The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-09-10 00:00:00

THE STOURBRIDGE OBSERVER.

should fine him 20s and:costs !fl each case for the
assault on Bird and Jones; in default one month in
each case.
DRUNK AND ASSAULTING THE POLICE.— John
Stevens was charged with being drunk and dis
orderley on the 27th ult. Defendant was furthcr
charged with being drunk and disorderly on the 3rd
just, and further charged with assaulting Police-
constable Ma,dely. Police sergeant Herman prov d
the first case, and Police-constable Madely and
Police-sergeant Jones proved the second and third
cases. For the first offence defendant was fined lOs
and costs, for the second offence lOs and costs, and
for the assault on the police 20s and costs ; in de-
fault two months' hard lAour. Defendant: "Two
months will not hurt me."
CHARGE OF DRUNKENNESS. William Mills, of
Oldswintord, was charged with being drunk on the
3rd ult. Police-constable Eaves proved the case.
Fined I.os, and costs; in default 14 days
OBSCENE LANGUAGE. -- Samuel Hall was fined
2s. 6d. and costs, for using obscene language on
the 4th inst. Police-constable Madley proved the
case.
ASSAULT CASE. Samuel Hall, senr., Samuel
Harper, junr., and John Hall were charged with
assaulting William Harper on the 4th inst.—De-
fendants were each fincd 20i. and costs, with the
alternative of one month's imprisonment.
REFUSING TO QUIT. George Jones, labourer,
of Cradley, was fined ss. and costs, for refusing to
quit the Sun llnn. Cradley, on the 6th ult. Benja-
min Burley, landlord proved the case.
t
BEGGING.—EIIen Hooke, ramp, of Dudley, and
Richard George, of St mrbridge, were summoned
, for begging.—Defendants promised not to repeat
, the offence and they were discharged.

OPENING OF A FREE LENDING
LIBRARY IN KIDDERMINSTER.
The Free Library in this town wits formally
opened as a Free Lending Library on Wednesday.
The Mayor (Alderman H. R Willis) presided, and
after remarking upon the fact that they had for
many years had a Free Library in the town, he
said that the throwing of it open as a Lending
Library was an advantege which would be greatly
appreciated by the inhabitants. He pointed to
the advantages which the youth of the present day
had in matters of education compared with what
existed when be was a boy. He was sent to work
when he was thirteen years of age, a thing which
the law would not now permit to be done with the
poorest child unless he had pa,sed the required
number of standards at an elementary school. He
called upon Mr. Greaves, the Chairman of the Free
Library Committee, to address those present.
Mr. Greaves remarked that the Free Libraries
Act of 1850 had proved a very great boon to all
those constituencies who had seen fit to adopt it.
They in Kidderminmter took advantage of the Act
in 1855, and although the qu-stion had to go to the
poll it was carried by 219 votes against 20 by the
ratepayers of Kidderminster. On the 3rd of Sep.
tember in the same year the Free Library was
opened as a reading room, it containing at the time
only 304 volumes The average number of visitors
to it had been 1,000 per month, whilst the average
attendance tit the News Room during the same
period was 3,500. He spoke of the great benefit
a library of that character would be to the town in
contributing to the promotion of a taste fox reading
and asked ladies and gentlemen to make presents
of books to it.
Mr. Councillor Iloilo Nay spoke of the circulating
libraries that there had been in the town.
Alderman Radford suggested that the Library as
a reading room shAild be allowed to be opened on
Sundays. There were many times, especially
when the weather was wet and unfavourable for
going out of doors, when the working classes living
in their little homes hardly knew what to do witn
themselves to pass away the time, and if they
could have an opportunity of going there it might
be the means of preventing their spending their
time in public-houses.
Mr. J. Brinton, M.P., the Mayor, Mr. E. Parry,
and others spoke highly of the suggestion of
Alderman Radford to the effact that the Free
Library should be kept open on Sundays in the
intervals between church hours.
Councillors W. H. Green, Jefferies, and others
addressed those present.
It was state t that the Library will be opened
'or the issue of books on Monday evening next.

which as since proved to be true as the children had
confessed. All the harvest men were called and
worked all night, cutting trenches, and throwing
water on the fire. A valuable rick of hay was
close to the fold yard ; alf.o a barn filled with peas.
and had it not been for the exertions of those pre-
sent must have been destroyed.

BRIERLEY HILL IRONWORKERS AND THE
WAGES BOARD.
A largely attended mars meeting of ironworkers
in the Brierley Hill district was held on Monday
morning at the Alma Inn, Brierley Hill. Mr.
James Capper (operatives' secretary) attended, and
also representatives from the following works :
Primrose Hill, Round Oak, Mart's Hill, Brown
and Free] s, Corngreaves, Cradley, Providence,
Bromley, Old Level, Nine Locks, and Stourbridge.
The Chairman (air. Rowley) raid the meeting
had:been convened by the district committee, be-
cause as only a few of the works in the district
had latterly been represented at the quarterly
meetings the question arose as to whether they
still remained connected with the Wages Board.
There was no means of ascertaining this except by
calling a meeting of the men. The committee
were anxious that all ironworkers should be con-
nected with the Board, which had done to much
for them in the past, and was also assisting them
as ironworkers now.
The Secretary added that out of the twenty-six
works in the Brierley Hill district seven or eight
of the committee men only attended the quarterly
meetings.
Mr. James Capper said he was souvr,vhat sur-
prised to find that the Wages Board haviuj lone so
much valuable work in the interests of both
masters and men, there should be a large number
of both who were still unconnected with it, but who
notwithstanding were governed by its decisions,
and were ever ready to take advantage of the
benefit which the Board conferred upon them with-
out bearing any part of working expenses. Per-
sonally he thought the time had arrived when they
, should consider whether or not it would be ad-
visable to confine the information as to selling
prices and wages to the members of the Board
only. That could be done by sending out a cir-
cular containing the information at the and of
each quarter to each of the works connected with
the Board. and to none other. He thought it
mean on the part of both employers and emyloyed
in this district who in the past had partaken of the
advantages which the Board conferred upon them,
and yet deemed it unworthy of the support—
("Hear, hear," and "Shame"). As long as the
Board was in existence the employers were com-
pelled to give a reason when asking for a reduction
in wages, so that with this automate system in
operation the men were perfectly safe, and were
sure to get advantages in wages corresponding with
those advantages which the employers derived from
selling prices. In his judgment the automatic sys-
I tern of regulating wages indicated the state of
trade as clearly as the fingers of a clock repre-
sented the time of day—(hear, hear). It might
be that the standard or basis might not be all that
was desired, but it would then be the duty of the
workpeople to make an earnest and honest effort to
improve it, and make it what, in their judgement,
it should be—(hear, hear). Without the Board it
would only be necessaiy on the part of the em-
ployers to post up a notice stating that a reduction
in wages would take effect on such a date, and
with no organisation amongst the men the reduc-
tion would take effect, and the men would be com-
pelled to allow judgment to go by default. Only
let the Wages Board fall to pieces and the men
would place themselves entirely at the mercy of the
employers. Should the Board fall to pieces—
though he did not believe it would, as he thought
the men would consider it their duty to strengthen
it—there would certainly be a great sweep amongst
the wages of the tonnage men during the next
period of depression. Much had been done during
the present period of depression to reduce the
wages of the men to the lowest possible limit, and
it had been done in the case of those who were not
connected with the Board. He thanked the mem-
bers of the Board for their loyalty to its decisions
in the past. As a rule the men, if anything, were
more loyal than the employers. He then criticised
the action of the proprietors of the Dunkirk Works
West Bromwich, as disloyal in giving notice of an
altJation in prices on the plea that they were pay-
ing more than other employers for the same kind
of work, If it was competent for a member of the
Board to make a claim to reduce wages during a
time of depression it would be only equally fair for
the workmen to claim an advance of wages above
the Board prices during the time of prosperity—
(hear, hear). It was a terrible reflection upon the
ironworkers of South Staffordshire that they had
not been more provident in the past, and were not
now able to instruct him to go and make Jordan
and Company an offer for their works, which they
had advertised for sale. Mr. Capper went on to
speak in favour of the working men throughout
the country being federated together, so that they
might possess some power to shape the course of
the Government of the country, which course, he
held; should always be to secure the greatest
amount ot happiness to the greatest number of
people with the least possible injury to the few.
At present the men had little power of this kind,
but each man should become a member of the
Wages Board, and become members of trade or-
ganizations foe reducing the hours of labour, when
it could be consistently done, aud in the next
place, keeping up labour to its proper value—(hear,
hear). The spakor thought those present who
were riot interested in the Bsard should state what
was the feeling of the men at their respective
works.
A representative from the Old Level said the
men there had made up their minds to commence
to pay sixpence each to the Board on the following
Saturday.
Another representative urged the men to join the
Board so as to help to resist encroachments which
were being made upon them in their works.
It was stated that the men employed at Provi-
dence Works were still paying to the Board.
After further discussion, the Chairman read the
following resolution :—"That this meeting is of
opinion that the time has arrived when the infor-
mation supplied by the accountant respecting the
selling prices and wages should be confined to the
subscribers, which could be done by sending out a
circular at the end of each quarter to each work
connected with the Board, and none other; and
further, that it be an instruction to Mr. Capper, the
oporatives' secretary, to bring the. matter under tit e
consideration of the operative section of the Wages
Board."—Mr. Capper, in rep's to questions, said
the effect of the resolution, if passed, would be that
in future the information as to the selling prices ot
iron would not be made known through the news-
papers. Those ironworkers who did not belong to
the Board would have no difficulty in obtaining
information as they could receive a certificate from
the accountant. He, however, hardly thought
ii
was fair that men who did not belong to the Board
should sit down quietly and gain all the information
they required, and not bear any part in the working
expenses. His chief reason for suggesting the
circular was that it would tend to induce non-
members to join the Board.
The resolution was then unanimously carried.
NIL Capper remarked that he thought some
principle should be laid down whereby, in case of
a dispute such as that whioh had occurred at West
Bromwhich, the men might count on receiving the
necessary support while it lasted.
A vote of thanks to the chairman closed the
proceedings.

been 15.96 per 1,000 per annum, one death only
baying occurred from zymotic disease.
It was stated that the offer of the Board to give
Messrs. Merryweather (London) £lOO for a fire-
engine they have for sale had been accepted. A
committee was appointed to inspect the engine,
and make arrangements for its reception in the
town.

he tender of John Bishop, Albion-street,
Brierley Hill, for the laying down of the narrow
paving in Dudley-street and Church-street. at 31d.
per square yard, was accepted.

BRIERLEY HILL.
STEALING WHEAT.-At the Police Court on Mon-
day, before Messrs. H. Smith and H. Hall, Thomas
Cartwright (11), of Mount Pleasant, was charged
with stealing a quantity of wheat the property of
James Darby. Complainant stated that on the Ist
inst. he saw the boy pulling. wheat out of the sheaves
and throwing it into the road to other children. He
afterwards went to his house in company with P.C.
Cheesem.n and saw a quantity of wheat on the floor.
Defendant was ordered to have six strokes with the
birch rod.

COAL .STEALING. William Jones and William
Lane, two boys residing in Park Street, Brierley
Hill, were charged with stealing coal the property
of the Earl of Dudley. Additional-constable Tay-
lor proved that onithe Ist inst. the defendants were
taking coal from the W:igon Hole, at the Racecourse
Pits. Defendants were ordered to receive six
strokes with the birch rod. Hannah Gannerton
and Thomas Parsons were charged with stealing a
quantity of coal the property of the Earl of Dudley,
on the 29th ult. Joseph Gregg., watchman, said
that he saw Parsons in a coal truck near 52 Wharf,
Old Park Colliery, which was on Lord Dudley's
private railway. He was throwing coal off the
truck and Gannerton was carrying it away. Gan-
nerton was fined ss; in default 7 days. Parsers,
who has been previously convicted, was "fined 20s
and costs ; in default 14 days.—Mary Johnson and
Matilda Garbett, of Pensnett, and Kerrenhappuch
Morgan, of Brockmoor, were charged with stealing
coal from 25, Wallows Colliery, on the Ist inst.,
and were fined 55 Each.
A MUSHROOM PICKER IN TROUBLE. lONIA
Merchant, a noted character, was charged with
stealing thorn bushes, on the 23rd ult. Mr. Holber-
ton prosecuted. Arthur Sproason, carpenter, of
Himley, said that between four and five o'elock in
the morning he was in a field in the occupation of
George Salter, at Lawnswood, and saw the defend-
ant go into Colonel•Fietcher's grounds. At first
defendant was picking mushrooms, but afterwards
he pulled up six bushes, which had been put there
fo the protection of partridges to prevent them from
being netted at night, Defendant pleaded that he
wa3 only picking mushrooms and did not pull up any
bushes. He was fined I.oa and costs ;in default 14
days.
THROWING AT PHEASANTS. Thomas Parsons,
miner, Gornal Wood, was summoned for throwing
stones at pheasants on the 29th ult Mr. Holberton
appeared to prosecute, and stated that a great num-
ber of pheasants had been lamed of tat by people
throwing at them. John Bowen, g ;Inekeeper,
stationed at Himley Wood, said that o:. the 29th
ult. he saw defendant throw two ston s at some
pheasant, one of which caught a ph,a,sant and
lamed it. Defendant admitted throwing a stone
but said he did not see any birds at all. He was
fined 2s 6d and costs.
Assauurro A (lAMEKEEPER —Samuel Clarke, Of
Gornal, was charged with assaulting John Bowen, a
gamekeeper in the employ of the Earl of Dudley, on
the 29th ult. Mr. Holberton said the assault arose
out of the last case. Whilst the complainant was
taking Parsons up to his house defendant pushed up
against him and recommended Parsons not to go
with him. Ordered to pay costs.
DAMAGING BUSHES.—Benjamin Turner, of Gornal
was charged with damaging bushes on the 30th
ult John Bowen said that the defendant was in the
Malley Wood, breaking down the trees and taking
nuts off the branches. Ordered to pay costs.
UNGRATEFUL SONS. William Badger, James
Badger and George Badger were summoned to
show cause why they should not contribute towards
the support of their father and mother. The Bench
made an order for each defendant to pay is per
week.

FRAUDULENT RamovAL.—Arthur Ford, of Brock-
moor, was summoned for fraudulently removing his
goods for the purpose of avoiding a distress for rent,
on the 12th of July. This case has been twice be-
fore the Bench, and was adjourned each time for
the purpose of allowing the defendant a chance to
carry out his promise thad he would pay 13s for
rent due and the costs of the court, but as he failed
to dothis he was now fined 133; or, in default of
paving that amount, to go to prison for a month.
bAMBLING. Five youths, residing in Church
Street, Brierley Hill, were, on the evidence of P.C.
Eden, each fined Is and costs for playing at "pitch
and tJss," on the 29th ult. Mr. Smith remarked
that gambling was a great nuisance and they were
determined to do all they could to put a stop to it.
A DRUNKEN WOMAN.—Mary Yarker, of Dennis
Park, was eharged with being drunk and disorderly
on the 29th ult. Police-constable Tytherly said
that about half-past one o'clock in the morning he
sew the defendant in King William Street, Dennis
Park. She was drunk and making use of bad.
language. He took her home but her husband re-
fused to admit her into the house because she was
drunk. Defendant said she was not drunk but
excitA. Fined ss, including costs.
A WIFE BEATER.—Charles Hancox, glassmaker,
of Wordsley, was charged with assaulting his wife,
Phcebe Hancox, on the let inst. Complainant said
that on the night in question the defendant came
home drunk and struck her, knocking her off the
chair. She had the baby in her arms and whilst
she was on the floor defendant kicked her. She did
not wish to press the case. The Bench sentenced
defendant to one month's hard labour without the
option of a fine.
KINGSWINFORD SCHOOL BOARD.—A monthly
meeting of this body was held on Tuesday at
Brierley Hill; the Rev. T. L. Claughton in the chair
The General Purposes Committee's report showed
that the Education Department had approved the
plans for the proposed new schools in Bent Street,
Brierley Hill, and had approved the site for the new
schools at • Pensnett. It was recommended that
plans and specifications of the latter be prepared.
The report was adopted , and it was agreed that the
Pensnett schools should be constructed 1),8 "mixed
schools." A letter was read from Mr, W. J.
Hodgetts, resigning his seat at the Board owing to
his being about to leave the locality, Mr. E. Haines
was elected vice-chairman of the Board, Or, Boding-
ton alone dissenting,

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1881.