The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-03-29 00:00:00

HALES OWEN.

OVERSEERs. At the Police Court, on Tuesday, I
before Messrs. E. B. Phillips and J. S. Gibbons
the following persons were appointed overs eers for
the parishes and districts named :—Hale sowen :
William Bache and Giles Melley. Havvne Aaron
Oliver and Joseph Russell. lily: John Church and
Edward Guest. Lappall: George Wood and:Wm.
Green. Ridgacre Horace F. Ma,edonnell and
William Dudley. Cakemore : T. H. Ho ber tson
and John Evans. Frankley : Benjamin Evans ann
William Smart. Pill: Richard Small and Edward
Sturman. The appointment of overseers for Has
bury was adjourned for a fortnight, for the purpose
of calling a vestry meeting. In regard to Hales
owen, Mr. S. Cave attended as a latepayer to ob-
ject to the appointment "as emanating from the
vestry," on the ground that the vestry meeting
had been illegally held before the 25th March.—
The Bench overruled the objection, and Mr. Cave
having no objection to the gentlemen selected by
the vestry, Messrs. Bache and Melly were ap-
pointed.
DRUNK AND AssAULTING TKE POLICE. John
Leachon was charged with being drunk and dis-
orderly, on the 11th inst, and was further charged
with assaulting Police-constable Barley, at the same
time. Barley said the defendant was very drunk,
and creating a disturbance on the above date. He
refused to go home and witness took him into cus-
tody. On the way to de station defendant struck
him several times with a jwhip. Defendant said he
knew nothing about it. Superintendent Kemp
proved several previous convictions against the de-
fendant, who he said was an habitual drunkard.
For being drunk and disorderly defendant was fined
40s and costs, and for the assault on the police fined
40s and costs; in default 28 days imprisonment.
DRUNK AND DISORDERLY.—CharIes Morrell was
charged with being drunk and disorderly, on the
11th inst, while in charge of a horse and cart.
Police-constable Barley proved the case. Pleaded
guilty. Fined lOs and costs; in default 14 days.—
Francis Knowles was charged with being drunk and
disorderly at Islington, on the 13th inst. Police-
sergeant Lane said the defendant was drunk, had
got his face black, and was dancing and making use
of bad language. Pleaded guilty. Fined 2s 6d and
costs.
CHARGE OF FURIOUS DRIVING.—Henry Mason
was charged with driving a horse at a furious rate
on the 13th inst. Mr. W. S. Hayes defended.
Daniel Willets said that he saw the defendant
driving a horse down Long Lane at the rate of from
12 to 14 miles an hour. A man named Attwood
was driving first. The wheel of the cart caught
witness on the arm. Both carts were being driven
at a furious rate. Tne carts were within four yards
of each other. Richard Hewn said he was walking
down Long Lane. He saw two carts being driven
at a rapid rate and remarked that they would do
some damage if they did not be careful. Soon after
he heard the groans of a man and thought one of
the drivers had been upset. He ran and saw it was a
man named John Plant, who had been knocked
down by Mason's cart. He picked him up and laid
him on the footpath. The carts were going at the
rate of from 12 to 14 miles per hour. William
Parry gave corroborative evidence as to the defen-
dant.'s driving fast. John Plant said that he was
knocked down by one of the carts, and the wheel
ran over his leg. He did not know either, of the
men. Police-constable Knowles said he afterwards
saw Mason who admitted driving down Long Lane,
but denied driving at a furious rate. Mr. Hayes
for the defence, denied any furious driving, and
said that a man was in the turnpike road, and if he
received any injury it was the man's own fault.
Benjamin Attwood, fruiterer, said he was driving
with the defendant; they were loaded with fruit and
driving at the rate of sto 6 miles per hour. The
road was newly laid with stones, and could not go at
from 12 to 14 miles an hour. He saw a man in the
road, and believed he was drunk.—Eri Attwood was
then charged with driving at a furious rate, down
Long Lane, on the 13th inst. The evidence was
similar to that given in Masons case. A man named
Attwood was called for the defence and said he was
with Mason, and the horse was going at the rate of
sor 6 miles per hour. The Bench considered both
cases proved, and fined them 5s each and costs.
CHARGE OF STEALING IRON.—Daniel Clift was
charged with stealing, on the Bth inst, one iron tally.
the property of John Thomas Bird. Mr. W. S.
Hayes appeared to prosecute, and said that both
parties were butty 's in a pit, and the prosecutor
had for some time past lost a number of tallys, and
it was believed that the prisoner had for some time
past taken a number of tallys, and left some of his
own. Prosecutor said he worked at Rowley station
Colliery, and was butty there. He was working with
Joseph Fisher and they had a stall by themselves.
He had a number of iron tallys and placed them in
a tub, when loaded, to go up the pit. There were
about 18 different stalls, and each butty had different.
tally. The tallys were marked P.M. By putting
the prisoners tally into the tub the prisoner would
have the price of the tub of coal, which would be
Bid. Joseph Fisher said that he put a tally into a
tub of coal, marked 3 .14 which was too late to be
drawn up that night. It would be drawn up first,
next morning. The tally was worth id. William
Wood, horse driver at the Colliery, said that he saw
the tub of coal, and prisoner put two lumps of coal
on the tub. He did not search for prosecutor's tally
but told Mr. Bird what he had seen the prisoner do.
William Robinson, check clerk at the Colliery, said
he remembered the first tub coming up on the Bth.
It was marked 3L. Many complaints had been
made about the pri.oner, and he had often been
reported to the manager. Prisoner pleaded not
guilty, and said there was a lot of stuff on the bank
and offered prosecutor 2s for it. Prosecutor wanted
3s. They then went dcwn the pit. in the level
workings, and there stood a lot of tubs full of coal,
and he offered 2s for what was in the tub Prosecutor
said he wanted 3s, and afterwards came down to 2s
6d, but the bargain was struck for 2s, and he then
put a bit or two of coal on the tub. He considered
the tub of coal belonged to him A manhe employed
put the tally on the tub, and he gave Mr. Fisher his
own tally back on Saturday last. Prosecutor was
recalled, and denied that the prisoner bought the
tub of coal for 2s. The check-taker was recalled,
and said that since the summons had been issued/.
prisoner had asked him to take the tub from his
account and place it to the prosecutor's account,
which he refused to do. The horse driver was re-
examined, and said that he saw the prisoner put his
tally down the tub. The Bench considered the case
proved, and sentenced him to 14 days imprisonment.
CHARGE AGAINST BEERHOIISE KEEPER' .—William
Hingley, landlord of the New Inn, Hasbury, was
charged with keeping his house open for the sale
of beer on the 9th inst. during prohibited hours.—
Police-constable Pails proved that he found a
number of persons in the defendants house, drink-
ing, on the above date. There were six persons in
the house and they were not travellers. Defendant
admitted that prisoners were in the house, but did
not think the time was up. This being his first
offence, the Bench fined him is and costs, and
cautioned him.

VAGRANCY. William Fletcher, piano tuner,
was charged with sleeping in the open air on the
24th inst, without having any visible means of
subsistence. Defendant, an old man, and nearly
blind, said that he was out of employment and very
sorry, but he had a drop of beer that night. Police-
constable Webb proved that he found the defend-
ant drunk in a ditch by Mr. Siviter's. Defendant
was asleep, and quite cold. He hae some difficulty
in getting the defendant to the station. Mr.
Phillips, to defendant: Your were before me a
short time ago, and on letting you off you promised
to leave the town at once. I don't believe you are
a pinaoforte tuner and do not think anyone would
employ you. You are an old man, and lost your
position through drinking. You formerly were
organist in Halesowen, and a respectable man too.
Youleft and went to Shrewsbury and were organist
for 19 years, and now you have become an habitual
drunkard. We think it necessary that you should
be taken care of, or you will be found dead some
day, and we commit you to prison for 14 days.