The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-12-10 00:00:00

BRIERLEY HILL.

Local, BOARD. On Monday afternoon the
monthly meeting of this Beard was held, Mr. J.
Skidmore presiding. The Medical Officer of
Health's report stated that 14 deaths had occuir d
during the month, being a death-rate of 14.892 per
thousand per annum, against 13.2 in the cones-
pon(l:.g month of last year.--The Medical Officer
also reported that several cases of small-pox had
occurred at Tipton, and it was more than proboble
that the disease might be imported into Brierley
Hill. He therefore recommended the Board to call
the attention of the public to the necessity of ac-
quainting the Boazd's officer at once, if any case
should appear, so that isolation, disinfection, and
preventive measures might be immediately adopted.
THREATE3,—At the Police Court, on Monday, be-
fore Messrs. F. Evers and G. K. Harrison, William
Haywood. of Brettell Lane, was summoned fof
using threats towards Eliza Breeze, a neighbour,
on the 19th ult.—Defendant was bound:over to keep
the peace, and was ordered to pay the expenses, 12s
6d.—Complainant had to pay 2s 6d, the cost of
binding him over.
DRUNKENNESS. -- James Grainger (60), of Level
Street, Brierley Hill, was summoned for being
drunk and disorderly on the 28th ult. Police-con-
stable Birch proved that defendant was drunk and
making a disturbance in Bigh Street, Brierley Hill.
Defendant stated that he had never been in such a
position before in his life. Superintendent Wool-
laston withdrew the case on defendant paying the
costs.

COAL STEALING. - Betsy Parsons, of Pensnett,
was charged with stealing a quantity of coal the
property of Shelah Garratt and Son, Pensnett. A
wa,chman named Timothy Mangell said that the
defendant took a quantity of coal out of the Wagon
Hole, about 9 o'clock at night. Defendant, v. LJ
pleaded guilty, was fined öm including costs; in de-
fault seven days,

ASSAULTS.—WiIIiam Bartlett, of Quarry Bank,
was charged with assaulting Letitia Bradford on
the 28ih ult, at Quarry Bank.-111r. Waldron air.
peared for defendant—From the evidence of com-
plainant it appears that defendant went to her
house and used threats towards her, and she locked
the door and sent for a policeman. During the
time the officer was being fetched the defendant
assaulted her by throwing her against the wall and
then left the house. The Bench, without hearing
what Mr. Waldron had to say, held that complain-
ant had no right to prevent defendant leaving the
house, and dismissed the case. Joseph Baker,
labourer, Dennis Park, was charged with assaulting
ilaunah Ituagell, on the 28th ult, Idr. waidrou

defended. The evidence of complainant was to the
effect that she was walking along the road at Bret-
tell Lane, in company with her son and hthband.
She was walking arm in arm with her son, who, ac-
cording to her statement, was neither drunk nor
sober. As she was passing defendant he made use
of had language and struck her a severe blow on the
face, stunning her and knocking her down. Mr.
Waldron, in defence, contended that the Bench had
not got the whole of the facts, but a one-sided view
of the case before them, that the defendant, without
any reason, cause, orjustification, went and deliber-
ately assaulted the complainant. He should prove
that complainant's son struck his client and his
client went to hit him back again and complainant
rushed between them and received the blow on her
eye. Two witnesses were called for the defence.
Mr. Evers said there was some false swearing in the
case, but it was not on the part of complainant, and
fined defendant 20s and costs; in default one
month's imprisonment.
ALLEGED THEFT. William Hand was charged
with stealing a woman's shawl, two pawn tickets,
and a quantity of crocksyware, the property of
Thomas Squires, glassmaker, of Audnam. Mr.
Addison appeared to prosecute and Mr. Holberton
defended.—The Bench: after hearing the evidence
of prosecutor, were of opinion that there was no
evidence against the prisoner, and discharged him.
—There was a similar charge against a man named
Joseph Green, but he was also discharged.
CHARGE OF SrEaLING STRAW. Samuel farkee
sod William Wasley were charged with stealing a
bolten of straw, the property of George Edward
Weaver, grocer and hay and straw dealer' High
Street Brierley Hill.—Mr. Clulow defended Parkes
and dr. Waldron defended Wasley, Joseph Bill,
assistant to prosecutor, said that Parkes was in the
employ of prosecutor. On the Ist inst, he was in
Mr. Weaver's stable and Parkes was there also. It
was about 7 o'clock at night when he went into
the stable. Wasley came into the stable and he
then left and hid himself behind some hay. Parkes
and Wasley then came into the warehouse. Wesley
asked Parkes if he had got any straw and Parkes
said he had some in the loft. Wasley said "Let's
have a bolten, and I will make it right with you."
Wasley then carried a hag of chaff away and Parkes
went into the loft. Witness then heard a bolten of
st aw drop on the ground, as if thrown out of the
loft window.--Oross-examined by Mr. Clulow :—lt
was the rule for the customers to receive a cheque
from the shop and go into the warehouse to receive
what the cheque stated. If there were no cheques
a written order was given. Boat people, who had
credit, occasionally went to Parkes to get supplied
before going into the shop. By Mr. Waldron:
Wasley did not say he had got a cheque for a bushel
and a half ef chaff. Wasley had a written order
and had a perfect right to be be at the warehouse.
He did not see that order conveyed by Wasley to
Parkes, either in the stable or the warehouse, He
did not hear Wasley say to Parkes, " Give me a
bo:ten of straw, and tell Mr. Weaver I have had it
and I will pay for it to-morrow night when I come
for some more chaff." He did not hear Wasley say
to Parkes that the reason why he had not got the
order for the straw was because Mr. Weaver was
talking to the person in the shop.—The prosecutor
also gave evidence as to the duties of Parkes, and
in cross-examination admitted that in some eases
people received corn from Parkes without going
into the ehop.—The Bench at this point stated that
the evidence was not strong enough to convict, and
dismissed the case.
A. WOBLAN FINED FOR UsING OBSCENE LANGUAGE.
—Etiza Fulford, a married woman living in Fen-
ton Street, Brierley Hill, was fined lOs including,
costs, with the alternative of 7 days' imprison-
ment, for using obscene laguage on the 30th ult.—
A man named Reid proved the case, producing a
piece of paper upoa which the laugaage was
written.

THREATENING TO KILL His PATH—Henry
Downes (21) was charged with threatening to kill
his father, Henry Downes, beerhouse keeper, of
Kingswinford, on the 2nd inst.—The father said
that the defendant had been away from home
nine days and on returning got a large carving
knife, rushed at him with it in his hand, and
threatened to kill him. He, and the whole of his
family, were in bodily fear of him. The knife was
taken from him by a man named Cook.—The Bench
considered it a very seriona offence and adjourned
the case for a week.

THREATC—lhomaa Reid, of Fenton Street.
Brierley Hill, was ordered to pay costs for using
threats towards Eliza Fulford, on the 30th ult.—
A miner, named Cooper, was summoned for using
threats towards his wife. She stated that on the
30th nit the defendant chased her out of the house
with a poker in his hand. The defendant ,vas in
the habit of a.4aulting her every week, and she
did not wish to live with him if the Bench would
order him to allow her something to live on,
The charge was altered to one of an aggravated
assault, upon which charge he was remanded for
a week.

ASSAULT.—WaIter Brown (9), of Bell Street,
Brierley Hill, was charged with assaulting Eliza
arfield on the 24th ult.—The boy threw half-a
brick at the complainant, hitting her just above
her left eye.—Tne case was settl-d, the boy's
parents to pay the doctors bill and the court costs,
and giving the complainant ss.
TRANSFERS. -- The following transfers were
allowed: —New Inn, ICingswinford, from David
Holmes to Henry Downs ; Red Lion Inn, Brettell
Lane, from Mary Jane Hilltnan to Wm. Fritsch;
Rock Tavern Inn, Brockmoor, from Benjamin
Allen to Samuel Caswell; Out-door beer license at
Brierley Hil., from John Prince to John Hill ; out-
door beer license in Mill Street, Brierley Hill, from
in. John Wood to George Malan.
SHOCKING COLLIERY FATALITY.—On Tuesday,
man named Mantle, employed at No. 25 pit. in the
Wallows Colliery, Brierley Hill, belonging to the
Etal of Dud,ey, was buried by a fall of coal and
slack. So great was the mass which fell upon him
that a gang of men wero engaged. up to a late
hour of the night, removing it °before they could
recover the body of the unfortunate man, who was
of course, quite dead. '