The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-09-06 00:00:00

THE STOURBRIDGE OBSERVER.

Police-sergeant Payne and Police-constable Paynter
proved the case. Defendant pleaded guilty. Fined
23 f.d and costs.

RAioi BREAD SELLEES.—CharIes Rutter, bread
seller, residing at Belbroughton, was charged with
selling bread otherwise than by weight. Superin-
tendent Wheeler said it was 21oz. against the buyer.
Defendant said a man came to his house dressed in
sbabby clothes. He did not know he was a police-
man and he considered it was done as a decoy.
Fined 2s 6d. and costs.—Elizabeth Freeman, of
Belbroughton was charged with a similar offence.
Police-constable Paynter said that when he weighed
the bread at defendant's shop it was correct. Super-
intendent Wheeler said it was 11oz. against the
I buyer. Case dismissed, as the weight was correct
when weighed by the police officer.—Richard Price,
Clen, MIS charged with a similar offence. It was
stated that the loaf was 81 oz. against the purchaser
Fined 5s and costs.—Reuben Roby was fined 105
and costs for a like offence, the bread being 12/ oz.
against the buyer.—William Gibbs, of Hagley, was
fined bs and costs for selling a loaf of bread 81 oz.
against the buyer.—Charlotte Fox, of Hagley, was
fined 2s 6d and costs for selling'a loaf lloz. against the
purcha4er.—William S!okes, of ilagley, was fined 2E
6d for selling a loaf of bread to Police- constble
Dunn, 2 oz. against the purchasi-r.—John Bird,
Stourbridge, was summoned for a similar offence.
Superintendent Wheeler proved tha.. it W3S ill oz.
against the buyer. Fined lOs and costs.
JUVENILE DELIQUENTS. Richard Evans (10),
and David Simms, (10), were charged with stealing
on the 2nd inst, 1l lbs. of scrap iron, the property
of Messrs. Rufford. and Co. John Henry Hill,
engino.idriver, said that he saw the two prisoners
standing by a quantity of iron turnings. They
put them into their caps. He followed them and
caught them. Mr. A. H. Holcroft said they were
continually being robbed by boys, and wanted t
put a stop to it, and would leave the case in the
hands of the Bench. Hannah Gould, marine store
dealer, who bought the irou was severly repri-
manded by the Bench for buying the iron. The
prisoners were sentenced to have eight strokes with
the birch rod.
DRUNK AND DISORDERLY —John Caverty was
charged with being drunk and disorderly on the 23rd
ult. Police-constable Madeley proved the case, and
also proved two previous cases. Fined 5s and costa;
in default 14 days.—John Stevens was charged with
a similar offence on the 2nd inst. Police-constable
Madeley proved the case, and said defendant was
drunk in Duke Street. Police-sergeant Jones
proved four previous convictions. Fined 10s and.
costs; in default one month.—Thomas Edwards was
fined 2s 6d and costs for being drunk at the Lye, on
the 24th June. Police-constable Paynter proved
the ease.

DRUNK AND REFUSING TO QUlT.—James Tomlin-
son, of Cradley, was charged with refusing to quit
the Old White Lion Inn, on the 27th ult. Defend-
ant was further charged with assaulting the land-
lord, Emmanuel Roper, on the same date. Defend-
ant pleaded guilty. The landlord proved that the
defendant refused to quit. He did not wish to
press the cases. For the first offence defendant was
fined 5s and costs; and 6s 6d the costs in the assault
case.

DAMAGING A DOOR.—Sarah Brett was charged
with willfully damaging a door on the night of the
31st nit, the property of Patrick Caverty. Com-
plainant proved that he saw the defendant brake
open the door, and the damage done amounted to
2s. 6d. Complainant's daughter gave corroborative
evidence. Fined 2s 6d and costs, and ordered to
pay 23 6d the damage.
WomEN's QUARRELS. —Sarah Murrey was charged
with assaulting Bridget Caverty on the 31st ult.
After hearing the evidence Thomas Stanton was
charged with using threats to Bridget Caverty on
the 31st ult. The threat complained of was that
defendant threatened to murder and burst her.

Ihe Bench ordered :all three to find one surety in
£5 and themselves in -£lO to keep the peace for
one month, each to pay their own cats; in detault
one mon t h each.

ASSAULT CASE.—William Haskew was charged
with ass tulting Ellen Round, on the 24th ult. Corn-

plainaut said that the defendant struck her several
times, and after struck her with a poker on the
head, inflicting a wound. Mary Ann Round and
Moses Round oorroboca.ted. defence was that
complainant struck her several times first. De-
fendant NI as fined 28 6d and costs; in default 7
days.

By Mr. Freer They were free public meetings;
this one was advertised by placard.
Two witnesses, George Pearson and George Payne
were called to corroborate as to the facts.

Mr. Mayor submitted, in defence, that complain-
ant had failed to prove that the persons who he
feared would commit a breach of the peace upon
him were those who were incited by the defendant.
At the meeting on the 12th August there was a
great deal of excitement on both sides, and Under-
wood and Bond were there on behalf of their
respective parties. Pepper was strewn upon the
floor by Underwood himself, and a general " row "
then took place. The case was not a bona-fide one
where a man was really in bodily fear of another,
but was merely a cloak for political feeling.
Whatever disturbance took place at the meeting it
was really caused by the conduct of Underwood
himself, who went there with an intention and
organised means to create a disturbance. Ile had
only himself to blame for what occurred.
After some discussion as to the propriety of
calling Bond, defendant gave evidence. He saw
Underwood standing at the door of the room
marshalling his " flock " as they entered, and saw
him inside the room with a paper in his hand, from
which he shed some red substance. Afterwards it
was found that cayenne pepper was on the floor.
Witness stood on the platform and called for
"Order." He charged Underwood in the school
room with putting the pepper down. Complainant
sAid nothing whatever, but walked away. After-
wards Underwood said to witness, "You'll have to
be responsible if I'm hurt." Witness replied,
"You are responsible for all that may be done;
you are responsible for disturbing our meeting
through your friends, and also for putting cayenne
on the floor." Complainant said, "If it lay between
you and I we should soon settle the question."
Witness said, "I'd lie down and you could dance
hornpipes on me for half-au-hour, and I would get
up and walk away:' That was all that took place
then. He had never incited anyone to assault
complainant.
Cross-examined: Did not call anybo iy's atten-
tion to the fact that Underwood was strewing the
pepper about. Had been convicted of an assault
at a political meeting.
G. W. Hastings and Samuel Robinson were
called to prove seeing Mr. Underwood with a paper
in his hand—like a packet.
Mr. Stokes then replied to the defence, and upon
that the magistrates said they should order the
defendant to be bound over for six months, him,3elf
in 50, and two sureties in £25 each, to keep Vie
peace; also to pay costs.

charge of having intimidated Joseph Foley. Chief
Superintendent Burton said the Bench would re-.
member that on Weddesday last six persons were
charged with the offence of the defendants. He had
made enquiries, and found that the defendants had
not taken a very active part in the disturbance, and,
as the district was very quiet, he wished to with-
draw the warrants on payment of the costs.
Mr. Barradale suggested that the case should be
adjourned for a month, to see if the defendants be-
haved themselves, and whether the district remained
quiet.

- Mr. Clulon, who defended, objected to this course,
and said there was not likely to be any further dis-
turbance. The punishment inflicted had been suf-
ficient.

Mr. Burton said the people at work found they
were not molested, and they desired that no further
punishment should be inflicted. The delegates had
given him to understand that no disturbances were
likely.
The Bench then dischaiged the defendants.
Mr. Breakwell and Mr. Forrest were again present
during the hearing.