The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-10-19 00:00:00

OLD HILL.

A FRAUDULENT BAILEE.—At the Staffordshire Ses-
sions, on Monday, before Mr. T. F. Twemlow, chairman,
Sydney Waller (30) was charged with feloniously and
fraudulently converting to his own use, whilst bailee
thereof, July 15, at Rowley Regis, one basket and a
quantity of fish, the property of Warwick Plant.—The
prisoner was found guilty, and previous convictions
having been proved against him, the Chairman sen-
tenced him to seven years' penal servitude, remarking
that prisoner's case was ti hopeless one, as he was
no sooner out of gaol than he committed other
offences.

UTTERING COUNTERNEIT COIN AT ROWLEY REGIS
At the Staffordshire Sessions, on Monday, before Mr. T.
F. Twemlow, chairman, George George (39), labourer,
pleaded guilty to uttering counterfeit coin, Prisoner
went into a greengrocer's shop on the day named and
purchased some articles, tendering 23, which was counter-
feit.—He was sentenced to nine calendar months' im-
prisonment,
ASSAULT CASE.—At the Police Court, on Wednesday,
before Messrs. F, D. L. Smith, H. Howard, and B.
Hingley, William Dingley was charged with assaulting
an old woman, named Emma Whittle, on the 10th lust,
—Complainant said the defendant came into her house
drunk on the night in question and he refused to go
when requested. The defendant caught hold of her by
the arm and bruised it very much.—The defence was
that he was drunk at the time,—Defendant was fined 103
and coats.

DRUNK AND DISORDERLY.—WiIIiam Parker' of Black.
heath, was charged with being drunk and disorderly,
on the 12th inst.—Police-constable Frost proved the
case and said the defendant made use of very bad
language. Being the first offence defendant was dis-
charged on payment of costs,

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NEOLUCT OF Womi.—William Ellis. chainmaker, was
summoned by Joseph Priest, for neglecting his work and
he claimed 5s damages and for 9s 2Ld money over-
drawn. Defendant admitted owing the 9s 20, hut
denied owing the ss. Defendant was ordered to pay the
Os 2id and allowed one month to pay it.—Benjamin
Bellingham was summmed by Joseph Mallen, for
neglecting to pay 295, an order by the Bench. The
defence wai that he had not been at work for six weeks
and he was not able to pay the money, and he asked the
Bench to reduce the amount to 2s 6LI per month This
was refused and the defendant was committed to
prison for one month, the commitment to stand over
for one month to allow the defendant time to pay the
20s.

CIIARGE or GAMILING.:— John Bateman, Joseph
Priest, and Henry Mole were charged with playing
at cads, on the 6th inst.—Mr. Addison defended.—
William Wilson, landlord of the Builder's Arms said
from information received' he went in the yard and he
heard the voice of the three defendants. They were
playing at cards in the closet and he knew all the defend-
ants well: He heard them mention the names of the
cards and the first time he went up was half-past eight
o'clock. While in the yard the candle was put out. He
went up the yard later in the evening and found them
in the closet. He caught two of them in the house
tossing and he took the stilling off the table.—Joseph
Willitts said he saw Mole and Priest "dating." In
answer to the Bench witness said the defendants were
betting, which could tell the nearest date on a coin
they pulled out of their pockets and he saw money pass
from each other.—Mr. Addison, for the defence, denied
that they were card playing or knew anything of the
cards producdd and he called Joseph Daniels, who said
he was in Wilson's house with Priest but he did not see
any tossing. Priest put down a shilling to pay for a pint
of ale and Wilson picked it up but he did not make any
relnark.—The Bench considered the case clearly proved
and there was a good' deal of grumbling going on and
and they were determined to put a stop to it. It was
disgraceful to be gambling on a Sunday night and it
was bad eno igh any other time. Mole and Priest were
fined 5s each ; in default twenty-one days, Bateman,
who had been previously fined for gambling and assaults,
they should send to prison for one month without the
option of a fine.
BREACII or Tau PEACE.—Benjamin Poole and Absolom
Gould were charged wieh committing a breach of the
peace by fighting, on the 12th inst.—Police-constable
Frost said he heard a noise in Halesowen Street, Black-
heath. He went to see what was the matter and he
found the two defendants stripped and fighting.—De-
fendants pleaded guilty.—Poole was bound over in £lO
to keep the peace for :six months and Gould, who is
an old offender, was ordered to find one surety of £lO
and himself in £2O to keep the peace for six
months.

NEGLECTING TO SUPPORT A FAIIILV.—Joseph Fletcher
was summoned by Mr. Taylor, relieving officer, for allow-
ing his five children to become chargeable to the Dudley
Union.—Mr. Taylor proved that the defendant's children
have been in the Union five weeks and there was due,
£2 14s. The defence was that he had no work.—
Defendant was committed for one month and the corn•
mitment to stand over for two months to allow the de-
fendant time to pay the money.
CHARGE or DRUNKENNESS. William Hieks was
charged with being drunk, oa the 12th., inst. The
case was proved and defendant was fined 2s 61 and
costs.

GROSS CRUELTY TO HORSES AT ROWLEY REGIS.—At
the Staffordshire Quarter Sessions, on Wednesday,
before Mr. It. A. Kettle, assistant chairman, Charles
Morris and Thomas Taylor, on bail, were indicted for
unlawfully and maliciously wounding and maiming two
mares, on the 21st of July, at Rowley Regis, the pro-
perty of William Causer Giles. Mr. Corser appeared
for the prosaeution, and Mr. Rosa defeedel. Prosecutor
is a farmer at Rowley Regis, and on the 21st of July a
number of men were seen in a fiell belonging to the
prosecutor, where there were four horses, and amongst
the men were noticed the two prisoners. One of the
prisoners had hold of the head of a grey mare, whilst the
other was wounding it. An officer named Styles saw
the prisoners, who decamped, and on being arrested they
denied doing anything to the horses. On being locked
up Morris:said he should not have committed the offence
it he had not had drink, The prisoners hae previously
maimed a brown mare. The horses were valued at
.£lOO. Evidence was given by a veterinary surgeon,
from which it appeared that the grey mare had been
seriously injured, and was unable to be worked for three
weeks afterwards. The brown mare was not BO seriously
injured. The jury found both prisoners guilty of
maliciously wounding the mares, and tUe Chairman, in
sentencing them, said that the prisoners had benn guilty
of gross brutality, and were ordered to be imprisoned for
twelve calendar months each.