The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-07-20 00:00:00

AMBLECOTEA

ALLEGED HIGHWAY HODBEEY AT AMBLECOTX• —0
At the Btaffordshire Asizes on Thursday, James William
Brooks (on bail) and Walter Barradale (2P, labourer,
were indicted for assaulting John Thomas Elton, at
Amblecote, on the Bth of June, with intent to rob, Mr.
Green appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Uunderhill
and Mr. Darling for the defence. The prosecutor was
in the employ of Messrs. Harris and Pearson, brick manu-
facturers, at Amblecote, as manager, and on the Bth of
June, in accordance with custom,- went to the bank at
Stourbridge, for the purpose of bringing back money to
pay wages with. On the way bock prosecutor had in his
hand a bag containing 1:240.. and on going into Amble-
cote Road the prisoners were seen to be loitering about
an entry. On approaching a cottage in the road one of
the prisoners came forward, and threw a quantity of dust
into his face. Brooks afterwards caught hold of prose-
cutor's bag, which contained the money for wages, and
attempted to wrench it out of his hand. Elton swung
himself round and faced Brooks. Whilst this was going
Barradle hit prosecutor with a heavy stick, which ho had
at the time in his hand. The prisoners attempted to
strike Elton once more with the stick, but the latter
moved on one side and got into the middle of the road,
the prisoners following, Elton in defence took up a
stone, which he threw at the prisoners, and afterwards
Failed out for assistance. Prosecutor had been previously
in conversation with a mu named Anderson, and that
party hearing the prosecutor cry out, came to his as-
sistaace, The
prisoners, seeing how matters stood, ran
up the entry and escaped into a plantation, where they
hid the stick under some shrubs. The prisoners were
afterwards apprehended, and they denied that they had
been guilty of the offenee.—The defence set up was that
the prisoners werc "larking " on the cley in question,
and that the prosecutor was enjoying the game Mmaelf.
Prisoners were certainly throwing dirt, but the act was
a playful one, and there was no intention of Lassaulting
Euon.—The jury returned a verdict of not guilty, and
prisoners were discharged.

Hayes, jun., appeared to defend.—Compignant sol 4 she
should have to ask for an adjournment for a fortnight as
her Witnessea were unable to attend. Kr. Hayes
objected to an adjournment but the Bench overruled the
objection and adjourned the case for fourteen days' im-
prisonment.
ASSAULT BY STONE THEOWING.—WiIIiam Hackett was
charged with assaulting Caleb Williams, on the Bth mat,
at Halesowen,—Complainant said he was talking to a
young man in the Bagley Street, Halesewen, on the
Bth mat, when defendant went up to them and interfered
in the conversation. Witness told him to go away and
walked away himself. As he was going defendant threw
several stones at him and as he turned round he saw
that defendant had a large atone in his hand. Witness
knocked the stone out of his hand when defendant
picked up the stone and threw it at him catching him on
the eye and inflicted such injuries that he was carried
home insensible.—Defendant said complainant struck
him first.—Fined 2s 6d, es doctor's fee and coats; in de-
fault one months' hard labour.

ALLEGED ASSAULT.—Benjamin Hill was charged with
assaulting Thomas Reid, on the 29th ult.—Complainant
said he met defendant on the above date as he was going
up the hill and defendant said he wanted to speak to
him. is witness was getting a bundle of iron on to his
shoulder defendant struck him and knocked him down.
Ii answer to defendant complainant said he did
challenge defendant to fight in the afternoon and the
Bench dismissed the case.

DRUNKERNMSB.—Joseph Stone, collier, was charged
with being drunk at Long Lane, on the 7th inst.—Police-
constable Barley proved the case and defendant was
fined 2s 6d and costs; in default 14 days' hard labour.—
William Checkley, fishmonger, of Birmingham, was
charged with being drunk whilst in charge of a horse
and trap on the Stourbridge Road. Halesowen, on the
6th inst.—Police-constable Webb said he was sent for to
the Stourbridge Road where he found defendant in a
trap. Defendant was very drunk and had a crowd of
about a hundred people round him. Witness took him
to the station but he was afterwards taken away by two
respectable Halesowen people.—The Bench said it was
a serious thing for a man to be drank whilst in charge of
a horse and trap and fined defendant 10s and costs; in
default 14 days.
DRUNKEN " JINGOES " i TROUBLE.—John Haycock,
Henry Preedy, Henry Reid, Edward Toy, and Caleb
Powell were charged with being drunk and disorderly,
at the Shenstone, Halesowen, on the 22nd ult.—Police-
sergeant Lane was on duty about ten minutes past eleven
on the night of the 22nd tilt, near the Shenstone Hotel
when he saw the defendants who were drunk and shout-
ing out "We don't want to fight but by jingo if we do"
and when witness remonstrated with them they said
they would fight him.—Defendants said they were not
drunk as they had not sufficient to make them in that
state.—They were each fined is and costs.