The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-10-08 00:00:00

KIN VER.
We understand Mr. Thomas Smith has been appointed
Bailiff of the Manor, in the place of the late Mr.
(item.

BELIERLEY HILL.

BOAP.D or BEALTIL—Mr. Wm. Jeffries presided at the
usual monthly meeting of this Board on Monday last.
There were also present Messrs. Coley, Loveday, Seriven,
Fletcher, Grove, Harris, Bennitt, Cook, and Walker.—
The first report read was that of the Roads Committee.
It recommended payments of £25 to the surveyor on the
highway account for the ensuing mouth. The report also
showed that the improvements of l'arkes-street had cost
the Board £7l 3s Id. The cost of making Talbot-street,
it further stated, was £152., half of which It was agreed
should be borne by the Board, and paid out of the rates.
For private improvements in the same street a sum of
£ll 15s 7jd had been expended. The committee, the
report also said, had had the question of Pearson-street
improvements again lefore their notice, and Lad decided
ti defer the matter for a time.—On the motion of Mr.
Cartwright, seconded by Mr. Grove, the report was
adopted.—The claim of Mr. Mullett for compensation
for damages caused by pulling down his wall was consid-
ered to be inadmissible, and the Clerk was requested to
write and deny any liability on the part of the Board.—
rhe Luellen report stated that the general district rate
sad arrears to be collected aniouuted to the slim of
£1,090 ie 10id. The collector during the past month
had paid to the treasurer £32 9s 6lii, leaving to be ac-
counted for £1,057 lfis 51. There was due, it said, from
the treasurer on the loan account, £163 is Id ; and to
the treasurer on the general account, £1,089 15s 91.1.
The report was adopted.—A long discussion took place
as to the desirability of lighting up the main street.
There were impediments, Mr. Harris said, in the way of
lightiue all the etreeti of the town, but he argued that
High-street should, at all events, be lighted. The gee,
sal feeling, however, was that d that course was taken a
charge of partiality would be raised aistiust the Board.—
In the Sanitary Committee's report was the following
extract :—"The attention of the comtuittee lieu been
calleci to the state of the chnrch-yard. said to the manner
in which the order in Cuuncil, dated 27th Auguet, 1657,
has been evaded and disregarded; and the committee re-
quest that immediate steps be taken to comply with the
orders as to the burial of the dead, and thus render it
unnecessary for the committee to proceed further in the
matter."—A letter from Mr. Dorton was read, in which
he intimated that the Public Hall could not be offered
for sale at a less sum than £2,000.—N0 comment upon
the subject was made, and the Clerk proceeded to read
the mortality returns, which showed that there had been
twenty-one deaths less than in the corresponding mouth
of last year.—There was no other business.
iluasca OF THE PEACE.— At the Police Court, on
Monday, before Mr. J. Holcroft, Edward Hill and Charles
Kendrick were charged by Superintendent Mills with
committing a breach of the peace by fighting on the 26th
alt, at Caledonia. Defendants pleaded guilty, and wera
ordered to pay the costs, on promising not to offend
again.
DRUNK AND Riorocs.—Charles Holcroft was charged
with being drunk and riotous on the 27th ult, at Brierley
Hill. Police-constable V. Breton proved the case, and
defendant, who pleaded guilty and expressed his regret,
was tined Is 6d and costs,- in default 11 days.
INDECENT ASEIAULT.—BeIOre Messrs. J. Holcroft and
L. Freer, Hobert Motthews was charged with indecently
assaulting Mary Newton on the 27th ultimo, at Brierley
Hill. Complaisant said she lived at Round Oak, and on
the above date, about half-past six in the morning, she
was going home, when she met the defendant and three
other young men. Defendant knocked her down. He
indecently exposed himself, and ran after Ler. Police.
sergeant Breton proved apprehending the defendant, and
charging him with indecently assaulting Mary Newton.
He said, "We were coming home when we met her.
We wished her good morning. After we had got some
distance she began throwing atones at us. I ran alter
but did not touch her." In defence, defendant said he
was coming home on the morning in question, when he
met complainant. He wished her good morning, and ehe
threw stones at him. Reran after her, but did not touch
her, nor indecently expose himself. Defendant Called
four witnesses, who gave corroborative evidence. The
Bench said defendant had had a very narrow escape, and
dismissed him.

USING A CART WITHOUT A NAME ON IT.
William
W ood, chaff dealer, Colley Date, wan summoned for
using a cart on the turnpike road without having his
name painted thereon. Police-constable V. Breton proved
seeing defendant use the cart without having hia name
painted on it. Defenaut said the cart was not his, but
that he hired it from Edward Mills, coaehbuilder, Colley
lista. Edward Mills was called, and said he hired the
cart to defendant on the 27th of December lad, at 23
per week. He had had it ever since. The Bench dis-
missed the case._

A FAITIILEAS SWAM—James Careless, an engineer,
Commonside, was charged with assaulting Myra Price,
on the 28th ultimo. Mr. Waldron appeared for defend-
ant. From the evidence it appeared that the defendant
had been a sweetheart of complainant, rod she was preg-
nant by him. On the 28th she met him in company with
is Miss Hughes, and asked him what he meant doing.
Ile struck her upon her breast. He bit her several times
on the body. She followed him home, and he struck at
her over his mother's shoulder, and his mother also hit
her. Defendant took out a cross.summons against Miss
Price, and Miss Hughes also charged her with assaulting
her. Their side of the story was as follows. They say
complainant went up to them and beton abusing them,
and struck Careless and knocked his hat oit, and pulled
Hughes's hair down. Witnesses were called on both
sides. The Bench said in the case against Careless, it
was a most unmanly assault, and fined him lOs and costs,
in default 14 days ; and the other two cases against Myra
Price were dismissed.

DRUNK AND RIOTOUS. —William Pitt and John Jordan
were charged with being drunk and riotous on the Bth
ultimo, at Wordsley. Police constable Clarke said he
was on duty on the above date, and suer the two defend-
ants, who were drunk and riotous. They began to abuse
him. He ordered them home, and they refused to ga,
Defendants pleaded not guilty, and said Police-constable
Clarke asked them what good such lads as they were,
to such a man as he was. fie began chaffing them, and
as be got the worst of the argument he ordered them
home. They were not drunk, and could bring witnesses
who could prove they were not. The case was adjourned
for seven days.