The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-10-09 00:00:00

BRIERLEY HIL

LOCAL BOA RD.—Mr. J. Skidmore (chairman)
rresided at the monthly meeting of the above
Board, held on Monday afternoon, at the Town
Hall. The other members present were Messrs.
I. Bollinson, G. Mantle, B. Browning, W. Waldron,
T. Fereday. W. Macmillan, E. Moody, T. Warren,
R. Thompson, and H. Carder.—The Medical Officer
of Health (Dr. Ashtnead) reported 19 deaths
during the month, which is at the rate of 20.4
per 1,000; three of the deaths were from zymotic
diseases. The death-rate among children under one
year was great, moSt of the cases arising from
mesenteric disease, which denoted insufficient
nourishment, and was occasioned by the great
pr,verty existing among the working classes.—ln
reply to a question, the Surveyor (Mr. Beckley)
said he was led to understand that the system of
dealing with the sewage at Aylesbury was just
what was required at Brierley Hill —Mr. I. Rollin-
son remarked that as it was proposed to adopt a
similar system to that of Aylesbury at Blierley
Hill, the committee thought it would be advi-able
to send the surveyor over to the former place, and
it was afterwards agreed to do this in accordance
with a recommendation of the Sanitary and General
Purposes Committee. The Finance Committee's
report showed that, during the month, .234 lOs 10d
had been expended. • Accounts were recommended
for payment amounting to .131. The colt( etor's
statement showed that he had collected £587 14s
6d, of the general district rate, the balance in the
treasurer's hands amount to £1,234 12s 6d. 'I he
Clerk (Mr. J. L. Holberton) laid before the Board a
statement as to the surcharge of any sundry items
for legal expenses, amounting, in the aggregate,
to £2l 48 10d, made by the auditor (Mr. Southern)
' upon cettain members of the Board at his recent
audit cf accounts. The charge-s were incut red by
the Board in the prosecution of certain persons fur
malpractices at the Local Board election, and in a
bad meat prosecution, &c., in all of which Mr.
Holberton 'represented the Board as their solicitor.
The auditor, the clerk now explained, had held that
it was not the duty of the clerk to appear in legal
proceedings, and had accordingly surcharged the
members of the Board, who had signed the cheques
for the legal expenses; he had made the surcharge
with a view of having the question tested t by the
Local Government Board more than anything else.
The accounts ran over two )ears, were passed by
the Board, and cheques_paid for the amounts. Mr.
Knott, the previous auditor, had always allowed
similar charges, but Mr Southern had taken a
different vieZtof the matter. He (the clerk) now
suggested that the Board should do as they had
hitherto done with success in cases of surcharges
viz., sEnd up a letter to the Local Governtnent-
Board asking for a remission of the surcharges.
His own opinion was that the-Board was right in
paying the amount. —ln the course of some dis-
cussion upon the subject, Mr. Mantle said he
thougil the members of the Board should take the
matter up jointly, and whatever came of it he
believed it would be the means of having the
clerk's duties more clearly defined in future. The
iloard had employed Mr. Holbertons' firm (Messrs
Homfray and Holberton) to act for them, and con-
sequently had to pay them for their services,—
Ultimately , it was unanimously resolved, upon the
motion of Mr. Waldron, seconded by Mr. Carder,
that an appeal against the surcharge be forwarded
to the Local Government Board.
DRUNK AND REFUSING TO QUIT.—At the Police
tourt, on Monday, before Messrs. H. Hall, L. Freer,
and PAL Foley, Edward Billingham, ironworker,
Mill Street, was charged with being drunk on
licensed premises and refusing to quit the same
when requested so to .do. Mr. Newton, lanilord
of the Horse Shoe, Brierley Hill, said that on the
27th ult. defendant came to his house intoxicated
and asked for some brandy. He (witness) orde:ed
defendant out bat he refuseirto go. 'Subsequently
he succeeded, by the all of his waiters, in (lee jug
him. A man ramsd Jenkins gave corroborative
evidence. Defendant was fined 5s and costs ; in
eefault 14 days.
DRUNK men Desounester.---Joseph Burton land-
lord of the Plough Inn, Wollaston, was charged
with being drunk and disorderly in the parish of
. Kingswinford. It appeared from the evidence of
, Police-constables Evans and Garra that the de-
fendant was in company with a Mr. Whitmore,
driving down Brettell Lane in a trap at a very
furious rate, They went and caught the hors 3 and
' the defendant ggt out of the trap and kicked Evans
several times on the legs. He was very drunk and
a-ing bad language. A previous conviction was
proved against defendant and he was fined 255. and
eosts ; in default one month's imprisonment,—
Jonah Shakespeare, miner, was fined 2s. 6d. and
cests for being drunk and disorderly at Kingswin-
ford, on the 27th ult. Police-constable Ilicklin
proved the case.—Thomas Jordan, wagoner, and
John Bishop, labourer, both of Himley, were charged
with being drunk and disorderly on the 24th ult.
Police-constable Woodcock said that he was sent
for to go to the Himley Arms Inn, to quell a dis-
turbance between the two defendants and when he
got there they were coming odt together. Shortly
afterwards they began to ;citiarrel again but he
succeeded in parting them.'
_Jhey were both drunk.
Defendants were fined 2s 6cl each and costs.—
Benjamin Guest, puddler, s of Wombourne, was
charged with being disorderly on licensed premises
on the 28th ult. Police-sergeant .Hammond said
that on the day in question he went to the Vine
Inn, Trysull where he saw the defendant who was
using bad language and,disturbing the rest of tha
company, and when requested to go out he refused
to do so. A previous conviction was proved against
the defendant and a fine of 108 and c-•sts was in-
flicted. James Langford, miner, Rowley, was
fined 2s 6d and costs for being drunk on the 27th
ult.—Alfred Pearce, miner, of Common Side, Pens-
nett, was also fined 23 Gd and costs for a similar
offence, on the 27th ult.—Edward Ball, miner, of
High Street, Pensnett, was charged with being
drunk and disorderly in the highway, on the 29th
ult. Police-constable Hicklin proved that defend-
ant was drunk and creating a disturbance rear his
ewn house. Fined 5s including costs; in default
7 days' imprisonment.—Enoch Dann, chainrnaker,
of Quarry Bank, was also fined 5s includin; costs,
for a similar offence on the 27th tilt, Police-con-
stable Hyman pioved the case.
PITCH AND Toss.—James Mbdpass (14), James
Dulson (12), Henry Cooper (14), John Unison (14),
and James Reddy (14), were charged with gaming
in the highway on the 26th ult. Police-constable
Harvey proved that defendants were playing at
pitch and toss. The Betich reminded the defend-
ant's that they had rendered themselves Habit to a
fine of 40s ; in default imprisonment; but they
sh add deal leniently with them and hoped they
would not go there again, and fined the def. n tants
2s 6d each and costs, with the alternative of 7 days'
imprisonment.
ASS kuvr.—Samuel Eggerton, James Jones (sen.),
and Japes Jones (junior), were charged lath
assaulting William Whitingslow. Mr. Waldron
defended. Complainant said that on the. 26th ult,
he was sitting on an embankment near the road
side in Brettell Lane, where he saw the three de-
fendants. The younger Jones went up to him and
kicked him on his jaw. Eggerton also came up
and struck him several times. It was about three
o'clock in the afternoon. In cross-examination by
Mr. Waldron complainant admitted being convicted
of a-saults and fined. He also admitted that he
shouted to the elder 'defendant " Wel Jimmy
horse power" Mr. Waldron, in addressing the
Bench for the defence said he was instrusted that
complalnant wets one of -the rudst troublesome men
in the district. On the day in question the com-
plainant was lying on the bank, and the old mart
passed him in- front of • his son and complainant
shouted out " Well 'b-- Jimmy
.horse-power,"
and the ,on, he (Mr WaldroW, thought, very p_o-
perly went up to him and asked him why he should
use that language. towards his father when tse com-
plain int struek hie, and they had a fight together.
The old man went to part them and complainant
al,o struck h rn. Eggerton was coming down
the road and saw it and asked complainant if he was
not ashamed for beating a boy like he had done
and he a so struck him in the mouth and Eggerton
hit him again. , Two men named Henry Whale
and John Kemp who were standing near to the
place supported that statement. The Bench dis-
missed the case.
SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST A BOATMAN.—John
Themes, boatman, r. siding at Wordsley was
charged with stealing coal from a boat the property
of Mr. Foster, James Taylor, additional constable,
• in the employ of the Earl of Dudley, said tl at on the
1
30th nit, about nine o'clock in the morning, he saw
the prisoner in eharge of two boats belonging to Mr.
Foster. He followed him from Ashwood basin. in

the direction of the Stewpony. When he (witness)
got to Flatherage cottage he saw a woman named
Eliza Webster go to the bottom of her garden,
which was by the side of the canal. The prisoner
threw a quantity of coal off one of the boats into
the garden. He then followed prisoner down to
Rocky Lane where he also put a cuareity of coal
on the lock side. Prisoner and a boy afterwards
placed it in a garden. Witness then followed pri—
soner to Oothersly Lock and he then took a large
quantity of coal and gave it to Mrs. Mathews.
Witness also saw prisoner put six lumps of coal in
a garden. Mrs. Mathews placed the coal thatl. she
had from prisoner in a barrOss . Witness then
slippel throush a hedge and went up to prisoner
and took his name. Prisoner said "I hope you will
forgive me, I will not do ir any more." The total
quantity of coal he found iu the possession of Mrs.
Webster was 31 cwt. There were several lumps of
coal at Mrs. l'arr's, la. he could not say bow much.
At Mrs. Mathew's about 2 cwt. and he found about
the same quantity in Hudson's garden. adjoining.
On the same day he arrested prisoner at Mr. Foster 's
works at S• ourbridge and charge -1 him with steaing,
a quantity of coal from a boat the property of Mr.
Foster, at Flatherage Cottage, Rocky I ock, and
, Gothersls Lock, that morning. Pri,esner said I,e
was very sorry and said "Its enough to make a man
do anything, trade is so bad." Charles Sutton,
said he worked for Mr. Benjamin Cooper, Wordsley
and prisoner was in Mr. Cooper's employ. On the ,
30i h Mt prisoner, wi!h his assistance took two coal
boats from Ashwood basis in the direction of Stew-
pony. Prisoner put three lots of coal oft the boat
between those places. Prisoner did not put any
off at Rocky Lock. John Ehnore, ant for Mr.
Foster proved that the prisoner took tee 1-oats
loaded with coal from Ashwood basin. Prisoner
was in charge of the boat on that day. There was
no coal allowed to the steerer or any other person
in charge of the boat. On the same morning wit-
ness went to Mrs. -Webster's house, in company
with Taylor and saw some coal there. It was
" flying red" and "thick coal." He believed
"flying red" was only raised at Me. Foster's pits
in the district. Prisoner,. who has previously been
convicted for a similar rob'eery, was committed to
take his trial st the Ststford Sessions. Bail was
accepted, himsslf in £2O and two sureties of £lO
each.

ItECEIVING STOLEN PBC/PERM—A[ID Mathews,
Jane i arr; and Eliza Webster were then charged
with receiving the coal well-knowing it to be stolen.
Their defence was that they thought the prisoner
had a right to sell the Coal and they bought it from
him, not thinking they were doir.g wron,. Tue
Bench remarked that it was a v.-ry painful case
and they had given it their best consinetation and
stud they tiought defendants were guilty ox
ceiving the coal knowing it to be stolen. Ii was
an tncouragetnent for the boatman to steal. They
had taken a lenient ,iiew of the case and had
decided to fine them 20s each,
Tuna ALLEGED OUTRAGE ON A YOUYG WOMAN,
On Wednesday night Police-constable Eden appre-
hended Isaiah Wallett (21), a puddler, at his home,
in Level-street, Brierley Uiit, upon a charge of
criminally asFaulting Jane Hughes, a single young
woman, at Brettell Lane, a few weeks ago. It will
be remembered that four men have already been
committed to the Assizes on the same charge, and
Waliett's name was, during the magisterial examin-
ation, mentioned in connection with the affair, but
it was said that he had absconded. On Wednesday,
aft-r being apprehended, he was taken before H.
Esq , andiFormally remanded until Monday
next.

BOARD.—Mr. R. Smith-Casson (vice-
chairman) presided at the moritly meeting of the
above body, held on Tuesday last, at Brierley Hill.
Th-re:were a:s9 present the Rev. C. 11, Cole-Webb,
Messrs. W. 13,riow, S. Bennett, and Dr. Bodin'Aton •
Upon the recommendation of the Finance Committee
it was °solved to issue a precept upon the overseers
for „tl,OOO t.) meet expenses up to March 25th,
1881. -11 e, General Purposes Committee recom-
mended, and it was resolved, to fix the regulation
scele of the staffs at forty scholars for each head
teacher, sixty for the assistants, thirty for pupil
teachrrS, and fifteen for monitors. The Rev. C. 11.
Cole-Webb was appointed on the Science and Art
Committee, of which also Mr. W. 83.r10w was
el.cted chairman.