The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-10-12 00:00:00

Xocal anti pistritt Ptas.

COUNTY COURT.

On Wednesday last, Mr. K. Kettle, the newly
appointed judge for the Stourbridge Court, toek
his seat for the first time. Ou taking his seat,
Mr. O. Perry, on behalf of flimself, and the
legal profession, expressed their pleasure at
meeting him in this Court. He had no doubt
that there would be established a pleasant and
good feeling between them, so that all of them
might work to establish the ends of justice.
The Judge thanked Mr. Perry and the profes.
sion for the good feeling shown towards him.
He might say that he was not a stranger to
Stourbridge, although not residing in the dis-
trict. He was quite sure he should receive from
the profession all the assistance they could give
him. He could not but express his own perso-
nal respect for Mr. Dinsdale, the late judge.
Although he was not personally acquainted with
him he believed be was tender, genial and kind,
although he could not at all times attend to tic
duties from affliction. It might be thought by
some, that, under the circumstances in which be
found himself placed, he might have resigned
his office as judge; but many did not know how
difficult it was for a mau to resign his office as
judge, and no doubt be thought his health would
be better, and so enable him to pursue his
studies. He trusted that this mention of Mr.
Dinsdale's constitution might be satisfactory to
those who had complained. It might be useful
for him to explain some general rules to the pro.
fession, which he intended to pursue. The
learned Judge then went on to point out that be
was desirous of suiting the public convenience,
anti prepared to hold three court days per mouth
—each court day for particular business, and to
dispose of the whole of the day's business en-
tered. He had found great inconvenience in
mixing up tradesmen's small account debts with
other legal business. On the one hand it was a
great hardship for poor people to be kept waiting
at court, hour after hour, hearing legal discus-
sions ; on the other hand it is a very great hard-
ship for legal gentlemen to sit hour after hour,
hearing tradesmen's debt contentions, when
they might be at their own officer/ engaged in
business. He should propose to take the con-
tentious business the last day of the Court, and
the officers would take cure that no more would
be entered than could reasonably be got through,
and he should propose to sit at ten o'clock, or as
soon after as possible, and sit until the whole
was disposed of. If the cases should require
counsel the attorney would have the opportu-
nity of making arrangements. He held that
where a tradesman sued for debt and the credit
was over-due, that if the case was proved he
should be paid in lull, and prompt, and not by
the instalment sy stem. As regards sending per-
sons to prison who refused to pay, the Court
would not do that unless it was clearly proved
that the man was in good health, in work, and
able to pay, and had refused to pay and miscon-
ducted himself. As to the question of costs for
professional attendance, he thought it reasonable
tor men to avail themselves of such advice, and
that solicitors should be paid for such attend-
ance, and should as a rule al/ow costs to attor-
neys if the case was of such importance as to
require an attorney to appear in it; therefore,
he should not require the applications from at-
torPeys for costs. He had no doubt that the
Court, with the assistance of the profession in
Stourbridge, would work amicably together, as
in other places.
Thejudgment summonses were then pro-
ceeded with.
Poole v. Strairbourn.—This was an action to

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recover the sum of £7 5s 10d, the value of goods
sold to the defendant. Mr. Homer appeared for
the plaintiff, and Mr. Perry for the defendant.
Plaintiff said he sold a copper boiler to the de-
fendant. He had not paid him, but wanted him
to take it out in goods, which :he refused to do.
The defence was that the plaintiff owed the de-
fendant a balance of £2 is 6d, and he afterwards
had a gold watch value £6. He (defendant) was
quite willing to fulfil his contract. Defendant
was sworn, and said that on the 18th July the
plaintiff had two silver watches, and on the 25th
August a gold chain. Plaintiff had them to try
to sell them—Verdict for the plaintiff for the
full amount.