The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-05-06 00:00:00

OLD HILL.

ROWLEY LOCAL BOARD.—The first meeting of the
newly-elected Board was held on Monday at the Board
Room, The members present were Messrs. Bans'
Bassano, Guest, Barker' Penn, Plant, Taylor, Bennett'
and Lewis.—Messrs. Barra and Bassano were unani-
mously re-elected chairman and vice-chairman respec-
tively, and votes of thanks to them for their last year's
service swere passed. The Medical Officers' reports, which
were presented, showed the number of deaths during the
past month to be forty-four, the death-rate being 22 4
per 1,000 on the population.
ASSAULT CASE.—At the Police Court, on Wednesday,
before Messrs. N. Hingley, L. Freer, and W. Bassauo,
William Evans was charged with assaulting Alice Adams,
on the 26th ult.—Complainant said she was talking to a
man in the street when defendant came up and asked her
why she had been telling tales anout him. She said she
had not done so when he struck her a violent blow on
the nose making it bleed. Defendant said he did not
strike complainant but simply pushed her. Pined 2s 6tl
aun costs.
NEGLECT OF Wonx.—Williaru tllarke, quarryman, was
summoned by William. Berry, for neglecting his work on
the 3rd nit, and complainant claimed 10s.—Mr. Addison
defended.—Complainant said he engaged defendant as a
getter and the agreement was to give or take 7 days'
notice. On the 3rd nit, he did not come to work and tie
had not since been there.—Defendant was sworn and
said he had worked for complainant twice, and the
secon .1 time there was no agreement respecting notice. He
was to receive 3s 8d per day. Ordered to pay lOs and
costs. . .

DRUNICENNESS.—Joseph Fletcher was charged with
being drunk and disorderly on the 28th Mar/ last.—
Police-sergeant Walters proved tLe case and defendant
was sentenced to 21 days' imprisonmeut.—Enuch Sidda-
way was charged with being drunk and d:sorderly on the
24th ult.—Police-constable Blackburn proved the case
and defendant was lined 5s and costs.—James Bastapuli
was charged with being chunk and disorderly on the 29th
ult.—Police-constable Sylvester proved the case--De-
fendant said he went to near the cuckoo, and got three
pints of ale.—luspector Price said defendant was the
greatest nuisance they had in the place. He was nearly
always drunk and used beastly language to womea.—
Sentenced to one month's hard labour.
A CAUTION —Joseph Round, Iliornas Bagley, Joseph
Sonthall, Benjamia Williams, David Price, Saimaa!
Williams, John Naylor, Joseph Hanctocks, Josiah Cook-
auy, and ballillol Tucker were charged with being on
licensed at the Old Nngine Inn, oa the 16th ult, during
prohibited hours.—Police-constable Human said he went
tato the Old Engine Inn at a quarter-past 12 o'clock on
the above date and found the defendant* there. Defend-
ants all pleaded guilty and were fined 51 and costs each.
ASSAULTIM* A Bur —James Smith was charged with
assaulting William Smith on the 26th ult.—Complainant
said he saw defendant's lad and another fighting, and as
he was trying to part them defendant caught Ii Id of him
and threw bun ou the ground. He was insensible. De-
fendant said he had no intention of hurting the lad and
he was sorry it had occurred. Defouclant was ordered to
pay cats.
CAUTION TO Boy.—Josiah Adams and George Rush-
ton, two boys, were charged with furiously riding two
norses on the highway, on the 26th ult.—Police-con-
stall finnan proved the case and defendant, %ere tined
Is end coots each.
TnusrAssiNo. John Hodgetts, George Hodgetts,
William Whitehall, Wil.iam liueh tun, and Thomas bhaw
were charged with onlawfu!ly and wilfully damaging a
quantity of glass the propeity of Edward Nock.—Mr W.
tlayes, Jun ,defended. flerbert Nock, sou of complain-
ant, Froved seeing defendants playing at '• rs.unders " in
Lhe giass.—Ar. tliyes contended Unit they were [caving
‘ni laud betoLgtug to Mr. it,se. Fined lid sue costs

each.
ithFUSINO Ti QUlT,—Berijamin llodgetts was charv,d
with refusn.g to quit the \ Inu, mien r. vested WA
ine ...7,11 Poole, the landlord. sada defe.dauL
Came into ins house drunk and as he refused to go out
compnimant was compelle&l to eject him. Fined 2s
and costs.
LALCENY —Mary Steueleigh, a young woman, was
charged with stealing a pair of hoots and a sham, the
irpeity of William Taylor. Prosecutor's wife said the
pris.ner lodged near her and sometimes came into their
house. Tile articles produced were the properly of her
uusband and she missed them out of the house.—Joseph
dackatt, pa%%nbroker, Old Hill, said that prisoner
pledged the boots produced at Ins shop for 3s.— William
Oluck, pawnbrok,r, Crudiey Heath, said the prisoner
pledged the shawl produced at his slo,p for Is 6,1.
l'ol.cc-constab:e Blackuurn proved apprehending prisomr

and charging her with the -effence but she nid.n-ut make
any reply. Prisoner pleaded gailty and was sentenced
to 14 days' imprisonment.

MINERS' MEETING dr DUDLEY.

THE 1%.1',11,..S QL.Tk.STLON.

A natuereu.ly-atteuded meeting of miners delegates
rupreeeuting the whole of tee district was held ou atuu
day morniug, at the bliakaapeurt Inn, New Mill street,
Dudley.
The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, said
bad been eueveeed for the puipose of considi ring the
Napa que•tiue, the 'south Yurksh.re strike, and 1.1,i•
Litilaitanes.il 4•I a I li.. rin a leted newspaper. The cows-
.mittee had tl44.,Jght it desirable to auli a tateliug ot
1104 1111 rwsptlet 1,1 :he mailer he Is id first neueid,
oecauee tem. .1 the tuen were ander the en-waren' int•
preside»s tket a fortnight's notice was necvsea y fur the
reduction its eugee. eutumittee did not c.re to take
the whuleof tue re,pousibiety of dealing with the sub-
ject, aed lied. therefore, decided to leave it to the
assembled delegates.
Mr. Levi Brittaiu said the men could not consistently
demend fourteen days' eotice, they having received ae
increase without notice The musters had adopted the
glut:Tie of ratelue the coal and wages on the same day,
and or dropping both on the came day. If the notice
was insisted upon (as only appeared to be the desire of
a few) to raise co-1, but not wages, on the following
Monday. Then the men would have to work a week
before they couid give notice, and then they would have
to woik another fortnight before the increase of wages
came on. The men e onld thus lose instead of benefiting
themselves. He believed that some of the dissatisfac-
tion outside was due to the fact that some of the masters
were not clear on the matter, and had given their men
notice. It was clear to his mind that at the meeting of
masters and men it was agreed that the prices and wag $
should go up and down together, and that notice shouid
not be required. The simplicity of the arreneeini.n.
was weedy in its favour. It would prevent any di,put-
as to wile., coal went up or not.
It was then moved and seeonded by two of the dew-
4ates that the terms of the masters be accepted.
.111 e resolution was carried with one dissentient.
A eiecussion afterwards took place on the de,ir.bil.t
if y
arraeging for a quicker alteration—not tertuteali
—of the sliding scale. It was decided to adjourn lie:
.uatter, and that in the meantime Mr. Brittain siiould
take steps to ascertain the feelings of the other distric
next subject in the agenda was not discussed lee
the deputation from South 'Yorkshire were not pre,ent
—The meeting proceeded to consider statements tu it
local paper reflecting upon Mr. Brittain. One of tile
eeuteuces, in an anonymous letter addressed to the
editor, was that " a greater tissue of falsehoods were
never uttered" than by Mr. Brittain in a letter which
appeared the prievous week. The writer had made the
further statement, that Mr. Brittain was " odious.when
wrong and insolent if right." Mr. Brittain said he had
consulted with his solicitor, and steps had been taken to
compel the editor to give up the name of 'the writer.
This had been done, and Mr. William ktainwaring had
apologia ,d to him. With this he had been advised to
rest satisfied, and he did not wish to press anybody. He
should never do anything to injure Mr. Ma'nwaring, the
matter was over, and, sa far as he was concerned, it
should for ever be dropped—(cheers).
Several of the delegates spoke in terms of high praise
as to the fidelity of Mr. Brittain to the cause of the
men, and a resolution expressing the utmost confidence
In him was unanimously passed.