The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-11-08 00:00:00

Priest and George Rowley were almitfined 2s 62 for like
. offences.—A charge against Joseph Jones was
.adjourned
for a week.
NEGLECT OF CHILDRIN.--SENCIIILAR ;CAlR.—Eaw•rd
Brooks was charged by Joseph Finney, relieting officer,
with neglecting his two children on the 16th of Mayeast,
, and allowing them to become chargeable to the common
I fund of the Stourbridge Union. Mr. Homer appeared
on behalf of the Guardians, and Mr. Waldron defended.
Mr. Finney said a person named Brooks applied on the
23rd of January, for an order to go into the Workhouse.
Be gave her the order. She said she was the wife of
Edward Brooke. It is Maid to ask if married. On the
19th of March she again applied for an order for two
children. He gave her the; order. She stated that she
had come from her sisters at Bromley. Witness knew
the defendant, and from information he received he went
to Dudley, and mw the Registrar's book, and produced
a certificate of the marriage between Edward Brooks
and Mary Ann Begott, on the 16th Decemeer, 1867.
Cross-examiued:—When the woman ,took out the last
order, she did not say that the child was not defendant's.
Do not know that elle has been living separate from her
husband. Have beard the first child was sborn before
nisrriage. Joseph Brooks, father of defendant, said he
had some cottages, and let them. Defendant did not
occupy one but lived with witness. The wife came some-
times. Witness was present at the wedding which took
place at the top church, Dudley. Defendant firet went
to live at his motherein.laws, bathe had not lived with
his wife for the lest three years. Police-constable Cot-
terill said the defendant was charged with fighting, en
the 18th of ;August, 1872, and since that time he had
often seen him at Brockmoor. Witness apprehended
defendant on the charge of leaving his family. This be-
iris; the case, Mr. Waldron contended that the defendant
was not liable for the first chill, it having been born be-
fore marriage. This was overruled by Mr. King, the
Clerk. Mr. Waldron said the second child was not the
ilefendant'a he having left his wife for nearly three
years, and that she had been living in adaltry, but the
defendant being in such poor circumstances he could not
bring an action for divorce. He should prove that she
had been living with another men. If he did prove that
lie should say the defendant was not liable to maintain
the second child. Eli Price, miner, residing at the
Delph, said he knew Mary Ann Brooks. When he lived
in Pearson Street, she was at his house with a man called
Jim. They Meld there for five months. Witness never
saw defendant with his wife. Cross-examined : Knew
she was a married woman. She paid me Is per week. I
live with Noah Ivatie's wife. Have seen them in bed
together. Sasaauah Skeet,. sister to defendant's wife,
said her slater had not been living with defendant for
two or three years. She had been living with a inan
named James OW4IO, and he had sent money to keep her.
Mary dkeates said she had often seen James Owen with
Mrs. Brooks. He had his arm round her waist. She
knew she was a married woman. This being the case, ,
the Magistrates retired to their private room to consistee
the case. On returning, Mr. Holcroft said they hie I
given the case their careful consideration, and were of
opinion that defendant was liable to pay for the first
child; with regard to the second, they would adjourn the
ease for 14 days to allow the defendant time to arrange
wit', the Guardians.
SCHOOL BOARD.—On Tuesday afternoon, an ordinary I
meeting of the Board was held at the Public Office, Mr.
Cookson presided, end all the members were present. ,1
The Finance Committees report contained the following
itenne—Legal charges for conveyance of Brierley Hill site
and mortgage for £7,500. £42 Us. led. The committee ,
also laid before the Board the order of the Public Works
Loan Commissioners for the sum of £seo, and the reeipt
for the same. The sum of £lB7 101. 9d. is in the trea-
surer's hands, and the committee recommended a pre
cept for £6OO to be issued on the Overseers, to cover ex. ,
proses to 25t1s March next. With reference to the price I
of laud selected at quarry Bank for the erection of a Board
School, a letter was read from Earl Dudley's principal
mining agent, intimating that neatiey the whole of the '
mine measures uuder it had not been disturbed, and, I
therefore, Earl Dudley would ask ouch a price for it as
wou!d not suit the Board to give.—lt was resolved to ask
Mr. Smith if be knew of a piece of land at Quarry Bank
not open to the same objection- 'She school officers'
report gave a satisfactory return of the attendance of
children at school.—Mr Casson withdrew his notice of
mot,on, " That a School Board be established M St.
Mary's Kingswinford."—Mr. Barlow was sorry the motion
had been withdrawn, as he had hoped they were going to
have a Beard School in s district where none existed.
It was in accordance with the spirit of the Education Act
that parents should send their children to what school
they liked, and they had told parents that this would be
permitted in cases where the fees were paid by the Board.
.tt this present time all the schools at St Mary.s were
denominational, and bow, then, could parents send their
children to what school they wished. It wane mockery
to tell parents sues a story.—ln accordance with, notice
of motion. Me, W. E. Wo,rd moved thet the bye-laws as
allowed by the Educational Department be ado ted by
the Board.-2.1r. Cookson said he was always of opinion
that before they erected new schools Cosy ought to fill
exicing schools. Mr. Wood said lie wanted to make a
slight addition t 3 his motion, which was eeconded by
Mr. B. Wood.— Mr. Clulew said he should object to any :
addition being made—Mr. Casson said he ahruld meet I
the case by movingean emendaut as follows—' That the I
Board adopt 4 the bye-laws ss altered by the Educa-
tion Department, subject to the words from the school '
being allowed to remain.' Ile was sure that the course
proposed was the cheapest. .1 he amendment was cats 11
rieil.