The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-03-11 00:00:00

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RELIGIOUS EQuALrry.—The Rev. W. Dorling of
London, gave an address in the Corn Exchange, on
Thursday Evening, on "Great Men and Great
Times," the bearing of his remarks being in sup-
port of the principle of religious equality. The
Rev. J. Richards presided, and briefly introduced
Mr. Dorling„ who gave an interesting sketch of
the events culminating in the great civil and re-
ligious struggles of the seventeenth century. He
then drew lessons applicable to the present day
from the history of the past, and said what the
friends of religious equality now desired was the
dawning of that day which should see the disestab-
lishment and disendowment of the Church.
(Cheers.) He had not come there to submit any
plan how disendowment was to be effected. He
thought that might safely be left to the wisest
Legislature in the world, and, depend upon it, the
658 men who should be asked to consider that
great question would decide it with fairness and
justice. Let the ministers of the Church i of
England fill their churches to overflowing, and do
their work of religion and benevolence with all
their power ; but leave the Parliament and the
Government of the nation to persue its own undis-
turbed and undivided work. A vote of thanks for
the lecturer and the chairman, closed the proceed-
ings.

A GILAND INATEUR CONCERT.,—It will be.. seen
in our a.dv.ertising columns that a great amateur
concert- will be given in the • Corn Exchange, Oh
Monday evening next, in aid of the Lye institute.
A host of talent will be present, and those who at-
tend will have a great treat.

FATAL ACCIDENT.—On Saturday last, an elderly
man named Potts, in the employ of Mr. G. K.
Harrison, met with an accident which terminated
fatally. It appears that when Potts was walking
on the tramway a clay truck was funning down
the train. Some one called to dece&sed to get out
of the way and he stood against a stack of bricks.
Singular to relate the truck left the rails at the
same spot, and so severly crushed Potts that he
died in a few hours. An inquest was held on the
body at foe Barley Mow, on Wednesday night, he-
fore Mr. R. Docker, Coroner, and after hearing the
evidence the jury returned a verdict of "Acciden-
tal death."

DRUNK AND DISORDERLY.-At the Police Court,
yesterday, before J. B. Cochrane, Esq., Charles
Kendrick was charged with being drunk in
Coventry-street, on the night of the 9th inst.—
Police-constable Eades proved the case. Fined
2s 6d and costs.

MASTER AND SERVANTS CASE.—Alfred Smith was
summoned by Frederick Billid for £1 10s, wages
alleged to be due. Mr. Bullhead defended. Coin-
plainant said that defendant was farm bailiff' for
Mr. Devenport. He engaged with Mr. Deven-
port for 15s per week, cottage and garden free,
and this was two weeks due to him Li lOs for
wages. On cross-examination witness admitted
that he only worked eight days as he had been
kicked by a horse. Defendant denied that he had
worked eight days, but only 6i days. He had
advanced the complainant £3, and there was 4. 6d
still due to him, and the agreement was to give
and take one month's notice. Complainant agreed
to return to his work, and defendant agreed to pay
5s in settlement of the case.

CHARGE OF ASSAULT.—WiIIiam Wooldridge, of
the Lye was charged with assaulting Mary Phillips
on the 22nd ult. Mr. Saunders defended. From
the evidence of complainant it appeared that her
father is one of the executors of defendant's
father. She was crossing the yard when defend-
ant came up and pushed her several times
violently. William Smith and James Phillips
execators to William Wooldridge, defendant's
father, gave evidence as to seeing the defendant
push complainant. The defence was that com-
plainant had no business there and the defendant
had a right, by looking after the interest of his
mother, and was directed by his mother to order
her off the premises. Betsy Guest was called and
Mr. Saunders contended that the jurisdiction of
the Bench was outside as it was a question of
title, which would be tried by another court. The
Bench remarked that it was quite clear there was
some under current at work for the assault was 4,
very trifling one, and they should fine the smallest
SUM they could 6d and costs.—James Phillips was
then charged with assaulting William Wooldridge
on the 21st February. Mr. Saunders said he was
quite willing to withdraw the charge if the otner
charge was withdrawn, but it would not do to let
him have a conviction on one side and not on the
other. Phillips refused to withdraw the charge,
and William Wooldridge said that on the 21st ult,
he was in the yard when the defendant and the
other executors wanted to remove some anvils, he
told defendant he should not. They had a tussle
and fell down, and defendant then struck him a
blow on the head. At this stage Mr. Saunders
said he had two witnesses to corroborate, but even
now he was willing to withdraw the case if the
other case was withdrawn. Phillips refused to do
that. Alfred Wooldridge and Betsy Wood gave
corroborative evidence and defendant was fined 6d
and costs.

ROBBERY WITH VIOLENCE.-At the Worcester
Assizes, before Baron Amphlett, Patrick McDonald
(19), labourer was indicted for feloniously, \ with
certain other persons, wounding and robbing
George Lee, in this town.--Mr. Underhill prose-
cuted and Mr. Selfe defended.—Sentenced to
fifteen years' penal servitude.

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