The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-07-27 00:00:00

DUDLEY.

THE OPEN•AIII SERVICE IN THE CASTLE COURTYARD.—
The annual service in aid of the Hospital and Dis-
pensary was held on Sunday afternoon last in the Castle
Courtyard. The various friendly societies of the town
and district were as numerously represented as in
former years. The members, accompanied by the Vicar
of Dudley (the Rev. Dr. Costing) and some of the local
clergy and gentry, walked in procession from Queen's
Cross, headed by the Woodside Prince of Wales Band.
The service in the Courtyard was conducted by the
Rev. Dr. Come, who was assisted by the Rev& G.
Bradley, Swindell, H. J. Phillips, and Savage.
Afttr the sermon a collection was made amounting to
£66 ISs 6id. The arrangements were carried out in a
commendaLle manner by Mr. W. Field, hon. sec., and
the undertaking again received the earnest assistance of
Councillor W. Smith and Messrs. J. Humphries and J.
Dolman. _

"SHARP PRACTICE."—On Monday at the Dudley
Police Court. before Messrs. W. North (Mayor), W.
Wilkinson, and James Fisher, magistrates, Thomas
Hollins, pawnbroker, Wolverhampton Street, was sum-
moned for unlawfully refturng to deliver up certain
clothes, pledged by Thomas Woodhouse.—Complainant
said he pledged a boy's snit of clothes with the defend-
ant for 7s, on the sth July, 1877, and he went to redeem
them on the 13th of July, 1878, when defendant said the
time had expired and he would have to buy them. He
asked the price, and. he understood defendant's son to
say 10s. He paid the money, and instead of the clothes
received a ticket accounting for the 10s, the price of the
suit being marked as 15s.—Mr. Barradale, said, accord-
ing to the Act of Parliament, a year was allowed for
things to be redeemed and seven days' grace. the day on
which things were pledged being excluded.—Complail-
ant, in answer to the Bench, said he had given 30s for
the suit, and when he paid defendant the 10s he thought
that was to cover the interest as well as the 7s, but de-
fendant would not either return the money or give up
the clothes.—Mr B arradale thought it was a case of
great hardship, because, supposing the time expired at
twelve o'clock the previous night the man was only a
few hours behind.—Mr. North asked what the interest
would have been if complainant had redeemed them at
the proper • time ?—Defendant said 2s Icl, so that he
would have to pay Os id.—Mr. Barradalo said it seemed
to him like a trap.—Mr. Fisher suggested that an
arrangement should be made between the parties.—De-
fendant said the only agreement he could make would be
for the complainant to pay the other 58.—Mr. Barradale :
To say the least of it it is very sharp practice.—Defend.
ant: It is a just case.—Mr. Barradale : What, to take
advantage of a few hours ?—Defendant: Other people do
Barradale : Will you give up the clothes for the
10. '—Defendant: It is not likely.—Mr. Barradale : I
think it is if you are an honourable ralt—Defendant :
I will give him the 10s back if he likes to pay the costs.
—Mr. Barradale : If you give up the clothes the costs
shall not stand in the way; the boy is ragged, and you
would get lid interest for less than twelve hours.—Mr.
Fisher urged defendant to be generous and deserve a
good name. The boy wanted the clothes badly, and de-
fendant would have just as good a dinner if he gave them
up. If he did not like to do it he would pay the is.—
Mr. Barradale : Will you accept the 5s from the Magis-
trates' pocket ?—Defendant: Yes, I will.—The money
was then paid over, and after it had been refused by the
authorities for the poor boy defendant pat it in his own
pocket and left the court.
MEETING or CREDIIORS.—On Monday last a meeting
of the creditors of Mr. Stephen W. Bullas, trading as
Wellington Galvanising Company, was held at the offices
of Mr. !Insley, solicitor to the debtor. The statement
of affairs showed the liabilities to be nearly £6OO and
the assets rill. No books were produced, and the infor-
mation afforded to creditors was unsatisfactory. The
meeting was therefore, adjourned for a fortnight.
THE GRABINAIt Scnoors—At a meeting of magis-
trates, on Monday, Messrs. J. R. Tilley and James
Fisher were elected as governors for the above school.
Tips NEW Glummest Salmi. SCHEIdE.—On Tuesday
night last the Mayor (Mr. William North) presided at
an extraordinary meeting of the Town Council. There
was a moderate attendance of members.—The report of
the Sanitary Committee showed 76 deaths, giving a
death-rate of 21.1 per 1,000. Nineteen of the deaths
had occurred under one year of age, and twenty-three of
the whole number were due to zymotic diseases.—The
Mayor then introduced the question of the special meet-
ing. He said they had met to decide upon the election
of three gentlemen as representative governors of the
Grammar School.—Alderman George Bagott suggested
as the first name that of Mr. George Thompson, who
had introduced the matter to the Council, and had
zealousy watched the progress of the schwas.. (Hear,
hear.)—Mr. Challingsworth seconded the nomination.—
Mr. Clark proposed Mr. Stokes.—Mr. Astley proposed
Alderman George Bagott.—Mr. George Thompson was
then unanimously eleeted.—Alderman Russell seconded
the nomination of Mr. Stokes and regretted that the
Town Clerk (Mr. E. M. Warmington) did not feel him-
self open to sit on the Board as a representative
governor.—Mr. Stokes was then unanimously eleeted.—
Mr. Crew moved that the Mayor be elected, and Alder-
man Bagott withdrew.—The Mayor was then unani-
mously elected.—Mr. Thompson returned thanks and
said he wished to disabuse the minds of the public that
the Grammar School .was only for the boys of the
Church of England. The school would be a useful one
and open to all.—His Worship and Mr. Stokes also re-
turned thanks and the business concluded.—The Sani-
tary Committee recommended the purchase of land at
Queen's Cross at a ccht of £571, for a site of the public
baths.