The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-07-22 00:00:00

OLD HILL.

ANOTHER DEATH FROM DROWNING.—On Monday the
body of a man named Eli Ryder was found in the
Corngreaves Pool. He had been bathing on the previous
day, and had sunk. The divers were at work all day on
Sunday.

CAUTLON TO SUNDAY DRINKERS.—At the Police Court,
on Wednesday, before Messrs. N. Hingley and W.
Bassano, Benjamin Harris was charged with being found
on the licensed pr m:ses of Joseph Westwood, the Swan
beerhouse, ',oust y Town, during prohibited hours on the
2nd in-t.—Police constable Cooper proved the case and
defendant pleaded guilty.—Fined is and costs ; in
default 21 days.
ALLEGED ASSAVLT.—George Harrison was charged with
assaulting David Burley, on the'3r4 mat, and further
charged with refusing to quit when requested.—Mr. W
Hayes, jun., appeared for complainant.—Complainant,
who islandlord of the Round of Beef Inn, Cradley Heath,
said there was a money club held at his house. On the
above date there was a dispute between himself and de-
fendant. Defendant challenged him to fight. Witness
requested him to leave the house three times and he
refused to do so. When witness was putting him out
defendant fell against a man named Southall. Defend-
ant afterwards came back and struck witness, knocking
him over a bench against the fire place.—John Peaker,
Joseph Harper, and Spencer Dodson gave evidence on
behalf of complainant.—Defendant said there was a
disturbance between complainant and himself respect,ng
a shilling, whi,n complainant called him ab— liar.
He (defendant) asked complainant to prove him a liar
when complainant pushed him down the stairs. In
going down stairs defendant came in contact with a
man named Southall, who was injured about the head
and complainant gave him £4 103 compensation, and
sent for defendant to try and settle the case. This was
corroborated by several witnesses and the Bench dis-
missed the case.
ExcisE PnosEcuTiosi—Henry Barber, landlord of the
Salutation Inn, Five Ways, Cradley Heath, was sum-
moned by Mr. Brain, supervisor, for having nibs. of
sugar in his possession otherwise than for domestic pur-
poses on the 4th of May last.—Mr. Perry, of Stour:
bridge, appeared to prosecute, and Mr. Stokes, of
Dudley, defended —Defendant pleaded guilty and was
fined £so.—Joseph Coley, landlord of the Wagon and
Horses, Reddall Hill was charge with a similar offence
and fined £so.—Alfred Aston, landlord of the Swan
Inn, Four Ways, was charged with having 121bs. weight
of sugar in his possession.—Mr. W. Hayes, jun., de-
fended.—Mr. Brain said he visited defendant's house on
the 4th of May and found 121bs. of sugar in the cellar.
There were other empty sugar bags in the same place.
—Mr. Hayes contended that the sugar was on the
premises solely for domestic purposes,—Fined £so.
Joseph Priest was charged with using a cart without
having a proper license on the 10th March last.—Mr.
Brain said he saw defendant's cart on the above date on
the Netherton Road. There were three men and a woman
in the cart and they were dressed in holiday attire.
Defendant took out a license in April.--:Defendant was
fined the mitigated penalty of £5, with a recommenia-
tion that it be reduced to £l.
ASSAULT CASE.—William Willetts was charged with
assaulting Thomas Davis on the 4th inst.—Mr. W.
Hayes, jun., appeared for complainant, and Mr. Stokes
defended.—Complainant said he lived at Henry Street,
Old Hill, and was a navvy on the railway. When he
left work he went to Edge's public•house. As soon as he
got in defendant commenced to insult him and they got
to high words and went outside to fight and fought two
rounds. They then shook hands and went into the
public house again and had some drink together. Wit-
ness then wished defendant good night and went down
the road. Defendant followed him, struck him, knocked
him down and kicked him. Witness asked defendant to
leave him aloae and defendant said he would after he
laid killed him and a man pulled Lim away. Witness
was smothered with blood. Defendant struck him on
the side of the head with a stone and fractured his skull.
He went to the police-station and then to Dudley, and
was taken to the Guest Hospital, where he was detained
for a week He had not been able to work since.
Cross-examined : I was in the public-house from 7 until
o. A man named Edge was in the public-house with
me. I was mt hurt after fighting the two rounds. I
did not see that defendant's head was cat or his skull
fractured.—William Edge said he saw complainant and
defendant fight two rounds together outside the public-
, house. They had a pint of ale together and complain-
ant went down the road and defendant followed him.
Defendant set about complainant with his fists.—
Elizabeth.Rudge said she saw defendant go towards Mr.
Bassano's fence but he could not get a stake out and he
Picked up a stone which he threw at complainant who
begged of defendant to let him alone. Defendant said
he would b— well kill him.—Mary Smith and John
Ramsey also gave evidence as to the assault.—Mr. Allen,
surgeon, Dudley, said complainant was literally
covered with blood which had been escaping from a scalp
wound on the left side of the head and his skull was
fractured. It was a serious wound and he sent com-
plainant to; the Hospital.—Mr Henswood, surgeon at
the Guest Hospital corroborated Mr. Allen.—The defence
was that complainant and defendant met two or three
times and fought and in the one ,fight complainant was
kbocked down and his head came in contact with a stone
thus causing the injuries complained of. Defendant's
head was cut open and his skull fractured with a tin
can.—The Bench fined defendant 5s and costs; in
default 14 days.
ALLEGED HORRIBLE BRUTALITY TO A DOG.—William
Stowe, Samuel Bennett, and Edward Flackinson, three
young men, were charged with unlawfully, wilfully and
causlly illtreaCtig a dog, on the 2Jth June.—Mr. W.
Hayes, jun , appeared to prosecute, and Mr. Stokes de
fended.—The evidence adduced showed that a most
horrible outrage had been made on the unfortunate
animal, an outrage that is a disgrace to the age we live
in and the facts of which are totally unfit to be pub.
lished, Unfortunately no witnesses were brought for-
ward who conldl prove that they actually saw prisoner
commit the offence and they were discharged.