The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-02-08 00:00:00

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THE STOMORIDGE OBSERVER.

Proctor, Esq., F.R.S.A, lectured on the "Life and
Growth of Worlds." On theist April, the Rev. H. W.
Crosskey, F.G.S ,lectured on the "Beginning of ILife
on Earth," at this lecture were exhibited by means of
several microscopes many interesting specimens illus-
trative of the subject, and ill October, a popular enter-
tainment consisting of readings and music, was provided
for the members and friends of this institute. A charge
for admission was made to each of the foregoing and a
very handsome sum realised.
Your committee record.with regret the destruction of
the Birmingham Free and Reference Library by fire
and hereby express and tender their sympathies to the
committee of that institution their loss the town and
district has sustained. -
STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTE3.---lIICOme £B2 lOs Od ;
expenditure £54 5s 8d; balance £2B 4s 4d.
The following officers were elected for the ensuing
year 1879, President : The Right Hon. Lord Lyttelton,
Vice-presidents: W. 0. Foster, Esq., H. W. Foley,
Esq., Jas. Mathews, Esq.; G. K. Harrison, Esq.,
Henry Hughes, Esq., Rev. D. Maginnis, Rev. J.
Richards, F. Evers, Esq., E. B. Marten, Esq., C.
Cochrane, Esq. ,• Committee: Mr. George Green,
Mr. J. Pagett, Mr. J. Buckler, Mr. W. Stanley, Mr.
J. Barratt, Mr. N. Pearce, Mr. W. B. Minne% Mr.
W.lThompson Mr. T. R, Southall, Mr. D. R. Shoe-
botham, Rev. Manning; Treasurer: Mr. John
Taylor; Secietaries : Messrs. C. Evers, =II E.
Brazier. The president, vice-president, treasurer,
and secretaries, are me2nbers of the committee ex-
officio.
Mr. M. Palfrey read the follow report of the
Working Man's Institute :

WORKING MAN'S INSTITUTE REPORT

signed to him by Mews. Walter and Harper, nail
manufacturers, Dud.by. Mr. E. T. Burr, of Bir-
mingham, appeared for the plaintiff; and Mr.
Waldron, for defendart. A quantity of nails were
consigned, "carriage forward," by Mesas. Walter
and Harper to defeulant, and on reaching their
destination were recarsigned by him to another
firm, Stuart and Conpany. The company sued
defendant as being the person liable to them. The
judge held that primarily the consignee was liable,
and Mr. Waldron 't cmtending that there was an
arrangement by which the consignor was to pay
the carriage, he remarked that in that case defend-
ant's remedy was to sue the consignor. Mr.
Waldron than suggested that under the Judicature
Act his honour should make the consignors,
Walter and Harper, the defendants in the case.
His Honour replied that le could not do so as
there is no privity between tkem and the plaintiffs.
He ultimately gave a verdit for the company—
payment in fourteen days.
EARL or DUDLEY V. Pown.L.—The defendant,
Joseph Powell, lived at Hinley, and his wife had
been in the habit of using a yell owned by his lord-
ship (on land ,ocoupied by Mr. Zachariah Cart-
wright), and which had been closed. Although
cautioned defendant and others persisted in using
the well, though a fine ha 4 been inflicted by the
magistrates for trespassingin the field where it
was situated. Defendant row contended that his
mother had used the well for forty or fifty years,
and thought this gave hin a right to continue
doing so. Mr. Owen (Dudley) having proved the
ownership of the well, the ludge explained to the
defendant that if he had tsed the well-water one
hundred years it would not give him a right to it,
because there could be ro prescriptive right to
. commit a trespass. His Honour ordered defendant
to pay the £1 claimed.

BOARD OF GUARDIANS,—The weekly meeting
of the Board was held /esterday, Mr. H. Bil-
lingham in the chair. There were also present
Messrs. Raybouldi geliy, Parker, Wood, Mills,
Lavender, Hingley, Giles, Fiddian, Eveson,
Thompson, Griffiths, Plant, Brookes, and Burr.
Admitted into the house during the week 20;
born 1; discharged 22; dead 5 ; remaining 474;
corresponding week last year 460. Out-door
relief Kingswinford district, £B2 9s 14-d ; Stour.
bridge district, £3O 5s Ofd ; Halesowen district
£2O 4s. 11+d; non-resident 9s 4d; total £B3 8s
54d; against £59 Bs, 10d last year.
Mr. Alfred Morris, (son of Mr. Henry Morris of
this town), who is serving his articles of clerkship
with Mr. William Shakespeare, solicitor, Oldbury,
has successfully passed the Final Examination of the
Incorporated Law Society, held at the Society's Hall,
Chancery Lane, London, on the 14th and 15th ult.,
preparatory to being admitted a Solicitor of Her
Majesty's Supreme Court of Judicature.
DZSTRUCTIVE Fin.—On Sunday night, about
twenty minutes past twelve, a fire of an alarming
character was discovered at Mr. John Edward's,
Wine and Spirit Merchant, High Street. The
family were in bed, and as Mr. Edwards lay awake
he heard the cracking of glass, and thinking that
burglars were in the houte,he got up, and on coining
down stairs he saw a light in the vaults, and dis-
covered that the liquor shop was all in flames. He
at once rushed out of the house into the street, and
called out fire. Polies-constable Morgan was on
duty in the High Street, and Mr. Edwards told him
what was the matter-. The officer at once went to
the Police Station for the keys of the Market Hall,
and ran down the High Street Shouting out fire.
Mr. William Perry, jun., one of the fire brigade,
hearing the alarm, jumped out of bed, dressed,
and assisted by Policesconstable Morgan, got the
hose reel out of the Market Hall, and conveyed it
to the scene of the fire. Unfortunately the hydrant
nearlMr. Shepherd's house was found to be frozen,
and they at once went to the next, opposite Mr. F.
Stringer's, pawnbroke4where a plentiful supply of
water was obtained. lir. Saunders, the engineer,
another of the brigade, was soon on the spot, and
in conjunction with Mr. Perry got the water
to play on the fire, which was extinguished before
one o'clock. The brigade were ably assisted by
Mr. T. Rrice, Mr. Baker,Mr. D. Penny, and others.
We understandithat from the time the alarm of
fire was given, the hose and real were on the scene
under ten minutes, thus speaking volumes for
our new fire brigade. Had there been any delay,
there is but little doubt that the stairs would have
caught fire, and the whole building been burnt to
the ground. Great alarm prevailed amongst the
neighbours. Mr. Douglas' family were got out of
the house for safety, and placed in safe custody by
the neighbours. At one time Mrs. Edwards was in
great peril, as she was at the top of the house, and
the smoke ascending in dense volumes, when Mr.
Edwards dashed up the stairs with a covering on,
and assisted in bringing Mrs. Edwards down stairs.
The boy and servant were also got down stairs.
Had it not been for the energy of those present, it
is impossible to calculate the loss of property. We
understand that the loss /is covered by insurance,
and the damage done to be about £4.50 ifhich has
been promptly arranged.
DRUNYENNE.9B.—At the Po/ice Court, yesterday,
before Colonel Fletcher and Mr. F. Evers, Richard
Tilley was charged with being drunk and disorderly
at Ragley, on the 27th alt. Police-constable Wal-
lace proved the case and said defendant gave him a
wrong name. Fined 5s and costs; in default 14
days.—Elios Cartwright, of the Lye, was charged
with being drunk and disorderly on the Ist instant.
Poliee-sergeant Payne proved the offence and said
that defendant was shouting at the top of his voice
and said he would fight the best policeman he met.
-Fined 6s and costs ; in default 14 days.
WILFUL DA.MAGE.—William Burley was charged
with wilfully damaging the Theatre Royal, on the
30th ult, the property of William Bennett. ,Thomas
Sankey said he found the defendant and another per-
son behind the Theatre. The door was broken but
he did not sea the defendant break lit. Case dis-
missed.
A SA.D CASE.—Thomas Bethel, formerly manag-
ing clerk to a solicitor in this town, was charged NNith
being drunk and capable, in Wood Strees, Wollas-
ton, on the 2nd inst. : Thomas Perry proved the
case. Superintendent Wheeler said that the de-
fendant was brought to the station by Police. con-
stable Smith in an insensible condition. Witness
kept him at the station for eight hours. He had to
give him stimulants and apply hot water to his feet.
Dr. Eagar was sent for and directed his removal to
the Workhouse. Defendant pleaded guilty and was
fined 5s and costs.

Daniel Skidmore (12), and
w were charged with stealing a
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H iqu
art C o(2.101.).,
quantity of coal the property of J. B. Fisher and
Company, on the Ist Inst. Henry Griffiths proved
that he saw both the defendants carrying away :coal
and putting it onto a ruck. They had about two
wheelbarrow loads in the ruck. Defendants pleaded
guilty and were ordered to receive 8 :strokes with
the birch rod and ta be kept in prison for two hours.
—Sarah Perry (14), and William Perry (12), were
charged with a similar offence. Police-sergeont
Payne said he saw the two defendants fill bags with
coal at Mr. Fisher's engine house. He followed
them and they dropped the coal, which weighed
about 7Plbs. This being the first charge against
them the girl was discharged and the boy was or-
dered to receive s strokes with the birch rod.
NEGLECT OF Woßx.,--Henry Wood was charged
with neglecting the work of John Brett, farmer, who
claimed 40s compensation. Complainant said he
engaged:defendant for one year. He left his work
on the 6th ult, and he had to pay £2 to other people
to do defendant's work, besides keeping three horses
in the stable. The defence was that he was lame
and could not work. Complainant said he offered
defendant such. work as he could do. Defendant
was ordered to pay the „amount claimed and costs,
the money to be deducted out of his wages.
.4!