The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-01-19 00:00:00

Rev. Mr. Streeten readhig the lesson. The choir
were present, and sang in the church, "Day and
moments quickly flying," and at the grave; the
hymn "Jesus lives." Upon the coffin some beau-
tiful floral crosses had been placed. The following
clergymen attended the funeral :—The Rev. G.
Gilbanks, Rev. H. Sherrard, Rev. T. Williams,
Rev. W. Whiteley, Rev. Bourne, and a large
number of parishioners. Mr. E. Stringer was the
undertaker.

CHARGE OF DRUNKENNESS.—At. the Police
Court, yesterday, before Colonel Fletcher and Mr.
C. Cochrane, Richard Jones, of Cradley, was
charged with being drunk on the night of the
12th inst.—Police-constable Oakey proved the
case.—Fined 2s 6d and costs; in default seven
days.
DRUNK AND DISORDERLY.—Thomas Hadley was
charged with being drunk and disorderly, at
Cradley, on the night of the 14th inst.—Police-
constable Oakey proved the case.—Defendant
pleaded guilty and was fined 6s and costs; in
default 14 days.
ASSAULT CASE.—Laban Freeman was charged
with assaulting Mercy Hea.thcock, on the 11th
inst.—From the evidence of complainant it
appears that the defendant's wife left him some
weeks ago through his brutality and she worked
in complainant's shop. Defendant came to her
shop and began to throw her tools out of the
shop. On remonstrating with him defendant
struck her on the mouth, making it bleed and
struck her several times. He then caught her
by the throat and tried to strangle her.—Two
witnesses gave corroborative evidence.—Mr.
Waldron, for the defence, did not deny the
assault, but contended that the defendant was
struck by a nail bore and injured. He only
went to ask his wife to come home and live with
him when he was assaulted. It was a family
quarrel and he asked the Bench to be lenient with
him.—Fined 10s and costs; in default 14 days'
hard labour.
CHARGE OF KILLING A PlGEON.—William Brettle
was charged with stealing a pigeon, on the 13th
inst, at Wollescote, the property of John Pearson.
Complainant said he had a pair of fancy pigeons.
He saw the defendant with a gun and he shot
one while on the top of a house. • Defendant was
in the habit of shooting pigeons. The bird was
worth 7s 6d. Defendant admitted shooting the
bird but said that complainant denied at the time
that it was his pigeon.—Defendant was ordered to
pay 7s 6d the value, and a fine of 2s 6d and
costs.

STEALING A HAMMER.—William Parkes was
charged with stealing a hammer, on the 11th
inst, the property of James Heffir, or Bel-
broughton.—Prosecutor, who was a carter, proved
loosing a hammer and identified the one pro-
duced as his property.—Joseph Dow proved that
he saw the prisoner take the hammer.—Police-
constable Payne proved apprehending the pri-
soner.—A police-officer of Bromsgrove, proved
two previous convictions against the prisoner.—
Prisoner was committed to tho next Quarter
Sessions.

TRANSFERS.—At the Police Court, yesterday,
the following transfer took place :—The Seven
Stars, Market Street, from Henry Rowlands to
Alfred Brandon; the Royal Exchange, High
Street, from Edwin Dakin, to Henry Rowlands.
THE EXPLOSIVES ACT. Colonel Fletcher said
he wished to call the attention of the public,
through the press, to the Explosives Act, 1875.
It is necessary that all persons who keep gun-
powder or other explosives should be registered
annually, and if this was not done the persons
offending were liable to heavy penalties, which
fhe Bench would be sorry to inflict. The Colonel
read the following abstract. ‘• All premises in
which gunpowder and other explosives are sold
must be registered and re-registered annually.
For all stores to be used for keeping gunpowder
a license is necessary, which must be renewed
yearly. Any person selling gunpowder upon pre-
mises not so registered or re-registered, or keep-
ing gunpowder in a store for which there is not a
license, is liable to a penaty." Abstracts of the
provisions of the Act. so far as they relate to the
keeping and sale of gunpowder on registered pse-
mises, and the keeping of gunpowder on licensed
stores, are published by Government and copies,
price 3d each, can be obtained at the Magistrates
Clerk's Office.