The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-08-15 00:00:00

BROMSGROVE.

SCHOOL BoanD.—At the meeting of this Board
on Tuesday the e were present Mr. J. Green, in
the chair, Rev. J Kidd, Rev. J. W. Comfort, and
Messrs. W. Jeffries and W. J. Leadbe der. A letter
from the Rev. F. Paget, Chairman of the Board,
and late Vicar of Bromogrove, tendering his resig.
nalon in consequence of his removal to Oxford
was read by the Chairm n. fhe rev gentleman re-
marked that duties far more onerous than theirs
had baen made ea,y an pleasant by myth a spirit
of mutual confidence and goodwill as prevailed iu
their meeting.., and he was sincerely grateful to
those who had given him so happy an experience
and so unclouued a memory of School Board work.
—Mr. Green moved the acceptance of the resolu-
tion of Mr. Paget aad in warm terms referred to hi.,
courtesy to every member of the Board, and to the
spirit of fairness with which ha alwa)s conducted
' the bu-iness. He proposed that the hearty thanks
of the Board be given to Mr. Paget for all the good
he had
,done for the schools, and particularly for
the time and attention he had given to his diraei
as the chairman. The Rev. J. W. Comfort
seconded, and Mr. Leadbeater supported the pro-
position.—The motion was carried unanimously,
and Mr. Green gave notice that at the next meeting
he should propose that they fill up the vacancy and
appoint a chairman of the Board —The rest of the
business was of a formal character.
TIIE VICAR OF BROMSOROVR. On Saturday
evening a presentation was made by the choir of
Barnstaple Parish Church, Devonshire, to their
vicar, the Rev. Albert Eden Se3mour, M.A., who is
leaving Ba:ustaple this week for the vicarage of
Bromsgrove, to which he was preferred some
month., ago. The presentation consist, dof a hand.
wane study clock, an illuminated scroll, and the
photographs of the choir. Mr. Seymour wa4 for-
merly curate of Kidderminster from 1866 to 1873.

ALLEGED PERJURY Al' RADLEY HEATH
At the Old Hill Police Court, on Wednesday
before Messrs. W. Hassan° and H. Hingley, Thos.
Davenport, chainmake”, Cradley Heath, was charged
with commiiting wilful and corrupt perjury in a
case of pigeon shooting heard on the Ist ult.
Mr. Waldron appeared to pros cute on behalf of
Mr, Herbert Chatham, nail manufacturer, and Mr.
Cookscy defended.
Mr. Waldron said on July Ist his client was sum-
moned at that Court by James Safford, also of
Cradley Heath, charged with wilfully shooting a
pigeon valued at 20s, and the defendant and a man
named H-aris swore positively that they saw Chat-
ham shoot the pigeon, Mr. J. W. Hammersley, a
gentleman residing at Cradley Heath, was called for
defence and swore that he shot the pigeon Daven-
port and Harris were re-called, and repeated the
statement thAt they saw Chatham sheot the pigeon.
The magistrates came to the conclusion that the
weight of evidence was in favour of the prosecution,
and cony cted Chatham. He should be able to
prove that his client had been wrongly eonvicted,
and after hearing evidence he should ask the magis-
trates to send the defendant for trial at the Assizes.
Mr. Arthur Haves, magistrates' clerk, read his
notes of the case.
lierb,rt Ch.,tham, the prosecutor, stated that the
defendant had given false evidence against him in
stating that he e hut the pigeon.
In reply to Mr. Cooksey, witness stated that upon
Mr. Stafford seeing him respecting the pigeon be
told him he did not shoot the pigeon, but he did
not tell him who did shoot the pigeon because he
did not trouble to ask him.
John W. liammersley, commercial traveller,
stated that he himself shot the pigeon.
Charles Woodward said he hoard the report of a
gun and that it was impossible for anyone outside
of Chatham's yard to see who fired the gun.
Mr. CoAsey submitted that defendant and Har-
ris had told the truth in stating that Chatham shot
the pigeon.
John Harris was called and swore that he saw
Chatham shoot the pigeon.
Two witnesses were also leaned. who stated that
Hammersley. being spoken to by Mr. Stafford, sail,
• 'lf Herbtrt has shot the pigeon he will pay for
it."

After a protracted hearing Mr. Ba.ssono said it
was to be much regrette.l tiat necessity should have
arisen for tit, Bench to have heard such a case, tor
it was confu,ion confounded. It was lamentable
that th(re should be so much untruthfulness in thr
dist Oct.. The magi,tratcs dismissed the case, and
expi.esea the opinion that no jury would convict
upon the evidence adduced.
Asi oiler charge was preferred against Sohn
Harris, but upon the ad ,ice if the magistrates Mr.
Waldron withdrew it.