The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-02-19 00:00:00

Bra H

A DISHUNEST CARTER,— It the Police Court, on
Monday before Mess's. G. K. Harrison and T.
Wilkes :Webb, Noah Whale was charged with
stealing a quantity of coal the property of William
Perry.—Prisoner pleaded guilty.—From the evi-
dence of Polie,e-c.iustable Enoch it appeared that on
the 7th inst prisoner was at the cosl wharf at Wall-
heath. 11-. had a cart load of coal and also a bag
on the top containing coal. They were both
weighed together on the machine. He proceeded
to Swindon with the coal and when opposite his
home he put the bag of the cart into the horse road
and his mother and sister carried it away in a wheel-
barrow. Prisoner then took the coal which was in
the cart to Mr. Perry's farm. The bag contained
liewt. of coal.—The Bench inflicted a fine of 10s.
including costs, with the alternative of 14 days'
imprisonment.
GAME TRESPASS.—James Aston, landlord of the
New Inn, Wombourn, was charged with trespassing
in pursuit of game, on the 2nd inst.—Mr. Holbere
ton, (Messrs. Homfray and. Holberton) prosecuted.
—On the day in question he was seen in a field, in
the occupation of his brother and over whieh Mr.
W. Chinner, of Smestow House, Wombourn has
the right of shooting, by a man named Josiah Tay,
beating with three greyhounds.—Defendant pleaded
that he had the permission of his brother to do so.
His brother was called to support his statement,
but an agreement was put in by Mr. Holberton,
which showed that the brother had no authority to
grant sach permission.—The Bench fined d, fend-
ant 203 including costs.
Daessx AND DISORDERLY. John Davies, of
Gornal, was charged with being drunk and dis-
orderly at Wallheath, on the 6th inst, and was fined
2s 6d and, costs' or, in default 7 days.—Eliza
Williams, Audnam Bank, was charged with a
similar offence. On the 9th inst she was seen in
the Stourbridge Road by Police constable Tytherly,
drunk and making use of had language and was
wanting to fight. A. fine of 2s 6d and costa was
imposed.—Paul Biddleston, miner, was, on the
evidence of Police-constable Eden, fined 5s and
costs, for being drunk and disorderly.—Elijah
Smith, was fined 2s 6d and costs for being drunk in
the High Street, Quarry Bank, on the 6th inst,
Police-constable Salt proved the case.
COAL STEALEBB.—EIIen Green, William Newton,
Sarah Ann Newton, David Jewis, Thomas Jewis,
and Louisa Jewis were charged with stealing coil
the property of the Earl of Dudley.—lt was proved
that on the 10th hist, the prisoners were taking
coal from the wharf at No. 30 pit, Wallows
Colliery.—The Bench considered the case proved,
but discharged the prisoners, hoping it would be a
caution to them and to others. If they came there
again they would deal very severely with them.
PRESENTATION.— On Monday evening, Major
Cochrane, who has been promoted from being
captain of the C Company (Brierley Hill) of the
Staffordshire Rifle Volunteers to be Major of the Ist
Battalion, was presented by the past and present
members of the company with a congratulatery
adiress and a silver claret jug and salver in
recognition of his promotion. The presentation was
made by Mr. F. Swirls Shenstone in suitable terms.
Major t`ochrane acknowledged the testimonial, and
a number of other speeches were made.
EMBEZZLING THE FUNDS OF A TRADES UNION
SOCIETY.—At the Police Court, on Thursday, be-
fore W. F. F. Boughey, Esq., Stipendiary, Richard
Colley (36), joiner, 22, Albion-street, Brierley Hill,
was brought up under a warrant charged that he,
on the 18th of June last, whilst being the bailee of
£lB belonging to the Brierley Hill Branch of the
Amalgamated Society of Carpenters' and Joiners'
Trades Union, did feloniously steal the same.—Mr.
Michael Maher (Birmingham) appeared to prosecute,
and Mr. Clulow defended.—Mr. Maher informed
the Stipendiary that the prisoner was formerly
secretary of the local branch of the society named.
Circumstances which would appear in evidence hap-
pened which led to an application in June last for
a warrant against the prisoner, who had absconded,
He was arrested in Liverpool a few days ago.—
Edwin Blackwell, one of the trebtees of the Brierley
Hill branch of the society, was called, and stated
that on the 12th of June last year he and another
trustee named Cadwallader met the prisoner at the
Post Office Savings Bank, where the prisoner
received the sum of £lB, which he, as secretary of
the Brierley Hill branch, was to transmit the
following Monday to the Sheffield branch.—Cross-
examined.: Had never known anything against the
prisoner previeus to this.—Edwin Cowen, s: cretary
of the Sheffield branch, proved that he had received
a number of post cards film the prisoner promising
to remit the amount, which he, however had faded
to do. This was the case for the prosecution, and
the prisoner pleaded guilty, and elected to be deal
with summarily.—The Stipendiary had previously.
upon the application of Mr. Clulow, agreed to deal
with the case under the Summary Jurisdiction Act.
—Mr. Clulow then addressed the Stipendiary,
urging that for a number of yeaes the prisoner had
been known in the town as a hardworking, respect-
able, steady tradesman. Owing to depression in
trade the prisoner became addicted to habits of in-
temperance, and was at the time of the offence
suffering from mental depression brought on by his
drinking habits. He was under precuniary
embarrassments, and used a portion of the £lB in
discharge of his liabilities, but was afterwards will-
ing to convert the amount he took into a debt. He
now threw himself upon the mercy of the Court.—
Mr. Charles Ford, printer; Mr. Thomas Warren,
painter ; and Mr Joseph Rollinson, were each then
called as witnesses to character, one of them stating
that the prisoner had a wife and seven children
dependent upon him.—The Stipendiary said he
commiserated with the prisoner's family in their
position. He sentenced the prisoner to two months'
imptisonment w:th hard labour, remarking that it
was the first case of the kind that had come before
him at Brierley Hill, and he hoped it would be a
warniug to the prisoner and others in similar
positions to have nothing to do with money which
did not Leong to them. The p. isoner, seemed to
feel his position most a.cutay, and his mile, who
was in court, also seemed much distressed.