The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-09-06 00:00:00

BEIERLEY HILL.

COAL STEALING.—At the Police Court on Monday
before Messrs. F. Evers and H. Hall, Benjamin
•Whooten (14), was charged with stealing a quantity
of coal the property of the Earl of Dudley on the
15th ult. Mr. Taylor, constable, in th 3 employ of
the Earl of Dudley proved the case. Fined ss, in
default 7 days hard labour.—Elizabeth Jones (15),
Emma Taylor (16), Elizabeth Braggard (15) and
Ellen Pearson (16), were charged with stealing a
quantity of coal the property of the Earl of Dudley
on the 21st ult. Mr. Taylor, constable, in the
employ of the Earl of Dudley, said he saw the
defendants with a quantity of coal on the 21st ult.
Defendants ran away • when they saw him. Win.
Boker, watchman,. corroborated. The charge
against Braggard and Taylor was adjourned for 7
days. There being two charges against Jones and
Pearson they were fined ss; in default 7 days in
each charge.—Four boys named Hodgetts, Taylor,
Harrington, and Cooper were charged with stealing
a quantity of coal the property of the Earl of
Dudley on the 21st ult. Mr. Taylor proved the
charges. Prisoners were ordered to have 10 stripes
each with the birch rod.—Robert Abbott (16), and
Lucy Price (18). were charged with stealing a
quantity of coal the property of Earl Dudley, on
tae 28th ult. Mr. Taylor proved the charges.
Abbott was committed for 14 days, and Price for 7
days.—Harriet Adams (17), was charged with
stealing a quantity of coal the property of Messrs.
Harris and Pearson on the 20th ult. Job Wassell,
watchman in the employ of prosecutors, said the
prisoner was taking coal off the railw,iy. Defendant
pleadel guilty. The case was adjourned for a
week.
DRUNKENNESS.— Elijah Baker, labourer, was
charered with being drunk and diserderly in the
highway at Werdsley, On the 23rd ult Police-
conAable Hume proved the case, and said the
defendant bad h;s shirt off, and wanted to fight.
Defendant was fined 7h, 6d and costs.
ASSAULTS.— Rebbecca Tunley, Eliza Tunley,
and Mary Ann Tunley were charged with assaulting
Mary Ann Pritehard on the 15th ult. Mr. Addison
appeared to prosecute. Complainant said that she
was standing on her door step, when the defendant
Eliza Tanley came out of her house and threw a
bucket of water over her. Rebecca Tunley then
ran up to her and held her arms whilst the other
two defendants punched her. She did not strike
back again. John Pritchard said he was in the
house when the row began, but on hearing the
row he went out to see what was the matter. He
saw the three defendants on the top of his wife and
they were punching her. Defendants said that
complainant began the fighting first. The Bench
said they thought they were as bad as each other,
and should dismiss the case.—John Warr was
charged with assaulting Thomas Warr on the 26th
ult. Defends at pleaded guilty, and said he was
very sorry. The case was withdrawn on payment
of costs.

STEA.LING A JAcKET.—JamesEllcock was charged
with stealing a black cloth jacket the property of
Edward Billingham on the 30th ult. Elizabeth
Billingham, of Mill Street, Brierley Hill, said she
occupied a stall in the Market for the purpose of
s'3lling second-hand clothes. The prisoner came
to her stall on the 30th ult., and reached a coat off
a nail. She asked him if he wanted to buy it.
Prisoner did not say anything but put it back again
and walked away. In about a quarter of an hour
afterwards from information received she lool:ed
for the jacket and found that it had been stolen.
The jacket produced was the same. She went in
search of prisoner and caught him, but he struck
her and got away. lames Hynett (10), Level
Street, said he was in the market on the 30th ult.,
and saw the prisoner take the jacket off prosecutor's
stall. Prisoner put it under his jacket and went
away. He told prosecutor who had stolen it.
Charles Perkins, ironworkei, Round Oak, said he
was standing near the market. He saw the woman
catch hold of prisoner. The prisoner struck her
and got away. She asked him to catch him for her.
He caught him and prisoner was wearing the jacket
at the time. Police-constable Hollins said he saw
the prisoner running 'up the street and some people
running,after him shouting 'stop him.' He took the
prisoner into custody from last witness, and
charged him with stealing a black cloth jac Net, the
property of Mr. Billingl7am. Prisoner said, "I
reckon I shall have six -- months this time."
Prisoner was committed for trial at the next
ses,ions.

THE WANT OP PROPER RAILWAY ACCOMMODATION.
-011 Tuegday night an adjourned meeting of the
inhabitants was held in the Town Hall—Mr. Isaiah
Rollinson (chairman of the Local Board of Health)
presided, and explained that the meeting had been
called to further consider the qtestion of obtaining
an improved train service for the neighbourhood. It
was decided by the meeting that Dr. Walker and 11Ir.
Eveson, with Mr, ,Rollason and Mr. Humphries
(members of the Board of faith) should wait cit
the directors of the Great Western Railway as a de-
putation. It was mentioned incidentally that Lord
Lyttelton had premised to render all the assistance
which lay in his power to obtain t'ae desire of the in-
habitants,

RICK FIRE.—On Sunday morniqg last, the Stour-
bridge Volunteer Fire Brigade WaS called out to a
fire at Mr. Charles Skelding's, Nagers Field Brick
Works, near Brierley Hill. The property attacked
was one of three large hay ricks, si'mate in a field
near to the works above mentioned. The fire being
discovered, a man was started on lorseback for
Stourbridge, and on arriving at the Brigade Station,
gave the alarm. The brigade turned out, and in
five minutes from the ringing of the fire bell, were
on their way to the fire with the engine and other
fire extinguishing appliances. The time taken to
traverse the distance (21 miles) was fifteen minUtes
On arrival, it was found necessary to cut out the
centre of the rick and get to the seat of the. This
took the firemen four hours to accomplish, the
work being performed with hay knives, and the
spoited portion carted away and spread over the
adjoining fields, thus rendering it when dry useful
for packing purposes. A large portion of the rick

was untouched by fire. The fire was kept under
with one of Merryweather's London Brigade hand
pumps which on this occasion proved invaluable.
Water was obtained from the canal, and pumped by
the fire engine, a distance of 150 yards into a canvas
dam, from which the buckets and hand-pump were
supplied. The cause of fire was spontaneous com-
bustion. The rick was not insured, but the two
others in close proximity to it were. The loss
sustained by Mr. Skelding may be estimated at .260.
This sum would have been greatly increased but for
the prompt and efficient nanner in which the
Brigade did their work,
ASSAULTING A PuBLICAN.—At the Police Court,
on Thursday, before Mr. W. F. Boughey, Stipendiary,
James Winstone, ironworker, Pensnett, was charged
with assaulting Jam es Purfitt, landlord of the
Fountain Inn, of the same place.—Mr. Waldron
prosecuted.----On the night of the 29th ult. defendant
who is a neighbour of complainant's, went home
drunk and commenced a disturbance in the yard
adjoining his house, using disgusting language
towards complainant's wife. Complainant himself
went out and remonstrated with defendant, where-
upon the latter struck him a violent blow in the eye;
which blackened it —Fined 20s and costs; in default
one month's hard labour.—Some cross-summonses
were dismissed.

THEFT BY BOYS.—Josiah Bull (15), apprentice,
Church-street, and George Saunders (14), Derry-
street, Brierley Hill, were charged with stealing a
pocket and the sum of 10d belonging to Alice
Talbot, who keeps a potato engine in the Market.—
Prisoners pleaded guilty to the offence, which was
committed on the previous night, th 3 pocket being
untied by the prisoners from around prosecutrix s
little girl and the money extracted.—The Stipendi-
ary sent the lads to gaol for 14 days each, and
ordered them to further receive eight strokes with
the birch rod.
THE CHARGES OF INTERFERING WITH VOTING-
PAPERS.—Thomas Allden was charged that he did
unlawfully alter and deface a certain voting-paper
used, or intended to be used, by one Edward True-
man, of College Street, ho being a person, &c.. &e.
The defendant was also charged "with unlawfully
and falsely assuming to act in the name and on
behalf of Thomas Scriven," and further with "1111-
lawfully fabricating a voting-paper used, or intended
to be used, by Thomas Scriven, miner, &c." Mr.
Jeston Homf ray (Messrs. Homfray and Holberton)
prosecuted, and Mr. Waldron defended. The only
charge proceeded with on Thursday was the one of
unlawfully assuming to act on behalf of Scriven.
The evidence was the same as when the case was
heard before Mr. Corser, when the case was dismissed
owing to an informality in the summons. Mrs.
Scriven wai examined, and stated in effect that the
defendant filled up her husband's voting-paper,
notwithstanding that she told him he ought to let
it alone until Scriven returned. Scriven, sworn,
said he authorised no one to fill up the paper. At
this point the Stipendiary said he should adjourn
the ease. He had sat five hours in that Court, and
there was no chance of finishing that day.