The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-09-14 00:00:00

HALES OWEN.

THE STORM.—During the heavy storm on Sunday
last the lightning struck the wall which forme part of
the New Inn, and some 30 feet of it were hurled down a
bank for a considerable distance. A great deal of
damage was done in various parts of the village owing to
the rain.

GENERAL LICENSING SESSION.—At the Police Court,
on Tuesday, before Messrs. J. Watson, B Phillips, and
J. S. Gibbons. The only applications made were by
John Green Smart, grocer and dealer in spirits, Elagley
Street, Halesowen ; and Edward Sturman, Maltmill
Lane grocer and retailer of beer off the premises. Mr.
Smart was already the holder of a dealer's license, and
having complied with the necessary formalities a retail
wine and spirit license was granted to hina.—Mr. Hayes
appeared for Mr. Sturman, who asked for a full license.
—lt was opposed by Mr. Addison, whose contention was
that it was not required by the public.—The Bench
refused the license:—The annual report of Superinten-
dent Kemp was that within the division there were 53
alehouses, 18 beerhouses, and 8 out-door licen es.
Since the licensing meeting held the 28th ot August,
1877, two licensed victuallers had been summoned for
keeping open during prohibited hours, one being fined
and the other dismissed on payment of costs. Thirty.
five persons had been charged with drunkenness, 31 of
whom were fined.. In 1876 the nstaaber charged was 67,
and in 1877 56.

A CALM lON TO CATTLE OWNERS. John Carless,
Coombes Lane, Halesowen, was charged with contra-
vening the statute by conveying a diseased animal
tb rough the public streets.—On th 9 15th ult, the Cattle
Inbpector found two cows on defendant's premises, one
of which was slaughtered in consequence of being
infected with pleuro-pneumonia. On the 23rd nit, Mr.
Kemp, who had cautioned defendant not to remove the
remaining cow, found him driving it through the street.
—Tile Bench reprehended defendant for his dangerous
act, and fined him £1 and costs
ADULTERATING ALE.—John Smith, landlord of the
Bull's dead Inn, Halesowen, was summoned on a charge
il adulterating his ale with salt. A sample was pur
chased from him on the 19th ult.and on being analysed
by Dr. Swete, of Worcester, was found to contain 109
grains of salt per gallon,—Defendant pleaded he simply
used a little salt to improve his liquor as the malt was
bad.—The Magistrates told him toe law did not allow
this, and they were compelled to fine him; but as he
bore a respectable character the penalty would be but
58 and costs.

CHARGE OF ADULTERATING MILK. - Alice Moore,
milkaeller, Cornbow, Halesowen, was fined 103 and
costs for selling milk adulterated with 10 per cent, of
water.

CHARGE OF INTIMIDATION BY NAILERS.—Fiye women
named respectively Alice Coley, Elizabeth Adams, Sarah
Holloway, Sarah Holt, and Elizabeth Green, nailers on
strike, were charged with unlawfully intimidating
Amelia Homer, nailer, with intent to commit her to
sustain from work.—The complainant said her husband
had been at work during the strike since its commence-
ment, and she herself began working at making nails on
fuesday last. On Monday night a mob of nailers
assembled and broke the windows of their house, and on
Inesday crowds of which the defendants were the ring-
leaders, hooted and threatened them; while a number
of whistles were bought and supplied to children to be
blown for their amusement. On Wednesday the mob
awl a drum and a bell, and continued " blackguarding"
them outside the house, the defendants again taking a
leading part in the proceedings. Holloway, in par-
ticular, said "Fetch 'em out of the house and kill 'em,"
and the actions and words used were such that witness
was afraid of some bodily injury, while her husband was
afraid tbat morning to leavelthe house to come to the
court.—Mr. Hayes, who appeared for the defendants,
asked the Bench whether, admitting all the women had
said was true, it amounted to a case of intimidation ?
The Magistrates' Clerk : Oh l There's no doubt about
that.—Mr. Hayes then proceeded to urge that the dis-
turbances were not caused by the defendant, bat mesaly
by children. He called witnesses in support of this, but
one of them was stated to be herself a prime mover in
" mobbing " the complainant.—The Bench eventually
considered there was not the slightest doubt that intimi-
dation did take place.—Mr. Hayes said he had poitned
to the defendants that they did wrong, and asked the
Bench if a caution would not be sufficient, as they were
so poor.—Mr. Watson (chairman of the Bench) said the
Bench had taken that into considecation otherwise they
should have dealt much more severely with the cases
than they now intended. They wished the defendants
and their companions to understand clearly their posi-
tion. Everybody had the right to endeavour to get the
best price for their labour, and for that purpose to
take it to the best market, but they must allow the same
rights to other people. What they had done was highly
improper, and had tain them open to a penalty of
£2O, or three months' imprisoment with hard labour.—
the Bench would deal very leniently with them on this
occasion—they would be fined 2s firt and costs; but they
must bear in mind that if any similar cases were in
future brought before the Bench they would be dealt
with most severely.