The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-12-20 00:00:00

OLD BILL.

APPLICATION FOR A THEATRICAL LICENSE.—At
the Police Court, on Wednesday, . before W.
vassano, C. Itolcroft, B. Hingley and H. Hickman,
Esqa., Mr. Cooksey again renewed his_ application
for a theatrical licens.?; for Mr. Taylor, Cradlay-
Heath," The application was opposed by Messrs.
Wald:on and I !co, er.—Mr. Taylor said the theatre
was of the io•dinary construction. There were no
Weans of cointetruicaiiug with a public twil. In
c si of a fie the theat e could be emptied in two
luiuutes. —Examiued by Mr. Hoeper Iti,,re was
a &it: Oft. wide on the f1i0.,• foi the gallery. There
Was no ptesage at all. There was a door opposite
the gallery d or atiOut Oft. :wide in case of an
.ccident. There was a door for the pit 4ft. wide.
i'Le gail ty would hold about 600, and the pit 200.
The roof was a canvas one. The people would
have to go tat') the main rotd to get, to the public
houz,. tr no the tittatro. There was a barricade
of Lii2l.l abiut Oft, high between the theatre and
the p ibi c hawse. Alter Mr. 11 oper had adchessel
the Bench, Mr. Bas-aoo said they could not grant
the license in tile faze ot opp ,itiou which was
set up.
Scarons Assitrim. John Charles and John
Evaus were charged with assaulting James Pearson
on the Ist. inst. Mr. Hooper prosecuted and Mr.
Waldron defended. Complainant said he was ti e
landlord of the .Royal Exchange Inn, and on Satur-
day nigh, the Ist inat, the defendant Charl,-s came
into his house about half-past ten at night. When
he came in, an old man named Oliver was bitting
in the bar. ' Oliver and Charles started a conver-
sation about working under price. Charles began
to get excited and eventually he threatened him.
Complainant's son told him not to begin of the old
man. He then Struck his son, and he (complainant)
jumped up to part them. He endeavoured to put
Charles out, and Charles caught hold of his finger
in his mouth. He loosed that one and then
caught hold of another finger. When they get out-
side a lot of people stood down the bottom of the
yard. Eva'na then came up and • he (complainant)
turned to go in the house, when Bvans struck him.
He was knocked down insensible. Be consulted
Dr. Standish on Tuesday morning because he kept
spitting up blood, and he thought there was some-
thing dangerous the matter With him. He played
a fortnight and two or three days in consequence.
He had dways been good friends with Charles
They did not beat and kick him whilst they were
dragging him out. Frank Pearson, son of com-
plainant, said be was in his father's house on the
nigtt in question when the defendant came in. A
man named James Oliver was also in the house. ,
Charles and Oliver. got into conversation about
work. After a time Charles began to get e: o red
and eventually threatened the old man. Wit noes
then got up and said. he ought to be ashamed" of
hinueli (ma defendant Chulath startlOk him.

His father then caught hold of Charles and turned
to put him out, but he could not, . and called him
to help him. Charles then caught hold of his
father's fingers and blt them badly. He was in the
rouse when his father was brought in like a dead
man Whilst his father was insensible, a police
officer Came in —Sarah Billiugha.m sail she went
across the road with Evans whilst the row was going
on, and she saw Charles kigking Mr. Pearson.—
Sam. el Pearson said he knew the Royal Exchange
at d u the night in question he was passing- it
about a quarter to eleven when he saw a crowd of
peop'e round. He stepped up to see %%hat was the
matter, and saw Mr. Pearson standing against the
wall haggling with some per Pons who he said had
bitten his ting.r. He then saw the tallest sttike
him. He helped to carry Pearton, who was insen-
sible, into the house,—Dr. Standish said he attended
the comdlailant for vonge,tion of the lungs and
chest swill as as would be caused by violence. He
found abrasions on his hands.—P.C. Rowlands said
he heard a disturbance at tLe Rayal Exchange, ta-d
en going across he saw some men car yin Person
into the house.—Mr. Waldron denied that Evans
committed an assault, and alleged that complain-
ant sustained his injuries whilst having a free
fight with Charles, and consequently had himself
to blame.—Mr. Bassano said the magistrates con-
sidered it a very bad case, and that they would not
be doing their duty unless they inflicted the maxi-
mum punishment upon Charles, viz., two months'
itnprisooment with hard labour. They should also
order him to pay the costs, £1 7s, or in default 14
days' imprisonment. Evans would have to pay a
fine of 20s, and .21 7s costs, or in default one
month's imprisonme2t,—Mr. Waldron said be
questioned whether the magistrates had power to
order imprisonment in default of paying the costs.
—Mr. Bassano said the magistrates were advised
that they had the power. He would inform Mr.
Waldron that had the magistrates the power they
would have sentenced Charles to six months' im-
prisonment
COAL STEALERS.—Elizabeth Catter was charged
with stealing a quantity of coal, on the 11th met,
' the property of the Earl of Dudley.—A.C. Smith
said he saw the defendant at Oakham Colliery,
pickina: coal off the line. She had about A-mt. De-
fenlant was fined 5s including costs,—Elizabeth
Plant was charged with stealing a quantity of coal,
on the 3rd inst. Isaiah Hartland said he saw the
defendant pick some coal off the line. Fined 10s,
or in default 7 days.
A DISGRACEFUL CHARACTER —.Benjamin Morris
(42), who was stated to be known as a local preacher
and until recently a prominent member of the Sal-
vation Army, was charged with drunkenness and
vagrancy.—Police-constable Leadhitter stated that
on the 6th lust he found the prisoner drunk and
using bad language.—Police-constable Whiston
said that between one and two o'clock that (Wednes-
day) morning he found the prisoner sleeping in a
cowhouse on a farm at Blackheath. He roused
him up, and found that he was helplessly drunk.
Prisoner said he had no home, and the police stated
that his sister had turned him out of her home for
improper conduct.—Mr. 3assano said the pritoner
appeared to be more like a beast than a man, and
sentenced him to one month's imprisonment with
hard labour.

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THOSE "POOR PIGEONS."—William Lewis and
Elijah Aston, lamplighters, of Oldbury, were
charged with unlawfully shooting three pigeons,
on the sth inst, the property of David Lee, Port-
way, Rowley.—The wife of the prosecutor caused
much amusement in giving her evidence. She said
she saw the defendants lounging about near her
house with a gun and requested them not to fire ii.
Defendants then "blazed away," and shot three of
the poor pigeon., and, although she bathed the!r
injuries, they would n.l recover. She rushed out
"rawhedded" after the defendants, but they insulted
her "bruchously," and got away.—Defendants
were each fined 243 3d, including costs, and 7s
value of the birds.