The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-09-21 00:00:00

DUDLEY.

PiLLEGED OBTAINING AM,. BY FALSE PRETENCES.-
-At the Public Office, on Monday, before Messrs. John
Aston and James Fisher (magistrates), Peter Cuniog-
ham (28), labourer, Oakeywell Street; John Flanagan
(21), fitter, Gratehmpe Fold ; and Michael Flaia,gen
(19), carter, Gatehouse Fold, were charged with con-
apiring to obtain nine quarts of ale and a stone battle
by false pretences from Henry Roden, licensed
victualler.—Caningharn borrowed a pen and ink and
filled up a paper which set forth that he was entitled to
9, from the paymaster of the Ist Staffordshire
Militia, of which he was a reserve man. He signed the
note "Captain Davidson." He took the note, and by
means of it obtained from Roden the beer and bottle.
The other prisoners were drinking with Cuningham
at a private house, and were stated to have joined in the
conspiracy.—lt was shown that only 7s ;,6d wasidue to
Cuninghaina and that there was no such officer as
" Captain Davidson."—Pr.soners were committed to the
Sessions for trial. Bail for their appearance was
accented.
OPENING or A COFFEE Housr.,—On Tuesday last the
fifth branch of the Staffordshire COOO9. and Coffee
House Company was opened in the Beaconsfield Build-
inga, Market Place. It is elaborately fitted up, and
comprises two handsome refreshment bars on the first
and second floors, sitting rooms, ladies' rooms, and
other apartments, affording altogether most ample
accommodation. Furnished in first-class style and
beautifnlly decorated, it may be regarded as one of the
most attractive establishments of the kind in the Mid-
land Counties. The other shops of the company are in
Wolverhampton, Bilston, and Walsall, and arrange-
ments are made for opening two others in Wolver-
hampton. The opening ceremony on Tuesday was ta
have been presided over by the Mayor of Dudley, but
his Worship wrote stating that other arrangements pre-
vented his attendance. He expressed, however, his
best wishes tor the success of the undertaking, as it was
likely to assist in suppressing drunkeeness, which was so
prevalent in the town.—ln the absence of the Mayor,
the inaugural proceedings were conducted by the Rev
D. Jones Hamar (Wolverhampton), who was supported
by the Rev. T. W. Macgregor, M.A.., the Rev. J. C.
Jones, and Messrs. F. l',lartin, J. Lees, A. Wood, and J.
Whyte. After addresses on the purposes for which the
place VMS to be opened, the President drank in a cup of
coffee. " Success to the undertaking," and a brisk busi-
ness was immediately commenced. During the after-
noon there was a very large number of customers,
and general satisfaction was expressed at the quality
of the refreshments and the cotnmodions arrange-
ments.
LIE MEcneencs' INsmurtore.—On Monday night last
the annual distribtrion of prizes in connection with the
above institution took place in the Public Hall. The
Rev. M. Gibson (president) occupied the chair, and
there was a numerous attendance. Th 3 chief prize-
were awarded to J. A. Williams, W. Willetts, and T.
Jon .s.—Tne chairman said the recent examinations had
teen very satisfactory, and from tbe statement given in
I y Mr. Woodhouse there had been eighty-eight paper-
worked, obtaining four Queen'e prizes in the advance,'
trade and eleven in the elementary, together with eight
trot-class and ten second class prizes in the advances
rale, and sixteen fir•t and twenty-five second class cer-
ifica-es ia the elementary grade. In the previous
year fifty-two papers were prepared ; out of this number
one Qleen's prize was obtained in the advanced
grade and six in the elementary. one first class cer
titicate and six second class in the advanced grade
an six first-class , and twenty second class in the ele•
mentary, showing an increase on the year of eight
Queen's prizes, seventeen certificates of the first-claas,
sad nine of the second. The chairman then distributed
the prizes, and the meeting was afterwards addressed by
Mr. Stokes. _

FOUND DROWNED,-Mr. R. Watts. deputy coroner.
hid an inquest on Thursday, on the body of Alice Halt
(5), who was found drowned in a cistern on f uesday last
The enquiry was held at the Dog and Partridge Inn.
Cromwell Street, Kate's Hill, near the residence of the
g parents.—Thomas Westwood. a boy, stated his
ft or sent him into their brewhouse to recover the lie
of a cistern which had fallen in. Ile obtained a 'prop.
ani whilst searching found the body of the deceased,—
It was further shown that the cistern, was common to
four houses, the lid was broken, and the pump for the
cistern had been removed, making the placs more
dangerous. The property altogether was neglected.—
The coroner summed up, and said the cistern appeared
to be a tap for the children living in the building. I,
would be a good plan to have the attention of the in-
spector of nuisances called to the building and its con•
dition.—The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental
death," and requested the coroner to communicate
with the inspector. Mr. Watts promised to do so.