The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-06-07 00:00:00

THE STOURISRIDGE OBSIERVER.

The relative value of the health of all
these different :classes is a matter of the
highest possible consequence, not only to
themselves individually, but to the whole of
the body politic. The health of the mem-
bers of the first or professional . class, as is
indicated by the value of its life, varies to a
degree that could scarcely be expected in
its different members. In the second divi-
sion the return of mortality is more favour-
able than might have been expected. The
representatives of the agricultural clads ex-
hibit, on the whole, a healthy condition in
connection with their laborious pursuits.
The experience of all times has indeed been
in favour of this view, and no observation is
more commonly made than that the workers
in the fields are amongst the healthiest of
the human rate. Some of the commercial
community present a favourable condition
of health; others the very reverse. The
range of mortality N in this class an ex-
tremely wide one, and amongst the most
striking differences that may be noted are
those which relate to ',grocers and drapers.
They live, as a rule, under similar social
conditions; yet the mortality of the draper
is very considerably higher than that of his
fellow tradesman. But the industrial class
presents throughout almost all its ranks an
unfavourable condition in respect to the
value of life. Of the health of the indefinite
class of the population, less is known of a
certainty; but as a general rule those who
live from hand to month are short-liv3d.
There is ranch in this subject to arrest the
attention of the sanitary as well as the social
reformer. Such questions, lying outside
the pale of party politics, are peculiarly fit
to be dealt with at a time when no great
political or ecclesiastical topic or controversy
is before the people. The latter have now
slumbered for some years, giving the Legis-
lature an admirable opportunity for listening
to the plea of the sanitary and social re-
former a plea which will not be heal d
above the din of party strife when political
and ecclesiastical questions once more come
to the front to be dealt with.

PITCH AND Toss.—George James Badger, a youth
was charged with playing at pitch and toss on the,
highway, on the Ist inst., at Wollescote. Police-
constable Widdows proved the case. Defendant
pleaded guilty. Fined ls and costs; in default 7
nava. _ _

Ditumussims.—/ohn Wooldridge was char„ed
with being drunk, at Clent, on the Ist inst. Kolice•
constable Wallacs proved the offence. Defendant
pleaded guilty. Two previous convictions were
proved against the defendant, and he 'vas fined lOs
and costs; in default one month's imprisonment.—
Thomas Wooldridge, nailmaker, was charged with
being drunk and disorderly at the Lys, on the 2nd
inst. Police-sergeant Payne and Police-constable
Widdows proved the offence. Fined Os and costs; in
.default 14 dsys.—Henry Amos was charged with a
similar offence at the Lye. Police-sergeant Payne
proved the case, and defendant was fined 5s and costs.
—Edwin Grin was charged- with being drunk on
the 29th ult while in charge of a horse and trap.
Police-constable Hollingsworth proved that he found
the defendant in charge of a horse and trap. De-
fendant was very drunk, Fined 10s and costs.—
Anthony Reddy was charged with being drink in the
public streets on the 25th ult.—Police-constable
Eaves proved the case. Fined 2s 6d and costs.
NON-PATILENT OV IMPROVEMENT RATES—Edwin
Rickards, builder, was summoned for non-payment
of improvement rates .£1 7s Od. James Hipkins
proved that the amount was due and not paid. The
defendant did Inot appear, and the Bench made an
order for payment, and costs.
DONKEY STRAYING.—CharIes Tandy was charged
with allowing a d ,nkey to stray at Clent, on the
28th ult. Police-constable Wallace proved the
offence. Adjourned for a week for the attendance
of the defendant. _ _

_
ASSAULT CASE.—Elijah Freeman, of the Lye,
was charged with assaulting Joseph Walters on the
3rd inst. Complainant said he was at Careless
Green on the above date talking to some neigh-
bour when defendant came up to him and, without
any provocation struck him several times, and
knocked him down. Thomas Crampton said that
he saw the defendant strike complainant in a most
brutal manner, and knock .him down, and while
down defendant kicked him several times. Witness
had to go and interfere for it made his flc sh
The defence was that complainant first struck him
and they both fought. The Bench considered the
ca-4e proved and fined defendant lOs and costs; in
default one months imprisonment.
CHARGE OF VAGRANCY. George Price was
charged with begging in the town on the sth inst.
Police-constable Medley said that he saw the de-
fendant begging from house to house. He found
some buns, bread, and meat, and 7id in coppers on
defendant. Defendant denied begging, and he was
discharged on promising to leave the town at once.
CHARGE OF EMBEZZLEXENT. —At the Police
Court, on Tuesday, William Chamberlain, formerly
a clerk in the employ of the Talbot Hotel Company,
was charged with embezzling £3. odd,
the monies of the company. Prisoner absconded
about two months ago, and nothing was heard of
him till last week, when he was discovered at Alder-
shot, his arrest being due to the fact of his giving
evidence in a case of felony there. He was re-
manded till yesterday, when he was again brought
up. Mr. Collis appeared to prosecute. Joseph
Payne, a porter, in the employ of Messrs. Harwards,
Shepherd and Mills, said that he received £3 6s. Od.
to pay the Talbot Hotel Company, and gave the
account to Mr. Bill. He could not say the bill pro-
duced was the same, nor could he swear to the
prisoner. Joseph Mills, manager of the posting
department at the Talbot Hotel, said it was the duty
of the prisoner to make out all accounts and receive
them. There was no account of .£3 6s. Od. paid on
the 6th of March by Messrs. Harwards, Shepherd,
and Mills. The receipt was in the handwriting
of the prisoner. The balance sheet of the 6th of
March did not show the sum of £3 6s. Od. as having
been received.—Police-constable Morgan proved
apprehending the prisoner at Aldershot and reading
the warrant to him. Prisoner made no reply. On
being charged prisoner pleaded guilty. Mr. Collis
said tbere were other charges against the prisoner,
but they did not Rot propose to go on with them.
The directors did not wish to press heavily. Col.
Fletcher remarked that the case was a very serious
one, and as the directors did not press for full
penalty, they should sentence him to three
mouths hard labour.