The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-10-26 00:00:00

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1878.

BRIERLEY HILL.

DRUNK AND DI9')RDERLY.—A.t the Police Court, on
Monday. before Messrs. Ef. 0. Firrnstone and It Smith,
Eli Massey was charged with being drunk and dis-
orderly, on the 17th just, at Kingswinford. Defendant
pleaded guilty. Police-constable Keenan proved the
case. Defendant was fined 5s and costs. Defendant
was further charged with using threats at the same
time, to Amelia Moseley. This case was withdrawn on
payment of costs. _

-801100 L BOARD PROSRCIITIONS.—The following per-
sons were summoned by Mr. H. V. Breton, School
Board inspector, for neglecting to send their childrenlto
school and fined :—Henry Southall, Thomas Walters,
Joseph Hill, and Rowland Hill. The cases were proved
by Inspector Breton. _

CHARGR 01? KILLING A HARE.—William Dovey was
charged with unlawfully killing a hare, on the 29th July
Mr. Holberten appeared to prosecute and Hr. Waldron
defended. Mr. Holberton said that on the morning in
question about five o'clock the defendant was on land
belonging to the Earl of Dudley at Ridge Hill, shot a
hare, killed it, picked it up, and carried it off. He
should call a witness who saw defendant pick up the
hare and carried it in one hand and the gun in the
other. When the defendant saw the witness he offered
him a pint of ale to say nothing about it. Henry Gibbs,
a labourer, was called who proved the above facts. Mr.
Waldron addressed the Bench for the defence, and said
the defendant was a reformed man and as the case had
occurred so long buck he hoped the case would be with-
drawn on payment of costs and so give him another
chance. A great number of convictions were proved
against the defendant and the Bench, in consideration
of the defendant's better charaster, only fined him lOs
and costs and cautioned him.

CHARGE OF TRESPASS.—Enoch Brettle, Eli Cooksey
Joseph Johnson, and Henry Holloway were charged
with trespassing on land, at Swindon, in the occupation
of John Whitehouse, and the property of the Earl of
Dudley, on the 10th inst. Mr. Holberton appearedito
prosecute. Thomas Munday, keeper to the Earl of
Dudley, said about four he was under a hedge when he
saw a trap coming down the road when it stopped. He
saw Cooksey take a gun, let it go off, and shot at a
pheasant but he did not kill the pheasant. He then
got into the trap, went some distance, and it stopped a
second time. Cookaey got out of the trap and shot at
another pheasant, which was not killed. The trap was then
round and witness went for the police and whoa he re-
turned he met all the defendants in a trap. Johnson
pulled a bullet out of bis pocket and said "This is the
-- which killed them with." Police-constable Wood-
cock said from information received from the last wit-
ness he saw all three of the defendants in a trap. He
a6ked them to stop till the keeper came up and they
said they had not seen a keeper. At that time Johnson
and Holloway got out the trap and said " Drive away
like mad and the man in the cart commenced to beat
the horse with the butt end of the whip and drove
away. Mr. Bowen, of Bilston, defended Holloway and
contended that there was no trespass proved according
to the evidence given. If there was any shooting at all
it was from the turnpike road and therefore there was
no trespass. The Magistrates said they had given the
case their very careful consideration and they believed
the witnesses for the prosecution. Supposing they had
shot from the turnpike road they were liable as the
turnpike road belonged to the Lord of the Manor, and
tinea each of the defendants 203 and costs ; in default
twe,ty-eight days.
OUT-DOOR LICENSE.-51r. Holberton applied to the
Bench for au application on behalf of John Petford to
sell beer oil the premises. The usual notices were
proved also the value of the property, and the application
was granted.
This WORKING HOURS OF Locat COLLIERS.—During
the past few days there have been meetings of colliers
in :south Staffordshire and East Worcestershire districts
to consider the movements of the masters as to the
alteration Of hours. In every instance the meetings,
whether mass or delegate, have unanimously agreed to
reject any plan by which the hours of labour in the pits
are sought to be increased in number. Judging from
the feeling displayed by the speakers and men in the
Dudley district, the question is one upon which colliers
are disposed to suffer and sacrifice more than upon all
others. Low wages, they say, are inevitable, and must
be now and again accepted; but to return to twelve
hours' labour in is close and vitiated atmosphere is not
to be thought of, and from the resolute tone
of the resolutions passed it seems as though
any real determination on the part of the masters to
enforce a change would lead to a disastrous strike. The
men also ask what is the use of lengthening the period
of work per day when half their number are unemployed
and the half at work are not making full time, To this
it is replied that extra hours will ease the dead ex-
penses, and an alteration of stints and shifts do much to
tacilitate business. Whatever decision the proposed
meeting arrive at, it is quite certain that the colliers will
not give up the eight hours system without a bitter
struggle.—On Tuesday afternoon last, a committee
meeting of coalmasters and colliers was held at the
Dudley Arms Hotel, Dudley. Mr. N. F. Smith (Lord
Dudley's principal mine agent) occupied the chair, and
there was a full meeting. The following resolution was
proposed by the Chairman, and seconded by Mr. Gethin
—" That if the men agree to work an additional hour 6d
per day shall be added to the wages of the thick coal
colliers and 3d per day to the thin coal colliers; sad as
this would involve a deviation from the present agree-
ment, the masters, on their part, agree that for three
months from the date of agreement no reduction shall
be made although the price of Lord Dudley's furnace
coal may be reduced; in all other respects the agreement
to remain force." IA was then agreed that the meeting
should be adjourned until the delegates had had an
opportunity of seeing and consulting the men. The sth
November was fixed for the next meeting.--On Tuesday
night a meeting of the delegates and agents was held at
the Angel Inn, Castle Street, and it was agreed that, as
the business was so momentous, no resolution ought to
be come to, but that the whole business should be laid
before the men for decision, The districts represented
were West Bromwich, Dudley, Old Hill, Darlaston, and
Brierley Hill.