The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-07-31 00:00:00

Oti t'
A., .;

went down to the shop. I saw 'him stoop and
shake his head. I told pettetts found to go to
fetch the first tutclical attendant, and Mr. Bayley
WV ROOD in attendance.—Mr. R. L. Bayley said
he was sent for to attend deceased. He found
him in the workshop, lying on his side. Wit-
ness turned him over, and found a wound in his
throat four inches long, and two in depth. Did
not do anything for him then, but oidered him
to be taken into his house Continued to visit
him till lir died, a little before nine. There was
a large wound on the forehead, which might have
been caused by a fall —At this stage the enquiry
was adjourned for a week. The Coroner direc-
ted Mr. Bayley to make a post ntorteni.
BOARD OF OVARDIANS.—The weekly meeting
of this Board was held yesterday, Mr. Grainger
in the chair. There were also present :
Messrs. Brooks, Richardson, Wood, Guest.
Doody, Griffin, Rhodes, and Rollinson. Ad-
mitted into the house during the week, 23 ;
discharged 9 ; remaining 442. Corresponding
week last year. 472. Out-doorrelief Kingswin-
ford district, /437 s 3d ; Stourbridge district, 724
19s 4d ; Halesowen district. /25 Is id ; total,
193 98 83, against /95 Is lid last year.

CHARGE OF ASSAULTING MR. PRES-
COTT, AND COUNTER-CHARGE.
At the Petty Sessions, yesterday, Joseph San-
key was charged with assaulting and beating
George William Presott, on the 26th inst, con-
trary to the statute made and provided in such
cases. There W:18 a second summons chinging
Sankey with an assault; also a third for unlaw-
fully and wilfully damaging and injuring it ,!er-
talc coat and hat, the prop,rty of George Wil-
liam Prescott, by then and there breaking the
said hat, and tearing the said coat, to the am-
ount of .G 4 contrary to the statute made and
provided in such oaseo,
The Magistrates preoiding were W. C. Firm-
H, 0. Firmstone, C. Nool.Esqrso and the
Hon. C, G. Lyttolton.
Mr. Godson, of the Oxford Circuit, appeared
for the eatnplaivant, and Mr. Perry for the de-
fendant,
Mr. Godson Raid he was instruoted by the com-
plainant in this case, who was Mr. George Wil-
liam Prescott, a solicitor, of this town, and the
defendant is Joseph Sankey, a horse-breaker.
The facts are these, Qu ths above date, he
should prove that the defendant came to Mr.
Prescott, who did not know the loan, and then
commenced a mod violent asaault upon him.
The complainant was standing by his own office
door when the defendant came by. Whether
the defendant had any Complaint against Mr.
Proseat, he could not say, but ho was told he
hail none, He should prove that the first thing
done was, that as complainant was going into
his lower office, the defendant tried to drive hio
horse into the oflh:e, and afterwards jn nped ott'
his horse and Mowed complainant into the of.
Ace, and there struck him. Mr. Prescott then ,
got nut of his office by a front door. The de-
feudant followed bins into a shop kept hr a per-
son of the name of Butler. The defendant
again beat him and knocked him down. It was
a most violent assault, which he should prove by
scveral reopeetable witnesses, and should ask
the Bench to fine him.
Complainant said : I am a solicitor, pratioing
in this town. I remember the 26th inst. De•
fondant Caine from the , direction of Tolley's
house towards my office. I was standing at the
tialtmo of my stairs talking; to a man named
Smith, about some work. While talking, the
defendant came from Tolley's lionse nit horse.
h iek. He add" You b-- --y I till cut
y, mr e irs MT." Had not given him any provo-
cation. Did not answer him. I then walked
into my clerk's office. Defendant appeared in
sin excited state, :Lint was coming after me, when
I ran through the front door. Defen•lent fol-
lowed me through the office. I ran into Mr.
Butler's shop. Defendant followed me, and
thco struck toe with a whip or stick, damaging
the bat produced. Defendant struck no four
or five times, when Mr. Butler pushed defendant
out of the shop. Defendant went outside in the
street, and said he woold give me a great deal
mare. I:efendant then followed nun into Mrs.
Walker's shop, and sfruck me, A little girl said
she would give defendant the poker, and he then
left the house.
Croso•examined: There is a public-house by
my office. Defendant was not coming towards
my office. Did not put my hand upon his logs.
Dfd not strike defendant in my office. Did not
have the opportunity, if I felt so disposed. I
have been engaged on several occasions in this
Court for assaults, and have been fined on soya
rd l occasions. I was fined 6.1 for assaulting a
person named Dommett, your clerk; and .P 2 for
assaulting Dirricatt, and 6,1 for assaulting Grif-
fin. Was charged with assaulting a person named
Haywood. The ease was dismissed ; a per-
son n uned Middletoo, which case was also dis-
missed.

. . .
Allll3lll Stetter deposed : I am writing clerk
to the cot p 1 aud on the above date (411 W
hint talking to Smith. I saw Sankey come to-
wards Mr. Prescott., and call him b---y b--r.
Complainant had hot spoken to hint. Com-
plainant ran bat) the (Alice, told defendant after
hint. Complainant did not strike defendant
again.

Cross.eximino4 I was not in the office, but I
standing by the door. Was In the clerk's AffiCa I
before defendant Canto in, Did no: see Mr.
Prescott strike defendant, There lea partitim,
so that I could not see him strike.
Mr. Prescott was re-called, and sold be re.
eeived a blow on the face, arin. and hack, and he
was moth hurt, and had to 001 l in a surgeon.
Thomas tlnt!er said he was in his house bay.
big dinner, whim lie board a noise, lie went in.
to the Rbop, mot saw complaiwiiit being struck
by the eefend mit, with a cane, three or four
times. I got between thorn, and got defendant
to go into th stre t. Mr. Prescott then left the
shop. About two minutes after the some thing
olcurred again. I saw defendant strike him
wiih a stick. I got Sankey out of the shop, and
Mr. Prescott asked me to go for the police. I
sent, WI Mr. Freeinan came down.
John Benjamin Stanley Smith aid he was at
work for the complainant, and was speaking to
him when the defendant came from Tolley a, and
said to complainant You h--y what
have you been saying layoff Mrs. Tolley 'l' and
said ho would ride into the office, and attempted
but he could not. I after saw complainant go
into Mrs. Walker's shop. Mr. Prescott did not
strike Sankey on the horse.
Cross-examined: Mr. Prescott did not speak
to Sankey.
Fanny Dunn, servant to Mrs. Walker, said
she saw Sankey strike Mr. Prescott three times,
with a stick. Saw Mr. Butler turn out the de-
fendant. He after came into Mrs.. Walker's
shop. She threatened to break Sankey's head,
if he did not go out. Defendant then went out.
I after saw Mr. Prescott with Mr. Freeman.
Sankey said lie had not done with him yet, and
made use of bad language.
This being the evidence for the first assault,
Mr. Perry addressed the Bench for the de-
fence, and said that if lie was informed correctly,
defendant was in his ordinary business going to-
wards Tolley's public-house, which is near Mr.
Prescott's office. Mr. Prescott told Sankey that
he had no right there, and struck him twice.
There was a cross-summons against the com-
plainant, and he should ask the Bench to near
both tiles before they decided.
The Bench intimated that they should hear
them.
Mr. Perry then went on to say that complain-
ant's conduct was vexatious to Sankey. and that
he got practically what he deserved. Here was
the complainant who had been seven times in
the Court for assaults, and admits to having
been three times fined. On another occasion he
charged a gentleman with spitting in his face,
and the jury, after hearing the evidence, gave
him one farthing damages. There must have
been some very good reason for this. Mr. Pres-
cott was very pugnacious. He did not wish to
say it offensively, but he had to do his duty to
his client, rnd when there were complaints of
this kind, he could not help but mention them.
Mr. Perry also mentioned that complainant had
taken out a second summons for assault, which
was malicious and vexatious. It was no doubt
done for a motive, as one summons would have
done. Mr. Prescott hail made a mistake this
time. He had attacked a man who had sufficient
strength to give him a good thrashing, and he
must admit that defendant had done so; but
contended that Mr, Prescott was the first to
commence the assault. He should call a wit-
ness, who was present at the commencement,
and the Bench would hear what he had to say.
THOOMS Higgs said he was a butcher, residing
I at Quarry Bank. Knew the complainant's offic'
e
He saw Sankey on his horse by the office, and
Mr. Prescott was there. He was dictating to
the defendant. Mr. Prescott said that Sankey

bad no right there. Mr. Prescott went into hi.
office. Sankey followed him, and I went in aft, r
them. I saw Mr. Prescott strike Sankey, and
he then ran out of his front door, and Sanket-
ran after him.
Cross-examined Did not see Smith there.
There were six or seven persons in the nasalge
Was up about two yards to Mr. Pregeott's office.
Did not bear Sankey making use of bad words.
Did not see complainant's clerk present. Have
known defnndant about three years. Had not
been drinking with Ssnkey.
Defendant was then charged with the second
assault on George William Prescott, on the 2,Gth.
'..lomplainent said he went to the bank with Mr. Free-
man, and after returned to his office. Sankey CMS in
again in about twentv.flve minute.. and commenced to
strike him, end knocked him down, without saving a
word. The witness here exposed his arm. which was
much bruised, and said his bark and other arm was the
same. His coat was eat and torn, and his hat injured.
Joseph Benjamin Stanley Smith gave r,,,,,borative
evidence, and said that complainant did not strike the
, defendant.
I Edwin Stringer said he was a silversmith. On the
above date was in his own shop, and heard a noise. Re
went to the door, and saw complainant and defendant.
Did not see either of them strike. Mr. Prescott Was
crouched down on the floor, crying most piteously, and
begging for niece?.
Henderson said he was managing Mr. Wall's busi-
ness, who Was out of two. Ile saw the complainant,
who was much bruised about the body, in a 'vaunt r
simi-
lar to his arm.
Mr. Perry again addressed the Bench on the second
charge. and complained that the second sananons was
taken out to put the defendant to expense, be being a
very poor man. He did not deny there Was an assault
committed, but he should ask the Bench to bear In mind
I the amount of provoeatiun given.
Defendant Was then charged with wilfully damaging a
coat and hat, the property of George William Prescott.
Complainant said the coat him £8 10a. atol the hat
cost him 15s. He had had the coat about nine moult.,
and the hat a month. . .

George Witham Preacott wan then charged with ac.
saultingJofteph Sankey on the fifitli ult.
Mr. Perry amid he did not intend to nail Higgc again,
as tee Bench had heard hia evidence, which would be the
same ; and celled
Complainant, who said: I am a horse breaker, end on
'he abnve date was going to Mr. Tolley'a publie-houce,
Mr. Th.esentt tem in tire pacsage. He told me I had no
right there, and almuld not go up I told him I would
on up, and rode up at the same time. There in on nth u•
road to Tolley' a out of the High•atreet. Defendant said
ho should fetch a aural-non% out for me, and ealled me •
acamp, and turned round and atruck me. I hat a cane
in my hand at the thee, About two feet long. and .truck
him, Defendant went through the office door, hot he
fought well before he went out. I then went to Tolley's
and finished my cup of ale. Defendant maid be would
have a warrant for toe. Defendant then picked ape fire
chovel. and atruck me on the head, and eat my lint in
two. It &No cat my head. I took the shovel of defend,
ant, and struck him with it.
Croateaxamined Did not are Siviter there. I know
him well, and hie matter. lam neither friend nor elm.
my. I have mi.in tn ettidavit in a Divorce Court, in a
came egainct defendant. Mr. Prescott 0,1 struck nie
with the fire shovel. I then struck hint again. I did
threaten a person named Dawes if he interfered. Will
awear the &hovel cut my hat. ILA, lied the hat over
since.