The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-04-06 00:00:00

BRIERLEY HILL.

Seamus POACHING CASE.—At the Petty Sessions held
on Monday, before Messrs. It. 0. Fi-mstone end B. St.
John Matthews, John Rogers rid Thomas °Ailey were
charged with poaching on land at Ilimley. the propel ty
of the Earl of Dudley. Rogers was further charged with
assaulting a keeper named James Ludlow. Mr. Bother.
ton prosecuted, and Mr. Clulow defended—Wham
Butler said: I am a in icklayer and night watchman for
the Earl of Dudley. On the 23rd Merch James Ludlow
and William Butler (my son), were with me. We were
watching in a field ca"ed " The Flax Pits," at Hinaley.
I maw Rogers come along the hedge side and stoop down
twice. As ha came along the fence towards us at a dia.
trance of about 20 yards, he turned from the fence to the
' footpath about 90 yards. I followed
,him up and caught
him. I said to him, " Well, Rogers, it's you ; what to
you want ?" He said, "I want nothing; lam on the
roisi." I told him I must see what he had got. In the
meantime I saw a:man named Calrke, who goes by the
name of Oakley Clarke, or Bradley, sun away from the
fence about 30 yards distance. I afterwards went where
Clarke was and found some snare pegs. Clarke went into
the next firld. I again insisted upon seeing what Rogers
had got, when he said, "You shall not." At the same
time Ludlow came up, and Rogers said to him, " You are
just the man I want," knocked him down and kicked him
on the face twice, and while down jumped his knees upon
his body. Rogers said to me, "I'll knock yout b—
head off." While the struggling was going on I saw
some more pegs fall out of his coat pocket. Rogers
calked out, " Come back, Jack, and we will kill kill these
things." Both Rogers and Clarke called out,
"Came back, Jack, and bring the dogs with you. At
that, five men came back, and they had two doge with
them. I then went for aasistance, and when going •
stone was thrown.—Wiliam Henry Butler, son of the
last witneu, said that he ia a mason and night watchman.
Was watching with the others, when they saw Rogers
come along. Oakley came from a corner of the field,
and said if we did not loose Rogers they would make it
hot for us. Oakley then coiled for the gang to come up.
I picked up some pegs and snares they had dropped.—
James Ludlow said he was with the two last witnesses on
the night in question. Rogers came along the fence in
the field. After he came towards no he stopped and
turned from us. When we got up to him, Butler said he
wanted ter see what he had got. Rogers then saw me,
snack and knocked me down, and kicked me on the eye.
He had something in his hands when he attack me. But-
ler polled him off me, when Oakley and mother man
came up. Oakley and Rogers called out, "Jack, bring
the dogs and gang, and we'll ki" them." Five men
came up. They had sticks with them, and two dogs.
They threw stones as they were coming up. Some pegs
were found where Oakley had been. The five men and
the prisoners we saw were all together. On thci-leaving
the field they threatened us.—The Magistrates sentenced
Rogers to three months' imprisonment aOh hard labour,
and at the expiration of that time to find sureties for his
good behaviour for twelve months. Oakley was commit-
ted to gaol for one meoth, and ordered to find stmties
for twelve months.
VESTRY ittEETING.—A Vestry Meeting was held at the
Parish Church, on Thursday, and ,he Churchwardens
were re•appninted,-Mr. Drinkwater Cole, Minister's
Warden, and Mr. Mark Rollinson, People's Warden.
ASSAULT CASE.—At the Police Court, on Thursday,
before Messrs. H. Smith and H. Ha", Benjamin Whit-
tinglow was charged with assaulting Mr. Samuel Coley,
manager at the Locks Iron Works, on the 29th ultimo.
Complainant said he went into the Works on the above
date, and found found a boy at work. He ordered the
defendant to send him away. He went back in about 40
minutes and found the boy still there. He then took
him out of the works himself. He returned in a few
minutes, and found that the lad had been brought back.
He took the lad out a second time, when defendant struck
him with his fist, and knocked him down. Defendant
said he had no explanation to make, and was lined 20s
and costs, or 14 days.
CHARGE AGAINST • PUBLICAN. WiCiam Weaver,
landlord of the New Inn, Quarry Bank, was charged with
keeping a disorderly house on the 2fitli ultimo. Police-
constables Lavin led Hughes proved the case, and the
defendant was fined 115 and costs, and ordered to produce
his certificate or the alternative of being fined E. 5.
LOCAL FAILUII2.—Ou Thursday morning a meeting of
the creditors of John B. Perry, licensed victualler, Round
Oak, was held at the offices of Mr. N. M. Wanington,
solicitor, Dudley. P. statement of accounts show: d that
the debtor's liabilities amounted to tre6o, and the assets
to about £l2O. After a discussion, it wan decided to wind
the estate up in liquidation. Mr. Penaer, of Penniett,
and Mr. Shaw, of Worcester, were app•Onted trustees;
and Messrs J. Rutland (Dudley). Sheppard (Kiddermin-
ster), and Stallard (Worcester), a committee of jasper.
thin.