The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-01-16 00:00:00

BRIERLEY HILL.

CAUTION TO CARTURS.--At the Petty Sessions, on
Monday hnt. before H. Hall and L. Freer, Esqrs., Wil.
Bain Llo) il, butcher, residing, in Stoorbridge, was charged
by Superintendent Mills with driving a cart on the 4th
List. without having a name upon it. Police.constable
Fairbanks proved that on the above date he saw the cart
being used, and there was no name upon it. Two wit.
flosses were called for the defence; one who said that he
painted the name upon the cart, and the other said that
it had partially worn off. Ordered to pay the costs, I2s
61.
SUNDAY TRADING.—Robert Plant was charged by Su-
perintendent Mali with keeping his house open for the
sale of articles on Sunday, January the 3rd, the same
not being a work of necessity or charity. Police-con-
stable Clarke said that on the above date he visited the
defendant's shop, and bought a half-ounce of tobacco ;
and he saw several other persons go in and buy. De-
fendant: You are a liar. The Clerk: Behave yourself
whilst in Court. Defendant: The witness was the only
person who came into my shop as I was in the act of
coming out, and asked for a half-onnce of tobacco, and I
gave it to him. I did not know that I was doing wrong.
Ordered to pay costs, So.—William Carroll, shopkeeper,
was charged with a similar offence on the 3rd instant.
Police-constable Clarke proved that he bought a half
ounce of tobacco, and paid for it. Defendant to witness
Do you know what the Scriptures say ?—the buyer is
worse than the seller. He (defendant) had been in busi-
ness for eighteen years, and never had a charge brought
against him before. Ordered to pay tio, costs.—John
shopkeepor, was charged with a similar ~fence on
the 3rd inst. Defendant did not appear. Police-constable
Clarke proved the offence. The Bench fined defendant
is and costs. .

CHARGE PIGEON STICALING.—Thomas Hanley was
charged by Thomas Compson with feloniously stealing a
pigeon, on the 26th ultimo, of the value of Is 6d, his
property. Compisinant said that he kept pigeons, and
on the above date he saw the defendant entice his pigeon
with some bread. Defendant picked it tip and put it in
his pocket, and took it away. Adjourned for a week for
the production ef a witness.
Com. STEALING.—Sarah Jane Withey (13) was charged
with stealing a quantity of coal on the let instant, the
property of Benjamin Gibbons- Police-constable Farmer
preyed that he saw the defendant in Mr. Gibbons's coal
yard. She had shout 30tbs of coal in her apron. Fined
so—Esther Edge (married) was charged with stealing a
quantity of coal or t)... :nay. • -,erty ,d the Elan
Tree Company. P lot tier proved that
the rdfendant had 401ba of coal in a basket and apron.
There were several others picking coal at the time, but

they were &ail iron James Cot. manager Q thoNiro
Tree Colliery. eabl that there were phont
Who Came evory 111,111110 just before daylight 'sod took
the coal away, lie pot the eme into the hon.!o of the
police. as it had come to such a pitch. lie did not whits j
to press the case against defendant, but summoned her
as a warning to others. Withdrawn upon payment of
coats, 10s.

CAUTION 7, CARTERS.—Stephen Rolland was charged
by Superintendent Mills with bring drunk sad int-weld°
of taking care of his horse and: cart. Pleaded guilty.
Fined in and costa.

CHARGE OW RESULTING THE POLICE AND RI:PCP/VG TO
LEAVY A PCBLIC•HOCRE. —At the Petty Scagions. on
Thursday last, before 1. Spooner. Esq.. Stipindtart,
Johnson Foster was charged with assaulting the police
and refusing to leave a public-house on the 12th instsnt.
William Flollamby said he was landlord of the Lion Inn,
Brierley 1111. Defendant came into his house about 12
o'clock. drunk. Defendant Mused to leave, and struck
him. Police-constable Fairbanks said he assisted com-
plainant to turn the defendant out. Whilst doing so the
defendant struck him twice on the ear. For the assault
on the landlord dtfendaut was fined 10a and costa; in
default 11 days.

WOMEN'S QUARRELS —Caroline Bedford wan charged
by Mary Ann Allen with using threatening language to
to her on the tlith tilt. From the evidence it appeared
that they were neighbours. A quarrel arose, and the
defendant threatened complainant. Ordered to pay Is
3d garb, the Coals.
AISAULTINO A LITTLE Giat..—Mary Ann Bache was
charged by Eliza Millsvard, a little girl, residing at Bret-
Sell Lane, with assaulting her on the thid instant. Com-
plainant said she walked over the defendant's doorstep to
go to see what the time was. when the defendant strank
her with a mop, and knocked her down two steps. The
deholdant then lugged her hair. The soother of coin-
plAiusnt corroborated the assault. Defendant was fined
9s GUI, and costs.

CHARGF: OP COAL STEALTNO.—Moses Jones and Elms.
both Jones were charged with stealing coal on the 22nd
nit, the property of William Matthews, of Corbyns Hall.
.tames Smith, clerk, said he sow Moses take three lumps
of coal, and put them into a hovel, and then put them
into his wife's basket. The wife was discharged ; and
the ease was not pressed against the defendant, who paid
2s Rd, the costs.—James Jones was then charged with
stealing coal on the 2lat ultimo, the property of William
Matthew. It was proved that the defendant was in a
very had position, and as the case was not pressed, he
An dimisse‘i with a warnir

ettandE or Emnant.tWO Mowntr. Tulin Richman,
miner, was charged with embezzling the sum of Li, the
property of the Miners' Association. Mr. Homfray and
Mr. Stokes appeared to support the information, and Mr.
Sheldon defended. Mr. Homfray, in opening the case,
said the charge was laid under a recent Act of Parlia-
ment, which came into operation on the lot of Oetaber,
MS, which was an Act to amend the law relating to lar-
ceny and embezzlement, and it enacted that '• If any
person being a member of any co-partnership, or being
one of two or more beneficial owners of any money,
goods or effects, bills, notes, securities, or other pro-
perty, shall steal or embezzle any such money, securities,
or other property of, or belonging to, any co-partnership
or to such joint benefical owners, every such person shall
be Halle to be dealt with, tried, convicted, awl punished
for the same as if such person had not been, or was not
a member of such co-partnership, or one of such benefi-
cial owners." Mr. Homfray then briefly detailed the
particulars of the case, which will be found below.—
James Watts, examined by Mr. Stokes, mid: I am a
newsagent, and live at Fenton-street, Brierley Hill.
Defendant and others belong to a Lodge called "The
Association of Miners." lam secretary. The Lodge is
held at the New Inn, Brierley Hill. Defendant paid the
last money on the died of August, 186 S, Is. Another
subscription was due on the 29th of August. Defendant
did not pay, and ceased to be a member on the 21/ti of
September to consequence of not having paid his sub-
scription. Mr. Breakwell is a member of the society ;
but not of that lodge. On the 5;11 there was a summoned
meeting held at the New lun. I attended and took the
minutes of that meeting. Defendant svas present at the
time. A resolution was passed. Could not say the de-
fendant how what it was. A meeting was held on the
following Monday. Defendant attended. The post-
fflice books and bank books were kept at the club bocce.
The re4oltition agreed to was. that the money agreed to
he love tel in the Post Wire Savings' Bank should be
drawn out. Defendant signed his name tO a form to that
effect. On Van 7th, of September there was another
meeting. Defendant was !.111: in about three weeks or a
month. I saw defendant. and asked him if he %CM g,1112
to refund the money. Defendant said he did not intend
to ',fund it. Cross-ex:l:Mind : I was appointed vere•
t try by the Lod*e. I dee't know what money belonged
lo the c!ult at that time. This club is a new association.
i was made secretary ti tie old association in 161 A. I
winlon:sent When us resolved to psy 110 money for a
mouth. I don't know the club was broken up because of
-efofe law prof:fed:pp. I don't know whether this 1:5
formed some of the money of the old society. It was
mvsted foie I Meanie secretary. There has been no
investment in the Savitig4' Sank since I became seere.

hay, either on the irtrt of the old or new society. It
was :tweed tit all inenillers tt hit at been in the so.dety
I.n.g sliolll4l recteive .ti 2 ; the OVA, to go to the new
s.tejets..—Johu IL,on, miner, residing at Itrielley 11111,
. . . . .

, ...
slid: I tan a inewLer of the Association, and was for-
merly a member of tbe old Association. Defen had was
a innmbor of the old Association, and of the new one till
the Wake, when deku,la,t thew du: tuoney out. Was
preg,nt with titfonlaut tit the Poht Oilio when here-

_
ceived the money, and oigned his paper for him. De-
Sealant could not write, but wade hi 6 work. Defend:tut
picked up £5 lOs sd. Defendant had a kinh book. which
wan kopt it the *ode:,
.The book was given to defend-
. ..

ant by Mr. Weston. D, fendant has not paid the money
over to the Association which belongs to the new society.
Defendant has been asked for the money. Cross-cairn-
mid: I was a member of the old society, which was
broken up about two months since. The books of the
old society were all burnt when the society was br,,ken
up. The old society was considerably in debt, and the
books were mortzaged for £62. Defendant invested the
money for the old a ,catty. The money was not invested
in the bank to defray exFenses incurred through the
Tipton riots, is 1864. The books Were placed in the
hands of Mr. Weston for the loan of 1:62 Ills. Twenty.
four members placed 1:5 each is the bank beside the de-
fendant, and have drawn it out. Some of them kept 2s
61 ; some, 25. I had £5 in the bank in my name, and
the DOM society gave me £2 back. All who had been in
the society two years received £2, according to • resolu-
tion. There were 32 per.ons who received £2 each.
Re-examined: When the new Association was formed.
there was still due to Mr. Weston, £62 103. The bank
books were then in the cust aly of the landli ri, as I.e-
-rarity for the money. The money Cat paid back to the
landlord by contributions on a Saturday night, and the
society received back the securities.—The Stip ndisry
said it was now necessary that Mr. Weston eh itml be
present to give evidence; and Mr. Homfruy ask, for the
case to be adjourned for Mr. Weston to attend. The
Case was than adjourned for a fortnight. 1 here were
several other prisoners charged with a similar offence, but
the hearing of the cases was adjourned.