The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-02-22 00:00:00

14,'ocal an gistrict

A BRUTE OF A FATHER.-At the Police Cour
on Monday, before Messrs. J. Swindell and R. L.
Freer, Charles Fisher, nail maker, residing at
the Lye, was charged with an aggravated assault
upon his son a little boy aged five years. Charles
Fisher, son of the defendant, said that on Saturday
night his father went up stairs after supper, when
the child said it was not him and ran down stairs.
Defendant ran down after him and beat him. His
father was drunk at the time. David Leedham said
between twelv6 and one o'clock he heard tremendous
cries from a child; it was enough to make a man's
flesh crawl. His wife many nights had to get up
through the defendantbeating his children.—Police-
sergeant Payne said that the child was brought to
him and he was instructed to take the defendant
into custody, for a brutal assault upon his own
child. He often had complaints of the defendant's
conduct to his children. Mr. Swindell, to defendant
What have you to say in defence. You are a great
brute to beat your own child in the way you have
done, the child is covered with bruises from head to
foot. Mr. Freer: You have beat your child in an
unmerciful manner, and I wish I was obliged to give
you 60 strokes with the cat of nine-tails. Defendant
The reason I hit him was that he was a dirty child,
and I only hit him with the strap. Mr. Swindell:
D'ont "lie " there is the mark of the buckle on the
child's face and all over the body. He could not
have believed that any man, let alone a father,
could have beat a little child like that if he had not
seen the marks on the boy.—Police-sergeant Jones
proved that the defendant had been to Worcester
on two occasions and served three months each time,
for allowing his children to become chargeable to
the tStourbridge Union. Mr. Swindell : You are
sentenced to six months' imprisonment., and I am
only sorry I cannot give you twelve months.—The
court was crowded during the hearing of the case,
and a strong feeling was manifested against the de-
fendant.

FALLING OFF A VIADUCT—On Tuesday afternoon
a boy named Goodhead, of Mount Street, fell from
the planks just below the top of the Stambermill
Viaduct. Fortunately as he was on the Amblecote
side he only fell a distance of about 25 feet into the
field. Elsewhere the viaduct is of great height, and
a fall must have meant certain dea, h. Dr. Bayley
found the lad had both arms broken, and was much
shaken.
INVITATION SOIREE. In connection with the
Stourbridge Choral Society an invitatiotx loiree was
held in the Corn Exchange, on Tuesday even'ng,
under the presidency of Mr. F. Evers, and was a
complete success, upwards of 300 being present
Tea was provided at six o'clock and at half past
seven a very good miscellaneous concert was given
by the members of the society. Dancing com-
menced about nine and continued until one o'clock,
and a most enjoyable evening was spent.
LECTURE.—Mr. Lawson Tait, of Birmingham,
lectured in the Corn Exchange on Monday even-
ing, on "The Relation between Plants and Insects."
The lecture was given in connection with the
Church of England Association. There was a fair
attendance._

ANNUAL SOIREE.—We be to call the attention
of our readers to our advertising columns announcing
the Annual Soiree, in connection with the Church
of England Association. No doubt it will be a great
SUCCeSS.
CONCERT AT ST. SoRN'S ScnooLs.—On Monday
evening last, a concert took place in the above School
Room, which was got up by Mr. Platt, organist at
St. John's Church. The attendance was good, and
the concert was a success.

DRUNKENNESS, —At the Police Court, yesterday,
before Colonel Fletcher and Mr. F. Evers, Richard
Aston was charged with being drunk and disorderly
at Cradley, on the 11th inst. Police-sergeant
Payne proved the ease and said defendant refused to
give his name. Fined 2s 6d and costs; in default 7
days.—Alfred Bills was charged with a similar of-
sence at Cradley, on the 17th inst. Police-constable
Hardwich proved the charge and said defendant hid
been fighting, Fined 5s and costs; in default 11
days.

STEALING Tnoossas.----.Mary Richards, residing at
Cradley, was charged with stealing a pair of trou-
sers, on the 16th November, the property of Joseph
Horton. Mr. Roskell defended. Prosecutor said the
prisoner was in the habit of doing his washing for
the last ten months. He had lost several articles
and the trousers produced were his property. Wm.
Bluck, pawnbroker, proved that the trousers were
pledged at his shop ou the 16th November. They
would not be worth more than 3s 6d to him. Police.
constable Oakey said that when he charged prisoner
with stealing the trousers she said sho pledged them
for prosecutor. Prisoner pleaded guilty and was
committed for 21 days.
BOARD OF GuARDIANR.—The weekly meeting
of the Board was held yesterday, Mr. H. Bil-
lingham in the chair. There were also present
Messrs. Raybould, Haskew, Robertson, Williams,
Thompson, Wood, Giles, Plant, Fiddian, Laven-
der, Kelly, Brookes, Homer, and Griffiths.
Admitted into the house during the week 12 ;
born 0; discharged 8; dead 1 ; remaining 466;
corresponding week last year 451. Out-door
relief Kingswinford district, £39 9s 5d ; Stour-
bridge district, £3l 109 41 ; Halesowen district
£lB 15s. s'd; non.resident Os 4d ; total £9O 4s
7d; against £59 as. 9d last year.