The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-08-30 00:00:00

LLLTREATING A SON.

George Henry Oakes, a well-maker, was charged
before the Birmingham magistrate, on Saturday, with
illtreating his son, Samuel Oaks, aged 13 years, by
throwing him into a canal. The lad appeared in court in
a pitiful condition, dirty and emaciated. A woman
named Atkinson said that she saw the prisoner kick-
ing the boy onhis legs and illtreating him; after which
he took him up and threw him into the canal at a place
where the water was six or eight feet deep. Two boys
helped him out. In reply to questions from the
Bench, the boy said he could not read the Bible and
never went to a place of worship. He gave
his evidence against his father with mani-
fest reluctance, and said he was only kicked
once and not beaten, but the two boys who pulled him
out fully corroborated the testimony of the female
witness, and stated that after the by had been dragged
to the bank his father beat him again and ordered
him over the canal wall. Prisoner pleaded guilty to
throwing the boy in, but he thought the boy could
swim, and did it to frighten him. The magistrates
said prisoner's conduct had been brutal, and was now
backed by falsehoods. He would be sent to the House
of Correction for two months with hard labour, and
the boy would be sent to the workhouse for a week.
The female witness was commended for the steps sbe
had taken, and the lads who rescued the boy were
awarded ss. each.
BURGLARY AND CAPTURE.

In London, at the Worship-street Police-court
Edward Hill, who gave his age as 19 only, and calling
himself a labourer, has been charged with burglariously
breaking and entering 59A, Fairfield-road, Bow, and
stealing therefrom a bracelet, a purse containing
money, and other property. Alexander Perry, the
prosecutor, residing at the address stated, deposed
that at about five o'clock that (Saturday) morning he
was awakened by a noise in his bedroom, and pre-
sently he discovered that there was a man in his room.
The prisoner was the man, and the witness watching
him for a moment, saw him take up a pair of trousers
left at the bed-foot, and search the pockets. He took
out the purse, and put it in his own pocket, but while
so engaged witness sprang out of bed and rushed
at the prisoner. He, the room door being open,
darted out and ran downstairs; the witness,
notwithstanding his condition, ran after him, and
caught the prisoner at the street door, which he was
in act of opening. The prisoner, without a word,
struck the witness with his fist, and a struggle com-
menced, in which blows were exchanged, A witness
named Freestone, a lodger in the house, rendered
assistance, and the prisoner was secured and held
down while a constable was fetched. Being handed
over to the officer, the prisoner said he did not know
why he was in the house, and he had nothing to say.
Entrance had been gained by forcing back the catch
of a window in the basement, and a knife bearing
some of the paint was founcl on the prisoner. He, it
seemed, had not only entered tho prosecutor's bed-
room, but had previously visited the bedroom of Miss
Perry, a daughter, and stolen a bracelet therefrom,
without awakening her. Other parts of the house
had been visited, and some small articles stolen.