The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-12-17 00:00:00

BRIE RLEY HILL.

OPEN AFTER HOURS. - At the Police Court, on
Monday, before Messrs. H. 0. Firmstone and T.
Wilkes Webb, Charles Hickman, landlord of the
Holly Bush Inn, Crescent Lane, Broekmoor, was
summoned for having Lis house open during pro-
hibited hours. At 11.25 on the night of the sth
inst. Police—constable Lafford went into the house
and in the bar found two men, who had a jug con-
taining ale before them. One of them said he came
from London and the other said he ca,ute from Bir-
mingham. Whilst they were haying some conver-
sation a third man came to them. lie found that
two of the men were n ,med Dann and Flemming,
of Quirry Bank, and the other was Joseph Isaac,
of the Coppice. The defence was that the rirn
went to the house to get beds and that there was
no ale supplie-I. The ale that was before them was
drawn for their own use. The Bench said there
was some doubt in their minds whether the service
of the summons in this case was sufficient, and the
man had been away from the house for some months.
The case would be adjourned for a week and there
was also another matter to consider as to whether
he could be allowed to keep the house under the
circumstances.

COAL STEALING. Esther Hetherway (20) was
charged with stealing coal belonging to the Earl of
Dudley, on the 6th inst. Joseph Gregg, a watch-
man, proved the case. Fined 2s 6d.
DRUNK. William Edwards, gasman, of King-
swinford, was fined 20 6d and costs for being drunk.
OBSCENE L ANGITAGE.—John Oliver, labourer, of
Quarry Bank. was summoned for using obscene
language on the 4th inst. Police-constables Himan
and Luff proved the case and a fine of lOs and costs
was imposed.
FIRING OFF A GUN.—William Bills, a boy, was
-summoned for firing off a gun in the highway. A
man named Thomas Lowe stated that he was in
Park Street, Brierley Hill, and the defendant fired
off a cap on a gun under his horse's nostrils. The
defendant promised to give up the gun to the police
and was discharged with a caution.
PERMITTING DRUNKENNESS.—DanieI Jones, land
lord of the Fish Inn, Common Side, was summoned
for permitting drunkenness on the 6th inst. Mr.
Holberton prozeouted on behalf of the police ane
Mr. Waldron defended.—Cornelius Chambers. irony
master, Common Side, said that Potter was his
foreman engineer, and the other man, John Mot-
teram, was a general labourer in his employ. On
the 6th inst. he mi,.zsed them 'from work. In con-
sequence of missing them from work he went to the
Fish Pit,, which were opposite the defendant's
house. about 11.30. He stood on the Fish Pit
bank for some time and about 12 o'clock he saw
Motterum stagger into defendant's house. About
'twenty minutes afterwards he saw the two men
come out of the house and stagger to the urinal,
an! go back to the house again. About two o'clock
he saw Potter go down defendant's garden and as
he was going he fell down. The police went in the
house about one o'clock. Mottermn came out of
ne house about a qual ter of an hour after the
police had been, and he was then drunk. Abut
three-quarters of an hour afterwards he saw Potter
leave the house by the tiaek door and he was also
drunk.—By Mr. Waldron: He took a prorni•ient
part in the temperance cause and was very much
oppose 1 to public -heue,es.—Police-constable Ilicitlin
stated that from information nceived he went to
the defendant's house, in company with Police-con-
stable Wynn at about one o'clock on Tuesday, the
6th inst. EL there saw two men named Motteram
and Potter, who were drunk. Motteram was eat-

iag something and there was a jug before then;
con-
tainin ale. There were four or five more men in
the house. Mrs. Jones was managing the business.
He saw Mrs. Jones in the passage and told her that
two men of Mr. Chamber's were in the house, both
drunk, and she had better turn them out. She did
not make any reply and he left the house and stood
on the opposite side of the road. About ten minutes
afterwards a man named Motteram came out the
back way, staggering about, and began to talk to
Mr. Chambers. He was drunk. They stood there
until a quarter to two and as it was raining fast
they went into an engine-house. Mr. Chambers
called his attention to Potter, who had fallen down
in tht garden on leaving the house. Potter got up,
steadied himself, and came to him.—By Mr. Wald-
ron: He was a teetotaller but had not signed the
pledge nor was he going to. He had been sent for
by Mr. Chambers. He was in the room where tht,
men were. He would not pledge his oath that the
defendant was not sitting with the men in the
room. He did not speak to either of the men
whilst they were eating their dinners. He could
tell by their appearance that they were drunk.—
Police constable Wynn gave corroborative evidence,
—Mr. Waldron, addressing the Bench, contended
_

that the landlord bad not committed an offence
under the Act of Parliament. The e was nothing
to show to the landlord or the landlady that the
men .vere drunk when the police viAted the house.
He could prov, that the men were not drunk.—
Eight witnes,es, including tne landlord and land-
lady, were called for the defence, and they stated
that the men were sober.—Mr. l'irmstone said that
they had given the case their very best and most
careful consideration. There was a conflict of evi-

deuce, but the evidence of two police-officers, who
were men of good character, whose evidence had
always beee found reliable, and the evidence of a
gentleman like Mr. Chambers, would be most un-
llkely to commit perjury in a court of justice, and
the Bench had come to the conclusion that the men
were drunk in the house and they were beund to
convict. They did not look upon it as a very serious
case and should fine the defendant 10s and costs,
and give him a caution for him to be very careful
how he conducted his house in the future, and not
to allow diunkenness or anything approaching to
drunkenness.
DRUNK ON LICENSED PltEMlSES.—inhn Motteram
and John Potter, both of Pensnett, were each fined
2s 6d and costs for being drunk on licensed pre-
mises on the 6th inst.
THREATENING TO KILL. •-••• Henry Downes (21)
svaq summoned for threatening to kill his father,
Henry Downs, an innkeeper, residing at King win
ford, on the 2nd inst. The complainant said that
the defendant had been away from home for nine
days and on returning home on the day in question
he threatened to take his life with a large carving
knife. On the 14th March, two years age be had
to summon him for a similar offence and witness
then withdrew the case. He was in bodily fear of
him and so were all his family. During the last
five years he had paid over £7OO for hes mueh.al
education, and he could not say why he should thus
behave towards him. Defendant played a piano at
Palace,
oman
,Saut,ton, and was for some time
it
organist
a Crystal
Catholic Church.
Birmingham. The Bench said it seemed a most
unfortunate case and all they
gs ts SPta, m
could do in the matter
was to bind the defendant over in £5O and one stir -ty
of £25, to keep the peace for six months.
Wireeten D.,DIAUE.—Three boys named Thomas
Bunn, Ha,.liegton, and William Dunn, residieg
at Saltwells, near Brierley Hill, were suremened for
wilfully damaging sycamore trees, on the 20th inst,
the property of the Earl of Dudley.—Mr, Holber-
ton prosecui ed.—About eleven o'clock on Sunday,
morning, the 11th met, Emanuel Flavell, a watch-
man in the employ of the Earl of Dudley, saw the
boys breaking down some young sycamore trees in
the Saltwells Coppite.—They were each fined 7s ed
including cos's.
THREATS.—John Cooper, a miner, was charged
with using threats towards his wife Eliza Cooper.
—Complement said that on the 30. h ult the de.
fendant threateeed to kill her with a pokee. She
had to leave the house. He had not been a good
husband to her, nor had not given her any money
for several weeks. She wanted hin to anew her

in Peekingham Street, where he hut been lodging,
and pawned it at Birmingham. He was arrested
at Belfast.

HAGLEY.

STOCK SALE.—The Hagley stock sale and annual
show of Christmas beef and 'mutton, was held on
Tuesday last. There was a moderate entry of sheep
of very superior quality, and a large entry of cattle
of very high class A prize of £5 was awarded to
Mr. Timmis, or Stone, for a very fine Hereford
bullock, which was purchased by Mr. Rogers, of
Kidderminster, at £35 10s. Od. who took a pur•
chaser's prize of one pound. A prize of £5 was
awarded to Messrs. J. Corbett and Sons, of
Chaddesley Corbett, for a very beautiful short-horn
heifer, also purchased by Mr. Rogers, of Kidder-
minster at £34 los. Od., he also taking a purchaser's
prize of one pound in respect of this animal. A
prize of .22 was awarded to Mr. Braithwaite, of
lmly Lovett, for a very superior heifer sold to Mr
Young, cf Stourbridge, for £3l 10s. Od., who took a
purchver's prize of 10s. A prize of £2 was awarded
to Mr. George Wilson, of Hampton Lovett for 10
superior wetuer sheep, the best pen of which were
purchased by Mr. Bennett, of Birmingham, at 84,5.
a head, who took a purchaser's prize of 10s. A
prize ofl was awarded to Mr. J. Bach, of High
Habberley, for the 10 second best sheep, the best
pen of which were purchased by Mr. R. Parkes, of
Stourbridge, at 80s. a head, he taking a purchaser's
prize of Sc. Ode pound was awarded to Mr.
Rogers, of Kidderminster, as the largest purchaser
in amouat, and 10s. was awarded to Mr. Young, of
Stourbridge, as the second purchaser largest in
amount. Some very grand wailer sheep were
sent by J. Gregory Watkins, Esq., of Omber.,ley,
making as high as 86s. a head. Tnere was a large
attendance and the trade was very brisk throughout