The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-01-09 00:00:00

pal an piotrid Pius.

THE GIPSIES AT OLSWINFORD.—For the last
month or two a number of gipsies have been en-
camped in a field lying off Job's Lane, Oldswinford
and braving the elements during the late severe
weather. The partY occupy five tents of primitive
construction, and their only visible means of sub •
sistence is the sale of clothes-pegs. The encamp-
ment happens to be near the Great Western
Railway, and for some time a quantity of coal has
been missed from Mr. G. J. Eveson's trucks, in one
of

the sidings nearest to the community. A
watch had been kept to detect the thieves, but
without effect, and on Saturday a quantity of the
coal most accessible was marked. The next morn-
ing sonr 3cwt. or 4cwt, was missed, and this led
to a visit to the gipsies' tents by the police. This
unexpected irruption on the encampment caused
some excitement, and one of the gipsy women
announced herself as ill, and unable to move from
the position she occupied when the officers entered
the tent. Sergeant Jones pointed out that he was
obliged to trouble her to move, and when the
woman at last reluctantly quitted her position a
quantity of marked coal was found under her.
Some of the marked coal was also found in two
other tents. Emmanuel Smith was apprehended,
but two other heads of families found it convenient
to be absent from the encampmentwhen the police
were there. Smith was brought up on Monday at
the Police Court, and remanded till Friday. A
barrowful and a half of coal was recovered.—Em-
manuel Snitth was brought up on remand, yesterday,
before Colonel Fletcher and Messrs. J. Holcroft and
C. B. Cochrane, charged with stealing 801bs of coal,
on the 3rd inst, the property of George James Eve
son. ;Mr. Wall' appeared to prosecute, and Mr.
Perry defended. In opening the case' Mr. Wall said
that a number of gipsies had encampedin a field near
a siding, by Mr. Eveson's wharf. A quantity of coal
had been missed. The consequence was that some
of the coal was marked, and persons put to watch.
The coal Ivas traced to the camp of the gipsies.
James Worrall said that he marked a quantity of coal
gone, and he marked some on the 2nd inst. On the
3rd inst he missed from four to five hundred weight.
Went to the tents with the police, and found the two

_
lumps of coal produced. Found coal in other tents,
but the parties had gone. The value of the coal was
is. On cross-examinatjim wkness said he would
swear the coal produced' was The coal he marked.—
Police-sergeant Jones proved going to the gipsies'
tents. On going inside the prisoner's, he found the
large lump produced, and found other coal in other
tents. On charging the prisoner with stealing the
coal, he said that he had it from a boat. On going
into another tent he found a woman sitting down.
Asked her to get up, and found the second piece of
coal.—Police-constable Dunn said he examined the
tra eke from the wharf to the tents, and found the
small pieces of coal produced. Mr. Perry addressed
the Bench for the prisoner, and contended there was
a doubt as to whether the prisoner took the coal.
The Bench considered the ease proved, and sentenced
him to 14 days' hard labour.
DRUNK AND DISORDERLY.—At the Petty Sessions
held yesterday, before Colonel Fletcher and Messrs.
J. Holcroft and C. B. Cochrane, John Smith was
charged with being drunk and disorderly on the night
of the 26th hist, in Coventry-street. Police-constable
Wallace proved the offence, and said the defendant
was very drunk, and kicked him. Whilst the defend-
ant was in custody he was rescued by persons taking
his coat off. Fined 13s and costs; in default 14
days.
THE DRINK AGAIN'—John Roddy was charged
with stealing, on the sth inst, a 2-ft. rule, a painter's
knife, and diamond, the property of John Priest, of
Hagley. Prosecutor said that the prisoner lodged
with him at Hagley, andion the above he missed he
articles produced,—John Edward Wraight, assistant
to Mr. E. Stringer, proved that the prisoner brought
the diamond to their shop for pledge, He wanted 5s
on it. Witness lent him 4s 6d on it. The prisoner
gave the name of Simmons. Mrs. Whitwell proved
that the rule was pledged at their shop.—Police-
constable Wallace proved apprehending the prisoner,
who asked to be forgiven, and he would work and
fetch them out of pledge.—Prisoner pleaded guilty,
and said he was in beer at the time.—Sentenced to
one month's hard labour.—Mr. Wraight, on behalf
of Mr. Stringer, made an application to the Bench,
under the Pawnbrokers' Act, 35 and 36 Vict., ch. 93.
sec. 39, for the return of the amount advanced, which
was granted.
DRUNK AND REFUSING TO QUIT. Benjamin
Cartwright, an old man, was charged with being
drunk and refusing to quit the house of Joseph
Henry Parkes, "The Vaults," Coventry-street.
Complainant said that defendant nas very abusive,
and refused to leave. Fined 28 6d and costs; in de-
fault seven days.
CAUTION TO DoG OwNEßs.—Michael Irving was
charged without having a license for it. Mr. Otter,
supervisor, appeared to prosecute. Police-constable
Wallace proved seeing the dog in the possession of
the prisoner, on the 18th November. The defence
was that the dog was not 12 months' old. Fined 255,
the mitigated penalty.
TRANSFERS.—At the Police Court, yesterday, the
following transfers took place: The Old Pipe, High-
street, from Smith to Henry William Jones; the
Hole-in-the-Wall, High-street, from William Hartle
to Joseph Mills; the Talbot Hotel, Stourbridge, from
Joshua Bridges to John M. Crawley.
STOURBRIDGE STOCK SALE.—Mr. H. King held
his usual sale of stock on Tuesday last, which com-
prised upwards of 50 head of cattle and 250 sheep.
Fat cows realized as high as ,226 15s, wenher sheep
70s per head, fat lambs, 355. The qality of the stock
was very good, and competition brisk.