The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-01-30 00:00:00

At the close of the lecture votes of thanks were ac-
corded to the lecturer and the chairman.

BAZAAR AT THE NEW CONNEXION CHAPEL.—A
bazaar was held in the school-room adjoining the New
Connexion Chapel, Kidderminster-street, on Monday
and Tuesday last, for the purpose of raising a fund
for relieving.the debt under which the building is still
ying. The bazaar was opened by Mr. W. Turney.
The ceremony commeuced by the Rev. J. N. Rootham,
baptist minister, giving out a hymn. The Rev.
Jackson, Wesleyan minister, :offered up a prayer;
after which the Rev. T. Hill, pastor, made a brief
statement as to the Object of the bazaar, which was
the reduction of the debt on the chapel. This had
been reduced by the bazaar held last year £25. So
that a debt of £475 none remained. He then intro-
duced Mr. Turney to those present. The latter
gentleman expressed himself pleased at being present
to take part in the service. He hoped the bazaar
would be successful in attaining the object for which
it was intended, and then declared it duly opened
Before he went away he left a donation of £5 to-
wards the fund of the bazaar. The ladies of the
congregation presided over the different stalls; and
there was a brisk sale of the effects. The total am-
ount realized was £45. Bs. 2d. We understand that
the remaining stock will be disposed of on Monday
next.

STEALING PIGEONS.—ATTEMPTED ESCAPE.—OII
Saturday, a young man named Charles Henry Pear-
sall, of the Lye, a chain striker, escaped from cus-
tody for a time, after being:remanded on a charge of
stealing some pigeons. He had been brought down
die stens leading from the Police Corn t into the road
which it adjoins, and immediately took to his heels,
making across High Street and down Foster Street.
Police-sergeant Eta, who was in charge of the pri-
soner at the time of his escape, pursued him, and
threw off his hatiand coat to facilitate operations.
Pearsall, to throw the sergeant off the scent, doubled
back towards Church Street, and Rea lost sight of
him. Superintendent Freeman, who had also gone
after him, saw him crossing Mr. King's sale yard.
A young:fellow ran after Pearsall and overtook him
near Parkfield House, and he was recouveyed to the
police station. It is stated that he bears the alias of
Jack Shepherd. At the Police Court, on Tuesday,
before Colonel Pletcher, Pearsall was charged with
feloniously stealing four pigeons, on the 18th iust,
the property of John Pearson, of the Lye. Prosecu-
tor, who is manager at the Co-operative Stores, said
he had twelve pigeons in a pigeon box. About 9
o'clock on Monday morning, he missed four of the
pigeons, and gave information to the police. Four
of the pigeons produced were his property. John
Edwards, landlord of the Eagle Vaults, High Street,
said he was standing in High Street, about half-past
, ten o'clock on the 18th hist, when he saw the pri-
soner, who had some pigeons' tails hanging out of
his coat. Witness spoke to Mr. North, who asked
prisoner if he had any pigeons to sell. Prisoner said
he had, amid he was going to sell them to Mr. Mudd.
Witness then asked prisoner what he wanted for
them, and he said 7d each. Witness asked him how
, many he had. Prisoner said, " Six," Five were
alive and one dead. Witness gave prisoner 2s 6d for
them. He bought them with the intention of mak-
ing a pie, but he sold them to Mr. Cooper for the
same as he gave for them.---George North, butcher,
said he was in company with last witness, and he
called prisoner back. Prisoner sold the pigeons to
last witness.—Donald Percival Cooper, saddler, said
he bought the pigeons from Mr. Edwards and sold
them to Mr. Swindell.—Allan John Evers Swindell,
of the Heathlands, said he bought four of the pigeons
rom last witness and gave them up to P.S. Jo nes.
The pigeons produced were the same. P.S. Jones
proved receiving theipigeons from last witness, and
P.S. Rea proved apprehending the prisoner.—There
were three other .oharges against prisoner, who was
' remanded until Friday' when he was again brought
up before Col. Fletcher, R. L. Freer, and C. Coch-
rane, and further charged with stealing on the 18th
just, two pigeons the:property of Noah Brooks at the
Lye. Complainant proved that he lost two pigeons,
and the one produced was his property. J. Edwards
proved buying the pigeon produced. There were two
other charges against the prisoner, but Col. Fletcher
said they should not go into them. Prisoner pleaded
guilty, and was sentenced to three month's hard la-
bour in each case.

WHOLESALE ROBBERY. - Annie Wright was
charged with stealing a dress coat, sheets, coverlid,
table cloths, damask, and other property belonging to
Thomas Valentine Arson, of 31, Ashted Row, Bir-
mingham. :Prosecutor stated that prisoner was for-
merly in his employ as housekeeper. She left on the
23rd lust, and took the articles produced with her.
Prisoner was remanded until Friday, when she was
again brought up and sentenced to one month's
un-
pr isonment.

- DRUNK AND REFUSING TO QUlT.—EdiVard Brooks
was charged with being drunk and refusing to quit
the Spread Eagle Inn, when reqested; fined 2s 6d
and coste.—Joseph Attwood was fined Is and costs,
for being drunk.
CHARGE GP THREATENING.—WiIIiam Knowles,
was charged with using threatening language to Sam-
uel Taylor on the 26th inst. After hearing the evi-
dence, the defendant was bound over , himself in £lO
and one surity.in £5, at the cost of complainant to
keep the peace for six months.
ASSAULT CASE.--Rose Harris was charged with
assaulting Hannah Beech on the 25th inst. The
ease was proved and defendant addmitted the as-
sault and was fined 28 6d and costs; in default seven
days.

STRANGE CASE OF ALLEGED PERJURY

AGAINS r A STOURBRIDGE MAN.

At the County Petty Sessions, at Worcester, on Tuft-
d y, before the Rev. J. Peason (chairman) and a full
emelt of magistrates, Thomas Robinson, of Stourbridge,
wai charged by Peter Chance with having, on the 15.12
August last, at the Lunatic Asylum, Powick, near Wor
c ster, committed wilful perjury.
Mr. Stubbins, barrist, r (instructed by Mr. Reeve, of
Birmingham), conducted the prosecution ; and Mr. Eicock
(of the firm of Gould and Elcock, Stourbridge), appeared
for the defendant.

It will be remembered that Chanee. a letter-cutter and
engraver, of Stourbridge, was confined in the Powiek
Lunatic Asylum, near Worcester ; but owing to some prc-
ceedings on the part of his solicitor, an enquiry took
placs at the asylum, before Mr. Barlow, Master in Lunacy,
aad a jury, with a view to determine whether Chance w
insane, as his friends alleged he was. The jury, after a
long investigation on that occasion, decided that C-PlUed
was sum tit to manage his own atfiirs. lie was oxcart-
ingly discharg, d from the asylum.
The proceeding, before the Worcester county mag-
istrates, on Tuesday, arose out of that enqu'ry,
now prosecuting Robinson, of Stourbridge, who was a
witness at the enquiry. Robinson had been an appre!:tice
of Chance's, and after his approitieeship had expired he
because a servant to prosecutor under an agreement which
had not yet expired, and, in feet, w.si lookel upon us
Chance's confidential man.

Mr. Stubbins, in optning the case, said that at the en-
quiry at the asylum, Robinson swore that Chance was at
his (Robinson's) house, at 5, .Envihe Street, Stourbridge,
on tie night of the 25th March last; that he SW Chance
ma a woman named Selina Smith lying on the floor to-
gether in his house that night ; that Chance slept at his
(Robinson's) hou3e the whole of the ten nights preceding
the 2.Tth M troll, wile.' he was removed to the asylu:n :
and that Chance was filthy and dirty in his habits and
person. These were the grounds upon which the charge
of p tjury was based ; and Mr. Stubbins pointed out that
Robinson had great reason for keeping Chance in the
asylum, inasmuch as the latter had charged him with
embezzlement trior to his incarceration, and had threat-
ened to have him arrested ; and after Chance bad beee
confined in the asylum, Robinson took possession of his.
master's business, and put his own name over the door-
Mr. Lewis, reporter, gave ,vidence showing tie it Robe
inson had made the above statement at the enquiry at tit
asylum. _

'Dr. Policia, of Birmingham, said he was at the enquiry
at owick Asyuin. and heard Robinson distinetly sar.ar
that Cnance had beau at his house, at 3, Euville Street.
Stourbridge, on the night of the 25th March, whereas
Dr. Policia declared that Chance was at his (the witn,ss's)
house, in Birmingham, on that night, in cimpany with
Selina Smith, his housekeeper. Dr. Policia also gave
other evidence to show that Chance could not possibly
have been at Robinson's on certain other days sworn to
as he had been with him in the Black Country on days
mentioned. They had gone to him to examine Chance
as to the state of his mind, which he found sound.

At this stage Mr. Stubbing called Mrs. Smith, of Small
Heath, Lirmin,gbam, when Chance rushed into the room
and objected. A "scene" ensiled, during which Mr.
Stubbius intimated that if Chanc-; again interfered he
should retire frnm the case.

Chalice observed that he did not cam for that, as he
could -conduct his own case as well as any barrister in
England. After the " storm " had subsided.
Mrs Smith corroborated Dr. Policia, and added that Fo
far from Chance having stayed at R ibinson's on certain
of the days alleged lie slept at a lodging-house for three
nights. She had known Chance for some months prior
to March, and at no time had he been dirty or filthy in
his person or habits.
Prosecutor was also called, and denied Robinson's state-
ment.

Mr. Elcock, on behalf of the gefendant, submitted that
Robinson had always borne a good character, and had
behaved honourably to his master; and that so far from
his having gone to the enquiry at Powick Asylum through
malice, they had to subpoena him. Mr. Elcock also
submitted that the grounds upon which the alleged per-
jury v•as urged were irrelevant to the enquiry at Powick,
inasmuch as they did not affect the question then an issue
Thertfore, no perjury could have been committed; and if
Robinson had sworn that Chance was at his house on the
night of the 25th March, he fully believed that such was
the case.
The Bench consulted for a few minutes, and then
acquitted the defendant.