The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-12-31 00:00:00

HALESOWEN.

BRIERLEY RILL.

HIGHWAY OFFENCE.—At the Police Court, OD Monday,
before Mr J. Holcroft,Jo -eph Edwards Was charged with
not having control over his hone on the 23rd instant.
Pi lice-constable Grady proved the case, and defendant,
wbo pleaded guilty, was ordered to pay Coati.
TIMEATENING.—Before Messrs. J. Holcroft and H.
Smith, Thomas Hodgetts was charged with threatening
James Bassett. Mr. Clulow appeared for the defendant.
Complainant said he was • , and was in the employ
of defendant. Did five days work for him with • horse
and cart. Defendant met him in the road, and threat-
ened to knock his b— head off. Bound over to keep
the peace for six months, in one surety of £lO and two
in O.
THRIATENINO TO SZOOT.—Ann Bider was charged with
threatening to shoot George Hobson. Mr. Addison ap-
peared for complainant- Complainant said he was •
butcher, and lived at Brettell Lane. On the 18th instant
defendant went to the shop window with a double-barrel
gun, and threatened to shoot him. There were sonic per-
sons in the shop, and they rau sway. Defendant was
bound over to keep the peace for six months ; himself in
one surety of £lO, and two sureties of £5.
WILFUL Dansola—Walter Jones was charged with
wilfully damaging a door belonging to Catharine Scott,
on the 18th inst. Complainant said on the above date
defendant was by her house, with four or five boys. She
saw defendant throw • stone at the door, and make • dent
in it. Mary Ann Scott corroborated. Defendant said
he did not throw a stone. The other lads did ii; and
called his sister, who swore defendant did not throw at
Ordered to ray costs.

OBSTRUCTING THE FOOTPATIL—Two lads, named Alfred
Male and Amos Worrall, were charged with obstructing
the footpath at Brettell Lane. on the 17th that, by loiter-
ing thereon. Police-constable Freeman proved the case,
:mil defendants were fined Is and costs; in default seven
day&
Dausiu AND RlOTOUB..—Willlsm Sutton was charged
with being drunk and riotous on the 17th, at Brettell
Lane. Poliee-constable Freeman proved the case, and
defendan: was fined 2a 6d and coats; in default 14 days
iup ris on men t. .

- . - -
ASSAULT C•SE.—JillUes Afford was charged with as-
saulting Evan Thomas, on the 17th inst. Complainant
said on the above date he Was at Tom Dudley's public.
house, when defendant struck him, blackened his eye,
and kicked him. Complainant's daughter corroborated
him. Defendant called Mr. Dudley, the landlord, who
said he was in the room all the while, and he did not see
defendant offer to touch complainant. He might have
struck complainant before witness went in. Fined 2s 6d
and costs ; in default 14 days.
RIMMING TO Wong. At the Petty Sessions, on
Thunday, before I. Spooner, Esq., Stipendiary, Noah
Griffiths was charged with absconding with the Union
clothes and refusing to work. W. Keightley proved the
ease. Adjourned for a fortnight.
CH•1101 Or CITIELTY TO • 11018E.—}12•VT PUSIALTT.
—James Holland was charged by Superintendent Mills
with allowing a horse to work on the 24th inst, whilst in
an unfit state. Mr. Addison defended.—Polin-eonstable
Grady proved that he saw the defendant's horse drawing
cindeis at The Delph. The horse had seven sores on
the body.—Mr. Spooner here went to examine the horse.
On returning he said the horse was in a very bad state;
never saw one worse—Mr. Addison: Will your worship
hear the evidence? —Mr. Spooner: I shall not stop the
evidence: but should recommend you to go and see the
horse.—Mr. Addison here went to see the horse. On re.
turning he cross•examined the witness, who said he had
been a good deal among horses. Naves' saw one at work
in so bad a state before.—Mr. Addison, for the defence.
said the horse was now in the same state as on Saturday.
—Mr. Spuoner: That can't be.—Mr. Addison: I shall
call a veterinary surgeon of twenty years' standing, and
a member of the College of Surgeons, who will prove
that the horse is in • fit state to work.—Mr. Spooner :
He had better not work it. If he does I will fine him
the highest penalty I can.—Mr. Addison: I shall call
him, and then leave it in your hands.—Mr. Spooner:
You can imperil your client if you think proper ; for I
tell you I will fine him the highest penalty I can to give
you an opportunity to appeal.—Francis Blakeway, veteri-
nary surgeon, of Stourbridge, said: I am a member of
the Loyal College of Surgeon., ann hate been in practise

It is an indisputable fact, and in all honesty we are
bound to admit it, that, notwithstanding the liberal grants
to denominational schools given by Government, the
large subscriptions that have flowed from private sources,
and the individual efforts which have hitherto been put
forth by those having the management of schools, the
theses designated " pauper and criminal," remain un-
touched by what we cannot but regard as the correcting
and elevating influences of education. Therefore, we
are forced to the conclusion, however little we may like
it, that without the compulsory clauses being enforced,
those for whom the Act was specially intended, will re-
main in their degraded condition, to violate the laws by
their continued depredations upon the live, anti property
of the community, who are heavily taxed for the main-
tenance of prisons and reformatories.
It may be charitable to suggest that the education of
the pauper and criminal classes might be accomplished
by voluntary efforts, but I would ask how it is that so
very many years have elapsed without such • result bay-
ing been attained? Either we mast admit that no at-
tempt hos been mode at all (and we ought to be ashamed
to confess it), or that it has proved a miserable failure;
and if we accept the latter conclusion what hope or guar-
antee have we that future endeavonis would succeed! In
my humble opinion it is only shelving the question to
make such a proposition. I dislike the word .• compul-
sion " as much as any one, but seeing that voluntaryism
haa done all it can, and has eignally failed to penetrate
far enough into the depths of existing ignorance, I am,
in spite of myself brought to the conviction that the
only means lefts, to apply compulsion throvqh the in-
strumentality of • Sobool Board, by which power dune
can it be administered.

......
Your correspondent asks, " Is it a proved fact that we
have in oar town so many childien of the pauper and
criminal cl who du not attend school'' lam not
aware that the number has ever been stated. Still, I
think, that we may ashily tak• it for granted that 'Sr have
the ge number. But even if it is ascertained that
we do not reach that unenviable position, it does not fol.
low, however few there may be, that the necessity for
educating them should be overlooked. We ought rather
to congratulate ourselves that out rates will be corres-
pondingly less.
I attach little importance to the difficulties which some
far-sighted people roe looming beyond, Like • steep
road seen at a distance the ascent looks toilsome, but, as
we approach it, to oar surprise the steep appears to lea-
ses; ao it will be with all the difficulties when they see
grappled by • School Board.
The awful phantom of a " salaried officer," raised by
your correspondent, like every other ghost, vanishes the
moment it is looked at. Just imagine this officer's salary
divided by the number of ratepayers, and it would almost
require a microscope to see the atom
Taking your correspondent's supposition, that " there
are 100 children between the ages of Saud 12 who never
go to school, and that four-fifths of them stay sway
through want of means, the ram required to pay the
school fees id these would not amount to much more
than £25 a year." lam much consoled to think we shall
get off so easily ; but let us be more liberal sod send the
whole 100 to school, instead of only four fifths of them,
and looking at the figurer, let us see if we have any PAU.se
to be frightened at the cost. We shall get at the result
best by rule of three. If 80 scholars cost £25, what will
100 coat? Answer: £3l Sc. Add to this the officer's
salary—what you liko—and what will it amount to on the
rate? Not much. And even if a school is erected, with
a schoolmaster's salary, and school maintenance in addi-
tion, the cost is after all a more trifle, and is not worthy
• moment's consideration.

The .• religious dithculty crops up as a matter of
course, wherever, whenever, and however this subject is
mentioned; but there ought not to be any difficulty in
teaching or understanding true religion. It is very sim-
ple ; nothing more so.

" Prayer is the burthen of a sigh—
" The falling of steer
" The upward gleaning of an eye,
"When none but Uod is near."
To my thinking, squabbling upon doctrinal points is
not religion, and I trust Stourbridge will be an exception
to the rule in this respect, and will elect only such men
upon the School Board as are known to possess the quali-
fications necessary to fit them for so importaatan office.
I venture to think that the ratepayers generally are
convinced of the necessity there is for a School Board,
and if such is the case the sooner they set about form-
ing one the better.