The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-03-16 00:00:00

;13.ocatiibin( ab. t
,J

Tits SKATING MI•Tz was attended by ovel 5)0
persons on Tuesday evening last to witness the
performance of the Burton-on-Treut. gentlemen
amateur skaters, 11 in number. The floor being
in beautiful condition the ni:ijority of those pre-
sent availed themselves of the opportunity of
indulging in that most ilea:any and invigorating
exercise—roller skating, both before and after the
performance of the Burton gentlemen, whose
entertainment passed off exceedingly wsll, but
with perhaps a little too much of the tumbling
about business. The rink continues to be ex-
tensively patronised and is the attraction of the
town. Other entertainments will follow, par-
ticulars of which will duly appear in our adver-
tising columns.

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY. - The annual
meeting of the local association was held in the
Union Hall, on Tuesday evening. The Hon. and
Rev. W. H. Lyttelton presided, and a number of
local clergymen were present, the Rev. Mr.
Gardiner, of Birmingham, attending as a deputa-
tion from the society.—The secretary of the
Stourbridge branch of the association (the Rev.
W. J. J. Welch) read the annual report. This
showed that the total receipts of the year ending
March 31st, 1877, were £199 7s 10d, and the dis-
bursements ~t 3 is 6d, leaving £ll6 Os 4d for the
parent society. Mr. Welch read a statement of
the amounts forwarded from Stourbridge to the
s).:dety since 1871, showing a gradual but steady
decrease. The Chairma;j, the Rev. Thomas
Williams, and others addressed the meeting after-
wards. .

POLICE INSPECTION.— OR Wednesday, Colonel
Cobbe attended at the police-station to inspect the
Stourbridge and Halesowen divisions ot county
police. Colonel Carmichael, the chief constable,
was present. The Stourbridge division, with the
Kidderminster sub-division, mustered f:;3 stiong
and three sergeants, and the Halesowen 14, the
former being under Superintendent Freeman, and
the latter under Superintendent Kemp. Mr.
Freeman put the men through a number of drill
movements, and Colonel Cob be afterwards inspec-
ted the cells and the books, and appeared fully
satisfied with the results of his inspection.
COUNTY COURT.—WOOD V. TUE GREAT WESTERN
RAILWAY COMPANY.—At the County Court, On
Thursday, before Mr. R. Kettle, judge, an action
was brought by Richard Wood, of Brierley Hill, to
recover the sum of £5O, for damages against de-
fendants for injuries sustained through defendants
negligence in not keeping a proper fence in
Collins's Lane, Stourbridge, on the 7th of
December last.—Mr. Waldron appeared for plain-
tiff, and Mr. Bentley, of Worcester, defended.—
Ar. J. W. Beckley, town surveyor of Brierley
Hill, produced a pian of the road and in his
opinion it was a dangerous place where the plain-

tiir fell over. Cross:exanith-ed :I. bedeve it-to be
a public road. It leads to a footpath across the
heids from Stourbridg,e to .Brieriey Hill. The
road is about 15 feet wide.--Plaintiff said he
lived at Brierley Hill and was a bail furna,ceunin.
On the 7th December last he went,tiow 13rierley
Hill to Bton:bridge in company wire his brother.
they started to return home between six and
seven o clock and it was a very dark night. They
turned up Collins's Lane and tie felt over a wail,
broke his coLtir bone, and bruised his thigh very
badly. Dr. Pearse attended plaintiff and set his
collar bone and he Lad been under toe care of Mr.
Pearse for two months. He also had a nurse and
paid her £3. Cross-examined: I was not follow-
ing any occupation on the 7th December. Pre-
vious to that I had been in the employ of Messrs.
'Bradley and Co. I was (34 years of age last
.klebruary. My brother and myself started to
Stourbridge about a quarter-past two and arrived
there about three o'clock. We went to Cox's pub-
lic-house, the Star lun, Coventry Street, and had
a pint of ale each and tad a glass of ale at
the Vine Hotel, but I was perfectly sober. My
collar bona was brokeu.—ilis Honour: Breaking a
collar bone is a simple accident, but putting a
collar bone out is a very serious accident.—An
offer of £:4O and costs was consented to and his
Honour gave a veruict to that effect.

STOLii-BRIDGE STOCK SALE.—Air. H. King held
his usual fortnightly sale el. fat stook on 'Tuesday
last. There was a large attendance of buyers
;rem the surrounding districts. Although sheep
were ratlicr short there was a brisk competition
or the same. Fat wethers realized 85s per head;
tat tegs, 725; fat cows, £3l 10s; aahi bullocks,
£29; total of sale, upwards of £1,400.
A DRUNKEN WONAN.—At the Police Court, on
Monday, before Colonel Fletcher, Emma Beck
was charged with being drunk and disorderly on
Saturday night. —Police-constable Morgan proved
that the defendant was very drunk and creating
a disturbance at half-past seven o'clock. He had
to get assistance and he got a wheelbarrow to
take her to the station.—Fined Os ; in default
days.
SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST A POLICE-OFFICER.--
Patrick Thomas Farrell, a police-constable, sta-
tioned at Kinver, was brought up on a warrant
charged with assaulting a young girl named Sarah
Smith, • residing at Wollaston, with intent to
ravish hen—Mr. Addison appeared for the pri-
soner and he asked the Bencia to remand him on
he grcund that he had no time to get up the de-
fence, being only instructed by letter that morn-
ing. Prisoner was apprehended by Police-ser,
geant Jones about h:JI-past twelve o'clock at
night and he had no opportunity of getting up his
aeteuce.--vionel Fleteih.r said he was willing to
grant a remand to gei, up the defence.—Prison,
was then remanded until lour o'cioe.k on Tuesdaj

afternoon, win he was a,Paia brougat up befo:e
Colonel Fletcher and 11r. It. L. Ereer.—The nx
witness was the child nerself. She sa,id her name
was Sarah Smith. On the 7th just, prisoner
came to their house between eight and nine
o'clock at night: Shi.; was.prepariug her father's
supper. When Farrell came in he said "Wiil
you come with me to Steadmdu's " and she went

with him. Her little brother Bertie cried for her
and she went back and fetched him. Prisoner
went with her. They were alone till near the
Post Office. When they got there prisoner turned
towards the Ridge 'lop and she 3.lin i o him "Mr.
Farrell, we are going the wren waY for Stead-
man's and he said `•te ill go up- the road fOr a
little walk." They wet up tit Sanly Lane,
turning round by the Gate Hangs Well public-
house. When about twea.ty yam !is iiLst the Gate
ilangs Well prisoner
,indec,nt;;;-
and made an improper pro,.osal to her which she
refused to accede.to. le hen asked her to go
to Kinver to sleep with
.iii‘n. They walked along
the lane until they g.,t iv Jukes s gate when he
attempted to take inclz,c,!nt liberti,s with he,- but
she caught hold of the gate. and !Ailed herself
away from him. They wakod 'across the road
together and prisoner, had 114.)Id of her hand. Her
brother ran away and she went after him. When
they got to the corner of Duneombe Street
.he
caught hold of her hand and pulled her down the
street as far as Mr. Elcock's house. He then
threw her on her back, lay across her, and
attempted to commit the capital offence. She
was crying whilst. on the ground and her brother
who was standing at her side was also crying.
Prisoner got up and asked her if she would go to
Stewponey with him . and she said she did no
know. He asked her if she should tell her mother
and she said ." Yes." She then went towards her
home when she met her brother Albert and went
home. Prisoner was close behind them. Shortly
after she -got home her mother came in and was
very angry. Cross-examined: I hare khown pri-
soner some time but have not been for a walk
with him before. He was always kind to my
brother S and • sisters. Mere are houses in the
Sandy Lane; but I did not see anybody. We were
in front of a' house when prisoner took indecent
liberties with me. It was on the footpath. . I did
not scrawl, but called out "Mother.'_ Prisoner
was dina tie. f will swear he did not catch his foot
against .. ,tone and tnmble d , wn. He did not.
knock in down by accident. i complained that
night to my mother.—Myra Smith said he was
wife of Police-constable eh:trips Smith and mother
of the girl, who was 13 years of 'age last January.
On the 7th March prisoner was at their house
'shortly after seven o'clock at .night. Prisoner
sometimes called at tl4r house. Prisoner had
witness's baby on his lap and afterwards prisoner
, and her husband went out and prisoner tty)k the
baby with him. Shortly after witness went to
:Steadman's and found her husband and prisoner •
there. Prisoner left Steadman's first and he was
not sober when he first came to their house. She
remained at Steadman's about ten minutes after
prisoner left and she then went home. When She
got home she found that the girl Sarah and the
boy Bertie were not in the house and she went
out in search of them. When she got back home
she found her daughter Sarah standing before the
fire crying. Witness was very angry with her and
told her to take the candle and go to bed. Wit-
ness went up stairs behind her daughter who made
a complaint to her aliout prisoner having
• thrown her down on _ her back. I examined
her and something .the matter. Cross-

•-•.% us 11.165 i WiC6 my
hUOPIZCI) tout prismer Will not ficibere..cilitriell