The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-06-26 00:00:00

aft 4 istriirt 'Jet*.

RATEPAYERS' PROTECTION ASSOCIATION. The
annual meeting of this association was held at the
Institute, on Monday night; Mr. H. Newnam pre-
siding —Mr. Purkis read the report, which stated
that the association had been eminently successful
in creating and developing public opinion on local
matters, and that it was doing good and useful wok
Pleasure was express d at the libsrality of the
gentlemen who were presenting a new Town Hall
and a Free Library; and other matters were referred
t. as desirable for the town, though they could not.
owing to the heavy rates be carried out at tl:e
public expense.—The Chairman remarked that the
rates of the township last year were about 7s in the
pound, but he believed this year they would amount
to is 9d.—A discussion t_ ok place as to the forma-
tion of an Income-tax Payers' Protection Associa-
tion, and teero was an expression of opinion as to
its desirability.—The election of the officsrs of the
Ratepayers' Association was adjourned till the next I
meeting.
&Lomas CONCERT.—A sacred concert was given II
on Tuesday last, at the residence of Mrs. Richards,
the Hill, 011swinford, on behalf of the Church
Army. The proceedings commenced with an ex
cellent and forcible speech by Mr. Alfred Freer, in
which he explained the oii,gin of the movement, and
dwelt on the importance of the good work it was
cluing and sought to enlist the sympathy and sup-
pert of his hearers in the cause, then followed a
selection of good music, and several glees rendered
with delicacy and feeling by membe-s of the Old-
s .inford Church choir. The receipts which
amounted to .21 were handed to the trensurer, t..
' .esSom the Church Army was in debt to the oa-
st of £5l 18. The support of the public is stiti
aeeded to assist in carrying on the work of evaneel-
cz dion during the 2 months that yet remain for
tee mission to labour in Oldswinford and the neigh-
baurhood, and any sums, however small, will be
41adly received by the tseasurer, the Rev. A. B.
Tinahrell, Captain Francis or other friends. We
have been asked to state that a friend to the cause
has generously contributed £1 towards the ex-
p lases.
Beano or GUARDIANS.-Ir. Haskew presided
ye sterelsy at the usual weekly meeting of this Board
held at the Workhouse. The Master's returns
showel: Admitted during the week, 8; discharged,
7; dead, 1; remaining, 490; against 516 for th,
crr .sponding period last year. Outdoor relief :
Kingswinford, .£47 163 lid; Stourbridge, £33 15s
5.1 ; Halesowen, .29 6s 7d; non-resident paupers,
£2 7s 2d; total, £ll3 5s 3d; against £lO2 Sc 7d
for the corresponding period last year.
INQUEST. Mr. Docker, Deputy-Coroner, held
an inuest at the New Inn, Enville Street, on
Saturday afternoon, touching the death of Rosa
Mary Chapman, aged 1 year and 7 months, the
daughter of John Thomas Chapman, who resides
at Longlands. From the evidence adduced it ap •
p are that a girl name,d Annie Payton took the
child out with her in the direction of the Forge
Hill, and whilst walking there with the child a
c w Same past arid kocked them both down. Pay-
ton was bruised by the fall, but there were no
marks on deceased. The poor little thin, was taken
ill and as it became worse was taken to Dr. Birt,
who examined it and found it suffering from sick-
ncss and symptoms of convulsions. It was taken
with convulsions on Tuesday morning and died the
rrse night. After hearing the evidence of 1)r.
Bite, the jury returned a a verdict that " Deceased
died from convulsions, accelerated by a fall."
DRUNKENNESS. —At the Police Court, yesterday,
before Colonel Cochrane and E. Webb, Esq., Thos.
McFaddan was charged with being drunk and in-
capable at Clent, on the 18th inst. Fined 2s 6,i
and costs. William Hill was fined lOs and costs
for being drunk and disorderly at the Lye, on the
21st inst.

•OBSCBNE LANGUAGE James Hancox was sum-
mon'd for using obscene language on the 19th inst.
in Enville Street. Sergeant Oakey and P.C. Paynter
proved the case. Fined 2s 6d and costs.
DAMAGING GRASS.—George Hall was fined 2s 131,
2s 6d damage, and costs, for damaging mowing
grass.
SETTING SNARES. Eli Salt was charged with
setting snares on land belonging to Lord Lyttelton,
on the Bth inst. A witeess was called who saw the
defendant in the act of getting a rabbit out of a
snare. Defendant said he did not sA the :narea.
Fined lOs and costs.

STILSLING Coar...—Caroline Kendrick was charged
with stenlin*g a quailtity of coal on the ISth inst.,
the operty of Messrs. King and Co., Cradlay.—
P.O Davies said he saw the defendant on the wharf
pickiog coal. Fined ss. Ellen Hill and Ma,y
Hollis were charged with stealing a quantity of coal
at the Lye, on the 19th inst., the property of Mr.
G. King Harrison. A watchman saw the defend-
ants picking coal from a mound. A previous con-
viction was proved against both defendants, who
were fined 5s each.

ItEvusiNo To QUIT. Walter Davenpert was
charged with beino, disorderly and refusing to quit
the Swan Inn, Fairfield, o the 14th inst. Defend-
ant was fined 5s and costs.

CAUTION. - John Jones was charged with not
haying proper control over his horse and wagon, on
the 17th inst, at Wollaston.
_Fined 5s and costs.

FURIOUS DRlVlNG.—Warwick Plant was charged
with driving his horse furiously at the Lye, on the
17th inst. P.S. Oakey said he saw the defendant
galloping up towards Hay Green as fast as he could
There were two o hers an 1 they appeared to he
racing. After hearing another witness the case
was withdrawn.—John Stoneley and George Ash-
moro were charged with furious driving on the 17th
int.t, at the Lye. P.S. Oakey said he saw defend-
ant AshmJre beating his horse with the reins, and
they were both galloping very fast. Toe case was
withdrawn against Stoneley and Ashmore was ficed
lOs and costs.

THEFT OF FLOWERS, - William Bowen was
charged with stealing part of plant, to wit, a peony,
on the 20th inst, at Hrtgley. William Bayliss said
he heard someone in his garden. He went out and
saw three men in the garden, and the defendant was
one of them. Ile did not see him with any floweis
Defendant said he did not take any flowers as he
was in the road, The defendant was fined is and
costs, and 4d damage. The Bench said they hope i
this would be a warning. A. great many flowers
were stolen on the road from Pedrnore to Hag:ey
If any more came before them they would be more
severely punished.

I SERIOUS CHARGE OP INDECENT ASSAULT ON A
CH!LD. - Charles Henry Saunders was charged
with abusing Caroline Steadman, a c.,411 under 13,
to wit, aged 7, on the 13th inst. Mr. Plant de.
fended. Matilda Burney. Ueion Passage, said
Caroline Steadman was an adopted child living with
her and her husband. On the 19th and 20th hats
the child niade complaints to her about the pri.
soner, bhe asked the prisoner what he had inter-
fered with her little girl for, and he said "I did
not." She said "The child is here and she can
speak for herself." The child then told the pri-
soner, in her hearing, what he did to her. Prisoner
said I did not, but I'll acknowledge to you what I
did do." Prisoner then told her (witness) that he
picked up the child's petticoats. Caroline Stead-
man (7), said her father sent her into prisoner's
hou,e for a paper. When she got in the prisoner
called her to him and put his hand up her petticoats
Prisoner then unfastened his trousers but did not
do anything to her. When she went away be told
her to go in again. She compliined to her mother
on Wednesday. She had felt sore since the Sun-
day. Cross-examined : She was hurt but she did '
not shout, or cry. She was sitting on his knees.
Thomas Burney, Union Passage, said he sent the
child to prisoner's house for a paper on the after_
noon of Whit-Sunday. She might have been away
half-an • hour or more.—Emma Grove, Hemplands,
said on the 13th inst. Mrs. Burney and the child
came to her house. She saw something strange in
the walk of the child, and on asking her who had
been interfering with her she said the prisoner had.
—Esther Page. Queen Street, also gave evidence.—
Dr. Eagar and Dr. Daly gave medical evid,eee.—
Sergeant Chars said that on the 23rd in 4,, he
arrested the prisoner on a warrant and read it to
him. Prison r said, "That's a lie; I expected the
charge, but I've been to Dr. Eager to be examined,
and he will put that all right."—The Bench decide I
to send prisoner for trial at the Assizes, the defeece
being reserved.—.lr. Plant
.applied for bail, whica
was objected to by Superintendent Wheeler, and
refused by the Bona,