The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-04-22 00:00:00

To MR. JOHN HUGHES,

BOARD OF GUARDIANS.

The first meeting of the new Guardians Wag
held yesterday. There were present :—Messra.
Granger, H. Billingham, Rhodes, Pargetar,
Pearsall, Hingley, Burr, Westwood, Parkes,
Gould, Cole, Wood, Homer, Chambers' J. Bil-
lingham Hall, Baker, Fiddian, Foley, llaskew,
Kelly, Forrest, Guest, and Brooks. Out-door
relief, Kingswinford district £22 5s 5d ; Stour.
bridge district Ali 17s 2d; Halesowen district,
.216 611 Od ; non-resident paupers, £1 Os ed ;
total !ASS is 9d ; against £l6 4s Sd last year.
Mr- G. Granger, was re-eleatcd Si chairman&
Ur. H. Billingkers, irit vis..cheirpasu sad mi.
Rhodes, seemed slae-ehairman.
The following ware eleeted as the Assessment
Committee: Colonel Fletcher, E. B. Philips,
F. Evers, and J. Cochrane, Esqrs. Messrs.
Billingham, Rhodes, Homer, B gum, Cole, Grange
Pargeter and Fiddian.

We have received two capital cabinet photo-
graphs of the late Lord Lyttelton from Mr. Archer
Clarke. We have noticed thatcrowds have stayed
round Mr. Clarke's window to view an enlarged
photograph of Lord Lyttelton which is from an

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This was a case in which Isaiah Elwell, a foreman
moulder, was charged with being, on the let of April,
drank and disorderly, and, further, with assaulting the
police. There was a cross summons in which he charged
the oilhers with assaulting him.
On the last occasion it was sworn by the two officers
that the defendant Elwell was very drunk, and covered
with blood, when they found him, at Brettell Lane.
Several officers swore that Elwell was drunk and injured
when he strived at the station, and that he made no
charge of assault against the police until after he was
batled out. On the other hand idtll swore that be WU
going home sober, and that his injarise.were caused by
the officers, who, being °fended at a remark of big, beat
him on four or fiive separate 0G111619211 on the roati from.
Braila' Lane to 'the station. The polieemeit Dow
and Wheeldon swore, on the contrary, that they never
it uch Ewell. On Wednesday the following evidence was
taken: •

Benjamin Gill, founder, of Brierley Hill, stated that
he was with Elwell on the night in qaestion from 8.30 to
11, and left him sober.
G-eo. Hingley, a moulder, said he was with Elwell
shortly after eleven o'clock on the night of the Ist just,
and saw two policemen—whom he was unable to identify
—sparring at each other. Did la It leave .Elwell until
11.50. and at that time he had n 3 blood on his face,
neither was he the worse for liquor.
Edward Warrington, barber, Brettell Lane, said he
shaved Elwell, at 11 20, and at that time he was sober.
it ituess was a teetotaler and could judge. Elwell had
no marks on his face at the time.

6tunl. &cock, grocer, Brettell Lane, saw Elwell at 11.40
outside his shop with Hingley. They were looking at a
watch. At that time two policemen were laughing and
gaming together just below; a man who was with the
police gave them a bottle and they drank out of it.
At that time Elwell was sober, and his face was un-
marked.

Thomas Seaborn, shunter, corrobJrated the last wit
ness.

John Ansone, collier, said he purchased half-a-pint of
rum, in Brierley Hill, on the night of the Ist April, and
then went down Brettell Lane. He met two policemen
near Eleock's shop.
Mr. Addison objected, unless the witness could identify
t policemen.
Mr. King, the magistratt s' clerk, said Elwell had
identified the pplice as Dennis and Wheeldon.
Witness then went onto say that the rum was for a
" lady friend," but when he got to her house there was
but little rum. (Loud laughter.) The officers- had it.
Cross-examined : Had been twice convicted for being
drunk and disorderly, ant once for assaultmg the police.
Thomas Keusill, manager of a colliery, said his house
was exactly opposite the gable-end of Mr. Bowen a offices
On the let of April lie went to bed shortly after eleven
and iu half an hour he heard a ' cry of "Murder!" and
the sounds of blows. Lie and his wife opened &Le window
and then saw that two policemen had hold of a man by
the collar. Both officers were kicking him, and they also
struck him with their fists. They used great violence,
and the man shouted, " Oh, Lord ! don't murder me. I
thought you were friends of the public, and not enemies.'
Witness called to the officers and asked if they meant to
kill the man, but they took no notice. &cognised
Elwell as the policy took him over the bridge. The man
made a" bit of a run," and got away roiled the corner,
from whence the cries of" Murder I" pruceedt.d.
Witness dressed himself and went out. There he saw
Freeman, and in a few minutes rolige-constablesDeunis
and %1 heeldon returned with Elwell. Al that time the
complainant had tee swollen eyes. and itis- lace .war
GlVertHi with blood. %V hue's said, "I am Wait yea
have get tits wroug man. Yen are wet 4.ing to logic
him up slur siearly murdering 11181." They flid not
Silailkitt!,b4“ 111,01•4-
Sandi Om wife of the:last witness, corroborated
her husband's Svidence.
recalled, said Elwell appeared to be sober.
Richard Dyde Pinson, stationmaster at Breltell Lane,
stated that at twelve o'clock on the night of the let of
April, he heard what Mr. and Mrs. Kensill heard, but
he could not tell who any of the persons were.
Mark Kennett, brickmaktr„ said he was talking to
Police-constable Freeman .when they heard cries of
" Murder," and both ran towards the spot. Beard
Freeman say, "Knock off; you have given him enough.
Samuel Aidis, yardsman, said he heard Freeman use
the expires Jae'
Wi.liitut n,. calf, puddler, said that at a quarter-past
twelve, on t w Sunday morning he was appealed to by
Elwell, who Se being dragged along by two police.
officers. Witness remonstrated with them , but, as they
threatened to leek him up, his wife pushed him (witness)
out of the way. Elwell was sober, judging by his
tongue.
James Cartwright, pudd:er, said he saw the two officers
punch in the face, when the three were near
the milestone, near the Whlmsey. . _ .

Mary Ilan Radford, a married woman, living in South
Sheet, sail she was looking for her husband and ran to.
wards where she heard cries of " Murder." She saw
wo policemen with a prisoner, and one of them struck
the man and knocked Min down. The prisoner was n,
creoked " with toe police, who, on the contrary, dragged
him roughly.
Eiizaheth Cartwright, a married woman, Church
street, saw the p dice strike the man, and beard th,
;atter cry, " Don't kid me ; don't kill me.
Jelin Tayier, co.lier, corroborated, and said that when
he reuroustrz‘ted wita the policemen, one of them threat•
:o serve two the rattle way. Wituess went in. but
before he did so, lie heard the man cry out, " Oa, Loral
Mr. Thomas Price a eleik in the empioy of Messrs.
110.. fray cud Hlb.rtn, saiti he saw Wlreeldun dragging
hived by the col.ar, ant heard rum say give you
'murder' if you don't come along." Al that time Dennis
was in the middle of the road talking to two men.
Mr. Christopher ‘Vassall, manager of a firebrick works,
spoke to hearing a man, in the custody of two policemen
cry out, " Don't kill me." This was near tLte church
gates, and as w.tuess passed Elwell cried out, " (loud
night,. Mr. Wassail ;" awl the officer pushing the man,
said it was not M. Wassail. The man was not drunk.
Chappell, Messes. Bayley, Pegg, and Co.) gave
an exc./Scut character as a steady, inoffensive
wan. _

tk Alter • brief consultation, the Bench said'they should
dismiss the charger uf drunkenueee end riutoue be-
haviour. Watt reggrit to the charge of
assault by 41we1l against the ottieera, there was • strung
prima facia case, end taey should commit both Dennis
and Wheeldoe lo the Suwon, for trial.
Thep/H*444gs lasted ei• hour*, aid daring the whole
of that kirste the court *rola, epiwoechee were crowded.
The tiegiSion QI the Bauch wee reseLsod with enilesee.