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

OLD HILL.

A PALTRY AFFAIR.—At the Police Court, on Wednes-
day, before Messrs. W. Bassano and B. Hingley,
George Jones wee charged with assaulting James
Marten, on the 7th inst.—Complainant said he was a
quarryman at Mr. North's and on the above date defend-
ant :tripped his heels up and knocked him down. In
cross-examination by defendant comphinantladmitted re-
ceiving la 3 Ito settle the eras and also said defendant
did not hurt him —The case was withdrawn on defend-
ant paying Costs.
DRUNKUNNESS.—WiIIiam Hodgetts was charged with
being drunk' at Blackheath, on the 6th inst.—Sergeant
Cooper sail he saw defendant on the night of the 6th
inst, and he was BO intoxicated he couldrinot find his
way homey Several previous c•nvictions were proved
against defendant who promised never to offend again.—
He was fined is and costs.—Richard Johnson was
charged with being drunk, at Old Hill, on the 9th inss;
—lnspector Price proved the case.—Defendant said he
lost his way and fell down by accident.—This was
denied by the Inspector and defendant was fined 28 64
and costs ; in default 7 days.—Jamcs Hall was charged
with being drunk, at Cradley Heath. on the 23rd ult.
—Police-constable Gaskill proved the case and
defendant was fined is and costs ; in default 7
days
ETHREATENING. Samuel Sturman, saddler, High
Street, Cradiey Heath, was summoned by Thomas Pugh
Bennett, watchmaker and jeweller, High Street, Cralley
Heath, on the 14th inst.—Mr. W. Hayes, jun., appeared
for ccomplainaut, Who said that some time ago he brough t

an action against defendant at the Dudley County Court
and obtained a verdict against defendant. Since that
time however defendant had constantly been in the
habit of abusing witnesa and his family. On the 14th
inst, defendant met witness in the street and after calling
him a old rogue and a b-- old robber said he
would :knock his b-- old head off.—Defendlnt said
complainant threatened to kill him but this was denied
by complainant.—Defendant was bound over to keep
the peace for six months, himself in £lO and two sureties
of £5 each.

CHARGE OF BURGLARY.—Benjamin Siddaway was
charged with feloniously breaking into the dwelling-
house of John Hall, at Cox's Lane, Old Hill, on the sth
inst,—Mr. W. Hayes, jun., appeared to prosecute, and
Mr. Stokes defended.—Emily Hall, wife of prosecutor,
said she lived at Cox's Lane and her husband was a
furnaceman, On the sth inst, her husband went to
work at half.past five in the afternoon and she went to
bed at five minutes to eleven. Before going to bed she
fastened all the doors and windows. There was a win-
dow in the pantry that looked out on to a garden. She
had been in bed above two hours when she heard the
pantry door movo. The front door was locked, bolted,
and barred before she went to bed and she had
placed a chain against it. When she; heard the door
move she jumped out of bed cud rent down stairs with
a lamp in one band and a clock weight in the other.
When she got down stairs she saw a man's legs dis-
appearing through the pantry window. She did not see
his face. She went out of the house towards where her
husband works and shouted "Murder "; and told him
what bad occurred. Cross-examined: The man that
came to steal went away witlagut anything and left hid
behind him on the floor of the pantry.—John Hall, the
prosecutor, said he was at work on the night in question
when his wife came to him and told him that someone
had been in the house. He searched the house and
found the pantry window broken and found hid in
coppers and also the cap produced. He found the piece
of a man's waistcoat on a nail on the pantry window.—
Fransis Downing, Dog Lane, said he lived about 200
yards from prosecutor's house. About twelve o'clock on
the night of the sth just, he was sitting in the house
when he heard someone try the door. Witness jumped
up, opened the door and found prisoner there. He had
on the cap produced and had the bucket produced in his
hand.—Police-constable Wickstead said he was called to
thehouse in question and examined it, He found the
window broken. He received the cap and piece of waist-
coat produced from Hall.—Police-sergeant Cooper said
prisoner was arrested on the 11th inst. Superintendeut
oollaston charged prisoner with breaking into the
dwelling-house of John Hall, at."olcl Hill, on the night of
the sth it.st. Prisoner said in answer to Mr. Woollaston
"I was drunk at the time. I did not know what I
was doing and if I get out of this mess I will never
touch drink again." Witness searched prisoner's house
and found the waistcoat produced. The piece of waist-
coat fitted and corresponded with the waistcoat prisoner
had on. Mr. Woollaston showed prisoner the cap pro-
duced and he admitted that it was his. Mr. Stokes for the
defence, contended that pris.mer had n 3 felonious intent
in breaking into prosecutor's house as 'he did not take
anothing t.way but on the other hand left his cap and
llad behind him. Prisoner was under the influence of
drink at the time and when ho had been drinkinc, his
mind became affected—The Bench said they should
convict under the Vagrancy Act, and sentenced prisoner
to one month's hard labour.

oN•PAYMENT OF Poon BATES.—A number of persons
were summoned by Mr. Parkes, collector, for non-
payment of poor-rates and were ordered to pay in 14
days.