The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-05-03 00:00:00

BRIERLEY HILL.

ALL/IGED INCITING BOYS TO STEAL.-At the
Police Court, on Monday, before Messrs. F. Evers,
and H. Hill, Daniel Holt, marine store dealer,
Mill-street, Brierley Hill, appeared on remand,
charged with stealing a piece of iron chain be-
longing to George Smith, of Bromley; also charged
wit.. stealing a chain belonging to Messrs. Roberts,
Cooper, and Newton, Brierley Hill; and with
feloniously receiving, knowing it to be stolen, a
quantity of iron, the property of the Earl of
Dudley. Mr. J. L. Holberton (Homfray and Hol-
berton) prosecuted, and Mr. W. Waldron defended.
—ln the case of receiving iron with a guilty know-
ledge, the evidence was that prisoner bought a
large quantity of bolts and other iron from some
boys who were last week convicted of stealing it
from a shed in the Robin Hood Road, where it had
been deposited by the Earl of Dudley's men. A
witness affirmed that prisoner incited the boys to
"bring plenty," as Easter was coming. At the
time his premises were searched for this iron a
chain was found belonging to Messrs. Roberts.
Cooper, and Newton, and it being identified, he
was charged with stealing it. He stated that he
bought it from someone, but could not say the
name. Another large piece of chain found was
identified as a piece stolen from a field (of which
it had formed the fence) belonging to Mr. Geo.
Smith, of Bromley. When charged by a witness
with stealing this, prisoner replied that he bought
it from Wm. Hughes, of Buckpool, and he had it
from the end of his father's house. Hughes was
called, and flatly contradicted the statement. He
had never sold prisoner anything he asserted.—The
magistrates decided to commit prisoner for trial on
all three charges; and the defence was reserved.
Bail was allowed, prisoner in £4O and two sureties
in £2O each.

CHARGE OF PERMITTING DRUNKENNESS.—
Edward Lucas, landlord of the Whittington Inn,
Kinver, was charged by Superintendent Woollas-
ton, with permitting drunkenness in his house on
Easter Monday. Police-sergeant Salt said that h.
visited the defendant's house at 7.30, on the above
date, and Emu two men in the house named Davis.
They were drunk. Visited the house again at 9.30
in company with Police-sergeant Hinton. Called the
attention of the landlord to th - state the men were
in. The landlord said he did not know there was
any person in the house drunk, and also said, "If
you say they are drunk, I suppose they are."
Police .constable Johnson and Police-sergeant
Hinton also gave evidence to prove the case
Several witnesses were called for the defence to
prove that the men were not drunk, and raised a
doubt in the minds of the alagistrat, s, who gave
the defendant the benefit of the doubt, and dis-
missed the summons.

COAL STICALING.—Priscilla Wall was charged
with stealing coal, the property of Earl Dudley.
The case was proved, and defendant committed for
7 days.—Ellen Higgs was fined 2s 6d and costs,
for a similar offen.ce.—Eliza Ann A.bbiss was also
fined 2s 6d and costs, for a similar off ence.—Edwin
Jones was committed for 14 days, for stealing coal
the property of Earl Dudley.
ASSAULT CASE.— Joseph Garbet and Rachel
Garbet were charged with assaulting James Robin-
son, a watchman in the employ of Earl Dudley.
The case was proved, and defendants fined 2s 6A
each and costs; in default 7 days.
CAUTION TO CARTERS.— Joseph Burton was
charged with being drunk, while in charge of a
horse and cart. The case was proved, and defend-
ant fined 5s and costs.

A WIFE BEATEE.—It the Police Court, on
Thursday, before Mr. H. Corser, deputy stipendiary,
Richard Aston was charged with assaulting his
wife, Eliza Aston, on the 18th ult. Complainant
said she did not wish to proceed with the case
against her husband. Mr. Corser said the case
ought to have come on at the previous sessions,
but as complainant did not appear, a summons
was issued for her attendance. Complainant said
on the above date defendant came home to tea, and
they had a few words together, when defend Ant
either accidentally pushed her against the door, or
else struck her on the head with something, she
could not tell whieh. There was a slight cut on
her Elba& but it had got quite well. She bled very
much. When she went to the police station to
give information for the summons, she said her
husband struck her with an iron stand. It was
not the first time he had assaulted her, and she had
summoned him for a similar offence. Defendant
said he did not strike his wife, and did not know
whether she caught her head against anything or
not. Superintendent Woollaston said complainant
came to him and gave information of the assault.
She had a very bad cut on the back of the head,
and her hair was completely saturated with blood
She then said that defendant struck her on the
he.td with an iron stand.—Mr. Corser zaid he
had not the least doubt in the world that
defendant struck his wife, and that he had
struck her with considerable violence. It was
not the first time defendant had been summoned
for assaulting his wife. He should continue the
practice that had been carried on in that Court,
with regard to assaults en women, and should
sentence defendant to one month's imprisonment,
with hard labour.
DausicHNNESS. —Benjlmin Geary was charged
with being drunk and disorderly at Commonside,
on the 26th ult. Police-constable Hicklin said
about half-past eleven o'clock on the night of the
26th ult., he was on duty at Commonside, Pensnett.
Defendant was drunk and creating a great dis-
turbance, and had a crowd of about a hundred
people round him. Defendant said to the crowd,
referring to witneEs, "Don't let him go, let's knock
his brains out," and they threw stone‘ and
bricks at witness. Fined lOs 6d; in default 14
days.
I IGAMBLING.—A lad named Jeremiah Garbett, was
charged with gambling on the highway, by play-
ingiat pitch and toss at Pensnett, on the 17th ult.
Police-constable Lafford proved seeing defendant
gail =Oh% 14 playinge pitoh And too on tho,

highway, on the day in question. Fined ss; in
default 7 days.
NON-APPEARANCE.—For not appearing in answer
to a suminons, charging him with being drunk and
disorderly, at Commonside, on the 26th ult., a
warrant was issued for the appreheasion of Wiliain
Jones, of Commonside.-