The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-05-17 00:00:00

The ECONOMICS of the TELEPHONE:

The following interesting letter upon the use and
adaptability to the ordinary wants of commercial life of the
loud-spetsking telephone, recently invented by Mr. Ed,ison,
has been sent to The Time :

Sir,—Many other people besides those who were so
fortunate to hear Professor Tyndall's lecture at the
Royal Institution will be interested in knowing that
the constructive genius of Mr. Edison has produced a
machine that brings into verbal communication two
people separated by a distance not exceeding
400 or 500 miles. Hitherto the various forms

of magnetno - electric communication have been,
to the English public little more than philo-
sophical toys; admirably ingenious in their con.truc-
tion' but devoid of the interest attaching to instru-
mentalities closely affecting the conditions of daily life.
In Mr. Edison's mechanical reproduction of the voice,
we appear to have acquired an addition to the
customary means of communication, which it is im-
possible to doubt will not only largely supersede the
more costly an.] more cumbrona machinery of the
telegraph, but will obviate the necessity for much of
that rapid journeying, which forrns so large a part of
the work and the worry of common life.
It is not generally known that prior to Mr. Edison's
solution of the question of practical telephonic com-
munication, the more obvious advantages of speech
had so recommended themselves to the Americans that,
in the city of Chicago alone, 2,000 of the earlier descrip-
tions of telephone are in use. In towns so large and impor-
tant as Philadelphia or New York, or so small as Wil-
mington, the question of practical telephony has been
answered in the same sense. The system under which
these telephones are employed is technically known as
an "exchange." The principle of the " exchange "
may be simply described as an arrangement by which
any one among 2,000 subscribers is, when desired,
placed in instant verbal communication with any
other member of the same organization. American
talent for administration has successfully arranged
a machinery for this purpose which, even under
the conditions obtaining prior to Mr. Edison's latest
invention, satisfied so thoroughly the demand for
prompt and accurate communication, that the most
energetic effort fails to keep pace with the demand for
telephonic associations. At the end of February last
the District Telephone Company of Chicago were 500
in arrear of their subscribers orders; and the impulse
given to the system by the new loud-speaking instru-
ment is enormous. Dotted about the city of Chicago
are the Central " Exchanges " from which radiate the
subscribers' separate wires. Between each central
bureau is laid a cable composed of several hundred
wires. If subscriber A wishes to communicate with
subscriber B, he verbally intimates through his tele-
phone the fact to the clerk at the exchange nearest to
B, who "switches" A's wire to that of B, and the
means of communication between them is complete.
The use of the loud-speaking telephone as affecting
matters relating to life and property is full of interest.
At present, as soon as intelligence- of any great fire
is received at the Central Fire Brigade Station in the
Southwark-bridge-road, the report is telegraphed to
each of the four main stations by the officer on duty.
Not less than two minutes is occupied in the transmis-
sion of each message. Before it is possible to execute
orders sent to the fourth station' eight of the most im-
portant minutes in life of a fire have been consumed.
With the telephone, not only is the waste of invaluable
time avoided, but the services of a skilled operator are
no longer needed. Prompt and full communication
cannot fail to operate favourably on the statistics of
loss of life and property by fire.
Then with regard to the application of telephony to
railways. Many of the accidents which occur in this
country are attributable to the error or weariness of
the man in charge of the signals. At present his atten-
tion is necessarily divided between the dial of the tele-
graphic instrument and the row of levers; and the
inevitable consequences of divided attenti es are found
in collisions and other casualties. With the loud-
speaking telephone the signalman can receive instant
orders without having to move to another part of the
signal-box.
Experienced railway officials will know how to value
verbal intercommunication with subordinates in times
of emergency—in times when the lapse of half a
minute, more or leas, may involve the destruction or
the safety of life or property. It is needless to repeat
here the great advantage of not requiring skilled
labour at the instrument.
Lloyd's agents now stationed round the coasts of
Great Britain will with the loud-speaking telephone
report to head quarters, with a rapidity and fulness
impossible when the more cumbrous system of tele-
graphy is employed, details of every disaster occurring
within their ken. In situations where appliance% are
necessary to save life or property, when time is of
paramount importance, the new telephone will assert
itself as incontestably superior to the telegraph.
Some modification in the ordinary conditions of
English life may be looked for on the general adoption
of telephony. In those villages and country districts
where the number of residents is insufficient to war-
rant the postal telegraph authorities in placing an
operator, the presence of one telephone in the village
shop, with the other at the nearest telegraph station,
will give to the inhabitants, gentle aml simple, all the
advantages of the national telegraph system. To
the postal authorities, this telephonic supple-
ment to their system is a matter of congratu-
tion. The increased revenue to be brought to
the telegraphic administration by the union of
the telephone in rural districts with telegraph
stations will probably more than atone for any
injury at present likely to be inflicted by corn-petition
with the telegraphic service in the large commercial
centres. To these latter it is that the invention really
applies. The merchant sitting in his house at Chisel-
burst or at Harrow can, with telephonic communica-
tion between his study or his bedroom and his City
office, receive full reports of the day's business as
often as occasion may arise. Macau dictatereplies to im-
portant letters and give such instructions es aro neces-

sary.
To a busy man, the possibility of remaining away
from town without neglecting his affairs is a valuable
consideration. Elderly men wishing to take life more
easily may be consoled by the assurance that the time
is at hand when indispensable mental exertion will
be unattended by the necessity for excessive physical
effort.
The recent discussions on co-operative stores have
naturally ignored the question of telephonic communi-
cation. The main consideration that has hindered the
more general adoption of co-operation is that it is more
convenient to make one's purchases in a well-appointed
shop. Saving of time and of personal trouble is cheaply
obtained in the opinion of many by some addition to
the price of the goods purchased. When, however, by
a telephone "exchange" at Norwood a hundred sub-
scribers ars able to give their orders without passing
through the ordeal to temper and to strength of a per-
sonal visit to the "stores" it is easy to imagine the
great impulse that will be given to the co-operative
movement.
Illustrations of the application of the exchange
system to the City of Loudon would require a volume.
Metropolitau interests are too vast and too compli-
cated to be dealt with from a single centre. Tele-
phony in London must decentralize to be efficient. It
would be impossible, as it would be useless, to include
the stockbroker in the same exchange as the insurance
office or the produce merchant. An exchange in
Mark-lane might include all the grain interests indi-
genous to that locality. Or, were the amount of
business too great for efficiency, further subdivision
might become necessary.
The application of telephony to House of Commons'
reporting has became a practical question since the
Speaker, the First Lord of the Admiralty, and the
members of the Committee on reporting, came to
Burlington-house to hear Mr. Edison's loud-speaking
telephone. By direct telephonic comrouication be-
tween the House and The Times office, the cost of
transmitting manuscript will be saved, and the trans-
scription of the short-hand notes will be superfluous.
The reporter will slowly read to the transmitting tele-
phone his stenographic report, summarizing as he
reads. The speeches transmitted will be directly
"set up" by a type-setting machine; time and money
being thus largely economized.—l am, Sir, your
obedient servant, ARNOLD WHIT%
6, Lombard-street, E. C.

P.S.—Since writing the above I have received a tale.
gram from New York stating that Mr. Edicon has
completed the model instrument, and that its power
is greater and articulation more perfect than those
previously turned out of Mr. Edison's laboratory.

CUTTINGS FROM AMERICAN PAPERS.

This is a bright and pleasant world to the woman
who has a new spring bonnet. _

"You said, Skeesicks, that the defendant was
a man in easy circumstances; what do you wean by that?"
-"A gentleman wot pays his printer, and isn't afeered to look
his butcher in the face 1"
- -

In the conrse of an Illinois discussion, a man is said
to have "bad a ravine built in the back of his head with a
pop bottle."
A shrewd confectioner out West has taught his
parrot to saw "pretty creature," to every lady who enters
his shop, and his business is rapidly increasing.

A Louisville young woman writes to a modest and
stupid youth :—" Yes, when you asked me if I would marry
you—oh! I ought not to have done it, I suppose—but, then,
It was such an opportunity, and so I smiled the cue to you
and answered 'Never ! ' And you, stupid, you froze and
cowed like a telegraph pole and left. Oh, dear me I and I
certainly thought that at this day there was nobody under
the sun who was so unpardonably obtuse, and so far behind
the age and rage that he would not instantly have met me
with, What, never ? ' and given me the chance to reply
Well, hardly ever:"
That was a clever Oakland boy who, when he was
given two dollars to dig up his aunt's garden, hid a two-bit
piece in it, and then told all the boys in the neighbourhood.
The next morning the ground was pulverised two feet deep.
The Cincinnati Saturday Night says that it is pretty
much settled that if an eminent American wants a monu-
ment, he must solicit subscribers for it while alive and super-
intend its erection personally.

He took her fancy when he came; he took her hand,
he took a kiss; he took no notice of the shams that glowed
her happy cheek at this. He took to coming afternoons; he
took an oath had ne'er deceive ; he took her father's silver
spoons; and after that he took his leave.

On his return from India, Brown was asked how he
liked tiger-hunting. "It is very good sport as you hunt the
tiger," he replied ; "bit it hard pressed, he sometimes
takes it into his head to hunt you, and then it has its
drawbacks."

A lawyer at UPS bar was held to be in contempt for
simply making a motion in omit. It was ascertained, how-
ever, that he made a motion to throw an inkstand at the
head. ot the court.

A genuine Down-easter was essaying to appropriate
a square of exceedingly totigh beef, at dinner in a certain
hotel. His convulsive efforts with a knife and fork attracted
the attention and smiles of the rest of the company, who
were in the same predicament as himself. At length
Jonathan's patience quite vanished under his ill succe.s,
when laying down his "utensils he burst out with,
"Strangers, you needn't laff—it you hain't got no regard for
the landlord's feelings, you orter have some respect for the
old bull I" This sally "brought down the house."

The Peace Society have issued an address to their
countrymen In England, asking for a publics expresdon of
opinion as to the desirability of immediately putting an end
to the war now going on in South Africa.
There ia great activity among American arms 'limn-
facturers, caused by the South American war. Bolivia baa
given large orders for military stores, Chili is buying WM'
powder, and the Argentine Republic rifles. -The steamer
Crescent City sailed from New York for Panama on Saturday
(10th) with 10,000 rifles and 300,000 cartridges for Peru.

,
hffi to meet the Justice of
to
og award such compensation as
the Court of
his innocence
Sir J. Eardley-Wilmot intends to move in corn*
mittee on the Criminal Code Bill an amendment providing
that when any person convicted in the court below shall, on
the mule. succeedinmeasyt ab empoweredestablishing
sufficient
The Queen and Princess Ileatrice attended divine
service in the private chapel at Windsor on Fiunday. The
Rev. Motto D. Campbell Douglas, MA, preached.
aAi
nPpnipte egasii
shill
Judgment

The London correspondent of the Leeds Mercury
states that Mr. Rassam, who is carrying on the work begun
by the late Mr. George Smith, has last discovered at Babylon
an octagonal cylinder, on the sides of which are engraved a
history of the campaign of Sennacherib against King
Hezekiah. This important find Ls to be sent to London for
safe keeping in the British•liduseum.
In the Hungarian Parliament on Monday it was
stated by Herr Tisza that the fund for the relief of the
sufferers at Szegedin amounted to 1,700,000 florins, and that
he thought it would reach two millions. 100,000 florins had
been spent in immediate relief; the rest would be employed
In rebuilding the city.
Dr. Rettmger has been despatched to Persia to in-
vestigate the causes and extent of the plague which was
lately raging at Resht, and be will further inquire into the
causes of the present sickness on the shores of the Caspian.
Nearly twenty grown persons, men and women, were
publicly baptized on Sunday evening at Kensington parish
church, in the presence of an immense congregation (says
the Pall Mall Gazette). The vicar, the Hon. and Rev. E.
Carr Glyn, administered the sacrament after the sacred
lesson, Alford's well-known baptismal hymn having been
previously sung, and subsequently preached a short sermon.
The service was not over till nearly nine o'clock.

"Nothing succeeds like- success, and the French
ournals record with admtration end envy that the Haunts-
_

Hon et Yakoob Khan putting an end to thii Afghan war has
immensely ralsed British prestige in the East, and entirely
frustrated the policy of Russia, whose object in egging on
the unfortunate Sbere All was to ruin English rule in
India.''—Paris Correspondent of Daily News.

Paris has a budget as large as that of Belgium.
That for IbBo, which will be laid before the Municipal
Council this week, will amount in ordinary receipts and ex-
penditure to over 225 millions of tranc,s.
- -

Nearly all the great towns in the 'United States are
obtaining Government assistance in building Poet-oflices and
Public Courts. The Post-office just completed in New York
has cost the Government 9,000,000 dole ; Chicago has re-
ceived 5,675,000 dots., S. Louis 5,050,000 dole., Boston
4,854,000 dole., Philadelphia 4,550,0.00 dots., Cincinnati
4,100,000 dols. New Orleans, Charleston, Pittsburg, Nash-
ville, and the leading towns, North and South, seem all to
have a fair share of the public money.

We go from home to learn news. The Philadelphia
Ledger says that the London police have received orders to
arrtst any person seen dropping orange peel in the street.—
Echo.

From the Gardeners' Magazine we learn that the
plum crop has been seriously damaged by frost in the home
counties; but that, upon the whole, the recent sold weather
has been favourable to the fruit-trees, a strong light and a
dry air aiding in the development and diftdalon of the
pollen.
Crop prospects, says Monday's Magnet, both here
and on the Continent remain much about the same. The
outlook is not unsatisfactory, but warm weather is required.
From California reports are favourable. It is confidently
expected that the largest crop ever garnered will be har-
vested this season.
"The source of weakness to every nation under
heaven," said Josh Billings, "comes from the fact that Its
women have so little to do and so much to say."

A resolution in favour of opening the Leeds Central
Reading Room and Reference Library on Sundays from two
till nine o'clock p.m., has been discussed by the Leeds Town
Council. The proposal was defeated by 28 votes against 16.

A Parliamentary return just issued shows that the
total cost per child in London School Board schools, defrayed
by rates inclusive of interest on loans for buildings and ex-
penses of School Board office and staff other than the teach-
ing staff, in the year ended the 29th of September last, was
£2 6s. 9d. The total cost per child in London voluntary
schools defrayed by voluntary subscriptions, for the
year elided on the Slat of August, 1878, was Bs. 101 d. per
child.
A return issued as to Post-office savings ba4ks
shows that during the year ended December 31, 1878, the
total amount received from depositors was £9,485,390, which,
with balance brought forward and interest accrued, made
the total liabilities of the bank for the year,£3B 925,761.
The amount withdrawn by depositors, or for which warrants
had been issued, during the year was £8,514,187, leaving a
balance with the banks, inclusive of interest, of £38,925,751.

Fifteen farmhouses, with their fields, have been de-
stroyed near Parma by a landslip, and other houses are in
danger.
Gloves with thirty-two buttons are being worn in
Paris for full dress; those with eighteen buttons being con-
sidered at only for demi-toilette.

-
Notwithstanding that the strike of dock labourers
in New York against reduced wages is seriously interfering
with loading vessels, six steamers sailed from New York for
Europe on Saturday (10t13) three others being delayed, They
took large numbers of passengers, 88 horses, 880 cattle,
1,050 bales, of dry goods shipped for Loddon, and 850 sheep

• - -
for Glasgow.
At Birmingham, on Saturday, the annual collec-
tions were made in various manufactories and workshcps In
the town in aid of several medical charities, to which the
proceeds are handed over as a free g illfrom the working
classes. A large number of factories took part in the col-
lection this year than on any previous occasion, and the
result of the first day's receipts, considering the bad state
of trade, is regarded as highly satisfactory, the amount at
present recelved—A2,492—belng about £B4O more than on
the first day of last year.

The progress of the movement among the toni+nt
farmers of Warwicicshire, the object of which is to secure
In the next Parliament a better representation of their
Interests, was further exemplified by a numerously attended
meeting of tenant-farmers held on Tuesday at Atberstone,
at which resolutions were unanimously adopted in favour et
the movement. Several speakers urged the importance of
tenant fanners' assciations being immediately formed in
every county in England in view of the next general election,
so that some of the evils agriculturists were now suffering
fie m might be remedied.
• Mr. Sii.ibo:tom, M.P., addressing an Oddfellows'
meeting on Saturday, said they heard a great deal about
foreign competiticre and of American goods sent to Man-
chester displacing English cloth in the market, but if all
those stories were well founded, how was it that America
was obliged to place prohibitory duties upon English goods
to preveut them entering the American markets. If America
could manufacture cloth cheaper than they could in Lanca-
shire, what need was there for those duties to keep our
goods out of America. He thought that if British em-
ployers and workmen worked, heartily together they need
fear no competition in neutral markets.
"The Sea-Shell Mission" proposes to give some
amusement and joy to the poor and, in many cases, sick
children in the various homes and hospitals in London, by
distributing to each inmate a box of sea-shells, to be gathered
by the more fortunate boys and girls who visit or who reside
at the seaside Ills proposed that each box should contain
about 200 shells, with th iname of the child to whom ills
given written on it. Carri ag ,of parcels must be paid, and
sent to the Sea-Shell Mission, 82, Fentiman-road, Clapham-
road, London This is a simple and inexpensive way to
lighten the burden of life inherited by certain children.
The small kindnesses will be twice blessed—by collectors
and receivers "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of
the least of these my brethren, ye have done It unto me."—
Echo.

_
Mr. W. J. Cookson, J.P., of Manor House, Worksop,
has jtut received a letter from his son, Lieutenant Freya
Cookson, of the 91st Highlanders, dated Gingihiovo, a day or
two atter the battle at that place. The young lieutenant
describes the many hardships the relieving column had to
brave on their way to relieve Colonel Pearson at Ekowe,
how they waded the Tugela up to the waist, and the diffi-
culties they had to contend with en route, and on the
morning of the battle they were served with two biscuits
each, the whole that they had that day. Be states that
during the engagement a fine young sergeant was shot
down immediately behind him, a rifle ball having entered
his forehead. Seeing that the shot came from a small
bush a short distance in the front, Lieut. Cookson fired
three shots, his example being followed by three or four
of his comrades. On examining the bush they found five
dead Zulus, one with a Martini-Henry rifle. The lieu-
tenant reports himself well and in good spirits, although
there is a good deal of fever amongst the troops. He
speaks in the highest terms of the general in command,
Lord Chelmsford.

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Mr. Smart. Defendant's son and Robinson ap-
peared to be the worse for beer. Walter Hackett
gave similar eviden. sr, as did also Police-constable
tv'ebb. Mr. Shakespeare addressed his Honour for
the defence and contended that the h. rse did not
belong to defendant but to his son, that ths. son
was in business for himself and not the servant of
d• fendant although he lived in the same house as
his rather. He believed the son bought and paid
for the horse more than ten years ago. He also
contended that the accident did not arise from any
negligence on the part of defendant's son, that he
was on his right side and that plaintiff was on the
wrong side. Defendant was called and swore that
the horse belonged to his son. He had occasionally
borrowed the horse but always paid for it when he
used it. On cross-examination defendant said he
had a horse himself and kept it in the same stable.
They paid for the corn between them and the
horses ate together. The son was called and gave
evidence so contradictory to that given by his father
that his Honour said he ought to be ashamed of
himself for the disgraceful manner in which he had
behaved. The defendant had given his evidence
and he thought he might have made a mistake, as
he was in such a tremulous condition from old age.
Mr. Shalasneare said after hearing the evidence of
the-two witnesses be should throw up his brief.
His Honour gave a verdict for the plaintiff for the
full amount claimed.
F. JONES V. B. S. RAYBOULD.—Frank Jones, of
Cradley Heath, and formerly landlord of the Nag's
Head, New Street, Steurblidge, sued Benjamin S.
Raybould, commission agent, for the sum of £l9.
Mr. Roskell appeared for plaintiff, and Mr. Shake-
speare defended From the evidence of plaintiff it
appears that he engaged the defendant to let the
Nag's Head for him, and he did so for £1.97 10s.
Od and a valuation. After receiving £3O deposit,
defendant paid plaintiff £3 and was now sued for
remainder less £8 uommission. Defendant con-
tended that he was entitled to £l6 commission and
claimed a set off, His Honour said that the set
off could not be allowed as no notice had been given,
but the defendant could sue in the next Court.
Virtually the case Was undefended and gave a
verdict for plaintiff.
E. STRINGER v. DAVIS.—This was an action to
recover the sum of .27 19s Od, balance of account
due from the defendant.—Mr. Stokes appeared for
plaintiff, and Mr. C. W. Collis defended. From
the evidence of plaintiff it appeared that he agreed
to fit up a shop in High Street, occupied by Mr.
Br an, for a certain sum, and the claim now made
was for extras done, not in the agreement. The
defence was that he agreed with the plaintiff's
foreman to do all the work he required, and that
the foreman wrote it down, and the work agreed to
be done included papering, and putting linoleum
on the floor, and that defendant was under the
impression that it was all included. He did not
read the agreement, but simply looked at the
amount agreed upon, which was £3l 'lett. His
Honour gave a verdict for plaintiff.

BOARD OF GUARDIANS.—The weekly meeting
of this Board was held yesterday. Mr. Ray -
bould in the chair. There were also present
Messrs. H. Billingbam, Haskew, Robertson,
Pargeter, Hingley, Wood, Parkes, Plant, R. B.
Guest, Mills, Wilihims, Giles, Rhodes, Lavender,
Kelly, Eveson, Guest, Brooks, Rollinson, and
Rev. C. B. Cole :Webb. Admitted into the
house 35 ; discharged 17 ; born 0; dead 0 re-
maining in the house 480; corresponding week
last year 450. Out-door relief Kingswinford
district £53 Os. 8d; Stourbridge district £34
17s 10d; Halesowen district, £25 13s 5d ; non-
resident 4s ; total, £ll4 15s 114 ; against £62
9s ld last year.—The clerk tendered his resign-
ation, which was accepted.
Mr. Joseph H. Rollinson, of Brierley Hill, articled
with Mr. Wall of this town, has successfully passed
the Intermediate Examination of the Incorporated
Law Society, held in the Society's Hall, in April
last.

AN EXTRAORDINARY AFFAIR AT IVERLBY.—An
extraordinary occurence took place at Iverley, near
Stourbridge, on Tuesday evening last. From what
we can learn it appears that Ann, wife of William
C,,llier, labourer, Brockmoor Bridge, Brierley Hill,
had been deserted by her husband, left with several
small children. To save expense of transit, had
walked from Brierley Hill to Bewdley to send two
children to her husband at Tenbury, and when.
returning, after a walk of about twenty miles, she
became so exhausted from the position she was in,
that she lay down on the highway, and gave birth
to a child Assistence came to her aid, and appli-
cation was made to Mr. Hopkins for her to be
removed into the house, which was refused. The
unfortunate woman was then removed to Mr. Man's,
the Greyhound Inn, Norton. She was then placed
In a stable, and Dr. Bay iey was al. once called in, and
we unders and the woman is doing as well as can
be expected.
DItTSNK AND DlsoßnEutv.—At the Police Court,
on Monday, before Mr. R. L. Freer, John Wool-
dridge, ot the Lye, was charged with being drunk
and riotous, on the 10th inst. Police-constable
Madeley proved the case. Fined 58 and costs.—
John Wall was cherged with being drunk and in-
capable on the 10th inst. Police-constable
Madeley proved the case. Fined 58 and costs.
DRUNK AND ASSAULTING THE POLlCE.—Before
Messrs. R. L. Freer and -C. Cochrane William
Hayes was charged with being drunk and assault-
ing Police-constable Madeley. The case was
proved, and defendant fined 108 and costs.
A DRUNKEN WOMAN.—Mary Love, residing at
Wollaston, was charged with being drunk and
disorderly. Police-constable Morgan proved the
case, and defendant was fined 108 and costs.
DRuremEraress.—At the Police Court, held yes-
terday, before Colonel Fletcher' Messrs. C. P. Noel,
R. L. Freer, and F. Evers, George Welch and
Joseph Pearson were charged pith being drunk and
disorderly on the highway, on the 12th. Police-
sergeant Payne proved the case, and said the de-
fendatits were fighting, and there was a large crowd.
Fined 58 each and costs; in default 14 days.—
William Brooks, a carter, residing at Brettell Lane,
was charged with being drunk. Police-constable
Madeley proved the case. Fined 2s 6d and costs.—
John Stevens was charged with being drunk and
disorderly on the 26th ult. Police-constable
nlorgan proved the case. Police-sergeant Jones
proved several previous convictions against the
defendant, and he was fined 108 and costs.—David
Taylor, residing at the Lye, was charged with
being drunk and disorderly at the Lye, on the 13th
ult. - Police-constable Jewson proved the case.
Fined 28 6d and costs.
A.r,SLULT WITH INTENI TO RAVIBII.—ThOIDas
Waldron, labourer, a boy, residing at Clout, was
charged with assaulting S irah Cooper, with intent
to ravish her, on the 12th inst. Mr. Waldron
defended. Complainant said she resided at Clent,
and was going towards Lower Hagley, and when in
Field Lane, defendant came up to her, put his
hand up her clothes, threw her down, and com-
mitted the offence complained of. She called out
"murder," and saw a man come up on a pony.
James Turner, coachman te Mr. Cochrane said
that he met the complainant in Field Lane. She
complained of what the defendant had done, saw a
boy in the road, and asked his name he said it was
Waldron, and the womE n said her name was
Cooper. Could not identify tile boy again. Police-
constable Wallace, his wife, and Dr. Bayley also
gave evidence, from which it appeared there was
no rape committed. The Bench considered it a
prima facie case, and committed defendant to take
his trial at the next sessions.
OBSTRUCTIOK.—Thomas Sorrell, of the Heath,
was charged with causing an obstruction on the 12th
inst. Withdrawn on payment of 6s 6d costs.
HIGHWAY OFFENCE.—WiIIiam Tandy, farmer,
of Bell End, was charred with allowing his cows to
stray on the highway, on the 12th inst. Police-con-
stable Poole proved the case. Withdrawn on pay-
ment of costs.—William Aldis, of the Heath, was
charged with allowing his horse to stray on the
highway. Defendant was further charged with
causeng an obstruction, by allowing his cart to stand
on the road longer than is allowed. The obstruction
case was withdrawn on payment of costs. For the
horse straying defendant was fined 2s 6d and costs.
DRUNK AND DISORDERLY.— John Bird was
charged with being drunk and disorderly, on the
14th inst. Police-sergeant Jones said he heard a
noise in Hill Street, and went in the direction and
found the defendant drunk and quarrelling with
another man. He had no hat or jacket on. The
defendant said that some one rapped at his door
and he ran him into Hill Street. Finedss and costs.
CHARGE OF PERYITTING DRUNKENNESS.—John
Dit'lloway, landlord of the Wool Pack Inn, llih
Street, was charged with permitting drunkenness in
his house on the 13:h inst. Mr. C. W. Collis de-
fended. Police-constable Eves said that on the 13th,
inst. he visited the defendant's house about six
o'clock in the evening. He went in the back pre-
mises and saw a wan named William Burley go out
of the back door. He was very drunk. Witness
t
called the attentiOn of Mrs. Dalloway. She said
hat he only had one pint of beer and could not
be very drunk. Be saw a man named Joseph
Potter in the yard. e was very drunk and vomiting.
He called the attention of Mrs. Dalloway, to the
state they were in. Defendant said that Potter
came to his house about four o'clock and only had
two pints of ale by the Bench. The yard is enclosed.
Joseph Potter was called end said he had one pint
of ale at the White Horse, and one at the defend-
ant's house. He had no food that day, and it
caused him to vomit. He went to the yard, and
remained there until near six o'clock when the
police came. Superintendent Wheeler proved that
when Potter was brought to the station he was very
drunk and he bad to send him home with another
man. Eliza Bird and Hannah Chance, two sum-
moned witnesses, gave corroborative evidence as to
the drank* fists VW Potter ad Maley was in.