The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-10-11 00:00:00

DUDLEY.

REFUSAL TO GRANT AN EXTENSION OF Hotial..—At
the Police Court. on Monday. a number of publicans
from various parts of the town applied to the magi.
trate. (Stessra. Cochrane and Aston) for permission to
keep open their houses one hour later during the fait
The Bench held that there was no " special °cession,"
and declined to accede to the application.
THE ONION FAlR.—This three days' fair commenced
on Monday. The show of onions was very small indeed,
and the prices ranged rather higher than in itirminglunt
ten or eleven days ago. Reeves of onions were from%
to 14d ; the best loose onions were 84 high as £8 per
ton ; and picklera were 161 per peck. The pleasure fair
was as duil as usual, but the horse and cattle fair rria
better attended.

BIGAMY.--8110CKING IMMOIIALITY.—On Wednesday,
at the Borough Police Court, before Aldermen ltudia
(Mayor) and Bagott, a miner, named Isaiah Gifting',
of Tividale, was charged with feloniously marrying with
Iza Durham, his former wife being alive. The defile.
dent's first marriage, which was solemnised at the Tips,*
Parish Church in August, 1865, was proved by David
(Settlings, defendant's brother.—ln ertes•examinatimi
by Mr. Stokes, witness stated that after the marriage
the parties lived at Tipton and Oldswinford. They bad
separated once or twice, the wife (Lavinia) having broken
up the house several times. She had lived in • noon.
ously low neighbourhood during the past 12 montlu.—
Joseph Chater, collier, Tividale, proved that the
prisoner was married to Eliza Durham, the second wife,
at Netherton, on the 2nl of September, 1872.—Mr.
Stokes: Did you know anything of the first wife—
Witness : No.—Mrs. Getbings : You do; you lived under
the same roof.—Mr. Stokes having addressed the Bench
in defence, he called Ellen Thomas, a married woman,
who stated that Mrs. Gethings lived in Brandy Bow
(where common prostitutes assembled) with a married
wan.—A boatman 'Lid he had lived with Mrs. (hiking.
—Eli. Durham, the second wife, said she married de
fel:Meat in September last, and knew at the time that he
was the husband of the woman present. He had be.
hayed well to her and her two children by a former has•
baud. The magistrates committed the defendant fa
trial, bail being allowed. _

A SHARPER CAMAIT.—Alfred Jones (32), who gave
his address as " Hamsgate," was charged with attempt.
lug to steal lUs, the property of Alfred 'raylor, licensed
victualler, Wolverhatuptou-street. Mr. O. B. Lowe 4..
feuded. It appeared that on Monday pri,oner called at tba
Swan Hotel, High-streeLand called for a glasi of port ads !,
and he tendeied in payment a halt-a ,vereige. rae bar.
man handed the change, whereupon prisoner said he VS.I
net aware that he had put down gold ; he had plenty of
silver. He then said, " Give me the half•sovereiga
back, I will give you ten shillings in silver, and then
you will have the tourpence for the port." The llamas,
however, was too sharp for the prisoner; and, after
making other attempts to ring the changes, in eh of
which he was toiled, priooper left the shop. A visit was
then paid to the pronellter's vaults, and the trick was
repeated. The barmaid communicated with her master,
and the prisoner was apprehended by Detective Davies.
Committed for trial.

TllB DisessisauT—The twenty-eighth annual meet.
iug of this institutiou was held on Wednesday. Mr. H.
M. Wainwright presided, and there were also preaent:
Rev. M. Gibson, Messrs T. Sheppard (hon. see.) J.
H. Tilley, W. hlaselield, C. n'estley, and J. H. Houghton—Sonis formal business having been disposed of,
the Hon. Secretary (Mr. Thomas Sheppard) read the
following report of the Committee fir the past year:—
The number of patients who have availed themselves of
the benefits of the Dispensary during the pavt year has
be-n 3,733, at a cost of £633 18 lii, being an average
ol 3s 4ld per patient. The usefulness of the institution
has been greatly increased by the larger number of id.
struments that have been supplied to remove bodily de-
formity; and by the facilities given to obtain other
surgical appliances. The amount spent for these pur-
poses during the past year has been £172 9s, which is
an increase on the previous year of £43385d. The COS.
mitten confidently rely on the continued generosity of
the public to support this useful institutions in the
greatest efficiency by subaeriptions, donations. and con-
gregational collections, and commend it very heartily to
all who sympathise with and desire to relieve the suffer-
ing poor. A vacancy hat; been caused in the medial
staff by the resignation of Mr. James Fisher, who, for
t Yeuty-eight years, has held the office of visiting surgeon.
The committee recommended that he be appointed ts
the office of cououlting surgeon, in order that the very
valuable assistance be has rendered to the institution
in the past may be coutinned in the future in V at less
onerous but important office. A legacy of gso, with
' ,E 5 interest, has seen received under the will of the late
Mrs. Kendrick, of Dudley. The Karl of Dudley has
very kindly continued a gratuitous supply of coals daring
the year. The financial report showed that the
treasurer had a small balance in hand.—ln moving the
adoption of the report, the Chairman said they meat
all fee' pleased with its satisfactory nature. In cow
trasting the committee's report of the past year with the
previous sue, they found that-WO less patients had be
relieved during the year just concluded, but at • greatl)•
fume lid cost. The cost of each patient had been in.
creased from 24 8d to Its d(sl, which was due to the par-
chase of many surgical instruments referred to in the
renurt.—The Her. M. Gibson seconded the motion, and
referred to the invaluable services rendered by the hoe.
secretary. They had in Mr. Sheppard a secretary who
spent a deal of valuable time and anxious thought in
cirrying out the duties of his ottlee—(bear, hear).—
The motion was carried, and votes of thanks were genie
oion-ly accorded to the medical and other oiliczes, sad
also to all who had in any way contributed to the web
fare ,d the charity.—A resolution was then pis.ied re-
questing the ministers of all denominations to confirms
their annual collections in aid of the dispensary.—The
Chairman said he hoped that the interests of the two
local institutions ;dispensary and hospital) would not
clash, but that some mutual arrangement would be
arrived at whereby they would get their fair share of
the money collceted.—The remaining business was of
no public importance.