The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-09-28 00:00:00

tioes for an increase of wages —The deputation, havine STEALING FRUIT.—At the Police Court, on Tuesday,
thankel Mr. Smith for his courtesy, afterwards with- three boys, named John Homer, Samuel Grave, and
drew.—Dn -mg the past week bills have been iasued noti- Josiah Whitehouse were charged with stealing from the
fving that a conference of miners will take place at Rowley station, on the sth mat, a quantity of fruit,
Tipton, but as the unions of West Bromwich, Darlaston, valued at fid, the property of the Great Western Railway
Dudley, and other districts have not been consulted in Company.—lnspector J. Hutchings appeared on behalf
the matter they will not attend it.--The Birmingham of the company to prosecute, and Mr. W. Hayes appeared
agreement, which has regulated the wages of the miners for John Homer and Samuel Grove.—A clerk in the em-
in the Canuock Chase district by the selling price of ploy of the company, named Daniel Wright, stated that
coal for some length of time, has now been terminated on the day mentioned he saw the three defendants
at twb of the largest collieries on the required notice, leaving a truck containing fruit, which was then stand-
which has been given by the masters, no decided course ing in the station yard. They appeared to have their
has yet been made public, but it is assumed that the pockets filled with something. Upon seeing him (wit.
masters had an ultimate object in view in giving the flees) they ran away. He then pursued the defendants
notice. A. similar notice, given by the miners at other across the fields, and succeeded in capturing the defend-
, collieries in the district, will expire at the end of dent Whitehouse, in whose pockets he found a large
October, so that several thousand colliers will be effected quantity of pears and damsons. Homer was
by the course now taken. The conference of miners' also seen throwing the fruit away. Upon being asked
delegates from South Staffordshire and East Worcester- for his name Whitehouse gave two fictitious names
shire, which will be held at Tipton on Monday next, wid first, but being recognised by a person present, he gave
take into consideration the fol owing subjects :—(I) The his proper name and address.—Edward Hassel, station-
present state of the miners' organisation ; (2) the pre- master at Rowley, said that about 20Ib. of fruit was
sent condition of the trade and the wages question; (3) missed from the trucks in the yard on the day the theft
the Hartley Colliery Accident Balance Relief Fund ; (4) was commieted.—The defendant Grove was discharged,
Mr. Macdonald's Compensation for Accidents Bill. All and the other two, Hoinfer and Whitohause, were ordered
the lodges and pits in the above districts, whether in to pay a fine di 2s fid each and costs, with the alterna-
the union or not, have been urgently requested to send tive of 14 days' hard labour.
delegates to the meeting.—lt is said that a large pro- ADJoIIENED LICENsING SESSIGIC—A license to sell
portion of the miners in the neighbourhood of West beer and cider by retail for consumption off the pre-
Bromwich are strongly of opinion that the time is come mises was granted to Phineas Parsons, Furnace Hill,
when they ought to receive an advance of wages, and are Halesowen.
resolved to use every means in their power to induce •
the employers to grant it. THE NAIL TRADE.

OLD HILL.

In the districts of Sedgley, Upper and Lower Gornal,
and Coseley, most of the ushers who have been out on
strike took out iron from the various warehouses on
Monday, but upon the spike makers going to take out
!con from the warehouse of Mr. S. Wilkes, Sedgley, they
were informed that only is lid would be paid for the
Are iron spikes, The operatives argued that the list
price was 13 41d, and they should not resume work until
that price was allowed. Upwards of eighty men then
proceeded to the Temperance Hall, where a public
meeting Was held. Several of the men said that the
majority of the operatives had taken out iron to-ciay,
save at Mr. Wilkes's, no dispute had occurred at any
of the warehouses, and they much regretted that one
should have occurred at all. It was subsequently
resolved not to resume work unless Mr. Wilkes com-
plied with a e list prices. A. deputation was also ap-
pointed to wait on Mr. Wilkes, requesting him to pay
the list prices. Later in the day the deputation met
Mr. Wilkes, and the question having been fully argued,
Mr. Wilkes promised to comply with the wishes
of the men, and work was resumed on Tuesday morning
last.
Through the energy of Mr. F, A. Homer, and
the kindness of many of the tradesmen of Sedgley,
many of the operatives in the nail trade have received
relief in kind during the past seven weeks, the co3t of
which has been £5O 13s. At the close of the strike the
committee found that they were in debt to the extent of
£5 is 6d, and at the Sedgley Police Court on Monday
afternoon last the subscription list was presented to
Mr Isaac Spooner, the South Staffordshire Stipendiary,
and on perceiving that a balance was due to the
treasurer, with his accustomed liberality he gave £3 to
wards defraying the expenses, which with a previous
donation, makes £4 that his worship has given for the
relief of the naileis. •
The police state that during the dispute the be-
haviour of the operatives had been remarkably good,
and on no occasion had it been necessary for them to
interfere.
We understand that shortly one of the Magistrates
will commence business in the nail trade at Sedgley for
the purpose of making an attempt to improve the pGsi-
Wen of the operatives. Some of the leading operatives
also state that it is contemplated to open several nail
shops under the co-operative system.

TUE NAILERS' RELIEF FUND.—The sacond of a series
of concerts for the purpose of raising funds for the
relief of the nailers in the Old Hill district took place on
Monday evening last in the Reddal dill School Room.
Mr. G. A. H. Best presided over a numeroua audience.
—The Chairman expressed the warm sympathy he felt
for the nailers in their trials and distress. He was of
opinion that the men were generally very badly used
throughout the trade. To a certain extent he was
pleased to . see that the strike had terminated, but it
would have given him l greater satisfaction if the opera-
tives bad obtained from their employers their demands
in full, when he considered they were entitled to. He
believed that was the feeling generally felt and expressed
o atside the trade. A further donation of £2 had been
received from Mr. Bassano towards the funds. As the
result of the previous entertainments, £l2 was realised
which had been since expended in purchasing bread
for distribution amongst the nailers in the district.
It is expected that the concert on Monday night will
be equally successful, and that, with donations, a further
sum of £l2 will be available for the immediate relief of
the sufferers from the recent strike, which is very much
needed.
LICENSING CASEIL—At the Police Court, on Wednes-
day, before Messrs, F D. L. Smith, H. Howard, and B.
Hingley.—Mr. Waldron applied for John Fletcher to
make an application to sell ale off the premises at
Cradley Heath.—The usual notice° were proved and the
application was granted.—An application was made by
Mr. Hayes on behalf of James Pearson, of the Royal
Exchange, to sell spirits.—The application was re
fused.

ASSAULTING A POLICE OFFICER.—Charles CrOVisoll and
Samuel Crowson were charged with assaulting Police.
constable MeGorty, on the 9th just, while in the execu-
tion of his duty.—Air. Addison appeared to prosecute,
acid Mr. Stokes defended.—There was a cross-sum•
woos against MeGorty for assaulting the defendants.—
Complainant said on the night in question he was on
duty at the Junction Inn, Tividale. He heard a noise
at the back of the Junction and in consequence he went
to the back door and saw Charles Crowson and another
man. Crowson said he was not going home until he
had another bottle of beer. At that time no one was
present but Charles Crowson and a man named Down-
ing. When they saw witness they went up the passage
and he asked them what they wanted there that time of !
night and they asked what was it to do with him. He
told them it was his business. Charles Crowson then
struck him a violent blow between the eyes, several
blows on the face, cut his lip, broke a tooth off, and he
has ball to have the other part evracted. Waeu
Charles went home he followed him to his house when
Samuel took hold of the stick and beat him about the
k. He had been told that the Crowsons had threatened
him. Cross-examined : I did not strike Crowson until
I had been several times struck. I was knocked down
by the defendants, I defended myself as well as I
could —Police-constable Given said about twelve o'clock
at night he saw the last witness. He was covered with
blood, both eyes blackened, and bleeding from the lips.
de went with McGorty to the defendant's house and
they refused to open the door, He heard Samuel say it
was a very poor feliow who would not take his brother's
part and said he gave Nica-irty a pod biding with the
Melson and Policessergeant Cooper also
44ve evidence, the latter proved apprehending the de-
fendants on a warrant.—This being the case Mr. Stokes
addressed the Bench for the defence, and said that the
policeman had committed an unprovoked assault upon
cue defendants and complained in the way the pollee
had acted by dragging the two defendants out of bed at
night. He questioned very much if his clients
and asked for a warrant to apprehend the police
whether it would have been granted. The man
was struck on the head by the officer with a
stick and his bead cut open, the stick had a knob on it
and as the defendant Charles was first struck the man
very properly struck and a fight ensued.—lCGorty was
then charged with as ,aulting Charles Crowson, on the
same date. Complainant said he was going home when
toe defendant came up to him and asked him what he
was doing there. He told the officer he was going
home and the policeman then struck him a blow on the
head, cut it open, knocked him down, he got up and
struck the officer. Complainant admitted on cross-ex-
amination that he had been several times before the
Magistrates for different offences and been fined.—
Samuel Crowson also gave corroborative evidence and
admitted on cross-examination that he had been con-
victed ten times for felony and other offences and
suffered imprisonment several times.—George Morris
was called and swore that Samuel did not strike the
officer at all with the stick, but saw the police officer and
Charles Crowson have a fair fight.—George Melson said
he was with the complainant when the officer came up,
who said the men wanted more ale. Charles Crowson
told him he did not and the policeman seized him by
the throat and struck the man with a stick twice on the
head and was in the act of striking a third when Samuel
took the stick off the officer and prevented any more
striking. On. cross-examination witness said when
charged to assist the police he did and that witness had
been five times convicted.—The Bench considered the
case proved against the defendants and fined Charles
20a and costs. and Samuel 108 and costs. The cross'
summons was disucissea.
Schoen BOARD PROSECUTIONS.—The following persons
were summoned by Henry John Lancaster for not send-
ing their children to school :—Elijah Howell fined ss;
Fanny Hadley fined bs; Benjamin Woodhouse fined 6a;
and Sarah Ann Brettell fined 51.___ _ _

Nxer.Ecr or WORK —Samuel Wood, chainmaker, was
charged with neglecting his work.—John Trom;ins
proved that the defendant had overdrawn £2 183 91 and
knew the defendant had neglected his work and he had
lost ss.—Adjourned for a week for the production of
coinplainant'a book.
A DRUNKER WOUAN.—Elizabeth Skidmore, Mount
Street, Stourbridge, was charged with being drunk and.
disorderly, at Brierley Hill, on the night of the 23r1
inst.—Police-constable Hollins said the defendant was
drunk and creating a disturbance in Church Street. He
tied to take her to the police-station and when she was
there she was very violent and exposed herself.—
Defendant was fined 53 and coats; in default seven
daps' imprisonment.
ASSAULI CASE.—Samuel Siviter was charged with
assaulting Sarah Jane Stanfield.—The ORSO was proved
and defendant was fined is and costs.
Norr-rAvn.tzwr OF POOR RATE4.—A. number of persons
were summoned by Mr. Parkas, collector, for non.pay-
client of poor rates for the Rowley district. —Orders
were made in each case for payment.
ASSAULT CASE,—Henry Nielson, a potter, was charged
with assaulting Samuel Darby.—The case was adjourned
for the production of a witness.—After hearing the evi-
dence defendant was fined 5s and costs.

ASSAULT CASE.....miniatn Lee was charged with
assaulting Charles Bellingham, on the 218 t lust, at Old
Hill. Complainant said as he was going over the bridge
defendant rushed at him, caught him by the collar,
threw;Aim down, and tried to throw him over the wall,—
The defendant admitted striking complainant but said
he rushed at him with what he thought a knife and he
struck him in self-defence. The complainant had been
convicted before for using a knife.—The case was dis-
missed. _

CEIARGR OF USING THREATBNING LANGUAGE.—CharIes
Bellingham was charged with using threatening language
to Mira Lee, on the 21st inst.—The case was proved to
the satisfaction of the Bench and defendant was ordered
to find one surety in £lO, and himself in £2O to keep
the peace for six months.
PROP3SED 11I'NE4 DRAINAGE AWARD FOR OLD HILL.—
The arbitrato, s under the South-Staffordshire Mines
Drainage Acts propose to make a draft mines drainage
award for the Old Hill district. They estimate that the
rate required will be 3d per ton on fireclay and lime-
stone, and 61 per ton on ironstone, coal, slack, and other
unmentioned minerals raised in the district, except the
portion which consists of the mines on the south side of
the River fii,our.