The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-10-29 00:00:00

BRIERLEY HILL.

DEUNKENNESS.-At the Police Court,on Monday,
before Messrs. T. Wilkes Webb aud P. H. Foley,
Joseph Swytheman, glassmaker, of Amblecote, was
charged with being drunk on the 17th hit. P.C.
Hume proved the case and defendant was hued 2s
6d and costs.

_
CAUTION TO CARTIatB. - Samuel Breakwell, of
Ilalesowen Road, Netherton was charged with
obstructing the free passage of the highway by
leaving his hose and cart thereon. Police-constable
Wettoe stated.that on the 19th inst. he saw a horse
and cart belonging io defendant standing outside
the Fox and (loose Inn, where defendant was drink-
ing, for a quarter of an hour. 'lwo witnesses were
called and stated that the horse and cart had not
been standing there above seven minutes, The
Bench considered the case proved and fined the
defendaut is and costs.—John Fazey, wagoner, of
New Road, Quarry Bank, was fined 88, including
costs, for being in such a position as not to have
proper control over his horse and cart, Polico-con-
stablo Wetton proved th. case.
ALLEGED ASSAULT, - Noah Alwin, of Wordsley,
was charged with assaulting Sarah Taylor, an
elderly woman, lesiding at Wordsley. Mr. Addison
appvared for the complainant. Complainant said
she was going to work on the morning of the 18th
inst;and on passing the defendant's premises saw
deendant, wtio accused her of saying something
about him. She denied the allegation and defend-
ant called her a b---liar and kicked her saying
"That is the grudge I owe you."—The defence was
that the complainant went to the defendant whilst
he was in his stable and us,d some filthy language
towards him. Defendant ordered her off his
premises but she refused to comply with his order
and defendant pushed her off. —Albert Mathews, a
Clerk in the employ of the railway company, sup-
ported the evinence of the defendant. —The Bench
dismissed the case.

Tim ALLEGED PRIZE FIGHT. - James Riley
labouier, of Steur rige, and Benjamin Gordon
miller, of the Lye, were charged With committing a
breach of the peace by fighting.---It is alleged that
a prize fight took place at Atnblecote on the 9th last
in which the two.defeadanta were concerned and

the case had been adjourned for a week in order
to allow the police to get evidence.—George Gilbert,
signalman, at the Stourbridge station, said that
about 5.40 on the morning of the 9th inst he saw
a number of men near his box. They went tl-
gether into a field belonging to Mr. Hall and on
hearing a noise he went out of his box and heard a
cry "go into it." After a short time the men
separated and one lot, went towards the Lye and the
other lot towards Stourbridge. He could not
identify any of the men.—Police-constable Hume
said he had a conversation with Gordon on Monday !
last. He said to Gordon " Where is Riley? "Gordon
said "I do not know." "He has given you a black
eye ? " Gordon said" He has." He (witness) then
said "It did not last long, did it." Gordon said
"No."—The defendant denied that there was any
such conversation took place between them.—Mr.
Woollaston asked for an adjournment for a_weekand
it was granted.
OFFENCE UNDER THE HIGHWAYS AND LOCOMO-
TIVES ACT.—John Ruston, wagoner, seas summoned
for committing an offence under Bye-law No. 4 of
the Highways and Locomotives (Amendment) Act
in which it is enacted the driver a person having
for the time being the care or control of any wagon,
wain, cart or carriage drawn by animal power upon
any m tin road or other highway shall not cause or
suffer the wheel of such wagon, wain' cart or
carriage when desending a hill to be locked unless
at the bottom of such wheel during the whole time
of its being locked a skidpan, slipper, or shoe be
placed so as to extend on either side of the full
width of the tire of the wheel so as to prevent
injury to the road by the fore part of such skidpan,
slipper or shoe, and otherwise in such manner as to
prevent the road from being destroyed or injured
by the locking of such wheel. It was proved by
Police-constable Luff that the defendant was
driving a wagon down a hill at Quarry Bank with
the wheel locked without having a slipper, thereby
cutting the road up.—This being the first ease
brought under the act the defendant was fined ss.
including costs.
INQUESTS AT BRIERLEY HILL.—On Tuesday after-
noon, the District coroner (W. H. Phillips, Esq.)
held an inquest at the Spread Eagle Inn, Brierley
Hill, touching the death of a youth, named John
Whitney, the sou of James Whitney, platelayer,
of Brierley Hill. Evidence adduced by the de-
ceased's father showed that on the previous Satur-
diy morning the &ceased, who was employed on
the Earl of Dudley's private railway, was putting
the brake on some loaded waggons going down a
steep gradient. As he was raising the brake handle
of one of the waggons, he was observed by his
father to fall across the rails, and one of the
waggons passed over him, breaking his left leg and
right thigh. A witness, named Gardiner, a labourer,
who was nearer deceased at the time of the oc-
currence than the father, gave evidence which
went to show that deceased dropped the brake of
one of the waggons, and went to go under the
buffers for some purpose or other, when the end of
the brake knocked him accross the rails. Witness
did not attach blame to anyone. The jury returned
a verdict of " Accidental death."—A second in.
quest also was held by Mr. Phillips, touching the
death of John Poultney, aged 14, son of William
Poultney, boiler yard labourer, living at Potter-
street, Brierley Hill. The boy left home on Thurs-
day morning last, and not returning, search was
made for him. His body was found in the Nine
Locks Canal on Sunday last. The jury returned a
verdict that the deceased was " Found deasl, but
that the evidence did not show how he got into the
water."