The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-11-13 00:00:00

OLD HILL.

A NEW MAGISTItAT2.—Mr lii k aim, who quail.
lied as a justice of 11. e peace for ti e county t the
last Quarter Sesiioni, sat for the first time on
Wednesday.
ASSAULTING A BAILIFP.—At the Police Court, on
Wednesday, before F. D. L. Smith, H. Howard, H.
A. Wiggin, and H T. Hickman, Esq.., John Hewitt,
rortway-road, Rowley, was charged with assault-
ing James Payne, a bailiff of the Dudley County

Court.—Mr. Stokes (Messrs. Stokes and Harper)
prosecuted.—On the sth inst, the complainant
went to defendaht's house to levy an execution
upon his goods. Whilst he was inspecting them
defendant entered the house, knocked him down,
and upon his getting up he repeated the blow.—
The Bench inflicted a fine of 10s. and costs, or in
default 14 days' imprisonment.
CHARGE OF FELONIOUSLY RECEIVING A BOAT-
LOAD OF SLAck.—James Brown (23), gleed burner,
Greystone-street,Dudley, was charged with stealing
on the 6th of November. a boatload of slack, the
property of Messrs. Cochrane and Co., owners of
the Yew Tree Colliery, Rowley; and John Cart-
wright (32), colliery clerk, Dudley-road, Rowley,
and Richard Jones (48), gleed burner, Terrace-
street, Blackheath, were chargel with receiving
the slack, knowing it to be stolen.—Mr. Shakespeare
appeared to prosecute, and Mr. Stokes (Messrs.
Stokes and Harper) defended the three prisoners.
Mr. J. B. Cochrane, one of the prosecutors, stated
that up to the date named in the charge the prisoner
Cartwright was their head clerk, and had been
in the employ of the firm for about twenty years.
His duties included seeing to the orders being
executed, and the proper lo7ding and ganging of
the boats. The prisoner Jones was the head man
at the colliery wharf up to about three months ago.
About that time witness gave Cartwright notice to
leave, but the notice was withdrawn on condition
that he should relinquish bis interest in a breeze
oven, about 500 yards from the colliery. He
promised to give up the oven, but required time to
give a month's notice to do so. Since Jones had
left the firm's employ witness had seen him on the
premises' and had given orders that no coal should
be sent to the breeze oven, either for cash or on
credit. From something v. iness subsequently
heard, he ordered the breeze oven to be watched,
and also the wharf and boats. In Cartwright's
gauging book (produced) there was no entry of any
boat- being sent out from the colliery on the 6th !
November, nor was there any such entry in the
ticket book. It would have been his duty
immediately he gauged a boat to have entered it,
and to deliver a ticket to the man taking if away.
Referring to one of Cartwright's colliery reports
for Oat 4th of November, witness did, however,
find that it c mtainecl the remark, "I have received
one boat from'!'. Byug, of slack. It will be a ready
cash transaction."—John Payne Powell, an over-
man at the colliery, said about six o'clock on the
morning of the 6th inst, he saw a boat being taken
to the breeze wharf, where four men unloaded it.
The prisoners Jones and Brown were standing by at
the time.—Geo. Jones, a boy, said on the sth
instant he received instructions from Cartwright
to load a boat supposed to belong to Byng. Wit-
ness asked Cartwright about gauging it, and he
replied that he had done so. The following morn;
ing the prisoner Brown fet hed the boat away.—
Cross-examined: Cartwright told witness to let the
boat remain under the screen and not allow it to go
away then.—Police-inspector Walters proved g oing
on the 6th instant to the brene oven belonging to
Cartwright and the pris( ner Jones, and telling
them that he should charge them with being con-
cerned in the robbery of a boat load of slack from
prosecutor's wharf that morning. Jones replied,
" I don't see in which way they can make a chatge
against us," and Brown replied, " I have nothing
to say." Afterwards, Cartwright baying been
arrested, witness told him and Jones they would be
charged with receiving the boatload of slack. Jones
replied," I saw Cartwright last night, and left it
with him. He was to see Mr. Allen and get an
account from him and pay for the slack, and poy
wages with the remainder. This boat was not
received in our name." Witness afterwards charged
Brown, and he.said. I know nothing about it; Jones
sent me for it,"—Police-sergeant Cooper, who
arrested Cartwright on the morni-ig of the 6th inst,
at the colliety, stated that he replied when charged.
"I did not know the boat was gone," and asked to
be allowed to see a man named John Powell to
whom he said ho "Instructed George Jones to
allow;the boat to lie under the screen, as he had
not gauged it."—Thomas Byn,,a, ironfounder, Hal, s-
owen, said he had not, to the best of his knowledge
this year purchased any coal or slack from Messrs.
Cochrane, and during the month of October and
this month had not caused any of his boats to be
sent there for coal or slack, nor did he authorise
anyone to use his name for that purpose. Alfred
Mills, Rowley, proved that he let the breeze ovens
to the prisorvr Cartwright, who at that time had a
partner named Jones.—Mr. Smith here said the
Bench believed there was no eas.) against Brown,
and he would be discharged. He then left the
dock.—Mr. Stokes, addressing the Bench on behalf
of Cartwright and Jones, contended that the rem.)val
of the slack to the breeze ovens was a bona-fide
transaction, that it was intended that it should be
paid for; that the omission to enter it in the gauge
book was only a .temporary omission, and that the
name of another man (Byng) was used to obtain
the slack because the plisoners knew they could
not obtain it in their own names. He urged that
no jury would entertain a bill againq the priaoners
if committed, and that it was the duty of the Bench
to discharge them.—The Bench, h.),.vever, commit
ted both prisoners for trial tc the Quarto! Sessi
Bail was allowed.
SCHOOL BOARD PriosE c urrows. Ten persons
were summoned for neglecting to send their
children to schcol.—Fines varying from ss. to Is
were inflict d in each ease.