The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-01-14 00:00:00

THE WAR.

FRANCE.

THE DEFEAT OF GENERAL
CHANZY.

10,000 FRENCH PRISONERS
CAPTURED.

THI3I STOURBRIDGE OBSEM ER.

day last she searched i-‘iisoner s- -box, ail fonil
all the articles produced: Cross-extunined by

prisoner: I opened the box with one of on'''.
keys.—Police-constable Woodhall said from in-
formation received, he went to Mr. Stringer's
house on Sunday last, about three o'clock, and
apprehended prisoner. He received the articles
produced from Mr. Stringer. He then charged
prisoner with stealing the articles belonging to
Mr. Edwin Stringer. She said, " I know no-
thing about them ; if they were in my box some-
body must have put them in."—Prisoner said
what Woodhall had stated was quite right.—
Miss Stringer re-called: The articles produced
were in the bath-room, in a chest of drawers. It
is old stock. Prisoner had access t 4 the room.

—Prisoner said she did not know anything about
it. She had no witnesses to milt —Committed
to take her trial at the Worcester Adjourned
Sessions.

CHARGE OF RECEIVING STOLEN GOODS.—
Phuebe Eliza Beckley was further charged with
stealing 1 carpet bag, 11 prongs, 4 spoons, a
piece of print, and a diaper cloth, the property
of Mr. Edwin Stringer; and John and Eliza
Beckley, residing at Brierley Hill, were charged
with receiving the same, knowing them to be
stolen. Mr. Collis defended.—Police-sergeant
Jones said he searched the prisoner John Beck-
ley's house on a warrant on Monday, and found
a carpet bag in the parlour, and upstairs eleven
prongs, four spoons, and also two pots of jam, a
piece of print, and about 60 pawn tickets.—Mr.
Stringer said prisoner entered his service on the
27th of August.—Mr. Collis contended that the
pawn tickets had nothing to do with the case.—
Sergeant Jones said his attention was called to
a conversation between Police-constable Wood-
hall and Mrs. Beckley. Woodhall told him that
Mrs. Beckley had put something into her pocket.
Witness at once went and asked her what she
had put in her pocket, and she said " Nothing."
He said "You have," and she replied " I am
sure I have not." She afterwards pulled a large
spoon out of her pocket. The prongs and the
spoons were wrapped up in paper. Ile asked
the male prisoner if they were his, and he said
they were. He apprehended John Beckley on
Monday on a search-warrant, and charged him
with stealing a carpet bag, a spoon, and a diaper,
the property of Mr. Edwin Stringer. He said
his daughter brought the bag up with some
stockings to be repaired. It had got to be re-
turned that morning. He did not know any-
thing about the other things. Ho apprehended
Mrs. Beckley on Wednesday, and chatged her
with receiving spoons and other property, be-
longing to Mr. Stringer, well knowing the same
to be stolen. She said, "I know nothing about
it." He afterwards searched the house, and
found the two pots of jam produced. The jam
had been removed, as well as other articles, since
he was there before. Cross-examined: Mr.
Stringer was not present when I charged Beck-
ley with receiving and stealing. I did not know
whose property it was at that time. Found 64
pawn tickets ; but the majority of the ti,tkets
were issued prior to the 27th of August. Most
of the pawn tickets were for clothes. None of
the tickets referred to Mr. Stringer's property.
—Police-constable Woodhall said he searched
prisoner's house, with last witness. Saw Eliza
Beckley put something into her pocket. He
called the attention of Sergeant Jones to the
matter. He heard a discussion between the last
witness and Mrs. Beckley, who afterwards pulled
a spoon out of her pocket. It is the same spoon
as the one that was produced in Court.—Miss
Stringer identified the spoon produced. It was
her father's property. She knew the bag pro-
duced. They had had it some years. The piece
of print was part of a dress of her's. The two
smaller spoons she could identify. They had
missed several. The stamp upon the ones pro-
duced was the same as on those in their posses.
sion. The prongs were the same. They were
marked with a " W. B," which is the initial of
the maker, William Barker, of Birmingham. The
handwriting on the pots of jam was her own.
She did not know they had missed all the things.
They had to get some new spoons out on Christ-
rnas-day. Cross-examined : I cannot say how
many spoons I missed on Christmas-day. I
knew there ought to have been some more. I
will swear I missed them on Christmas-day.
Some of the spoons and prongs are common. It
is a common pattern. I believe them to be my
father's; but will not swear to them.—Mr. Col-
lis asked lithe articles produced were the whole
that were brought from Beckley's house ? Ser-
geant Jones said they were not.—Superinten-
dent Freeman ordered the officer to produce the
other articles, and said that there was some
linen marked with other people's names.—Miss
Stringer said she had no reason to believe that
the other things produced were her father's.
Cross-examined : The spoons are marked. 1
bought the print in this town. I identify the
cloth by the other part of it, which I produce.
The spoons were engraved with a private marl:,
" B. H." and corresponded with those they had
at home.—Mr. Collis, in defence, said with re-
gard to the evidence in the case against Mr. and
Mrs. Beckley, they were charged with receiving
a carpet bag, some spoons, and a cloth, knowing
them to have been stolen. As far as Mr. Beck-
ley Was concerned, he was charged with receiv-
ing a bag, knowing it to be stolen. His answer
to that was that his daughter had brought the
bag with some stockings to be repaired, and that
it was going back again. The spoon and prongs
were of a quality such as would be expected to
have been foued in the house of a man in the
position of Mr. Beckley. As to the pawn tickets,
most of them were dated before the 27th of Au
gust, and those found in the house were mostly
for clothes that had been pledged. There was
nothing to lead Mr. Beckley to suppose that his
daughter had stolen the things. As regarded
' Mrs. Beckley putting the spoon in her pocket,
! she might have thought that it was not right to
' be in her possession, and when the policeman
came in she put it in her pocket. There was no-
thing to show her that her daughter had stolen
it. The daughter would reserve het defence.—
' Mr. Freer retired for a short time, and on re-
! turning said he had made up his mind to send
both cases for trial at the Sessions. On being
' charged, prisoners reserved their defence. Bail
was allowed—the daughter in one surety of £2O,
3 and herself in .£4O, and the other prisoners ill
one surety of .£lO each, and themselves in £2O
each.

Lunn:sm.—On Monday evening, the Rev. A. Girdle-
stone delivered a lecture to a rather small audience in
the Corn Exchange, the subject being " The air we
breathe," with experiments. The lecturer was briefly
introduced to those assembled by the Rev. J. S. Bolder°,
and he at once proceeded with the expeliments, which
were very interesting, and highly appreciated by those

present.
LECTURE.—We beg to call the attention of our readers
to another column, which announces that Mr. Anthony
Trollope, the celebrated author, will deliver a lecture in
the Corn Exchange, on Friday evening next, subject—
" English Prose Fiction, as a Rational Amusement.-
" • •

Flame OF Ai.—This school, which has now attained
• very high position, will be reopened on Monday even-
ing next, and it is a good opportunity for the artisans to
join. There are also special classes during the week.
RELIEF FUND FOR TEE Pooh—During the week COM•
mitteee have been formed, and a number of persons have
been soliciting subscriptions for the purpose of purchas-
ing breed and coals for the poor. Up to the present
time we are glad to say that a good earn has been collee-
ted—in the East Ward, £22; in the West Ward over
£lO. For the South Ward we have not been able to get
the enact sum ; but there is nearly Elie/ collected. The
first distribution takes place this day (Saturday). The
South Ward will take place at the Corn Exchange. The
East Ward at St. John's School; azol the West Ward at
St. Thomas'. School, Beauty Bank.
RELIEF OF THE Poon AT OLDNWINFoIiD, On Wed.
nesday lest 15 tone 10 lids. of coal, and 250 loaves of
bread were distributed to the poor of Uldevoiliford,
through the kindness of gentlemen living in thatdietriet
We understand that if this severe weather continues einii-
lar distributions will take piece.
Simons AcCIDINT.—An accident of a swim.s nature
occurred at the Snow Hill Station, Birmingham, on
Thursday night, to •young man named John Rowley, of
Church-street, in this town. It appears that Rowley was
at Birmingham, and on returning home wan talking to a
friend on the platform until the train was in motion, an-1
in attempting to get in he slipped down, inflicting a seri-
ous wound on the forehead. Rowley was put in the tram,
and brought on to Stourbndge, and Mr. Bayley, surgeoo.
was celled in, and sewed up the wound.
A CRAFTER Or ACCIDENTI.—This week has been in.
tensely cold and frosty, making the footpaths dangerous
for pedestrians to walk about. The consequence is that
several accidents, we regret to have to state, have hap- !
pens& Mr. Hicks, surveyor, residing in Union-street,
was walking from his door across the yard, when he ace,
dentally fell down and fractured two of his ribs.—Un
Wednesday morning, as Mr. L.Packwood, cabinet maker,
was walking from his shop door he fell down and diet..
cated his shoulder. In each case medical sesistanee was
called in, and we are glad to say the sufferers are pro.
greasing favourably—The same duo a man whoa,- name
we have been unable to aecertain, fell down in I ;ion.
street, end injured the opine of his back.
DEurai A:ND RiuToUS.—At the Petty See-goes, yester-
day, before Major Fletcher, the lion. C U. Lytteltoe,
M.P., and C. P. Noel, Esq., John Forrest, of Cradley,
was charged by Superintendent Freeman with being
drunk and riotous, on the 28th of November. Police.
constables Howell and Roe proved the offence, and the
defendant was fined Is and costa; in default seven days.
DRUNK AND ASSAULTING THE PoLicii.— William Cart •
wright was charged with being drunk and riotous in
Highatreet, on the Bth inst. He was further charged
with 'assailing Polise•eonstable Box at the same time,

w'.ile in the execution of his duty. Box Kiwi that he was
o duty in High.street, and heard a great noise. Went.
and found it was caused by the defendant. He ordered
him to go home. Defendant refused to go, and turned
round and kicked witness on the thigh. He then caught
hold of defendant, to lock him up, when be struck and
kicked witness again, and got his thumb into his mouth
and bit it nearly through. Witness locked him up, and
thou went to Mr. Freer, surgeon, who directed him what
to to. Defendant was remanded for a week for medical
evidence, bail being accepted—himself in £5O, and two
sureties in £25. _

DRCNK AND DISORDERLY. Job Summerfield WKS
charged with being drunk and disorderly on the 7th inst,
at the Lye Waste. Police•constable Clary proved the
case, and defendant was fined ls and coots.