The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-05-08 00:00:00

CRADLEY HEATH.

CHARGE OF THREATS.—Thomas Burgess, land"
lord of the Bull's Head Inn, was charged with use-
ing violent and threatening language to Selina
Burgess, his wife, on the 2nd and 3rd insts. Mr.
Homer appeared for the complainant, and said he
was very sorry to have to appear in the case, but
the defendants conduct had been for a long time
very bad to his wife, and in consequence of con-
tinual threats, he was obliged to take the present
proceedings, and complainant was afraid of her
life. The complainant, a respectable woman, then
stated that on the night of the first the defendant
came home, just before 11 o'clock, and was-very
violent towards her. He picked up h, knife and
threatned to cut her head off. The servant girl
took the knife of him. When she went up stairs
defendant again commenced to abuse her, and she
had no sleep. On the night of the 3rd inst., de-
fendant again threatened her, andlaid hold of the
chamber ware to throw at her. Defendants con-
duct had been very had for a long time, and she
was afraid of her life. Defendant admmitted that
a part of the statement was true, but that he had
been badly used by his wife's family, and he
ordered one of them out of the house. All he
wanted was for his wife to keep her place. She
was not going to be master over him. Defendant
was then ordered to find two sureities in £lO each
and himself in • £2O ,to keep the peace for six
months. Defendant: that's all right.
HIGHWAY OFFENCE.—Before Messrs. H. Howard
and N. Hingley, Samuel Coley was summoned by
Arlier Wright., Clerk to the Rowley Local Board
of Health, for refusing to pay, £l2 Os 74d hispro-
portional :part towards repairing King Street,
Cradley Heath. Mr. Wright in opening the case
said that King Street had been repared by the
Local Board and the repairs had been paid for by
them. The Claim was against those persons who
had refused .to pay their part, and who were pro-
perty holders. There were i number of persons
summoned, bui some of them had paid. But as
•the defendant had refused to pay, he proposed to
take his ease first. William Whitehouse, surveyor
proved serving the notice. Edwin Burgess,
assistant overseer, apportioning the property.
Mr. Parkes proved making the demand. The de-
fence was that he considered the money too much,
and that he was entitled to a discount. Ulti-
mately the Bench made an order for defendant to
pay the full amount claimed, and costs. Similar
orders were made upon John Davies, Mary West-
wood, William Brettle, Joseph Parkes, Frank
Jones, Charles Bird, Charles Bird, Mary Maria
Priest, Jeremiah Raybould, Levi Price, and Edwin
Hingley.

OLD HILL. -

CHARGE OP PE misrrriso D nuracErrsz se.—At the Police
Court, on Wednesday last, before Messrs. N. Hingley,
H. Howard, and W. Bassano, Thomas Parsons, landlord
of the Railway Inn, Cradley Heath, were charged with
permitting drunkenness in his house, on the 26th ultimo.
Police-constable Cooper said that about ten minutes to
eleven o'clock on the night in question he visited the de-
fendant's house, and saw in the bar two men who had
been fighting. A man named Mansell was bleeding at
the mouth. The men were drunk, and a quantity of
broken cups lay about the room. He called the attention
of the landlord's son to it, who did not attempt to get
them out. The two men fighting were Mansfield and
Felton. Police constable Styles gave corroborative evi-
dence. James Mansell also was called, and said that
when he went into the house two men were staking 5s
each for a race. The landlord's son also staked a sove-
reign on the table for a fight. He was drunk at the
time. Mr. Homer addressed the Bench for the defence,
and contended that there was no drunkenness, but two
men began to fight, and the landlord ordered them out of
the room. In support of this he called James Bunn;
after hearing whose eviicnce the Bench fined defendant
20s and costs.

CHARGE OF ASSAULT AND INTIMIDATION.

James Totterdale was charged with assaulting William
Priest, on the 27th ult. Mr. Stokes appeared for the
complainant, and Mr. Warmington for the defence.
Mr. Stokes. in opening, said that a strike was going on
at Messrs. Doulton and Co.'s works. The defendant was
one of those on strike, and complainant was a workman
from London. On the night in question he should prove
that the defendant assaulted the complainant ; that he
was called a " black•leg," and that they tried to coerce
him, and threatened him. If he proved the case he
should ask the Bench to punish him. He was instructed
by Messrs. Doulton to prosecute, as a number of men
they bad engaged to work were being insulted by the
i.en on strike.

William Priest deposed: I work at Doulton's, and
some of the men are on strike. On the night in ques-
tion I went to a public house kept by a man named
Round, for some ale and porter for the men. I saw Tot-
terdale in the house, sitting by the table. Richard and
Solomon Davis sat by him. The men were on strike.
Defendant got up and whispered to two men, who got up
to go out. The landlady gave me the ale. On going out
I saw the men looking out for me. Defendant said to
me, "What was you doing on Sunday night ? " I said
nothing. Defendant then struck me a violent blow on
the mouth, which caused it to bleed. I said, "Hold off.
you have given me quite enough." With that, defendant
struck me again, and I fell down. I shouted out, and
some women came up, and shortly after I saw two police-
men. I gave information to the police, and he was taken
ihto custody.
Cross-examined: I know the defendant, and also
James Totterdale. Defendant never worked for Doulton.
It was a quarter past ten o'clock. It was at the back of
Round's house. I was going to the works to work all
night. When I called out the landlady came out. I did
not tell her that it was Charles Todderdall that struck
me, but said it was James. Defendant spoke to me. Ht.
had never threatened me before; neither have I had
words with him. I was immediately assaulted. I came
out of the back door, at the bottom of the step. Saw
the defendant there. I know Woodhall, the manager.
Did not tell him it was Charles that struck_rae. I was
sober.
Re-examined : As soon as the assault was committed I
went straight to the manager, and told him it was the
defendant who struck me, and have no hesitation in
swearing it was the defendant who struck me.
Ebenezer Pughtrex, manager to Messrs. Doulton, said
that he saw a number of workmen standing together
near the works, and heard them calling the workmen
"black-legs," and asked them to come out and fight. A
man named Felton and defenlant offered to fight. He
remonstrated with them and told them to go away.
Cross-examined: Defendant said," Come out, and we
will fight them. Fennell pulled his coat off to fight.
Mr.'Wurinington, for the defence, said. that lie had a
complete answer to the case, and should prove that it was
a ease of mistaken identity. Defendant was never em-
ployed at Messrs. Doultan's wor,ksr
.11nd could have no
object in assaulting the cd4lain'ant. befendant was a
respectable man, son of Mr. Totterdale, brick manufac-
ture. The only .evidence given was that by complainant,
who said that he knew the defendant by his voice. It
was not true that the complainant had been intimidated.
He should prove by three respectable witnesses that the
defendant was in the bar for an hour and a half, and never
got off his seat. He was not there to say that complain-
ant had not been assaulted, or to justify the assault; but
he should prove that it was not the defendant who struck
him Mr. Warmington also complained of the way in
which the defendant had been treated, he having been
apprehended on a warrant and bail refused, and taken to
Stafford to await his trial. Defendant had plenty of
persons to bail him out, but was taken up without a war-
rant, brought up before the Magistrates, and remanded
to gaol for a week.. _ _ _

Mr. Hayes said that the defendant had not applied for
bail.

Police-sergeant Walters said that the defendant was
taken before a magistrate, and remanded for a week, and
that no bail was tendered.

Mr. Warmington said he thought the man had been
punished. But, independent of that, he should prove
that it was a case of mistaken identity.
Elizabeth Round, landlady of the Britannia Inn,
Springfields, said she remembered Priest coming into
her house about ten o'clock. He had some ale and por-
ter. Saw him go out at the back door. There are about
live brick steps. In about a minute she heard an outcry,,
and went out as soon as possible. She saw PI lest there.
Lie was holding his month, and said some one had struck
him. She asked him who it was, and complainant said
it was Charles Totterdall. Witness looked round, but
could not see anyone. On going into the kitchen she
saw the defendant sitting in the room, quiet, and the
company was the same.
Solomon Davies said he was at the Britannia Inn from
half-past seven until half-ps st ten. Heard of Priest being
assaulted. Did not see complainant in the kitchen; but
saw the defendant. At the time the outcry was- made it
was dark, and defendant sitting on a bench by the side
of a man named Adkins. Would swear he was in the
house, and had not been out for an hour or an hour and
a half. Did not see anyone go.out of the house.
Cruss-examined : I am one of Messrs. Doulton's men
on strike.

Thomas Adkins, in the employ of Messrs. Doulton,
slid he was not on strike and was iu the public-house,
and sat by defendant. About ten o'clock, he heard the
outcry. At that time defendant was sitting by wituestes
side in the kitchen, and had been. so for an hoar and a
half.

ion cross-examinsilon, witness said that he formerly
Isrinerly worked for lot•erdale.E,Hialfatber and broths r
al,o worked for To terdale, sad he hadionly worked for
Messrs. Doulton a month.

The Magistrates retired fpr.a short time, to consider
their verdict. On returning into court, they sard they
should fine the defendant for a. common assault only.
Defendant was then ordered to. pay a fine of lOrand
costs.

,
ASSAULT Cass.—William Felton was charged with as- •
saulting James Mansell, on the 26th ult.
,Complainant
-aid he went to Parsons'a to have a cup of die, when the
defendant was staking money for a race, Ile said to the
defendant, 1, Drop the piece," when the latter got up
and struck him several times. James Brooks gave cor-
roborative evidence. Several previous convictions were
proved against the defendant. Fited 58 and costs. •
CHARGE or AsBauvr.—William Dunn was charged
with 'assaulting William Williams. The assault com-
plained of was that complainant caught holdtpf him by
the coat, and shook him. The defence was that compliiin-
ant had hold of one of the ducks by the 'neck, and was
swinging it round; and he merely caught hold of com-
plainant by the collar to take him home and get his
name.—Williams was then charged with cruelly illtreat-:
iug a duck, the property. af William Dunn. Complain-
ant then proved that the defeedaut broke a wing off the
deck, and injured it about the neck, and witness had to
kill it It was worth 4s. The assault case was dismissed,
and Williams tined 58, and 48 the value of the duck.