The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-10-26 00:00:00

BRUMLEY HILL.

DIATH BY Buntrnro.—A. sad case of burning took
place in this town on Thursday morning to a married
woman named Priscilla Lowbridge. It appears that the
deceased was the wife of Robert Lowbridge, who is •
signalman employed at Round Oak Station, and residing
at 22, Dudley-street. The wife had been weighing on the
Wednesday, and Lowbridge left his house about half-past
six o'clock to attend to his duties, and returned home
about halflast seven o'clock on Thursday morning. On
trying the door he could not make his wile hear, and,
thinking, something was wrong he went to Mr. Daniel
Beckley e, and there got assistance, and obtained the use
of a ladder, by the aid of which he got up to the back
window. When there he remarked to Mr. J. Beckley
that he thought there was something the matter, as he
smelt that something was burning. On opening the win-
dow he went at once to his wife's bed-room, and there
found her lying near the fire-place on her back, quite
dead. On examination it was found that her hair and
portions of her body were burnt, and the dressing-table
lay across the body. The floor in one part was burnt,
and portions of the furniture- The tire was extinguished
and Dr. S. Pearse at once sent for, who said that life had
been extinct some hours. It is conjectured that deceased,
in going to bed, must have carried a portion of the
elothes she had washed that day into her bedroom, and
then been seined with a lit, during which her clothing
must have caught fire, and she was consequently burnt to
death.

MASTERB ONE SERVANTH' Cask.—At the Police Court,
on Monday, before Messrs. F. Evers and H. 0. Firm.
atone, Richard Hyde, collier, in the employ of Messrs.
Bowen, brick manufacturers, Brettell Lane, for neglect-
ing his work, on the Slot of September. The manager
of the pit said defendant left his work an the above date,
without giving notice, and had not returned to it. Mr.
Bowen, jun., gabl he did not wish to press the case against
defendant, if he would pay the costs, and return to work.
This the defendant agreed to do, and the case wan with-
drawn,

TREspAsSING IN PURSUIT or GAMS.— John °Stings
Was charged with trespassing in puruit of game, on land
in the occupation of Mr. John Waldron, at Kinver, on
the 17t Mat. Mr. Perry appeared for the prosecution.
John Parsons said he was assistant.gamekeeper for Lord
Stamford. On the above date about a quarter past eight
o'clock in the morning he was on Mr. Waldron's farm.
He heard • gun go off, and saw some partridges fly over
the hedge from the direction of the report. He could
see the place where the gun had une off, because he
could see the smoke from the gun. lie went in the dir-
ection of the smoke, and saw defendant looking through
the hedge, as if he was looking for something in the hedge.
When defendant saw witness he ran away. Witness fol-
lowed and caught him, and asked him where the birds
were that he had shot. He said it was not birds but a
rabbit, and the other man had got the gun. He gave
witness his right name, and when witness asked him who
the other man was he said, 1 should be a fool to tell
you." Witness went to the spot where he had seen the
smoke, and found there some blood and partridge's
feathers. Mr. Thomas Oakley, head.keeper to Lord
Stamford, said he examined the spot pointed out to him
by the last witness, and be saw some fresh blood and par-
tridge's feathers. Defendant said he did not shoot, and
he had not got a gun. Police-sergemt Baldwin said the
defendant was committed for 21 days' imprisonment on
the 18th of July, 1869, for stealing a duck, the property
of Wm. Archer. Defendant was tined 10a and costs; in
default 14 days' hard labour._

SERIOUS AsSAULT.—Joseph Powell (17), was charged
with assaulting Elijah Barnbrisok, on the 18th instant, at
Mount Pleasant. Mr. Addison defended. Complainant
said on the above date he was returning home in company
with the defendant, and a man named Dutton. Dutton
knocked his hat off, and defendant kicked it about the
road. Complainant stooped down to pick spa stone to
throw at defendant, when defendant threw a cinder at
him and struck him on the eye, making it bleed very
much. He did not throw at defendant. George Henry
Cartwright corroborated complainant. Police-constable
Lavin, stationed at Quarry Bank, said he saw complain-
ant on the above date, just after he had received the
blow. It was by Mr. Darby's malthouse. He was bleed-
ing "like as if it was a stuck pig." It was a large cut
over and under the eye. Witness took him home, and
he had considerable difficulty in stopping the blood. He
never saw anything worse in his life. There was a great
deal of blued in the road. Mr. Addison, in defence,
called Charles Dutton, who said he was a puddler at the
Nine Lucks. Oa the above date defendant, complainant,
and himself were going home together. He (witness)
knocked complainant's cap off his head, but he did not
see the defendant kick it about the road. Complainant
picked up two or three stones and said, " You have gut
to have it, and I will cut your head oft' if I can." The
complainant then threw a stone at defendant, and defen-
dant threw one back. I did not see him catch the lad on
the eye with the atone. The Bench said they were of
opinion that defendant did not intend to injure the lad in
the way he had done, but he was guilty of throwing a
stone and causing the wound. As far as they could see
defendant commenced the affair by kicking complainant's
cap about, and they should tine him 20s and coats ;in
default 21 days' hard labour.

STEALING My.—Maria Mason (13), was charged
with stealing ss, the property of Joseph Weston. Mrs.
Weston said she did not wish to press the case against
the prisoner, as she had admitted the offence, and ex-
pressed her regret at the occurrence. Defendant's father,
s printer, at Dudley. was called and reprimanded by the
Bench for neglecting his child, and the case was with-
drawn.