The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-06-18 00:00:00

QUARRY BANK.

SHEEP Srtatims.--At the Petty Sessions at Brierley
Hill, on Monday last, before F. Evers and H. Smith,
Esqrs., William Griffiths, Moses Owilliam, and Thomas
Bennett were brought up on remand charged with steal•
iug sheep on the 2nd of April, and other dates, the pro-
perty of William Darby. Mr. Holberton appeared to
prosecute, and Mr. Addison defended Bennett and Grif-
tiths.—William Derby deposed: I am a maltster, resid-
ing at Mount Pleasant. On the night of the 2nd April I
nad a quantity of sheep in a field. The carcase of a
sheep was taken away, and the skin left. On the night
of the 10th, or early on the 11th of the same month, I
lost one ewe sheep. The head and skin were left in the
field, and the carcase taken isway.—Police•constable
Fairbanks deposed: On the 3rd of April I went into one
of prosecutor's fields, about eleven o'clock, in company
with Seageant Breton, and found a sheepskin and entrails
buried in a mound. Saw several clog and shoe marks in
the field. Went again with Sergeant Breton on the 11th
of April, between seven and eight o'clock, and found a
sheepskin, head, and entrails on the top side of the field,
on the opposite side of the mound. Saw clog and foot
°larks there also. On the 16th of May, in company with
:sergeant Breton, I went auto a field at Merry Hill, be-
longing to Mr. Dunn, and found a sheepskin and entrails,
and found more clog marks in the rickyard, and in the
direction of the wood. On the -ith lust, just before one
o'clock, I was under the hedge in the field, and saw Ben-
nett coming down the hedge side in a stooping position,
looking over the hedge at the sheep, and passed on. The
acid is mowing grass, and there is no road through it.
When be passed within a yard of me I jumped up and
seized him. Bennett dropped the bag produced, and
also something which looked him a knife. I charged
him with stealing a sheep. Prisoner made no reply.
When at the station I charged him with stealing two
sheep aml one lamb, the property of Mr. Darby, and two
sheep, the property of Mr. Dunn. Bennett made no
reply. Shortly after I returned to the field where I sr.
rested Bennett, and saw a knife and razor. I picked op
the razor, and Potice.censtable Maylaud picked up the
knife. I took prisoner Bennett's clogs oft, and compared
them with the clog marks. The nails and length of the
clogs exactly corresponded ; also the same clog marks in
Dunn's field on the 16th May, and those in Mr. Darby's
field in April. I also found a small quantity of wool in
the bag. On the morning of the Bth I went with Police.
constable Hollins to Kate's Dudle7, and about two
o'clock in the morning arrested Griffiths on the charge
of sheep stealing. Griffiths said he did not steal the
sheep, but would take witness down to Brownhills dock,
where he took the man. Shortly after they went to
tiwillituu, and Hollins charged hint with sheep stealing.
He said he knew nothing about it. Prisoner Bennett ,
said, " Yes ; those are the two men who helped me to
fetch and iStrrby's sheep. Grifliths said, "How
can you say so. Bennett said, 'Yes, you helped me to
I fetch all the sheep." Owiliiam asked for the debts on
which the sheep were stolen. I gave him the dates. He
then said " I can prove I was at work all those nights:.
Griffiths said, •• So coo I. The same morning I took
them down to Wordsley lock-up. Just before we got to
the station Griffiths said, " Who would have thought of
Bennett splitting Gwilliam said, Shut your mouth,
ache will tear you to pieces." On the 16th of May, at
half-past twelve at night saw Griffiths and Gwilliam to-
gether, going towards Salt Wells Bridge, which was in
the direction of Mr. Dunn's field, where the sheep were
Roden from. Croes-examined : Did not see Bennett.
Know nothing about him.—Police-constable Mayland
deposed: On the 4th of Jane I went to Derby's Field
with Police-constable Fairbanks about ten o'clock, and
remained there till the next morning. About one o'clock,
the prisoner Bennett came into the field where we were.
Bennett came down the hedge aide in a stooping position.
Just before he came to where we were he looked over the
hedge where the sheep were. He walked past us. We
jumped up, and I seized him by the collar. lie had the
hag produced, units,: his left arm. At the same time he
dropped something else. %Vent back again, and found
the knife and razor produced. I picked up the razor,
and Sergeant Breton the knife. It was just ILI the same
spot where we found him.—Police-constable Hollins
said : On Monday the prisoner Bennett said tome, " You
koow what I told you the other day ?” I said. "I don't
remember." He said, 'Not when I bald you I did not
nave ally of he mutton ?" I said. " Yes, I recadlect you
sayiLg that." Bennett said, "Yea, but I know who -did
have it." I cautioned him. He said, "I say now what
I can say before any Magistrate. I know who did hays