The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-12-13 00:00:00

BRIERLEY HILL.

THE FATAL ACCIDENT AT LEVEL FURNACES.—On
Saturday Mr. W. H. Phillips held an inquest at the
Old Bush Inn, on the body of Thomas Emery (52),
labourer, of Level Street, who was fatally injured
the previous Wednesday, at the Earl of Dudley's
Furnaces, Rotted Oak. It appeared from the evi-
dence that on the day in question, whilst the
deceased was underneath oue of the furnaces, a
lump of coal weighing about 401bs fell upon his
back, and so seriously injured him that he, died the
same afttrnoon. John Barratt, an engineer, stated
that he went to the top of one of the furnaces to
pick some coal to light a fire with. He procured
the lumps, one of which he threw over the top of
the furnace on to an ashheap below, no cne being
there at the time. He then threw the second lump,
and immediately he had done so he saw deceased
, stooping underneath to pick up the first lump.
i Witness shouted, but it was too late, and the coal
I struck deceased upon his back. It had beea the
custom to throw the coal over to light fires, and
witness had often done so before. He had never
, received notice not to do to, but he believed such
a notice was given before he we. t to work at the
furnaces. He was on the best terms n i deceased.
—The Coroner 'commented upon the improper
custom of throwing coal over, and had it been a
public thoroughfare it would have been his duty to
have directed a verdict of "Manslaughter." As it
was the occurrence seemed to be nothing 1-ut a pure
accident, and deceased seemed to have contributed
to his death by going improperly under the furnace
He sugges ed that in future the practice of throw-
ing over the c)al should be avoided.—The manager
promised that a notice should be posted up warning
, the men that the pursuit of the custom would be
followed by their dismissal.—The jury returned a
verdict of "Accidental death."
DRUINKENNESS.-At the Police Court, on Monday
before Messrs. F. Evers and H. 0. Firmstone,
George Fisher was charged with being drunk in
the highway on the 22nd ult. Police-constable
Marsh proved the offence, and said the defendant
was very drunk and using had language, in the
Parish of Bobbington. Defendant was fined 2s 6d
and costs; in default fourteen days,.

ROBBERY FROM THE PEasoN.---Thomas North
(22), labourer, of Stourbridge, and Joseph Williams
(29). labourer, of Brierley Hill, were charaPd with
stealing from the person of Joseph Hurley the sum
of 13s 6d, on the 16th August, at Brierley
Prosecutor, who is a miner, of Bell Street, Brierley
Hill, said that on Saturday the 16th August last,
he went into Mr. Marsh's shop at Brierley Rill, to
buy some meat at about ten o'clock at night. Ho
bought some meat and whilst in the shop he counted
his money and there was 13s 6d and he put it in
his pocket. He saw prisoner North in the street
by the &lop. North said he had nowhere to go to
sleep and prosecutor said he could go and sleep at
his lodgings. Prisoner went with him to his
lodgings and he gave him some supper. Shortly
afterwards the other poisoner Williams came in.
Prosecutor then went to sleep, and when li woke
he found his pocket turned inside out and all the
money gone. The prisoners were gone also.
Prosecutor also missed a piece of meat, a loaf of
bread, and an umbrella. He gave information to
the police on the 17th of August. Williank Foley,
a miner, of Brierley 11th, said he was near the
butcher's shop spoken of at about eleven o'clock at
night, on the 16th August, and saw prosecutor
there, He saw both prisoners outside. He heard
isoner North say to Williams " Cockey's gut a
pocket full of money. If he is not careful we will
have it of him." Williams did not speak at all.
Police-constable Eden, stationed at Brierley Hill,
said he arrested prisoner Nor h, at Stourbridge, on
the sth inst., and charged him w ith stee ling the
sam of 13s 6d the property of Joseph Hurley.
Prisoner made no reply. When they got into the
railway carriage at Stourbridge Station prisoner
said, " How much money did you say it was."
Witness said 13s 6d. Prisoner said, "Nothing of
the kind, we only had 5s 6d and shared it. it was
Joseph Williams who took the money out of his
packet and gave me half of it." On the 6th inst.
he arrested Williams and charged them both with
irealing 133 6d from the person of Joseph Hurley
on the 16th of August. Prisoner Williams replied
that he never had any money. Witness then told
him that North had made a statement and said he
took the money and gave him half. Williams said
'Nothing of the kind." North then said, "You
know you did, you gave me 2s 9d." Prisoners
were committed to take their trial at the next
Sessions. Bail was allowed for the prisoner
Williams, but was refused for .North because he
bore a bad character.

ASSAULT.—Henry Price was charged with as-
saulting Joseph Walters on the 29th ult. Mr.
Addison defended. From the evidence of com-
plainant it appeared that he was in the Rock's
Hill Tavern, when the defendant came in and asked
him what he had been saying about his wife.
Complainant said he had not said anything, upon
which the defendant deliberately struck him- several
times. Defendant was fined lOs and costs; in
default fourteen days.
NIGHT POACHING.—Thornas Bradley, miner, of
Lower Gornal, was charged with night poaching
on the 30th October. Mr. Holberton prosecuted,
and Mr. Waldron defended. Thomas Monk, keeper
to Earl of Dudley, said he was watching with John
Bowen and Police-cons, able Woodcock in a field
called the " Flax Piece," near Himley Wood,
where he saw the defendant and two otber men.
The defendant ran out a net and also pegged it out.
He was watching for about ten minutes. The de-
fendant shouted, "The are here, corns on."
'l'he men then ran away. He ran after defendant
but his dog broke loose and he had to ttuir back.
He hal no doubt but that defendant was one of the
men. Police-constable Woodcock and John Bowen
gave similar evidence. Defendant was committed
to take his trial at the next Stafford Sessions Bail
was allowed, himself in. £2O, and two sureties of
$lO each.

HIGHWAY OFFENCE.—Thomas Salloway, licensed
victualler, of Trysull, was fined 2s and costs, for
allowing two horses to stray in the highway on the
3rd inst.