The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-06-18 00:00:00

NiertYSTPAT, JUNE 18, WO.

it. One is • man named William Griffiths, at Hate's
Hill, who walks an if his hip was out. The other is a
man who wears a velveteen jacket, and he is the man
who went to temper the clay at Brown's. I was to have
met the two on the Locks Lane bridge, at eleven o'clock.
They were to see that the field was clear on the canal
side, and I was to see that the field was clear on the
other side, where the policeman ' nailed ' me. I had
been asleep, and was two hours behind time, and got
' nailed,' or we were to have taken one of Mr. Darby 's
sheep that night. About three weeks on Saturday night
' I met Griffiths at the Hen and Chickens Inn, Dudley,
and had some drink. We agreed to meet the following
! Saturday night, at one o'clock, on the bridge by the
' Robin Hood. We all three met, and took one of Mr.
! Dann's sheep. The one we had before was Mr. Darby a.
I met Griffiths before on a Saturday night. We went to
Shore's, and had some drink. The old man paid for it.
We agreed to meet On the following Sunday night at 12
o'clock, on the Locks Lane bridge. We all three met
again, and took one of Mr. Darby 8 sheep. On the Sat-
urday night before that I met Griffiths in Dudley about
nine o'clock. We had one pint at Shore's. We agreed
to fetch one of Mr. Darby's the same night. We met at
Locks Lane bridge at twelve the some night. We took a
sheep and lamb of Mr. Derby's. 1 helped them to take
four altogether. The one we took before was Duane.
We killed it in the wood, and they took it away alto-
gether. Griffiths always paid me. He gave me two or
three shillings at a time, and he gave me one head and
pluck. That is all I ever had of them." After this I
went with Police-constable Fairbanks to Dudley, and
told Griffiths he would be charged with stealing sheep.
He replied that he took no sheep, but would take me to
the man who did. He then took me to Gwilliam, and I.
charged him with stealing sheep. He said he knew no-
thing about it. We then brought Griffiths and Owilliani
to the station, and charged them all three together with
stealing two sheep and a lamb, the property of Mr.
Darby, and two sheep, the property of Mr. Dann, on
various dates. Bennett said, Yes, these are the two
men who helped me to steal all Darby's and Dunn's
sheep. Griffiths said, "How can you any that I helped
you to steal sheep?" Bennett said, " Yes, you did, both
of you." Gwilliam said, " What are the dates ?" Fair-
banks told him. Gwilliam said he could prove that he
was at work all those nights. Griffiths said so could be.
On the way to the station Griffiths aid, "Who would
have thought of Bennett splitting ?' " Gwilliam said,
'Shut your mouth."—Sergeant Breton deposed: I went
to Derby's field on the 3rd and 11th of April, in company
with Fairbanks Found the entrails of some sheep, and
clog and foot marks, and on the ith found a knife. Saw
Mayland pick spa razor. It was in a field of mowing
grass. On the morning of the 16th of May saw Griffiths
and Gwilliam together. Police-constable Fairbanks was
with me. They were going in the direction of the Salt
Wells, towards Mr. Roland Dunn's field. Went to
Dunn's field and there saw clips° marks, and measured
them. They corresponded with the clog produced.
William Ellis, of the Round Oak, shingler, said he saw
Bennett and Gridiths at the dhinglers' Arms, on the
night of the 16th, having ale.—William Sawyer, gar-
dener, said he lived at Netherton, and knew Bennett
well. Lived close to him. Hal seen Owilliam go to
Bennett'e house once or twice, six or seven weeks ago.—
Police-constable Pitt said he saw the prisoners Bennett
and Griffiths between Wood-street and Cannon-street on
the 14th of May, going in the direction of Dudley.
This being the case against the prisoners, Mr. Addison
asked the Bench if they thought there was a ease against
any, all, or either of the men. The Bench considered
there was—Mr. Addison said he should call witness to
prove that Gwilliam IVILS at work en the date mentioned,
and if there was a doubt he should ask them to give the
prisoner the benefit of it —John Hyde, sinker, residing
at the Round Oak, said the prisoner Owilliarn came to
work for him on the night of the 16th of May. and con-
tinued until the 27th of May. He engaged him on the
14th. Prisoner began to work on Monday night the
16th, at six o'clock. and worked eight hours. Knew no-
thing against him before.—Prisoners were then charged
with feloniously stealing two sheep. the property of Ro-
land Dunn, Mr. Homer appeared to prosecute, and Mr.
Addison defended the prisoner. Prosecutor said he kept
cows, and lived at Mount Pleasant. On the ldth or 19th
of April he missed one wether sheep, and another be-
tween the Eith and 16th of May. One sheep was taken
wholly away; the skin and entrails of the other were left
behind. Mr. Homer said the evidence of the others was
applicable to this case. Bennett made a confession of
the whole ease, which was sire litif to that given by Police-
constable Hollins, and all three prisoners were commit-
ted to take their trial at the next Stafford A.siizes. Bail
refused.

. .
NEIGHBOURS' QUARRELS.—At the Brierley Hill Petty
Sessions, on Thursday last, before I. Spooner, Esq.,
Stipendiary, Ruth Astley, of Quarry Bank, was charged
by Hannah Skidmore with assaulting her on the 7th
inst. Mr. Homfray defended. From the evidence of
complainant it appears that she lived as tenant to the
defendant. Some words took place, when the defendant
struck her on the arm, and afterwards on the eye, with
a key. The defence was that defendant lent to the corn.
plainant three chairs. The husband of complainant told
her to fetch them, and she sent for them. Complainant
came up at the time, and struck the defendant a blow on
the nose, and tore her net off her head. Two witnesses
were called for the defence, to show that complainant
struck first and committed the assault, and that defend.
ant said she should fetch a summons, but complainant
was first. Ordered to pay costs.
Fußrous DAIVING.—David Shaw was charged by Su.
perintendent Mills with furious driving, on the 9th of
March, at Quarry Bank. Mr. Addison appeared for the
complainant, and Mr. Stokes defended. Elizabeth
Dutton, the complainant said that on the above date she
was at Quarry Bank, and in the act of crossing the road,
with a child in her arms, when the defendant, who was
driving furiously, knocked her down and the child. The
child died the next day, and her (witness's) arm leas
much injured! The child had been convulsed before.
Defendant was driving very fast. Selina Guest said that
three days after she went to the defendant's house at the
request of complainant, and asked him what he intended
doing. Defendant said he was very sorry that the case
had happened, and said he would go down to see Mrs.
Dutton to mako her some recompense, and was to have
met her on the next morning, but defendant did not
come. Mr. Stokes, for the defence, contended that the
complainant had failed to prove the charge of furious
driving, and however they may sympathise with the
complainant they were not charged with that offence ;
and that the County Court was the place to recover dam•
ages. lie should call witnesses to prove that defendant
did not drive furiously ; and asked the Bench to disuiiss
the case. William Heathcock, horsenall maker, of
Quarry Bank, said he recollected the accident happening
to the complainant, and saw the defendant riding on a
horse towards Quarry Bank. A gig was coming down
when the complainant was crossing the road. She
turned back before reaching the ro id, and ran against
the horse. lied she not turned back the accident would
not have happened. Defendant was trotting at the rate
of seven or eight miles an hour. The road so about six
Yards wide. James Yardley, nailer, Quarry Bank said
the defendant was going towards Quarry Bank ens horse
at the rate of seven or eight miles an hour. Complain-
ant made two attempts to cross the road, but turned back,
and she rau against the horse or defendant's leg, which
knocked her down. Mr. Spooner than went through all
the evidence, and said he was of Opinion that defendant
was driving at a furious rate, and intimated that if he
would give the complainant 1:3, the case might be settled.
This was refused by defendant, and the Bench fined him
£5 arid costs.

CHAROI6 OF AFSAFLTINO TRH POLTCE.—At the Petty
Sessions held at Brierley Hill, on Monday last, before
F. Evers and H. Smith, &qrs., Thomas Butler wits
charged by Sergeant Baldwin with assaulting him on the
6th inst. Defendant pleaded guilty. The case was not
pressed in consequence of defendant's previous good
character, and he was fined 2s 6d and costs ; in default
seven days.
.

(lama 'Cals.—William Young was brought up OD •
remand charged with being in search of game on the sth
inst. Mr. Barbary appeased for the prosecution. Wit-
ham Toy, gamekeeper, proved that he saw the defendant
with two dogs, one of them being a lurcher. Defendant
gent the lurcher across the canal into a field of wheat,
and the dog beat the field for game. Defendant tried to
send the other dog, hat it would not go, and the defend-
ant threw it into the canal. Game is preserved in that
field. Defendant denied that the dog was in the field
beating for game, and called a witness, and the Bench
dismissed the case.

Purse RIOTOVIL—Jobn Rowley was charged by
Saperintendent Overend with being drunk and riotous,
on the sth inst. Police.constable Smith proved the case,
and defendant was fined 5s and Costs.
STEALING A TAME Fowl. —James Hackett, of Brook
Road, was charged with feloniously stealing, on the Alit
nit, one tame live cock fowl, the property of Joseph
Beech. publican, Birminglism.street. From the evidence
of complainant, it appeared that be heard the defendant
had got his cock fowl. He went to him and asked him
for it, when defendant said he wanted some recompense,
as his (defendant's) cock, had been nearly killed by the
complainant's, and he wanted 2s 64 as recompense.
Witness told him that he would rather he should kill the
fowl and eat it, than give him 2s 64. The fowl produced
is worth ss. Defendant admitted that he had the fowl
penned up, and that it belonged to the complainant.
Defendant consented to give up the fowl and pay costs,
14s 6,1.
TRANSFERS.—Before E. Moore and F. L. D Smiths
Esqrs., the following transfers took place:—The Royal
Oak, Carter's Lane, from James Williams to Henry
Toinkins ; the Star and Garter from William Partridge
to Henry Hall.
Demactso WHEAT.—At the Petty Sessions, on Satur-
day. before E. Moore, Esq., William Renshaw was
charged by James Watson. of Warley Hall, with allowing
a horse to go into a field of wheat, on the 10th instant,
and damaging a quantity of wheat. The damage done
was proved to be 20s, and defendant Was fined tm and
costs, and ordered to pay the amount of damages.

_
Notices of:Births, Marriages. and Deaths. when properly
authenticated, will be inserted in the Observer'' free of
charge.

BIRTH.

On Sunday the 12th ink, the wife of 51.. Themes Per.
eons, of Holborn Terrace, Cradley Heath, of ta in sone,

MARRIED.

On the 11th inst, at the Abbey Church, Wroxhall, by
the Rec. H. T. Torre. John Rarnbrook, eldest son of Mr.
Richard Stesens, of Dennis Park. to Elizabeth Wynifred
eldest daughter of Mr. Thomas Wilson, of Manor House,
Wroxhall.
DIED.

On the sth, aged 85, Plhebe Ui fp, of Bunning
fialesomen,