The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-11-02 00:00:00

BOARD OF GUARDIANS.

The weekly meeting of this Board was held
yesterday; Mr. Granger in the chair. There
were also present:—Messrs. Brooks, Paskin,
Burr, Fereday, Fiddian, Rhodes, Billingham,
Griffin, and Guest. The minutes of the last
meeting were read and confirmed. Admitted
into the house during the week, 23; discharged,
6; dead, 2 ; reruaining,3B6. Corresponding week
last year, 396. Out-door relief Kingswinford
district, £24 lls Od ; Stourbridge district, £l7
7s 6d ; Halesowen district, £2O 19s ; relief
of non-resident paupers, 7s ; total, £63 6e
tild, against £75 3s lid last year.
A precept for Worcestershire County Rate was
received, amounting to £492 19s 3d, being a de-
crease of .1:82 3s 2d.

VOLUNTEER PRIZES.—This year the volunteers
have received a greater number of prizes to be
shot for than usual, and Monday last was the
day appointed for the members to try conclu•
stone. For the Captain's Cup there were three
ties. Ultimately the prize was awarded to Pri-
vate Reynolds. The distance for this prize was
200 yards, and Reynolds made 18 points out of a
possible 20. Lieutenant Walker's Cup, 500
yards, was won by Private Cardoe, who also
made 18; and Ensign Williams's Cup, 200 yards,
was won by Private Oittings, who made 14. The
remaining prizes were shot for, but as the Cap.
tam n has not yet :nude the selection we shall give
a full account when they are distributed.
DONATION.—Ou Thursday morning Private
Baybould received a cheque for .t 1 is from It.
P. Amphlett, Esq., Q.C., 11.1'., as a donation to
the Volunteer Corps.
ASSAULT CASE.—At the Petty Sessions, yes-
terday, before Major Fletcher, Messrs. W. C.
, Firuistune, and J. B. Cochrane, Thomas Jones
and Joseph Billinghata were charged by Sabra
Freeman with assaulting her on the 20th ult.
Complainant said she was in Ball's Lane. The
two defendants came to her and tried to throw
her on the ground. The Case was not pressed,
and defendants were let off on payment of costs
—Joues 5s 9d, Billingliatu lie 9d.

A WIFE BEATER:.— Arthur Williams was
charged by Sarah Williams, his wife, with as-
intuiting her on the 29th ult. Complainant said
that the defendant struck her several times on
the above date, and he had often beaten her.
Fined Is and costs; in default 14 days.
SERIOUS ASSAULT AT CRADLEY.—Lucy Jones,
wife of Thomas Jones, of Cradley, was brought
up on a warrant, charged with assaulting Edwin
Oliver, road contractor, on the 23rd ult.—Mr.
Dower appeared for the complainant, aud Mr.
shakespeare for the defendant. —Complainant
said: I live at Cradley, and am a road contrac-
tor I. agreed with defendant's fattier to pur.
chase his life interest in some property. I went
to some houses at Colley Gate, and employed a
man named Jones to do some painting. Went
to the property and saw defendant there, who
struck me with a collier's pike. I pulled my
head on one side. The pike struck me upon the
side, injured my ribs, and cut through my coat
and waistcoat. The point struck against a
pocket-book in my pocket, which turned off the
blow. Never had any quarrel with the defend-
ant, but she claims some property that I had
bought of the defendant's father for his life-
time.—Edward Cartwright, painter, said that
while was at work at the building the defendant
ciune and threatened complainant. She brought
some long nails and nailed up the door, and ran
in the house. She afterwards got through the
window, and in a short time returned and broke
open the door. Complainant came up at the
time, and defendant struck him with a coal pike,
which made him reel.—William Bailey, veterin-
ary surgeon, gave corroborative evidence.—Am-
Ives° Yinfilley, farmer, also corroborated.—For
the defence, Mr. Shakespeare did not deny the
assault, but in extenuation said that he held in
his hand an official copy of the will of Joseph
Hatton, who was grandfather of the defendant,
and left his property to his two daughters Mary
and Elizabeth. Mary was defendant's mother,
since dead, and the husband had a life interest
in the property, who had a right to sell it, and
had done so to Mr. Oliver. Bat he might say
teat when persons in the station of the defend-
ant once got it into their heads that they were
entitled to property, it was very difficult to get it
out, He had since advised the defendant that
the father had a life interest, and she must not
interfere. Defendant had committed an assault,
but it was not of that serious character that had
been wade out by his friend ; and she had already
been in prison since Monday, which he hoped
would be taken into cousiderution by the Bench
in giving their decision.— Major Fletcher re-
marked, that was the defendant's own fault, as
she did not appear to the summons.—Mr. Shake-
speare said that when the defendant received
tile summons, she, stupid like, burnt it, thinking
it was some notice about the house. He had
four witnesses to call, but they would only prove
that complainant pushed the defendant, and she
was irritated and struck him.—The Bench re-
tired for a short time. On returning into Court
Major Fletcher asked Superintendent Freeman
what had been her conduct while in prison. Mr.
Freeman said the defendant had threatened Mr.
Oliver what she would do to him.—Major Flet-
cher remarked that no doubt the woman thought
she had some right to the property, and they
should not send the case for trial, but must fine
I her heavily, and should fine the defendant £5
and costs, in default two months; and should
order defendant to find two sureties in £lO each,
herself in £2O, to keep the peace for six months.
ASSAULT Cass.—Richard North was charged
by John Richard Tremens with assaulting him
on the 26th ult.—Mr. Perry appeared to prose•
cute, and Mr. Addison defended.— Complainant
said that lie resides at Stamber Mill. On the
night in question he had a fair fight with defend-
ant, and they afterwards became good friends.
About twelve o'clock at night, as he sat in his
house, he heard his son come home, and defend-
ant challenged his Boa to fight. His son is but
a boy, and witness heard him say that if the de-
fendant would tie up his one hand he would fight
him. At that, witness went out between them,
and pushed them both on one side. Defendant
then went into the house, brought out a poker,
and struck witness on the forehead, and inflicted
a severe wound. Defendant also struck him on
the arm and body with a poker. Defendant also
called to his wife, and told her to bring out a
knife, lent she brought a crane instead.—Joseph
'Crow:ins, jun., said that he hail been courting at
Lye. On returning borne just before 12 o'clock,
as ho was going into the house, defendant chal-
lenged him to fight. He refused to fight, when
the defendant struck him and knocked him down.
His father came out at the time, and pushed
North away, whereupon North went into the
house, brought out a poker, and struck bis father.
At that time he (witness) threw a brisk at him,