The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-01-05 00:00:00

BBIERLEY HILL.

THE ARBITRATION CASE OF HICKMAN V. PEARSON.—
This case was one in which the plaintiff, a fire-clay and
eoalmaster, of the Dolph, claimed £9OO odd from the
defendant, who is also in the same business, and has
an adjoining colliery. The ground of claim was that
the defendant, through his mine agent, had encroached
upon the plaintiffs boundary, and took away coal.
The defendant admitted £29 or thereabouts for coal
taken by misapprehension. The case was fully re-
ported after the hearing before the arbitrator (Mr.
William North, Mayor of Dudley) had concluded. This
gentleman has now given in his award, and in this the
plaintiff is entitled to £451 us 6d. Mr. Stokes con-
ducted the plaintiff's case, and Mr. Homer that of the
defendant.

DRUNIIENNESS.—At the Police Court, on Monday,
before Messrs. J. 'croft and L. Freer, James Jones,
of Wollaston, was charged with being drunk, at Coal-
bourabrook, on the 22nd ult.—Police-constable Evans
proved the case and said defendant was asleep on the
road.—Defendant pleaded guilty aid said it was the
fir,t time he had ever been before the Magistrates
and hoped it would be the last.—Fined including
costs.

Assenur Cesiss.—Timothy Price was charged with
assaulting Joseph Homer, on the 27th ult. Joseph
Homer was -.;harkei on a cross-summons with assault-
lug at the earn:: time ,ind place.—Homer
Bard he had been out carol singing with defendant and
others and defendant held the money that was collected.
Afterwards they went to the Bird-iu-Haud, Park Street,
Brierley Hill. After they had been drinking for seine
time they had a dispute as to how much money had
been gatherod and spent in ale and defendant struck
witness first on the face and blackened his eye.—Maria
Homer, wife of compiainant, corroborated her husband.
—Price said he held the mcney they had collected for
Cnristmas boxes and he paid for the ale as it came in.
After some time he said he had come to the last
shilling and Horner called him a b-- liar and said he
had kept some of the money. Defendant asked Homer if
he could make a liar of him and Homer discovered his
mistake- and sti'.(l defendant had not kept any of the
money but struck him on the chin and defendant struck
him back.—Sarah Jane price and Mrs. Moore cor-
roborated defendint and said Homer 'struck the first
blow,—The Bench considered it rather a trivial matter
and fined Homer and Price is each and costs; in defAult
11 days' imprisonment.
PERMITTING A NUISANCE.—John Read was summoned
by Mr. J. W. Beckley for permitting a nuisance.— The

facts were clearly proved and she wed that a beastly
nuisance had existed ou defaidant's trees, but Air,
Beckley said defendant had expressed his regret and he
was willing to withdraw from the prosecution on de-
fendant paying costs.—Defendant agreed to this and
said there would not be a repetition of the nuisance.—
fhe costs were Sc.

TRESP.ASING IN PURSUIT OF CONlES.—Richard Babbs,
W lli.m Green, and George Co :per were charged with
tr.spas6ing on land in the occupation of Mr. if. J. W.
H. Foley, ia pursuit of rabbits and conies on the .Bth
ult.—De;:eadant Babbs dici not appear and the other two
defendants pieaded guilty.—William Matthews, game-
keeper, in the employ cf Mr. Foley, said he saw the
three defendants onithe above date in a cover more than
a hundred yards from any footpath or road. They had
a ferret and a dog with them. When they saw witness
they ran away. lie afterwards found a net that they
had left behind. 'U he two defendants Green and
_

:2ooper gave ficticious names.—Police-consta—ble--WiTte.
proved four previous convictions against Babbs who
lwas fined 40i and costs; in default vivo months' hard
abour, and the other two defendants were fined 103 and
costs ; in default 14 days.
BRUTAL AssauLT.—John Deane, horse dealer, was
charged with assaulting Joseph Allport, on the 20th
aldron appeared for complainant, who said
on the above date about six o'clock in the evening he
was at the Spread Eagle public-house and defendant
was also there. As witness was going out he met de-
fendant who struck him on the head with a whip ant
knocked him down insensible. Witness had not given
defendant any provocation and as soon as he recovered
consciousness he informed a man named Griffin who his
assailant was and Griffin took the whip from defendant.
On cross-examination by defendant witness denied
striking him first hr giving him any provocation what-
ever.—George Griffin said he saw defendant strike com-
plainant on the head with a whip and the man fell down
insensible. He (Griffin) took the whip from defendant.
—Defendant was fined I.os and costs ; in default 14 days'
hard labour.

Pl.:11)I1TTING DRUNE,ENNES3.—John Allen, landlord of
the Holly Bush Inn, Wondbourn, was charged with per-
mitting drunkenness in his house on the 1h ult.—Mr.
NValdron appeared for the defence.—Police-sergeaut
Boon said on the above date at four o'clock in the after-
noon he was on duty in company with Police-constables
Ward and Hayward at Womboarn, when he saw a man
named George Evans being driven in a trap. Evans
was drunk. About forty minutes afterwards witness
went to defendant's house and found Evans there in the
tap room with a glass of spirits before him. Witness
asked Evans a question and he then got up and stumbled
against a screen. He admitted to witness that he had
got "fresh " in Wolverhanapton. About ten minutes
afterwards Evans came out of the house and staggered
down the road towards his own home He was most
certainly drunk.—Police-constable Ward end Hayward
corroborated Boon.—Mr, Waldron cross-examined the
witness for the prosecution, but failed to shake the r
testimony.—Defenciant was put in the box and said he
had kept the Holly Bush for seventeen years. He was
fined the first year he kept the house but had not had
a complaint against him since. On thelday in question
the man Evans Caine to his house and was perfectly
sober and after having something to drink he walked
straight home.—John Willetts, butcher, said he.saw
Evans in the Holly Bush on the above data and he was
sober.—Evans was also sworn and in answer to Mr.
Waldron said be was sober.—Ths Bench retired with
Mr. E King, for consultation, and on resuming their
seats Mr. Holcroft said they considered the case clearly
proved against defendant and they thougnt the three
p,lice-Aficers had given their evidence in a very straight-
forward manner and in such a way that some of the
remarks of Mr. Waldron were totally uncalled for.
—Defendant was fined lOs and costs.—Ueorge Evans
was then charged with being druak on licensed pro-
noses and was hued 2s 6,1 and costs; in default 14 days'
hard labour.
CAUTION TO STONE THROWERS.—AIfred Cooper, eleven
years of age, was charged with stone throwing in High
Street, on the 23rd ult.—Police-constable Wootton said
he saw the defendant throwing stones in High Street,
Brierley Hill, on the above date.—Mr. Woollaston said
defendan) was one of a gang of lads that were a regular
nuisance.--Defendant did not appear and his mother
was informed that he was fined is and costs ; in default
14 days' imprisonment.