The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-01-26 00:00:00

'IIIE &TOURBRIDGE OBSERVER.

tion, Mr. Vale, Mr. Field, and the Brothers
Greenwood. Professor Dixon as "The Swell"
and Mr. Vaughton as" The Girl of the Period"
were the first to make their appearance. Both
gentlemen wore handsome skating costumes and
Mr. Vaughton's make-up was splendid. For
their skating too much praise cannot be acoorded
them and they were frequently, loudly, and
cles.,rvedly applauded. Professor Dixon performed
a very difficult and arduous task by having 16
glass bottles and eight wine glasses placed on the
rink and he succeeded in first placing and
balancing eight of the bottles on the remaining
eight and then standing each .of the eight wine
glasses on the top bottle, all the time he was
placing the bottles and glasses he remained on the
hind wheels of the skates. Mr. Vale as Chinee
and Clown, Mr. Field as Pantaloon and Chinee,
and the Brothers Greenwood as Niggers, Demons,
and Gorilas, created roars of laughter by their
mirth-provoking entertainment. The fight for
the standard between Professor Dixon, as the
Russian and Mr, Vaughton as the Turk, was
done with exquisite skill. They first skated round
and then unfurling their standards fought with
swords. The Russian succeeded in gaining the
Turk's sword. The Turk then drawing a pistol
fired at his foe and succeeded in not only disarm-
ing him but took both the standards. The
tremendous cheering with which this was received
clearly shows with which war party the feeling of
the large assembly present lay. The whole affair
was a decided and complete success and we con-
gratulate the spirited proprietor on the manner in
which his endeavours are appreciated. It is
his intention to give these entertainments
fortnightly.
STEALING Coar..—At the Police Court, yester-
day, before Colonel Fletcher and Mr. C. B.
Cochrane, Milly Knowles, a young girl, was
charged with stealing a quantity of coal, the pro-
perty of Earl Dudley.—The case was proved and
as defendant was young and the first offence she
was fined 2s 6d and cautioned.

CHARGE OF DRUNKENNESS.—Jabez Willetts, of
Cradley, was charged with being drunk on the
night of the 19th inst.—Police-constables Oakey
and Hardwick proved the case and defendant was
fined 5s and costs; in default 14 days.

CHARGE OF CRUELTY TO A HORSE.—Donald
Pearson, coal merchant, was charged with ern lly
illtreating a horse, on the 20th just, at Amblecote,
by not giving it sufficient food.—Defendant was
further charged svith cruelly illtreating, a horse,
on the 21st inst by using it while in an unfit state.
—Mr. Perry appeared for the Local Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and Mr.
Wall defended.—Mr. Perry, in opening the case,
said he should prove that on the 20th a horse
died from want of sufficient food through defend-
ant's neglect and on the following day he worked
a horse while in an unfit state.—Mr. Wall ob-
jected to the wording of the summons as defend-
ant did not cruelly torture and illtreat the horse.
—The objection was reserved.—lnspector Door-
bar said from information received he visited a
stable at Amblecote. The horse appeared very
weak and he got the assistance of several men
and got the horse up. He called the defendant's
attention to 'the condition of the horse who said
it was ut a very bad state.—ln answer to the
Bench witness said there was a small quantity of
hay and straw in the stable.—Thomas Steadman
said he formerly worked for the defendant. He
knew the horse in question which was in a very
weak state. The horse was in a field belonging
to Mr. Whitehouse and there was no keep in the
field.—Mr. F. Blakeway said he examined the
horse in question and it was in a very low and
emaciated state. The horse could not get up and
he called the attention of the defendant to the
low state of the horse which was afterwards shot.
He made a post-mortem examination of the horse
and found the organs healthy and attributed the
death of the horse to the want of food.—The de-
fence was that the horse was impounded for some
time by Messrs. Bradley and Co.. and the horse
became in a very low state. He should also prove
that defendant ordered his man to see that the
horse was well fed.—William Shesvard said that he
worked for the defendant and had instructions to
give the horse plenty of hay and he took the
horse hay into the field each day. On one
occasion he found the horse down and he got i t
up with assistance. He took it into a stable and
gave it hay and corn and the horse eat while lying
down.—William Cole, boatman in the employ Of
defendant, said he saw the horse in the field.
The horse was down and he assisted in getting
the horse into a stable and gave it hay, corn, and
chaff.—Mr. Blakeway was re-called and said it was
impossible for the horse to have had the corn
and be in such a state as stated by the last two
witnesses. He should have found some of it in the
atomach. The second case as then gone into. The
first witness was Thomas Steadman, who said
that the defendant :ordered him to take a load of
coal from Castle Hill to Kinver. The horse was
in a low state and fell down five times. He had to
get another horse to deliver the coal. The de-
fendant's horse was tied behind the cart. The
reason he did that was because he one would have
the horse in Stable as they said it was suffering
from a disease.—Mr. Blakeway said that the
horse was not in a fit state to draw the coal as it
was in a low and debilitated state.—Mr. Wall
addressed the Bench for the defence and called
witnesses.—The Bench were of opinion that the
horse was in an unfit state to work and fined the
defendant 108 in earth case and costs, and .21 is
allowed for the post-mortem.
CHARGE UNDER THE FRAUDULENT BAILEE ACT.
—Benjamin Sturmy Raybould, ofKidderminster
Street, was charged with that he did on the Bth
September, fraudently commit a bill of exchange,
the property of Thomas Cox to his own use. Mr.
Rhodes, of Wolverhampton appeared to prosecute,
and Mr. Collis defended. Thomas Cox said I
live near Wolverley. In July, 1877, was in the
employ of Walter Showell, of Oldbury, and made
the acquaintance of the defendant. In Jnly sent
the defendant a bill of exchange by post with a
letter. The bill produced is the same, payable in
London four months, the amount being for £2l 11s
dated the sth of July, at the defendant's request.
Have not received any consideration for it. Some
few days after I signed the acceptance, for the
defendant to get discounted, and to hand me the
cash, £2O, the remainder id 1 Is, to be kept for
discount. Applied to the defendant several times
for the proceeds of the bill. Defendant said that
he had lost the bill, that he had searched for it
several times, but could not find it. On July 13th,
read a letter asking me to conic to see him. Came
to see him on the Saturday after the lettsr, which
was the next day. Deft ndaut said he had not
found the bill or the letter. Saw him four times
between the 14th and the 30th of July. On each
occasion defendant said he had not found tin e
On the 30th July saw the defendant's son, who
brought me a letter from his father, and the bill
produced is a substitute fir the bill lost. It was a
blank bill which defendant aSkeal me to fill up,
dated July sth for £23 b's 64, and accep,4 d by
Raybould, which was given to the defendant's son
and after returned to me with the acceptance and
letter, dated August 31st, asking me to get it
cashed. Saw the defendant again several times in
September. He again said the first bill was lost
and that he had not cashed it. Never purchased
any furniture of the defendant or any goods what-
ever. The next time I heard of my acceptance
was a writ from Mr. Port. Did not have any
further commuuication from the defendant Cross.
examined I left Mr. Showell at the end of Sept me-
ber. I was pressed for money to pay the interest
off a mortgage. Have only had two bill transac-
tions with the defendant. To the best of my recol-
lections defendant's son did not on the 80th July
produce the first bill. I did give the defendant an
for £l5. I have a set off against that for
supplying defendant with goods for a pic-nic. I
have been applied to for the money by the
•rustees of the defendant's bankruptcy. Defend-
ant did not supply any refreshments at the pic-nic
I brought the refreshments from my own ',;house.
ti ad some refreshments with the defendant at
night. The £l5 was not paid to me as part of
the bill, but for pic-nic expenses. Fredrick Port,
cabinet maker, Temple Street, Wolverhampton,
said he had had business transactions with the de-
fendant on or about August 16th. Saw the bill
produced at defendant's house for £2l us nhich
was dated July sth. Defendant owed him money at
that time. Two other bills were produced, but
neilher beittsing Cox's name. Supplied complain-
ant with ether goods, and on September Bth, de-
fendant pail , em to him the bill in part payment
of good s Lied to him, also a cheque for £lO
which a: shonoured. Deft-- lent saying at a•
time th lie had furnished Cc; .s house, and as he
was sheet of money, and gave him the bill produced
which was dishonoured. Wrote to Raybould
about it. Ultimately a writ was issued for the
money and it was paid. Mr. Collis addressed the
Bench for the defence, and contended that
the £l5 paid was part of the payment of
he bill and called the following witne,ses.
—William Henry Raybould, son of def nd ant,
produced the diary belonging to his father and
said. the entries made in the book were made under
the direction of his father. On the various dates
he took two bills to Mr. Cox and on the 30th July
he brought one back.—Thomas Malpass, bill-
poster, said he assisted at the Heath pic-nic and
saw Mr. Cox and defendant there. He saw them
talking together but did not see any money paid
over.—Percy Garmston Chapman, relieving officer,
Halesowen, said he recollected the Odd Fellows'
Fete. Ile had charge of the cashbox and said Mr.
Cox and defendant was there. Raybould said COT
had spent all his money and wanted to borrow £2.
—This being the case the Magistrates retired to
censider their verdict and on returning Colonel
Fletcher said they had given the case very careful

consideration and had decided to remand the de-
fendant until this day (Saturday) at twelve o'clock
to complete the depositions, but were willing to
allow bail, defendant in £lOO and two sureties of
£5O.

fault 14 days.
ALLEGED ROBBER! OF A GOLD RING,—A. married
woman named Martha Hale was charged with stealing a
gold keeper ring, valued £2, the property of Caroline
Beckley, at Dudley Road, Brierley Hill.—Prosecutrix
said she lived with her mother at Dudley Road, Brierley
Hill. The had a gold keeper ring on the 22nd
November and missed it on the 23rd November. She
placed it on the dressing table in her mother's room
and did not see it from that time until Friday last.
The ring produced was her property. Prisoner had
been in the ha,iit of cleaning at her mother's house and
she was cleaning there on the 23rd November. Wit•
ness spLke to prisoner about the ring being lost and she
said she did not recollect seeing anything about it.—
John Higgs, pawnbroker, High Street, Brierley Hill,
said the ring produced was pledged at his house on
Fr d y last by a girl who said Mrs. Tennant, of Brock-
moor, had sent it. Witness showed the ring to his wife
who said it answered the description of the ring lost by
Miss BeLkey.—Agnes Hale, daughter of prisoner, said
her m)ther sent her to Mr. Higgs to pawn the ring.
Cross-examined by prisoner : I first saw you take the
ring out of a skirt that had been given you by Miss
Beckley. It was between the lining and the stuff.
The skirt was such as would be worn by a child about
five years of
.age.—Police-sergeant Chatham said he
received the ring produced from Mr. Higgs on the 18th
just, and from information received he apprehended
prisoner the same day and charged her with stealing a
ring, the property of Caroline Beckley. She said 6` I
am as innocent as a new born child, God only knows."
Mi•s Beckley recalled, said the ring was valued £2,
She gave prisoner a skirt but it was three weeks or a
month before she lost the ring.—Prisoner pleaded not
guilty and was committed to take her trial at the next
St: fiord Sessions, bail being accepted, herself in £2O
aid two sureties of £lO each.

AN OLD OFF6NDER.—Joseph Hooman, draper, of
Wordsley, who has been i-umna-n d at this court several
times, was charged with usianitin,g his apprentice, a lad
nauted Herbert Price, on the 16th iust.—Complainant
said he did not wish to press the case if defendant
would pay the costs. In answer to the Bench as to the
nature of the assault complainant said he was tasking to
a lad when defendant came home in a state of intoxica-
tion and struck witness on the face, made his nose and
/ninth bleed and also kicked him on the legs.—The
Bench intimated to defendant that they did not think
tiey were doing right in allowing the case to be with-
dawn but they would this time give him another
chance. If be was again summoned he would be
S eve rely dealt with.--Defendant paid the costa.
COAL STEALERS.—John Morris and David Morris,
two boys, were charged with stealing a quantity of coal,.
the property of the Earl of Dudley, on the 15th inst.—
Acting-constable Taylor said he saw the lads go into a
hovel at the back of Kingswinford church on the
Pensnett railway and take coal away. He followed and
caught them. The younger defendant told witness that
the mother compelled them to go for coal.—Defendiust
John was ordered to receive 12 strokes with the birch
rod and his brother six strokes, to be administered by
Police constable Buckley.
PAWNBROKER'S L!CEN•E —Mr. A. Roskell, from the
°dice of Mr. T. Srir all, solicitor, Stourbridge, applied on
behalf of Mr. Jabez Hingiey for a pawnbroker's license
at Brockmoor.— rhe application was granted.
_

TUE 1..F-ACCEISED MURDEREIL-Dliviti Latham, the
aif- ac en se (1 murderer in connection with the Old lull
murder, was charged on suspicion with causing the
d ath of Samuel Bowater at Old Hill —Police-sergeant
Cooper said he received information that defendant is id
been in a pub ic-house at Old Hill and that he had said
fa, inurlered Samuel Bowater, but he had since ascer-
timed that defendant was intoxicated and had denied
all knowledge of the affair. There was no evidence to
offer against defendant and he was dicbargetl on payeig
tle costs of a cab to convey him from Blackheath to
Brierley
A PALTRY AFFAIR —Alfred Tolley, landlord of the
George and Dragon, Kinver, and a boy named John
Bradley were charged with assaulting Joseph Hand,
maltster, Wordsley, at Kinver, on the 14th inst.—Mr.
Waldron appeared for complainant. and Ar. Clulow ac-
fended—Complainant said he was a maltster residing at
Wordsley. On the 14th lust, he was driving thron4lo
High Street, Kinver, accompanied by his wife when
something struck him behind the ear, forming a lump as
large as a walnut. He saw defendant Bradley aud two
other lads in the street and as.he got out of the trap
tie lads ran away. Witness followed them and caught
defendant in an entry. Whilst he had hold of Mai by the
wrist defendant Tolley came up and caught hold of wit-
ness but did not strike him. Tolley told witfiess to loose
the lad but he would n)t do so until he told his name.
Police-sergeant Stevenson accompanied witness to
Tolley's house and when they got there Tolley pat his
fist up in a threatening manner.—This was denied by
two witnesses for the defence and the cases were d,s-
m.ssed,—A cross-summons by Bradley agaiest Hai.d
was also dismissed.

CHARGE or WoßßLlNG.—William Homer, Elizabeth
Homer, and Ada Homer were charged with having, on
the 23rd December unlawfully sold by retail certain
intoxicating liquors which they were not licensed to sell
under the 3ra section of the Licensing Act, 1872. —Mr.
Addison appeared to prosecute, and Mr. Waldron de•
fended.—Police-sergeant Hinton said he was stationed
at Brettell Lane. He received instructions from Super-
inteudeut Weollaston to go on special duty at Quarry
Bank on Sunday, the 23rd of December. He went
there before daynght and remained there until dark at
night. During the time he was there he saw number,
of people go towards the defendants back door. At 9 1.)
in the morning he saw a man come across the garden
and go to the back of Homer's, Pegg's, and Skidinore'e
houses. The man went up an entry tied disappeared
from view. There was a row of six houses and Home-,
Pegg, and Skidmore lived in the three farthest from
where witness was watching. He could see the next
door to Homer's. At t,venty five minutes past ten he
saw a man come from the back of Homer's to a tub and
the man was drunk. He went back to the house. At
eleven o'clock witness saw two men leave the house, At
five minutes to eleven he saw seven men go in the
direction of the house through the tack way. At
eleven o'clock he saw ten men come from the house and
go back again. They were sober At twelve o'clock he
saw a man named John Shaw come out of the house and
Shaw was drunk. There were seven others with Shaw
they went back to the house. At 12.15 he saw a man
named George _Reynolds come from the direction of the
back door. He was drunk and went back again to the
house. At 12 30 two more men came out. They were
both drunk and returned to the house. At a qu irter to
three one man came out and returned. He was also
drunk. At 3 30 ten men went in at the back door and
came out in about ten minutes or a quarter of an hour
Police-constable Hollins was with witness all the time.
Police constable Hollins corroborated Sergeant Flinton.
—Police-sergeant Lavin, statiened at Brierley Hill, said
he was sent to Quarry Bank on special duty on the
morning of the 23rd December in company with Police-
constable Evans. He was watching the front of
Homer's house from five o'clock in the morning until
five o'clock at right. At ten minutes past nine in the
morning he saw a man enter defendant's house and
three others went down the entry. At ha f-east nine
three more went down the entry leading to detendant's
beck door. At ten o'clock four men went in at the
front door. At twenty-five minutes past ten he Saw
tour men go down the entry At helf-past ten one man
wrnt in and ten minutes afterwards three men went in.
It ten minutes to eleven four men went down the entry.
tt e:even o'clock a soldier came out of the house and
at the same time he saw a woman take some jugs into
dower's. He afterwards saw a number of men drinking
out of cups and jugs. He saw a number of people go in
and out of the house and they were mostly orunk.—
Police-constable Evans corroborated Sergeant Lavin
Mon _tants were further charged with a similar offence,
oe the 25th December.—Poice-sergeaut Hinton said on
the 25th December 'he was again concealed in the same
place with Hollins with the same object and about the
same hours as on the 23rd December. At a quarter-pas:
ten o'clock in the morning he sew nine men go to the
back of Homer's. At eleven o'clock he saw one man
eu in. He had seen that man about with a can At
11.40 he saw a man come out to the urinal and return.
At twelve o'clock he saw a man come out and another
man e )me out directly afterw ird. At five minutes paq
twelve four men came out and went away. At ten
witeite.s pest twelve another drunken man came out
At tweloy-minutee past twelve six men came out and
returned. At half-pest twelve two men came out and
rstarned. One of them was drunk. At one o'clock two
inor•-• went in. At 2.36 three men went in at the back.
At ten minutes to three a man came out at the b tck.
He Wa; called " Magic." His proper name was Attwood
At ten minute; to four a man went across the gardens
with a half eallon bottle in his hand and he return( d
with the hoi'le ten rninttes afterwards.—Police-coneteble
Hellins corroborated Sergeant Hintorn—Police-sergeant
L vin said on the 25th December he was again con-
concealed at the fiftane place and about the same hours
as on the 23rd D .c, niber. The first be saw was four
men coining out of the house at a quarter-past eight
o'cleek in the morning. One of them was drunk and
could scarcely walk but the other three were not quite
so bad. At twenty minutes past nine two men went
down the entry to the back. At ten o'clock another
went down the entry and at twenty minutes past ten
and half-past eleven a man went down the entry. At
ten eninutes to twelve a man went into Homer's house
by the front door. Mrs. Homer was then standing at
the door With a quart jug in her hand. Shortly after-
wards seven men went in and he saw several drinking
close to the window out of either jugs or cups. At
twelve o'cle,ck four men volt down the entry and at half.
past twelve two more went down and he did not see
them sec iiu until two o'clock when they came out: At
half-past two o'clock two men went down the entry and
at three o'clock three more went down. At half-past
three two went down and at four o'clock three more
went down the entry. Witness did not see scarcely one
person come away from the house sober on the 25th
December. Witness recollected the seizure being made
that night. None of the men who went in at the front
door were either sons or sous-in-law of Homer. When
the seizure was made about seven o'clock there were
four men in the house. Three of the men were sitting
by Homer and the other was sitting opposite him One
of them was drinking oat of a quart jug nearly fall of
ale and porter. Witness took the jug from the man
and gave it to another officer. Defendant Ada was
round a screen in the house with a can of ale and was
-
throwing. it about. Some of it went on the Superinten-
dent —Police constable Evans corroborated Sergeant
Lavin.—superintendent Woollaston said on Tuesday,
the 25th December he went to defendant's house
accompanied by a number of officers about seven o'clock
at night. When he went into the house there were fear
men sitting with Homer and his daughter. He saw
Sergeant Lavin hand a jug containing a mixture of ale
am d porter to another officer. He then examined the
house and found the articles that were below in the
yard mat the police station. One mash rule, one large tab,
three small ones, one bucket full of harm, one malt bag,
one eighteen gallon cask full of ale, one iron bowl, two
cans, three pint cups, and one quart jug. After the
things were removed witness told Homer he would be
summoned again for selling ale, and he found some
things there he yaw there twelve months ago. Witness
told him what he had found in the brewhouse when de-
oident said " Master, I de not know anything about it
It is not my brewhouse." Cross-examined : One of the
y ling men in the house said he had sent for the por'er
from Mobberley's. There were grains of malt in the
bag. The mash rule was among the brewing utensils
found on the premises. The fowls were kept iu the

cellar.—Mr. Waldron after a long speech for the defence
called Joseph Hingley, who said he was courting de-
fendant Ada. He was et Homer's house on the 25:h
December when the police came. He had some porter
in a jug and can and it was fetched from Mobberley's
public•house. He did not see the porter come but
gave defendant Ada 2s to fetch it. When the police
came he said he had sent for the porter but did not tell
them where he had it from. He told an officer that he
gave Ada 2s for it.—John Woodhall corroborated
Hingley.—Defendant Ada was called and said on Christ-
mas night her young man gave her a two-shilling piece
to fetch a half gallon of porter which she fetched from
Mobberley's public-house. The porter was in a jug and
can when the police came. She did not supply any of
the young men that were there that night with ale
neither did anyone get supplied with ale at their house
either on the 23rd or 25Lh Wcember.—Defendant
Homer said there was no one in his house on the 23rd
December or Christmas day except the four young men
referred to and his own family. There was no ale sup-
plied to anyone. He never saw any or tasted any except
that sent for by the young man.—Elizabeth Homer cor-
roborated her husband —the Bench retired for some
time sod on returning said they had decided to commit
and fined the male defendant £25 in each case and
costs ; in default three months' imprisonment and the
•cases against the women were dismissed.

THE MURDER AT OLD HILL.