The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-03-20 00:00:00

COUNTY COURT.

THE NON-LIABILITY OF EMPLOYERS.—At the
County Court on Thursday, before Mr. Rupert
Kettle a case of Matthews v. Hands, in which the
plaintiff sought to recover £9 Bs. 6d. for damarre
to a trap, his property, but lent by him to the de-
fendant's traveller. The plaintiff is a carriage
maker, carrying on business in the neighbourhood
of Brierley Hill, and the defendant is a hop mer-
chant at Wordsley. On the 30th November last
Mr. Wilkes, the defendant's traveller, started to
go to Wednesbury, Darlaston, and other places,
one of the periodical day journeys he was in the
habit of taking, and on his road he passed the
plaintiff's shop. The plaintiff saw him and called
to him that his spring was broken. Mr. Wilkes
got out, and fouqd this to be the case. Plaintiff
then offered to rend him a (-rig for the journey,
and rode with Mr. Wilkes as far as Dudley. On
his return journey the same evening, Mr. Wilkes
met with an accident. The horse ran away, and
he was thrown from the trap, dislocating his
shoulder, the trap at the same time being very
much damaged. Plaintiff, when. the trap was re-
turned to him, had it repaired, and for the cost of
those repairs he now sought to recover from the
defendant, Mr. Hand.--Plaintiff, on being called,
said it was arranged between him and defendants
traveller that nothing should be charred for that
day's journey, but that if the defendant liked to
keep the gig longer he could have it on hire.
Defendant sent for his own trap with the damaged
spring the day following, and had offered him .P. 3
on behalf of his traveller for the damage.—Mr.
Homer, for the defendant, submitted that there
was no case. '['ho traveller had no authority to
borrow the 'gig for Mr. Hand.—His Honour
concurred.—Verdict for the defendant.

A: CAUTION TO DYERS.—Willia.m Thompson sued
William Moxen, dyer, for the value of a dress sent
to the defendant to be dyed, hut which, according
to the plaintiff's evidence, was entirely spoilt.—
The plaintiff's wife said before she sent the dress
she was given to understand that it would dye
very well; but when it was sent home it wa--;so
cut and otherwise spoilt as to be useless.—Verdict
for plaintiff for 218., the amount claimed.

DRUNK AND INCAPABLE.-At the Petty Sessions
held yesterday, before Messrs. C. Cochrane and J.
B. Cochrane, Joseph Bingham, of the Lye, was
charged with being drunk and incapable, defendant
pleaded guilty. The case was proved, and defendant
ned ss. and costs.

CHARGE OF OBSTRUCTION AND ASSAULTING THE
POLICE.—James Shepherd was charged being drunk
while iii charge of a horse and cart, in New Street,
on the 11th. Defendant was further charged with
assaulting Police-constable Dunn, on the same date.
Mary Pla.ut and Jonas Smith were charged with ob-
structing the policeman whilst in the execution of his
duty. Mr- Sanders defended. Complainant said
that ha saw the defendant, who was in charge of a
horFe and cart, be was asleep, and unable to have any
control over the horse. He woke him up, and de-
fendant who was drunk, began to abuse him, and
struck him on the chest. He then e ollared him to
take him into custody, when the other two defendants
interfered and obstructed him from taking him into
custody. lie bad a struggle, and struck Shepherd
with his stair. The witness underwent a long cross.
examinatio-o, and Mr. Saunders addressed the bench
fvr he defence, Shepherd, was by hisown door when
the policeman came up to him, began to pull him
about, and they had a struggle together, both
fallivk down. The policeman had no right to take
a man into custody unhosi he NYRS drunk, and if