The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-09-04 00:00:00

BBIERLEY HILL.

DRUNICENNESS.—At the Police Court on Monday,
befr,re Mr. G. K. Harrison, Enoch Baker, poultry
dealer, of Dudley, was charged with being drunk
and disorderly in the highway, on the 2fth ult.
Police-constable Hollins proved the case and de-
fendant was fined 2s 6d and costs.—Edward
Rhoden, labourer, Kingsford, was fined 2s Gd and
costs for a similar offence, on the 23rd ult. Police-
constable Evans proved the case.—Benjamin
Peopoint, miner, was also fined 5s and costs, for
being drunk in the highway, on the 23rd ult.—
Joseph Southall, horse-nail maker, was charged
with being drunk and disorderly, on the 21st tit.
Police-constable Hyman proved that defendant
was drunk and making use of bad language, at
Quarry Bank. The 'defendant was fined 5a and
costs, with the alternative of 14 days' imprison-
ment.
STEALING GROWING BEANS.--Hertiy Hughes
(11), was charged with tr ealing growing beans, on
the 26th ult., from a field at Bromley. the property
of Mr, Smith. Mr.. Addison &fended. Ann
Maria Gregg said she saw the boy in a field of
beans the property of Mr. 'Smith. Ile was picking
the beans. When prisoner saw her he threw the
beans down and ran away. In cross-examination
wituess.admitted that she did not find any beans on
the boy, nor in the field, that had been picked eft.
The Beuch dismissed the ease.

n
DAMAGING GROWING Caors.—Three boys named
Edward Ridley, Joseph Abbots, and Lester Holt.
were charged with damaging grlovwmin. g
Cook, wheat,
iron—
worker, the
propel ty of Benjamin Homer.
worker, said that on the 22nd ult, he saw the three
defendants in a field of wheat at Bromley, the
property of Mr. Homer. They were :plucking up
the wheat. Defendants were fined is each and
costs. or 14 days.—James Haynes was fined is and
costs for damaging growing turnips, the property
of John Aldwin.
STEALING SWEDE TURNIPS.—Wm, Parkes, Jes•ie
Parkes, and Patrick Lynch were charged with
stealing a quantity of swede turnips, the property
of Samuel Stevens. Defendants were further
charged with damaging a quantity of cabbage, to the
value of 2s. It appeared from the evidence of
Thou: as Heywood. a gamekee er, in the employ of
Messrs. Webb and Sons, that he saw the defendants
come out of a field of swedes which belonged to
prosecutor, with swedes in their hands. On seeing
witness they ran away over a field of cabbages,
thereby damaging the cabbages. In the first c,se
Jessie Parkes was fined bs and costs, owing to a
previous conviction, being preyed against I:im.
William Parkes and Patrick Lynch;were fined 2s 6d
eash and costs. For the secord offence defendants
were fiued Is each and costs. In default of pay-
ment defendants would have to go to prison for
7 days, for each offence.,
DRUNK AND DISOFDERLY. —Alfred Whitley was
charged with being druek and disorderly on the
21st ult. He was further charged with doing
damage to a cell window on the same date. De.
fendant, on the night in question, had been turned
out of the Bell Hotel, Brierley Hill, and was very
drunk and abusive in the.street. On being ordered
home by Police-constable Hume he refused to ,o
and consequently was taken into custody. When
in the cell he broke the window with his fist. De-
fendant was fined 5s and costs for beiag drunk and
disorderly, and is for the: damage.
FELONY AT PRESTWOOD Ifenjamin Oakes (30), of
Kidderminster, was charged wtth stealing, from an
unoccupied house at Prestwood, 16 brass staircase
rods, the property of Mr. Foley. He was further
charged with assaulting Hyren Horton. The . first
witness called was Sarah Parton, whose evidence
went to show that she lived near the Yew 'Tree
Farm House, Prestwood, from where the brass rods
were stolen,- and that the house was in her charge.
She opened the windows of the house daily, to air
t' se rooms.—There were 16 stair rods, iu a bundle,
upon the stairs. She saw them safe at. 8 o'clock
oe the morning in question, but on going in the
vening they were mi4insr. The , rods pro'-
duel were similar to those that elle missed:
Lloron, living at Stourton, said' that on the
2-Ith ult he %eta to the Yew Tree Farm about 4
o'clock in the afternoon, to get some beer from the
coach.house. Whilst there he heard the bells ring.
ieg in the house. He went to the house window
and saw prisoner in the house. He had got a
bundle of ptairease rods in his hands. He (witness)
asked hint if he was doing some repairs. Prhouer
replied "I intend having those bells before 1 go to
Kidderminster to-night." Witness then returned
to the coach-house and fetched the beer out. He
siw the prisoner outside the house bending two of
the rods. Prisoner then went into the coach louse
and took the rods also. He picked up a jug and
tilled it with ale and drank the ale. Witness 'told
him that he should tell his father. Prisoner then
came out of the coach-house and pushed witness on
to the ersund and knelt on him and produced a,
knife, threatee Mg to cut his throat if he told any-
body. On witness, promising not to tell ptisoner
let him get up. Prisoner then gave two brass rods
to witness to induce him not to tell, and threw
the other rods over the hurdles, saying they were
no good to him as they were only plated. Wit-
ness then went away and gave information to -Wm.
Toy. Win. Toy, a gamekeeper, said that on the
day in question, from information received from
last witness, he went in search •of prisoner, and
found him standing opposite the Yew Tree Farm
House. He arrested him. Prisoner said to the boy
"You young b----you have been and told." Pri-
soner then took hold of witness by the collar and
threw him down. Four men eventually came up
and the prisoner was lett in their charge. Prisoner
after asking witness a few questions, said he
thoueht it was a planned job, it was no use speak-
ing to hisn, as he was as big a fool as the boy.
Thomas Benjamin Thomas, a blacksmith, of Prest-
wood, said that on the day in question the last
witness left prisoner in charge of him and thn.e
other men. On prisoner promising to go quietly
if they loosed him they did so and.prisoner ton
away. Th -y followed him as ras Bell's M)11
Budge, where prisoner jumped on a canal boat.
Wm. Weaver, in the employ of Mr. Foley, said
he followed prisoner from Prestwood to Bell's Mill
Bridge and there ose.rtoek him. Prisoner hod a
brick in his band, with which lie threatened to
knock his brains out.? Prisoner then plunged into
the canal and was taken out by two other men.
On witness saying in cross-exernination that he .did
not loose him, prisoner said "I ()illy wish you had,
you would have had the rens 'le of my ~rin against
your nose. If it's 50 years to come I will make you
remember it. When I come out of prison I will
prosecute you all. You are all telling lies." Police-
sergeant Moore said that on the 26th ult, he was
called to Bells Mill, Prestwood, where he saw the
prisoner who was in charge of Police-constable
Illone. On the way to the station pi isoner said to
him "We at rods I had I had from a lad outside the '
house.' On the following morning he went to the
Yew Tree Farm House and examined the window
cell, and fovnd nail scratches end a case of dirt.
He thought it was off a man's shoe. Police-con-
stable Hume said that on the day in question he
went to Bell's Mill, where he received the prisoner
into custody. He told him he would be charged
with stealing some brass rods. Prisoner replied
"You did not find them on me, mind that." The
next morning he was charged with stealing 16
brass rods, when ho made a similar reply, Prisoner
was committed to take his trial at the Stafford
Sessions. Upon the witnesses being bound over
to appear and give evidence at the Sessions. pri-
soner said "I hope you will all die before the time
ccrnes. I s iii pay all you for it.

HALE SOWEN.

FATAL ACCIDENT —Mr. Docker, C.;,roner, op,ned
an i,.quett at the shenston Inn, ILLsowen, on
Monday, ou the Jody of. Edward klarding (35), •