The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-07-12 00:00:00

9,istrizt

HALEBOWEN AND HAGLEY FLORAL AND HORTI-
CULTURAL SOCIETY. - The approaching annual
exhibition of this Society which is announced to
take place on Tuesday, July 29th, will no doubt as
is now usual, form one of the chief attractions of the
summer easoli in this neighbourhoo.l. By the kind
permi,sion of the Rt. Hon. Lord Lyttelt on, the show
is arranged this "year to be held in H,:gley Park,
the natural beauties of which as also the surround-

in neighbourhood, are too well-known to need com-
ment. We uT,derstan i that notwiths:anding the
lateness of the season an excellent show is expected
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in the various d,TArtmeuts and we hope tliat the
efforts of the society will be as successful in this as

in former years.
THE GIFT OF

-" Is uot surprising

Ow some three hundred years ago a good
.-deal

mystery was believed to surround the seeding of
Fern 9. It was superstitiously considered that these

plants were propagated by invisible seeds, although
it -was thought that the black spots' which were
found on the backs of their fronds had something
do with their seeding capacities. It was belLved
that these 'black spots' fell suddenly upon the Ferns
on Midsummer Eve, and that if they were then
gathered under certain conditions, they would pro-
duce on the gatnerer some very potent effects, the
chief of which would be the ability to walk invisible.

To get the gift of invisibility, however, it was nece6 •
sary to proceed to 'catch' the Fern seed in the follQw-
ing, way. Twelve pewter plates were to be taken at
midnight of St. John's Eve, and placed under the
'black spotted' frond. The seed then in falling
would pass through elevtn of the plates, and rest

_
on the twelfth. Fairies, however, were sometimes in
attendance to snatch the seed away as it fell. But if
_

_
the gatherer succeed in his attempt, he would there-
afier pos-es, the much-coveted quality of invisi.
bility."—The Fern World. By Francis George
Heath.
THE WHOLESALE SLUSHING CASE.—At the Police
Court, yesterday, before Colonel Fletcher, Messrs.
C. P. Noel, R. L. Freer and J. B. Cochrane, John
Dean and Joseph Crocket were brought up on re-
mand charged with passing counterfeit coin, on the
25th ult. James Morgan, station master, at the Lye,
proved that on the 26th nit, Dean booked to Birmine.-
ham and gave witness a bad shilling. Joseph
Checketts, of the Lye, said Dean went to his house
and had some whiskey and gave him bad money to
pay for it. Mary Cruddington and Ann Skidmore
repeated the evidence they gave last week. Super-
intendent Wheeler also repeated his evidence and pro_
dueed the statement made by Dean, which was taken
down by Sergeant Payne. Witness received four
shillings from Mrs. Skidmore and afterwards charged
Dean with passing bad money. Dean asked witness
to put the statement on one side and said he may as
well plead guilty. He asked witness how much im-
erisonment he should get and it he thought it would
~e best to pled guilty. Witness told him he did
.ot know anything about it. Prisoner again esleNl '
w tne:‘.2s to put away the state!ries,t aryl make it es
l'g .t as he could for hie', and it shteild never occur
ag-iin. Sergeants Jones and Payne also gava evi-
dence. Edward Blurt n, silversmith, said the coins
nroduced were eounterfeit. Mr. Fre,r s Lid be cell-
.iidered that a prima facie case had been made ow,
and committed prisoners to take their trial at the r ext
Worcester Sessions. bail being refused for Dean bat
,ccepted for Crocket, himself in £lOO and two
sureties of £5O each.
DRONBENNESS.—CharIes Commander svai charged
with being drunk and disorderly in Coventry-street,
on the 4th inst. Police-constable Jewson proved the
case. Fined 5s and costs —John Hart was char4ed
with being drunk at Pedmore, on the 6th inst. Police-
sergeant Payne prove.l the case and said the defend-
ant gave his wrong name. Fined ss. and costs ;in
default 14 days.—Robert Butler was charged with
being drunk and disorderly at Hagley, on the 2nd
inst. Police-constable Paynter proved the case, and
said the defendant had his coat off and wanted to
fight another man. Fined 5s and costs; in defauit
14 days.
DRUNK "WHILE IN CHARGE or A HORSE AND CAP.—

Henry Walker, a cab driver, ws charged with being
drunk while in cluirge of a horse and cab on the

29th ult. Police-sergeant Jou?s proved the eas,.
Pleaded guilty. Fined is and costs.—Benjamin
Davenport was charged with a simlar offence, and
was fined is and costs.

HIGHWAY OFFENCE.—WiIIiam Parsons was eharged
with allowing his horse to stray on the highway, on
the 25th ult. Police-constable Wallace proved the
ease, and defendant was fined ss. to include costs.—
Henry Walton was cl arged with a similar offence at
Fairfield, on the 4th inst. Police-constable Pcy.il
proved the case. Def niant offered him a shilling
not to say anything about it. Defendant admitted
that the horse was out. Withdrawn on payment of
9sl6d, Costs.
FRIENDLY SOCIETY CA.SE.—Edward Richard Wall,

treasurer of the Pride of the Valley Lodge of the
United Free Gardeners, held at the Falcon Inn, Lye,
was summoned for refusing to pay over the sum of
£l2 148 7d due to the Society. Mr. Waldron ap-
ueared to prosecute and Mr. A. Morris defended.
Emmanuel Hart, a member of the Society, said de-
fendant was treasurer and the money ptid was put,
into the cash book every night. At the last audit
there was a balance due to the club of £l5 lOs Bd,
and the last balance due was £l2 14s 7d. Defendant
refused to pay the money. On ero,s-examination
witness said that defendant httd borrowtd £lO at 5
per cent interest and had given the club an 1.0. U.
at;ree'n.t to pay the money, aTol Mr. Davis was bound
ittr Wall. Thomas Kiuc, di,trict secretary. ..30 he
Had gon, through. th,i a:,uututs aad tenstd th-r, was
£l2 los sid due from dclondan;.,. Dtlendant did
not deny his Lability, but was a bankrupt and wanted
the club to t:Ake so mue:: in the pound. l‘lr. Morris
addressed the Bench Itr the dricn(oe and said i: was
a common debt, and the right course to take was to
sue in the County Court. The Bench made an order
for defendant to rt:37 the full amount and costs; in
default two months imprisonment.
NON-PAYMENT OF WATER RATE. —Edward New-
nam was summoned for non-payment of Li Os 6d
due for water supplied. Walter D. Holloway provt.d
the case and defendant wits 04.-.recl to pay in 14
days. _

OUT-DOOll LICENSE. Mr. T. Homr applied on
behalf of Philip 11. Adaa(s for an out-door license to
sell beer. Mr. T. W. Wo ldridge proved that the
house was worth £lB per year. The applicatio
was granted.
CHIMNEY ON FIRE. Josell Eveson was ordered
to pay cc sts fr having his chimney on fire on he
6th inst.
ASSAULT CASE.—Edward Sherrill..'s was charged
with assaulting Mary Dunn, en the 4th inst. Mr.
Roskell defended. Complaint-I,T t said she went to
Mr. Orford's on business. Miss Orford was going
to srrve her, when the defendant came into the
chaff room, caught hold of her by the waist, threw
her down, and put his hand under her dress, and
insulted her. Ile had done so on former occasions.
Ann Dunn, mother of the complainant, stated the
condition her daughter was in when she came home,
and said that her daughter was crying, and bleed.
ing from the hand, as if a thumb nail had been
pressed on the hand. For the defence, Miss Orford
was called, but she said that she did not see the
defendant do anything. The Bench considered the
assault proved, and fined defendant lOs and costs.
CHARGE OF GAMBLING.—AIfred Bate was charg
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with playing with dice at Cleat, on the 4th
Police-constable Wallace said complaints had been
made to him of the defendant gambling with dice,
and he gave his wrong name. Fined os and costs.
ASSAULT CASE.—Alfred Willetts and Walter Hill
were charged with assaulting Chat les Southall on
the 7th inst. Mr. Homer defended Hill. Com-
plainant said he was at his lodge, the Swan Inn, Lye
A man was fined for neglecting his duty, when he
came up and said, "you half-crown man, you have
got to have it to-night." The meaning of half crown
man is by working at the "bate." Hill struck him
and kicked him wiile d-min. Several witnesses were
called on both sides. Defendants were fined 2s 6d
web and costs. A cross-summons against Charles
Southall was dismissed.
RIDING WITHOUT REINS.—WiII iam Glaze was
summoned for being in charge of a wagon and
horses at Churchill, on the 3rd just, and riding with-
out reins. Police-constable Webb proved the case.
Fined 2s 6d and costs.
CHARGE OF DRUNKENNESS.—Thomas Stanton
was charged with being drunk in the High Street,
on the 29th tilt, Police-constable Eaves proved
the offence. Police-sergeant Jones proved several
previous convictions against the defendant, who did
not appear. Fined 20s and costs; in default one
month's hard labour.
ATHLETIC Sroirrs.—We beg to inform our readers
that entries for the various events are coming in
freely. The track for the hicycie race is getting
in good form, being frequently robed. Should the,
weather prove fine no doubt the sports will be a
great suc,..ess.
BOARD OF GUARDIANS.—Th• mekly meeting
of this Board was held yesterday. Mr. Ray
bould in the chair. There were also prom'