The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-07-15 00:00:00

OLD HILL.

MELANCHOLY Suicxnx.—On Tuesday evening about
six o'clock a girl named Mary Partridge. 17 years of
age, daughter of Mr. Samuel Partridge, brick manufac-
turer, Blackheath, committed suicide by taking a
quantity of vermin killer which she purchased at a shop
in the neighbourhood.

CHARGE OF ASSAVLT.-At the Police Court, on Wed-
nesday, before Messrs. N. Ringley and W. Bassano,
William Willetts was charged with assaulting Thomas
Davis, on the 4th inst.—Mr. W. Hayes, jun., appeared to
prosecute, and Mr. Stokes for defendant.—Mr. Hayes
asked for a remand for a week as his client was so
seriously injured that he was unable to attend. The
case was adjourned -for a week, defendant being ad-
mitted to bail.

ASSAULTING A WATCHMAN.—Janaes Woodhouse was
charged with assaulting Joseph Edwards, on the 7th
just, at Corngreaves.—Complainant said he was night
watchman at Corngreaves. On the above date he mot
defendant coming out of the works with some lumps of
iron on a shovel. Witness told defendant he could not
take the lumps when defendant said he should and
knocked witness down. He got up again and this time
defendant gave him a black eye and knocked him down
again. —Thomas Harris corroborated complainant.—De.
fendant admitted striking complainant but said he did it
in self defence and if he had not done so complainant
would have struck him with an iron bar.—Fined 108 and
costs ; in default 21 days' hard labour.
ASSAULT ON A BLIND BOY.—Thornas Siddaway was
charged with assaulting a blind boy named William
Fowler, on the 28th ult.—Complainant said some boys
took him into a hay field and left him there. Defend-
ant who was at work there came to complainant and
struck him several times on the body with a hay fork.—
Defendant said complainant was knocking the hay about
and he struck him but he did not know he was blind.—
Defendant was finel 10a and costs ; in default one
month.
DRUNEENNESIL—Moses Brooks was charged with being
drunk at Cradley Heath, on the 9th inst.—Polics.aon-
stable Giles proved the case and defendant was fined is
and costs.

STIALINO TlNBER.—William Street, a littlt boy, 10
years of age, was charged with stealing a quantity of
timber, the property of the Yiatoria Colliery Company
at Tividale, on the 6th inst.—George Milsom said on the
above data he saw the lad bringing the piece of timber
produced down the bank of the Victoria Colliery Com-
pany at Tividala. —Polica-constabla Given said the lad
was convicted twice last year for stealing cool and his
friends could not do anything with him. He was one
of the worst lads in Tividale.—The Bench reprimanded
defendant and ordered him to be locked up for twenty-
four hours and receive twelve strokes with the birah
rod.

STBALING AND RECRIVING • WXRRLIARROW.—Ben•
jamin Cooker,. 11, was charged with stealing a wheel-
barrow, basket, and a quantity of coal, the property of
Messrs. J. andjW. Pearson, at Old Hill, on the 6th inst,
and Louisa Cooksey, mother of the above defendant,
was charged with receiving the same knowing them to
be stolen.—lsaiah Matthews said he was engine driver
in the employ of complainants. On the 6th just, he
missed the wheelbarrow, basket, and coals and from
information he received from a lad named Stevenson, he
went to the house where defendants lived and asked the
boy for the wheelbarrow. The lad told him it was in the
pantry and he went and found it there. The female de-
fendant came down stairs and threatened to break wit-
ness's neck and said if he did not take the wheelbarrow
away she would smash it np.—The mother was sen-
tenced to 14 days' imprisonment, and the lad was
ordered to be locked up let twenty-four hours and
receive twelve strokes with the birch rod.
ATTEMPTING TO BRIBB A POLICEMAN.—JosepIa West-
wood, landlord of the Swan beerhouse, Lome,' Town,
Cradley Heath, was charged with selling beer during
prohibited hours, on Sunday July 2nd, and further
charged with attempting to bribe Police-constable
Cooper on the same date.—Mr. W. Hayes, jun., de-
fended.—Cooper said about 20 minutes past four on the
above date he saw a man come from defendant's premises
with a half gallon bottle of ale. Witness stopped the
man and went back with him to defendant's house.
Witness asked defendant how he came to fill the beer
and he said his wife had filled it. Witness then left the
house when defendant called him back and asked him if
they could not settle the affair between them and he
would make witness a handsome present.—ln the first
case defendant was fined .£1 and costs, and for the
attempted bribery a fine of .£5 and costs was imposed.
PRESENTATION TO MR. WALTER BASUN°, J.P.—At a
numerously-attended meeting held on Saturday at the
Endowed School, Beddal Hill, Mr. Walter Bassano, who
for several months prior to the consecration of the new
church, Old Hill, conducted a religious service in the
school on Sunday evenings, was presented with a hand-
some tesLimonial by his former hearers. The gift took
the form of an illuminated address, beautifully executed
by Messrs. Waterlow and Sons, London, and a piece of
silver plate, consisting of a claret jug aril two cups,
engraved in Japanese design by Messrs. Elkington,
Birmingham.