The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-01-19 00:00:00

BRIERLEY HILL.

DBUNKENNESS.—At the Police Court, on Monday,
beiore Aessrs. H. 0. Firmstone and G. K. Harrison,
Cornelius Thomas was charged with being drunk and
disorderly, at Brettell Lane, on the night of the sth
inst.—Poiice-sergesnt Hinton said on the night in ques-
tion he saw the defendaut and two others goiug towards
the Dudley Arms, Bretton Lane. Defendant was very
drunk and witness stopped him and told him to go
home. Defendant staggered along the road for some
distance and then stopped and made use of foul language
towards the officer, saying that if the b-- sergeant
came up he would kill him—Defendant denied being
drunk and using bad language.— fhe Bench believed
the officer and fined defendant 5s and costs ; in default
14 days.—Defendant's application for time to pay the
mo ley wes refused.
TRANSFER3.—The Woodman Inn, California, Kings
sw4iford, from Priscilla Hickman to John Buckley; the
014 Boat Inn, Buckpool, Wordsley, from John Francis
to Samuel Simp:on ; the Bottle and Glass, Buckpool,
Wordsley, from James Mullett to Tnomas Simpson;
the Glyrne Arms, 'bailey, from George Woodcock to
Joseph Bate; the White Horse Inn, Brettell Lane, from
Ma y Ann Saunders to 'aeries Matthew Anderson ; the
Dudley Arms Hotel, Brettell Lane,.from John Brown
Bates to Mary Ann Pearks.
ASSAULTING A SlSTER.—William Green, of Wordsley,
was chargel with assaulting Fanny Boyden, on the 3rd
inst.—Complainant said she was sister to defendant and
on the above date she was in her mother's house when
defendant came in. They had some words together
when defendant struck her twice on the mouth and
pulled her on to the ground by the hair of her head.
—Fanny Liw, imother sister, said she heard screams
and saw complainant covered with blood. She com-
plained of defendant assaulting her.—Defendant said
complainant gave him great provocation by calling his
wife names and scratching his face. He denied striking
complainant or pulling her hair. He called John
Alfred Round who said he was passing by defendant's
mother's house on the above date when he saw com-
plainant outside the house trying to get in but defendant
was inside preventing her entrance into the house. He
(witness) tried to keep complainant away from the house
when she turned round and abused him.—The Bench
considered the case clearly proved and said it was a dis-
graceful assault committed by a brother on his sister.
It was al disgrace to any man to strike a woman let
alone a sister, and fined defendant 20s and costs; in
default one month's hard labour.

COAL STEALING.—Jose-pi; Wylde, a boy 10 Tears of
wali, oharsecl with litogiog g quantity of coal, the

property of the Earl of Dudley, on the 4th inst
Samuel Robinson, watchman, in the employ of the Earl,
said he saw defendant on the above date on a truck
throwing coal off—Defendant said he was only throwing
the coal off the truck to two other lads, but he did not
take any coal away —Defendart was ordered to receive
8 strokes with the birch rod to be administered by
Police-constable Buckley.
A LIVELY LOT FRoM QUARRY BANK.—Thomas Dunn
was charged with assaulting Mary Dimmock, at Quarry
Bank, on the 17th tilt, and was further charged with
assaulting Jeremiah Dudley, on the same date; Jeremiah
Dudley was &ANA with assaulting Thomas Dunn ;
Joseph Dunn and Thomas Dunn were charged with
assaulting William Homer, the elder ; William Homer,
the younger, was charged with assaulting Thomas
Dunn ; Wiliam Homer, the elder, was charged with
assaulting Isabella Westwood.—For the assault on
Isabella Westwood William Homer, jun., was fined 20s
and costs ' • in default one month's hard labour. He
was also fined lOs and costs for assaulting Thomas
Dunn; in default ono month's imprisonment; and
William Homer, son , was fined 5s and costs for
assaulting Thomas Dunn. All the other summonses
were dismissed.

FIRE—At four o'clock on Saturday morning last it
was discovered that a fire had broken out in the Tin-
plate works of Messrs. Budd and Co„ Brockmoor.
Mounted nie3sengers were despatched to Dudley and
Stourbridge, and fire engines were on the ground in
less than an hour. At this time, however, one of the
shops was nearly burnt down, and there was danger of
the flames extending to adjoining stores, which con-
tained a quantity of valuable material. Efforts were
therefore mostly directed to prevent the fire spreading.
It was ten o'clock before the flames were subdued and
it was thought safe to remove the engines. The
damage is estimated at £7OO or £BOO, but this is covered
by insurance.