The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-05-31 00:00:00

BRIERLEY HILL.

DRUNK AND DISORDEELY.—At the Police Court,
on Monday last, before Messrs. F. Evers and L.
Freer, George Lashford, forgernan, was charged
with being drunk and disorderly, on the 19th inst.
Police-constable Hicklin proved the case and said
the defendant was making a great noise. Fned 2s
6d and cots.—George Bate, a collier, was charged
with being drunk and disorderly at Kingswinford,
on the night of the 19th inst. Police-constable
Hicklin proved the case and said the defendant
was very drunk, and had a knife in his band, and
said that he would drive the knife into some one.
The defence was that a big dog had been running
about the place, and he pulled out the knife to run
into him, as the dog had fled at several persons.
The officer was recalled and said that the defendant
said he should run the knife into some one. Fined
108 and costs.—John Williams and Evan Williams
were charged with being drunk c.nd disorderly at
Brockmoor, on the 23rd inst. Police-constable
Lafford said that he was sent for to a public-house
to turn the two defendants out. They refused to
go for some time, and threatened him, saying they
did not mind doing a month. John Williams was
fined 5s and costs, and Evan Williams who did not
appear, was fined 10s and costs.
DONKEY STRAYING.—WiIIiam Collins was charged
with allowing a donkey to stray on the highway,
on the 19th inst. Police-constable White proved
the case. The charge was withdrawn on promising
not to offend again, as he was a cripple.—John
Pleass was charged with allowing a donkey to stray
on the highway, on the 19th inst. The case was
proved by Police constable White. Defendant
pleaded guilty. Withdrawn on payment of costs.
CHARGE OF HAWKING WITHOUT A LICENSE.
John Lovell was charged with hawking at Brierley
Hill, on the 26th ult., without a license. Police-
constable Lafford proved the case, and defendant
was fined is and costs; in default 7 days.
ASSAULT Casa.—Mark Wassall alias "Nobby,”
was charged with assaulting Thomas Ev us on the
20th inst. Complainant said that he was in the
Lion Inn, having some refreshments, when the
defendant challenged him to fight He refused to
do so, and left the hou-e. When about forty yards
from the public-house, defendant came behind him,
struck him, and knocked him down, and he got up
and struck the'defendaut again. Defeniant then
struck him a violent blow, and knocked him down
insensible; Mary Inn Smith said she saw the
defendant follow Evans, strike him, and knock him
down. The defence was that the complainant
challenged him to fight, and. the defendant pulled
off his coat to fight and they had a round or two in
the street. A long list of convictions against the
defendant were proved, and he was fined lOs and
costs.
Womnfes' Quananns.—Susannah Wilson and
Edith Whittaker were charged with assaulting
Mary Ann Cowhorn on the 20th inst. From the
evidence of complainant it appears that some
quarrel took place between the parties children.
Complainant remonstrated with the defendants,
when they both set about her, pulled her hair, and
blackened her eye. She did not strike again. For
the defence, Mrs. Wilson denied striking complain-
ant, and said that her daughter, Mrs. Whittaker,
fought with the complainant. Police-sergeant
Hinton was called and said that Mrs. Cowhorn
made a complaint to him of the injuries she had
received from the defendants. He had also com-
plaints of the defendants encouraging boys to play
at cards in their house. Their characters were bad.
The complainant was a respectable person. Fined
5s each; in default 14 days.
STFALING PHEASANTS EGGS.—Four men flamed
Powell, Salt, Reuben Turner, and John Turner,
were charged with stealing from a nest on the 11th
inst. thirteen eggs, the property of Earl Dudley,
the ;and being in the occupation of Mr. Perry. Mr.
Holberton, prosecuted, and Mr. Waldron defejided.
Thomas Williams, rabbit catcher to Earl Stamford,
said he was at Camp Lane, Worabourn, on the
above date, Saw all the defendants there. Saw
Powell pick up the eggs and put them into his
pocket. and said, "Let's make a clear job of it."
If the " bobby " came along the road, one was to
whistle. He followed Powell and asked him for
the eggs. He said they did not belong to witness
but gave them to him. They were thirt2enin num-
ber, and pheasants eggs. Cross-examined: I did
go to Readdy, a keeper, in the employ of Earl
Dudley, and went with him and the defendants to
the place where the defendants said they had
picked up the eggs. Readdy claimed the eggs as
Earl Dudley's. I did say, I don't care who they
belong to, I mean to have them. Readdy has the
eggs in his possession. John Williams, keeper to
Earl t•tamford, gave similar evidence. Mr. Wal-
dron on behalf of the defendants, addressed he
Bench for the defence at considenOle length con-
tending that no offence was committed, that the
defendants were out walking, they found the eggs,
and took them to Earl Dudley's keeper. The
magistrates retired into the private room to con-
sider the case, and on returning Mr. F. Evers said
they had decided to convict. The Magistrates
fined Powell, who had been convicted before, 10s
and costs; each of the others being fined 5s and
costs.

THE CHARGE OF EMBEZZLEMENT....JOhn Hand,
commercial traveller, of Stourbridge, appeared on
remand charged with embezzling various sums of
money belonging to his employer, Herbert
Humphries.—Mr. Holberton, on behalf of the
prisoner, asked for his discharge as there was no
evidence to make it a criminal matter.—Mr.
Waldron, who prosecuted, said he had made that
discovery.—The magistrates allowed the charge to
be withdrawn.