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

THE STOURBBIDGE OBSERVER.

night, and there is a turn-stile. The goods
train was on the line, and that would be sufficient
for any common sense person not to attempt to
cross. The first thing I heard was a scream. I
was there first, because the man was attending
to his duties. I found deceased was lying near
to the down main line by the shed. None of the
trucks standing on the main line had been un-
coupled. There were some trucks added to the
train from the shed. The woman who said she
had gone through the trucks, must have stooped
down and got under. I suppose the deceased's
death was caused by stooping under the coup-
ling chain, and upon getting up must have been
caught by the head between the buffers and
killed

Cross-examined by Mr. Addison: To the best
I of my belief no person took a lamp out of my
hands. Will not swear my lamp was not taken
from me. Cannot say that the light at the cor-
ner of the shed was obstructed by the goods
carriages.
A Juryman: I should think there must be a
light for the woman to pass through.
Cross-examined by Mr. Leadbrook : The cros-
sing-keeper must have signalled to the signal-
man, and got a signal back for him, before any
train is allowed to come into the station.

The Coroner summed up the evidence, and
said there was no doubt the woman lost her life
in attempting to cross over the down line. He
could not seo that the jury could bring any Cri-
minal negligence against the man at the points,
but thought that when the man went to attend
to the points the company should have souse one
there to prevent persons crossing.
.

The jury, after a short consultation, said they
found that deceased was accidentally killed in at-
tempting to cross the line, and they considered
that the wicket gate should have been locked as
wall as the other gate, and recommend that steps
be taken by the Great Western Railway Corn-
pany to protect persons passing over the cros-
sing where deceased was killed, and that the
watchman be not allowed to move from his post
continually as he had done.

and afterwards a stool, bat net nntil after he had
been knocked down by the defendant, and his
father struek with a poker.—Ann Tremens and
Elizabeth Flood gave corroborative evidence.
This being the evidence for the prosecution, ,
John Richard Tremens and Joseph Trornans
were then charged with assaulting Richard Norh
on the same date. Several witnesses were called
to- disprove the statement of Tremens' witnesses.
—The Bench retired to consider their verdict.
On returning into Court, Major Fletcher said
that for the first offence they should fine North
for assaulting John Tremens, lOs and coats; in
the second case they fined Joseph Tromans lOs
and costs for assaulting North by throwing the
brick. The charge against John Richard Tre-
mens was dismissed, and the Bench bound over
each party to keep the peace for six months—
themselves in £2O, and one surety of £lO.
CHARGE OF WILFUL DAMAGE.—Joseph Pear-
son, spade maker, was charged with wilfully
damaging some machinery on the 18th instant,
the property of David Yardley, spade manufac-
turer. Elijah Young said that he was engaged
in the warehouse. On the above date complain.
ant came down to the grinding stone and put a
spade on to grind. Defendant put a piece of
wood on; the top of it, and said he would stop the
engine by pressing upon the stone. It threw the
band off and broke it. Defendant does not work
' for Mr. Yardley, and had no business there. He
formerly worked for prosecutor twelve months
back. Thomas Barlow, engineer, said the de-
fendant came to him, and asked him if he knew
him. Witness told him he did not. Witness
then went to the engine, and found that the band
was off, and broken. He stopped the engine to
get the band off, when the defendant came into
the engine-house and started the engine. The
defendant was drunk at the time. The defense
was that he did not intend to injure the machi-
nery ; that he had worked for Mr. Yardley for
13 years, and merely went to see some workmen.
The case was not pressed, and defendant was
, discharged with a caution.
I CHARGE OF FOWL STEALING. Henry Aldis
was charged with stealing two tame fowls, on
the 31st ult, the property of Ambrose Peal son ;
and Jobn Bishop was charged with receiving
them knowing them to be stolen. Mr. Homer
prosecuted. Thomas Parrock said that as he
was going home about half-past nine o'clock at
•
night he saw a man come from the direction of
the cow-house of prosecutor, with some fowls
under his arms. Ann Manmony, servant to pro-
secutor, identified the fowls produced as the
property of her master, as she had reared them.
'f bey were worth 2s 6d each. Police-constable
Aloe proved apprehending the prisoner Aldis;
that he went to Bishop's house, and asked for
the fowls. Aldis had brought them. Bishop
said it was a bad job. He (witness) found the
fowls in the parlour. Both prisoners pleaded
guilty, and prosecutor asked the Bench to be as
lenient with them as they amid. Committed for
14 days hard labour. _

-0 •
oTEALING POTATOES —John Chapman, Samuel
Chapman, John Chapman, jun., and Elijah Barn.
brook, were charged with stealing a quantity of
potatoes, the property of James Hoperoft, on
the 30th ult. Thomas Chapman Oh said that
on Wednesday night he went with the prisoners
to steal potatoes at Bills's, at Clent. They each
had some. Police-constable Hyde proved that
he was watching the " bnries." About half-past
seven o'clock he saw the prisoners come and
take the potatoes. He apprehended the Chap.
mans. Sentenced to the House of Correction
for 14 days.

Frmoos Rinrwo.—John Whitfield, raper. of High-
street, Brierley Hill, was charged with fatuously riding a
horse at High-atreet, Brierley Hill, on the 23rd ultimo.
Police•sergeants Passey and Welters proved the offence,
and defendant was fined ss. . .

A WATCHRAN TCRNED THIEF. Henry Grainger,
watchman, in the employ of Messrs. Walker, Moor Lane,
was sent to gaol for a month for stealing 501hs weight of
coal, belonging to the above firm.
Holism STEALING. Matthew Stringer, of Bromley
Lane, was committed to the Sessions, on a charge of
stealing a horse belonging to Mr. Mullett, boat contrac •
I tor. The prisoner was apprehended at Wolverhampton,
with the stolen animal. When charged he said he found
the horse on the high road. Mr. Waldron defended.
POACHING.—WiIIiam Norris, of Wollaston, was com-
mitted to the Assizes on a charge of poaching. The
defendant, with two others, was seen on Mr. Foley's land
with three sets and 19 rabbits. On the approach of the
keepers, the men decamped, leaving the booty behind,
but Norris was soon afterwards identified. Mr. Holber•
tan defended.
CHARGE AGAINST A LICENSED VICTUALLER. At the
Police Court, on Thursday, before Mr. I. Spooner, Sti-
pendiary, Elijah Hillman, landlord of the Cross Inn,
Kingswinford, was charged with having supplied spiritu-
ous liquors to a drunken person.—Mr. Perry, of Stour-
bridge, defended.—Police-constable Whito deposed that
on the night of the 19th alt, he saw an intoxicated man,
named James Green, in High-street, Kingswintord. Wit-
ness requested him to go home, and five minutes after-
wards he saw Green handing a glass of spirits to his
wife, who was standing outside the inn, and he then en-
tered. He (witness) followed, and saw him leaning on
the counter, with a glass of spirits before him. Mr.
Hillman's attention was called to the circumstance, and
he said, "1 don't know how he came by it; somebody
must have given it to him.- The witness said he cons'.
dered the man drunk, and defendant replied, " It he ies
I will take the liquor from him and turn him out." The
liquor was then removed, and defendant led the man out
of the house. Cross-examined: 1 told Mr. Hillman I
saw the man drunk in the street, and he said I ought to
have prevented the man coming into the house. Mr.
Hillman has complained to the Chief Constable about my
conduct before now, and I was reprimanded.—The Sti-
pendiary remarked that he did not think the police should
have allowed the inau to go into the inn, lie should as
nothing about the case itself, and it was only his view of'
a police officer's duty to assist in every way to keep peo-
ple out of these serapes, instead of ailowing them hi fall
into them and then charging them with offences. At the
same time, he must caution the defendant.—James Green
was then charged with being drunk at the Croes Inn. De-
fendant denied that lie was drunk, but admitted that he
had had a glass or two. Evidence was given pro and an.
and the Stipendiary inflicted a line of Is and costs.