The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-06-08 00:00:00

tli re hid been 51 deaths, and the desth-rate was 255
per 1,000 per annum. The epidemic of measles was on
the decrease, but „scarlatina of a very malignant type
still existed in the parish. Chest diseases accounted for
one in five of the total number of deaths.—Mr. Beasley,
in his report of the upper district, mentioned the
existence of several zymotic diseases, and urged the
necessity of sanitary movement, especially as regarded
defective drainage and impure water.

OLD HILL.
A HANDSOME GIFT TO OLD HILL —Mr. G. A.. Haden
Best, the chairman of the Old Hill Constitutional

Association, has intimated his intention of making a
handsome present to the inhabitants of Old Hill. The
place has long felt the want of a public room in which
meetings could be held and entertainments given; and it
is moreover, without anything in the shape of reading
rooms. The necessity of a public building in the town
will be understood from the fact that the Magistrates
hold their sittings at a public-house, and the Local and
School Boards hsve no suitable accommodation. The

generosity of Mr. Best, therefore, in presenting to the
place a public hall, at a cost of £5,000, cannot fail
to be appreciated. The plans of the proposed building,

which will be an architectural ornament to the town

were presented to the Local Board on Monday, and of
course be passel with the utmost unanimity, The build-
ing will ine'ule a lecture roam, library, workmen's read-
ing room, refreshment bar, depot for the sale of
literary publications, caretaker's home, and other con-
v,niences.

APPLICATION FOR BEER LICENSES.-At the Police
Court, on Wednesday, bef )re Messrs. Hingley and
Watson, the following applications for beer licenses to
sell off the premises were made :—William Mumford,
supported by Mr. Stokes, granted ; John Darby, sup-
ported by Mr. Oldershaw, adjourned for 14 days; Allen
Btooks, Blackheath, supported by Mr. W. S. Hayes,
adjourned for .14 days ; Andrew Harris, supported by
Mr. W. S. Hayes, refused on the ground that it was not

sufficiently rated.
naysFEns.--The following transfers took place:—
The Neptune Inn, Cradley Heath, from the executors
of John Tibbitts to Eliza Raybould ; Crown and Anchor
Inn, Cradley Heath, from Joseph Price to David
Bridges ; British Oak, Garratt's Lane, Old Hill, from
Joseph Foley, deceased, to Priscilla Foley ; the Blue
Ball, the Brade 3, from Ann Amplies to the executors of
Philip Johnson.
CHARGE OF THREAT3.—SOIOMOR Davies was charged

with using threats to James Howard, on the 25th ult.
The threat complained of was that he would knock his
brains out.—A. witness corroborated and defendant

was bound over in his own recognizauces to keep the
peace for six months —A similar charge was preferred
against Henry Hughes for threatening Matilda Round.
on the 12th November last.—The case was withdrawn on
defendant promising not to use any more threats and
paying costs.
DRUNK AND DisORDERLV —William Harris was charged
with being drunk and disorderly, on the 27th ult.—
Police constable McGorty proved the case and defendant
was fined 2s 6d and costs; in default 14 days.—Edward
Hill was charged with being drunk and disorderly. at
Quarry Bank, on the 15th September last.—Police-con-
stable Himan proved the case and said that the defend-
ant went away although be was summoned to attend
at the Brierley Hill Police Court. Defendant nailed
the summons against the wall and it was there all day on
Sunday and defendant afterwards abscanded. Defeed-
ant was farther charged with using threatening language
to James Oates, on the same date.—Complainant said
the defendant threatened to shoot him and defendant
was a very bad character.—For being drunk and dis-
orderly defendant was fined 20s and costs ; in default
21 days. The charge of threats was 'dismissed.
SERIOUS ASSAULT CASE.—Stephen Payne was charged
with assaulting Levi Law, on the 29th ult.—Mr.
Addison appeared to prosecute, and Mr. Hayes defended.
—Complainant, who lives at Rowley, said that on the
day in question he went into Mr-. Morris's house to
have a glass of ale. A man named Walker was there
and several others. He tole Walker in a joke that he
would tell his missis when Payne said he should take it
up and said that he must go out. Defendant caught
hold of him by the muffler, threw him down and dragged
him out of the house. When he was out defendant
kicked him about the body and head inflicting a severe
wound on the head. He gave the defendant no provoca-
tion. A man named Jinks cried shame on the defend•
ant. Cross-examined : The defendant is Mrs. Morris's
brother. I have not been ordered out of the house
through misconduct. I did not call Walker a liar. I
was not ordered out by the landlord but defendant put
me out. I did not strike defendant first.—William
Jinks, stone cutter, said he was at Mr. Morris's public•
house, the Malt Shovel, on the above date. Complain-
ant came into the house for a glass of ale and defendant
ordered complainant out of the house and because he
would not go defendant struck him and threw him on the
floor and dragged him out of the, house. He did not
go outside to see what was done.—Joseph Taylor gave
corroborative evidence.—Mr. Haves, for the defence,
said that the defoadant was in the house and was drunk.
He was ordered out and he refused to go and the land-
lady had often ordered him out and she did so on the
present occasion. The injury he received on the head
was caused by the complainant falling down on the
fender and done in a wrestle with the defendant. Had
complainant gone out when he was requested it would
not have happened and complainant had brought it upon
imself.—There was a charge against Levi Law for being
disorderly on licensed premises, on the 28th nit, and
refusing to quit when requested.—Stephen Law said he
was employed by Tamar Morris, his sister, to assist her
at her house. She ordered him out of the house and
sent for the police. Defendant relived to leave and
he went towards him to put him out when Law struek
him, and they then had a wrestle and fell down. He then
caught hold tof the defendant by his muffler and
dragged him out of the house, but he did not kick him
on the head.—Other witnesses were called for the de-
fence to prove that the defendant Law was disorderly
and struck Payne first in the first case.—The Bench
considered it an unjustifiable assault and fined Payne
40s and costs ; in default one month. The charge of
'refusing to quit they should dismiss as the man was in
the act of leaving when requested
VIOLENT ASSAULT.—Benjamin Poole, John Bate, and
Samuel Lowe were charged with assaulting Benjamin
Westwocd, on the Ist inst.—Mr. NV. S. Hayes defended.
—Complainant said as he Was returning home to Black-
heath he heard the cries of a woman calling " Murder."
He went to see what was the matter and he found Poole
beating a woman. He told him not to beat the woman
when Poole and the other two defendants set about him,
knocked him down, and beat and kicked him in a violent
manner until he became insensible. When he came to
himself he found he was in the house.—Eliza Faulkener
said about eleven o'clock she was in the act of going to
bed when she heard her father's voice in the street.
Poole struck her father and knocked him into the
gutter. She told him not to do that again when Poole
struck her on the side, threw her into the gutter and
commenced beating her, Benjamin Westwood came up
and said .1 don't kill the waman."—Other witnesses gave
corroborative evidence. Defendants were further
charged with assaulting Eliza Faulkener, on the same
date.—Joseph Faulkener corroborated what his daught, r
had said.—The defence was that Eliza Faulkener first
struck Poole with a piece of brick in her hand and cut
his eye.—The Bench considered the cases proved and
fined Poole 20s and costs in each case ; Bates 20s and
costs ; in default 21 days for assaulting Westwood, and
. I the cases against Lowe were dismissed.