The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-03-25 00:00:00

HALESOWEN.

CO-OPERATIVE Success—About three months ago the
Halesowen Branch of the Lye Co-operative Society was
formed. The movement has met with very hearty sup.
port from a large number of the inhabitants of the town
and its vicinity. At the meeting last week in the Infant
Schoolroom it was stated that the Branch Society had
150 members and £l5O. The books now contain the
names of 5? more, and the capital has increased by a
corresponding number of pounds. The stores were
opened to the public on Saturday last, and the large
number of customers showed the interest taken by the
people in the concern.
TEA MEETINO.—On Monday afternoon last a tea
meeting took place in the Primitive Methodist Chapel,
Birminghatu-street. About 250 persons sat down to an
enjoyable tea. In the evening a public meeting waa held
at which there was a large number present. The chair.
man was Mr. J. Gill, and the speakers were the Rev.
C. Dudley, Messrs. F. Dingley, J. Dingley, H. Haycock,
J. Jones, Baker, C. Nock, Jones, S. Bate, E. Pear.
son, and J. Tether.
DISORDERLY.—At the Petty Sessions held on Tuesday,
before E. Moore, Esq., Emmanuel Newby was charged
by Superintendent Overend with being drunk on the 12th
instant. Police-constable Hayes said that on the above
date he visited the Old Beech Tree public•house. The
defendant came out quite drunk. Pleaded guilty. Fined
62 and coat.. _ _

ARSACLTING A COCNTY COURT BAILIVF..— Al the Petty
Sessions, on Tuesday. before E. Moore and F. W. U.
Barre, Esqre., James Pickering was charged with assault-
ing Robert Fowler, a County Court Bailiff, whilst in the
execution of his duty, on the 20th instant. Mr. Watson
attended on behalf of complainant, who said that he
went to Oldbury to levy an execution on the defendants
father's goods, when defendant came down stairs, pioked
up • poker, and struck at him twice, one of the blows
catching him on the head. He was not hurt from the
blow. He took the poker of defendant. Defendant ad-
mitted the offeace, and was fined 5s and costs ; in default
14 days.
Cerzure TO A HORSE...-George Ball was charged by
Superintendent ()reread with cruelly illtreating and tor.
turing • horse by working it whilst in an unfit state, at
Halesowen, on the 10th Instant. Mr. Fellows defended.
Police-constable Dennant said be was at Mucklows Hill,
and saw a horse in • trembling state. Looked at the
horse, and found that it had a large wound on the ehoul.
der. He remarked to defendant that he wondered how
he got on with the horse with such a wound. Defendant
Bald the wound was bad when he left Birmingham. The
sound was ax large a. a fieekhilling piece. Defendant
asked witness to shut his eyes, and offered him a two-
shilling piece. He told defendant he should report him,
and had done so. Mr. Fellows, for the defence, said he
should be able to prove that there was no wound on the
horse at the time it left Birmingham ; that the defendant
was not the waggoner, but nreeely had the horse that
day, the waggoner being iil at the time. He should ale°
cell a veterinary surgeon who examined Messrs. laminae's
Lorain, and he would prove that he examined the horse
in question, and that there was no wound on it when it
left Birmingham. Messrs. Bourne had • large number
of horses, and were very particular in having them ex-
amined before they went out to work; and when the po-
lieeman railed the alteration of defendant to the wound.
he at once got a horse iustead of the one to work, sod
took the collar rff. If he proved that he trhould a-k the
Bench to diemiss the case. John Edward Pitt, veterinary
surgeon, of Birmingham, said that he was ravaged to
erre:eine the hors,. of Messrs. Bourne, said del 150 every
Saturday. lie examined the horse in questron the day
previone, on the 19th inst. There was no wound then.
Had since easiuMed the horse, and found a small wound
Oil the shoulder as big as a sixpence. The horse has R
very fine skin. Ordered to pay the costa—there was a
second charge against Messrs. Bourne Lr allowing the
horse to be at work whilst in an unfit state. The Bum-
mon. was withdrawn on paj meet of Costs.
WIIAT 18 FORIOUB DRIVING —John Hollis, butcher,
was summoned by Superintendent Overenel on a charge
of driving fnriously on the 25th instant, at Halesoweu.
Mr. Hayes defended. George Wood said that he W !Id at
Lapel Date, when he saw a trolley going up the hill, and
he heard the noise of a horse and trap coming down at
a very furious rate. The road was very narrow. The
defendant was driving. There were five in the cart. It
was rather dark at the time, and the wheel caught his
(wituess'a) coat, and he had to jump against the bank.
The horse was going at the rate of from seven to eight
miles an hour. Mr. Hayes admitted that defendant was
driving at from seven to eight miles an hour. The Bench
moist/Led that the road was very narrow, and defendant
was oedered to pay the costs, 245.
U NJCIT SCALF.9.—John Cheshire, provision dealer and
nail factor, of Tetford, near Oldbury, was summoned bp
Superintendent Overend for having in his possession on
the 20th inet, an unjust pair of scales. Superintendent
Overend proved that they were 219 is. 10oz. oat of balance,
and that they were used to weigh naile. Fined 50e and
costs.—Job Hipkise, with unjust weights in his posses-
sion, on the 20th inst. Fined is and costs.
CHA ROE OF PIGEON STEALING. William Walker,
Thomas Toy, and William Hackett were charged with
feloniously stealing ten pigeons and one drake, on the
13th inst, the property of William Foley, of Quinton.—
Mr. Hayes defended.—Prosecutor said he lived with his
father, John Foley, who is a farmer, at Quinton. At ten ,
o'clock at night he was in the shed when the pigeons are
kept. They were all right and safe then, and so was the I
drake. He then locked the door and took the key away.
On the following morning, about eleven o'clock, he went
to the shed and missed ten pigeons and a drake. He
could not identify the pigeons produced. They were like
his,—Police-constable Turner said that on the 14th inst,
from infotmation received, he went to a pigeon pen at
'The Flash," Oidbury, kept by William Bridge, and
found the prisoner Walker offering the five pigeons for
sale now produced. ‘Vitness asked him to account for
them, when prisbner said he had caught them that morn-
ing. He then charged him on suspicion of stealing
them. He again said he had caught them, and gave Ins
name as William Morrell, of Long Lane. From inqui-
ries, witness could not find any one of that name. On I
the 16th inst William Foley, with Police-constable Den. '
leant, came to his station and looked at the pigeons, and
identified them as his pigeons. He then went to Old-
bury with Foley, and charged Walker with breaking into
a pen and stealing the pigeons and drake. Prisoner made
no reply—Prosecutor ire•ealled) said that on the 16th
inst he went to the Police Station with Police•constable
Turner, at Oldbury. Saw the prisoner Walker there,
who said that he had caught the five pigeons the same
morning with Hackett and Toy ; but he (Walker) stood
outside our house while the other two prisoners fetched
five pigeons and gave them to him over the wall. Ile
then asked Walker if they had any more. Prisoner said
they land not—Police-constable Turner said that on the
16th Mat he went in company with the prosecutor to the
prisoner Hackett's house, and charged him with stealing
the pigeons. Prisoner said, " I know all about it, and
will go: Searched the house, and found nothing. On
the way to Halesowen he said he would make a clean
breast of it, and then said that Thomas Walker pulled
his shoes off, got on to the roof of the pen, pulled the
tiles off and broke three laths, got into the pen, and gave
five pigeons to him. Walker then went down the ladder
and unfastened the door, and Toy and Hackett then went
in. Toy laid hold of the drake, and said "Leta have
have something better than pigeone."—William Bridge
proved that Walker came to his house on the lath inst,
and offered for mle five pigeons. Did not think prise
ner came by them honestly, and told him he would go
and get change; but, instead, went for the police.—Per
lice.constable Dennant said that on the 15th instant he
went to prosecutor's house, and took him to Turner's
house, and showed bins some pigeons. Prosecutor said
"Yen, there they are ; those are mine." Police-constable
Turner pulled out the pigeons, and gave them to Foley.
He (Dennant) then charged Toy with stealing ten pigeons
and one drake, in company with two other.. Toy said
Have you got the other two?" Witness told him they
were not far off. He then marched Toy, and found

-ragaemlE
some blood on his ehirt.—Actuig.sergeant Kennedy said
that on the evening of the 17th the prieonere Toy and
Hackett were in his charge. He heard them charged
with stealing ten pigeon' and • drake, and Mr. Overeat
asked for a remand. Mr. Moore (the Magistrate) aaked
why they ahould not be remanded. Hackett said, "We
were all there and helped, and took the tile. off the
house, and one went in. On taking them back to tbe
elation Hackett said they were all in the spree, and he
meant te tell all about it. Witness said, " You have
, had the pigeons then?" He replied, "Yes, and Toy bat
I the drake, and eat it."—This being the case,_psisoness
were committed to take their trial at the next Worcester
Sessions, bail being accepted in two sureties of £2O, and
themselves in £2O.