The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1866-11-17 00:00:00

STEALING CIDER.

At the Wordsley Petty Sessions, on Monday last, before
F. Evers and T. Y. Lee, Have., William Parker was
charged by Josiah Abbott with stealing thirty gallons of
cider, u hoe and one bag.
Mr. Burbury appesred to prosecute, and Mr. Maltby to
defend the prisoner.
Prosecutor said: I am a fanner, and reside at Comp-
ton Faris. On last Friday fortnight (the 26th ult), I was
making some rider from fruit grown by myself. After I
had done so prisoner asked to be allowed to make some
for himself, from his own apples. He did an. After I
made my own cider I filled eight barrels full. Prisoner's
eider was put in my furnace. He made about fifty
gal-
lons. I know it was about fifty, because it is • fifty-gal-
lon furnace that I bought. The prisoner left about three
o'clock. On the Wednesday I returned from Stoke, and
found that about thirty gallons bail teen taken away.
Previous to my going to Stoke there were seventy gallons.
On the sth lust I informed the police of my loss, and
got out • search-warrant; SIM on Wednesday, I went to
the prisoner's house and found about 56 gallons of eider.
I also found a hoe and a guano bag. The hoe I can
I swear to, as I made it myself.
Cross-usainiiied : I have employed the prisoner about
ORO year and seven m withs altogether, at different times.
I missed the hoe about three months ago. I h .ve lost •
• good many things, and more than Ii) bags. Parker made
about fifty gallons. I offered him one sovereign for it if
lie could not make more of it. He sold some fur 841 per gal.
lon. I hired the machine to grind the cider, and gave
Knowles It for grinding it. The machine man did not
say there was more than • hogshead.
Aim Evers, of Wordsley, said that she bought 14 gal-
lons of cider of the prisoner, at 7d per gallon.
Police.constabla flarrisou proved finding • quantity of
cider in the prisoner's house; some new and some old.
Ile then charged the prisoner with stealing some cider, •
hoe; and a bag. He said the cider did belong to Abbott,
but they would have to prove it.
Mr. Maltby addressed the Bench for the defence, and
said the fact of finding a hoe and bag in the prisoner's ,
house did not prove that they were put there with any I
faloniomi intent. As to the question of cider, he bad • '
complete answer to it, and should ask the Boned to acquit
the Rieman.
WilLani Knowles. said I was employed by Mr. Bans
to do some draining on Mr. Abbott's pound. I bad some
fruit to be ground, and the prosecutor helped me to grind
mine, and I helped him to grind his. Parker bad no
barrel to pat his cider in and Abbott said be wonld let
him put it in the furnace which bolds sixty gallons. sad
If he could not get • barrel ha wood give hise thirty
shillings ter it.

Henry Lowe, labourer, said he a...slated M the eikr
making at Mr. Abbott's. Ile helped to make the primner't
cider. Mr. Abbott gave him leave to put it in the fur.
nace, becatue he had no barrel.
After some further eti,lonee, the 13,neh rem irked that
the evidence was very contradictory, aul they should
send it for trial.
Prisoner VIA% then committed to take bin bial at the
neat Stafford Session,. hail being ae,epted in tw,) sure.
ties of 1.:10 each, sad himself in £lO.