The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-02-02 00:00:00

BRIERLEY HILL.

DRUNKENNESS.—At the Police Court, on Monday,
before Colonel Fletcher, Messrs. H. Hall, L. Freer, H.
Smith, and G. K. Harrison, James Husselbee, a glass-
blimer, was charged with bring drunk and disorderly,
at Ambleeote, on the 22nd ult.—Police-constable Evans
said he was on duty at Amblecote on the night of the
22nd ult, about half•past nine o'clock. He met defend-
ant who was drunk and leaning on his wife's arm. Wnen
defendant saw witness he told him to go off the footpath
an when witness told him there was plenty of room for
both of them to pass defendant said he did not care for
a b-- policernan.—Defendant said he was not
ietoxicated or discrlerly and the same night he went to
work at the gla.sshouse. If he had been drunk he could
not have done his work that bight and to prove that he
did his work in a projer manner he would produce his
wages sheet.—Elizate'h Ru sselbee, wife of defendant,
said she was with her husband on the night in question
and he was sober. After he went home with her he
had to go to work.—George Parker was called and said
he saw defendant at nine o'clock at Mr. Parkes's the
Rising Sun, Amblecote, and at that time defendant was
sober.—George Scott said defendant came to his work
on the night of the 22nd shortly after twelve o'clock and
at that tim i defendant was perfectly sober and
dil his were in such a manner that he
must have been sober.—The Bench were of opinion
that there was a doubt in the ease and they should give
the defendent the benefit of it, but as they were in-
formed that defendant was in the habit of insulting the
police when he met them they would tell him that if he
was brought before them on that charge he would be
severely punished,—Defeadant said he would not speak
to the officer when he met him.

THRATRICAL LICVINSE.—Mr. HOlbertoll applied on
behalf of Mr. Josiah Beckley, as representative of the
Brierley Hill Local Board, for a twelve mouths theatrical
license for the Town Hall, Brierley Hill.—The license
was granted. Messrs. J. Evans and T. Price were
sureties.

EXCISE PROSECUTION.—WiIIiam Dovey, a labourer, of
California, Kingswinford, was charged with killing a
hare without a license, on the 20th November last.—
Louis Sproson, an under gamekeeper to the Earl of
Dudley, wes concealed behind a hedge about seven
o'clock a.rn when he heard defendant and others come
ep to within a short distance of him, and after waiting
somo little time a hare ran past which Dovey shot at and
kilted. It was picked up by one of his companions and
they all ran away, witness following, and the hare being
dropped he secured it.—Defendant, who did not appear,
was fined the mitiAated penalty of £5.
COAL STEALER3.—TWO lads named Joseph Parkes and
Isaiah Parkes were charged with stealing a quantity of
coal, the property of the Earl of Dudley. on the 14th
ult.—Thomas Aston, machine clerk, proved seeing both
defendants take coal ftom a bank at the Wallows
Colliery on the above date.—The defendant Isaiah who
is only nine years of age was discharged after a severe
reprimand from the Bench, and the other defendant
was sentenced to receive six strokes with tile birch
rod.

DAMAGING A Wffinow.—Two lads named George
Roberts and Edwin Ball were charged with wilf oily
damaging a window, the property of Charles Wiggin.
—On the application of complainant's wife the case
was adjourned for a %seek for the production of evi-
dence.

OBiTRUCTiNG TELE FOOTPATII.—A. lad named John
Turberfield was charged with obstructing the free
passage of a highway, on the 14th nit, at brockmoor
Police-constable Lafford said the defendant was a per-
fect nuisance to the neighbour:ieod. On the above
date he was in High Street, 13rwkrnoor, cursing and
swearing and got a crowd of people round him. Witness
ordered him to go away but in about ten minutes after-
wards he again saw defendant with a lot of people round
him. Defendant told witness he would not go for any
b-- policeman. He had been to Stafford before anu
he could go again.—Defendant pleaded guilty and was
fined 5s and costs; in default 14 days.
- ASSAULTING A GIRL—Two young men named Job
Grice and John.Haurocks were charged,with indecently
assaulting Annie Beckley, 011 the 14th alt.—Prosecu.
trix, a girl 13 years of age, said on the night of the
above date about eight o'clock she went to veet her
mother at the Town Hall and and as she was going
along High- Street, Brierley Hill, the two defe.,dants
met her. liancocks eaught hold of her and said "let's
have a kiss" and Grice put his hands up her clothes
in an indecent manner.—Qrisoners said they came out
of Grice's house and as it was dark thcy did not see
prosecutrix and knocked against her but cud not ass-ult
her.—The charge was altered to one of common assault
and prisoners were tech Rued 40s and costs; in delimit
two months' hard labour.

POAcatria CAsii.—Enoch Hickman, labourer, was
charged with using a dog for the purpose of taking
game, at Wombouru, On the 12th ult.—Charles Mereditui
gamekeeper in the employ of the Earl of Dudley, said
he saw defendant and five others iu a field at Camp
Hill, Wombourn, on the above date. Defeialaut had a
dog and as soon as the dog saw a hare he started after
it but did not catch it. %I hen the men saw witness they
ran away but he followed and caught defendant who
gave witness his wrong naine.—Defendant said he had
the dog fastened with a string and when the animal saw
the hare he broke away and followed it but did not catch
it,—Defendant was severely reprimanded by the
Bench and fined lOs and cuts ; ii defautt fourteen
days.
A LIVELY CHARACTER. —Samuel Gibson, a deaf and
dumb wan, was charged with wilfully damaging a win-
dow, the property at Mary Furness, at I'ensnett.—i2o ri-
plainant said defendant was very disorderly in her
house, the Lion Hotel, Pensnett, on the above date and
she ordered him out. As he would not go she put him
out and when he got outside. he came back anq broke
the window with his hand. The datuaga done amounted
to Bs.—A number of previous convimions were pruyed
by two officers and defendant, who did not appear, Was
ti,d :Os, 8s damage and costs; in default one month,'
hind

A, YOUNG VAGABOND.—A lad named William D,akin,
apparently about 17 years of age, was charged with
irdecently assaulting a child named .13.,inuati snearmau
aged 9, on the 24ih ult.—the little girl said she had
been to Wolaston Road. Schools with her sister on the
above date, ani as she was retufhing home aboth, five
o'clock along the canal side she saw prisoner who
caught hold of liar, threw her dowu indecently, exposed
himself to her, and would no doubt have succeeded in
committing a rape on her if she had not screamed out.
Her s.ster also screamed and ran to tell her mother.
When she screamed out prisoner said the more you
scream the worse it will be for you "—line mother of
prosecutrix said the children came home on the above
date and they were both crying and complained of an
assaul t having been committed on them.—James Pardoe,
spa ie maker, said pri6oiler worked for him on the above
date and he sent him along the canal side for some
shovels but he, went bult without them.—Prisoner
pleaded not guilty.—The charge was altered to one of
aggravated assault and prisoner was sentenced to three
months' hard labour, the Bench remarking that it was
a most serious case.

THE QUARRY BANK WOBBLERS.—Williani Pegg and
Thomas Skidmore, sons-in-law of tho man Homer who
was fined last week, were charged with seiling in-
toxicating liquor without a license, on the 23rd
December and further charged with selling it on the
25th December.—Mr. Addiseu appeared to prosecute,
and Mr. Waldron defended.—Pollee-sergeant Hinton
said he was concealed on the 23rd liecctnber and saw
41 people go in the direction of the defendants pre-
mises. One of the men went with au empty bottle
and when he came back it appeared to be tilled. 'There
were several drunken men amongst those who went in
and cut of either Homer's, Pegg's, and Skidmere's
houses. On Christmas day he was again concealed and
saw 42 persons go backwards and forwards to the rear of
the same premises.—Police-constable Hollins corro-
borated Sergeant Hinton.—Police-sergeaut Lavin, who
was concealed in front of the houses, said he saw
people drinking in both defendantsahouses and on visit-
lug Skidmore'a found it fitted up with a screen like a
puhlic.house. 'l:he men were drinking out of cups at
Skidmore's.—Police-coeetable Evans corroborated Ser-
geant Lavin.—Ann Bloomer, who reeides in a house
adjoiring Homer's Bait she had seen men drinking in
each of defendants bousee and had seen drink taken in
cans from Skidmore's to Houier's..—Superiatendent
Woollaitoa said he visited Skidmore's house on the
25th December and in the cellar found an eighteen
gallon cask about half full of ale and another half gallon
cask partly filled with porter, four half pint cups, one
pint cup, a glass, and a quart jug. On visitiug Pegg's
house he found an empty barrel, tap and tundish, two
glasses, a half gallon bottle, aid a two gallon bottle.
On the cellar door there were about thirty chalk marks
similar to those seen in public-houses—After Mr.
‘Valdron's speech in which he contended that there was
no evideece against Pegg, the bench said they had care-
considered the case and found it proved against
Skidmore on li,th charges and fined him £3-and costs
in each case ; in default six weeks' imprisonment in each
case and Pegg was discharged.
A LICEN,ED V.WIUALLER HEAVILY FINED.—At the
Police Court on Thursday, before Mr. Spooner, Henry
Dance, landlord of the Brickmakers' Arm;, Penenett,
was charged with permitting gambling on the 17th
Pelice-coustable egraskia said he was ou duty in
plain clothes, and saw Dance playing at cards with three
men for a quart of ale. After the game was over he saw
the ale brought in and paid for. Police.constable Keenan
gave corroborative evidence. Ur. Waldron, for the de-
fence, called the defendant and his wife who both swore
that there was no card playing in the house. He only
took 51. that day. Defendant was fined £5 and costa,
and his-license was ordered to be endorsed- 'lc