The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-08-17 00:00:00

SATURDAY, II t 4 Pr 1?, 1872.,

CRADLEY.

SUDDEN DEATH.—On Tuesday last a man named
Thomas Bills, aged 78, was found dead at the bottom of
the stairs in his house. at four o'clock. Dr. Wesley
Thompson was called in, and made an external examina-
tion, and said there was no doubt the deceasea tut-a from
appoplexy.

Ad him where the ale had eons' from.
_ ni any information abort anything. Ther
wet no one there but the lad Hinton, defendant, and my
self. I came out of the yard the same afternoon. I had
not got my coat on. I spoke across the road to Freeman.
I will not swear that there were not half a dozen of peo-
ple present. I 1011 swear that there were not twelve. I
cannot tell whether the people were stopping or walking.
It was not because I had had drink that I could not tell
whether they were walking or stopping. I will swear
that Mrs. Jones was there. Mrs. Hack was 60 yards
away. I was not taken into the house by my wife and
another woman. My wife never touched me. I did not
challenge the officer to fight. I was sober all that day.
At seven o'clock I was not taken into the house rolling
drunk. The smell of my ale was not enough to make me
drunk. I haves beer machine in the house. Ido not
sell spirits. There might have been about 20 or SO people
in the house that day. There were some persons in the
house with me that afternoon. I had some drink that
night. I had share of five pints with Hinton and Parkes.
I might have had plenty of ale without any one seeing
me have it. I did not tell the boy that any ale was in
the hedge. I knew he was coming for ale. He had
come before, and I did not think it was necessary to tell
him. He boa called me up to brew many times. I do
not know that I have not brewed when he has called Inc
up before.
William Hinton said: I am son of Thomas Hinton,
glass-maker. I work with him, and am a taker in. On
the night of the 17th of July I went to Grainger's house
about ten minutes past six, and took with me • bottle.
The nest morning I went to Grainger's premises to call
him up. It would be about a quarter to four. I rattled
the aide window. I then went to the back and rapped it,
I and after I had rapped the back door I went and fetched
the ale out of the hedge. It was • bottle of ale and a
bottle of porter. When I had got that that out I then
came down the siding-piece into the turnpike road. I
saw Grainger that morning. He was just coming outside
his gate in the aiding-piece when I first saw him. It is
not true that I was with Mr. °flinger at his back door
that morning. It is lilt true that Grainger at his back
door, or any where else, that morning gave me the hot-
! Iles. When I went towards the turnpike road I saw the
defendant running across from Bolton's cave. He came
to me. I was just coming down the siding piece. I did
not go into Grainger's yard after I had the ale.
Cross-examined: When I first saw Grainger be would
be about 50 yards from the place where I !etched the
bottles from. Just as I got by the gate leading into the
yard I met Grainger. One of the bottles was frothy. It
was porter. When I got into the turnpike road I saw
Penn there. The policeman stopped me.
Mary Grainger, daughter of :Samuel Grainger, said:
On the night of the 17th ult I filled some ale sad porter
for Hinton. It was filled before eleven o'clock at night.
Hinton was not there when I filled it. There were three
pines of ale and one pint of porter. My father took it
away when it was filled.
Eliza Grainger, wife of Samuel Grainger, said: On
the night of the 17th ult I heard Thomas Hinton give
an order. I saw my daughter draw some ale before eleven
o'clock that night, and I saw my husband take it out
somewhere. On the morning of the 18th of July I heard
a rap on the back shutters, about four o'clock. That was
in the siding piece. I did not bear any other rep. Soon
after I heard my husband get up, and he went doses
stairs. He did not go to the front window, At a quarter
past four that afternoon my husband was sober. He
went out at the front door. Defendant was coming out
of the Hose and Crown Inn, across the road. Defendant
stood at the opposite side of the road, and my master
said to him that if he looked after his property and other
people's, it would look better of him than "smooching
after him. Freeman said if my husband did not go in
be would lock him up. My husband did not challenge
him to fight. There was pot a crowd of people in the
road.

Cross-examined I had been attending to my house-
hold duties the whole of the day. I did not see my
husband take any ale. There might have been we or
six outside the house, but I do not think there were a
dozen. _ _ _

John Henry Penn said : I work at Pargeter's glass.
works, at Wordsley. On the morning of the 18th of
July I passed Mr. Grainger's !house at • quarter to four.
I was coming from Hillman's public-house at Brettell
Lace. As I vas passing Grainger's house I aaw the Loy
Hinton, and just after I saw Police-constable Freeman.
Hr came from behind Bolton's erre. He ran to Hinton.
He was on the footpath coming from the direction of
Grainger's. Freeman spoke to the boy, and they were at
the comer of the siding piece wall when they spoke.
Grainger was with Freeman and the boy when they began
to talk.

Ezekiel Mullett said: On the 18th of July, • little past
four o'clock 1 sew defendant and tha boy Hinton walking
together. I was about 100 yards away, and I was coming
from the direction of Stoarbridge. I did not hear what
took place between them. I spoke to Grainger in the
afternoon, and he was sober.
. . . _ _

Cross-eiamined : I have been a witness for Grainger
before. My eyesight is very good.
Harriet Jones said : I live at Andnam Sank. On the
18th of July, between four and five o'clock, I heard the
defendant tell Grainger that it he did not go into the
house he should lock bins up. I did not isee crowds of
people there. I have seen Freeman since that afternoon.
He came down to our house hut Thursday. He told use
he wanted me. He wanted me to be a witness and say
that Grainger came out of the house, took off his coat,
squared off his fists, and challenged him to fight. I told
bun I heard ban tell Mr. Grainger that if be did not go
from the street he should lock him up.
Cross.examined : I did not any I heard Graiager swear
and challenge him. Freeman did not write that down in
my presence. I have been convicted onee at this Court
for felony.
Mr. Southall recalled: Freeman, in raving his evidence
last week, said Grainger came oat of his holm aboat a
quarter past four on the 18th of July, and challenged
him to fight. He said Grainger was drunk, and be said
there were crowds of people there.
This being the case for the prosecution,
Mr. Stokes made a very eloquent and earnest speech an
behalf of Freeman, in which he contended that the whole
case had been trumped up be Grainger, who had every.
thing to gain by an doing, as it would materially affect
his license and the value of his property ; whilst Freeman
was simply doing his duty as a police•olficer.
At the conclusion of Mr. Stokes's speech the Bench
retired for a short time. and on returning said they had
decided to hear the witnesses for tbe defence.

Edward Kinnersley was called, and said: I am a teaser
in the employ of Messrs. Bolton and Mills, Audnum
Bank. On the 170 silt I was at work nights. I know
the boy William Hinton, and I know Mr. Grainger'a
hOW‘e. About half-past four o'clock on the morning of
the 18th I saw the boy Hinton fetch ale from Grainger's
house. lie went to GI-singer-a house and called him up.
I saw the lad go into the house. mew Grainger open the
(bor, and let the-lad into the house. I caw Grainger
come oat with a stone jr and a glw.s bottle, but what
was in the bottles Ido not know. Grainger and the boy
came out together. and I raw defendant meet the lad
against the gate. and drink octet one of the bottles. He
took him into the read, and I went in with my work. I
saw Freeman after that in the road.

By the }tench: I saw the lad go up I the door, and
knock and call Grainger up. He stayed at the door until
Grainger opened it He did not go away; that I will
swear.

_..___.
John Chipman, glassmaker, living at Audnam, said:
On the 18:11 ult I was opposite Graingers house between
four and fire o'clock in the afteroorn. I saw Grainger
run out of the house. and. addres,.;ng Freeman, said,
"Joe, you b---, you shall have one. His wife and
another woman pulled him Before that Freeman said
if he did not go into the house he should lock ban up.
Grenger was rolrig up his sleeves. He was straggling,
and had the appearance of being drunk.
Helen Hack, living at Wordaley. : I passed by
Grainger's house on the 18th of July. I passed Grain.
gee's house about four o'clock, and saw Grainger and
Freeman. Grainger was being taken into the house, and
he was tumbling about.
The Bench dismissed the case, end said they did nOl
&insider the charge brought against Freeman did, in
their minds, at a" impeach the 15 years' character he had
previously borne.

CAUTION TO SCRAP DRALERC—AI the Police Court,
on Thursday, before Mr. 1. Spooner, Stipendiary, George
Mantle, scrap deter, Bent-street, Brierley Hill, was
charged with having, on the Bth lust, in his possession
I certain old metal, the property of the Earl of Dudley.—
Mr. Holberton appeared for the prosecution..—Police.
sergeant Passey, stationed at Brierley Hill, said on
Thursday, the Bth met, he viaitod defendant's house and
I premises in company with Mr. Hughes, the manager at
the works When they got there they found • quantity
of scrap iron in the yard. There was about 28 or 24
cwt. of iron. Witness went again in the afteoloon, ac-
companied by Mr, Hughes, and the lads Bag:mall and
Warr. Witness produced two lots of iron, which he
found there. Elwell picked the iron out from among
the scrap. Witness afterwards served defendant with a
summons, but he did not say anything.—lsaft Enna
said he was no underhand at the Earl of Dudley's Works,
Round Oak, and knew the defendant Mantle. He bad
taken i-on to defendant's place, and the iron he took
there he got from the Earl of Dudley'. Works. Defend-
ant gave him 24 for it. He went to defendant's house on
the Bth, and picked up the iron produced from among
the scrap in the yard. Defendant said he had the iron
of the lad and asked him where be got it from, and he
said from among the ashes. Defendant was fined £5 and
costs, and ordered to be registerrd for three years.
STRALINO loon—Henry Little, of Quarry Bank, was
charged with stealing a quantLy of iron, the property of
Messrs. S. Even and Co., of Cradley Norge, on the 12th
inst. William Deeley,shearer, said on the above date he
saw defendant in the works. He put something under
his jacket. Witness started afteithim and ran him into
the river Stour, where plisoner dropped the iron produced
into the water. The iron was worth is. The defendant
pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to 14 days' imprison.
meat.