The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-10-01 00:00:00

BOARD OF GUARDIANS.

The weekly meeting of this Board was kohl
yesterday ; Mr. Brooks in the chair. There
were also present: Messrs. Wood, Fereday,
Bird, Burr, Griffin, Plant, Rhodes Rollinson,
and Wright. The minutes of the List meeting
were read and confirmed. Admitted into the
hones during the week, 27; discharged, 25;
born, 0; dead, 8; remaining, 387. Corres•
pending week last year, 391. Out-door relief,
Kingswinford district, £43 Is 10d; Stourbridge
district, £24 14s 3d ; Halesoweu district, .£25
13s 10d; total, £2l Us hl, against £9B 9s 4d
last year.
A letter was read by the Cleik from the Rev.
A. G. Girdlestone, curate, in charge of Wordsley
Church, calling attention to an offensive odour
rising in front of Church Row, and to au offen-
sive smell rising from a brook, which at times
was very bad. The matter was referred to toe
Nuisance Inspector, who was directed to attend
to it, and report upon the same.

A letter was also read from the Overseers of
Kingswinford district, again culling the attention
of the Board, relative to the rating of coal
mines, which was not according to law, and abk•
lug the Board to re.consider the subject, mid
whatever decision they came to the Overseers
would consider it final.

A long discussion took place, and the Board
referred the mutter to the Assesiment Commit-
tee.

Mr. Holloway said the letter had been before
the Assessment Committee, and that the Over-
seers were dissatisfied with the discussion, and
the following iesolution was carried unanimously
—" The Assessment Coinmittee having consid-
ered the letter of the Overseers of the Parish of
Kingswinford, of the 9th inst, and also heard
them on the subject of rating mines, works, DlA-
chiuery, and other property, and considering the
prospect of some early legislation on the law of
rating, are of opision that it is inexpedient at
present to incur th 9 expense of professional valu-
ations...

STEALING DAMSONS AND POTATOES.—At the
Police Court, on Monday last, before Mr. C. P.
Noel, Henry Ward, Edward, Parsons, and Wil-
liam Adams, three men residing at Hasbury,
were charged with stealing a quantity of dam.
ions belonging to William Bowen, at Belbrough-
ton, on the 25th ultimo. From the evidence of
Police-constable hall it appears he was between
Clent Hills and Walton Hills, on the above date
about six o'clock in the morning, when he met
the three prisoners, who had a quantity of dam•
sons and potatoes in their possession. He asked
them where they got them from, and they said
they found them He then told them he should
take them into custody on suspicion .tf stealing
the damsons and potatoes. They then said they
stole theni from a garden at Itelbroughton, and
if he would not lock them up, they would go to
the mane house, and imk him ii ho would forgive
them. He then went to Belbroughton, and
found that a quantity of damsons had been taken
from prosecutor's garden. Prisoners' boots cor-
responded with the foot-marks in the garden.
Prisoners pleaded guilty, and were tined 5s and
costs; in default 21 days.--They were further
ehorged with stealing a quantity of potatoes
from a field in the occupation of William Tay-
lor, on the same date. Prisoners pleaded guilty,
and were fined 5s and costs; in default 21 days'
imprisonment.
STEALING POTATOES.—At the Petty Sessions,
on Thursday, before It. L. Freer, Esq., James
Smith of the Lye, was charged with feloniously
stealing a piantity of potatoes on the 28th ult,
the property of James Moore, of Pedmorc. Po-
lice-constable Walton proved that on the above
(late he was on duty, and saw the prisoner, who
had a ipiantity of potatoes in his possession.
Prisoner (I:d not give a satisfactory account as
to where he had them from, and witness locked
him up. James Moore proved that he had lost
a great quantity of potatoes, and from informs.
Lion received from the last witness, went to the
ground, and there foiled that a quantity of soil
had been fresh turned over, and that the pota-
toes produced were similar to his own. Fined
109, and e.d damage; in default ouo month's hard
labour.

JURY Lwrs.—At the Petty Sessions, yester-
day, the Jury Lists for the several townships
were passed by the Magistrates.
ASSAULT .AT OLDSWINFORD. At the Public
Office, yesterday, before Major Fletcher an i B.
Littlewood, Esq., Wiflj,n Perks, Oldswiuford,
was charged with assaulting Joseph Hill, on the

lalt Tbis ease was tuljourned for the at-
t :alum" of a witness on behalf of complainant.
D.tnjantin Holloway said he was at the Cros,
n, Oldswinford, on the above date. Ho sat,
'blend:Ant and his father in the place. Coot•
plainant came in soon afterwards, and defendant.,
without saying anything to anybody, went and
struck complainant several times. Complainant
did not strike him back, nor speak to him. De-
fendant said he was going round the table, when
complainant called him a thief, and pushed hint
acroAs the table. He then struck him in self-
defence. Richard Perks, father of the defend-
ant, was called, but said he could not see any of
the bother. Defendant was fined 2s ad and costs;
in default 14 days.

CHARGE OF ASSAULT AGAINST A LICENSED
VICTUALLER.— John Dutton, landlord of the
Bell Hotel, was charged by John Riley with as-
saulting him on the 22nd ult. Mr. Homfray
defended.—Complainant said that he was em-
ployed by the defendant as ostler. On Wednes-
day week was the licensed victuallers' dinner.
Defendant had been there, and got a little ele-
vated. On Thursday he was the same, and
came to him, caught hoffi of him by the collar,
shook and strucx him, and made his month
bleed; and he was covered with blood. Did not
say a word, or give any provocation to him.—
Cross-examined : I am ostler to the defendant.
Have been so at the Talbot, and worked at the
railway. Was uot discharged from those places.
Defendant did not discharge me before he struck
me • I did have the horsehire book in my hand.
Defendant struck rue before I had the book.
The reason I took the hook was because thejobs
are put down in it, and I can tell what is corning
to me. I was not drunk at the time; but the
defendant was—(laughter).—Mr. Homfray, for
the defence, said Mr. Dutton was a highly res-
pectable innkeeper, and that on the above date
the complainant was very drunk. He ordered
him off and he refused to go. He denied that
he assaulted complainant.—Ellen Goode said
she was waitress at the Bell Hotel. Knew the
complainant, who was ostler at the hotel. He
was tipsy in the morning, and when Mr. Dutton
came buck there were some soda water bottles
lying in the sun. Defendant complained about
the soda water being in the sun. Complainant
had a stable book in his hand. There was a
scuffle about the book, but did not see any
blows struck. Mr. Dutton was not tipsy. The
complainant was tipsy.—Robert Richards said
he worked at the Bell. Oil the above date he
went into the yard, and heard them having some
woris. Riley was the worse for lignor.—The
Bench considered the case not proved, and dis-
missed it.

HIGHWAY OFFENCE.—Thos. Hill was charged
with having allowed noxious water to run on a
certain turnpike road at the Hayes. Mr. .1.
Wakefield, surgeon, said on the 21st ult he was
going along the turnpike road to Halesowen.
Ile was going past the defendant's works, and
saw a quantity of noxions water running along
the road from defenfiant'a worka. None of the
neighbours complain of it. Will swear it was
running on the surface of the road. James
Chivers said he was at work on the road on the
21st nit. He saw a quantity of water running
along the surface of the turnpike road. De-
fendant said they had no drain for the water to
run off their ground, and they had not done it
willingly. The Bench advised them to come to
sonic arrangement. Adjourned for 14 da s.
POOR RATES.—John Hill was summoned for
non-payment of poor rates amounting to 2s 70.
Ordered to pay it and the costs in 14 days.
ADJOURNIED LICENSING DAY.—Jacob Burford,
Foley Arms Inn, Pedmore, granted. Samuel
French applied for the license of the Nag's
Head Inn to be transferred from Mary Hnrley
to himself, and for the license to be renewed;
granted. Samuel Cook, Old Bull Inn, Lye,
granted. Thoolll4 Artiss, Heart-in-Hand, Up-
per Swinford, applied for an interim of autho-
rity ; granted. Mr. Frank Allden applied to be
allowed to sell bottled porter and ale, not to be
drunk on the premises. The application was
refused, the applicant not being sufficiently
rated.

DRUNK AND DISORDERLY.—George Crumpton
was chanted with being drunk and disorderly on
the 25th nit, at King-street, Wollaston. Police.
constable Smith proved the case, and defendant
was fined 2a 6d and costs; in default seven
days.
AN UNNATURAL OFFENCE.—Samu,I Pardoe, a
young loan, was charged with an unnatural of-
fence with a mare donkey at Belbroughton, on
the 4th ult. Mr. Addison appeared for prisoner.
A man named Davenport proved seeing the pri.
soner commit the offence. Police-constable
Lane proved apprehending the prisoner. Two
witnesses were called for the defence. The
Bench committed prisoner to take his trial at the
next Worcester Assizes, bail being accepted in
two sureties of X3O each, and himself in one
surety of i'6o.
CHARGE OF DRUURENNF.SB AND ASSAULTING
THE POLlCK.—Thomas Morris, residing in Park.
street, Brierlev Hill, was charged by Superiu•
tendeut Mills with being drunk and assaulting
Police-constable Muland on the 28th ult. Com-
plainant proved that on the above date he was
on duty at Brierley Hill. His attention was
called to the defendant, who was in the Higarce
Colliery. Defendant was drunk, and refused to
go at first, brit afterwards went a short distance,
got into the road, and became very riotous, and
slruck witness several times. Having been twice
previously convicted, defendant was fined 20s
and costs; in default one month.

DISORDRLY.—Joseph -C;;;;;;;;;, residing at
Wordsley. was charged by Superintendent Mills
with being di link and incapable P. C. Forster
proved the case, and said that defendant was
helplessly drunk. Fined. ss.