The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-11-28 00:00:00

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BOARD OF GUARDIANS.

The usual meeting of this Blard was held I
yesterday; Mr. Billingham in the chair. There
were also present :—Messrs. Thompson, Hall,
Homer, Baker, Wood, Guest, Rhodes, and
Parkes, The minutes of the last meeting were
read rod confirmed. Admitted into the house
during the week, 16; discharged, 6; dead, 4;
born, U; remaining, 318. Corresponding
week last year, 355. Out door relief: King.
swinford district, £23 98 61; Stourbridge dis-
trict, £l7 10s Id ; Halesowen district £l6 12s
8d ; non-resident paupers, Ils 81, total £5B 8s
6d; against £59 lie 7d last year.

IMPORTANT TO ENOINEERS.—This WAS a case in
which William Harrison, an engineer in the employ
of Thomas Parker, wheel manufacturer, Stourbridge,
sought to recover the sum of XS is, for alleged wrong-
ful dismissal. Mr. Homfray appeared for the de-
fendant. The complainant stated that he claimed
the amount for having been wiongfully dismissed by
the defendant from his service. Mr. Homfray said
that on the Monday preceding the Friday the prose-
cutor caught the defendant asleep on his engine, and
gave him a week's notice to leave. He did not at-
tend to his work during the week, but went for his
wages on the following Saturday. Mr. Parker having
given evidence to this effect his Honour said this
case was a very important one. He held that an
engineer, by whose default other men might be pre-
vented following their employment, was, in case of
illness bound to send within reasonable time notice
that he was not able to attend to his work, in order
that a substitute might be got. It was his duty to
send a notice to the work that he was ill and could
not go, and his neglecting to do so was such gross
misconduct that a master was justified in dismissing
him form his service. He, therefore, should give a
verdict for the defendant.

STEALING SWEDECL—At the Public Office, yester-
day, before Colonel Fletcher, and ILO. Firmstone,
Edward For was charged with stealing a quantity
of swedes on the 18th inst, the property of Mr.
Birch, of Churchill. Police-constable Jackman,
said that he was on duty on the above date, when
he saw the defendant pick up a quantity of swedes
and put them into his dray. There was a half.
hundred weight, and they were worth nine-pcnce.
Pleaded guilty. Fined lOs and costs, and ordered
to pay the value ; in default 11 days,
CAUTION TO CA/ITEM—lsaac SOUDIE.II was
charged with riding in his cart on the 24th inst.,
at Cradley; without having reins to guide the
horse. Pleaded guilty, and ordered to pay costs.
DRUNK AND DISORDERLY.—SaumeI Wood WAS
charged with being drunk and disorderly at the
Lye, on the 22nd inst. Police-constable Harrison
proved the case, and said it was lialf-pa.st eleven
at night, and defendant was making a great noise.
Fined 2s 6d and costs.

WOMEN'S QUARRELS.—Ann Haywood, of Old-
swinford, was charged with assaulting Sarah Ann
Adams, on the 21st October. Mr. Wall appeared
to prosecute, and Mr. Perry defended. This ease
was adjourned from the 23rd October, in conse-
quence of complainant being confined. From the
evidence of complainant and others, it appears that
there was a dispute between their husbands and
others. At that time, d4endant came up and
struck her on the abdomen, which caused prema-
ture confinement. Mr. Bayley, surgeon, said that
he examined the complainant, but found no
marks. On the third day he examined her again,
and saw a very slight bruise. Edwin Wheelwright
and George Orford were called for the defence,
and both swore that the defendant did not strike
the complainant. The Bench said the assault was
evidently, according to the evidence, a very slight
one, being merely a push. But a push was an as-
sault in the eye of the law; and they fined de-
fendant Is and costs.

ASSAULT CASE—Charles Adams, William Adams
and Philip Adams, were diargel,l with assaulting
Charles Haywood, on the 21st inst. Mr. Perry was
for the complainant, and Mr. Wall defended. From
the evidence it appears that a dispute took place
between the children, when Charles Adams came
and struck him. The other two defendants struck
him and kicked him. He was covered with
bruises on the head, legs and body. Dr. Bayley
proved the injuries received, which were causedby
blows and kicks, Several witnesses were called to
corroborate.—Charles Adams was then charged
with using threatening language to Ann Haywood,
on the 21st inst. After hearing the evidence, the
Bench remarked that it was quite clear from what
they had heard, that quarrels were continually
going on, and they had determined to bind all the
parties over to keep the peace—themselves id £lO
and one surety of XS—for 12 months.
SERVED HIM RIGHT. Charles Adams WAS
charged with indecently exposing his person on the
20th inst, to Ann Haywood, with intent to assault
her. Mr. Perry appeared for complainant, and Mr.
Wall defended. After hearing the evidence, Col.
Fletcher said they had no difficulty in arriving at
a conclusion as to the defendant's guilt. He had
been guilty of most disgraceful and cowardly con-
duct, and was liable to three months' hard labour,
but should sentence him to one month's hard
labour.

ASSAULT AT THE Lim—Richard Sikes was charged
with assaulting Lucy Edmunds on the 18th, and ,
further charged with using threatening language I
to her. Mr. Perry appeared for complainant, and
Mr. Wall defended. Complainant resides with her
uncle, Mr. Brooks, at the Lye. On the above date
the defendant struck her, and blackened both her
eyes. He struck her because she (witness) had
been saying something bad about his wife. In
answer to the Bench, witness said that defendant's
wife is her sister. Mr. Wall, for the defence, ad-
mitted that his client struck complainant ; but she
first struck him with a poker. The Bench re-
marked that as the parties were related, they
thought if the defendant was bound over it would
answer the purpose. Defendant was then bound
over in £lO, and himself in £2O, to keepthe peace
for six months.
Dauisx AND DISORDERLY. Ambrose Yardley
was charged with being drunk at Wollescote, on
the 22nd inst. The defendant pleaded guilty, and
was fined 2s fid and costs.—William Hill, of the
Lye, was charged with being drunk and disorderly
at the Lye, on the 21th inst. Police sergeant Rea
proved the cIISO. Fined 2s Gd and costs.
PFDESTRIANISM.—The final heats of Mr. J
Cooper's 130 yards' handicap were run oft at the
grounds at the Ridge Top, on Saturday afternoon
last. The day was very unfavourable for the sport
the air being raw and cold, and a dense fog per-
vading the atmosphere, to such an extent that it
was impossible to see the competitors for more than
a few yards at a time. Notwithstanding these dis-
couraging circumstances, however, there was a
very large attendance a spectators, and specula-
' tion was very brisk. Owing to the fog, it is MI-
, possible for us to give a detailed account of the
running; we shall therefore content ourselves with
giving the winners of the various heats. The fol-
lowing were th%nwinners of the first heats E.
Steadman, J. QuWry, J. Green, S._Eleock, J. Hod-
,.

,
getts, C. Swain. R. -Spea,rse, T. Walton, J. Comp-
son and T. Brettell, the latter having only to walk
over. They then drew lots for the next heats,
which were run as follows: E. Steadman, Enville,
(293/4) 1; J. Quarry, Wordsley, 21, 0; J. Compson,
Wordsley, 29f, 0; J. Hodgetts, Kingswinford, 24,
0. This was a very good race, although the win-
ner won rather easily at the finish by about
yard.—T. Bretton, Lye, 29; C. Swain, Btierley
Hill, 21; and S. Elcock, Wordsley, 33. There was
a considerable amount of money changed hands
over this event. At first odds of 6to 4 were freely
offered on Swain, but just before the start the
betting veered round, and slight odds were offeie I
on Brettell, who, won, after a fine race, by about
half a yard.-3rd heat. J. Green, Wordsley, 30j.;
T. Walton, Wollaston, 34; and R. Spearse,Words-
ley, 25. Each of the competitors in this keat was
freely backed by their partisans, neither having
the call in the betting. The result justified this,
for after a fine race it was found that Green and
Spearse had made a dead heat, whilst Walton was
close up. The deciding heat was cleverly won by
Green, by about two yards.—For the final heat the
competitors were Bretton, Steadman, and Green.
The betting on this event was very spirited at 6 to
4 on Brettell, 5 to 4 on Steadman, whilst as much
10 to 2 was offered against Green. After an excit-
ing contest, Steadman succeeded in breasting the
tape about a yard and a half in front of Brettell,
the same distance separating second and thild.
Notwithstanding the large concourse of spectators,
the proceedings were of the most orderly charac-
ter, and the arrangements being of the most effi-
cient character, both for runners and spectators,
overrate was satisfied. The contests, too, were of
ii unusually open description, as was evidenced
by the fact that nearly the whole of the starters
were backed. „