The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-12-19 00:00:00

SATURDAY, DEC. 19, 1b74.

Re-examined This was not the fret time he had been
ill.used at the works. He reported Mr. Ford in the els
ereise of his duty
Mr. Pearse, sii g o s' id Se found the right eye of
Mr. Troll Tory Ms It ....ellen tad black, as if from a
blow. The left vi ie. tseiu ii was winch swollen, and
the lips also were coi aid ba-eaitiz. Ilic face was mach
swollen ai: over. .10 oriiered v.r Trow to be taken home.
He there foiled r aise I iur. al spot on the right thigh,
bruises on the uock That .1..7 week he had sent a cer-
tificate stating that Mr. Trow was linable to attend the
Court. The injuries were of the kind which would have
been seen in a man that bad been flehtine. The marks
were nothing more than might have been given by blows
in fightiug. The yiolenee, he repeated, was such as
might occur to a man in a" stand-up tight." There was
nothing exceptionally severe in the blows. Mr. Trow
was not at all in danger.
George Woodcock, puddler. said be saw Ford " shove
and hunt his knee against Trow" several times. He also
, saw defendant push Mr. Trow against the Bosh. While
Mr. Trow was on the floor he saw defendant kick him
three times. Ford said " Trow wanted killing." He
then pulled Ford away, and picked op Mr. Trow. Th-
fendant came-to him afterwards, and said, "You Wive
done wrong ; you ought not to have interfered."
• Cross-examined : lie did not see complainant spit in
Fonda face.
• Joseph Bragington, labourer, gave corroberative evi-
dence, and said Ford kicked Trow in the face as violent-
ly as he could.
In cross-examination witness said be did not are Mr.
Trow spit in the face of defendant. There were many
persons present, but no one interfered.
Mr. Holberton then addressed the Bench far the de
fence, and proceeded to call witnesses in support of
! cross-entumous. charging Joseph Trow with assaultin
! Enoch Ford. Complainant said he was an overrasker ag
the works. He asked Trow on the waning in question
why he had reported him as a thiet ? Trow laughed,
made no reply, lout kept laughing and spitting in his
hoe.
By Mr. Clulow : Mr. Harris saw Trow spit. Ile was
in No. 1 forge when Mr. Trow spat in his face.
Robert Harris, shingler, said he saw Mr. Trom spit at
Ford twice. After that Ford followed him up, and struck
Mr. Trow.
Mr. Smith-Casson, who att.:sled on subpoena, said
Enoeh Ford had been forge manager for eight years.
He had always found him a peaceable, quiet man, and
, one who attended carefully to his duties. He bad al-
ways done his best, too, in times of difficulty, to render
every aasistance.
Mr. Hughes (works manager) was also called as a wit-
ness to character. _ . .

The being the case the Bench retired to e insider the
verdict. On returning into Court, Colonel Fletcher said
they had give the ease careful eim.ideration, mid have
come to the conclusion not to send the ease far trial ;
but surnmarilly dispose of it by treating: it
,as a common
assault.
Defendant was then charged with assaulting Joseph
Trow, on the 27 ult., and pleaded not guilty.
Colonel Fletcher said they bad no doubt an assault had
been committed which was of a serious nature but they
intended to tine, and not Commit, and fined defendant
1:5 and coats.