The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-10-18 00:00:00

OLD HILL.

STEALING A GOLD Itino.—At the Stafford Sessions,
on Tuesday last, before Mr. N. Twemlow (chairman),
John Williams (26), on bail, chainmaker, was indicted
for stealing on the 20th August, a gold ring, the property
of Moses Mark. Prisoner pleaded guilty, and was sen-
tenced to 21 days imprisonment.
THREE CHAROII AGAINST • PUBLICAN.—At the
Police Court, on Wednesday, before Messrs. F. W. 1.1.
Barre and H. Smith, Edward Palmer, landlord of the
Swan Inn, Rowley, was charged with permitting drunk-
enness in his house on the 6th inst ; and farther charm d
with allowing a quantity of ale to be sold on the pre-
mises dosing prohibited hours; and also charged with
being drunk henself.—Mr. Stokes appeared for defend-
ant. —Pollee-constable Beard said he was atationed at
Rowley. On the night in question he visited defendant's
house about ten o'clock He saw defendant in the denim
room. There were 40 or 50 young men and women in
the room. He men were drunk. Defendant was also
drunk. Witness visited the house, in company with Po.
lice-constable Jackson, at 20 minutes past eleven the
same night. Raw the landlord and • lot of men in the
tap-room. At eleven o'clock he heard the church clock
strike, ant informed the landlady of what time it was,
and told her that she must get the people out of the
house as soon ae possible, and she said, " All right"
Cross-esarnined : I went at ten o'clock first. There was
• clock in the passage. Jackson was riot with me the
filet time. Did not speak to the landlord the first time,
nor speek to either of the men. Defendant was talking
to a man in the parlour. The landlady complained about
her husband breaking some crocks. The defendant was
drank.—Mr. Stokes: How do you know he was drunk?
Witness: Canoe he was.—Mr. Stokes,: How long have
you been in the force? Witness; Fifteen years, sir.—
Kr. Stokes: Well. I'm amazed. Witness: He was lean-
ing down talking to a man, and his body swayed back-
wards oneforwards; that is how I know he was drunk.
He was in his shirt sleeves, and therefore he was drunk.
We were in the house about • minute. Neither Rae
landlord orl landlady called my attention to the eon.
Did not bear them say itWas five minutes past eleven.
Did not hear the other officer say anything. Police-
constable Jackson, stationed at Rowley, said he gents-
panied last witness to defendant's house. at 20 minutes
past eleven. Saw the defendant, who was drunk. Iro_tad
six men in the house, who were drunk. They were sit-
ting down in the tap-room. The defendant was standing
up. Cross.examined : Beard went in first. We were in
about a minute. The other officer did not speak to the
landlord; nor did I. Neither of us spoke to any of the
men. I saw the men come out of the house, and they
would not go out of the street. They ware all drank.
The defendant came to the door after the men were in
the street.—Mr. Stokes, in defence, said if the landlord
was drunk the Bench had no right to fine him. It had
been decided by a Bench of Magistrates that • man was
liable. but it had never been decided by the Queen's
Bench, and it was the opinion of several of the first
criminal lawyers of the slay that the Magistrates had no
right to fine a man for being drunk in his own house.
In reference to the time of cloning, he should prove that
it was only five minutes past eleven. He contended that
the evidence given by the officer was not satisfactory,
and asked the Bench to give defendant the benefit of the
doubt, and dismiss him. The Bench said in the first
case, for permitting drunkenness, they had decided to
dismiss defendant. In the second clue, for selling ale
sifter hours. they conaidered that proved, and should fine
defendaut 20s and costs, and the charge of being drunk
himself, they should distniss.—Thomes Darby, Joseph
Portman, William Price, Benjamin Whorton, Edward
Baskerfield, and Henry Portman, were charged with
being on licensed i remises during prohibited hours, on
the 6th inst. Police.constable Jacklm proved visiting
the Swan Inn, at 20 minutes past eleven, on the night
in question, and finding defendants in the bootie drink-
ing. Basterfield, who has been previously convicted, was
fined .2a 6d and costa. The other defendants were each
ordered to pay costs.
ALLEGED DANAGE.—Henry Dank. and Thomas Minks
we. e charged with wilfully damaging a quantity of grass,
the prooerty of Francis Griffiths, on Abe 29th Septem-
ber. Mr. Prescott appeared for complainant, sod Mr.
Lowe defended. Complainant said he bought the Hail-
stone public-house twelve months ago. It wag formerly
occupied by defendants. There was • field adjoining,
through which there was a path. Defendants had made
another path across the field to the place they work.
They had no right in the field. The Bench said they
hatLim jurisdiction.
- _ .

WILFh DAMAGE TO A WeLt..--Joseph Hughes was
charged w,th wilfully damaging a wall belonging to Wit-
ham AlitIrPMA landlord of the Crown Inn, Old Hill, on
the 7th inst. Mr. Waldron defended. Complainant said
be went into his yard about 25 minutes to twelve o'clock
on the nieht of the 7th. and heard a noise of falling
bricks. He went in the direction of the sound, and eaw
the defendant push some bricks off the wall. There
were 20 yards pushed oft Defendant ran away under
the wall, and got into a closet. It was quite light. Last
May there were 42 yards pushed off. It did not take the
defendant above a minute to posh the bricks off. Mr.
Waldron, in defence, contended that defendant was not
at the place at the time mentioned, and called several
witnesses, who said they saw defender. on the night in
question at half-past eleven, and he WU then going in
the direction of Westwood'. yard. A bricklayer named
Joavons said it would take a man hell an hour to push
20 yards of bricks down. He had seen the place where
the bricks had been knocked off. The Bench said they
had decided to convict, and fined defendant 20,, 10.
damage, and costs.—Mr. Waldron gave notice of appeal.