The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-11-20 00:00:00

FOOTBALL.

STOUBRIDGE HEATH V. HANDSWORTH GROVE.—
This match was played on the ground of the former
at Wollaston, on Saturday last, and after a very
fast and well-contested game ended in a victory for
the home team by one goal to nil. The following
are the teams ;—Heath: I. Courtney (captain), A.
E. Staples, T. Perkins. T. Bridgwater, E. °stills,
and E. Biddle, forwards;
A. Biddle, C. Clarke, and
P. Chance, half-backs; J. Duggan, back; J. Clarke
(goal). Grove: A Aldis, H. Summers, S. Randle,
G. Reynolds, and W.. Randle, forwards; F Horton
W. Griffin, and H. Fletcher, half-backs; P. Hues,
back ;T. Perkins, (goal).

BRIERLEY 1111 L.

REFUSING TO WORIE.—at the Police Court, on
Monday, before Messrs. F. Evers, and T. W. Webb,
John Beard was charged with refusing to perform
his task of work at the Stourbridge Union. De-
fendant was an inmate of the Union and was asked
to help to pump some water, but refused to do so,
and used threats towards the superintendent of
labour. He was sentenced to 21 days' hard labour.
SELLING FIREWORKS.—John Price, shopkeeper,
Stourbridge Road, Brettell Lane, was charged with
selling fireworks to a boy under the age of 15 years,
on the sth inst.—Police-constabl Faruell said that
he was standing near the defendant's shop for
about 25 minutes and saw the defendant supply
fireworks to boys without asking their ages. Whilst
standing their a boy aged 10 years came out of the
shop with some fireworks. Defendant was ordered
to pay costs.
DRUNK.—David Bradley, labourer, of Round
Oak, was charged with being drunk on the Bth
inst.—Police-constable Hicklin proved that defend-
ant was lying on the footpath in High Street, Pen-
saett, drunk. A fine of is and coats was inflicted.
ILL-TREATING A HORSE.—James Darby, maltster,
' Mount Pleasant, was charged with illtreating
horse. Pol3ce-sergeant Head said that on the 7th
inst, he saw the defendant beating a horse between
his, two ears with a thick end of the whip stock.
Evidence was brought to show that the horse was a
" gibber " and defendant did not strike the horse
between the ears.—The summons was dismisacd.
1 HIGHWAY OFFENCE. Walter Edwards, who I
pleaded guilty, was ordered to pay cots for firing
off a gun in the highway on the 4th inst.
USING A SNARE.—Henry Bir I as summoned
for that he on the Ist just, did use a sa re for the
purpose of catching game on land in the occupation
of Thomas Dandoe. Mr. Holberton prosecuted.
On the the 31st ult, John Bowen, gamekeeper, in
the employ of the Earl of Dudley, was in the field
above-mentioned and saw the defendant go to
some wires that were set. He also saw defendant
in the act of re-setting a snare. Defendant v, as
fined 58 and costs; in default 14 days.
BOATMEN WASTING WATER. Samuel Hollis,
Thomas Bates, Joseph Foster. and Charles Wells,
feur boatmen' were charged with*wasting a quantity
of water at Delph Lock, on the Birmingham Canal.
Mr. Goodley, on behalf of the Canal Company,
appeared to prosecute. About 7 o'clock on the
morning of the Ist iust, the defendants Foster and
Hollis arrived at the lock in question with their
boats about the same time as each other, and each
claimed the right to pass through first. A dispute
arose between them, during which the paddles of
the lock were opened in such a manner that the
water flowed down, first into another lock, which it
overflowed, and then washed down into the timber
yard of Messrs. Roberts and Cooper. caaiing a con-
siderable waste of water, and also doing some amount
• of damage in the yard. Charles Wells, against
whom no evidence was given, was discharged.
Foster and Hollis were fined 20s each and costs;
in default 21 days' imprisonment. Bates, who, it
appeared was a servant of one of them, was dis-
charged.
COAL STEALING.—James Brookes, ironfounder,
Moor Lane, was charged on remand with stealing
a quantity of coal, the property of Mr. W. E.
Gittings, coal merchant, Brockmoor. Mr. Waldron,
who appeared to prosecute, and asked the Bench to
allow the charge to be withdrawn. The Bench,
after some discussion, decided to hear the ease.
William Enoch Gittings said he was a coal
merchant and resided at Brockmoor. He had
known prisoner for 16 years. About. half-past
seven o'clock on tbe 14th ult be gave prisoner
permission to take coal. He did not believe
that he had any intention to steal the coal.
Pollce-constable Eden said that on the day in
question he was passing the defendant's whatf
Broclimoor,in company withPolice-consta,ble Mount:
ford, and saw the prisoner take about 14Ihs. of
coal off a boat belonging to the prosecutor, and
place it near a fire bucket. It was about twenty
minutes before 7 o'clock. Police-cons:able Mount-
rd supported the evidence of last witness. De-
fendant now said that as he loaded the boat he

thouglit he was entitled to a 1 ittle of the coal fo:
making a fire. The Bens h inflicted a fine of 40s
and costs, with the alternative of one mcnth's
imprisonment.
RATING DISPUTE.—The case if Messrs. J. and T.
Greenway, coalmasters, .i'ansey Green, who bad
been summoned for the non-payment of rates
amounting to about ..£26 in respect of their collieries,
next came on.—Mr. Wall, on behalf of the over-
seers, said he should have to ask the Bench to niake
an order for payment against the defendants. He
understood they had taken proceedings by way of
liqu;dation or composition with their creditors, cud
that an arrangement had been arrived at by which
it was agreed to pay a comeosition of 6d in the
pound. He submitted, however, that in bankruptcy
and all cases of liquidation, rates and all parochial
claims took preference, and therefore in this aso
the amount claimed would have to be paid in full.
—Mr. T. Homer, who appeared for the defendants,
said there was no dispute as to the rate, and there
was no doubt that certain rates. &c., did take
iniority over the' claims f other creditors, assuming
that there was sufficient to pay the demands; but
in this case he contended that the amount claimed
had been included in the liquidation proceedings,
and that the statut majmity had passed a
resolution accepting 6d in the pound, which the
overseers were entitled to, and no more.—ln ieply
to a question, Mr. Homer said the overseers were
not present at the creditirs meeting, but were
scheduled there.—Mr. Wall said he did not think
there was any section in the Bankruptcy Act which
said that in case of a composition being paid by a
defendant, the magistrates had no power to issue a
distress warrant.—The Bench decided t.' adjourn
the case to consider the point.
THE RATING OF VOID BLAST FURNACES —TI
question of the amount of rates alleged to be due by
the Overseers from Messrs. Matthews and Company,
Limited, of the Corbyn's Hall Ironworks, and from
the Bromley Coal and Iron Company, Linaired, again
came before the Bench.—Mr. Wall appeared for the
Overseers, and Mr. Holbert.in represented the
applicants.—The matter is one which has:several
times been previously mentioned, the applicants
aiiming exemption from certain rates levied in
respect of their blast furnaces on the ground that
such blast furnaces have been void in cons quence
of trade depression—Mr. Holberton informed the
Bench that the matter was now arranged. In the
case of the Bromley Coal and Iron Company the
rate was deducted altogether, and in th• case of
Mestrs. Mathews and Co., it had been arranged
upon terms, and the rate was now practically paid.
In reply to the Bench, he said there would be no
fur;her proceedings before the Court.—On the
suggestion of Mr. Wall, the caie of Messrs. Matthews
and Co„ was then entered as adjourned sine die, and
that of the Bromley Coal and Iron Company was
entered as dismissed.

WILFUL DAMAGE.—William Edward Hughes. a
boy, residing at California, was charged with
damaging a fence on the 22nd ult, the property of
Mr Foley.—Mr. Holberton prosecuted.—Defendant
was seen amongst other boys to break down a fence
which was near a wood at the Ridge Top, Wollas-
ton, and which had been recently repaired.—De-
fondant, wa,,fmed 2s 6d and costs.
I"NEGLECTING TO SUPPORT A MOTHER.— George
Thomas. a miner, was sum moncd to show cause
why he did not maintain hi s mother —.Defendant's
mother had become chargeable to the Stourbridge
Union and was costing the parish 48 a week. De-
fendant was earning 18s per week and refused to
maintain her.—The Bench ordered him to contri-
bute 3s per week towards the maintenance of his
mother.

COAL STEALING.—Joseph Rushton (13), and Isaiah
Bennett (17), of Common Side, were charged with
with stealing coal the property of the Earl of Dudley
on the 26th ult.—Rushton who had four previous
convictions against him was fined 10s, or in detault
of payment to receive 12 strokes with the birch
rod. Bennett, having no previous convictions
against him, was fined 7s 6d, or in default 7 days'
bard labour.

REDUCED CIRCUMSTANCES.—At the Police Court,
on Thursday, before W. F. F. Boughey, Esq„ Sti-
pendiary Magistrate, Alfred E. Paget, 25, Brock -
moor, a man who it was said formerly occupied the
position of a schoolmaster, was sentenced for seven
days' hard labour for vagrancy, by sleeping in a
brick stove at the Leys Brockmoor, the previous
night.—John Tavanor, who was found sleeping
with Pagett, was ordered a like punishment.
THE EDUCATION ACT.—Mr. Breton, attendance
officer of the Kingswinford School Board, appeared
in support of seviral summonses against persons
for neglecting to send their children to school
The Stipendiary inflicted fines upon several of the
defendants.