The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-12-03 00:00:00

OLD HILL.

FLAGRANT BREACH OF THE LICENSING ACT.—At
the Police Court, on Wednellay, bef ire W. Bassano
and H. Hickman, Esqs., and Dr. Walker, James
Adshad Lovett, landlord of the
.Portway Tavern,
Perry 's-lake, Rowley, was snmmoned fer permitting
disorderly conduct to take place on his licensed
premise.—Mr. Cooksey appeared t prosecute on
behalf of the police, and Mr. Sh tkssNare &fended.
Police•con,table llrch (I3riedey Hill) gave
evidence to the effect that on Sunday evening, the
20th of November, he visited defendant's house in
plain clothes, and remained there from about seven
o'clock until 20 minutes past nine. He found in
the house about 70 men and two women. Some of
these persons were in a state of drunkenness,
cursins and swearing was indulged in, and a
general disturbance going on, One of the men
present named Summerfield knocked down an old
woman and injured her. Police-superint,ndent
Woollaston and Police-sergeant Cooper, who also
v;sited the premise-, spoke to the great disturbance
and genera, disorder which prevailed.—Mr. Shakes-
peare explained that a man from Birmingham had
visited the house and treated the company to 20
quarts of ale. Some of those who partook of the
ale became drunk, but this was unknown to the
defendant, who was engaged in the bar.—The
Bench considered the case a very gross one, and
fined defendant £5 and costs, also ordering his
license to be endomsed.—Thomas Summerfield was
fined 103, and costs for being drunk on the pre-
mises at the time referred to.

STEALING A Fown.—James Bellingham, chain-
maker,' Cradley Heath, was charged with stealing a
fowl, the property of a neighbour named Thomas
Webb.—Mr. Wright defended.—The bird went to
roost with the fowls of the defendant, and ho gave
it away to a person who sold it.—Defendant was
fined 405., with the alternative of one month's hard
labour.

A VA.onAxr.—Juhn Tavenor, of no fixed residence
for vagrancy by sleeping in a brickyard at Brock-
moor the previous night, was sent to gaol for 28
days. Prisoner is an old offender.
STRONG REMARKS BY A LOCAL AUCTIONEER.—Mr.
Thomas Homer, auctioneer, Cradley Heath, was
summoned for the non-payment of ageneral district
rate levied by the Rowley Local Board. He pre-
sented a receipt. which wto however, found to be
for a rate made prior to the one in respect of which
he was summoned' ad the Bench made an order
for payment of the amount claimed forthwith,—
The defendant afterwards, in the course of some
very excited remarks, charged the officials of the
Board with "conspiracy, embezeement, and fraud."
—Mr. Wright, the clerk to the Board, asked that
the remarks might be taken down, as probably some
notice would be taken of them.—Mr. Bassano t.)ok
no part in the hearing of the case.
THREATENING A SCHOOL MISTRESS. -- James
Yarnold, chainmaker, Cralley Heath, was sum—
moned for using threats towards Rebe,2ca Chovell,
head mistress at the Cradley Heath Board Schools,
on the 24th ult.—Hr. Wright (clerk to the Rowley
Regis School Board) said he appeared on behalf of
the complainant and on behalf of the Rowley
Regis SchAel Board, to prosecute. It had become
a practice of some people to threaten the sch .ol
mistr,.sses about their children. Tho defendant
had a girl going to this school and it was not the
first or second time that he had threatened the
complainant The defendant's conduct had been
such that he had to ask the Bench to bind him °vet
to keep the peace. On the 24th ult, the children
hiving life, au i but the deftndant's girls, who had
been kept in after school hours for disobldience,
the def( ndarc. run in the school, shook his fist at
the head mistress, and also used some bad language
to her. He wished to make an example of this
ca,e.—Detendant was bound to keep tha peace
fur six mouths, himself in £lO and one surety of
£5. _ - _

A WARNING TO JURYMEN.—On Wednesday the
District Cornier (Mr. E. Hooper), held an inquest
at the Oki Engine Inn, Black Wagon Street,; Old
Hill, on the Cody of Rowland Astbury, a boy four
years of age It appeared that on Thursday the
up3et a quantity of paraffin oil down his clothes
The spirit afterwards caught fire from :he flame of
Lie lamp from which the oil Wa.; spilt, and the pit
lad WAS burned in most shocking manner. A