The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-12-14 00:00:00

OLD HILL.

Cattier or PERBITTIND DRUNKENNESS.—At the Petty
Sessions, on Wednesday, before Messrs. E. Moore, F. W.
G. Barre, and N. Hingley, Joseph Downing, beerhouse-
keeper, of Blackheath, was charged with permitting
drunkenness in his house, on the 26th Mt. Mr. Stokes
defended. Police-constable Jackson said that on the
above data he visited the defendant's house ahems half'
past six o'clock. He found some men there fighting.
Visited the house again at ten o'clock and found men
fighting in the house. The men were stripped. Tile de-
fendant asked witness to put the men out of the house
the first time, and he did 80. Crosieexamined : Defend-
ant was tr3iug to put the men out of the house the first
time I went.—Police.constable Wade said he visited the
defendtint's house at ten o'clock, in company with the last
witness. He saw three men drunk, two of whom were
stripped, fighting. One was bleeding. Defendant asked
them to get the men out, and they did so. The landlord
did not send for them. They heard a noise and went in.
—Mr. Stokes addressed the Bench for the defence, and
contended that defendant did not permit drunkenness ;
hut, arc ceding to the evidence of Jackson, defendant Was
trying to get the men out when the police went in. If
that was true the defendant was not liable. If the Bench
considered that the defendant had transgressed he
thought that the paying of the costs would meet the
ends of juetace.—Mr. Moore said that, taking defendant's
previous good character into consideration, they should
order,hiru to pay costs only.
CIIAROE OF PNRMITTINO IiAMBLINLI AT CRADLEY HEATH.
—John Poole, beerhouse-keeper. was summoned by Su.
perintenilent Mills for permitting gambling is tics house,
on the 50th. Mr. Shakespeare defended—Police-con-
stable Bailey said he visited the defendant's house at
9.45. As soon as he got into the kitchen he saw some
scuffling going on with two boys. Heard 'ten" called
out. aed saw defendant's eon.iu-law putting something
down on a raffie•sheet. Witness then took the two dice
now produced out of one of the boy's hands, and the cup
out of the other boy's pocket. Witness asked the land-
lord to let him look at the sheet. He showed it to wit-
ness, who took posseesion of it, and told him he should
report it. Defendant said he hoped not. Did not see
any gambling, or anything on the table.—Defididant was
dismissed with a caution, and the dice and cup for.
ASSAULT Case—Thomas Perry was charged by William
Jones with assaulting him on the sth inst. Complainant
said he Was having a few words with the defendant's son,
when the latter came up and struck him. Did not give
any provocation. The defence was that he did not strike
the comelainant, but that complainaut and hie brother
struck the defendant. —Case dismissed.
RAILWAY OFFENCES.—SamueI Homer, of Quarry Bank,
vi•s summoned by John Lock, Inspector, for travelling in
a first-class carriage on the Stonrbridge Exteusion
way on the 29th ultimo, with a third-class ticket. John
Townsend, guard said that he had charge of the 6.48
train from Worcester. Defendant got in the train at
Stortibridge, and refused to pay the difference. Pleaded
guilty, Ordered to pay the additional fare, and a fine of
ss, and costs,—Thomas Garrett, of Cradley Heath, was
charged with committing a similar offence, on the 29th.
Julius Townsend, guard, proved the offence, aud defend-
ant Was ordered to pay the additional fare, and a fine of
5s and costs.—James Noun, of Cradley Heath, was
charged with a similar offence, on the same date. The
cue being proved, he was ordered to pay the additional
fare, and a fine of 55 mad costs.
BAD HUSBAND.—Noah Allport was summoned by
John Tajj di, relieving-officer, for allowing his wife and
family to become chargeable to the Dudley Union on the
3rd inst. Me. Taylor proved the offence, and said that
the cost to the Union was 6s. The defendant was at
lodgings, and could keep his family. The defence was
that be had no work The wife of defendant was called,
and said he behaved very badly to her. On one occasion
he threw a quantity of fire ever her, and he had been
committed to prison for ~assaulting her. Sentenced to
one month's hard labour.
DRUNK AND INCAPABLE. William Hingley, nailer,
was charged by Superintendent Mills with being drunk
and incapable, on the Sad inst. Police-constable Cooper
proved the offence. Defendant pleaded grulty. Ordered
to pay costs.
TRANsFEES.—The following travelers took place:—
The Engine Inn, Blackwagon-street, from Nathaniel
Hopton t, i Enoch Westwood ; the Hailstone, Rowley,
from Elizabeth Lanka to Francis Griffiths.—Mr. Addi-
son applied on benalf of Stephen Ficillinson, owner ntthe
White Hart, Blackheath. Mr. Laister, of the Handel
Inn, opposed the application. Mr. Hiveo read the Act
bearing upon the point. Mr. Hingley saidihe was in-
formed that the house Was not wanted, and should refuse
the transfer uuttl be had taken time to considt r whether
it was logal. Mr. Addison said,that the late tenant was
out of the house, anffithat the present applicant gore him
gy to go out because he had been convicted, and urged
upon the Bench to transfer the license.—Mr. Ilingley :
a, not to be bothered out of it by a lot of staff. I
shall take time to consider the questim."—The further
hearing of the case was adjourned until next week.
SERIOUS CHARGE OF RAPE —James Powis, an elderly
man, was charged eith attempting to commits rape upon
a little girl named Martha Golding, on the ffild December.
—Mr. Addison appeared to prosecute, and Mr. Hornfray
defended—Mr. AddiSoll, in tub opening speech, animad-
verted strengly upon the conduct of the defendant, who,
he said, was a class leader, and had committed a similar
offence upon a girl some years ago. and in consequence
had to leave the country for some years, and had now
returned to Lis haunts to commit similar off-noes. If
the case was proved he hoped the prisoner would be com-
mitted for trial.—Complainant said : I am nearly twelve
years old, and live with my uncle and aunt at Netherton.
11 work at Mr. Weston's, Waterfall Lane, as a nailer. I
go to work about seven o'clock in the morning, and work
I till sU or seven at night, until my stint is done. Polly
1 Wakeman works near to me. On the 2nd instant I and
Polly Wakeman left work together. It was about a
quarter past six when I met the prisoner near Green's
loop. Polly Wakeman lived near there. When we met
the prisoner he told Wakeman who was picked for. the
concert at the chapel in Garratte Lane. After that Polly
Wakeman left to go home. When near to Wakeman's
house the prifoner and myself were together in the read.
Prisoner the% gave me a peuny to fetch some sucke. I
bought a helfpenny wortn of cough lozenges, and a half-
penny worth of toffy. I gave the sweets to prisoner,
who gave me the toffy and part of the lozenges. Priso-
ner then said he would go with me as far as the turnpike.
Prisoner said he would take me across the,fields, because
it was the nearest way. I went across the fields called
"Dudley Fields." When in the second field, prisoner
took hold my hands and pushed me down. I got up
again. Went over the wooden bridge, when the prisoner
pushed me down again, and held me down with his left
hand by my shoulder, and turned up my clothes. [Com-
plainant here described what prisoner did, which is unfit
for publication.] A man came by at the time, when the
prisoner got up and put his clothes straight. He took
hold of my band aud walked away. asking me not to tell
any one, ne he had done many a °Lie like this leifure, and
they had gave and told lots of tales about hun. PriqoDer
too', me as far as Cookeey's Hotel and left me, asking
me .1 I was frightened to go home. I told him, "No,
beeaue I thought he would follow me. Prisoner than