The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-01-13 00:00:00

OLD HILL.

On Sunday last the annual missionary sermon was
preached in the Primitive Methodist Chapel by the Rev.
1. Huff, of Dudley ; and the public meeting Was held in
ihe evening, when addresses were delivered by the Revs.
J. Huff and J. Stroud ; and Mr. J. Heathcock. Mr. N.
ilingley presided. The attendance was god, and the
...e.,unt raised was 1:21 do 61. . _

DRUNK AND DISORDEIILY.—As the Police Court, on
Wednesday, before Mes,s. F. W. U. Barrs, E. Moore,
and N. flingley. James Poole was charged with being
•iruulc and disorderly, at tior,ty Hill. on the 7th instant.
eol:ce-cuusl able Jackson proved the case, and defendsn',
who pleaded guilty, was fined Is and costs ; or 1.1 days.
A CAUTlON.—Mattliew Cox and Thomas Walker were
charged with tiring off is gun within fifty yards of the
nighway, Rs Tividale. Police-constable Satchwell Droved
ako case, and defendants were ordered to pay costa.
John Darby was charged with permitting drunk-
enness in his house on the 26. h ult. at Old Hill. Mr. W
.byes defended Police-sergeant .1. Davis, stationed at
lilackheatli, said on th., above date he was called into
the defendant's house to remove a mast named Fletcher.
they got him outside and took him into custody. Piet-
dier was tined for the offence. Benjamin Whorton said
Lie lived at Blackheath, and on the above data he was in
defendant's house from five until halfepast. He saw
Fletcher there and was with him, and they bad some
drink together. Fletcher was fresh. Defendant turned
him out because he was unruly. Cross•examined by Su.
perintendent Mills: I was there about three hours.
Fletcher was nearly sober when I went in. Mr. Hayes
submitted there was no evidence against defendant, and
the case was dismissed.

STIMLING COAL.—Elizabeth Shirke and Sarah flout-
mere, two women, were charged with stealing Baba of
coal, the property of Messrs. Pearson, Old Hill Colliery.
on the 9th inst. Police-constable Con said from infor-
mation received he watched complainant's wharf on the
Above date, about a quarter past one p.m., and saw the
prisoners pick a quantity of coal up. The case was ad-
journed for a week for the parties to settle the matter.
A CAUTION TO DRUNSARDC—James Payne, a collier,
was fined 40s and costs for being drunk and disorderly at
Bewley, on the 7th inst. Police-constable Home and
Parish-constable Moyle proved the ease. Defendant has
been previously convicted.
CHARGE AGAINST • LICENSED Viornausit.—William
Andrews, landlord of the Crown, Old Hill, wee charged
with keeping his house open fox the sale of drink during
prohibited hours; and farther charged with permitting
drunkenness in his house on the 94th ultimo. Mr. W.
Hayes defended. Police-sergeant Davis said he was sts
tithed at Blackheath. On the above date he visited the
defendant's house at 18 minutes past twelve on the night
of the 23rd, or morning of the 24th nit, and found about
30 men in the place—some in the tap•room, some in the
bar parlour, and others in the club-room. He saw the
defendant and the landlady inside sewing at the time.
He went in with Police-constable Jackson. There was
drink on the table, and some of the people were drunk
there was some singing going on. Witness spoke to the
landlord, who said it was not twelve, and pointed to the
clock, and it was five minutes past twelve by it. Witness
pulled out his watch, and it was 23 minutes peat twelve
by it, and he told defendant he was a few minutes fast.
Virituess then went outside, and the men followed him
• out. Some of them took beer away with them. Four
of them were drunk. Cross-examined: There were ever
30 men and women in the house. I went into all thri e
of the rooms. I went into the bar, where the landlord
was drawing spirits. A man named Hughes was one of
the men that were drank. I did not ask defendant who
the men were that were drunk. I was not told there was
a collier's feast held at the house that night. I told the
defendant it was after twelve o'clock, and he said it was
not, and pointed at the clock. Do not know that the
wind blows the fingers about on Rowley Church clock,
and my watch as. a few minutes fast by that clock.—
Sergeant Powner said he had known defendant for a long
time, and he had always conducted his house well.—Po-
lice-constable Jackson corroborated Davia—Mr. Hayes,
in defence, said it was a question of time. There had
been a collier's feast at the house, and as soon as the
time was up defendant endeavoured to get the men out,
but as there were about 70 men inside it was a matter of
some dilficnlty to get them out. When the officers went
into the house the defendant's clock was only five min.
ales past twelve. There were several watches pulled out
at the time to prove that the clock agreed with the rail.
way time. As far as the charge of permitting drunken-
ness was concerned. he could call a number of witnesses
to prove there was no drunkenness in the house. The
Bench said there was a doubt as to the time, and they
should give defendant the benefit of it, and ordered him
to pay the costs.
ANOTHER CASS Ow DSUNKSIDEMS. —Joseph Hughes
was charged with being drunk on the 24th ultimo, at the
Cherry Orchard, Old Hill. Mr. W. Hayes defended.
After hearing the evidence of Police-sergeant Davis and
Police-constable Fiume, and a number of witnesses for
the defence, the Bench dismissed the case.
STEALING CASDLSS. —Thomas Hurdley, a collier,
Broad-street, Paiute% was charged with stealing filtieril