The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-01-29 00:00:00

Till STOTTIIIIMPEIT 011SEBVEll:

THE IRON TRAP E

WOLVELHAMTON, WEDNESDAY.

Prices of finished irmi were without much
alteration this afternoon, though the shade of
tendency to ease displayed last week was quit,
as perceptible to-day. Bars of other than thc
first Staffordshire brands have to run the guant-
let with the better products at the mills and
foraes of the southern principality; and that
quality is much better now than was at one time
the case with South Wales iron. South Wales
bars were on the offer upon the market this after-
noon at from 10s to £7 12s 6d ; and firms
who are large users of a fair quality are getting
bars at the lower price. Simultaneously Round
Oak bars are £lO 12s 6d ;"B B "(William
Barrows and Sons), and "T P K" (G. B. Thor-
n eycroft and Co.) are both £lO. "B B H Bloom-
field " plates were £l3, and best boiler plates of
the same firm, £l4. "Best S crown" boiler
plates which is another brand peculiar to the
Shrubbery and Swan Garden Works (in this
town) were £l2, and the "best best double
worked" boiler plates of the same firm were
.tl3.

Mr. E. Fisher Smith, the agent of the Earl of
Dudley, has issued a circular intimating that, on
and after February 1, all orders for finished iron
which may include any size or sizes of less than
five cwt. each will be charged at the rate of lOs
per ton over the list prices, in addition to any
other extras. The meaning of this circular, ap-
parently, is that his lordship will execute no
order of any one size of iron which embraces
less than a total quantity of five cwt. at other
than a rise of lOs per ton upon the circular
quotations. In executing small job orders of
less than a quarter of a tom Round Oak has
hitherto departed from the regulation observed
at the works of certain other first-class finished
iron firms in South Staffordshire. By this new
arrangement the exception no longer exists, and
the merchants who lay in a stock get a pull over
the little men, who cannot afford to pursue that
course.

South Staffordshire is doing its share of busi-
ness in plates mostly used in tank and girder
making, for example. This is the more satis-
factory, because it is still practicable to buy such
iron in the London market at nearly £3 under
the quotations of men who have most experience
in that branch of industy in South Staffordshire,
and who, to say the least, are able to cut things
as fine as their neighbours. The plates are con-
sumed by the works hereabouts, which on every
hand surround the mills and forges. The grow-
ing improvement of this district as a manufac-
turing centre—for its manufacturers' capabilities
are increasing from year to year—is the salvation
of the South Staffordshire iron trade ; and so

long as the local engineers and leading hard-
ware manufacturers are well to do, South Staf-
fordshire will be able to jog on and maintain Pie
solvent position which has in the last few years
distinguished it. All this tended to give a hope-
ful tone to the business conversation on 'Change
this afternoon, notwithstanding that men could
not point to much new business of significance.
It was mentioned as satisfactory that Cleveland
plates are up 5s upon the quotations of a week
ago.
Manufacturing coal was plentiful and easy,
but household samples keep in fair req nest
at steady quotations.

Business in the local iron trade continues quiet.
The leading firms find steady employment on
Government and other orders, which are especially
satisfactory for sheets and plates, but among
makers of a lower grade complaints of the dulness
of trade are on the increase. For some descrip-
tions of common iron adapted to local manufactur-
ing requirements, such as nail-sheets, tube-strips,
&c., the demand is tolerably steady, but other kinds
are adversely affected by the competition from
South Wales and the North of England, which is
still increasing in severity. Common &wets are
quoted £ll to .212. Boiler plates are .212 to £l3.
Common bars range from .28 for unmarked to £lO
12s 6d for leading brands. Some curiosity was
manifested on change on Thursday as to the pro-
ceedings at the annual meeting of the Ironmasters'
Association, which was held at the Queen's hotel;
Mr. J. P. Hunt in the chair. The meeting, as
usual, private, but we are informed that the report
and accounts for the past year were approved, and
a committee elected for the present year. The
principal subject of discussion was the proposed
Wages Board, to which reference was made last
week. It was ultimately resolved "that this
meeting having taken into consideration the pro-
posal for the constitution of a Wages Board, sub-
mitted by the chairman and secretary, are strongly
convinced of the great necessity of organising at
once a plan for the settlement of wages questions
and requests the committee to take such steps as
are necessary for the carrying out the same. A
general meeting of the trade will afterwards be
called to consider the scheme." We believe, how-
ever, that the meeting was by no means unanimous
on the subject; and if it be true, as reported, that
important secessions from the association have
taken place owing in agreat measure to differences
of opinion as to the expediency of this board, we
are afraid there is little chance of the successful
realisation of the scheme, seeing that its efficiency
is substantially dependant upon its universal ac-
ceptance by masters as well as by mon. Daily Post.

ran into me, 1-vhilst I bad pulled up into nearly a
walk. The horse defendant was driving was in a
"muck sweat." The lamps cost me 33s 6d the
pair. The glass was knocked about ten yards
away. I have had the other lainp repaired, and it
cost 10s. That same evening I saw Mr. Collis, my
solicitor, and I gave him instructions to apply for
damages the next day.
Cross-examined by Mr. Perry: As you go from
Stourbridge, the road just before you get to the
Golden Lion, turns a little to the left hand.
His i fonour : In driving from Stourbridge to-
wards Enville, before you get to the Golden Lion,
there is a turn in the road. Is that to the right or
to the left ?—lt bends; it bends to the left.
Cross-examination by Mr. Perry resumed: On
the road from Stourbridge, before you get to the
bend, there is a hill. After you pass the Golden
Lion a few yards, there is a road going across the
fields towards some ironworks, and there is a very
steep hill towards Enville. That hill is not a very
much steeper hill than the one you come to before
you get the bend of the road. I was driving at
the rate of about five or six miles an hour. Was
not driving at the rate of eight or ten miles an
hour. Before we came into collision I did not hear
some one shout from Mr. Brettell's trap. On my
oath, I did not hear anyone•shout from Mr. Bret-
tell's trap.
By his Honour: There was no shouting from
Brettell's trap. If there had been I must have
heard it.
By Mr. Perry: Both shafts of Mr. Brettell's
trap were broken off. The shock threw out Mr. '
Brettell's companion, but not Mr. Brettell. He
was not on the ground. Brettell's trap was moved
on ten yards after the shafts were broken off. Wil-
liam Jones moved it on. He is a gardener, and he
was the first man who came up to me. He did
not move it ten yards to the other side, because the
width of the road would not allow it. It was
moved ten yards along the road to let other
vehicles pass. I saw persons measuring the dis-
tance of the wheel from the road. It was above
four feet from the kerb-stone. It had been above
four feet. I cannot say how much more. I can't
tell the distance to two or three inches.
By his Honour: As near as I can tell the dis-
tance was about four feet six inches. There were
some portions of glass towards my left hand side
of the road. There was some glass just behind
Mr. Brettell's off-wheel. The road where the col-
lision occurred is 21 feet wide. We were not going
above' four miles an hour when the collision oc•
curred. At the moment of the collision we were
just on the "jig jog." The horse I was driving is
my own, and it is a good horse. We can get to
Kinver in about 40 minutes when we like. De-
fendant's horse I know is one that has been in the
plough. I should like a horse that could go no
faster than that. Somebody told defendant he
was fresh at the time. He did say, " What the
d— did you do this for ?" Defendant said to me,
" Mr. Edwards, do you say I am drunk ?" and I
said, "I never said so."
He-examined by Mr. Warren: Sonic one else
told me defendant was drunk, and to the best of
my belief he was not sober. The trap was moved
ten yards towards the direction of Stourbridge.
Defendant's trap was moved towards left hand side
of the road going towards Stourbridge.
His Honour. What, after the shafts were bro-
ken ?—Yes.
His Honour: Will you please to tell us how it
was done ?—A man took hold of it as if it was a
wheelbarrow, and moved it along.
By Mr. Warren: The measuring took place after
that. As soon as the collision took place I got a
light and took the name that was on defendant's
trap. Brettell was not on the ground while I was
doing that.
George Williams, forgeman, who was in the
trap with plaintiff at the time, corroborated his
evidence.
Thomas Price, an ostler at the Bell, deposed to
plaintiff being sober when he left there.
William Jones, a gardener, said he was on the
opposite side of the road when the collision be-
tween plaintiff's and defendant's traps happened.
He heard Williams and Edwards shout out, "Mind
the lamps," twice. He did not hear any one shout
from the other trap. Defendants were coming at
a fast trot, whilst plaintiff was going at a slow
rate. Brettell's trap ran into Edwards's and sent
his lamps flying. Brettell's horse went down.
Witness then moved Brettell's trap so as to allow
other vehicles to pass. He could not say what
distance there was between Brettell's trap and the
kerb-stone; but Edwards's trap was close against
the kerb-stone on his right side of the road, and
Brettell's trap was locked in it. Brettell's horse
was fearfully wet with perspiration, and Brettell
himself was intoxicated.
Herbert Cope deposed that he measured the dis-
tance from the " skurr" of the wheel caused by
Brettell's trap when the two vehicles came into
collision. The distance was 14 or 15 feet from the
kerb-stone.
Eliza Westwood, William Aston, George Han-
cock, and Joseph Lewis, also gave evidence corro-
borating that of the previous witnesses in most
particulars.
Mr. Perry then addressed his Honour for the
defence, and called
William Brettell, who said: I am a builder at
the Lye. On the evening of the above date I was
driving from the direction of Kinver. Mr. Yardley,
farmer, was with me. I was driving at the time
the affair happened, about three • or four miles an
hour. The horse was one of Mr. Yardley's, and
was out of the wagon team. At the time it hap-
pened my trap was about three feet from the foot-
path. Mr. Edwards
.was about 30 yards away
when I saw him. Plaintiff's trap was turning the
curve when I first saw it. It was then in about
the centre of the read. When I saw him I hooted
to him. I called out because he was coming very
fast; at about ten or twelve miles an hour. I
called out to give him warning because he could
not see me. I had hardly said the word out of my
mouth before be was into me. At the time of the
collision the outside limit of my speed was four
miles an hour. My wheel was not above three
feet from my side of the road. First of all it
caught the step, 9.nd then bounoed from the wheel
and my dash-board broke his lamp. Mr. Yardley
and myself were thLown out on to the footpath,
It broke the traces of my trap and the ha.mes.
My horse was not thrown down. I was not able
for a minute to get up, as the fall stunned me for
a minute. At that time I was perfectly sober. I
asked Edwards why he came up at such a speed to
run into me. He said, "I have lamps; you have
none." I said, "That is no reason why you should
take up two-thirds of the road." The broken
glass was just at the back of my trap. I mea-
sured the distance from my wheel to the kerb.
The distance was throe feet from the one wheel,
and eight to the outside wheel. When I made that
measurement my trap was not moved to my know-
ledge. It had not been moved after I getup. The
accident bruised me from my head down to iv
knee, and my doctor's bill was 10s. My doctor is
Mr. Richard Freer. could not go about my
business before a week had elapsed. The bill for
damage to my harness was 10s.
•had to hire
another trap while mine was at the coach builders.
I was charged 5s for that. I measured the dis-
tance myself first, and Lewis helped me to measure
afterwards.
Mr. Yardley corroborated defendant.
Several other witnesses were called, and after
hearing their evidence,
His Honour gave a verdict for plaintiff for .21
10s, with costs.
In a cross action which was brought by Brettell
against Edwards, in which the former sought to
recover for personal injuries sustained in the col-
lision, and damage to his trap and harness, ...t4 15s,
plaintiff was nousuited.

Lewis v. Prescott —This was an action to reco-
ver Bs. to which defendant pleaded a set-off,
alleging a payment of £2 made by him to plain-
tiff.—Mr. Collis was for plaintiff, and Mr. Prescott
defended in, person.--After hearing plaintiff's
evidence, Mr: Prescott was sworn and produced
his diary shewing a payment of .22 to plaintiff;
but on cross-examination admitted he held no re-
ceipt for the amount.—Plaintiff contradicted this
part of defendant's evidence, and denied ever
having received .f.. 2 or any other sum from defend-
ant, and his Honour gave a verdict for plaintiff for
the amount claimed.
England v. Jukes, Coulson, Stokes and Co.—This
was an action brought by plaintiff, a spade manu-
facturer at Stourbridge, to recover from the de-
fendants the sum of £l5 9s 6d, balance of an
account for goods sold and delivered, as to £4 is
2d of which defendants paid into Court, and as to
balance claimed a set-off or counter claim, under
the following circumstances.—Defendants being
contractors to the Admiralty, sent to plaintiff a
sketch of certain goods required by the Admiralty,
with quotations of prices. Plaintiff forwarded a
sample of the articles required, and which on being
sent to the Admiralty was approved, and the order
given to plaintiff to make the goods. On the hulk
being sent the goods were rejected by reason of
their not being equal to sample, and were returned
some two months after being sent away. The de-
fendants paid plaintiff monthly, and had accord-
ingly paid for the goods before the date of their
rejection by the Admiralty, and on such rejection
they returned the goods to the plaintiff, claiming
to be allowed the sum of £ll 8s 4d, the price of
such rejected goods, and the balance in dispute in
this action. This plaintiff refused to allow, alleg-
ing an acceptance.—After hearing the evidence as
to. the rejection of the goods by the Admiralty,
his Honour allowed the counter claim, and direc-
ted a verdict to be entered for the defendants.—
Mr. Wall appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Lox-
dale Warien (instructed by Mr. Collis) for the
defendants.

SCHOOL BOARD.—A meeting of this Boara was
held in the Commissioners' Room at the Corn
Exchange, on Monday afternoon last. There were
present: Major Walker, Mr. Billingham, and Mr.
Stringer. The only business of importance tran-
sacted was the paying of the purchase money for
the site of the Board School. The purchase of
this is now complete, and the land has been
placed in possession of the builder.

HAGLEY STOCK SALE.-At this sale on Monday
there was a good collection of stock of first-class
quality, particularly in beef, the cattle yaid beinr,
pretty well filled. There was the usual good at-
tendance, and considering the state of the markets
good rates were realised. Fat sheep as high as
73s a head, and fat cattle as high as 12s 6d
each.

SPORTING MATCH FOR £so.—On Monday last,
by the kind permission of G. Grazebrook, Esq., a
match came off on the race course between Mr. H.
Pearman's " Doder," and Mr. G. Smith's "Old
Sprig." The race was for twenty-five pounds a
side, once round, and over eight flights of hurdles.
Half-past eleven, we believe, was the time appoin-
ted to start, but owing to the hurdles not being
put down, it was past one o'clock before the race
took place. Some four thousand persons were pre-
sent to witness the match, and appeared to take a
great interest. A good deal of money was invested
on the race, " Doder " having the choice. Mr. F.
Blakeway was the starter and judge. " Doder "
jumped off with the lead down the hill, both taking
the first fence together. On going round "Old
Sprig" was first, and maintained the lead for some
distance. On coming round the bottom " Doder "
passed "Old Sprig," and won easily by three
lengths. E. Birch rode the winner, and Hol-
lington "Old Sprig." Hollington raised an objec-
tion against " Doder," on the 'ground that he did
not take the first hurdle, but this was over-ruled,
and " Doger " won.
THE PROPOSED COTTAGE HOSPITAL. - The pro-
posal of a "Cottage Hospital," for Stourbridge has
been under consideration by the Governors of the
Dispensary. It was by them referred to a commit-
tee, which, after due consideration reported the
scheme to be, at present, impracticable. It was fur-
ther suggested that there might be six beds in con-
nection with the Dispensary for the use of Dispen-
sary patients. This question was again referred to
a committee to enquire and roport as to the probable
cost of establishing and maintaining them. They
reported that the cost of establishing six beds would
be about £l5O, and maintaining them about .t3OO per
annum. The Governors considered that the result
would be very inadequate for so large an outlay, and
they would not, therefore, undertake to recommend
such a proposal to the subscribers to the Dispensary,
or the public generally. Finally, it was decided to
have a skilled house-surgeon in connection with the
Dispensary,to visit the patients at their own homes,
when required by his medical officers; and also
that an additional supply of useful surgical appli-
ances be provided, and that funds should at once be
raised for carrying out their objects.

DRUNK AND DISORDERLY.-At the Police Court,
yesterday, before Colonel Fletcher and J. E. Coch-
raue, Esq., Henry Hill, of the Lye, was charged
with being drunk and disorderly. The case was
proved, as also were two fornwr convictions, and
defendant was fined lOs and costs.—John Perry,
of Hagley, was fined 5s and costs for being drunk,
on the night of the 19th inst.

HIGHWAY OFFENCE. William Siddawa,y was
summoned for allowing two cows to stray on the
highway, at the Lye. The case was proved, and
defendant fined 2s 6d and costs.—David Fullwell,
mail cart driver, was charged with permitting a
person to ride on the cart, the said cart not being
licensed to carry passengers. Police-constable
Painter said that he was on duty at the Lye, on
the morning of the 11th. The defendant was
driving a mail cart from Birmingham towards
Stourbridge. A man was riding on the cart, and
he saw him put down at the Lye. The defendant
pleaded guilty, and said he was very sorry. It was
the first offence for 20 years. Colonel Fletcher said
that defendant had renderedlhimself liable to a
penalty of £2O; but being the first offence they
would fine him lOs and costs.
NEGLECT OF WORK.—Joseph Swingewood was
charged by Alfred Green with neglecting his work,
on the 29th.ult. Complainant said defendant had
repeatedly neglected his work. He engaged him
to give and take 14 days' notice, and he paid him
15s 6d per week. Witness had been unable to
finish some work, through defendant neglecting
his work, and could not finish the work, and it had
been a loss to him; but he only claimed 5s as
compensation. Defendant pleaded guilty, and he
was ordered to pay 5s as compensation, and the
costs, and return to work.
DRUNK AND DISORDERLY.—Judith Callagan was
charged with being drunk on the 22nd inst. Police-
constable Firth proved the case, and defendant
was fined 5s and costs.
WILFUL DAMAGE.—Mary O'Donald was charged
with wilfully breaking 20 squares of glass on the
19th inst, the property of George Davis.- Com-
plainant proved that the defendant came to his
house on the night of the 20th. She pulled open
the shutters and broke twenty panes of glass
(value ss), with a half-brick. Defendant did.not
appear, and was fined 10s and costs, and ordered to
pay 5s damage.

CHARGE OF PERMITTING A NUISANCE.
Richard Millward was charged with permitting
a nuisance to exist on his premises in Worcester-
street. Our readers will recollect that the case
came on for hearing a month ago and was ad-
journed for a month.
Mr. Holberton appeared for the complainant
and Mr. Stokes for the defendant.
Mr. Stokes said he had hoped that the case
would have been amiecably settled as suggested
by the Bench. He had written to the clerk,
offering to carry out the suggest ions of the Benoh
and Dr. Campbell, but Mr. Oliver, who had in-
structed Mr. Holberton, had a strong personal
feeling against his client it was found on the last
occasion that a nuisance existed at the back of
all the houses, and his client was quite willing to
do his part to abate it.
Mr. Holberton said that was not so, as a nui-
sance only existed on Mr. Millward's property, as
he should prove.'
Colonel Fletcher said the case 'must begin de
novo if it was to be heard, but he had hoped that
the case would have been amicably settled, as ac-
cording to the medical officer a nuisance did exist
at the back of all the houses, which could be re-
moved by a culvert being put down.
Mr. Stokes said he shoult raise an objection
against his friend appearing unless he stated that
he was employe& by the Commissioners.
Mr. Holberton said he was employed by the
complainant.
Mr. Stokes: You have no locus stanch i unless you
appear on behalf of the Commissioners.
Mr. Holberton : I have seen the inspector and
Mr. Taylor, the Clerk to the Commissioners.
The Bench ruled that Mr. Holberton had no
locus standi unless instructed by the Commissioners.
At this stage Mr, Taylor was sent for, who ap-
peared and said that a nuisance existed only on Mr.
Millward's property.
The Bench: Do you appear on behalf of the
C ommissioneers ?
Mr. Holberton: I do.
In answer to the Bench, Mr. Taylor said that no
Commissioners meeting had been held since the
last trial ; but they meet on Monday next. The
Improvement Committee had held a meeting, and
they ventured to advise that a drain:should be-laid
in front of the house, which would drain all the
refuse from the back, and so prevent a nuisance.
Mr. Stokes said he was much obliged to the
Commissioners and Mr. Taylor for their advice,
but on behalf of his client he did not intend to
take it. He kad no doubt the Commissioners in-
tended to put down a drain as he had given them
notice to serve them with a mandamus. If they
did not do so, it was nothing but a personal
spite on behalf of Mr. Oliver. The cost of putting
down a culvert was but X 6, and his client was
willing to pay his fair share, and carry out the
instructions of the Medical Officer. After some
further conversation the case was adjourned for a
month.