The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-01-29 00:00:00

HALESOWEN.

ACTION BY A lifastsowins FARMER.—On Friday,
the 21st mat, at Worcester Assizes, before Mr.
Commissioner Wills, Q.C., Mr. George Smith,
of Kenelins Green, Halesowen, claimcd .£3OO
damages from the executors of Abraham M. Wil-
letts, who was the plaintiff's landlord. for breach
of contract and wrongful dis ss. Mr. Staveley
Hill, Q.C., M.P., and Mr A. Youns appeased for
the plaintiff; and Mr. Jelf Q.C.. and .2,1 f. Bosanquet
were counsel for the defendants. According to the
evidence for the plaintiff he became the tenant of
a farm of 42 acres, at a rent of £6O per annum. be-
longing to Mr. Willetts, who was to do the
necessary repairs. The,e he never did, although
seesral times asked to do so. In March of last
year the plaintiff went to pay his lent to Mr. Wil-
letts, the amount then due being £69 10s. Plaintiff
paid .226, thus leaving a balance of £43 10s. After
Mr. Willetts died the exscutors, without notice, put
a distress into the farm, and sold the stock, &c., to
the extent of £195 14s 65.—For the defence it was
argusd that no agreement was made that Mr.
Willetts should repair the buildings on the farm,
that it was not the custom of the country to do so,
and, as for the excessive scale, that it was with th
consent of the plaintiff himself. The jury found
that there was an express bargain betwe-n
Willetts and the plaintiff that Mr. Wiiletts was to
do the repairs on the farm ; for the -nonfulfilment
of these repairs they awarded, after a long delibera-
tion £l.O as damages. For an illegal distress on the
29th September they awarded is. damages.
KEEPING GUNPOWDER.—At the Police Court, f,n
Tuesday, before Messrs. E. Gera and E. B.
Phillips, John Booth, ironmonger, Hagley Street,
was summoned for that he on the 14th January
unlawfully kept a quantity of gunpowder for sale,
in certain premises other than a magazine or
store property licensed or duly registered under
the Explosive Act, 1875. Superintendent Kemp
said that a fire took place on the evening of
Friday the 14th in•st at Mr. Booth's premises. He
found upon the third story an iron travelling trunk
containing half-pounds and pounds of powder.
There were 20Ibs in one-pound canisters, lOilbs in
half—pound. and 311bs in brown paper. Sometime
after, in consequence of what was told him, ha
found a can ,in the shop, under the counter—a
caniater similar to those used by grocers. He
subsequently wsighed it and found it coat tined
181bs. of gunpowder, maki ig altogether 521bs.
weight of powder. He spoke to defendant about
it and he said he was not aware that the powder
was in the shop. Defendant's assistant tols him
that it wam in the shop. There was no powder
ignited. Defendant plea.dad that he hscl been act-
ing eatirely in ianoratice. of the requirwnsnts
the law. The Bench iuflicted a fine of Is for every
paund of powder, Mr. Gem remarking that they
had the power to inflict 25 for every pound. De
fondant was also order,:d to pay costs.
ALLEGED LONG FIRM TRANSACTION.—A. e.=.se of
alleged long firm fraud has been brought under the
notice of the police at Halesowen. Act:ng in
o injunction with the Halesowen police, Insp.:etor
Mice and Detective James, of Cardiff, arrested a
man named Davis, described as a clerk, late of
Adam Street, Cardiff, and charged him with obtain-
ing by fraudulent means fifteen bags of nails from
Mr. Hickton, of Halesowen, the same being
addressed by the consignor to the Rink Buildings,
Cardiff, by the consignee's order. Police-sergeant
Raybouid, of Halesowen, went to investigate the
matter at Cardiff, and found that, although: three
other consignments had been sent in Davis's name
to a similar address, no such person as Dttvis lived
at that place. It is stated that the prisone: is
"wanted" by the London police on other charges
of a similar nature. When arrested Davi, Fai.d he
did not see that there was any harm in obtaiuing
goods before starting in business.