The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-07-17 00:00:00

SHOCKING IMMORALITY.

Wolverhampton, Thursday.

A shocking' cage of immorality has occurred at
Bilston. A young man, named Henry Jones was
to-day committed' for trial for rape on a young girl
named Mary Ann Cowmeadow. The girl was
engaged by the prisoner as servant, and she stated
that she had tosleep in the same bed with him and
his paramour ;and that while the latter was asleep
the prisoner committed the assault complained of.

THE.BEWDLEY ELECTION AND THE
LIBERAL CANDIDATE.
v • KIDDERMINSTEB, Friday.

Rumours have ben persistently circulatA during
the last few days by the local Conservatives that
Mr. Baldwin's .election .was void: owing to Mr.
Harrison, the unseated member, being one of his
nominators. It will be satisfactory to Mr. Bald-
win's friends to know that an opinion has been ob-
tained from a high quarter that if. Mr. Harrison
was a duly registered elector, which he was, the
nomination was perfectly valid.

HALESOWEN.

litto DE RMIN S TER.
THE APPOINViENT or NEW MAGISTRATES.—At a
meeting of the Town Council, held on Weclne‘day
morning, a communication was re ad by the Mayor
which stated that the names of Mr. Daniel Wag-
st &fie Goodwin, Mr. Henry Richard Willis, Mr.
William Hatton, and Mr. Sarnuol S;retton had been
submitted to the Lord Chancellor as being tho-,e of
fit and proper persons to be appointed to the magi-
stracy of the borough. His lordship had not de-
ci&A to appoint any of them, and before doing so
be was willing to receive and consider any observa-
tions which the Town Council might wish to offer
upon the matter. A lengthy discussion ensued, in
wnich the Mayor (Mr. Naylor), Messrs. Tovey, H.
Dixon, H. Herring, and others took part. It was
pointed out that on al previous occasions the re-
commendation of nimes for the magistracy had al-
ways come from tne Council, whereas on the present
occhsion.they originated from some other quartcr,
and also.there was not anything like room upon the
Bench for the existing magistrates. Eventually a
moil n was carried asking his lordship to appoint
the four gentlemen already named.
STEALING MONEY FROM A TILL.--At the Police
Court, en Wednesday, Edward Edwards, a youth of
sixteen, Was committed for one month's imprison-
tnent for stealing two half-crowns and two ff)ritis
from a till at the Queen's Head Inn.

THE HALESOwEN DAMON 140TERS.—At
Police Court,.on Tuesday, before Messrs. E. Gem
and E. B. Phillips, Alexander Clarke, a nailer, re-
siding at Islington, Halesowen, (prior to ordinary
business of the Court) appeared before the .Ponch
and presented a memorial, which had been drawn up
with the view of being forwarded to the Home
Secretary, praying for the mitigation of sentences
passed upon the men, who at the last Quarter Ses-
sions of the Coun,ty; 4c-ere found guilty of rioting
Halesowen,On the, (tato, tili,.6tg..t ocestersnire
Parliamentary 14T9etici14.7.-Sia.tqn—i-4. Jarious
terms of imprisot;r4. •7"-- '16:61.860f tV;IIIPaers
41,14
iyraebekous,r,aolindettoo,
4;eitle.O,
to nine wraiths • ikatuellt 1'4037-I;*d-F*Our,
mei) ying 'th e
ionnlepitiosotlanrineedirt.,Oohl-,::
la;penmotasked.
ru. ra
lie if the
petition had Men. altered since :I*.jkst saw, it.
me ii's
Clarke : No. *--141.2Gef0- said he shonicthject. to-
ilmaslitrtihs°rneeniseelitittenteaersd.
sign it. He had reccivod.a letter fr,
another ma.gistrafe„who also objdoW te. sign it on
exactly the same grounds as he did. They, as
magistrates, had a° business to refle'...t'upon the con-
duct of the Chairman of the Quarter Sessions by
signing the memorial which spoke of the sentences
as being excessive. In reply to Mr. Phillips, Mr
Gem said he bad previously told Mr. Clarke that if
' the memorial was only a humble pctitioa to have
the sentence ir itigated he would sign it, but would
not sign a . memorial which brought charges of
severity of sentences. The presenter of the petition
in reply to questions said .I.lr. Hcmfray drew up the ,
petition, he being sorry for the men and satisfleil
that the sentences were too severe, and he was willing' ,
to do' all he could to gat them liberated. It was he
general
wish of the inhabitants of Hale,owen that
the petition should be presented to the Bench for
their signatures. Mr. Phillips said that there was
one part of it lie did not understand, and that :was
that lialesowen was thronged with a liberal mob.
He thought it was a mixed mob. He objected to
it on that ground; but he would not, however, carry
his feelings too far, but on the other hand he con-
sidered that some of the sentences were very severe,
and on that ground, if. Clarke would Meet him at his
house that evening his name should he appended to
it.
ASSAULTS.— Benjenamin Westley a tube facer,
of CoombEs' Wood, was charged with assaulting
James Fawkes, on the 26,h ult. Mr. Wright ap-
peared. for the defendant. On the day in question
it appears that complainant, who is a bailiff went
to levy a distres, af the house of defendant's mother,
when defendant met him with an axe and struck at
.him but he .warded off the blow. Another bailiff
g&Ve corrobOrative evidence. Mr. Wright, on behalf
of defendant, expressed his sorrow for what he had
done. Defendant was fined 20s and costs.
DRUNK AND DISORDERLY. James Itussel;,
labourer, of ,Langley. was charged with being
drunk and disbrderly in the highway at Quinton, on
the 3rd inst. •The ease was proved and defendant
was fined 2s 6d:end costs.