biglam/hmd_newspapers huggingface dataset:
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-11-21

THE ABOLITION OF SECOND-CLASS
FARES on the MIDLAND RAILWAY.

The shareholders of the Midland Railway Company
spent three hours on Tuesday in discussing the pro-
posal of the directors to abolish second- class traffic and
reduce first-class fares, and approved of that policy by
an immense majority. Mr. Ellis, the chairman, enlarged
his arguments in favour of the change, and stated that
while the directors wished to act in harmony with other
companies, they could not consent to postpone carrying
out their plans, and they objected to the statement
that they were entering upon a course of competition.
Mr. Baines led the opposition to the directors' pro-
posal, and several gentlemen well-known in the rail-
way world took part in the discussion. The result
was the passing of a resolution declaring, bye majority
so large that a poll wee deemed useless, that, in the
opinion of the meeting, no advantage would result
from any postponement of the change until after
the half-yearly meetings of other companies. The
Chairman stated that the total number of proxies
in favour the directors' scheme was 4,678,
and the capital represented by those proxies
was £6,735,359, and the number of votes, 44,305 ;
the proxies received with a request that they
might be exercised against the policy of the
directors amounted to 104; the capital they repre-
sented amounted to £'200,476, and the number of
votes 1,203. Mr. Baines had had proxies sent in
his favour amounting to 285, the capital represented
was £907,253, and the votes 4,529. A number of other
proxies had been sent in, varying in number from one
to 9, in the names of ether shareholders, and assuming
that all of those would have been used against the
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-11-21

BRIERLEY RILL.

A•SAULT CASE.—At the Public Office, on Thursday
before 1. Spooner, Esq., Stipendiary, Stephen 800 was
charged wilt, assaulting William Round, on the I,lth inst.
Complainant said that he went into the Queen's Head
public-house, Quarry Bank, when the defendant blackened
his face, struck him, and knocked him down. Niue,' 10,1
and costa.

CRAM:di AGAINST A PUBLICAN.—John Clulow. land-
lord of the Rock Tavern, Brockmoor, was charged by
Superintendent Mills with having his house open during
prohibited hours, on the lst inst. Mr. Waldron defended.
Police.coustable Hollins said that about a quarter past
eleven o'clock he visited the defendant'. house. In the
kitchen he found • man named Capewell, with a pint cup
of ale on the fire grate. The landlord was sitting by the
side of him. He asked him what brought him there,
when he replied that he was a lodger, and had lodged in
the house for • fortnight. Wane.. told the landlord he
should summons him, when the wife asked him to look
over it. Capewell lives half a mile from the house. Po-
lice-constable tioodfellow gave corroborative evidence.
The defence was that the man Capewell was a lodger,
but did not sleep in the house; and that he paid Ids per
week for board and lodging. Caroline Cliilow, wife of
defendant, was called, and said that Capewell:lioarded in
her house, and paid her Ids per week. John Capewell,
moulder, said that he boarded at the defendant's house,
and paid Us per week. Defendant had some ale before
him, but he (witness) harl none. He went to the house
to have his breakfast. Did not sleep in the house, as
there was no room. In answer to the Bench, Superin-
tendent Mills said the officer went to the defendant's
house to detect him, from information received. Fined
.f 3 and costs.

OF Fhatous Dazvivo.—Joseph Knowles, and
Charles Burley, were charged with furious driving at
Brierley Hill, on the 10th inst. Police.constahls Hullisr
clad that about bill put eight o'clock Ise saw the two di•
fendants driving separate traps, with persons in each
trap, through High Arent. They were going at the rate
of 10 or 12 miles ID hour. Sept. Milli gave corrobor•
alive evidence. Fined £2 each ; in default thrse weeks
hard labour.

VCHOOL BOARD l'itoskerrtoxs.- The following persons
were fined 5s each tor not sending their children to
school, Thomas Baker and William Nock.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-11-21

OLD HILL.

DRUNK AND REFUSING TO QUIT.—At the Polin Court,
on Wednesday, before Messrs. F. D. L. Smith, and H.
Howard, George Homer was charged with being drunk
and r-f using to quit the Bull's Head Inn, Crsdley Heath
when requested. Samuel Burgess, the landlord, said
the summons was taken out for the I,sth °atelier, 1873,
but defendant absconded and was only apprehended on
on Tuesday night last. On the day in question defend-
ant was drank in the house and he requested him to
leave. Defendant refused to go, and witness sent for a
police.constable. Defendant was fined is and costs ;
in default 21 days.

CHARGE OF STEALING A PAN —Charles Potter, MI
old man, residing in Church-street, Stourbridge, was
charged by Thomas A. Cleas, on behalf of Messrs. Wood.
Aston, a Ali stealing an iron pan, valued Cid on the 17th
inst. Mr. Cleas. said Lie was manager for prosecutors
On Tuesday ef,ernoon about four o'clock, be met the
prisoner coming out of the works. He was not through
the gateway. IVA.ss uoti:ed something bulky under
his apron and on asking prisoner what he had there,
pristmer said it was his pocket handkerchief. iVitness
pulled the pan produced out of prisoner's apron, aud
prisoner said is man gays it to him in the works. Wit•
nese went to • man named Benjamin Pearaon, and
Pearson said he let prisoner have the pan, and told him
to pay for it at tho office. Witness said prisoner was not
past the general °dice whe he stopped him. The Bench
did not think the evidence was sufficient against the
prisoner, and dismissed the case.

•
ABISAULT. lkess.—Thomas Dingley was charged with
assaulting Isaiah Cooksey on the Ist inst, and also
charged with assaulting Harriet Jane Houghton at the
same time and place. There was • cross summons
against Isiah Cookery, Charles Houghton, and George
Hougton, for assaulting Thomas Dingley. Mr. Stokes,
appeared for the Houghton. and Cooksey, and Mr.
kddinson, appeared for Dingley. From the evidence
it appeared that Cooksey and Harriet Houghton were
walking along the road on the night of the first, when
Dingley made use of disgusting language. Cooksey re.
moustrated with him, when Dingley struck him • violent
blow on the face. He also struck Harriet Houghton.
She Sent and fetched her brother Charles. and be tried
to persuade llingley to go home and he was also struck.
He then struck Dingley in self defence. It was proved
by .everid witnesses that George Houghton was in the
house the whole of the time. For the assault on Cookery
and Harriet Houghton. Dingley, was tined •20s and
costs in each case ;in default 21 days. The cross sum-
mons was dismissed.