The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-09-17 00:00:00

11,Coca1 anb istnct":tictirs.

BOARD OF GUARDIANS,

The weekly meeting of this Board was held
yesterday; Mr. Granger in the chair. There
were also present :—Messrs. Brooks, Fereday,
Billingham Bird, Burr. Guest, Oliver. Plant.
Powell, Rhodes, and Rollinson. The minutes
of the last meeting were read and confirmed.
Admitted into the house during the week, 21 ;
born, 0; dead. 0; discharged, ; remaining,
389. Corresponding week last year, 402. Out-
door relief, Kingswinford district, £42 Os 3d;
Stourbridge district, 1:23 14s Old ; Halesowen
district, £25 lie 2d; total, £9l lls 51d, against
91 us 7d last year.
Mr. Finney reported that lie had visited the
brook at Wordsley, and found that the nuisance
had been abated except in two eases, and he had
served them with notices. From remarks made
by some of the lumbers, it appears that there
still exists a nuisance, and that it arises more
from Mr. Hand's premises than from Mr. Cha-
mberlain's. _ .

After some further discussion, the subject
dropped.
Mr. Plant remarked that there was a call upon
the Overseers for .e 9,000. On looking, he
found that the greater part was paid by the
Kingswinford district, viz.. £4,975, and that hut
11 Ouardians were sent to the Board from that
district, whilst the district which did not pay so
much sent 20 members. He thought thatrather
unfair, and suggested that there should be a bet-
ter equalisation of the districts.
No order was made.

ODD FELLOWS TESTLMONIAL TO MSS. COCH
hatnt.—Our readers will recollect that in July
last the Odd Fellows of the Stourbridge district
M.U. (by the kind permission of Mrs. Cochrane)
held their Annual Etc in the Heath Park, OH
which occasion the handsome sum of i'.llo pro-
fit was realised for the Fond. In consid-
eration of the kindnet“ shown by Mrs. Cochrnte
to the order, it one determined to present to that
lady some small token to mark their apprecia-
tion of Mrs. Cochrane's good feeling towards
them. The result was that Mr. E. Stringer,
silversmith, was instructed to obtain a despatch
box, which he accordingly procured, and it is a
neat piece of workmanship, being very hand-
some. Monday last was the day appointed for
making the presentation. and Mr. W. Edwards
and Mr. H. Jewkes, were selected as the depu-
tation for that purpose. Mr. Edwards, in pre-
senting the testimonial, said : Mrs. Cochrane,
Mr. Jukes, as Hon. See., and myself, as Chair-
man of the Committee for earryin); out the Odd
Fellows' Fete, are deputed by them to present
you with this inkstand, gold pen, and pencil
case, as a small tribute of respect, of which we
beg your acceptance, for your kindness in grant-
jng the use of the Park for their Fete, and for
your condescension and liberality in taking
tickets on the occasion to support so good a
cause. Hoping you may live long to use the
same and enjoy the blessings of health, is the
sincere wish of the whole Order.—Mrs. Coch-
rane, in reply to Mr. Edward.). said she accepted
the very neat present with pleasure, and was
glad to hear that the Fete was a success, and
politely invited the deputation to take refresh-
ments.—The despatch box bore the following
inscription Presented to Mrs. Cochrane by
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, MX.,
Stourbridge District, as a small token of respect
for her kindness in granting the use of Heath
Park for their Fete, July 11th, 18702'

BREACH OF THE PEACE.—At the Petty Ses-
sions, held yesterday, before Major Fletcher and
R. L. Freer, Esqrs., George Mallen and Joseph
Chance, residing at the Lye, were summoned
by Superintendent Freeman for committing a
breach of the peace by fighting, on the 6th inst.
Mr. Holland, of the Lyttelton Arms, was called
to prove the case, and said before he gave his
evidence, he wished to make a eomplaintagainst
Mr. Superintendent Freeman for summonsing
hint to give evidence in this ease, as the fight
did not take place at his house, but in the vil-
lage; and that he (lid not see the commence-
ment or the finish of it. In answer to the
Bench, witness said he did see the fighting going
on, which WAS disgraceful. Superintendent
Freeman said he understood from his constable
that Mr. Holland would prove the case, and was
net aware that he did not waut to attend. The
Bench remarked that Superintendent Freeman
was quite right; he had secured a very respect-
able witness to prove the case, and they could
uot blame him. Defendants pleaded guilty, and
they were ordered to find two sureties in 1.1.0
each—themselves in £2O, to keep the peace for
six months.
CHARGE OF ROBBERY FROH THE GREAT WES-
TERN BAILWAY.—Peter Billingham, of the Lye,
was charged with feloniously stealing a quantity
of etriwberry plants, on the 15th instant, the
property of the Great Western Railway Com-
pany. William Stokes, parcels' porter, of the
Great Western Railway Company, said that after
the 7.11 train he missed a parcel of matting.
He at once made enquiries, and some of the
people round gave him a description of the pri-
soner, who they said- had got it. He (witness}
then gave information to Mr. Phillips, the eta-
tion•muster, and they got into the train going
towards the Lye, and the parcel was found in
the custody of the prisoner, who had hi REM
upon it. Ann Haywood proved that she was at
the statioe. She saw the prisoner pick up the
parcel produced, and take it into the train with
nini. Mr. Locke said the company were being
robbed coLtinually, and heavy damages were
claimed for the loss of parcels, and they must
press the case. Prisoner pleaded guilty, and was
sentenced to one inonth's hard labour.

ASSAULT CASE—George Giles and Samuel
Stevens were charged by Joseph Russell with
assaulting him on the 13th int. Mr. Burbury
defended. Complainant said that on the above
date between twelve and one o'clock at night, he
met Giles and Stevens. Giles put up his fists,
and wanted to tight. Stevens struck him 011
the eye, knocked hien down, and kicked him.
I/id not strike again. Witnesses were called to
prove the case, and on cross•examination they
admitted Stevens and complainant had blows
together, end that Giles aid not strike. Stevens
was fined 5s and costs, and the case against
Giles was dismissed.—Josoph Russell was then
charged by Samuel Stevens with assaulting him.
The case was dismissed.

ASSAULT CASE.—William Hill was charged
with taking a bed and villa aiticles, belonging
to Richard Perks, his father-in-law, at Olduwin-
ford, on the 12th lust. After hearing complain-
ant state the facts of the case, the Bench de-
Mled that it was a case for the County Court.

CHAROE OF WILFULLY I)A3IAPIN.; A HOUSE
AT THE LYE.—John Jordan was charged with
wilfully damaging a house and premises situate
at the Lye, on the 29th July last, the propertj,
of George Maslow Mr. Perry appeared for
the complainant, and Mr. Burbury for the de-
fendant. Mr. Perry, in opening the case, said
that the property in question was put up for sale
on tile 23n1 June. llomplainunt bought it, and
the completion of the property was made on the
15th August, and the property was injured in the
interim, viz., on the 29th July. Mr. Perry ob-
jected to Mr. Burbury appearing in the absence of
defendant. Mr. Burhury said that he could ap-
pear under sec. lib of 11 and 12 Vic., c. 4. The
Bench over-ruled the objection. Mr. Perry said
the question of identity wonld arise, and asked
the Bench to grant a warrant for defendant's
apprehension. Mr. Burbury did not oppose,
and the warrant was granted.