The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-03-29 00:00:00

KIDDERMINTER.

ALLEGED TILL ROBBERIES.—At the Police Court
on Wednesday Henry Breeze Ward (21) and Edward
Ernest Ward (17) were charged on remand with
robbing the till of Mrs. Anne Armstrong, shop-
keeper, of Bromegrove Street, on Saturday evening.
Mr. Bast r prosecuted, and Mr M. Corbet defended
the prisoners.—Mr. Bagster said there had been a
series of tiil robberies in the town of late, which
had for some time baffled the skill of the police.
Four of the number could be distinctly traced to
the prisoners, and it was believed they were the per-
petrators of the remainder.—Evidence was given to
the effect that the two prisoners were seen outside
Mrs. Armstrong's shop, and that the elder prisoner
afterwards went into the shop, and was seen with
his hand in the till, and a pound's worth of silver
was missing after he left.—Evidence was also given
in a second charge of robbing a till in the shop of
Mr. Thomas Gill, tobacconist, Bromsgrove Street.—
Both prisoners have been previously convicted, and
they were committed to take their trial on the
charges. They are suspected of being the perpe-
trbtors of robberies of tills in the vicinity of
Brierley Hill and Kingswinford.
ACTION TO RECOVER FOR ILLEGAL DISTRESS.—At
the County on Tuesday, before Sir Rupert Kettle,
Judge. an action was brought in which Thomas
Brinsford sought to recover £5O for an illegal dis-
tress for rent from Mrs. Mary Pardoe, widow of
the late Mr. Pardoe, soliPitor, and from Mr. B.
Gardner, solicitor, both of Bewdley. Mr. Stubbins,
of Birmingham (instructed by Mr. Garda T),was for
the plaintiffs, and Mr. M. ()sorbet for the defend-
ants.—Mr. Stubbins st ited that plaintiff entered
into possession of the Peacock Inn, Park Lane,
Bewdlty in June, 1882, and continued in possession
until JanuEry lat. He owed Mrs Pardee .28 for
rent. On the 29Lli January a man named William
Elmore, a bailiff, appointed by the defendant Ben-
jamin Gardner, entered the premises for the pur-
pose of &straining upon the goods for rent. The
plaintiff p tid £8 owing for rent to Elmore, and also
5s 6d for expenses. The receipt for this money
was shown to Mr. Gardner, but notwithstanding
this he placed another bailiff in possession of thP
premises on the 29th January. Whether the bailiff
went away with the money or not had nothing
whatever to do with the plaintiff. —Evidence was
given as to the money having been paid, and the
receipt was produced.—Elmore, the man who re-
ceived the money, was ez.lled, and to the surprise
of those in Court-he was present On being sworn,
he admitted having received the money, but said
he had handed it over to another bailiff named
Iforton.—The latter was not present, and his
Honour, intimating that the case had now assumed
a very serious aspen adjourned it until next Court
so that Horton migh4lpe exAmined. _

DAMAGES FOR -PERSONAL INJURIES Anoher
case at the same Court was one in which Mr. J. W.
Smith, grocer, was sued for £5O damages for per-
sonal injuries inflicted through the neglect of his
servant upon a child named Rose Allen, Mr. B.
Bagster was for the plaintiff, and Mr, M. Corbet for
the defendant—lt appeared that whilst tbe child,
who is six years old, was crossing Waterloo Street,
Kidderminster, about a quarter-past six on the
night of the 24th January, she was knocked down
by a trap driven by a youth in the employ of the
defendant, and one of her legs broken.—After hear-
ing all the evidence, his Honour gave a verdict of
.£lO foe the child, .24 for doctor's fee, and costs
upon the higher scale.
A STRANGE CAREER.—At the Police Court on
Monday, George Jenkins, a Birmingham man, was
brought up under a warrant on charges of being a
fraudulent bailee. Prisoner is stated to be the son
of a wealthy coachbuilder, and had £3,000 left him,
but soon got through it. He has still, however, an
annuity of £5O per annum. Some four or five
months ago he came to Kidderminster, and took
mums of Mr. Holloway, auctioneer, and engaged a
man to attend to the effice. lie described himself
as an accountent and commission agent, and com-
menced operaeions by, sending to different trades-
men for goothe From Mr. Rayson, clothier, of
Coventry Street, and Mr. W. Minton, clethier, of
Swan Street, he obtained several suits of reedy-
made clothing; from Mr. Taylor of Norcester
Street, a quantity of grocery; from Mr. Dailey, corn
merchant, two sacks of oats, and other articles from
other tradesmen. Most of the goods, it is alleged,
he either pawned or sold. He afterwards hired a
horse and trap from Mr. Edgar Silk, an innkeeper,
and drove off to Birmingham, where he left the
horse and trap at a public house at Gosta Gr.?en.
Ile next appeared at Lea-ningt( n, where he was ap-
prehunde't undcr the name of William Kiog, for
simiriar off urea, and committed for three months'
imprisonment.—Mr. J. J. Corbet, who appeale 1 to
prosecute him at Kidderminst, r on Monday seed he
had several charwestagainet the prisoner. He was
not quite ready to proe( e I with them, and asked to
irave him remanded until Friday.—Superintenden;
Miley stated that he arpr hended the p:isoeer as
he was leaving Warwick Gaol on Saturday morn-
ing last, Prisoner was thu remanded tilt Fridiy.