The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-08-09 00:00:00

TB E STOTTRBIRIDGE OPSFRVER.

was a question as to the identity of the defen-
dants. There was no doubt that the officer was
insulted in a shameful way and the men deserved
punishment, but he should call a number of
svitneeses to prove that a mistake had been made
by the witnesses, and that the defendants were
sot the men who assaulted the officer. That they
awter the tini
eat thee
the
assault
w.A.,l,:smcsolmmtteednga,
William Steele, Emmanuel Astbury, Dinah Bailey,
whe all swore that the twodefendants were on the
engaged
called
e h er
George Treadwell, John Astley, and George Hall,
green at the Lyttelton Arles, from two o'clock
until five. The Magistrates retired to consider
their verdict. On returning into Court, Mr.
Littlewood said they had duly considered the case,
and as there was some doubt they should give the
defendant the benefit, and dismissed the case.
CAUTION TO OWNERS OF Does—The following
persons were fined 58 each (to include costa), for
permitting dogs to be at large without having
muzzles on :—Adam Forrest, Wollescote ; Joseph
Southall, of Cradley. This defendant was further
charged with refusing to leave the house of Wm.
Oliver, when required. The case was proved by
P.O Roe and W. Oliver, and defendant was fined 5s
and costs—William Pardoe, of the Waste Bank;
Benjamin Forrest, of Wollescote,2s 6d and costs—
lls 6d, having been previously convicted for a
similar offence. Maria Lees Waste Bank ; J.
Billingham, of Cradley ; Rob;irt Keyworth, Wes-
lyan Minister, of Kidderminster-street, and S.
Giles, hair-dresser, High-street. The latter defen-
dant said that he was not aware the dog was in
the street. Mr. Freeman came and asked his
servant " Where the barber's dog was? " he con-
that Mr. Freeman did not treat him in a civil way.
He considered he was a hairdresser and respect-
able tradesman, and as such entitled to respect,
but Mr. Freeman had treated him as if he was
some low, cunning, and devising fellow. Mr.
Freeman said he could not letthe defendant make
a charge against him before the Magistrates of
not being civil, as he did not see the defendant,
but saw his servant. The Bench said Mr. Freeman
was on his oath, and had swore that the dog was
in the street without a muzzle. Fined is.—William
Hill, Union-street, is ; and Thomas John \reeve,
DRUNK AND DISORDERLY.—Jamen Davis Was
charged with being drunk at Bagley, on the 4th inst.
The ease was proved, and defendant was fined 58.
William Kendrick, of the Lye, was fined 2s 6d and
costs, for being drunk at the Lye, on the 31st ult.
P.O Rea proved the ease.—Charles Cook, of Cradley,
was charged with being drunk and not capable of
taking care of his horse and cart, on the lst inst. P.O
Roe proved the case. Fined 2s 6d and costs, or 7
days'.—Eliza Cooper, of Cradley, was fined 26 6d
and costs for being drunk on the 4th inst.
A WIFE BEATER.—ThomaR Smart Was summoned
by Elizabeth his wife, with assaulting her on the sth
inst. Complainant, who had a black eye, said that
she had been to the station, with some friends. On
going into defendant's mother's house, he struck her
several times, without any provocation. Defendant
pleaded guilty, and sail that complainant was in the
habit of going about with other men. This was
denied, and defendant was fined lOs and costs; in-
default on month.
FAMILY Querieets.—Sarah Dewey, the younger,
was charged by Sarah Dovey, the elder, with assault-
mg her on the sth inst. From the evidence of com-
plainant it appears that they are relatives. Some
dispute arose between them when defendant struck
her twice on the face. Defendant admitted the
assault, and was tined is and costs.
Assent,r.—Major Attwood was charged with
assaulting a little girl, named Sarah Brooks, on the
4th inst. Complainant said she was playing in the
road, when the defendant came up to her and struck
her in the face, and made her nose bleed. The assault
was proved, and defendant was fined is and costs.
A Row OVER CARDS.—Richard North wasleharged
with assaulting William Syner, on the 4th inst. The
aftair arose out of a game of cards, and the assault
having been proved, defendant was fined 28 6d and
costs—lls 6d.
DISORDERLY CONDUCT.—WiIIiam Campbell, of
the Lye, was charged with being drunk and disorderly
on the 6th inst. Defendant pleaded guilty. Fined
55 and costs; indefault 14 days'.
Tax WASSILL GROVE ESTATE.—OD Thursday
evening, at the Hen and Chickens Hotel, New.
Street, Birmingham, Messrs. Chesshire and Gibson
offered for sale by auction the freehold landed
mineral property, known as" The Wessell Grove
Estate," situate in the parishes of Bagley and
Halesowen, also copyhold of lands in the township
of Luttley, and freehold properties in the villages
of Bagley and Pedmore. The property was
divided into ninelots. Lot 1 included the Wessell
e pastureLt
township
.3hmi
real
noufddi,,e included
nt.tp threelTretiyhh c
price
Grove Estate, situate about one mile from Bagley
and two from Stourbridge, and having an area of
413 a. 2r. 23p., and comprisingthe family residence
known as "Wessell Grove," two farmhouses,
cottages, buildings, and lan. Lot 2 consisted of
fieldsll
oft r i n.th,
ooaft
pieceea eo pa and homestead.
oifdlfarnede
h,
a small estate, known as " Luttley. Farm," with
taoldt
parish of Bagley; lot 5, a freehold estate, with
haoglleeyofatnhde,,Healloetsso ew•eenre;
put
td
ulpo ta6t,
farmhouse and homestead, in the parishes of
aa reserve
of £lOO,OOO, and there were'no higher bids.

cursing and swearing at a number of little children. ;
Defendant said he did not recollect anything about it.
He had had some beer. Fined 10s and costs, or 14
days'.
Tnaerrawino.— Eliza Hackett was charged with
threatening Elizabeth Harrold, on the 30th ult. Corn'
plainant said on the above date she met defendant in
the street, when defendant used bad language toward.
her and said she would settle her. Defendant was bound
over to keep the peace for six months' in one surety of
£5, and herself in £lO.
ORCHARD Roeßeas.—Charles Leathern (11), and Geo.
Neil (11), were charged with stealing apples belonging
to Mr. Bloham, surgeon, on the 28th ult. Mr. Bloham
jun., said he saw the two defendants in his father's
orchard. The one defendant was up the tree and be
ran and caught the other one. Complainant said he
had had one tree stripped. He only brought this case
forward in order to deter others from doing it. He did
not wish the parents to suffer and should be satisfied if
the Magistrates ordered defendants to be flogged. The
Bench said it was in their power to send defendants to
prison, but as they were too young to be sent to gaol
they shsuld order them to receive six strokes with the
birch rod.
A DESKATER.—CharIes Allen alias Penn, was charged
with deserting from the 2nd Warwickshire Militia, on
the 7th of August, 1572. The defendant was remanded
for the attendance of witnesses.

BEIERLEY HILL.
Too FOND OF FEINT.—At the Police Court, on Mon-
day, before Mr. B. St. J. Matthews, Win. Bayliss, John
James, and Thomas Pritchard, three little boys, were
charged with stealing a quantity of apples the property
of Emma Skidmore, on the 30th ult. Harriet Skidmore,
daughter of complainant, said she saw the defends ate
getting apples from her mother's tree. Defendants
pleaded guilty, and were ordered to be locked up for
24 hours.
Snarls STkei.ags.—Lucy Pleven and Sarah Marsh,
were charged with damaging shiubs the property of
Lady Ward, at Himley, on the 28th ult. Additional
constable Taylor said he was on duty on the above date.
He saw the two defendants getting up the shrubs which
belonged to Lady Ward. Defendants were ordered to
pay 64 damage, 5s 6rie and costs.
DRUNK —Before Messrs. B. St. J. Matthews, and J.
Holcroft. William Ramsey was charged with drunken-
ness at Brierley Hill, 011 the 3rd inst. P.O Hiles proved
the clue, and defendant was fined 61 and costs, or 7
days'.
ALLEGED CRUELTY TO A CAT.—Joseph Biddaway and
Walter Billiogham, were charged with cruelly Unreeling
a cat the property of Joseph Siddaway, sen-, on the
19th u't. Solomon Siddaway, son of complainant, said
his brother Joseph sent witness to his father's to get
some lime. He heard a scuttle in the brewhousa and
heard the cat mew. He asked whet was the matter
and his brother said the dog had bitten the cat. The
case was dismissed.

-
DASIAGINO A FENCE.—George Wm. Chapman was
charged with damaging a fence on the 12th alt, at
Mover. Mr. John Robins said he saw defendant puU
two stakes out of Ilk hedge. He wished to press the
case as be had so mach damage done to his crops and
hedges. Fined 4d damage, Is and cos:w or 14 says'.
ILLEGALLY FISHING. George Griffiths, Richard
Rabbi, and Samuel Wild, were charged with having on
the glet ult, unlawfully taken fish in the Staffordshire
and Worcestershire canal. A keeper, said he saw the
three defendants fishing at " Devil's Den" in the canal,
over which Mr. Foley has the right of fishing. Griffiths
and Wild were tined fis and costs, the other defendant
do 6d and costs.

~„
ASSAULT.—James Thompso a collier, was summoned
for assaulting William Matthews. Complainant who
was witness in the above case, stated that he wus stand-
ing near the canal at Hiuver, when defendant, with
others, came up the pathway, and, without the slightest
provocation, defesidAnt give him •• a punch in the
mouth and loosened some of his teeth."—Fined lOn and
costs.

TNANAFF.RS.—The following transfers took place
luu, Penenett, from Martha Fiehluouse, deceased,
to William Fieldhouse ; and Wellheatli Tavern, Wall-
heath, from Joseph Billingham to rhomas Penn.
POACHENd —John Newton Was Charged with trespass-
login pursuit of game, at Kinver, on laud belonging to
Mr. James Broad, and WAS lined fis and costs.

THE PUBLIC Itsth. ltuitsrioN.—The usual monthly
meeting of this Board was held on Monday last, at the
Surveyor's Offices, if igh-strect, Brierley Gill, when the
following gentlemen were present : Messrs. Cook
(Chairman),!. liolliUdOU, H. Deffieridge, T. Wood, H.
Thompson, E. Grove, John Skidmore, Meese, Coley,
Higgs, Preston, Shepley, Edwards, and Bennett.—The
Medical Officer's rcport called special attention to the
water supply of the district. Water taken from wells in
Level-street,Moor-streetotnd from the drinking fountains
(which are supphed by the South Stsflordehire Water-
or Pant), bed been submitted by the medical
officer Cmtoolfr. Hill, of Birminshaiu, for analysis, and that
gentleman pronounced the well water to be totally un-
fit for drinking purpose., anal strongly recommended the
company's water.—After is long discussion, is was re-
solved that the report should he received, and that the
Board should advise amore general use of the water
supplied by the South Stsfibrilahire Company the
mortality returns showed the death-rate for the past
twelve months to have been 236. or 9.6 per thousaud.
The General Purposes Committee and Finance Com-
mittee's report* having been adopted, the committee
appointed at the last meeting of the Board to purchase
the Public Hall, report"' that they had bought tile
building for the sum of £l,BOO, and were at present
engaged in making negotiations for a loan to extend
over a lengthened period, at a low rate of interest.—
The Chairman said the committee had purchased the
ball, and Were making negotiations for the money. The
I matter was now virtually at an end, and the Board had
nothing further to do with it. They wou:d be able to get
the money at • very low rate of interest, extending over
• lengthened period, so that the hall would not cost the
town • single halfpenny.—Mr. Grove : I submit the Act
of Parliament gives no power to a Board to delegate to
a committee the power to expend such an amount of
money as this without bringing the matter before the
Board for approval—the thairman : The committee
were unanimously authorised at the last meeting of the
Board to purchase the building known as the Public
Gall.—Mr. Bennett : The IRMA Is this. Mr. Coley and
Mr. Mark Holauson have retailed their shares, and are,
as a matter of course, interested in the purchase of the
building. If it is a fact, does it not render their vote
null and void ?—(" No, no.") Another thing the resolu-
'lon says. " If it can be bought at a reasonable price.
Now here are two points—has the ball been purchased
at a reasonable price ? and is it legal for those two
gentlemen whose names I hive mentioned to vote in
this matter ?" The Chairman : Yes ; they receive
nothing by the transaction. We are perfectly satisfied.
We shall not ask the Board anything more about it.
The hall is bought, and we are negotiating br a loan.
Mr. Bennett : We •call not •ilow the thing to be
passed over, and POW, if possuMe, we shall overthrow it.
It is the worst act the Board has ever lieeu guilty of,
and, I think, ono or two little matters thould be
cleared up— (Mar, hear). What power has a committee
to make a purchase of that sort without bringing the
matters before the Board ?—the Chairman (warmly) :
We have made the purchase, and with respect to those
insomatious which have been made at this and the
last ineetiug of the Board about myself on this subject,
1 protest against them—Omar. hear). You won't get
me to act as chairman any wore. The iusulta I have
received have been most disgraceful. You pass a re-
solution. and then want te rescind it. The memorial
which was presented to you at the last meeting of the
Board was highly influential, and might easily with a
small inquiry, have been made to represent seven-eights
of the natal value of the district. Several who were
interested in the purchase of the hall did not sign it—
Messrs. Westwood and Wright, for instance. I say
that memorial might easily have been signed by seven.
eighths of the district, but we did not want it. Power
has been given to the committee, and the committee
have treated with the mortgagees. Even auppose we
all had shares we should reap no benefit ; but we tell
you we have nothing at all to do with it, and you will
not believe lid, thus bringing a venal offence against
those who have enthhatithily repudiated it. 'the fact is,
the mortgagees have lost £.500 by the transaction —Mr.
Detheridge: I suppose your hinting at me now.—The
Chairman (warmly): You would not believe me at the
last meeting.—Mr. Detneridge : Don't be in a passion ;
you will perhaps have cause to be just now. You and I
live is the moue town, and are ratepayers in it, and I
any that you have purchased that halt is defiance of the
ratepayers. (Mr. S. Wood here left the room.) It
amounts to that.—The Chairman I say it does not.—
Mr. Detheridge : 1 have been told by a man that you
had not transferred your shares.—The Chairman : He
told you an untruth ; who was the man ?—Mr. Dethe-
ridge : If lie were here 1 would tell you his name, but
I don't like to talk behind • man's back. He is not
here, but he is a member of this Board. I know your
character. I know more of you than he did who has
just left the room, and he is only a member of this
Board as a make-shift.—Mr. 1. Hollinson : And well he
might leave the reom. He is not • " make-shift." He
was elected by the ratepayers.—The Chairman (taking
up his hat and advancing towards the door) I won't
submit to these insults any longer. You shall manage
the business without me. To have my character attacked
Mr. Detheridge have not attacked your
character—)" Oh, oh "). The Chairman I will not
submit to such insults any longer.—Mr. Detheridge : I
say I was told that you had told this person that you
had not transferred your shares—Mr. I. Hanson :
Who told you ?—Mr. Detheridge ; Mr. Mark Rollineon !
—Mr. 1. Rollinson : It is a mistake.—Mr. Detheridge :
It is as truest I stand here (Addressing the chairman)
I do think you ought to let us have a voice in the
matter. I have not attacked your character.—The
Chairman: You said you did not believe me.—Mr.
Detheridge : I say I was satisfied. It was my duty to
tell you what I knew. I say that the purchase has not
been rightly made.—The Chairman : The resolution
has been passed.—Mr. Detheridge: Yes; bat wrongly.
—Mr. Coley said he had transferred his shares three
years ago.—Mr. Bennett: With regard to insulting any-
one, I object to your classing us all together. I have
not used an insulting word. The Chairman : I referred
to Mr. Grove. Some ignoramus of a Wesleyan told Mr.
Grove that they had to ask me for the permission to
use the hall, whereto; all they asked me waa to have the
gas, and I used all my influence and got it for them.
—Mr. Grove : I don't know why you referred to me. I
have always, from my youth up, and in my connection
with this Board, had due deference for you ; but I
never believed you were a pope—endowed with
bility. And you threaten as with resignation if we do
not run in the same groove as yourself. I regard it as
a ruse from beginning to end. The whole transaction
has been worked out in an illicit manner. If the matter
were really for the benefit of the ratepayers, it would
not have been pushed on so hard. The room is no use
to the Board; there is no place where the Board can
keep its stores. So far as Brierley Hill is concerned,
the generality of the ratepayers feel no interest what-
ever lathe place.—The Chairman: What did the reguisi.
lion Bay ? You said you have heard a man eay some. I
thing, and you believed him —Mr. Grove: I said I was I
satisfied, and now you throw oat insults and thsthrta-
tions as to " an ignoramus of the Wesleyan body." ;
When you speak of ignoramuses allow me to say I
know of none beside yourself. I think we can manage ;
without you aa chairman. We have dispensed with

your chairmanship for two years previously, and I think
we can do so again. When anything is open for dis-
cussion we shall always have what is just and right.—
The Chairman: When I said I should vacate the chair
I did not say I should vacate the Board ; but I will
come and see you, although I am so ignorant. I can-
not retort upon by comparisons, because they are odious.
I will leave that for the public. I never blow my own
trumpet.—More personalities followed, and ultimately
the report was adopted.