The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-08-26 00:00:00

BOARD OF GUARDIANS.

The weekly meeting of this board was held
yesterday. Mr. Granger in the chair. There
were present :—Messrs. Rhodes, Guest, Kelly,
Forrest, Wood, Homer, Brooks, Pargeter, and
Plant. Admitted into the house 17; discharged
29 ; died 1; born 0 ; remaining 310; correspond-
ing week last year 290. Out-door relief King-
swinford district £2l 16s 8d ; Stourbridge dis-
trict £l4 is 3d; Halesoxven district £l5 us. 8d;
non-resident paupers us 8d; total £52 is. 3d;
corresponding week last year, £54 5s 00.
A letter was read from the Local Government
Board enclosing a letter received from Arch,
deacon Hone, in reference to the supply of
water in Halesowan. The clerk was directed to
write, detailing the step already taken, as to the
drainage of the district. Mr. Marten's proposal
was still under consideration. Mr. Pargeter
moved, and Mr. Plant seconded, that the previous
ressolution passed as to urban powers be rescinded
and that the Board do apply to the Local Gov-
ornment Bard to give the authority for urban
powers for Amblecote. This was carried. Mr.
Plant moved that the Medical Officer of the dis-
trict give reports of the various parishes separate,
as to the minutes and particulars of the diseases
in the district. Carried.

SUDDEN DEATH IN A CLAYMINE.—A fatal acci-
dent occurred on Monday morning, at Mr. Owen's
elayworks, near Stamber Mill. Some men went
down the shaft to their work, aud one of them,
William Wooldridge, proceeded to look round the
workings with a candle. His son and a man
named Walker, thinking it strange he did not
return, went in search of him, and found he was
a corpse. Rumours were afloat in the neighbour-
hood that he died from "choke damp," but it is
stated that death resulted from a fit, and that
deceased had been subject to sudden attacks of
illness. An inquest was held on Wednesday, at
the Vauxhall Inn, Foster Street, and after the
jury had viewed the body the inquest was ad-
journed.
ASSAULT CASE.—At the Petty Sessions, yester-
day, before Colonel Fletcher and J. B. Cochrane,
Esq., Joseph Southall, of the Lye, was charged
with assaulting Sarah Pardoe, on the 20th inst.—
From the evidence of complainant it appears that
her husband went to the defendant's house late at
night. They had some drink and began to play
at cards. She went to fetch her husband when
the defendant struck her and pushed her out of
the house. Defendant denied that he struck her,
but admitted pushing her out of the house.—Ann
Willetts, daughter of the defendant, said that
her father did not touch her. Fined is and costs.
ANNUAL LICENSING DAY.—At the Public Office,
yesterday, before Colonel Fletcher, C. P. Noel,
F. Evers, and J. B. Ccehrane, Esqs., the follow-
ing licenses were applied for :—Solomon Pearson,
beer license, supported by Mr. Wall; refused.
James Shirt, High Street, sweet and wine license;
granted. John Davis, confectioner, Market Street,
beer, cider, and wine license; refused.—The fol-
lowing persons attended before the Bench and
were cautioned :—Mary Ulett, Talbot Hotel;
Thomas Dobbs, Gipsy's Tent, Clent ; Richard
Howse, Ridge Top, Wollaston; George Cook,
Three Crowns, Lye, adjourned; Samuel Rutter,
Brittania Inn, Coventry Street; Samuel Southall,
the Cock Inn, Lye Waste ; William Butt, Bell
Inn, Belbroughton. The licensing meeting was
then adjourned till the 29th September.
DRUNK AND REFUSING TO QUIT. Henry
Nicholls and Archer Clarke, of the Lye, were
charged with being drunk and refusinc, to quit
the Forrester's Arms, Lye, when requested on the
18th inst.—Mr. Howse and his wife proved the
case.—Defendants denied the charge and called
witnesses.-1 he Bench considered the case proved
and fined defendants is each and costs.
EXCISE PROSECUTIONS.—Thomas Wooldridge,
of the Lye, was summoned by Mr. J. F. Otter,
supervisor for having in his possession on the 17th
July, a dog he not being duly licensed.—Police-
sergeant Rea said that he found a dog on the de-
fendant's premises on the above date, and he had
no license.—Defendant said he took one out next
day.—Fined in thelmitigated penalty of 255, with
a recommendation that it be further reduced to
10s, in consequence of taking out a license next
day.—A similar charge was preferred against
Robert Brettle, of the Lye.—Police-sergeant Rea
proved the case and defendant was fined 255.
William Allen was also fined 25s for keeping a
dog without a license.
THE CHARGE OF STEALING Sl`RAW.—CarOline '
Cutler, George Simkiss, and Thomas Cutler were
brought up on remand charged with stealing;
twelve bundles of straw, on the 6th inst, the pro-
perty of Mary Ann Whitmore, of Wollaston.—
John Billingsley and Police-constable Smith re-
peated the evidence given before.—William Cas-
tree, moulder, residing at Wollaston, said on the
6th inst, he was in King Street between ten and
twelve o'clock at night. Thomas Cutler was pre-
sent, also Giles and Wagstaff. He heard Giles
say to Wagstaff in Cutler's presence that he had
some straw to sell for is 6d. Wagstaff said he
would give 5s and some beer for it, and told him
' to throw it over Cutler's palings. After the bar-
gain was made Cutler went home and went to
bed.—John Sudde, iron turner, said on the morn-
ing of the 7th inst, he saw George Giles and
George Simkiss go to Cutler's garden and he was
talking to Thomas Cutler at the same time, and
they then went away. Edwin Cutler said he saw
Giles and Simkiss in a field between eleven and
twelve o'clock in the direction of King Street,
and they both had straw.—Police-constable Smith
re-called, :said he served the summons on
Giles, charging him with stealing the straw, and
he said .‘ Yes, he believed Simkiss had stolen the
straw from Whitmore's."—Mr. Bulleid addressed
the Bench for Mrs. Cutler contended and that there
was no evidence against his client.—The Bench
dismissed the summons against the two Cutlers,
and sentenced Simkiss to six weeks' hard labour.
STEALING PIGEONS. —Thomas Wood, a boy was
charged with stealing, two pigeons, on the 18th
inst, the property of -Thomas Mobberly.—Police-
sergeant . Rea proved the case, and prosecutor
identified the pigeons as his property.—Pleaded
guilty; ordered to receive 12 strokes with the birch
rod.

VIOLENT ASSAULT CASE.—William Mcl'addon
was charged with assaulting Mary O'Hagan on
the 19th inst.—Mr. Wall appeared for complainant
and Mr. Addison defended. Complainant said she
had a truck in the market with some general goods
to sell. Defendant's stall adjourined. A dispute
arose about the truck; when defendant caught
her round the waist and threw her violently down,
inflicting a wound on the forehead, and blackened
her eye.—Esther Taylor and Mary Hillman gave
corroborative evidence. The defence was that de-
fendant had bought the stock for £25 and the
truck was part of bargain; she wanted to take the
truck away and complainant refused, and in the
struggle the defendant fell down over a stone and
injured her eye. Several witnesses were called for
the defence to prove MI complainant fell down
in a struggle. The Bench fined the defendant 10s
and colts.