The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-12-15 00:00:00

OLD HILL.

FATAL STREI.T ACCIDENT. MT. E. Hooper,
coroner, neld an ineeest on Monday at the Bridge
Inn, touching .he ueath of Josepn Southall, aged
six years, whose parents reside at 12, Plant Street.
It appears that as the child was leavin.e school ou
Friday tast, he was knocked down by a wagon from
the Town Mills, • Dudley, and one of the wheels
passed over his body and arm, and caused such ie-
juries that he died the same day. A verdict of
.‘ Accidental death" was returned by the jury.
FOOT—AND-MOUTH D ISE A SE.—An outbreak of this
disease was reported to the police on Monday, as
having occurred oe the premises of Mr. James
Mason, cow—keeper and butcher, of 86, High Street,
Cradley Heath. Two cows were found to be suffer-
ing from the disease.
DRUNKENNESS.—At the Police Court on Wednes-
day,lrTore W. Bassano, C. Holcroft and H. Wiggan,
Esqrs., Samuel Homer was charged with being
drunk on the Bth inst. P,C. LeAbitter proved the
case. Fined is and costs; in default 7 days.—
Timothy Perry and John Perry were charged with
being drunk on the Ist lust, at Tividale. P.C.
Mountney proved the case. Fined 2s 6d and costs
each; in default 14 days.
ALLEGED RAPE CASE.—Benjamin Rowley (53),
was charged with felonously and carnally ravishing
Alice Humphries (16), on the sth December. Mr.
Shakespeare defended.—Prosecutrix stated that on
the above date she went to the Swan Inn and saw
defendant in the passage, She went for a bucket
of water. The detendaut took her into the bar and
said " Come in here and I'll give you sixpence when
rye got change." Defendant caught hold of her
and fo:ced her into the room. When she was in he
unbuttoned hi 3 trousers and pushed her on a sofa
and committed the offence complained of. She
shouted out for Mrs. Rowley. She also tried to get
away from him but defendant pievent ,d her. Her
mother came in just after but defendant had gone
away from her then. Her mother said "What game,'
and she, witness, replied" I'll tell you all when you
get home. Cross-examined by Mr. Shakespeare :
Her mother told her to say she was thirteen. She
went to fetch a bucket of water from a tap in the
yard. Defendant had never taken liberties wi h
her on three previous oecasions It was the first
time she had sp.ken ti delendant. She was obliged
to go through the ouse to get to the tap.—Ann
Humphries stated that defendant c4tue
to her house before the affair took place. When he
tame the third tune he asked for some wax, weich
sle gave him. He then eiti i " Bring a jug or a
bottle and Pll sent some beer for you' hu-band an,
if you want some water you can fetch s me." She
went for it and def.nount also assaulted h -r. She
went home and sent her daugeter lor the water axle
when she had been gooe senie time she weut to see
where she was. She opened the door and heard a
scrambling noise 1),-feudant, when he heard her
f ,ot-tepe, weld and hid himself, She took her
daughter to the doctor. Cross-examined by Mr,
Shakespeare : Her daughter is fifteen. She did
not tell her how old she was. Her daughter has been
to the detendaut's house a great many times. She