The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-01-10 00:00:00

HALESOWEN.

NEW YEAR'S TEA MEETING. —On Monday lag, the
annual new year's tea meeting was held in the Congre-
gational School-rooms. which was very tastefully deco-
rated for the occasion, The tea. which was an cocci,*
repast, was partaken of by some hundreds. After tea,
a public meeting was held in the Chapel, Mr. Thomas
Williams presiding. Addresses were delivered by the
Rev. Lloyd Harris, of Stonrbridge ; the Rev, Parker,
of the Eye ; the Rev. Bt. G. Astbury, pastor of the
place; the Chairman, and Mr. J. R. Parkes, one of the
teachers; and two readings by Master Havelock Fisher,
the son of the late Rev. Fisher. formerly pastor of
the place. The intervals between the addresses and
readings were well filled up by the choir, who gave several
anthems, airs, and pieces from the 'Service of Song
in good style, Mr. J. Smith presiding at the organ. The
usual formularies closed a very pleasant evening's enter-
tainment •• • rather late hour.

D KONXKNNERS.—At the Police Court, on Tticsiay last,
before Major Smith, Mesars. J. Watson and H. Howard,
John Chatwin and Henry Willetts were charged with
being drunk and disorderly at Halesowen, on the 20th
ult. Police-conatable Hill proved the cane, and defend-
ants were fined 55 and coats each ; in default 21 days.—

Joseph Coley was charged with being drunk at Hales.
, owen on the Ist inst. Police-sergeant Cowell proved the
' ease, and defendant was fined is aad costs; in default 21
days.—Joseph E Val. was charged with being drunk and
disorderly, at Halesowen, on the 26th ult. Police-con.
stable Hill proved the case, and defendant was fined 10s
and costs, or 21 days. Defendant me further charged
with wilfully and maliciously damaging an ornamental
holly tree, the property of Joseph Smart, at }lslamism.
, on the 26th. Complainant Eland on the above date he
heard a trap stop by his house, and oa lookinig in the
direction of the sound he saw the defendant cutting the
1 holly produced. The damage done amounted to Is. be.
fendant said he was sorry he had done it. It the Bench
, would look lightly over it, he would not do so Again
Fined 208, Is the damage, and costa; in default one
month. _ .

WILFUL I).4m:wk.—John ;Corfield was aummoaed by
Joseph Grove for wilfully damaging a holly tree and
fence, his property, en the 25th ult. Complainant said
he saw the defenumit get on a fence, and climb ap a
tree' doing damage to the amount of 10e. Dtifejjgibni
was lined 10s, is damage, and cost. ; in default 21 day,
STRALINU A JACKET.—At the Worcester Sessions, on
Tuesday, George Oliver (3-1), labourer, was found guilty
of stealing a black cloth jacket at Halesowen, on the
thlth of September last, the property of Mary Ann Baylis,
The prisoner is a very old offender, no less than four pre.
vious c-mvictions being prosed again .t him for larceny,
sad about the same number for vagrancy. The prisoner
had been several timesicouvicted as • rogseetna vsgabood,
and he was now sentenced to seven years' penal servi-
tude, and seven years' subsequupt police surveillance.
STEALINO IRON.—At the same Sessions Henry tionht
(25), labourer, was charged with stealing • bundle of
iron, at Ilalesowen, the property of Joseph Hall, on the
1011 of November last. Mr. Selfe prosecuted ; Mr.
Godson defendud,—The goals were missed from the
prosecutor's premises, and the prisoner was found deal-
ing with it the followtog day.—The prisoner, in defence,
suggested that prosecutor's daughter had sold him the
iron for 1401, as she *anted a new dress, but this she
emphatically denied. Other circumstances were also
proved, among them that the prisoner absconded as
soon as the theft was discovered. 'The Jury found the
prisoner guilty, and he was sentenced to six months in,
prisonment, with hard labour.