The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-01-31 00:00:00

BRIERLEY HILL.

DIIIINK.—At the Police Court on Monday, hefei e
Messrs. F. Even and H. 0. Firmstone, An alias
Bate and Samuel Bate were charged with beinz
drunk on the 17th inst, at Pensnetr. P.C. Adams
proved the case. Fined is and costs.
STEALING} COAL.—Phcabe Edge was charged with
stealing a quantity of coal the property of the
Earl of Dudley, on 23rd inst.—A,C, Taylor said tha
on the day in question he saw the defendant with a
basket picking coal out of the "Wagon hole," at
the Racecourse Colliery. She was in the employ
of a person named Enoch Ford, From where he
saw her to Ford's house was about 60 or 70 yar,ls.
He asked her what was her name and she said that
her mistress had sent her to get the
Ford was charged with inciting and abetting the
'above defendant to steal a quantity of coal.—Mr.
Taylor gave his evidence and said in consequence
of what the first defendant told him he went to
Ford's house and told her he had a serious charge
against her. He told her that the girl had sii.l
that she was sent by her to fetch the coal. She
denied the charge.—Dafendaut said that she did
not give the girl any orders to fetch the coal.—
Henry Chancillor, machinist, said that he saw the
defendant at her own house. Taylor and Edge
were there. Taylor s lid "Mrs Ford, this girl says
that you have sent her." Taylor then turned to
the girl and told her to speak the truth, Mrs.
Ford said to the girl "You naughty bad one, speak
the truth." The girl slid that shehad been sent
by her and she had taken one journey to Mrs
Ford's. She had had her breakfast and Mrs. Ford
had sent her again. Mrs. Ford admitted the girl
taking a journey the day before but thought she
had taken it out of the .dirt. Taylor said "You
know perfectly well that if she did t Ike it out of
the dirt she had no business there." As they were
going out Mrs. Ford said "Speak the truth you
can't make it any worse. Phcehe Edge said that on
the 23rd inst she went to the Racecourse pits about
half-past 9. She was a servant to Enoch Ford and
lived in the house. Mrs. Ford told her to go for some
coal. She told her mistress she could get some
coal and she said "Go then, if you don't steal it."
She did tall Mr. Taylor that she went before break.
fast, but she did not know what she was saying.
She did not go till after breakfast. The basket
produced was Mrs. Ford's. Defendant said on the
day in question she gave the girl a basket to go and
fetch some potatoes, but instead of going she must
have got off with some more girls. She never told
her to steal the coal. The Bench retired to con-
sider their verdict and on returning into Court Mr.
Evers said they could not come to any other con-
clusion but that Mrs. Ford had sent the girl, and
fined her 203, or in 14 days. The girl was guilty
but they were not justified in giving her any pun-
ishment.
ASSAULT.—Thomas Downes, fishmonger, of Stour-
bridge, was charged with assaulting William Pear-
son, on the 14th inst.—Complaivant said that on
the day in question he saw defendant at Wordsley,
about 11 or 12 o'clock. He was going into John
Strew, where he saw the defendant ceming. De-
fended shouted out here comes the man who was
summoned for selling stinking fish. He answered
and said he did not call his creditors together. The
defendant ran after him and after some words had
passed between them witness turned to go, when
the defendant struck him on the face with some-
thing which made it bleed. Superintendent
Woollastoa said complainant came to the station
and he saw he had a wound on his face which was
bleeding.—Defendant said he was serving some
customers in John Street, when the defendant came
up and began abusing him about his sister. After
seine time the complainant offered o fight him
and eventually put his fist in his face and he (de-
famda.nt) then struck him.- Edward Bagnall, for
the defendant, said he was painting in John Street,
4rords'ey, and he heard the complainant use some
insulting remarks, and after that he saw the defend-
alit strike complainant.—The Bench said they
thought he had committed the assault complained
and fined him 5s and costs.