The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-08-09 00:00:00

THE STOU_RBRIDGE OBSERVER

anb.

THE LATE STORIII.—On Saturday night, a great
deal of damage was done by a flood which followed
the storm. The Stour rose rapidly in a few houra'
time, and, by eight o'clock on Sunday morning,
the river course was so choked up that the water
began to eddy into the lower part of High Street.
-After once getting into the street, it soon made its
way into the adjacent houses. The road became
impassable for pedestrians, and vehicles plied
backwards and forwards for about 130 yards, carry-
ing passengers. Mr. Stevens's, Mr. Dudley's, Mr.
adloway's, and Mr. Bird's houses and a number of
other premises were flooded, the water in some of
the places being eighteen inches or more high. At
Mr. Baxter's, corn merchant, a warehouse contain-
her; 300 bags of beans, peas, and malt, was breast
deep in water, and much damage was done to the
contents. A valuable mare, belonging to Mr.
Baxter, had a remarkable escape from drowning.
She was out grazing in a field near Wollaston Spade
Works, and as the flood rose she got into the
current of the Stour, and was borne along with
the stream. .The poor animal was carried over a
weir and through a four-feet culvert, and then
down the stream for nearly a mile, when a bend in
its course brought her against the sloping bank,
and enabled her to get out, but she was badly in-
jured. The horses belonging to Messrs. Batit;ck
and Co., Messrs. Crowley and Co., stabled near the
Stour had to be got out and removed. Some stock
probably from pig. styes adjacent to the Stour
higher up the river, were also brought down by
the flood, and some wheelbarrows also got into the
whirl of water, and were carried. away. At Mr. W.
J. Turney's leather works the water swept through
the yard and into part of the w orks, flooding them
some 2ft. deep. The heavy milling machinery,
fitting shops, and other departmen s were coated
with the slime of the stream, and a staff of men
had to be employed, when the flood subsided, in
repairing the mischief. The water on each side of
the floodgates near Mr. Turney's was at one time
level, and the water flowed over the embankmei.t
which forms the ordinary barrier between the upper
and lower streams. Messrs. John Bradley and
Co.'s offices were flooded, and the escape water
from the river iushed across the branch railway
near the works, and threw down 100 yards length
of wall which formed a boundary between the rail-
way and the adjacent meadows. The wall was 13iin.
thick and 4ft. or sft. high, surmounted by iron
palisading ; but the violence of the flood toppled
it over for the above length in the most complete
manner. A large quantity of hay was brought
down. the Stour with the flood, and the total
damage up and down stream must amount to a
, considerable sum. It was about eleven o'clock be-
fore High Street was fr,c from flood water, and
the Stour continued high during the day. The
river is said to have been higher by four or live
ieches than during any flood of recent years, and
there appears to be some reason to fear that mis-
chief of the same kind may be more likely to recur
than formerly. The Mill Meadows, which used to
be a sort of vent place for flood water, are now no
longer so, oxing to the railway works. When,
therefore, there is any flood, the water is now kept
more closely pent up, and necessarily rises more
quickly. The channel is narrow towards the
bottom of the town, and the bridge at the Junction
of Stourbridge and .Amblecote does not give the
i
passage it originally did. A resident n the neigh-
bourhood states that be ould once ride under the
brikre on horseback, while from the accumulation
of rubbish at the spot there is now only about a
4ft. passage. The floodgates, too, are a hindrance
to the free course of the stream, and add to the mis-
chief when a flood occurs. The subject is one
which seems to retikire the attention of the local
authorities. A considerable amount of damage
was also done at Clent, Hagley, Lye, and other
parts of the neighbourhood.
INSPECTION OF THE STOURBRIDGE RAILWAY.—
The branch railway into Stout bridge was inspected
on Wednesday by Major-General Hutchinson, one
of the inspectors of the Board of Trade. The
Great Western Railway officials present were Mr.
Hughes, divisional superintendent; Mr. Cruick-
shank, from the the engineer's office, Paddington;
and Mr. Blackhall, from the locking gear depart-
ment, Realing. The branch curves out of the
main line a tittle to the south of Stourbridge
station, and after passing over a high embankment,
a long cutting succeeds. wbich terminates near St.
John's Church. Immediately beyond is the pas-
smger station in Foster Street, and the line is
thence carried to the bottom of the town for goods
traffic purposes. Major General lletchinson's in-
spection only extended to Foster Street, which will
be the terminus as far as passengers are concerned
I till the line is carried on into the tlis'e ict, where
tliere has long been so much desire to obtain rail-
way facilities. Although there has been so much
desire to obtain railway facilities. Although there
has been much local agitation for the line, the
wanner in which its construclion has interfered
I with some of the main arteries of communication
in a caused permanept inconvenience, and led to
much dissatisfaction in the neighbourhood. Mr.
Grierson, he manager of the Great Western Rail-
way, has promised to arrange for the opening of
the line on Monday, the 18th inst., if it is passed
by the Board of Trade. We understand that the
train services wdl be laid out to give every accom-
in( dation as regards the traffic between Stourbridge
and Birmingham. The passenger station in Foster
Street is a very convenient building. Mr. Lovatt,
of Wolverhampt n, was the contractor for the
e.

PROPERTY SALE.-1 sale of freci. old property
and land, at Wollaston, took place at the Bell
1-1(-,tel, on Tuesday eveni,g. Messrs. RoHinson
and Beckley we-re the auctioneers. The house
a,rd laud was put up in on lot, and the bidding
Wrarted at £l5O and was ultiwately knocked down
tb 31r. William Platt, grocer, for the sum of £324.
_V.I.. W. Higgs was the solicitor.
lima BRIGADE CONTEST.-011 our first page it
will be seen from an advertisement that a com-
pAition of an unusual nature in this district is
announced to take place in the Heath Park, on
Monday next, viz: a Fire Brigade contest. There
are six hrigades entered, and a number of valuable
prizes will be awarded to the successful competi-
t,.)rs. A procession is to be formed in the Hagley
iiorrd. and headed by two bands, the brigades will
-1. thro ,gh the prineipnl s ref,ts of tl-r lo
the wcataer. prove fa,voucable
o doubt the affair will be a great zu.ecese.

DIVCNK AND DISORDERLY.—At the Police Court,
held yesterday, before Col. Fletcher, Lord Lyttel-
ton, Col. Barrows, and Mr. R. L. Freer, William
White was charged with being drunk and incapable
at Belbroughton, on the 2nd inst. Police-constable
Poole proved the case. Police-constable Wallace
proved a previous conviction. Pleaded guilty.
Fined 5s and costs; in default 14 days.—lsaiah
Knight was charged with a similar offence on the
4th inst, at the Lye.—Police-constable Widdows
proved that defendant was drunk and incapable.
Fined 2s 6d and costs.—Thomas Bradley was charged
with being drunk and disorderly at Cradley, on the
28th ult. Police-constable Oakey proved the calie.
Fined 5s and costs.—Joseph Southall was charged
with being drunk and disorderly at Cradley. on the
2nd inst. Police-constable Widdows proved the
case. Fined 5s and costs; in default 7 days.—
Henry Sorrill was charged with being drunk at
Clent, on the 4th inst., while in charge of a horse
and cart. Police-constable Wallace proved the
case. Pleaded guilty. Fined 5s and costs; in
default 7 days.—Henry Holloway was charged with
being drunk and disorderly on the 19th ult. Police-
constable Jewson proved the case. Fined 5s and
costs; in default 14 days.
HIGHWAY' OFFENCE.—SamueI Cave, bootmaker,
residing at Cradley Heath, was charged with causing
an obstruction by leaving his pony and Trap in the
highway, longer than allowed for loading and
unloading on the 28th ult. Police-constable Widdows
said that defendant's pony and trap stood in the
highway for more than 45 minutes. Mr. Cave, in
in his usual form, put a number7of irevalent questions
to the officer and called Superintendent Wheeler, as
he appeared very anxious to see who the informer
wt a. Colonel Fle.cber said it would be extra expense.
Defendont said he did not care. fie only wanted to
see the informer, and put a number of friviolous
questions te the witness until he was frequently
cautioned by the Bench; and the witness was ordered
to stand down. Defendant then made a rambling
statement' saying that many gentlemen often drew
up their carriages in front of the Corn Exchange and
obstructed the road, but it was not done wilfully.
He could assure them that he should summons some
of the gentlemen on the Bench before long, and he
hoped it would be the
.chairman, (laughter). Col.
Fletcher said he alwaysinstructed his coachman not
to stay longer than he cc/aid help, and if he did de-
fendant could summons him. Defendant then made
a long statement. Colonel Fletcher said they could
fine him £5. Defendant: I shall appear. Colonel
Fletcher: We are not going to fine you £5 but we
could. Defendant: I dont think you can. Mr.
King read the Act and informed defendant that he
was liable to a penalty of £lO, and he was then fined
les. aud e)sts. Defendant gave notice of appeal: and
the clerk informed him that he must give bail, hims.if
in £5O and two sureties in £25.
HIGHWAY OFFENCE.—Edward Smith, of Hagley'
was charged with allowing two horses to stray on
the highway, on the 31st ult. Police-constable
Webb proved the case. Superintendent Wheeler
said that several complaints had been made against
defendant turning out his horses. It being the first
offence, the case was withdrawn on payment of 6s.
6d. costs.

PITCH AND Toss.—Edward Phippson. Edward
Roper, and Elijah Harris were charged with playing
at pitch and toss, on the highway, on the 3rd inst,
at the Lye. Police-constable Punter proved the
ease. Defendants pleaded guilty. Fined is. each
and costs; in default 7 days.
CHARGE OF UNLAWFULLY WOUNDING.—Lousia
Campbell was charged with unlawfully v o rding
Ann Morris, at Clent, on the 2nd inst., by s!riking
her with a hammer. Mr. Perry defended. Com-
plainant said that her husband kept a cocoa-nut
sheet on Cleat Hilla. Defendant began to throw
his sticks and sheet about. She went to see what
defendant had done, when defendant came up ard
threatened to knock her brains out, and without
another word struck her a violent blow on the head,
inflicting a severe wound. She did not know were
she was for a few minntes. Dr. Hobbs had attended
her since and she had been very unwell. George
Morris, husband of the last witness, said that on
the 2nd inst, he saw defendant strike his wife with
a hammer on the head. William Fry, of 20,
Caroline Street, Birmingham, said he was at Cleut
on the above date and saw defendant strike com-
plainant on the head with a hammer. • Police-con-
stable Wallace proved apprehending the defendant,
who, on being charged, said she struck in self de-
fence. He found the hammer produced by the
cocoa nut sheet. At this stage of the proceedings
the charge was reduced to a common assault. Mr.
Perry addressed the Bench for the defence, and said
it was a serious thing to strike a woman with a
hammer' but he was informed that defendant was
in the act of driving some stakes into the ground
and that the blow was an accidental one, and called
Helen Kendrick who said she was there at the time
and deLndant was in the act of driving in the
ground the third stake when Mrs. Morris put her
hand upon it, and defendant was in the act of
driving in the stake. In doing so the hammer
caught defendant on the eye' and fell upon com-
plainant's head. It was not done for the purpose.
file magistrates considered that a common assault
had been committed and fined defendant 10s. and
coats; in default one month.
CHARGE or STEALING R.4.M.—Elizabeth Baggott
was charged with stealing a piece of ham on the 6th
inst, the property of John Fox' grocer, High Street.
Mr. Raskell defended. Jesson Shaw, assistant, said
he saw the prisoner pick up the ham produced, from
the counter and put it under her apron. He charged
her with stealing the ham. She took it from her
apron and gave it to him. She afterwards said she
was very sorry ' for what she had done. Cross-
examined: Prisoner asked for a quarter of cheese.
The ham wai not knocked down from the counter.
She picked it up from the counter and put it under
her apron. The value of the ham is 2s. Police-
constable Williams proved apprehending prisoner,
and charged her with stealing some ham from Fox's
shop at Stourbridge. She said she did not steal it,
but picked it up off the floor. Mr. Roskell called a
witness who gave the prisoner an excellent character
Committed to the House of Correction for 21 days.
CHILD STEALlN9.—Elizabeth Merritt was brought
on remand, charged with stealing a child on the 30th
July. Emma Corti bill said the prisoner was a
neighbour, and on the above date called and asked
her to let her take the child out. She declined to
let her have the baby. In a'4out an licur's time
ptisoner came again and asked her to let her have
the baby, as she was going to her sister's house.
She consented to let her have the child if she would
return in one hour. The baby's name was Gertrude
Ethel Cornbill. She did not see the prisoner again
or the child until the sth inst., when the child was
bruught by the police. Hannah Chance, clothes
dealer, said the prisoner came to her shop, On the
30 ult., and asked for two pinafores. She had a
L.:did with her about the age of the child produced.
She said she was going for some pay for the child,
and that she was allowed 5s per week for it. She
stated that she was going between Dudley and
ri .ton, and that the young man had gone for a
sold er, and his friends paid for the child, and that
her name] was Merritt, and she lived at 'Wollaston.
Henry Bond, assistant to Grten, who keeps a
lolgiug house at Park Street, Birmingham, said the
prisoner was in the lodging house on Friday. She
had a young baby with her, the same produced.
Prisoner had formerly lodged there. She said it was
her own baby, and the young mart had gone for a
soldier. Emmanuel Combat said he went to Green's
lodging house on the sth init., with detective Price.
The child was in bed with the prisoner. Police-
constable Smith proved apprehending the prisoner
at Birmingham. On charging her with stealing the
child, she said she did not intend to steal it, but was
tr3ing to get some money to bring her to S,our-
bridge. Prisoner was committed for trial.
BOARD OF GUARDIANS.—The tv Qekly meeting
of this Board was held yesterday. Mr. Ray-
bould in the chair. There were also present
Messrs. H. Dillingham, Pargeter, Williams,
Wood, Mullett, Hale, Rhodes, Lavender, Kelly,
Plant, Haskew, Bird, R. B. Guest, HingleY,
R,:llinson, Mills, and Ow Rev. C. H.Cole Webb.
Admitted 18 ; discharged 18 ; remaining in the
house 465 ; corresponding week last year 420.
Out-door relief Kingswinford district £44 lie.
Stourbridge district £26 2s 2d; Halesowen
district £2O 16s Od ; non-resident paupers 4s;
total, £9l 13i ; against 61 8s 7d.—The
Sanitary meeting was afterwards held, and the
usual monthly reports of the medical officer
were presented. Death-rate for Staffordshire,
22 per thousand per annum. Worcestershire 16.