The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-03-11 00:00:00

OLD HILL.

CHARGE AOAINT A LICENaLD iOTUALLEII. At the
Police Court, on Wednesday last, before P. W. G. Barn,
E. Moore, and N. Hiegley, Esqrs., John Wright, laid-
lord of the Sportsman, Old Diii, was charged with having
his house open for the sale of drink during prohibited
hours, on the sth. Defendant pleaded guilty, and said he
was very sorry it had occurred. Fined 6d and costs.
Asset:Lir CASE.—George Thompson was charged by
John Hackett with assaulting him on the 4th instant, at
Howley. Complainant said they were at Guest's pit',
when their breakfasts were sent. He took defendant's HI
mistake, when he struck complainant on the head with a
bottle, and inflicted a severe wound over the left temple.
Defendant pleaded guilty, and was ordered to pay the
costs.

INFRINGEMENT OF COLLIERY RULES—Elijah %Waste-
horn was charged with that he being employed at the
(lawn Colliery, did infringe a certain rule of the colliery,
on the 23rd of February. Defendant pleaded guilty.
Mr. Oldershaw said the case came out of a Coroner's
inquest. Defendant infringed one of the rules by going
into a road where he had no right. Defendant said he
Wllb a strong, rat the place. He had only been there one
day, and did not know the pit. Ordered to pay the
Costa.
CliunLuc To Fowca.—Eli Johnson and Samuel Bo-
water were charged with having cruelly illtreated and
tortured two fowls, on the Ist lust, at Blackheath. Po-
lice-constable Jackson said he was stationed at Black-
heath. On the above date he was coming down Powke
Lane, when he saw defendants, who had two cock fowls
fighting. He asked them to separate them, and Johnson
said he would not if it got killed. Bowater picked h,e
bird up, and spat down its throat Poliem-eonstah:e
Slynn said he saw the cocks, but no one WAS lighting the
cocks when he saw them first. Bowater was looking at
them, and when witness went down the road he saw Bo-
water setting the birds on. Bowater said he had kept
the walk for his fowl for Di years, and his father had it
before him. Johnson was tined in and costs, and Bo-
water Is lid and costa; in default 1.1 days.

DRUNK AND Disounanny.—Williiam'Smith and Tho-
mas Blunt were charged with being drunk and riotous,
on the lth inst, at tiarratte Lane, Blackwaggonistreet.
Police-sergeant Powner proved the ease, and defendants,
who pleaded guilty, were tined—Smith, '2s 6d and coats ;
and Blunt Is and cost.—James Powell and John Smith
were charged with being drunk and disorderly on the 6th,
at Blackwaggon-street. Police-constable Cox proved the
case, and defendants were fined Oct and Costa; in default
14 days.—Richard Siviter was fined 2s tid and costs for a
aimilar offence at Garratte Lane, on the 6th.

DRUNK AND REFUSINO TO Quit.- Benjamin Tranter
was charged with being drunk and refusing to quit the
Swan beerhouse, at Tivitiale, when requested by the land-
lord, on the 12th of November last. William Barrett,
the landlord, said defendant went into his house on the
above data drunk. He made a great noise, and he ordered
him to go oat, when be refused to go. Witness tried to
pat him out. —Defendant was further charged with will
fully damaging a window and a pair of black trousers, at
the same time. Complainant said after he got defendant
out he returned, and broke two panes of glass. Defend-
ant pleaded guilty. Fined is and costs for refusing to
leave, the damage, 6d, and is 22 damage and costs for
breaking the window.
PITCH AND Toss—Mark Bannister, Benjamin Price,
alias, `• the Robin," Charles Ashman were charged with
playing at pitch and toss, on the sth, at elarratts Lane.
Police-constable Fox proved the case, and defendants
were ordered to pay coats.
A Caunos.—Foley Billingham was charged with being
on premises belonging to Mr. W. Dawes, at Waterfall
Lane, with intent to commit a felony, on the sth instant.
Benjamin Plata, the watchman, said he saw defendant
about half-past three o'clock in the morning. He was
stimding on a plank by the engine, trying to open a win-
dow. Witness spoke to him, when he jumped down, and
he caught hold of him. Defendant then said he wanted
to get in to go to sleep. Police-constable Hume said he
received prisoner from last witness, about four o'clocl.
Had made inquiries and found that prisoner had no fixed
place of residence. Sentenced to 10 days imprison-
meat.

:16k.0N Sncautro.—Thomas Mareatield was charged
well stealing alive pigeon, the property of William Tay.
lssr, on the sth. Mr. W. Hayes, Jun , prosecuted, sit.!
Mr. Addison defended. Prosecutor swid he lived at
Rowley, and kept pigeons, lie matched a pigeon of his
against one of the defendant's, to tly. The agreement
was that if the one slid not produce his bird he lost. He
kept the pigeon in a nailahop, and on the above date he
sat., it all right, and when he went back it was gone. He
latched the nail shop doom before he went out. The doors
were all open when he went back. The value of the
pigeon is his. He bad not seen anything of it slime.
He met prisoner on Sunday and charged him with steal.
it, and he did not give him any answer. He saw defend-
ant on the following day, whin he said if you had hid
my house searched yesterday, you could have had ine
locked up. He then said, " I have got your pigeon, eud
mean to rear some young ones from it. Prisoner had
no right to go on the premises." Cross.examined : There
acre a number of men present when prisoner told me he
had the pigeon. There are several pigeon.liyers living
about our neighbourhood. By the Bench : 'the match
was for XI aside.—John Smith said be lived near
lor's shop at Rowley. He was at home on the sth, and
whilst there he saw "Bomus." which is the nickname for
prisoner, run out of the shop, and jump over the wall
into the premises belonging to a woman named Metter.
lie slid not speak to prisoner. It was about tire minutes
to eleven in the morning. Prisoner bad something in his
pocket, but he did not know what it was. Croas-exaso•
niel : I can see pretty wail. Do not know what time
the prosecutor came home. He was home to dinner.—
Samuel Howell said lie lived at Lillipot, Rowley. On the
above date, as he wit, coining from church shout seven
minutes to eleven, he saw prisoner on prosecutor's pre-
inises.—Sanmel Farr corroborated Howell.—For the
defence, Mr. Addison called Henry Portniau, who said lie
was with prisoner the whole of the time on Sunday, and
lie did not touch a pigeon belonging to prosecutor.—The
Bench dismissed the case.