The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-08-16 00:00:00

DUDLILY,

31,101STERIAL.—It the Police Court on Monday
before Mr. James Fisher and Alderman Russell, a
doa.cstie servant named Sarah Jane Williams, of
1-lig-e Street, was chirged with concealing th 3 birth
of her wale child on the 7th July. Mr. Major
(trout the office of the Town Clerk) prosecuted. On
the morning of the 7th the dead body of the child
a 3 found in a closst at the hack of the Bell Inn.
Prieoner was suspec ed, and upon being accused
confessed she was the mother of the child. A
portion of the evidence given at the inquest was
s
repeated oa Monday, when the girl was suddenly
seized with a fit in Court. The case was adjourned
for a fortnight.-- Eiizabeth Whitehouse (50),
needlewoman, ot no fixed abode, was charged on
Monday, with cSsta,ining fourteen yards of gray
cashmere belonging to slr. John Morgan, draper,
Market Place, by false pretences. It was stated
that prisone: went to the shop and asked for
patterns of cashmere. They were given to her,
and in a few minutes she returned and ordered
fourteen yards for Miss Fisher Smith, of the Priory.
She bask away the cashmere, and afterwards tried
to sawn it at Stourbrislge.—Another charge was
preicaTed against her of obtaining six pairs of to)ts
by false pretences from Mr. Collins, Market Place.
She stated that she wanted them for Miss Smith
to try on. The Bench committed her for trial.
CONVICTION OF A POLICE OFFICER.—At the
Police Court on Wednesday, before Alderman
Wilkinson and Mr. E. T. Terry (magistrates),
Police-constables Richard Hutchins and Matthew
Long were charged with assaulting William Lawley,
coachman of Mr. Hotchkiss. brewer, Netherton. Mr.
Shakespeare prosecuted.—Complainant said that at
about one o'clock in the morning of the sth he was
returning home. He was singing and whistling,
and Hutchins asked him why lie was creating such
a disturbance. He denied that he was making
much noise, and Hitchius then told him to--off.
The officer caught hold of him by the collar, and
tore it in pulling him about. lie then gave him a
vio ent blow and knocked him down. Long, who had
hitherto taken no part in the assault, then joined
Hutchins in kicking witness.—Mr. Hotchkiss said
that complainant was sober on the morning in
question, and he noticed after the alleged assault
that La.wley's face was swollen. He denied having
put any pressure upon complainant to induce him
to prosecute. He had seen the officers, and Long
had repeatedly asserted that he did not touch the
complainant—Defendants denied the charge, and
Long was called as a witness for Hutchins. He said
that La.wley was shouting, singing, and whistling.
When remonstrated with he "put his nose 'into the
face of Hitchius, who then pushed him away, He
ran off, and some distance from him he fell down.
He did not see Hitchins do any more than he was
csned upon in the discharge of his duty.—Cross-
examined :Witness said he belived Hitchins had
been summoned twice before for assaults. Since
the last charge was brought against him he had
heard that Hitchins had settled with a man named
Eastliorpe for £2 not to bring into Court another
case ol assault. He knew that the officer had the
character of being hasty in temper—Sergeant
Clark stated that complainant had told him he did
not know what would become of the matter, as he
should have to go by his master's orders.—The
Bench considered the case proved against Hitchins,
and said they regretted to see him before them
again on such a charge. He would be fined 103.
and co -ts, and the case against Long would be dis-
missed.