The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-09-06 00:00:00

ELECTION OF COMMISSIONERS'

Thursday last was the day appointed for the
election of Commissioners', three for each ward in
the place of those who retire. The polling com-
menced at nine in the morning, and, on this oc-
casion, was kept open in each Ward until four
o'clock, the time for closing. The retiring Com-
missioners were for the East Ward Messrs. Edwin
Stringer, Francis Peiks, and William Edwards.
West Ward.—Messrs. Charles Blunsoni, Joseph
Hazeldine, and Josiah Cooper. South Ward.—
Messrs. Henry Nevrnam, Charles William Collis,
and John Emery. Messrs. Perks, Hazeldine, and
Cooper, did not qualify, and Mr. Collis became
disqualified for non-attendance. There was much
more excitement in the East Ward than usual, and
a conveyance was used to bring up the voters.
The following is the official list of votes polled:—
East Ward.—William Edwards 169 ; george W.
Prescott 153; Thomas Allchurch 126; Edwin
Stringer 109; Edward Elcock 83. The first three
were elected.

West Ward.—Charles Mills 151 ; William Henry
Scott 136; Thomas Penn 52; G. W. Prescott 39;
Thomas Allchurch 27; J. Coope 4 ; Edward Levi
1; H. Newnan; 1; Charles Blunsom 1; J. C. A.
Scott 1. The first three were elected. _

South Ward. Charles Blunsom 116; John
Emery 115; Henry Newnan' 110; U. W. Prescott
12; Thomas Allchurch 4. The first three were
elected.

CAUTION TO PUBLICANS.—At the Petty Sessions,
held yesterday, before Major Fletcher, Messrs. C.
B. Cochrane, C. P. Noel, R. L. Freer, 11. 0. Firm-
stone, and the Hon. C. G. Lyttelton, John Bagott,
licensed victualler, was summoned by Superinten-
dent Freeman for keeping his house open on the
20th nit, during prohibited hours. Mr. Perry
defended. P.O Bladon said that he visited the
defendant's house a few minutes past twelve.
Went in at the back door. Found Mr. Honing
there who was very drunk. Asked him if he was
going to stay all night. He said he was. Witness
visited the house again at half-past twelve o'clock,
Mr. liming was in the smoke-room and had a
glass on the table which appeared to contain
liquors. Mr. limning said he had taken a bed
and was going to stay all night. In answer to the
Bench, witness said that Mr. Homing lived in
flagley-street. P.B Jones gave corroborated
evidenee. Mr. Perry addressed the Bench for the
defence' and read the Act of Parliament bearing
upon the question, and said that the defence was,
that Mr. Healing hail taken a bed there for the
night, and that it was not done with any colour-
able light, and the:question was, whether Bagoft
honestly believed he was a lodger for that night.
He should prove that he did, and that he went
to bed, but from some caprice got up again and
had something to drink, and afterwards left the
house. Several witnesses were called to prove the
above. The Bench considered it a case of great
suspicion and very properly brought before them,
but should not convict on the evidence, and the
case was dismissed. Francis Heming was charged
with being drunk on the 21st ult. Pleaded guilty.
Fined 20s and costs.
CHANGE AGAINST AN APPRENTICE.—Fredrick
Wilcox, an apprentice to John Moore, builder, re-
siding at Beibroughton, was summoned for dis-
obeying his lawful commands on the 21st and 23rd
ult. Mr. Perry appeared for complainant, and
Mr. Collis for defendant. Mr. Perry said that
defendant was apprenticed to learn the trade of a
carpenter, but on the above date defendant re-
fused to put a horse in a trap, or to black of pair
of boots, which he thought was a reasonable thing
to do. Defendant was an in-door apprentice and
he thought it not unreasonable to ask him. The
Bench said that defendant was apprenticed to
learn the art of a trade as a carpenter, and not to
be a groom or servant, and disnussed the case.

CHIROE OF WILFUL DAMAGE AAID DHUNKEN-
NSF:W.—EMMA Parker was charged with being
drunk and wilfully breaking 27 squares of glass,
on the 4th inst, the property of Henry Taylor.
Eliza Worton proved that defendant was drunk
and saw her break the glass. Henry Taylor
proved the damage done was 75. Fined is and
costs, and is damage; in default 14 days'.
CHABO/S OF T.IIIIKATILNINO.—Harriet Maston,
of
.Cradley, was summoned by Hannah Purse-
house, for using threatening language to her on
the 29th ult. Mr. Waldron appeared to support
tue charge, and Mr. Perry defended. The threat
complained of was that she would stick a knife
into her heart or blow her brains out before long.
The Bench did not think there was sufficient evi-
dence, and dismissed the summons.
ANOTHDR CHARDS or THREATENIND.—David
Baker was charged with using threatening
language toCaroline Baker, on the 28th ult. Mr.
Perry defended, and said that the case was brought
through malice, and not from any fear on the part
of complainant. If he established the fact that
there had for some time existed an animosity
between the parties he thought that that would
go far to show that the charge was the result of
malice. He then called the defendant, who said
that complainant was his brother's wife. Some
time previously he made complaints to complain-
ant about the manner in which they treated their
children. On the above date when he returned
home he found the celery all pulled out of his
garden, and said he only wished he had caught
those at it who did it. Upon hearing this Eliza
Taylor came out and struck his wife with a door
key. He never used any threats to complainant
or Eliza Taylor. The case was dismissed.
DRUNBENNEBB.—CaIeb Taylor was charged with
being drunk at the Crown Inn, the Lye, on the loth
ult. Police-constable Harrison proved the case, and
defendant, who pleaded guilty, was fined 25 6d and
costs.—Anu Taylor, landlady of the above inn, was
also charged with being drunk at the same time and
place. Police-constable Harrison said that he went
to complainant to call her attention to the fact that
the defendant in the previous case was drunk, when
she asked him to have something to drink, and say
nothing about it. From something peculiar in her
manner, he noticed her more particularly, and saw
that she was drunk; and he then told her that he
should charge her both with allowing drunkenness,
and with being drunk herself. She again offered him
some drink, and asked him to say nothing about it.
lie, however, refused to accept it. Major Fletcher
then said that a point of law arose in the case, and
they should adjourn it till next week. Mr. Collis,.
who appeared for defendant, said he should not like
it to go forth that his client was drunk. She was
frequently subject to acute pains, and was suffering
in this manner when the officer noticed the peculiarity
of her conduct.—The ease was then adjourned.

CHIMNEY ON Fitts.—Henry Douglas, jeweller,
of High-street, was ordered to pay 6s 6d, the costs,
lor allowing his chimney to be on fire, on the 15th
ult. Police-constable Bladon proved the case.
DnunitatmEss.—Hetuy Matthews was fined 5s
and costs for being drunk at Oldswinford, on the 17th
ult. Police-constable Briggs proved the case.—dohn
Baker, a haminerman at Mr. Bradley's Forge, was
tined a similar amount for being drunk, on the 19th
ult. Defendant did not appear, and the Bench told
his wife that if he was summoned again for a similar
offence he would have to answer the charge in person,
and they would probably commit him to prison.—
Joseph White, of the Lye, was proved to have been
drunk, by Police-sergeant Rea, on the 25th ultimo.
This, being his first offence, ho was only. fined 2s 61
and costs.—John Downes was charged with being
drunk and incapable on the morning of the sth hist,
in Lower High-street. When found, he was holding
on to some smitten, and afterwards was obliged to
clutch the officer for support. Djentlant, here in-
terpellated, that he did not think he was so far gone
that he could not find his way home. As, however,
he admitted that Lower High-street was not on his
way home, and that he not only did not know what
brought him there, but also had no knowledge of hav-
ing been there; and that, according to the evidence
of the officer who arrested him, he did not seem to
know his own name, the Bench appeared to think that
assertion was open to some doubt. As it was his
first offence, they let him off on paying a fine of 2s
6d, and costs.