The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-12-30 00:00:00

OLD HILL.

Bnierrar., AssaereT,At the Police Court, on Wednesday
before Messrs. Noah Hiugley and W. Bassano, Daniel
Ileathicock, a resolute looking fellow, was charged
with assaulting Police-constables, Giles and Sylves-
tre, on the 24th inst.—Mr. Addison appeared to
prosecute and Mr. Homer defended.—Police-constable
John Giles said at the time of the assault he was
stationed at Cradley Heath. On the night of the 24th
Est. he was on duty at the Corngreaves, at 20 minutes
past 12 o'clock and when near the house of a woman
named PiHear, he saw two men come out of the house
with a bottle. In consequence of what they told him
he took them back to the house and they then said they
had two quarts of ale in the house. Defendant and Mrs.
Meer were in the house at that time. Witness asked
one of the men what they paid for the ale and one said
Bd. Mrs. Pillear went upstairs, and witness left the
house with tha bottle. Whoa ho was near nottclall Hill
Church defendant stopped him and caught hold of him
by the coat and wanted to take the bottle from him.
Defendant asked witness not to say anything about it as
it would be the ruin of the old women and it would be
pounds in witness's pocket.—They struggled together
and witness had his hand injured so badly that he had
not been able to use it since. Police-constable Syl-
vestre came up at the time and defendant Aouted out
t a companion •'Jim, give the b-- the knife." Defendant
struck Sylvestre, who then struck him with his
,ataff
teed defendant got away from them. On the following
day witness went to Mrs. Pillear's house and identified
defendant who was in bed. on the way from Brierley
Hill Police Station that (Wednesday) morning defendant
asked witness to make it as light as he could. Witness
had not the slightest doubt that defendant was the man
Police-constable Sylvestre, stationed at Old Hill, said he
was on duty on the morning of the 24th inat at Redden
Hill, and when near the church he heard a disturbance
and saw it was Police-constable Giles and defendant.
When he getup to them defendant said to another man
"Jim give the b— the knife," and he hit witness,
who then struck defendant with his steff.—Superintend-
ent Woollaston said he went to Mrs. hiker's _house on
the morning of the 25th inst and found defendant ha
bed there. Witness charged him with assaulting Police.
constables Giles :,nd Sylvestre.—Police-constable Parker,
corroborated Giles as to the-statement made by defendant
whilst he was being conveyed from Brierley Hill.—Mr.
Homer, in defence, contended that it was a case of mis-
taken identity and called several witnessess to prove an
alibi—After hearing their evidence Mr. Hiugley said
the worst part of the case was defendant calling for a
knit( ,and they .should sentence hiaa to two mouths' hard
labour. Defendant appealed to the magistrates to in-
flicts fiue, and not sand him to prison without a chance of
paying
DRUNK AND -REFUSING TO QUlT.—Charles Westwood
was charged with being drunk and refusing to quit the
Vine Inn, Cradley Heath, when requested, on the 18th
inst.—Mr. Poole, the landlord proved that defendant was
intoxicated and refused to leave when requested and he
was forced tt eject him. Defendant pleaded guilty and
was fined 5s and costs ; in default 14 days hard labour.
DRUNKENNESB.—WiIIiam Alt Wood and Samuel Cart-
wright, two respectable looking men, were charged with
being drunk and disorderly at Cradley Heath, on the
night of the 20th inst.—Police-constable Cooper proved
the case and defendants who pleaded guilty were each
fined 5s and costs.

CAUTION TO WAGONERS.—Thomas Newell, a wagoner,
was charged with riding without reins ono the 19th,
at Tividale, and was fined 2s fid and costs.—Police-con-
stibie Hicklin proved the case.