The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-05-18 00:00:00

11%-i->ocal anb it4tri.ct 1:r1..-;'s,
,_,

COUNTY COURT.

MINING CASE.—On Monday eleven cases came
before R. Kettle, Esq., judge, in which the Rowley
Station Colliery Company were summoned by
colliers in their employ for wages in lieu of notice.
The one tried was that of David Wright, collier.
—Mr. J. Stokes (Dudley) appeared for plaintiff,
and the defendants were represented by Mr.
Willis (Home Circuit), instructed by Messrs.
Willis and Newey (Birmingham).—Plaintiff, along
with ten other men, was employed making
gate-roads for the company, and received fourteen
days' notice to leave on the 9th March last, up to
which time he was paid. On going to work the
following Monday they found only work sufficient
for one of their number, and during the fortnight
of notice plaintiff said he only worked five days
instead of twelve. It appeared that two or three
days after the beginning of the notice an offer
was made to the men to do gate-roading on
altered terms, teo.be paidl for at the rate of 4s a
yard instead of 5s lid ; but as this system, the
men alleged, would have largely decreased their
earnings they refused to Fall in with the sug-
gestion.—Mr. Willis called the manager to show
that during the first part of the fortnight on th
altered terms the eleven men earned £l3 9s 2d,
equivalent to 5s per diem each, which was only a
halfpenny less than their earnings on an average,
shown by a calculation of seven previous weeks.—
It was submitted for the deferce that the first
gate-roads being finished the company had the
right to set the men on new work on altered terms,
and they were only bound to find a reasonable
amount of work for the men to do during their
fortnight's notice.—Mr. Barrow, doggy, was calh d
and produced the time book, which proved that all
the men worked jointly. Sometimes one would
receive the money and sometimes another and
then they would divide it among themselves.—
His Honour said looking at the book produced he
had no doubt it was contract work and gave a
verdict for the. defendants.—The other ten cases
were withdrawn.

BOARD OF GUARDIANS.—The usual meeeting
of this Board was held yesterday, Mr. H
Billingham in the chair. There were also present
Messrs. Raybould, Hask-ew, Robertson, Bingley,
Siviter, Nock, Williams, Parkes, Thompson, Grif-
fiths, Rollinson, Wood, Homer, J. Dillingham,
Bills, Giles, Baker, Fiddian, Lavender,
Kelley, and Guest. Admitted, 15 ; discharged 15;
born 0; dead, 2; remaining, 450; corresponding week
last year, 370. Out-door relief, . Kingswinford
District, £26 Os 4d; Stourbridge District, £lB
14s 4d; Halesowen District, £l6 16s id ; non-resi-
dent 9s 4d; total £62 9s. Id. against £54 9s. 7d.
last year. After the business was over a commit-
tee meeting was held as to a proposed testimonial
to Mr. G. Granger in recogination of his long and
past services to the board and it was decided to
have his portrait painted to hang in the Board
Room.

ODDIELLOWSHIP.-Mr. A. Hart. late Prov. C.S.
of the Order of Oddfellows, was interred in Old-
swinford Churchyard on Sunday, and a very large
number of the brethren attended the funeral.
Deceased was eight-one years of age, and had been
one of the most useful and active members of the
Order in the Stourbridge district for the long period
of nearly half a century, and for forty-four years
he was C.S. of the district. After the ehurch
service (by the permission of the officiating
minister), P.P.G.M. R. Mills read the Oddfellows'
rite referring to the loss of a member. Deceased
was highly esteemed by the Oddfellows of the
district, and had done good service to their. cause.
AMBLECOTE VESTRY MEETING. THE CHURCH-
WARDENS' ACCOUNTS —The adjourned meeting for
the appointment of churchwardens for the year
was held at Amblecote Church, on Tuesday. The
meeting had been postponed from Easter on ac-
count of the indisposition of the vica.r.—The vicar
(Rev. J. S. Boldero) presided; and after thanking
Mr. Johnson for his services as mini4cer's warden
during the past year, nominated him again to oc
cupy that office during the current year.—Mr.
Mobberley then proposed that Mr. Corbett be re-
elected people's warden. This was seconded by
Mr. Parkas, and carried without opposition.
The repair frulds accounts were produced
showing a balance in hand of £5 16s. Od. In
reply to a question wether he would permit the
church accounts to be inspected by the meeting,
the Vicar said he would allow them to be gone into
am a matter of courtesy, but not as a matter of
right. Mr. Corbett asserted the vestry, as a mat.
ter of right, should inspect the accounts of the
' churchwardens and pass them. The Vicar begged
to differ, and said he should decline to allow it in
that case. The objection was not to Mr. Corbett
himself, but to a parish vestry, composed of rate-
payers, demanding to inspect accounts which were
really acconnts of how money raised by voluntary
subscription was expended. Mr. Cooper asked,
what then was the object of having a people's
warden P and MaraVething remarked that the affair
was merely a hollow farce. The Vicar said if Mr.
Corbett could prove that the vestry was entitled
to inspect the accounts he should only be too wil-
ling to submit; but he contended that ratepayers,
simply as ratepayers, had no right to demand to
inspect accounts and money contributed by of-
fertories. Mr. Gething afterwards remarked that
the matter would have to be settled elsewhere,
and, the Vicar agreeing, the subject dropped.—
Mr. Payne asked Mr. Gorbett if he would produce
his accounts for the year ending Easter, 1875. Mr.
Corbett refused and also refused them to the
Vicar and Wears warden. There was some further
conversation but eventually the meeting termin-
ated without any more business being brought be-
fore it.

THE SKATING RINK during the week has been
largely attended by delighted audiences to wit-
ness the wonderful performances of Mons. Stirks
the champion bicycle performer whose entertain-
ments far surpass anything of the kind that hae
been produced in this district. To those readers
who have not yet seen seen this clever gentleman
we would advise them not to miss the last chance
of seeing him as he goes throu,7'n his periormancs
this (Saturday afternoon) and to-night. We
utnderstand that other entertainmalts will follow
GHARGE OF GAMBLING.--1 110 caß _button, Samuel
Perry, John Dodd, William Scott, and Benjamin
Scott, were charged with playing at cards at Hay
Green, on the 13th inst. iiolice-cousta,ble Wid-
dows said he saw the defendants playing at cards,
and produced them. Picked up 2Ad in copper.
All the defendants pleaded guilty except Dodd.
Fined is each, and costs, and Dodd was ordered to
pay Costs.
DRUNK AND DISORDERLY.—James Cavity was
charged with being drunk and disorderly, on the
11th inst. Police-constable Morgan proved the
case. Defendant pleaded guilty and said he had
a drop and it overcame him. It was the first time
he had been before the Magistrates, and had lived
in Stourbridge for 30 years. Fined 2s 6d and costs.
STEALING InoN.—William Hill (19), was charged
with stealing about the 27th ult. 19i lbs of iron,
the property of Charles Brettle, of the Lye.
Prosecutor said the prisoner was formerly in his
employ, and while he was so emplowed had often
missed iron and tools. The iron produced was his
property, other iron produced he believed to be
is property, but could not swear to it. Police-
constable Jewson said he apprehended the prisoner
on the 11th ice. He went to a shop kept by a man
named Leedhani, and saw his wife who gave him
' leave to search. Found the iron produced,prisoner
had previously told him that he stole the iron, and
took it to Leedham's to sell it. Prisoner pleaded
guilty, Sentenced to one month's hard labour.

Co;i[mis:; °NEES MEETING.—A special 'tweeting
of this "board was held in he Board Room on
Thurs lay morning last, to .ce into consideration
the ,i..lcission give by Mr. 2 . B. Cochrane, in re-
ference to a case tried I—Zore him, when Mr. G.
W. Prescott was summoned for non-payment of
highway rates. Mr. H. Hughes occupied the chair.
Mr. Shepherd was also present, and said that he
attended the public office in reference to Mr.
Prescott's case, and that it was adjourned by
mutual consent until the case could be consulted.
Mr. Shepherd read the various acts bearing out
the question, an it was resolved to instruct
Messrs. Harwards, Shepherd and Mills, to employ
counsel and take all necessary steps to bring the
question in the Court of Queen's Bench.
CHARGE OF FOWL STEALING.—At the Pollee
Court, on Monday, before Mr. J. E. Swindell,
James Watts and Thomas Smith were charged
; with stc.,alinv. three fowls, on the 12th just, the
property of Junes Smith, farmer, of Pedmore.—
Prosecutor said he heard the noise of /eyrie

fluttering about at half-past two o'clock on Mon-
day morning. lle goL up to the wir,dow and s.w
a man with sJmething in his hand. He waited a
st.o:t time when he saw two men go up the yard.
Witness at once got up and called his
brother and a gentleman that was staying in the
house. They at once gave chase and caught the
two prisoners. Smith had two fowls upon him and
brought them to Stourbridge.—The prisoners were
ram trded. till Friday when they were again brought
up before Mr. Evers.-3ames Smith repeated
the evidence as above.—Samuel Smith, brother of
the last witness, said he resided at Birmingham.
On the 12th May he was staying with his brother
the last witness and saw the two prisoners run
from the fowl pen. It was about half-past two
o'clock. He followed them and caught Watts
and assisted in bringing them to the Stourbridg,e
police-station.—Police-constable Madeley said that
on the morning of the 12th inst, he received the
two prisoners into custody from the two last wit-
nesses. He received the three fowls produced
and charged pr'soners with stealing them and they
said nothing.—Mr. Evers said he felt it was his
duty to commit them for trial and he wished to
inform them and the public that if there had
been a lock on the door and it had been locked
they would have been liable to 14 years' penal
servitude. He would tell those present who keep
fpwls have them locked up at night. Pri-
soners were then committed to take their trials at
the next Worcester Sessions.

CHARGE OF STEALING A PONY, SADDLE, AND
BRIDLE.—John Thomas Turner, a young man,
was charged with stealing a pony, bridle, and
saddle, on the 10th inst, the property of William
Mabury, of Blakalown.—Prosecutor who is a
publican, residing at Blakedown,..said the prisoner
formerly worked for him and was in the habit of
taking the pony for exercise. On the day in
question about nine o'clock in the morning he
told the prisoner to take out the pony for exercise.
He did not return and he saw nothing of the
pony until it was brought to him on Saturday by
Police-constable Webb. He did not give him
,permission to take the pony away. Prisoner was
generally about an hour in exercising and the
pony produced was his property.—Police-constable
Webb said the prisoner was handed over to him
by Police-constable Penney, of Kidderminster, and
he charged him with stealing a pony, bridle, and
saddle the property of William IVlaybury, of
Blakedown. Prisoner said" I did not steal it but
I was taking it to the Worcester Repository where
if I had sold it neither you nor twenty policemen
would have found me out." The witness said he
had traced the prisoner to Chaddesley.—John
Millington, broker, residing at Kidderminster,
said the prisoner came to him on Friday last and
offered a pair of gig lamps for sale. He said that
his master lived at Birmingham and he (witness)
wanted the produce of the lamps to buy sonic
corn for the pony as he was going to take it for
sale at Worcester. Witness went to Hoobrook
and there saw prisoner again and he offered wit-
ness the pony for £lB, saying that it was his
father's who wanted to sell it. Witness told him
it was not worth .218 and he offered to sell it for
£l5. He told himthat he thought if he sold it
for £l5 and his father told him not to sell it for
less than £lB that his father would give him a
good biding. He did not make him any offer but
he told him where he could put ui) the pony at
Kidderminster and get lodgings himself. The
next day he heard that the police had got him in
custody.—Police-sergeant Penney, of Kiddermin-
ster, said from information received he appre-
hended the prisoner about ten o'clock at night.
He saw him at the Angel Inn and he had the pony,
saddle, and bridle. Witness asked the prisoner
whose pony it was and he said it was his father's
and that he lived in Birmingham and was retired
from business. His father sent him to Bewdley
with a pair of gig lamps and the pony, and that
he was to sell the pony for £lB. He did not like
his answer and he took him into custody on
suspicion of stealing the pony and handed the
prisoner with the pony, saddle, and bridle over to
Police-constable Webb.—Prisoner said nothing in
defence and he was committed to take his trial at
the next Worcester Sessions.
DRUNK AND ASSAULTING THE POLlCE.—Thomas
Bradley was chargcd with being drunk and dis-
orderly, on the night of the 11th inst. Defendant
was further charged with assaulting Police-con-
stable Maden while in the execution of his duty,
—Prosecutor said he beard a noise in Coventry
Street and he went to see what was the matter.
He saw the defendant who was drunk and had his
coat off making a great noise. He ordered him
come when defendant struck him a violent blow
on the nose and made it spin out of blood. Wit-
ness then apprehended him and locked him up.
—Prisoner said he was very sorry for what he had
done but he met Mr. Tinkham and had a glass or
two.with him and it had overcome him. He was
employed by Mr. W. B. Collis at Old Hill on the
mines drainage and lived at Stourbridge. He was
very sorry for what had happened.—Defendant
was remanded, bail being accepted in £lO
and himself in £lO until Friday when he was
again brought up before Messers. R. L. Freer and
F. Evers and defendant was fined 20s and costs;
in default 14 days.
COAL STEam-NG.--Levi Davies and Zachariah.
Taylor, two boys, were charged with stealing a
quantity of coal, the property of James Brook
Fisher.—Police-constable Widdows proved that
he saw the two defendants with a bag of coal
each, about half a hundred. They did not take
it from the lomey bank.—Defendants pleaded
luilty and they were sentenced to receive six
strokes with the birch rod.
HIGHWAY OFFENCE.--JaSOII Price, of Bel-
broughton, was charged with allowing four cows
to stray on the highway at Madley, Beibroughton.
—Police-constable Payne proved the offence and
said he had cautioned the defendant twice
before.—Fined is in each case and costs; in de-
fault 14 days.