The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-10-26 00:00:00

OLD HILL.

JUBTICEIe iIISTICE.—At the Police Court, on Wedues.
day, before Messrs. Buts and Hingley, Benjamin Harris,
the Bridge Inn, Headelt Hill, waa summoned for allowing
drunkenness in his house, on the 14th. Police-countable
Bailey said about a quarter past nine o'clock p.m., on
the above date he visited defendant's house, in company
with Police-constable Cooper. They found a man help•
lessly drunk by the fire-side in the kitchen. Defendant
was trying to waken him, and several persons were trying
to get the man out.—Mr. Hingley to defendant: Now,
Ben, ask him what you like—Defendant: I was bringing
the man out of the kitchen when they opened the door.
—Mr. Hingley : You were trying to lifeline him ?—De-
fondant : 1 was the very man that did wake him and get
him outside.—Police.constable Bailey to defendant : You
could not have got him out of the kitchen yourself, lie
was so drunk.—Police•constable Cooper said on the night
in question he visited defendants house, in company wi.h
Peuce•constably Bailey, and found a man named Tro-
luaus drunk in the front kitchen. As soon as they got
inside, defendant and a woman got hold of •fronians, and
lifted him up. Defendant struck the man on the head to
waken him.—Mr. Hingley: Oh, very well. Did you see
any drink or cup on the table near the man ?-otficer
the man was helplessly di ask—Mr. Hingley : He had
no drink at all. He might not have had any ale in the
liaise that you know of ?—Otlicer: I cannot say whether
lie had any ale in the he house or not—Mr. Mills: Did
you see more men in the house —Officer:? There were
five or six other men in the kitchen, with drink before
them.—Mr. Hingley : Can you say whether or not Harris
supplied that man with drink ?-otheer : cannot say.
None of the other men weredrunk.—Mr. Bores: Did you
ielt the man any questions ?—Officer: Be could not have
answered them if we did.—Mr. Mole: That is the case
for the prosecution.—Mr. Hingley to defendant: You can
say anything you like now. The question is whether you
supplied him with ale to make him tipsy.—Defendant :
He did not have the drink in my place, and he never
called for any drink in the house. I had been out of the
house to Halesowen. When I came home I walked into
the back kitchen. A. soon as I came home I saw the
man, and tried to get him away.—Mr. Hingley: You did
your duty. Are you quite sure he had no ale in your
house ?—Mr. Harms : Will you swear he did not ?—De-
fendimt: Yes, sir—Mr. Hiugley : When you came home
and found a drunken man in the house, how did you
know he had not had any ale. You stupid man, why
don't you answer my question '—Defendant: He came
into my kitchen as soon as I came home. He walked
into my house with me. We had been to Halesowen to-
gether.—Mr. Hingley Why did you bring a drunken man
to your house '—Defendant: lie WAS not drunk.—Mr.
Hingley What a stupid man you are. You are spoiling
your case now. If he was sober what snide you try to
drag him out. —Defendant : Mr. Hingley and gentlemen
! all. He came into my house and sat down and went to
sleep. He did not have any drink in my place.—Mr.
Hingley: If he had walked into your house without your
knowledge. You did right in turning him out, but you
brought him in. I never heard a man make such a mess
Of anything in my life.—Mr. Barra: You any he had been
to Haleaowen with you —Defendant : Yes, sir.— Mr.
Hingley: Well, Ben. I should advise you to be more
careful. You fetched in the man, and you are really to
blame.—Mr. Mills: The magistrates ought to know that
the defendant has been cautioned before.—Defendant:
That is right. It was on last licensing day.—Mr. Hing.
ley: You are a stupid man, and mind you don't come
here again.—Defendant : As soon as I found him drunk
I turned him out—Mr. Hingley: You are dismissed this
time ; but do not come here again. It is a very lame
case.

THE CHARGE Or ASRAIILT ON A MOTHER. Philip
Cope, carpenter and joiner, Cradley Heath, was charged
with assaulting his mother, Catherine Cope, at Crelley
Heath. Our readers will recollect that this case came on
for hearing at the Old Hill Police Court a fortnight ago,
and after hearing the evidence the Bench stwosted that
the ease should be adjourned for a fortnight for the par-
ties to come to an amicable arrangement. It appears
that the son had given his mother about £l5 worth of
furniture, and agreed to allow her 5s per week for life;
but the old lady was not quite satisfied with these terms,
hence their reappearance at the Police Court, on Wed•
nesday.—Mr. Homer appeared for the defendant.—Mr.
Hayes read over the depositions taken at the previous
hearing of the case.—Mr. Homer proceeded to cross.ex-
amine the complainant, when Mr. Hayes said to Mr.
Homer: I know sometiling of this case, and you and I
can settle it between us.—Mr. Homer: Oh, no; the case
shall go on. If the mania guilty fine him; bat if he is
innocent dismiss the case.—Mr. Homer to complainant:
Where is your husband's will ?—Complainant That is
my business.—Mr. Homer : What Is you mean by that?
—Complainant: I shall not talk to you.—Mr. Homer:
Yes you will.—Mr. Hingley : Don't answer the qaestion ;
don't speak.—Mr. Homer to Mr. Hingley : I am salon-
ished at your saying so. lon know very well you called
upon the man before the case came on, in your ge.
Sou told him that the oomplainant had been with you,
and that if he did not give up the two houses you told
her to bring him up before you and you would make him
suffer for it. I am never more disgusted than when I
come to Old Hill. You went to this man (meaning de-
fendant) and asked him to give up the things. It is a
disgrace to the administrators of justice. Mr. Homer
I will retire from the case. Mr. Homer then left the
Court—Defendant was fined IN and costs ; in default
one month.

ARSAOLTINO • LANDLkDT —John Johnson wan charged
with assaulting Elisabeth Whitmore at the Cross Inn,
Old Hill, on the 19th mat, and further charged with ltd.
folly damaging some glass. Mrs. Whitmore said defend-
ant wan in her house drunk, on the above date. She
requested him to leave, when he refused to go, and struck
11, r three times on the face and body, and broke some
windows, doing damage to the amount Of 4s. For the
assault defendant wee fined 2s 6d and costs, or 14 days;
and for the braise ilaed 64. 40 damage, and costs.