The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-09-10 00:00:00

BRIERLEY HILL.

BOARD OF COMMIisfoNFRR—Mr. William Jeffries pre.
sided at the usual weekly meeting, on Monday. and there
was a Rood attendance of members. The report of the
Sanitary Committee was first read, It stated that the
South Staffordshire Waterworkw Company had not ex-
tended their mains to Virgin's.; End and the Whimsey,
both of which places were inAufficiently supplied with
water. The wish was expressed by the committee that
the Board would take immediete steps to provide the is.
habitants of those districts wiiJi water. In conjunction
with the report, a letter from the secretary of the com-
pany was read in reply to one from the Board, in which
notice was given to discontinue the supply to the public
drinking fountains during two quarters commencing from
the 29th September. The letter contained the following
paragraph :—The terms of the exititing agreement being
based on the understanding that the payment would be
made throughout the year. If I do not hear from you
again we shall remove the meters and disconnect the ser•
vice-pipes in the usual way, on the 30th of September
next."—A long discussion took place, in the course of
which the Chairman remarked that he could not compli.
meat Mr. Heseldiot' on his style of correspondence. He
thought the letter which bad been read was offensive to
the Board—(hear, hutr).—Several members suggested
that application should be made to the Stoorbridge
Company, but it was explained that that company could
not supply water to the town of Brierley Hill. Strong
complaints were made of the insufficient supply provided
by the South Staffordshire Company.—A recommen.la.
lion was made that a deputaion should wait upon the
company in reference to the matter. but upon this Mr.
Jeffries observed that if the committee were asked to
meet such a deputation, they would no doubt get a letter
from that .• offensive fellow- to say that it was of no use.
—Some further remarks, condemnatory of the Water-
works Company and their secretary were made, and then
the Board proceeded to consider the report of the Roads
Committee. In it the attention of the Board was called
to the contract of Mr. Whittaker for improvements in
Pearsou.street.—After copsiderable discussion, it was re-
solved, on the motion of Dr. Walker, that the matter be
referred back to the committee, with a view of devising
a more economical mode of repairing the Street—The
finance report recommended the payment of £25 on the
Surveyor's highway account, and £l5 to Mr Whittaker
on Talbot-street contract. The report also stated that
the general district rate, at 9d in the pound, amounted
to the sum of £1,060 108 Bld ; that there was due to the
Treasurer on the general account, £1.066 Iss 9d; and
there was a balance in the Treasurer's hands in the loau
account of £463 4. 2d.—The mortality returns showed
that 24 deaths had occurred during the pastmonth, being
an increase of three deaths over the return of the cor-
responding month of last year. Fourteen had died under
one year of age, three between the ages of one and five,
two between the ages of twenty and lift,, and five at the
ages of fifty and upwards.
TRREAra.—At the Police Court, on Monday. before
Messrs. H. 0. Firmstone and L. Freer, Maria Paget was
charged by Maria Meredith with using threats towards
her, on the 270 h ult. Withdrawn on payment of costs.
Daunt Ann RioTODS.—William George Rogers was
charged with being drunk and riotous at Brierley Hiil,
on the hat ult. Police conetible V. Breton proved the
ease, and defendant, who pleaded guilty, was fined Is and
costs.

A QVAItRY BANK Row.—William Proctor was charged
by Wisdom Crampton with assaulting him on the 25th
ultimo. Mr. 'Waldron appeared for the complainant, awl
Mr. Addison for the defendant Mr. Waldron stated
that there were several cases, and asked the Binch to
hear each separately. Mr. Addison objected, on the
ground that all the cases arose from the same source.
The Magistrates sail they would hear all the cases be-
fore giving their decision. Wisdom Crumpton (the com-
plainant) said he was a miner, and lived at Quarry Bank
On the 25th of August, about enzlit o'clock in the even-
ing, was at Solomon Dunn's public-house, the Fountain
Inn, Quarry Bank. James Nock and defendant were
playing with some dice, and began quarrelling about it.
Defendant struck James Nock. George Nock went to
his brother's aesistance, and pulled defendant off him.
Complainant picked au defendant's cap and offered it to
him. Defendant mid complyinant was one of them, and
struck him several times. Complainant then went out-
side. and saw defendant stripped, and in a fighting stn.
tude. He again assaulted complainant, knocking him
down, and biting his ear. Crose-exammed : Have been
summoned at Haleeowen for stealing walnuts. A man
named Bucknall turned us out of the house. Defend.
ant's nose was bleeding. He had been fighting on the
floor. No one fought with defendant except James Nock
The parrah.constable Robinson is some ',Litton to us.
George Nock said he was a miner, and lived at Quarry
Bank. On the above date he was at Dunn'. public-house
Quarry Bank. Hess, defendant and James Nock there.
they were playing with mine dice. Defendant struck
James Nock and knocked him down. He (witness) went
to his brother's assistance, and took bold of defendant
by the waist to prevent him from striking James Nock.
Defendant broke away from witness, and struck him.
Crumpton picked up defendant's cap, and he struck him
several times. They were all turned out of the place.
When they got oatsiue, witness saw complainant and de.
fendant fighting. Defendart struck the first blow.
Cross-examined: Have not been summoned by defend.
ant for fighting. I was convicted for aiding and abetting
at a tight. My brother and Proctor were the principals
at the fight. Did not hear the landlady order as to quit
the place. Did not see defendant bleeding. Saw my
brother strike Proctor after he struck him. James Nock
brother to last witness) gave corroborative evidence.
Mr. Addison, in defence, denied the assault, and con-
tended that his client was the injured person, and called
several witnesses who contradicted the assault by Pro,
tor. Police-constable Hammond said he was stationed
at Quarry Bank. Saw Proctor on the 25th ultimo. when
he gave witness instructions to take out 3 summonses-2
against the Sacks, and the other against Cnimpton. His
face was swollen, and he had several lumps on hi, head.
—Reuben Bloomer was charged with assaulting George
Nock, at the same time and place. Mr. Waldron was for
complainant, and Mr. Addison for defendant. Com-
plainant said on the 24th alt he was at Dunn's. He was
stopping Proctor and Crompton from fighting. Bloomer
ran at him and struck him, knocking him into the hedge
He did not strike defendant. Cross-examined: Did not
strike defendant, and knock hun into the hedge. He
knocked me into the hedge first. John Harper said he
lived at Old Hill, and was a collier. He was at the
Fountain Inn on the day in question. Was inside the
house when the row first began. He afterwards went
outside, and saw defendant strike complainant. Did nor
see complainant strike defendant. Cross-examined : Did
not see defendant try to take the two Socks off Proctor.
George Nock did not strike defendant. Jane Worrall
corroborated Harper. Mr. Addison, in defence, called
William Proctor, who said he was outside the inn during
the row. He was down, and the two Socks were on the
top of him. Bloomer went to his assistance. He asked
George Nock not to kick witneas, when he got up and
struck defendant, and knocked him into the hedge.
Witaaaa did not see defendant strike complainant. Sr.
hua Guest corroborated Proctor,— W sedum Crampton.
George Nock, and James Nock, were charged with being
drunk and refusing to leave the Fountain Inn, Qaarri
Bank, when requested to do so, on the 25th alt. Mr
Addison prosecuted, sad Mr. Waldron defended. Ann
Dunn, the landlady. stud she was the wife of Solomon
Dann, and en the 25th ult the defendants were in her
house. She ordered them out, and asked two men
named Bucknall and Stringer to turn them out. Cross-
examined: Do not think any one else was drunk in the
house except the three defendants, Proctor did not come
in with them. Ite.examined by Mr. Addison: The door
was burst open by Jame. Nock. John Stringer said he
was in the house, and helped to tarn the defendants out
They were not very fresh. Proctor was in about the
same state. When they were requested to leave they
would not go. Mr. Waldron, in defence, called Jobb
.NR:otrib Nooks tP at
Nor ill
hadh° u"s:ebbol
ctwkhheo aboveysea danCddraut :T'phtle nyndwhtehar
his ear cut. The Bench, in giving their decision, said
in the cam of George Nock against Reuben Bloomer,
they should dismiss it. They should also dismiss Proc.
for for assaulting Crampton ; and in the last case, for
refusing to leave the public-house, they should fine Jame s
Nock 5s and costs, and the other two defendants, Cramp-
ton and George Nock, 2, tid and costs.
STEALING APPLEs.—Juseph Powell and Thomas Jones
were charged with stealing a quantity of apples, the
property of James Perry, at Wombourne, on the 2nd
inst, and were fined Is and costs.

STEALING CORS.—John and Eli Payton were brought
up on remand charged with stealing a quantity of corn,
the property of Edward Webb and Sons, Ivy Mills.
Wordsley, Mr. Barbury defended. Our readers will
recollect that this case was adjourned for a week for the
purpose of enabling Mr. Edward Webb, sen., to appenr.
Mr. Webb said he did not wish to press the case against
the prisoners, and the Bench committed them to seven
days' imprisonment.
ATTEMPTED Burn —James Taylor and Tom Ball were
charged with attempting to commit • rape upon Ann
Price, on the 4th Mat, at Summerhill. Prosecutrix said
she knew the prisoners by sight. She saw them at the
tot' of Summerhill on the above date, About nine o'clock.
Bail took hold of her by the neck and pulled her down,
and both then attempted to commit the offence corn.
phoned of. William Cadman said he was going by Sum.
merbill on the above date, when he heard a woman
scream. lie saw prosecutrix running down. He asked
her who the men were. and she told him. Other witnes-
ses corroborated. Police.constable White, stationed at
Kiogswinford, proved apprehending the prisoners on the
sth that, and charged them with assaulting Ann Price
with intent to commit a rape on the lth instant, at Sum.
merhill. Taylor said he had been speazing to his sister
at that place. Ball said he was with Ann Price the same
day. The case was adjourned for 14 days, to enable the
prisoners to obtain witnesses.

FALSE Painituces.—John Hammon Wa Ch4rgell with
obtaining, on the 27th ult. the atm of 2s 6d and two pints
of ale, the property of Silas Jones. at the Saltwella Cop•
pica. It appears that defendant went to complainant's

_
house. and represented himself to be a batty collier from
No. 125 pit, belonging to Earl Dadley. anl by this
means he obtained the money and the ale. As he hod
been charged with a similar tiffence before, prisoner wee
committed to take his trial at the next Stagordshiee
Sessions.
TEARING CP UNION CLOTIIEB.—At the Petty Seseione,
on Thursday, before I. Spooner, Esq . Stipendigry,l,dlo
Parkes was charged with tearing up clothes belonging to
the Guardians. The case was proved by William Keight-
ley, and defendant was sentenced to one month's hani
labour.

A DIMIONERT SERVANT. Thomas Lawrence was
charged with stealing 2a 6d on the 6th inst. the property
of Charles Alfred Emery. Prosecutor said that he lived
at Brierley Hill, and was a furniture dealer. Prisoner
was in his employ as a porter and ostler. On the above
date he left the prisoner in charge of the shop for a few
minutes, but previously his son had marked three half-
crowns. About six o'clock he called the prisoner inlo
the sitting room, and said to him Tom, what have you
got in your pocket ?" Prisoner said, " Nothing.- Wit-
' nese told him he had Is half-crown in. He then said he
had. He asked him where he had got it from. Priso-
ner said he had it in his pocket.all the week previous.
He then called his son and asked him to bring the two
half-crowns; and when he had brought them asked Lin
if those were the two half-crowns he had marked. Be
said they were, and they showed the prisoner the marks.
Witness said, "Tom. you have taken money before."
He denied that he had, and said it was the first time.
Witness then gave him in charge 'rho learned Stipen-
diary remarked Oast he had no right to have asked the
prisoner any questions, but when he had found it out he
ought to havq sent for the police. Prosecutor:Raid he
did not wish To press the case, as he believed it was the
first time prisoner had taken money. John Austin Emery
son of prosecutor, proved that he marked three half-
crowns. and gave them to the manager, Eggleston. The
half-crown produced was the one marked. Eggleston
was next called, and proved that he put the three half-
crowns into the till after they were marked. Police-ser-
geant Streeton proved apprehending prisoner. and search-
ing his box, and there found • match box and leather
purse, which had been identified as the property of Mr.
Emery. In passing sentence, Mr. Spooner, addressing
prisoner, said: I cannot listen to the represeutatiOnn
made by your master, to deal leniently with you. It has
been clearly proved that you have robbed him of half-a-
crown. It is the duty of a servant to protect his mac-
ter'e property, and not to rob him. Your muter sac-
peeled that he was being robbed, and laid a trap to catch
the thief, and the trap caught the thief. I hardly know
that I am doing right in not sending you for trial. How-
ever, you have pleaded guilty to a most serious offence.
You have lost your character for life, and I sentence you
to three mouths' hard labour.
CHARGE OF THVICATENINO.—HausaII Billingllank Was
charged with usi g threatening language to Hannah
Brooks-a, on the fad instant. Mr. Addison defended.
After hearing the evidence, defendant was ordered to pay
Is 3d, half the costa.

ASSAULT CASE.—Ruth Short, of the Salt Wells Cop.
pice, was charged by Hannah Brookes with assaulting
her on the 2nd inst. Mr. Addison defended. The a...
sault complained of was that defendant struck her set,.
ral Bales about the face and head. Two witnesses were
called to support the case, and two witnesses for the de-
fence. Fined too Gil and costs ; in default three weeks.
imprisonment.
ASSAULT CASE.—William Davies was charged by Lois
Doody with assaulting her on the 2311 i ult. Complain-
ant said that on the above date, as ohs was returning
from her work, defendant picked up a half brick and
threw it at her, and it struck her on the back and hnrt
her. Fined £2 and costa; in default two months, ar.i
ordered him to find two sureties for four mouths to ke..p
the peace towards her.