The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-09-27 00:00:00

BRIERLEY HILL.

STEALING APPLES.—At the Police Court, OR
Monday, before Colonel Fletcher anclfMr. H. Smith,
three buys named HAgkinson, Guest, and Homer
were charged with stealing a quantity of apples the
property of Henry Fowler on the 7th inst. George
}lrby proved the case. and said he saw the de-
fendants in the garden shaking apples and pears off
the trees. Defendants were fined 23 6d and coats;
in default 7 days.
HIGHWAY OFFENCE—Thomas Solloway was charged
with allowing his horse to stray on the highway at
Trysull, on the 16th inst. Police-sergeant Boon
proved the case, and defendant was ordered to pay
costs.
DRUNK AND REFUSING TO QUIT.—JaMPS Cart-
wright was charged with being drunk and refusing
to quit the Bush Inn, Wombourna, on the 15th
inst. Mrs. Morgan, ,landlady said the defendant
came into her house drunk. She refused to fill
him any ale, and ordered him to go out, but he
refused to, and used be d. language. Defendant was
fined 5s and costs; in default 14 days.
DRUNKENNESS.— Robert Gwilt, miner, was
charged with being drunk and Edisorderly
at Common Side on the 15th inst. Police-con-
stable Hicklin proved the case, and said the de-
fendant was very drunk, and creating a disturbance.
Defendant was fined 5s and costs; in default 14
days.—John Hicklin was charged with be;ng drunk
at Common Side, on the 14th. Police-constable
Hicklin proved the case, and said the defendant
was in the canal shouting for help, and was very
drunk. Defendant who pleaded guilty, was fined
2s 6d and costs ; in:default 7 days.—Stephen
Sprosser, carpenter, was charged with bning drunk
in the highway, at Wallheath, on the 13th inst.
Police-constable Banton proved the case, and
defendant was fined 2s 6d and costs; in default 7
days.—Thomas Billingsley, labourer, Birmingham,
was charged with being drunk and tiotous at Old
Hill Railway Station, on the 20th inst. Mr.
Collett, stationmaster, said the defendant came and
demanded a trcket for Birmingham. Defendant
was very drunk, and he refused to give him a
ticket. Defendant then began to use very bad
language, and he Ordered him to go off the platform
but he refused to go. Witness put the defendant
out three times, but he kept coming in and using
bad language. Wittness then sent for the police,
and gave him in charge. Defendant pleaded guilty
and said he was very sorry. Defendant was fined
lOs and costs; in default 14 days.
ILLEGAL FISHING.—David Hickman was charged
with illegally taking fish from Ascott Bridge pool,
Himley, on the 30th June last. Mr. Holberton
prosecuted. John Bowen, keeper, said he saw
the defendant fishieg in the above pool. Defendant
had eleven fish. Witness had cautioned him
everal times before. Defendant was fined 2s 6d
and costs; in default 7 days.
CHARGE AGAINST THE GREAT "WESTERN RAILWAY
COMPANY.—The Great Western Railway Company
were summoned by Mr. Edward S. Pearce, surgeon,
Albion-street, Brierley Hill, for keeping the gates
on the Whimsey-road closed and
uence of which he (complainant)
loaf sateul eovfle,l
could not pass over the railway at such crossings.—
cnr
co
os snisne gq
Mr. Waldron appeared for complainant, and Mr.
Shepherd (Stour]) idgo) appeared for the defendants
in whose behalf Chief Inspector Ledbrook and
Inspector Locke were also present. At tee outset
there was a long legal discussion as to what Act of
Parliament the proC7eodings were taken under.—Mr.
.Waldron stated that they were taken under the 2nd
and 3rd Vic., chap. 45, sec. 1. which enacted that
wherever a railway crossed a road the Railway
Company should make and maintain the plea for
such crossing.—After several statutes had been
quoted, Mr. Pearce was sworn, and abated that on
the morning of Sunday, the 4th of August last, he
had occasion to drive along the highway called
Whimsey-road leading from Church-road into
Moor-lane, Brierley Hill, where there was a level
crossing over the line of the Gnat Western Rail-
way. There was no person present at the crossing
to open the gates, and the man's box was closed.—
Cross-examined by Mr. Shepherd: Had used the
road as a publio highway for twelve years.—Mr.
Beckley, surveyor to the Brierley Hill Local Board,
was called and stated that he had used tl•.e level
crossing as a public road for 20 years. In 1878
Whimsey-road was publicly dedicate d. In May,
the same year, witness gave the railway company
notice to proceed to execute certain works, an.d
later on in July the company paid their apportion-
ment or share for certain repairs, which had been
executed by the Local Board to the road.—Cross-
' examined: The dedication of the road was subject
to the gates being there.—Mr. Shepherd contended
that no watutery offence had been commit:ed, and
ultimately the ease was adjourned for a week for
the production of evideece as to the public dedica-
tion of the road.