The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-02-05 00:00:00

BRIERLEY HILL.

NOW-PAYZAHNT 01 RATR3.—At the Police-court, on
Monday, before Messrs. F. Evers and L. Freer, • num-
ber of persons were summoned by Mr. Williams, collie-
tor, for,not paying Local Board rates and were order's'
to pay the amounts claimed in 14 days.
CHARGH SUIALING Fenuszs.—Thouras Priest was
charged with stealing $ ferrets the proprty of Thomas
Pinckney, farmer, New House, Braille, on the 15th ult.
Prosecutor said he had the three ferrets safe on the 15th
alt, in a box in the cowhouse. He missed them the
following morning. From information received he went
to Wordsley Green on the 30th nit, in company with
Police-sergeant Hudson and Police-constable Collier.
He saw the ferret produced in a box in the brewhouse.
The ferret was his property and he identified it by several
private marks.—Police.constable Collier said he went
with last witness and Sergeant 'Hudson to prisoner's
house at Wordsley Green. He found the ferret pro-
duced in a box in the brewhouse. He charged prisoner
with the offence and he said he did not know anything
about the I errets.—ln answer to the charge prisoner Bard
he knew nothing at all about the ferrets ; the place was
not his and he was only a lodger. Prisoner was bound
over to appear when called upon to do so.
ALLEGAD ROHIACItY.—AIfred Garbett was charged with
stealing a jacket and a muffler the property of Mary
Pritchard, on the 29th ult.—Prosecutrix, who lives at
Brockmoor, said prisoner had been lodging at her house.
On the morning of the 29th tilt, he saw the jacket and
muffler ride at half-past 9 o'clock. She went out and
left prisoner in the house. When she returned at half-
past eleven prisoner had gone and she missed the jacket
and muffler.—Prisoner said prosecntrix gave him per-
mission to wear the jacket 5 or 6 months ago and he had
used it to go to work in.—Police-constable Dennis proved
apprehending prisoner.—Proseeutrix said she had never
given prisoner permission to wear the coat but he had
worn it sometimes. The Bench said there was a doubt
in their minds and they should give prisoner the benefit
of it and dismissed the case.

ASSAULT Ctn.—Thomas -Pinckney was charged with
assaulting Richard Fanlkener, at Ringswinford, on the
24th ult.—Complainant said defendant asked him for 4d,
which he said he did not owe him, when defendant struck
him and blackened his eye. Defer.dant said complainant
was stooping to pick up a brick when he fell down and
hurt his eye. Several previous convictions were proved
against defendant, who was fined 40s. and costs, in default
one month.

STEALING A TAPE.—Jobn Ray was charged with steal-
ing a tape the property of Samuel Thompson on the 29th
ult.—John Ganger said he was bankman in the employ
of Messrs. Hughes and Thompson, at the Delph. About
eleven o'clock he saw prisoner go into the hovel. After
prisoner had gone witness missed the tape. It was safe
before prisoner went into the hovel. It was worth 2s. 61.
—Police-coLstable Hollins said he apprehended prisoner
who said he did not think it was Thompson's or he should
not have taken it. He took witness to the house where
he sold the tape to a man. In answer to the charge
prisoner said he promised prosecutor he would work the
time and pay for the tape Prisoner who has been pre-
viously convicted was committed to take his trial at the
next Stafford Sessions.

APPLICATION Pon EJNCTNINT.—MT. Omen mad* a*
application for an ejeotateat order, oa behalf of the Berl
of Dudley, against Henry /dilimed and William Bloomer
at Amblocate. The order was granted.
ALLNGID ASSACLT.—WiIIiam Abbo wee eharged with
assaulting John l'ye, at Ambleeote, on the 23rd alt. Mr.
Waldron defended. Complainant said on the above date
he was coming from Stourbridge when a number of men
began pushing. He was pushed against defendant who
struck him in the mouth, and they had a fight. Defen-
dant struck him with a knuckle duster and cut his face
and head. The defence was that complainant knocked
against defendant who then struck him and they had a
fair stand up fight. Complainant and defendant were
knocked down several times and as there were a lot of
stones about the road complainant got his head and face
cat. After hearing the evidence on both sides the Bench
bound complainant and defendant over to keep the peace
for 3 mouths.
BcaooL BOARD.—The monthly meeting was held on
Tuesday when Mr. Barlow presided.—Mr. Chambers
(vice-chairman) moved—" That in the schools provided
by the Board the authorised version of the Bible shall bb.
read, and the provisions of the Act in sections 7 and 14
shell be strictly observed, both In letter and spirit, and
no attempt shall be made to attach children to any par-
ticular denomination."—Mr. Chilow seconded the motion.
Mr. Walter Wood proposed, as an amendment—" That
Regulation No. 6 remain intact." He could net under-
stand why the alteration was desired. No reason had
been given, and it could only exist in the imagination of
the vice-chairman. As that Board's existence would
terminate in about twelve mouths, it was desirable to
allow the regulation to stand as it was till the ratepa7ers
saw cause to send a larger majority to represent the idea
that the Bible was simply to be read and not explained
in their schools. There was not the slightest necessity
to alter the regulation at present in force. Mr.
Hodgetts seconded the amendment. He thought it an
extraordinary circumstance that that matter should only
have cropped up after the taking of the Kingswinford
Schools. He protested very strongly against the course
which had been adopted of excluding Mr. Downing, and
he regretted he did not give notice of a motion on the
subject. Mr. Chambers had given no reason for his pro-
position, and he could only conclude that it was on
account of the change made in St. Mary's Schools.—Mr.
Clulow said they wished in reality for things to remain
as they were, for during the two years the present mem-
bers had sat on the Board religious instruction had not
been given in their Board schools in the spirit in which
the gentlemen on the opposite side desired. In 1874 a
majority of the ratepayers elected certain members on it
certain platform, and that was that religious instruction
was not be given in the schools, but that the Bible was
to be read without note or comment, which meant that no
dogmatic instruction of any kind was to be given. From
the time of that election up to the present the teachers
had given in4raction in the schools in conformity with
that platform. He had been at the trouble of ascertain-
ing what was the kind of religious instruction given at
the Moor-street and Bank-street Schools, and such ex-
planations of the Bible as were made he had no objection
to; but it was a singular fact that until they took over
the Church schools at Kingswinford there was no dim-
pity at all. The moment they took over fit. Mary's
Schwas and the Church schoolmaster that dildeulty for
the first time had arises* —The Chairmen and Mr.
Dennitt having addressed the meeting, the Yice-Chainnan
replied —The motion was then carried by a majority of
4 to 3.

COOKLEY. -

MARRIAOR OP Les SAL/ND/IRA, OF SION HILL. On
Wednesday the marriage of Miss Anna Eliza Saunders
the eldest daughter of X:. John Saunders, of Sion Hill
Wolverly, and granddaughter of Mr. Henry Saunders
clerk to borough and county magistrates, Kidderminste r
Arc., with Mr. Charles T. Barton, e'dest son of Mr .J
Fverard Barton, carpet manufacturer, of Kidderminster'
was solemnised at Cookley Church, in the presetne of a
crowded congregation, conaisting of the 'serious connects'
with J. Knight and sons' Cookley Ironworks, of whieh
Mr. Saunders is managing partner, and others. The
route from Sion Hill to the church was lined with people
At the lodge gate • triumphal arch had been erected, with
the motto, " May Providence ever attend yon." The
bride was accompanied to the church 13) her father, who
gave her away. She ws4 dressed in a rich white silk
dress, trimmed with tulle, orange blossoms, and jes.arnine
with tu:le veil to correspond; and her bridesmaid --Miss
Catherine Saunders, Miss Katternine Barton, Miss Milan
Gertrude Saunders, and Miss Amy. Eleanor Saunders—
were attired in pale gray cashmere, trimtned with cardinal
led, gray hats, and feathers to correspond. At the church
the procession was met by Mr. Charles Com Barton, the
bridesgroom, who was accompanied by Mr G. Newall
(his best man), and Messrs. C. Holcroft, 11. Alexander
Barton, and Charles Heath Saunders, his groomsmen.
The marriage service was said by the Rev. J. L. Chesshire
curate-in-charge of St. Barn tbas'Church.assisted by the
Rev. J. S. Crook, curate of Wolverley. After the cer-
mony 44 of ths immediate re:atives and friends of Vie
happy couple sat down to a sumptuous wedding bre ikfast
,at Ston Hill. After breakfast Mr. and Mrs. Barton left
amidst the good wishes of their relatives and friends,
and with the usual accompaniments a showers of rice and
old slippers, for Clifton, 7Z route for Torqoay, where they
willspend the honeymoon. The presents to the bride
wer both numerous and costlf, and among them were
touching tokens of regard from the servants, workpeople
and dependents of both families. In the evening a ball
, was held at Sion Hill, when the guests numbered about
100, who danced to the strains of Messrs. timer and
Gilnier's band,