The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-03-16 00:00:00

THE STOURBRIDGE OBSERVER.

Albert Smith, son of Police-constable Smith,

said he rem- embercd

the 7th

of March.

He recollected the prisoner coming to the house
and taking his sister with him. He asked her to
go up to Steadman's to her father and they both
left the house together. Later in the evening
he went in search of his sister and he found her
at the corner of Duncombe Street and he saw the
isoner following his sister.—Police-constable
Charles Smith was called and examined by Mr.
A ldison, who said that the prisoner has been in
the habit of calling at his house for the last two
years at different times. He never saw anything
improper in:his conduct, but he didnurse his baby
that night and he once gave his little boy a penny-.
Witness went to the Waterloo Inn and had a pint
of ale twice filled. Prisoner had two glasses of
gin and he did not think him the worse for drink.
Witness left the house and returned and said to
the prisoner "You scamp, what do you mean by
trying to ruin my child" and struck him a blow in
the mouth. The landlord said he would not have
a row there. His daughter was always truthful
and he never heard a word of harm against her.
—Robert Luther Bayley, surgeon, said he ex-
amined Sarah Smith on Saturday last about 4.40
in the afternoon and described the injuries that
complainant had received.—Police-sergeant Jones
proved that he apprehended the prisoner on the
9th inst. He told him he had a warrant to appre-
hend him and prisoner gave a deep sigh and said
"Oh, dear." He then asked witness what it was
for and he told him it was for attempting to ravish
Police-constable Smith's daughter and prisoner
said "I am innocent."—Colonel Fletcher remarked
that they had made up their minds to com-
mit prisoner for an assault with intent to ravish
Sarah Smith, and he was committed to take his
trial at the next Worcester Sessions, bail
being accepted, two sureties of £25 and himself
in .250. j

SBRIOUS ASSAULT Cam—Luke Bromley was
charged with violently assaulting John Hall, beer-
house keeper, Birmingham Street, on Saturday
night. Defendant was further charged with
assaulting Police-constable Eaves while in the
execution of his duty.—John Hall, a broker and
beerhouse keeper, said the defendant came into
his house on Saturday night drunk and called for
some ale. He told him that he thought he had
had enough and defendant then commenced to
assault him, striking him violently about the
body; and bruised him all over. Defendant
then began to kick him about the leg and he was
covered with wounds from his violence. He then
sent for the police and as soon as he came defend-
ant began to assault witness again and the
officer.—Defendant was remanded until four
o'clock on Tuesday afternoon, and was brought up
before Colonel Fletcher and Mr. R. L. Freer.—
Mr: Addison defended.—Samuel Brooks, of the
Lye corroborated Hall.—Defendant was further
charged with assaulting Police-constable Eaves,
on the same night.—Eaves said he was sent from
the police-station to look after defendant and
found him in the Holly Busb, Coventry Street.
lie took hold of defendant and told him he was
going to lock him up when defendant said he did
not think lic‘ would lock him up and threw himself
on the ground. Whilst on the ground defendant
caught hold of witness's finger and tried to bro,tak
it hack. Witness had to call the assistance of
i•ystanders to take the defendant to the station.—
Police-const&Ae Keenan, of the Staffordshire
Constabulary, proved four previous convictions
against defendant.—Colonel Fletcher said they
considered it a very serious offence aud it was
clearly proved. They should deal with it severely
and tined defendant 40s and costs in each case
of assault; in default one month's hard labour
in each case. Puoiicans who kept their houses
open for the use of the public must be protected
and not abused, and the Bench were bound al,o
to protect the police-officers.
DILUNKENNESS.—At the Police Court. on Tues-
day, before Colonel Fletcher and Mr. R. Freer,
Patrick Gravy was charged with being urank, on
the 10th lust, in the township. Defendant
pleaded guilty.—Police-sergeant Jones proved the
case and defendant was fined 5s and costs; in de-
fault 7 days.
THE LATE FORGERIES AT STOURBRIDGE.—At the
Worcestershire Lent Assizes, on Thursday, before
Lord JustiCe Baggallay, James Henry Bennett
(28), house painter, pleaded not guilty to obtain-
ing at Stourbridge, on the 12th and 19th of
January, 6s, 6s, and ss, from James Henry Stone,
by means of forged orders.—Mr. Northeote prose-
cuted; prisoner was undefended.—The case for
the prosecution was that the prisoner, who was a
book canvasser in the employ of the prosecutor,
gave an order purporting to be signed by
Frederick Reed, Conybere Street, Birmingham,
for a Family Bible at £2 18s, and that he received
is thereon as commission.—Prisoner's defence
was that it was Mrs. Reed who gave the order for
, the Bible, that her husband refused to take it, and
[fiat he returned it to his employer.—The jury
acquitted the prisoner, who was again put on his
trial for obtaining 5s by means of an order for a
Family Bible, purporting to be signed by William
iirown, 36, Wheeler Street, Birmingham.—The
• prosecutor stated that he had gone to that ad-
dress, but could not find anyone of the name of
Brown residing there.—The defence of the pri-
soner • was that whilst calling at the house of a
customer named Welsh, living at 13 house, 13
Court, Hurst Street, Brown, who was there,
ordered a Family Bible, and affixed his mark to
the order.—The jury found the prisoner guilty,
and he was senteneed to six months' hard labour.
—At the request of the prisoner his Lordship
ordered the order to be retained and given to the
prisoner at the expiration of his imprisonment,
who said he should bring an action against the
prosecutor.
NON-PAYMENT OF Pooa RATES.—At the Police
Court, yesterday, before Colonel Fletcher, Messrs.
J. Hoicroft and C. Cochrane, twenty-seven persons
were summoned by Mr_ H. Yates, collector, for
non-paymemt of poor rates. Twenty-five persons
paid before the cases were called on and an order
was made for Samuel Simms and James Ashcroft
to pay forthwith.
CAUTION TO DOG OWNERS.—John Griffiths, of
Fairfield was lined 25s for keeping a dog without a
license. _ _

DRUNK AND DISORDERLY.-11enry Littlewood,
of the Lye, was charged with being drunk and
disorderly, on the 10th inst.--Poliue-sergeant Rea
said that about a quarter-past one o'clock defend:
ant was on the highway tunas. and making a great
noise.—Defendant pleaded guilty.—Three pre-
vious convictions were proved against the defend-
ant and he was fined 16s and costs; in default
one mouth's bard labour.—Jesse Billingham was
charged with being drunk and disorderly, at
Cradley, on the 9th inst.—Police-constable Oakey
proved the case and defendant was fined 2s 6d
and costs.
Caußtair TO A HORSE.—David Fullwell, mail
driver, was charged with torturing a horse by
working it while in an unfit state, on the 12th
inst.—lnspector Doorbar and other witnesses
'proved the case and defendant was fined 40s and
costs.

DRUNK AND ASSAULTING THE POLICI.---WilliaM
Richards was charged with being drunk and dis-
orderly, at Wollaston, on the 12th inst. Defend-
ant was further charged with assaulting Police-
constable Smith at the same time while in the ex-
ecution of his duty. Smith said that the defendant
was making a great noise at a public .house. He
asked for some drink and he ordered him home
and he refused t 9 go and struck him on the
arm. Defendant then broke a stick against a wall
and he told him if he did not go in the house he
should lock him up. Defendant then went in the
house and latcught down a loaded stick and struck
him across the arm. He bit him on the other
arm awl hand and defendant was then locked up.
—Defendant pleaded guilty to being drunk and
said he did not reeollect the assault.—Fined 20s
and costs • in -default one month's hard labour.
Colonel Fltcher said had it not been for his good
charmer and the trouble in losing his wife they
should have sent him to prison for three mouths
without the option of a fine as it was a very.
serious case.
CHARGE OF STEALING EGGS.-.-David Parsons
(15), and Thomas Aston (15), were charged with
stealing three eggs, on the 7th inst, the property
of George Edward Alldridge.—A man named
Potter said he saw the two defendants take three
eggs out of the case and•put them into their
pockets, one boy had two eggs and the other one.
—Prosecutor said he did ,not wish to press the
lease but he had lost a great many articles and
was-compelled to bring the defendants to make an
exartiple of them.—Colonel Fletcher remarked
that the Magistrates were always unwilling to send
boys to:prison and if they would pay the costs 6s
6dthey would be discharged. The costs were paid
and defendants cautioned.
HIGHWAY Om/item—James Hingley, butcher,
of Cradley, was summoned for allowing four
heifer--; to stray on the highway, at Hagley, on the'
9th inst.-'—Police-sergeant Rea proved the case,
which was admitted by the defendant, who said
I that some boy had left the gate open.—Under the
circumstances defendant was let off on payment of
costs, 5s 6d.
CHARGE AGAINST A PusucArt.—William Dunn,
landlord of the Blue Ball Inn, Cradley, was sum-
moned by Superintendent Freeman, for keeping
his house open for the sale of beer on the night of
the 11th inst, during prohibited hours.—Police-
constable Oakey proved the case and said there
were twelve men in the house.—Fined 10s and
costs.
STEALING A DRESS SEIRT.-.-MaTia Hill was
I charged with stealing a new skirt in January
last, the property of Jessie Compson.—Proseou-
trix said the defendant washed for her and she
U4N1094 several organ! The drool okirt produced

was her property, but she did not wish to press
the case.—Police-constable Morgan proved appre-
hending prisoner and she denied the charge.—
Prisoner was sentenced to one week's imprison-
ment.

ASSAULT CASE.—Georgo Hill was charged with
assaulting Noah Compson, on the 11th inst.—The
case was not proved to the satisfaction of the
Bench and they dismissed the summons.
ANOTHER ASSAULT CASE.—John Hughes was
charged with assaulting David Garfield, of Bel-
broughton, on the 2nd inst.—Defendant pleaded
o•uilty.—Defendant was fined is and costs; in de-
fault 7 .days. _ _ _ _ _

AssAura:ix° A WOMAN.—Alexander Drew, of the
Lye, was charged with assaulting Sarah West-
wood, on the 11th iust.—From the evidence it
appears that the defendfint was making a great
row and used filthy language. She told him he
ought to be horse-whipped when defendant struck
her several time; and blackened her eye.—The
defence was that complainant first struck him with
a three half-pint bottle on the head and cut his
hat. —Defendant was fined is and costs; in default
7 days.
BOARD OP GUARDIANS.—The usual weekly
meeting of this Board was held yesterday; Mr.
Granger in the chair. There were also present
Messrs. H. Billingham, IZaybould, Hingley, Burr,
Griffiths, Thompson, Wood, Hale, J. Billinghani,
Giles, Mills, Hall, Baker, Wright. Piddian,
Lavender, Haskew, Kelley, Guest, and Smith.
Admitted, 13 ; discharged, 11 ; dead, 3 ; remain-
ing, 450; corresponding'Week last year, 367. Out-
door relief, Kingswinford District, .224 lOs 2d;
Stourbridge District, £lB 3s 114 d; Halesowen
District, £l6 14s 6d ; non-resident paupers, 9s 4d;
total, £56 17s 114 d; against, ..£52 14s 8d last
year.
CHILD FOUND DEAD.—A. good deal of excitement
took place at Oldswinford, last night, in conse-
quence of a new-born child being found in a water
cistern belonging to Mr. Charles Hill, boiler maker.
The 'body wag removed to the Swan Inn, pending
enquiries.