The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-07-01 00:00:00

OLD HILL.

EXTRAORDINARY CONDUCT OF A LAW STODENT.—At
the Police Ca,urt, on Wednesday, before Major Swill),
Messrs. N. Hingley and J. Purser, Alfred Clarke Morris,
an articled clerk to a solicitor, and residing at Kidder-
minster Street, Stourbridga, was charged by Inspector
John Ledbrook, for unlawfully, wilfully, and maliciously
damaging and injuring two cushions, four curtains, two
rods and fastenings, and two window straps, the prop, ny
of the Great Western Railway Company, in the parish
of Rowley Regis, on the 16th June.—Mr. Lea (of the
firm of Messrs. Miilward, Baldwin, and Lea, solicitors,
Birmingham), appeared to prosecute, and Mr. J. Stokes,
of Dud.ey, defended.—Mr. Lea, in opening, said it
appeared that defendant was a passenger by a train from
Birmingham to Stourbridge on the 16th June., At
Smethwick Junction he got out of one carriage and
entered a second class carriage. He travelled alone until
he arrived at Cradley when he was seen to get out of
the second class compartment and entered a third class
carriage. It was then ascertained that the carriage
had been most shamefully used and injured in every
possible way. The cushions were cut, the curtains torn
down and the rods were taken away and entirely missing.
The curtains were afterwards found in the Old Hill
tunnel and the rods were foiled on the side of the rai!.
way between Old Hill and Cradley. Defendant at first
denied the charge.—Mr. Stokes said he should, on
behalf of defendant, plead guilty to the charge of wdful
damage.—Mr. Lea said he was instructed by the com-
pany to ask the magistrates not to let eefendant off
with a fine. These offences vs ei e frequently committed
and it was exceedingly difficult to detect the offenders.—
Alfred Bridle, passenger guard, said he was in charge of
the train from Birmingham t) Stourbridge on the 16th
June. Defendant was a passenger by that train and he
first saw him at Hockley station. His attention was
called to defendant at Smethwick Junction where he
' jumped out of a carriage and got into another. He
did not see defendant again until they got to Cradley
station when he again got out and it was afterwards dia-
-1 covered that the carriage in which defendant rode from
Smethwick Junction to Cradley was very badly injured.
—Mr. Stokes, said he did, on behalf of defendant, plead
guilty to the charge, and earnestly solicited the Bench
not to send defendant to prison without the option of a
fine as it would blight his life for ever. He should
prove by a certificate from Mr. Freer, of Stourbridge,
that defendant suffered severely from neuralgia in the
head. He had been to Birmingham in company with
some law students on the 16th of June, and having had
something to drink it affected his brain and at the time
of the occurrence he was entirely unconscious of what
he was doing. Mr. Stokes read two testimonials of
character, one from a minister at Stourbridge and the
other from defendant's schoolmaster.—A witness here
stated that the damage done amounted to £3 10s.—
Major Smith said the Bench had given every attention
to the defence of Mr. Stokes, but still they could not
think of letting defendant off without a heavy fine as it
Was so short a time since he was brought up there before
on a similar charge. They did not think they should
be doing their duty if they did not fine defendant such
a sum as would no doubt put a stop to such practices
in future. Defendant was fined £5, £3 lOs damage, and
costs, £9 3s; in default one month's imprisonment.—
The money was paid.
ASSAILT ON A WOMAN.—Joseph Thomas Taylor was
charged with assaulting Mary Ann Pritchard, on the
24th ult.—Complainant said defendant had been living
at her house. On the above date he was breaking the
furniture ited when she remonstrated with him he struck
her on the face. Fined 2s 6d and costs; in default
14 day9.—Defendant was also bound over to keep the
peace for threatening his wife.
NEIGHBOURS QuannEns.—Henry Billingham was
charged with assaulting Priscilla Robinson, oa the 25th
ult.—Complainant said that on the night in question
defeadant had a party drinking in his house until four
o'clock in the morning. Some one pushed her door and
she went to look out but could only see defendant. She
accused him of pushing the door when he struck her
violently on the face and blackened her eye.—Annie
Heath corroborated complainant.—Priscilla Robinson,
the elder, Priscilla Robinson, the younger, and Jane
Coley were charged with assaulting Ruth Billingbam, on
the same date.—Complainant, who appeared, in the box
with her face tled up and looking injured, said the three
defendants set about her and served her face like it was.
One of the defendants said her face was done like that
uith a mustard plaster.—The Bench were of opinion
that they were a bad lot and bound them all over to
keep the per.cd.
CHARGE OF COAL STEALING.—Fanny Stokes and
Sarah Ann Westwood, two respectable looking girls were
charged with stealing a- quantity of coal, the property
of the New British Iron Company on the 20th ult.—Mr,
W. Hayes, jun., defended.—Henry Fox, said he saw the
two defendants on the railway belonging to the New