The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-06-05 00:00:00

BILIEBLBY SILL.

WILIML DAYAO2.—At the Polio. Court, on Monday,
before Zr. F. avers, Walter Hingley, was charged with,
damaging a tense by starting an engine, the property es
Messrs. Harris and Pearson, on the 13th all. Thomas
Pearson said he saw defendant go up the steps of th t
Brettell Lane Colliery. He went inside. He was no
employed there, and he started the engine. The engin*
was drawing water. In consequence ef defendant start'
ing the engine it drew the cage against the fence, and did
damage to the amount of 10s. The engine driver said he
was on the roller when defendant started the engine and
broke the fence. Witness had not given defendant leave
to start the engine. Cross-examiaed : Did not ask you
to draw two or three tanks of water. (lace said defend-
ant paid damage 10s, 2s 6d summons, and for trespass
and s fine 12s 6,1. Mr. Evers said that kind of thing
was very improper after the summons had been taken out.
If snob an occurrence took place again the witness Grice
would he liable to be fined and imprisoned.
Tames:i.e.—lsaiah Elwell was charged with threaten-
ing Emma Elwell. Withdrawn on payment of costs.
ALLEGED INDICCHNT NAPoiIIURIE.: Before Messrs. F.
Evers and L. Freer, Thomas Hunt was charged with in-
decently exposing himself to Sarah Ann Rigby, on the
19. h ult. After hearing the evidence on both sides, the
Bench said there was a doubt in the case, and dismissed
it.

DRUNICUNNEBS.: Charles Stockton, a cripple, was
charged with being drunk and using obscene language, on
did 29th ult. Police-eonetable Holland proved the case.
Fined Ea ; in default •0111131 daye.—lesso Mullett wee

FAq

charged with being drunk and incapable in Mill-street, on
Saturday night. Police-constable Godly proved the case.
Fined ss_i or seven days.
GAME TRESPASS.—CharIes Perks was charged with game
trespass, on the 2nd ult, on land belonging to William
Archer. Charles Gamble said he saw defendant standing
on a gate, and his dog went on to the land. The dog was
put after a hare. Fined 5s and costs, or 14 days.
WASTING WATER —Charles Cox was summoned for
wasting a quantity of water belonging to the Stafford-
shire and Worcestershire Canal Company, on the 7th
ult. Richard Turner, lock-keeper at Kinver, said he saw
defendant with a boat. Defendant drew the paddles up
and flushed the boat out, and wasted the water by shut-
ting the gates. Defendant was ordered to pay costs, and
promise not to offend again.
OBSTRUCTING THE FOOTPATH.—James Bostoek, pro-
prietor of a menagerie, was charged with obstructing the
footpath at Kinver, on the 26th ultimo. Police-sergeant
Stevens proved seeing twelve wagons belonging to defend-
ant, on the footpath and in the road. Fined 20s and
costa, in default 14 daye.
LaeAULT CAM—Richard Evans and John Guy Wele
charged with assaulting John Jones, on the 16th ultimo.
Complainant said he met defendant Evans, who asked
him to gamble with a box and a pea' and on eoniplaiaaat
refusing to do so, defendant struck him an the month.
He went on a little further when la* met Guy, who
served him in a similar manner. Defendanta said com-
plainant and a companion got defendant Evans down, and
any palled them away from him. lined 5s and costs
each, or seven days.
WIFII Biazitn.—it the Public Office, on Thursday,
before I. Spooner, Esq., Stipendiary, Alexander Narrow-
more, boat builder, of Quarry Bank, was charged with
assaulting his wife, on the 26th ultimo. Police-constable
Lavin proved that at half-past eleven o'clock at night the
defendant was drunk and disorderly. He saw the de-
fendant strike his wife, and kick tier. The wife was
called, aid said the defendant was a very good husband
when sober. He did not strike or kick her, but merely
pushed her.—Mr. Spooner: Then the policeman has told
a lie? Witness: his only pushed me. Mr. Spooner:
You are only making it worse by telling me a lie to screen
you, husband. How often has he beaten you ? Witness:
He only beats me when he is in beer. Mr. Spooner (to
defendant) : I order you to pay 10s 6d for being drunk,
and order you to find two sureties In £2O, to keep the
peace for six months.
ASSAULTING A WOMAN----William Foley was charged
with assaulting Martha Perks, on the 25th ult. Complain-
ant said that defendant struck her a violent blow on the
arm, and braised it. Defendant said complainant first
strucfl him.—Mr. Spooner: I have your history before
me. You have just come out of prison for biting a
policeman. I fine you £2 24 *mil costs; in default six
weeks' hard labour.

ANOTHER WIFE BEATER.—John Eveson, of Brettell
Lane, was charged with assaulting his wife, Margaret,
on the 28th ult. Complainant said that her husband
only gave her a slap on the face.—Mr. Spooner: Did he
hurt you? Witness: No, he did not sir. Mr. Spooner:
Then, why did you bring him here? Witness: I want
him to be bound over. Mr. Spooner: I can't bind him
over, and you an stand down, and not bring such paltry
cases before me.—Complainant then paid 74 costs.
WOMEN'S QUARRELS.—SSISH Moore and Mary Anne
Partridge were charged with assaulting Eliza Skidmore,
on the 2nd ult. There was a cross-summons charging
Eliza Skidmore with assaulting Sarah Moore. After
hearing the evidence, which was of a filthy nature, Mr.
Spooner remarked that most horrible accusations had
been made, and should dismiss all the summonses.

Assauvr CASE —James Manning was charged with as-
saulting Joseph Shakespeare, on the 29th. Complainan;
said that the defendant struck him on the eye, without
any provocation. Fined 5s and costa.
Sinuous Assatrza ON A WlFE.—David Cox, of King-
swinford, was charged with assaulting his wife, on the
18th lnat.—Mr. Elcock appeared to support the charge,
and Mr. Holberton defended.—ln opening the case, Mr
Elcock said if his instructions were correct, • brutal and
violent assault had been committed by the defendant
upon his wife. Both parties occupied a respectable post-
Lou in life, the complainant being the daughter et a
master builder, and the defendant the manager at Mr.
Dudley's nail works, at Yingewinford. Mr. Blank then
stated the facts of the case, which will be found detailed
below, and said it the case was proved he should ask his
Worship to deal such punishment to him as the case de-
served. The parties had only been married three years,
and the complainant had had two children, and was
likely to have another. The complainant Sarah
_Cox said she lived at Mount Pleasant.Kingswinford. On
the above day she went down the garden to her little
boy, who was with the-nurse. Defendant was beating her
boy. She remonstrated with him for doing so, when the
defendant caught hold of her by the hair of her head,
dragged her into the house, and orer four shahs, and
dashed her head against the wall. She was much in-
jured on the head and neck, and had been unwell since,
she being pregnant at the time. She had since left her
husband, and had gone to live with her mother. Matilda
Price, domestic servant from the Union, gave corrobora-
tive evidence, and said that her mistress bad been beating
her, and the master took her back to the Union. Mr.
Holberton addressed the Bench for the defence, and said
that the defendant had had the girl from the Workhouse.
Seeing his wife beat her defendant remonstrated with
her, fearing he would get into trouble, and, being irrita-
ted, he caught hold of her and took her into the house.
They were very realm ctable people.—Mr. Spooner: The
greater reason he should not beat his wife, knowing bet.
ter. Mr. Holberton continued his address to the Bench,
in mitigation of punishment.—Mr. Spooner remarked
to the defendant that his solicitor had made a very able
defence for him, but he had got a bad case; a very bad
case. He did not see any difference between that case
and one that was heard the other day, where a man as-
eaulted his wife by kicking her with his clogs and was
sent to prison. He had no doubt that both parties were
in a respectable position in life, but it was a most cruel
thing to serve his wife in the way he had done, knowing
that she was in the " family way '—a time when women
required kindness, and not beating. He sentenced him
to two months' hard labour, and at the expiration ordered
him to find two sureties in £lO, to keep the peace for six
months.