The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-11-19 00:00:00

LYE.

CHARGE OF CUTTING AND WOUNDING.—At the
Stourbridge Polic e Court yesterday, before Col.
Fletcher and H. 0. Firinstine, Esq. (magistrates),
Caroline Westwood, of no fixed residene, was
c..arged with unlawfully cutting and wounding.
Hannah Cook, of the Lye, on the 15th inst.—Prose-
cuti ix stated that about four o'clock on the day in
tries, iun she was having her tea in her own house
Prisoner came from the direction of the Fox public•
houso, with a knife in her hand, and stabbed it
through the window and broke it. She told pri-
soner that she wculd have to pay for it and she
said she would She asked prisoner to pay for it at
once and prisoner said she would cut ht:r --
heart out, and struck her with the knife on her arm
cutting it in two places. Prisoner struck at her
several times, but the knife did. not cut her any-
where else.—Jane Freeman gave corroborative
evidence.—Dr. Smith gave evidence as to the
nature of the wounds, which were, he said, not of
a serious character.—Police-constable Madeley ap-
prehended the prisoner in Coventry .-,t,reet, and on
the way to the police station she dropped a • knife
from a bundle that she had under her arm.—Pri-
Boner was further charged with stealing a water-
proof sheet, value 2s 6d, the property of Robert
Luther Bayley, surgeon, of Stourbridge.—When
she was taken to the station on the former charge
she had a bundle in her possession, which, on being
opened, was found to contain a waterproof sheet.
Enquiries were made and it was found' that she had
stolen it from Dr. Bayley's.—The charge of cut-
ting and wounding was altered to one of assault, to
which she pleated guilty.—Sbe was fined 4,0 s for
each offence, with the alternative of one month's
imprisonment. The imprisonment to be consecu-
tive.

BRIERLEY HILL.
CAUTION TO BOADOLtie...At the Polies Court on

Monday, before Messrs. H. 0. Firmstone and T.
Wilkes Webb, Joseph Lane, boatman, was sum-
moned for navigating three boats on the Sturbridge
canal without having a midden or stern, contrary to
the bye-laws of the canal company. Alfred Weston,
a toll collector, in the employ of the caunal company
stated that the defendant was taking three boats
along the Stourbridge canal without helms or any-
thing to guide them, on the 20th ult. Defendant
had helms in the boats but neglected to put them
on the boat to use them.—lt was also stated that
this case was brought because the men did so much
damage to the bridges, and they wished to make
an example of it. Fined 58 and costs.

DRUNi AND DISORDERLY.—Joseph Cox., of Pens-
nett, was charged with being drunk and disorderly,
on the 15th ilia. Police-constable Buckley
proved that the defendant was -drunk and fighting
in Bank Street, Brierley Hill, on Sunday night last,
the 15th inst.—Defendant was fined 2s 6d and
costs, with the alternative of 14 days' imprisonment.
SENT TO AN INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL.— Jam es
Hignett (9), and Benjamin Turberville (13), both
of erockrnoor, wha were convicted on Mondiy last,
the former for stealing figs, and the latter for
stealing coal, and who were remanded to the Work-
house for a week, were now ordered to be sent to an
Industrial School until they attained the age of 16
years.

WILFUL DAMAGB.—Charles Griffiths and George
Haywood, coal haulitrs, both of Stourbridge, were
summoned for damaging a fence, the property of
William Blewitt, farmer, of Bromley.—Mr. Holber-
ton appeared to prosecute.—lt was stated by a girl
named Elizabeth Hingley that the defendants
broke over the hedge into a field of swedes in
Broil:11p), Lane, belonging to the proaecutor. The
statement was contradicted by the defendants and
a witness, and the case was adjourned for 7 days, in
order for the prosecutor to produce further evi-
dence.

NON-PAYMENT or RATES.—TWO persons living at
Bromley were summoned by the Bromley Surveyor
for non-payment of rates. The amounts duo from
the defendants were proved and orders for payment
in 7 days were made. _

ALLEGED INDECENT ASSAULT —Herbert Biggs,
bricklayer, of Park Street, Brierley Hill, was
charged with indecently as,aultmg: Jane Cowell, on
the Bth inst.—Mr. Holberton defended.—Prosecutrix
was sworn and stated that she was the wife of
G.3orge Powell, a miner, residing in Park Street,
Brierley Hill About 4.30 on the morning of the
Btb of November her husband left the house and
went to his work. She was left in bed and went
to sleep. She was awoke by being indecently
assaulted, and called out her husband's name. The
offence was repeated and she again called out her
husband's name, but did not receive any answer,
nor did she hear anybody move about the room.
She got out of bed and attempted to strike a match
but could not. She then went down stairs and put
a match box in the fire. She then heard mile one
cominc, down wairs into the kitchen and found that
it was prisoner. He came up to the fireplace,
having nothing on but his shirt, and said " Give me
a kiss end say nothing about it." She told him
that she should "Have the law on him, and tell his
wife" Prisoner then left the house.—ln answar to
Mr. Holberton she said that there were two child-
ren in the be I between her and the man that was
in bed, and also That three other children were in
the bedroom. She was in the bed with the man
about two minutes after she was woke, but did not
scream because she did not know but that it was
her own husband in bed. The children were not
disturbed.—Alice Cowell (9), the daughter of prose-
cutrix, said that about 7.30 on the morning of the
Bth inst., she asked her mother what she knocked
the lamp glass off the lamp for, and she told her
that a man had been in the house, but did not say
who it was.—Mr. Holberton addressing the Bench,
said that so far as Mr. Higgs was concerned, it was
a mistake altogether, as he was not there. There
was a contradiction in the evidence and it was not
trustworthy. It seemed a most improbable thing
that it should have happened without any of the
children hearing it, Commenting upon the evi-
dence of the little girl, he said it was in favour of
the prisoner, as prosecutrix only siid "A man had
been in the house," and did not mention the name
of the man. There was not. a tittle of evidence to
connect the prisoner with the matter.—The Bench
considered that there was a prima facie case, and
committed the prisoner to take hfs trial at the
_ _

Stafford Sessions:--Prisoner was admitted to bail in
his own recoguisances of £5O, and two sureties of

A 25 each. -
THEFT OF A SHILLING.—Joseph Bale (16), was
charged with stealing from the house of William
Henry Cox, a shilling, the property of John Phillips
on the 18th inst. Sarah Anu Bird said that she
resided with her uncle, William Henry Cox, at
Barnett Lane. She received a marked shilling from
John Phillips and put it into a tobacco box which
stood on the shelf in the house. The prisoner came
to thelhouse about four o'clock and shortly after he
left the house she went to the box and found that
it had ben taken out. There had been nobody else
in the house.—John Phillips, of Bott Lane, said
that he gave the last witness a marked shilling
(the same was produced), and he saw the prisoner
go towards the house.—Caroline Hall, shopkeeper,
of Wordsley, said that prisoner bought half-a-
pound of cake, and gave her the shilling produced
to pay for it. She handEd the shilling to Police.
constable Hume.—The Bench said that owing to
the prisoner's previous good character they would
give him the option of a fine, and fined the prisoner
id, with the alternative of .one month's hard
labour.

Asseura.—John Cadman, of Summer Street,
Kingswinford, was fined is and costs fcr assaulting
a young woman named Eliza Billingsley, re-iding
in the same strcet, on the 4th inst.
CAUTION TO INNKEEPERS--Thomas Wills, land-
lord of the White Hart Inn, was summoned for not
having hislname painted up over his doorway. The
case was withdrawn on payment of costs.
THE RATING CASE OF MESSRS. WEEB.—At the
Police Court on Th irsday, before W. F. F.
Buughey, Esq , (Stipendiary). In this case his
Wovship said he thought tie firm were liable tis
they t.ad had a beneficial oocupation.—Mr. Hol-
bertoo, solicitor, and Mr. Gittiags, coleet.)r, were
present.

- A BATCH or COAL STICALERS.—Sarah Garbett,
Mary Milliehip, Selina Jones, Mary Ann Jones,
and Eliza Cooper were charged with stealing coal
from the Earl of Dudley's Wallows Colliery:—
Millichip, an old offender, was E ent to gaol for 21
days. Garbrtt, Cooper, and Mary Ann Jones were
fined lOs and costs or 14 days, and Selina Jones
56 or 7 days