The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-06-17 00:00:00

BRIERLEY RILL.

Dallis AND I{I4,TOCS.—At the Polite Court, on WI,
day last, before Messrs. B. 6ts John ,llatthewa aim L.
Freer, James Tanner was charged with being drunk and
riotous on the 11th instant, at Brierley If t:2. Police.
sergeant Breton !roved the case, and the defendi.mt war
Ilned la and costa ; in default seven days.—George Ikrti•
was charged with a similar offence on the 11th inst, al
Brierley Hill. Poliwe.constable Maland proved the case.
Defending was tined is ed and costs, or 14 days. —James
Bryan was charged with being drunk and assaulting the
police at the same time and place. Policrecoustable
Maland said defendant sea at the same place on the above
date. Be was very drad.', and riotous, and struck witness
on the mouth. Defendant was tined Is and Coats.

BREACh 01 THE-PEACE.--Janles Constable, Emmanuel
Webb, and Thomas Smith w. re charged with committing
tibriach of the peace by fighting, on the 11th instant.
Police-constable Orady mid 1w was on duty in Bell-lane,
on the 11th, and be saw the three defendanes fighting.
Defend tuts were ordered.to pail the costs:

llsmAGE.—Ellen.Thowas and Maria Silcox
were charged with wilfully damaging grass, the property
of Francis Price, on the :lrd instant. lletnecious Taylor
proved the case, and defendants were ordered to pay the
coats.

EOLECT OF Woos.—Mary WitherS was charged with
neglecting to fulfil her enntract by leaving without notice
on the TA instant. Christopher Wall said the defendant
worked at 11r. Hall's brickworks. She went away with.
out giving notice. Thomas Fletcher said he engaged the
defendant about Nix weeks ago. The agreement was to
give or take 14 days' niitice. Defendant was ordend to
go back and work out her notice, and pay the costs, 4.1
6d.

UNLAWFULLY WOUNOING.—}Iy. Margetts was charged
with unlawfully wounding John Barnes by striking him
on the head with a broom, on the oth instant. Thomas
Barnes was cherged with threatening HarrietsMargett on
the same dote —Mr. Maher, of Birmingham, appeared
for the complainant, and Mr. Addison for the defence.
—Complainant said he was in the employ of Messrs.
Stuart and Mills, of Wordsley, and had been there for 17
years. On the above date he went into the garden, and
put up some Filings. Mrs. Margetts came down the
garden, and he said, " You will not knock the liming,.
down." She used foul and siolent language towards him,
and threatened to knock his brains out with the bucket
Ile was afraid of her. He went to work, and came back in
the evening about eight o'clock. He came up the entry
' and saw Mrs. Margetts, who said, 'Now, Henry, here the
old devil comes," and she struck him. She scratched
his face, and her husband struck him on the head with is
broom. The handle of the broom was broken, and hie
head bled profusely. De then went to the doctor, and
' from thence to the police station. Be had not spoken
to or struck either of the defendants before that time.
Ile was now suffering from the effects of the wound.
Cross-examined . I left the Glasshouse about half-past
six, and then went to Stanworth's public-house with two
men to do some business. I did not have wore than two
glasses of bitter beer. I swear I Was sober. I did not
go to Iff argate and say," Where is tLe b— champion ?
I did not any he should fight, and strike him OD the ear.
The wife did not get between us. I did not catch hold
of Mrs. ?Jargetts' hair. I did not say I would give it
her. I did not pull out a pistol, nor give them any pro-
vocation whatever. Did not, in the presenbe of several
people in a public-house, say that I was going home to
have a fight with old Margetts. Mv daughter was out, and
saw Margetts strike me. She did not tell me not to be,
so wicked, and I did not say I would have blood for sup-
per. I have not area Mrs. Margettn knock the paling.
off. My wife and daughter did not urge me on, or assist
in the affair at all. I had a hammer in my hand. She did
not tell me I ought to be ashamed to attack a woman at
her time of life. I was not stripped. I did not push
up my sleeves. Did not say to Margetta, ' Come out you
old bloodhound, and win the victory." Re-examined be
Mr. Maher : I was perfectly sober all the time. I had
my coat on in the evening. I did not threaten either of
them. I did not strike or attempt to strike either St
them. Did not challenge them. I did not use any bad
language.—Mrs. Barnes, wife of complainant, tor:bora-
Led her husband. Cross-examined: My husband was per.
ly rot, r. My hum/Auld did ant have a Feuds—Louisa
Barnes (daughter of complainant), Jane Price, Emma
Fereday, William Canteen, Thomas Randall, Benjamin
Price, James Shepherd, Caroline llowbotham, and Tho•
was Rowbotham gave corroborative evidence.— Mr.
turner, surgeon, Wordsley, said complainant came to
him on the night in question, and he examined his head,
and found a wound on the left side about an loch and a
half long. He was not intoxicated. John Zanies was
charged withassaaltiug Henry Margettsand Harriet Mar-
getts, at the same time and place. Complainants' evidence
went to show a direct contradiction to that of Barnes
sad that the latter, who, they alleged, was beastly intoxi-
cated, was the aggressor. A number of W411.51;16 were
called for Berrien, and after bearing the whole of the
evidence, the Bench were of opinion that an assault hail
been committed by Mareetts on Barnes, and fined Mar.
gat. Is and coats. In the sureties cos.! Bermes Was
bound over to keep the peace for six mouths in two sure.
ties of £lO each; end the charge of assault by Margetts
and his wife, against Barnes, Was dismissed.
Fcniot.'s Daivitro.—At the Petty Sessions held On
Thuriday, before I. Spooner. Esq., Stipendiary, William
Muir was charged by Superintendent Mills with driving
furiously on Saturday Light last. Police-constable
Maland proved that be saw the defendant driving iu
trap at a furious rate down High-street, and that several
persons complained to him of the defendant. FOW
witnesses were called for the defence. Mr. Spooner said
there was a doubt, and he would give the defendant the
benefit, and dischizged Lim with a caution.
CHAUGL AtrAINSI A LICENSEL VICTUALLER.—Richard
Howeo was summonsed by Superintendent Mills for
Keeping his house open for the sale of beer on the 10th,
of May, during prohibited Miura Mr. Young (Oxford
Circuit), instructed by Mr. Ciulow, appeared fee defend-
ant.—Police.sergeant Breton said that on the 25th May,
from complaints lie bad received, he went to defendant's
house, the Queen Inn, Levtlaitteet, Briirley Hilt, to
watch, lie went by defendant's house at six lii the
morning, and stayed till nine o'clock About half-pant
seven saw Mrs. Howes open the shutters. In a few
mluutes after saw a young woman go into the house, ap.
patently carrying something under her apron. In a few
minutes she came out and walked away. Shoetly after a
milkman went in, and soon after • little girl west and
rapped the front door. She went to the back, and bad a
tea-cup in her heed, with something in it. Shortly after
he saw two men named Edwards and Humphrlita go iv.
He then whistled, and sent Police•constable Goodfellow
to the front of the house, and he (witness) went to the
back, and got into the house. Humphries stood in the
passage. On the table stood a pint measure, half full of
ale, fresh drawn. Mrs. Howes was inside the bar with a
large stone bottle in her hand. She put the bottle down,
and he told her he should have to report her for allow. I
ing drinking in the house. The wife said he was sot
drinking. He pointed out some froth to her, and asked
her how she accounted for it. She said that Edwards,
the butcher, had done it. She then fetched a box of
matches, and said Edwards wanted to borrow some. At
that time Howes came down stairs. Witness told him
he should report it. Defendant said it would be unkind
if he did.—Police-constable Goodfellow gave corrobora-
tive evidence.—Police-sergeant Breton was called, and
proved a previous conviction against defendant iu Anti).
, when he was fined Ins and costa—Mr. Young made a
I long and poaerful address to the Bench for the defence,
I and called Edward Humphries, who said that he worked
at stock-taking, and that he was at work with Mr. fling.
Icy on the Whit-Sunday in question. They were stock-
taking, and he was allowed two quarts of ale. About
I nine o'clock, Mr. Ilingley sent him to the defendant's
house. to Irak his eon to come to work. First saw the
servant, and afterwards defendant's wife. He asked for
• her son. Did not have anything to drink, crash for any.
Saw the policeman come in, and told him that he did not
come to have anything to drink, but en other business.
The oaliceman asked him for his name. lie gave it,
The policemen said he should have to report it, all
asked what the spots were on the floor. Defendant'.
wife said they were spots of water from cleaning the
( cr
house.—Edward Hingley said he worked for Mr.liolcroft
as a stuck•taker. On Whit-Sunday was so engaged with
the last witness, taking stock. They were allowed two
quarts of ale a day when so engaged. He sent the la.t
witness to defendant's house for the son to come to work
—Hannah Deeley, domestic servant to defendant, said
she remembered Humphries coming to her mastet's
house. lie came at the back door. Mrs. Howes was
then in the passage against the staircase. Witness stood
by her. Humphries first spoke to Mrs. Howes, and asked
for her son, John. She said he was not in, but she to
peeled him in directly. Witheas then saw a policemau
come in at the back door. She was standing near the
smokteroom. Heard the policeman speak, but could not
tell what wee fetid. Heard Humphries say he had not
come to have anything to drink. Saw a policeman go
into the bar, and look over the machine. There was no
ale drawn or drunk in the house that morning. Did not
lose sight a Humphries the whole time. lie did mit
have any measure or jug in his hands—The learned
Stipendiary said be bad come to • conclueion in the case,
IMO after bearing the evidence of Humphries and his
master Jiingley) that he wan sent to the defendant's
house Lir a particular purpose, thought under all the
theretane was swal lOU bbte ; safer
he would dismiss
giveth an
defendantto
e
thei ct
, las
to
u
and dismiss the case.

Cn.sjsssr 01'
STEALINO • POLL—Joseph Hand, miller,
of Word.ley, was charged with feloniously stealing a
scaffold pole on the 7th Hist, the property of John
Young. Mr. Elcock defentied.—Prosecutor said he rr•
sided at Wordsley, and wsa a glass-cutter. The pole wa,
safe on the 6th lust, in the garden. On returning borne
from work on the above date, be found the pole was gone.
Prisoner's brother brought it back the same day. The
pole is worth Is 6d. Cross.examined : Prisoner's pro-
perty adjoins my house, and he is building a shed. We
have been on good terms until lately. A wall has fallen
down. The wall belongs to me. Prisoner has threat.
rued me with an action.—Samuel Chamberlain of Losh4
Lands, said he had a shop adjoining the prisoner's, and
saw the prisoner with a pole, coming from prosecutor's
premise.. It wits about 18 feet long. Gaye information
to Mrs. Young.—Charlotte Young, wife of prcsecutoe.
said that from what she had heard from last witness, she
went to prisoner's mother's house, to ark the priaoner
why fre had taken the pole. The door was shut in her