The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-09-06 00:00:00

DUDLEY,

DUDLEY Towx COUNCIL.—The Mayor (Alderman
W. North) presided on Tuesday afternoon at the
monthly meeting of the above Council. ,--A letter
was received from Mr. Thomas Collett, secretary
to the Dudley Gaslight Company, stating that the
deputation from the Council might meet the
ditectors in October, to consider the question of a
reduction in the price of gas. Alderman Bagott
regretted that the meeting could not take place in
September, so that the anticipated reduction
might date from the Michaelmas quarter.—The
report of the Sewage and Water Supply Committee
showed that steps werebeing taken to push forward
the deep drainage of the borough. The Mayor, in
moving the adoption of the report, said the costs of
the Parliamentary business in connection with the
passing of the Dudley Sewage Bill was a little over
£500., and considering there was opposition up to
a certain point, the expenses were moderate. The
Council, however, saved considerably more than
£5OO by purchasing the pipes at the best time.
Aldermau Thompson congratulated the town in
having a sewage scheme which would prevent
lawsuits; for by the agreement with Lord Dudley,
and sanctioned by Parliament, no interference
could be made for all time with the course laid
down by the Council. The report was then adopted.
—Dr. Cosens, Mr. Terry, and Mr. Tanfield attended
as a deputation from the School Board, and asked
what was to be done with regard to the sewering
of the land at the Board schools in Wolverhampton
Street. At the present time there was an open
sexer at the rear, and the School Board did not
know what could be done in the way of extension
unless the Council's intentions were known. The
Mayor pronosed Dr. Cosens that the matter should
be at once referred to a committee, and the Council
agreed to this. Dr. Cosens then asked what was
to be done in the way of the closet erections.
Objections had been made to the fourteen closets
abut to be erected at the rear of the schools, and
if persisted in the building would be stopped. The
plans of the schools and closets had passed the
Education Department, and to have them altered
vtould cost much time. Alderman Thompson
thought the department, when it saw the insanitary
arrangement of the closets, would alter them at
once. • Dr. Cosens said the School Board only
wanted authority to go to the department. A
suggestion that the clock at the new schools
should be lighted was rt ferred to the Streets and
Gas Committee, and the deputation withdrew.—
The report of the Sanitary and Baths Committee
contained Dr. Timmins's report as to the health of
the borough. This showed 46 deaths during the
month, giving a death-rate of 12.8 per 1,000. Of
the 46 deaths, 19 were below one year of age, and
6of the deaths were from zymotic diseases. Dr.
Timmins called attention to several parts of the
town where the water was unfit for drinking —ln
reply to Mr. W. Smith, the Mayor said there was
no communication from the Local Government
Board on the subject of the baths.—Mr. Wainwright
called attention to the open drain in the Birming-
ham Road, which was an abomination. '1 he Mayor
and Mr. W. Smith held that no real good could be
done in the matter until the deep drainage was in
existence.—The report of the Streets and Gas
Committee showed that the nuisance arising from
the shouting of newspaper sellers in the streets had
been abated.—Mr. John Dunn moved, "That in
the opinion of this Council one uniform rate for gas
should be charged in all parts of the municipal
borough," and that the deputation to wait on the
company should urge the principle. Mr. Bill;ng
seconded the resolution, on the ground that it was
only fair in principle. Alderman Bagott, as one of
the deputation, had never been able to see why
.Netherton should be charged more than Dudley.
Alderman Dudley and the Mayor agreed with the
remarks of all the previous speakers. His Worship
said they had heard the arguments of the Gas
Company, that the mining operations at Netherton ,
broke the pipes and wasted the gas, but the whole
question should be opened at the meeting. the
other business was formal. ,

,AASAULT J3y A PitzrzselaTAL CEIOKBTXR.-•••TRE

RRESITLT or A LAMPOON.—On Wednesday, at the
Police Court, before the Mayor (Alderman W.
North), Alderman Bagott, and Mr. John Bateman,
Frank Lazenby, professional cricketer to the Dudley
club, was charged with assaulting Edward Oakes
brewery traveller, on the 31st ult.—Mr. W. H.
Tinsley defended, and asked for an adjournment for
a week, on the ground that the defendant was about
to have a benefit on the cricket ground, and the
result of that day, whatever it might be, would
prejudice him—Mr. Barradale failed to see how that
could happen.—The complainant then stated that on
Sunday night the defendant was in company with a
woman of ill-fame in the Birmingham Road, and as
they passed witness in the road the woman used a
vulgar expression and struck him on the head with an
umbrella. Defendant also joined in the assault.
Witness said he "deemed it policy to run away," but
the defendant followed him and knocked him clown.
This was while he was in the act of running away.
Cross-examined : Knew the woman was a prostitute,
because he had been familiar with her years before.
She was known as "Black-and-tan"—(laughter)—
and the paragraph in the weekly paper produced
coupled that nickname with the defendant's pro-
fessional position. Had previously told the defendant
he would put him in the paper complained of, but
that was only in a jocular manner. Did not know
who was the writer of the paragraph.—Mr. Barradale
Be careful. You told me you did when you fetched
the summons.—Mr. Tinsley : You are on your oath
and perjury may be prosecuted. Who wrote the
article?—Witness : I don't know. Mr. Barradale:
[shall go further, and put the name to you in a
minute. Be careful.—Witness : Well, I believe it
was the reporter for the paper spoken of.—Mr. Tinsley
Who is the reporter F—Witness : Mr. Robinson.___
Continuing, Mr. Oakes said he would not swear he
had not 'told Robinson all about the matter. He
might have "inspired" the article, or have suggested
"half and half of it. There was no doubt the para-
graph referred to the woman and the defendant. He
had not sent her a summons, but had charged the
defendant becau,e he was knocked down by that
person. At one time they were bosom friends, and
had not fallen out. The case was then dismissed.-.
Complainant: May I make one observation? The
defendant says he will kill me —Mr, Barradale . If
you inspire such articles you cannot wonder that
persons interfere with you. It is probably the only
remedy they have against such writers or people in
such a class of papers. The complainant then left the
Court with Mr. Rohinson.—Great interest was mani-
fested in the proceedings.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1879