The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-07-30 00:00:00

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give a specially good report of them to the Com-
mander-in-Chief. The men were then dismisEel.
The weather was beautifully fine.

COMMISSIONERS' MEETING.
The usual monthly meeting of this Board was
held in the Commissioners' Room, Corn Exchange,
Stourhridge, on Monday last. Mr. H. Hughes
in the chair. There w.:;re also present Messrs.
Edwards, H. Turney, 4reen, Woolley, North,
Stringer, Bland, Icke, Allsop, &c.
The clerk read the minutes of the laA meeting
wLich were confirmed.

BRIERLEY HILL SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION.

On Monday afternoon a Conference of teachers,
&c, in the Brierley Hill and district Sunday School
Union, was held in the Primitive Methodist Chapel,
Round Oak. There was a good attendance, over
which Mr. H. Carder (chairman of the Union) pre-
sided.
Mr. W. H. Millar attended as a deputation from
_ . _

_
FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT ' the Parent Society, and delivered an address, after
The Clerk read the following balances of the which Mr. Daniel Norwood read an interesting
Treasurer :—Highway account, balance due from
paper on" Some of the Duties of Sunday School
Treasurer £272 6s. 4d; Improvement Account, ,
reaehers." A discussion on the paper was opened
balance (Ins from Treasurer, £ll5 lls Bd.; Urban
by the Rev. H. B. Biles, and at the clese a vote of
Sanitary Authority Account, balance due to thanks was accorded to Mr. Norwood. After the
Treasurer, £6l iss Od. The following accounts
Conference a tea meeting was held in the Town
were examined and orders made for payment as Hall, following this there was a public meeting in
fodows :—On the Highway Account £6l lOs the same place, at which a fairly good audience was
8d; Improvement Account £56 13s 3d ; Urban
Sanitary Authority £3B 14s 11d. present. Mr. H. Carder presided, and with him on
the platform were the Revs. W. B. Bliss,
GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE REPORT. Thatcher, Messrs. F. Wright, Birmingham; J.
MEDICAL OFFICER'S Or HEALTH REPORT.—The
Taylor, Stourbridge ; Sze.
number of births registered from June 20th to July The Secretary (Mr. Clemems) read letters from
18th, 1881, were 24, viz :—Males 15, females 9; Alderman Manton, Birmingham, and Mr. W. M.
giving a birth-rate of 28.4. The number of deaths
Railer, Wolverhampt.m, both of whom had been
registered in the same period was 10, viz :—males
announced t) be present, but were unable ti attend
6, and females 4. Tne death-rate was 12.2. the former in consequence of an accident which bail
TOWN OFFICER'S REPORT.—Nuisances remaining
befallen him.
from last mouth 11, reported during the month 34. The Chairman, in the course of his remarks, said
making a total of 45. Removed, new 28, old 10. the Sunday School Union in Bri,eley Hill sprung
total 33 ; remaining 8, 'out of the Centenary celebration which took place
NIGHT SOIL REMOVAL.-121 privies, 94 ashpits
last year—(applause)—and he believed if it would
belonging to 216 houses have been emptied and
only take up the work it was formed to carry out,
cleansed and their contents removed. Number of with energy and interest, it would be able to ac-
loads 202. 'rhe lodging houses and slaughter houses .
complish all that was expected of it at the time of
were reported to be in a good sanitary condition.
its inauguration. The Unioa was not one t.) be
Mr. Taylor informed the Board that a letter had
despised, and though there were but eleven schools
been received from the Local Government Board
represented by it, there, there were 300 teachers
stating that the Dra.inar.,e Act had received the
Roy aPassent. and 3,000 children—(hear, hear)—a fact which
should impreQ3 itself upon the minds of those
There was no other buinvss of public interest.
present. He b lie ved such Unions were abselut ely
ndte-sary in order to keep before the school teachers
and the churches in the district the greatness and
importance of the work in which they were engaged.
That work was r3pidly inereising, and he hopfel
that Union might not from indifference or any kind
of hitch which might spring up, collapse as some
had done before it, but that it might become a
permanent inst!tution, the good results of which
Should be witnessed for many years to come—
(applause).
Mr. F. Wright and other speakers followed

MYSTERIOUS DROWNING- oF A STOUR-

BRIDGE PUBLICAN.

On Thursday morning, at half-past three o'clock,
as Henry Slater, ot Gospel End Street, Sedgley, and
James Cox, of the same place, wtre returning
from work along the Wolverhampton Road at
Spring Head, near Sedgley, they observed what
appeared a coat lying on the pool by the side of the
road. Passing to the other bide of the road they
stw the back of a man. The body was partially
cenbedded in the water and mud, the face being
downwards. Witn difficulty they dragged him out,
when he aas found to be drowned. There weis
nothing to show how he got in. As he was
smothered with mud, he had to be washed in order
that he might be identified. A few scratches were
found on his forehead, aud, singular to state, his
hard felt billycock and necktie lay some short dis-
tance away, Nothing was found on him exce2t,
rent-book, bearing the name of Joseph Short, Rose
and Crown, Stourbridge, at;cl a receipted tailor's
bill for clothes, purporting to be an account between
Mir. Deakin and Wilkes Brown, of Stourbridge.
the body has since been identified as that ot Walter
Shert, laedlord of the Rose and Crown, Market
Street, in this town.

THE STRIKE IN THE NAIL TRADE.

At an open-air meeting of nailers, held on
Monday, at Halesowen, Mr. John Price stated that
a letter had been received from the Sedgley opera
;dives representing that ad the employers in that
district were willing to concede the list framed in
1879. lb exhorted the people to wait patiently a
little longer, until the stocks in the warehouses are
worked out, when he had no doubt the employeis
in all the districts would concede the advance
claimed by the operative• 4. That day he believed
was not far distant, as the heavy stocks which the
masters Lad at the commencement of the strike
were rapidly decreasing, and the compromise made
by the operatives would tend to bring about a settle-
ment of the dispute. It was unanimously resolved
to continue the strike until all the masters concede
the 1879 list.

ST. THOMAS'S &COE, STOUB.BRIDGH.—The COM-
inittee who guarantee the winding and cleaning of
this clock, have accepted the estimate of I.lr. A. T.
Stringer, Commercial Buildings, for thoroughly
cleaning same and for its future winding. The
dock will therefore remain s%uding for a few days
in consequence.
DRUNKENNESS —At the Police Court, yester lay,
before Colonel Fletcher and Mr. H. 0. Firmstone,
lienry Wallets was charged with being drunk on
the 23rd .nt. Police-constable Eaves proved the
case. Fined 2s 6d and costs.—Richard Dunn was
charged with being drunk at Wollescote. on the
23rd inst. Sergeant Payne and Police-constable
Widdows proved the case. Fined 2s 6d and costs.
—Thomas Co.per, of the Lye, was charged with
being drunk on the 21st inst. Police-cohstable
Paynter proved the case. Fined 7s 6d, incluiing
costs.—David Dovey, of the Lye, was charged wit.,
being drunk on the 24th inst. Police-const ible
Widdows proved the case. Fined 2s 6d an cost s.—
D Lvid tiauden was charged with being drunk and
disorderly at Wollescote, on the 23rd inst. Se ge int
Payne said the defendant was drunk and making
use of bad language. Fined 2s 6d and costs.—
Richard Benjamin Dunn, of Cradley, was charged
with being drunk at Cradley, on the 19th instant.
Police-constable Clarke pruveci the ca-43. Fined 2s
6d and costs.

A meeting of nailers on strike was held the same.
day at Bromsgrove, hut the president (tr. F Byng)
had no fresh news to Communicate, and it was
resolved to "play on." Complaint was made that
before the strike sonic of the masters told the men
it was their own fault they wera paid so badly, and
if they would strike for an dvane they would get
it in a few days; and now the same masters say the
men will never get it.

BRIERLEY HILL.
WILFUL DAMAGE.—At the Police Court on Mon-
day, before Messrs. H. 0. Firmstone and H. Smith,
for boys named Wall, Parrish Walker (tad Davis
all of Brettell Lane, were summoned for damaging
a plum tree, the property of Fdwin Bowen, on the
15th inst. They were eacb fined ss. including
costs.
AN ORDER TO MAINTAIN HIS SON.—An order
was made upon Edward Jones, of Der. y Street,
Brierley Hill, to contribute 2s per week towards
the maintenance of his an, who is in the asylum.
THEFT FROM THE MARKET —Two boys, named
Jo 'a Hedgetts and James Abbets, were charged
with stealing a quantity of thread from a stall In
the Brierley Hill Market, on the 23rd inst.—The
first witness called was George Bastock, who de-
posed that he resided at Common Side, and on the
night in question was minding a potetoe still near
to Evan's stall about ten o'clock at night. Re saw
Hodgetts go to Evan's stall and take something
out of a box, which he put in his pocket. Abbots
Aso went up to the stall with him, He asked
Hodgetts what it was he had t :ken and botb pri
soners replied it was string. He saw some thread
hanging out of Bodgett's pocket and informed him
tha, he should tell Evans. Both prisoners shortly
afterwards went away.—l-aac Evans, hawker, of
Gomel, to whom the thread belonged, said that
from what last witness told him he want in search
of the prisoners. He caught Hodgetts and took
some thread from him.—Police-constable Eden
said he arrested Hodgetts about 9.20. on Sunday
morning. On being charged with stealing the
thread prisoner said that he should not have taken
it if it had not been for Morris. Morris was the
alias for Abbot'. Morris was leaning over him
whilst he took it, He shortly afterwards arrested
Abbots, who said he did not steal the thread but
it was given to him by Hodgetts. He found some
thread at Abbot's house.—Hodgetts was fined 10,,
or in &fault 14 days' imprisonment. Abbots, who
had six previous convictions recorded against him,
was committed to take his trial at the Stafford
Quarter Sessions.
DRIINE AND DIEORDERLY.—EIijah Dunn and
William Baker, miners, of Brockmoor, were charge
with being drunk and disorderly on the 19th inst.
Police-constable Lafford proved the case and de-
fendants were each fined 5s end costs, with the al-
ternative of 14 days' imprisonment.
Coal, STEALING. Thomas Cartwright (11),
Thomes Williams (14). and Annie Holden (11), all
of Quarry Bank, were charged with stealing a
quantity of coal, the property of the Earl of Dud-
ley, on the 16th inst.—Police-constable Cheesee,an
said that he saw the prisoners coming from No. 30,
Wallows Colliery, with co-11 in their possession.—
A. man named Williams, who was at work at the
pits, proved seeing them take the coal.—Prisoners
were each fined ss, or in default 7 days
I John Elmore, of
GreeeenT,:roTrgiNG
Forge,
Kit
geHwoiniztfsozii.:
was fined 10s and
costs, with the alternative of 14 days' imprison-
ment, for working a horse while in an unfit state.
Police-constable Farnell proved the case.

ASSAU-LTING TILE POLICE. Slrauel Dunn was
.h irged with as,aulting Police-constable Clarke on
the 19th inst. The officer said he at the defenlant
in the previous case in custody when Samuel Dunn
caught hold of him, took his hat off his head and
threw it down the road, tore his coat aril rescued
Benjamin Dunn from custody. Sergeant Payne
proved that the damage done to the uniform was 23
Fined fis and costs and 2s dam iAe ; in default 14
days.
CAUTION TO DRlVERS.—Williarn Hand, wagoner
was summoned for riding on the shafts of a wagon
without reins, at Broom, on the 21st inst. Police-
constable Smith proved the case. Fined Ss, to in-
clude costs.

DRUNK AND ASSAULTING THE POLlCE—Michael
Reddy, an old offender, was charged with being
drunk aria disor trly on the 22nd inst., and he was
further charged w Ith assaulting Sergeant Herman
while in the execution of his duty. The officer said
dotendant was very drunk and making a disturb-
anee. With the midetance of three other officers he
took defendast into custody when be kicked witness
on the head, Sergeant Jones proved several pre-
vious convictions against defendant. Fined 103
and costs for the assault on the officer, and t. e
others cas was withdrawn on his promising to sign
the pledge. _

DRUNK AND INC&P ABLE.—James Hill was charged
with being drunk and incapable at Stamber Mill, oa
the 26th inst. Police-constable Jewson said he

found the def,mdant lying in the road fast asleep.
Fined 58 and costs. Henry Hill, of 01.18winford,
was charged with a similar offence on the 26th
inst. Police-constable Moore proved the ca.-e and
~aid he had to carry defendant to the station. Fined
2s 61 and costs. _ _ .

_
SCUOOL BOARD Ciszs.—Edward Price was sum-
moned by Inspector Baker for neglecting to sei:d
his children to st,hool. Fined 3s.—John Hook was
fined 18 for a siwilar offenc'.

CHARGN OF 33LLING A.LE AND SPIRITS WITHOUT
A. LICENME.—Joseph Collins, of the Lye, was sum-
moned for selling ale and spirits on the 18th inst.,
without a license. Mr. Stokes defended. Sergean
Payne said th it on the 14th inst. he met defendant
who told him that he was going to take the New
Inn. Witness told him he had better go to Stour
bridge on the 15th inst and get an interim au.hority
Defendant did attend the Police Court, anli sat
there until the business was over, but he did not
make the application. Wines visited the house
on the 17th and 18th and found defendant sellic g
ale and spirits. Mr. Stokes, for the defenct-, a id
that he was ins roe ed by defend int to make an
application for a tempo:ary permit. that the agre,--
meat was only settled on the Friday, and there had
not been time to make the application. It was
usual to allow a reasonable time to make the appli-
cation. Under the circumstancee the summons was
withdrawn, but the Bench intimated that no persan
had a riga to sell unless he had an interim au-
thority. Mr. Stokes said he now wished to make
an application for a temporary authority to sell
until transfer day. Sup. rintendent Wheeler op -
posed the application and called three witnesses to
prove that defendant allowed card playing in hie
house, and that he had received many complaints
that defendant's house was not conducted properly.
Mr. Stokes having replied, th Bench did not con
sider Collins a.proper person to conduct the h
and refused the appaation, but allowed him a
month to dispose of the stock, &e.

STEALING WEARING APPAREL.—WiIIiam Warr
and Isabella Warr, man and wife, on remand,
were charged with stealing a qu tntity of wearing
apparel, on the 16th inst. the property of Thomas
Breeze, of King Street, Dennis Park.—Hannah
Breeze, wife of prosecutor, said that the prisoners
came to lodge at her house on the 11th inst., and
continued there until the 16th inst. On the 16th
inst. the male prisoeer went out about nine o'clock
in the morning and said he should return at two 1
o'clock, but he did not return. The female pri-
soner went out about 11.30 and returned at 12.30,
and asked her to go to Brettel Lane Station for a
hamper for her. She went a little way and came
back again On her return she found that the
female prisoner had left. She then looked over
the house and missed a silk skirt. She gave in-
formation to the police and went in company with
Police-constable Tytherly to Stourhridge and there
met both the prisoners. The female prisoner had i
a bundle of cloths (produced), and it conta neti
two men's jackets, one waistcoat, one pair of men's
trousers, one goolen shirt, one silk skirt and one
si:k pocket handkerchief, which were the property
of her husband.—Police constable Tytherly said
he went in company with last witness to Stour-
bridge, hnithere apprehended the prisoners in
New Str,2et, and the female priFoner was then
carrying the property produced. On b,ing charged
with stealing the wearing apparel the male prisoner
replied that he did not know anything abou, them.
The female prisoner made no reply.—They were
committed to take their trial at the Stafford
Sessions.
ROBBERY AT KiNoewlNFottp.—Before Mr. H. 0.
Fitmstone, Joseph Terry, groom, of no fixed abode
was charg•el with stealing a jacket, two pairs of
boots, a pipe, one pair of leggings, a horse clipping
machine, and a silver pin, the property of Mr. 11.
Smith, of Summer Rill. Kingswinford, on the
23rd of May.—John Pearce, coachman, in the em-
ploy of Mr. Smith, said that the articles were safe
in the a iddle rcaTtn about 7 o'clock in the evening,
on the 23rd of May, and on the following morning
they were missing. He and a boy named Knight
;*ound them in seine scutch in a field adjoining Mr.
Smith's premises. He noticed some footprints and
pointed them out to Police•constable Faruell. The
articlii3 produced were the same that he missed.--
Alfred Knight, stable boy to Mr. Smith, gave
evidence as to the finding of the articles in the
field.--John Breeze, of Summer Street, Kingswin-
ford, said that on the 23rd May he was passing
Mr. Smith's premises and saw the prisoner on the
top of the wall. He returned some time after—
wards and found the prisoner on the opposite ride
of the road, with his leg broken.—Thomas Dawes,
crrocer, Kingswinford, said he was passing Mr.
Smith's premises about 8.16. and saw a man in a
field about two yards from the wall. The man
was sitting down apparently doing something at
his leg or foot. The wall was about 8 or 9 feet
high at that point. He could not swear it was
the prisonm.--09rgeant Moore said that on the