The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-02-21 00:00:00

OLD HILt.

CAUTION TO PUBLICANS.—At the Pollee Court,
on Wednesday. before Messrs. F. W. G. Barra and
H. Smith, John Tranter, landlord of the Britan-
nia Inn, Springfields, was [summoned for unlaw-
fully opening his house during prohibited hours,
on the Bth inst. Police-constable Cooper said he
was stationed at Old Hill. On the above date, at
5.25 p.m. he visited defendant's house in company
with Police-constable Goodfellow. Ile found four
men in the house. One of the men came from
Hawley Brook, and the others lived within 200
yards of the house. There was a stain on the
table as if some ale ;had been there a short time
before. Police-constable Goodfellow gave corro-
borative evidence. Defendant said he had invited
the men to tea, and there was no drink had in.
Fined 20s and costs.—William Cope, John Cope,
and John Baker were ordered to pay costs, for be-
ing in the Britannia Inn, on the Bth hist, during
prohibited hours.
ANOTHER Cum.—William James Hingley, land-
lord of the Ball's Head Inn, Rowley, was charged
with a similar offence, on the Bth inst. Police-
constable Cooper said he visited defendant's house
on the above date, at 5.40 p.m, and found a man
and a woman there. The landlady was warming
souse [ale. The man gave the name of Joseph
Whitehouse, of Dudley. Defendant's wife said
the two people said they were travellers, and she
was getting thein;something to eat and drink when
the officer came in. Joseph Whitehouse also gave
evidence. The case was dismissed.
DRUNK AND REFUsINO TO QUlT.—Ehjah All-
port was charged with being drunk and refusing to
duit the Golden Cross Inn, Old Hill. Mrs. Whit-
more, the landlady, proved that defendant lwas !
drunk and refused to quit the house when she re-
quested him to do so. Fined 58 and costs.
THE " LAWYER" AGAlN.—Sainuel Willetts,
aUss lawyer, was charged with assaulting Police-
constable Cooper, at Old Hill, on the 4th inst.
Complainant said he was on duty ou the above
date, in company with Inspector Price and Police-
constable Shorthouse, when they heard a distur-
bauce, and on going to the place they found the
defendant on his back in the street, shouting out
murder. Ile was very drunk. They got him up
and took him as far as the Cross. Witness then
let him go home, but he came back in about half-
an-hour and created another disturbance. Wit-
ness went to him and he got on his back and tried
to bite witness leg. It took four men to carry him
to thm police station. As they were going along,
defendant kicked witness in the face. Defendant
said the officer kicked him and he asked the Bench
to let him strip and exhibikthe bruises. This was
respectfully declined. Defendant afterwards said
some men had thrown him over a wall. Mr.
Hayes, the Clerk, read over a list of 11 previous
convictions against defendant, who wa.s fined .£lO
and costs; in default three months.
RIOTERS IN TROUBLE.—Hezekiah Round (13),
was charged with committing a br( ach of the peace
by throwing stones, on the 4th inst, at Old Hill.
Thomas Gould, butcher, Cradley Heath, said he
was going through the Corngreaves School Yard,
on the 4th idst, when he saw the defendant throw
three stones in the direction of Harris's public-
house. He gave defendant into custody. Police-
constable Cooper corroborated Gould. Defendant
wits finec 40s and costs; in default six weeks im-
prisonment.—John Priest was charged with as-
saulting William Andrews, landlord of the Crown
Inn, Waterfall Lane, on the 4th inst. Complain-
ant said he had been to the polling booth in the
Halesowen Road, and as he was returning home
he saw the defendant with a lot more menthrow-
ing stones from a bridge. A stone thrown by the
defendant struck witness on the leg. Police-con-
stable Jackson said he saw thedefendant throwing
at the people. Everyone that went under the
bridge mad a stone thrown at them. Mr. Bars :
1 know that, I was there myself. Defendant was
fined .£5 and costs; in default 2 months imprison-
ment.—Warwick Plant, fishmonger, was charged
with committing a breach of the peace by throw-
ing stones, on the 4th lust. John Powell said he
saw the defendant throwing stones in the direc-
tiou of a cab that was passing. William Cheese
! said he was being conveyed in a cab, with three
! other persons, towards the polling station in the
! Halesowen Road. As they were going the cab was
thrown at, and a quantity of stones (produced)
were thrown into the cab. Defendant was tined
40s and costs, in default six weeks imprisonment.
CHARLIES UNDER THE FACTORY AcTs.— George
Edwards, Ann Poole, Edward Lowe, William
Bowater, and James White were each fined 6d and
costs, for employing children under the age of 13
! and not producing certificates of their attendance
at school.—William Poole was tined 6d and costs
for employing a child under S years of age in his
uaibshop. The cases were proved by Inspectors
Junes and Brewer. As some of the defendants
pleaded ignorance of the law relating to the point,
Mr. Jones said it was impossible for the people to
be ignorant of the law as it was so well known
throughout the district, and he hoped the cases
would be made as public as possible. If any one
else cause before the Bench, he should ask for a
heavier conviction. Mr. Brewer stated that he
had visited more than 2000 nailshops, and unless
the offenders were more severely_dealt with they
should not be able to put a stop to such practices.