The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-02-08 00:00:00

BRIERLEY HILL.

"ESTABLISHMENT NOT A FAILURE.' —A large
meeting was held in the Town Hall, on Monday
for the delivery of a lecture under the above title,
by Mr. Helm, of Chesterfield. Mr. J. L. Holberton
presided, and the platform was occupied by some
1 ,ading members of the Brierley Hill Conservative
Association. The lecture was an answer to the one
given last week by Mr. Fisher, under the auspices
of the Liberation Society. Mr. Helm directed his
remarks to prove that the connection between the
State and the Church of England was productive
of benefit to the country, and that the arguments
of the Liberationists were unfounded.—ln second-
ing a vote of thanks to the Chairman, Mr. Barton,
r (secretary to the Birmingham Conservative Asso-
ciation) said that disastrous as had been the Liberal
party's opposition to the Government, their adoption
of Liberation principles would prove still more
disastrous.
DnunainixEss.—At the Police-court, on Monday
before Messrs. F. Evers and G. K. Harrison, John
Ball, coke burner, of Piinsnett, was charged with
being drunk and disorderly at Pensnett on the
28th ult. Police-constables Keenan and Hicklin
proved that they saw defendant drunk on the
above date, and he was making use of bad language.
Defendant was fined 9a including costs, and was
allowed 141 days to pay it in.—John Brown, of the
Gig Mill, Stourbridge, Albert Tilley, and George
Tilley, of Amblecote, three young men, were
I charged with being drunk and disorderly at
Amblecote, en the 25th ult. George Tilley did not
appear. Police-constable Evans said on the night
of the 25th ult., he saw the three defendants and
another youth, drunk and fighting at Amblecote.
Albert Tilley and Brown were fined 2i 6d and costs,
and George Tilley was fined 5s and Costs.
CHARGE or ASSAULT.—Edward Rowbottom was
charged with assaulting George Powell at Audnam,
on the 25th ult. Mr. Holberton appeared for the
defence. Complainant said he was landlord of the
Rose and Crown, Audnam Bank. Between two and
three o'clock on the above date defendant went to
his house, and called for a pint of ale. He asked
witness to drink, and he did so. Defendant com-
menced to use bad language, and witness said if he
did not stop it he should turn him out. Defendant
said he could not put him out, and struck at him,
but the blow caught his wife. He then caught
hold of defendant, and with the assistance of his
wife, they put defendant outside, and when out-
side he struck witness. Cross-examincd. Defen-
dant is my brother-in-law. I ordered my daughter
out of the house,and she is now in the Workhouse.
I have summoned people at this court, and the
cases have been dismissed. Samuel Hall was
called as a witness for the complainant, and the
manner in which he gave his evidence caused
much amusement in court. For the defence it
was contended that complainant first commenced
the affair by calling defendant bad names, and
complainant and his wife rushed at defendant and
turned him out of the house. Defendant denied
striking a blow. He was ordered to pay Costs.
CHARGE AGAINST AN OVERSEER.—AIfrecI Jones,
overseer, of Trysail, was summoned for £5B 16s 9d
alleged to be due to the :auditor of the Seisdon
Union. Mr. Stirk appeared in support of the
summons, and Mr. Lawrence defended. Mr.
Francis Southall said he was district auditor for
the Swindon Union. The defendant and a Mr.
Dwight were appointed overseers, and they em-
ployed a man named Bowcutt to collect the rates.
He did collect the rates amounting to £5B 16s 9d,
but forgot to hand it over to his employers. Mr.
Dwight had paid his share of the money, and they
now summoned Mr. Jones for his share.—Mr.
Lawrence applied for an adjournment of the case,
to enable his client to collect the money which was
being raised by a voluntary rate of 3d in the pound.
The Bench made an order for defendant to pay £29
8s 2d, but allowed the order to stand over for a
month.