The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-11-18 00:00:00

BRIERLBY HILL.

SOIREE AND DISTRIBUTION Or PRiZES. The annual
soiree and distribution of prizes to the members of the
15th Staff irdshire Rifle Volunteers, took place on 1 nes.
day night, at the Public Hall, and was • great success.
Mr. H. 0. Firrustone, of Wollaston Hall, presided; and
in opening the meeting he expressed the great interest
he felt in the welfare of the Brierley Hill corps, and
mild he was glad to find that the inhabitants of the dia.
trict had come forward again this year to encourage the
volunteers by offering for compet:tion some excellent
prizes. Referring to the shooting at the range, the
Chairman said it had been on the whole very good, end
he was pleased that the silver watch presented by Dr.
Walker, and the Secretary's Cup and other prizes had
beth won by one of their oldest members, Private W. N.
Pritchard—(epplanae). After offering some words of
encouragement to the unsuccessful competitors, the
chairman renamed his seat amid continued cheering. The
following programme was admirably gone through by
local amateurs :—Overtare, "La Fill. du Regiment, the
Company'e band; aong, "The Mermaid's Song," Mies
Orwin; song, " Rod Cross Banner," Mr. J. Steadman ;
son, •• Wait till the Twilight:. Mist Ilamidon ; piano
fe to solo, Mr. H. H. Jackson ; song, " Gipsy Mail,
Miss Hampton; song, "Blind Girl to her Harp.- Miss
Orwin ; selection by the band.—The prizes were next
distributed by Mrs. R. Smith-Casson to the following
successful competitora:—At 200 yards : let, Private W.
M. Pritchard; 2nd, Lance-Corporal Bailey; 3rd, Private
H. Jones; 4th, Pergeant Westwood; sth, Private J
Brown ; 6th, Private J. Jones. At 500 yards : Ist.
Colour-sergeant Wood; 2nd, PriVate Pritchard; 3rd,
Bugler Smith ; 4th, Sergeant Westwood : sth. Private
Jones; 6th. Private Bishop. For total aggregate scoreu
at both distances Ist, Private W. H. Pritchard (silver
watch and challenge cap) : 2nd, Lanco•Corporal Bailey;
3rd. Sergeant Westwood; 4th, Sergeant Wood ' • sth,
Private J. Jones; 6th, Private H. Jones; 7th, Private
Broton ; Bth, Bugler Smith; 9th, Private Gittins; 10th,
Corporal H. Matthews; llth. Lieutenant Wood; 12th,
Private Nicholson; 14th. Private Brown; 15th, Private
Caswell; 16th, Private Lamb; 17th. Q mrtermaster.ser-
pewit Robinson; 18:h, Private Price; 19th. Private
Silvers ; 20th, Private Warrendet : 21st, Corporal
Fisher; 22nd, Private Barnes; 23rd, Private Cartwright;
24th. Private Maland ; 25th, Corporal Crompton; 26th.
iergeant Webb ; 27th. Private Cooper; 28th, Private
Greenfield ; 29th, Private Preston; 30th, Captain Coch-
rane; 31st. Private Scriven. Five shilling prizes at 200
yards : Privates Nichol•on. Maland, Breton, Matthews,
Gitlin', Caswell, Laud, Preston, Bishop, W. Price.
Cooper, Silvers, Sergeant Webb, Quartermaster.sergeant
Rollinson, Colour-sergeant Wood, Lientenant,Wood, and
Bogle, Smith.—Captain Cochrane, in the name of the
compeny, thanked Mrs. Casson for distributing the
prizes, and he also thanked all those who hail given
them, amonnting in value as they did. to about £42. The
great statically with the men had been the want of am.
mueition. The Government dealt with volunteers very
niggardly in that respect, and the men, if they wished to
practice, had to buy 100 rounds, which cost 95 or 9a 61
Considering that difficulty, he was surprised that they
had acquitted themselves no well at the butts. Out of
ninety-five men, ninety had made themse:ves extra-effi
nest by going to practice oftener, and the result lissl
been very satisfactory. He took that opportunity of
giving a note of warning, as he was determined in the
future that if men failed to make themselves efficient, he
should ask them to send in their resignation. It was no
use having such men about them, as they not only tended
to weaken the corps, but they cost the comp.n so mach,
and gave no return. The 15th had been called the crack
corps in Staffordshire, and it was his earnest wish ant
desire to retain that good name—(applause). He need
hardly tell his hearers that a company of 100 men IVon
not kept up to its proper standard without expense, and
the sum paid by Government fell far short of the amount
required; and he therefore had to ask the inhabitants
generally to assist in supporting the corps. There were
several tradesmen in the district who would render vain.
able assistance by becoming honorary members. After
some further remarks. the Captain mit lie hoped that in
the course of the next year the funds of the company
would he largely augmented by the increased subscrip-
-6.'" of their frieuds—(applause).—Tlie hall was then
cleared of the chairs, &c., and a ball was given, and
dancing was kept up with spirit for several hoar.. Mr.
Evans's qnadrille baud was engaged for the occasion, and
Mr. W. Waldron was the maitre de ballet.

....
MASTER AND SERVANT.-At the Police :lone, on Mon-
day, before M . F. Evers and If. Hall, John Tibbetts
was charged by Patrick Joyce, of Stourbridee, with dis-
charging him without giving him any notice, and he
claimed f'd 15s as compenwition. Complainant said he
had worked for defendant wheeling out ashes for fifteen
vests. The agreement between them waa to give or t -ke
11 days' notice. but on the 17th alt fendsut dischargvi
him without giving him any notice at ad. He WILS to
Rove :Is 91 per day. and Ilk was for money stopped not
of his wages. Defendant denied the claim. and said he
had given dvfendant the 11 days notice through his
agent, and had never stopped hint lOs out of his wages
the Bench dietnissed the case.

-
ASSAULT AT WALLHEATH.—Isaiah Clayton. of Wall-
heath. was charged with assaulting George Slater, his
brother-in-law. at %Val!heath. on the 6th instant. Mr.
Stokes appeared for complain int. who said on the above
date be was at the Wallheath Inn, with a glee party, and
AS he waa going out through the passage, defendant, who
ass sltting in the kitchen, jumped the table, ran at hi rn
and struck him on the mouth, making his mouth bleed
A woman named Taylor, who was in the passage, saw the
affair, and pushed complainant into the bar. Elizabeth
Taylor corroborated complainant. Defendant denied the
offence, and called Joseph Grainger, who said complain
ant said something to defendant, who thereupon got on
the table, ran at complainant, and struck at him ; b
did not think he hit him. Defendant was fined Is 6d and
costs; in default seven days
DRUNK AND ASSAULTING THE POLlCF.—Thomas Hod-
getts and John Anson were charged with being diunk and
riotous on Saturday night last, at Brierley Hill; and
Thomas Hodgetts, John Anson. and George Reynolds
were charged with assaulting the police whilst in the exe-
cution of their duty : and George Reynolds and John
mon were further charged, with wilfully damaging the
,

windows in the police cell. Police-co'nstable" Cindy,
stationed at Brierley Hill, said about one o'clock on
Sun lay morning he was on duty in Church-street, Brier-
ley Hill, in company with Police-constable Doobar. He
heard defendants *boating out, and heard the defendant
iiodgetts say the first policemen that came up he should
" slog " him. They stood at th,. corner of Bell-street.
and witness and the other officer requested them to be
quiet. and not keep brawling, and Hodgette said he should
have it then. Hodgetts and Reynolds then pulled wit-
ness off the footpath down into the road, a distance of
four or five feet, and fell on him. Hodgetts struck him
lief -ire they palled him off the footpath. Anson set
abbot Doobar, polled him across the road, and tore his
cost. Witness was compelled to use his staff to Hodgett*
sod Reynolds. Police-constable Doobar corroborated
Orady. Police-sergeant Breton said on the above date
about half-past twelvw, he heard • row in Church Lane.
Defendants were there making a great noise. Anson had
got his :oat off, and witness persuaded him to pot it on.
l'hey then went away. Reynolds wee not drunk, but the
other two were. They were afterwards brought to the
station by the two previous witnesses. Anson and Hey-
molds were pat into the first cell. Reynolds behaved
WNWfI pretty well, bat Amon broke two panes of glue

with his fist. There were three panel of glat4 broken
which were worth 2s. Defendants pleaded ii it guilty
and in defence said thy met the officer,, who told thew
to go home, and they wished them '(food They
went about 20 yards down the road when both the officers
came running after them and net about them with their
staffs, without any provocation. All defendants had been
previously convicted—Hodgetts nine times. Anion once.
and Reynolds four time.. For being drunk and assault.
in the police, Hodgetts and Anson were fined 20s and
Icosts each, in default 21 lava; and Reynolds was fined
Is and costs, or seven days. The charge againit Reynolds
for breaking the window was dismissed. Anson w. 6 fined
I 2s, the damage, and coats ; in default seven days
DRUNKENNESS.—Joseph Williams was charged with
I being drunk and riotous at Brockmoov, on the 11th inst,
' and fined 5s and coats. Police-constable (otterlll proved
I the ease,—Solomon Wylde was ordered to pay the costa
for being drunk and riotous at Brierley Hill, on the 11th
inst. Police constable Mayiand proved the VW!.
WILFUL DAMAGE.—WIIII3III Jones (12), residing at
.` Ba,co-bov," Eoalbournbrook, was charged with wilfully
damaging a wall belonging to Charles Webb and others,
on the 9th instant, at Coalbournbrook. Police-constable
Freeman said he was on duty at Coalboornbrook on the
above date, when be saw defendant on the top of a wall
10 feet high, belonging to complainant, and soli him
knock three bricks otf it. The damage would be about
la. The wall has been put up lately. Mr. Webb had the
!wall covered with glass, but It was all knocked utr wii-
ham Wellsbury, gardener to Mr. Webb, said be found
four bricks off the following morning, and the damage
done would amount to Is. Defendant calkd his sister,
Elizabeth Jones, who said her younger brother put a bird
cage on the wall, and defendant went to get it ,-if, but he
did not knock any bricks off. Fined Is, Is damage, and
co6ts ;in default seven days, Allowed a•veu days to
say.

-ASSAULTING A GRANDMOTHER. Jane Merchant wee
charged with aasaulting Elizabeth Jones. Ler grand.
mother, on the Bth inst, at Coalbouruhrook Complain.
ant nail on the above date she was beating her grandson
for not going to reboot, when d.-fendant ea/Ile up and set
about her, and held a awl, over her heni, saying she
would cot her arm out with it. Mary Ann Sprires cur.
roborated complainant. Defendant pleaded not guilty,
and called her wither, and after hearing her evidence,
the Bench ordered each party t) pay the co,ts between
them.

ASSAULTING TUC POLICIL—At the Petty Sessions held
on Thursday, before I. Spooner, Eq., Stipendiary.
henry Inceley win brought up ou a sari. t charged
with assaulting Police-eoustslile Cotteiill. on :all of
August hot. Complainant •ud that on tlo, ;LI o, date at
eleven o'clock at night, he found the defendantjdrunk at
Brockmoor. He ordered hits home. Defend iitt refused
to go, and struck him twice. Defendimt pleaded guilty.
Fined 5s and costs, 93, _

Fusions Dasviso.—Nosh Compaon was charged with
furious driving in Iligh•street, Brierley Mit, ou the tith
inst. John Walley said he one the defen.iant driving •
horse and gig at a furious rate. The horse knocked down
his child, and hurt it very badly. The child is still under
the core of Mr. Chapman, surgeon. Mr. Spooner re•
marked that it was a very dangerous thing to drive fast
on the road, which was:as much for fo,t.pa•sengen. as
for persons to drive. Persons with vehiclia should dries
with ordinary care, e-penally when they, children
about. Defendant Was than toed and costs, £3 Ils
Bd.

Asssctr Case.—William Taney and Mars Ann Tur-
vey were charged with assaulting Catherine Price on the
.Ith net. Complainant said she has standing on her own
door, when the female defendants came to her, called her
bad names, and struck her and pulled her trio her own
deur. William came up at the time and struck her with
a bucket. William Henry Cox and Sarah Baker gave
corroborative evidence. Ann Torrey was ordered to find
two safeties in £lO, and pay a fine of Is, and coat.; and
William Torrey was also ordered to find two sureties of
flO to keen the peace for six months.
"

CHARGE OF ILLEGALLY DISTRAIN/No.—Joeeph Ring-
ley, John Hill. and Joa ph Robinson, were chartp-d with
i.legally diatraining on a me fowls on! other gooda, the
property of William Wrought sy. l.siger. Mr. ANIa in
appeared for the complainaLt, and Mr. fl..mer for the
. defendants. After some legal argument, the lesrned Sti-
pendiary said that under the prusent cumwons he had no
juriadietion, and must dismiss it, but if Mr. Addison
wished to apply for a fresh commons, ha would grant one.
Mr. Addison sail he chould apply for one, and the ease
will probably come on next Court day.

CORRESPONDENC E.
•
We wish it to be distinctly understood that inserting
letters in this solunin, we do not thereby ident,:f y ourselves
with the opinions of our Correspondents.