on the stile and he took a basket;off;her and
put it down by the side o! the stile. He used filthy
language to her, and then indecently assaulted
her. She slapped his face, and told him he would
hear of it again. She then attempted to get over
the stile, but defendentleaught hold of herlfoot. H
afterwards loosed it and she fell over. She met a
woman soon after and made a complaint to her.
Cross-examined: As she was getting over the
middle stile she did not see three or four men com-
ing, When she came to the last stile she SSA a
mao sitting on the stile, She did not scream out
when defendant caught hold of her.—Eliza Plant
said she remembered seeing complainant on the let
must; she seemed to be confused.—P.S. Chare said
he served the summons on Packwood, and read it
over to him. He replied, "I am sorry if anything
of the sort did occur. I don't recollect anything
about it; I don't know the woman,"—Mr. Collis
said there was no corroboration, and he thought
that cases of this sort were only brought with the
idea of extorting money. If the complainant WEIS
a respectable woman she would have screamed out.
Besides, there were houses near the place. the men
were leaving work, and a man must have been mad
to have attempted to do such a thing. He should
put his client in the box and he would totally
deny the charge —Prisoner was then sworn, and
said he had been at his farm eleven years, and he
had never been in a police court. He loft home on
the day in question and went to Stourbridge Stock
Sale. He left the sale about 4 o'clock and after
stopping at the Horse and Groom and Mr. Robert
Parees'e he proceeded home, going down Mumble
Square to go across the fields. As he was getting
over the stile the complainant came up. It was
uot true that he was sitting on the stile. He did
not make use of a filthy expression. She said
'Halo is that you, Mr. Packwood ? He said
"Yes; you seem to have a good load to-night."
He had frequently seen her going across the fields
to Kiuver. He did not catch hold of her foot.' He
met several men coming over the field; they were
not above thirty yards behind complainant. They
said "good night," and he went straight home.
The Bench, after a short consultation, Ldiamissed
the cage.

BOAUD OP GUAIIDIANC—The weekly meeting of
this Board was held yesterday, Mr. IL Bffliughatu
presiding.—Admitted 19., born 2, discharged 13,
dead 2, remaining 584 against 569.---Relief,
King-
swinford £46 88 3d. Stourbridge £3O Gs 50, Hales-
Gwen .225 18s Bd, non-residents .22 7s 2d, total .2134
19s 61d against £9B 6s 11id.—It was decided that
the next meeting of the Board be held on Wednes-
d4y, because of Friday being Christmas day,—On
the motion of the chairman, seconded by Mr.
hew, it was resolved that a letter of condolence be
forwarded to the widow of the late Mr. Raybould,
%tad that it be signed by the chairman. A meeting
of the Sanitary Authority was held, and it was de
cided to be at half of the expense with the Stour.
bridge Improvement Commis.ioners in placing a
sewer along South Street. It was decided that
the Clerk advertisA for the services of a serve;•or to
superintend the house connections and the sewers
in the several parishes. rhe applicants to state
their terms, and the appointment to be made on the
let January.