The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-06-14 00:00:00

TflJ OVI P 1(7 I, Fin .

possible. He asked them did they think the
clergy could play seven fiddles with one bow,
whilst a layman could not play one fiddle—
loud cries of " Keep them out.") There was a
story of a little boy who Was asked after supper
by his Mamma if he could eat a little more, aud
who said if she would wait whilst he had
loosened his waistcoat he thought he could. It
seemed to him that some of their miuietera had
done so much in the woy of school management
thst they must have been in the position of the
little boy. Ile hoped that the remarks he had
made had not led them to iufer that he had the
slightest hope that the School Board system
would become the unanimous system of the
country for some time to come. He thought it
was not desirable on account of the reasons
which he had already stated that any persons
who had the management of other schools should
not be elected to sit at the School Board—(cries
of " Cut it short ".) He took it that the same
gentlemen who had the management of any
other local school would fluid himself in, a very
embarassing position if he had the management
of schools uuder the Board ; and it would there-
fore be as Well to elect gentlemen who had not
the management of local schools. Any member
of a School Board ought to give up the manage-
ment of coy other local schools. By the manage-
ment he meant the power to dismiss the master
and mistress of the school. Although this was a
power that might not have to be exercised once
in the course of many years, yet the possession of
it was a most important point. A good school
might not cost more than a bad one. He believed
that the future welfare of the children would de-
pend on the right fulfilment of that duty. It
seemed to him that the developments of the rights
and duties of the laity in educational matters was
one of the most hopeful features of modern times.
He therefore asked if the time had not arrived
when the laity could tako some of the educational
responsibility from the clergy. The clergy were
now willing to give way in the matter of religious
instruction so tar as to have the Bible read in the
schools with only a slight necessary explanation
and for the catechism to be excluded. This was
an important point. Surely an educated layman
of any church must be fully competent to superin-
tend any such scriptural instruction as that. This
brought him to the Nonconformist wog:Lamm°
which was as follows, that the Bible should not
be read in the school, and consequently that no
inquisition into the teachers' manner of explain-
ing it was necessary in the school. Most of the
teachers of the present day belonged to what was
called the Broad Church, and held very liberal
views upon religious questions, and it would be
very irksome to them to have to explain the Bible
to children under the supervision of a sort of re-
ligious inquisition. The working men of Stour-
bridge would feel very indignant if they found
that such an inquisition as that of which lie had
been speaking would prevent them from doing
what they liked—(hear, hear). He shortly after- I
wards referred to a bill which he held in his hand
and which most of them had seen—(cries of "read
it.") it would not do for any few members of any
religious body—Nonconformists or Churchmen—
to think that by calling together a few friends at a
private meeting to think that they could dictate to
the people of Stourbridgc who should represent .
them on the School Board—Cloud cries .d "hear, I
hear.") He strongly advised the working men of ,1
Stourbridge not to be dictated to—(great ap-
plause). He strongly advised them all to see their
own lodgment and to exercise their own opinion,
and not to suffer themselves to be bound by any
proceedings that may have taken place onside of
those walis—(cries of Will you kindly read th.i ,
bill," and applause). He then proposed the follow-
ing resolution " That while recognising the
great value of the servic.:s that have been rendered
uy IM:deters to the canoe of education, this meet-
is of opinion that the echool Board ought to con-
sist of laymen—(loud. cheers).
The Cnsiraviii then said that the next busi.
nese was t 8844)L1,1 the resolution.

Mr. II )trers hero steppei ferwarl to secon.l
Lt, hut could liar fly a ko hiaiielf heard amid
the u1...r0 r c iil ly Lime p.n.s.,n who was
drunk atteutpan4 to s.l.lreths tuo meeting, and
Vie lou.i cries of thoie who were cilting for him
to be turnel out. Mr. It-ige:s, however, de•
elarcd he would tuuke hini•43li heard, sal in
stnetorien tones he secouLicithe elution.
The Chairman rose at said the resolution
W. 141 i.rop.ipea hi J. C. .t. Se..V., Esq., mil sec-
onded Mr. Rogers.
•

Mr. S'eutt : By the Rev. A. Rogere, Mr. Chair
man—(laughter).

rhe'in.e-ting 'was bcre interrupted by cries
to tha effect that the tee:4lBbn bid not been
lecouded,

The C.hairman thou said if any ratepayer
wishel to wake a rout it od the subj •ct he
shout I he most happy t.o ho a them.
The Ch tirobto, atter saint]; a short time,
said as there ams no rateoiyer to mike a an.
:mak, he %cm:l take the Bonsai of the meeting
(you the resolution. ill two real over the re-
setuti in, and asked thg id in favour of it to il.J!ti
piieir him Is.

-.-
Here an inturruption ag iia took place, nni a
XEr. I tonuor, of Chore:t Savet, after 3 w1:10
the pittforet Loa n4.lr,aae.l
three preB4ut. lie begun by te!inta the tueeting
Cott he lie.l not wool' to say oa the sahject.
The ditlieulty of olueatiou had hot u (juts-
tila of, day ; nor ayear; nor for Ilged 1,14N1.
What ur.an.4 are you f;..i og to take to etlucato
the el.iltlreo. Are you ti wipe Joao the
li*.!?.! boys Li the ianly•dar ly f sin, same
they did whea I was a littk lcry."_( rheepeat„,
bee went thohigh a pantontinic perforoolne :
w:C; hi 411 ill 1.1 illhjCltr to. recess of tbrati.
tag a lad, whi:h reused great laughter; awl
w,-re 100 I cri.r; of " 0 i Jolt ; let 'on
;e(Ve i;.)" II• woal•I up by at•ho4 L 'a bay
secu'ar ecLte.ttiun, aol hot;iihg mcv:e."
Tae ClEtiru in Clid, the in nox ar.
r:ee 1 to la )lnintle owiidates.

Mr. Scott rose ml said he had great plc-waive
i no :dn :thag the first name. that of the
man ;if he would show him He was a gcatle-
Min, and was well-known and respected.
Mr. Edwards rose to second the proposition.
Mc. Hughes was a gentleman of independent
means, and had time on his bands to attend to
it. He believed it would be much better to
elect laymen than clergy, and that the business
would be done by thcm—(cheers). If elected
he believed he would do his duty most heartily,
and be felt great pleasure in seconding the pro.
position,

The Chairman said, if elected, he should do
his duty fesrlessly for the rising generation,
and without bias.

Alr, H. Mills proposed Mr. T Wall, which
was seconded by Mr. J. Emery.
The Rev. A. 11 igcrs said he had great plea-
sure in proposing the next eandalata, one who
was weld kno.vn to them, one whose name had
been in Steariwidge for more than 200 years,
and hoped that every ono in th it room would
give him a vote. He did intend that it
should , the first name, and he had no doubt
the Chairman wanld. The gentleman was John
Charles Adey Scott, Esq—(great cheering).
Mr. M. Barlow proposed Mr. Edwin Statxley,
which w is seconded by Mr. H. Orford.
Mr. J. Allsop, semi., proposed Mr. James
Me Ewen, which was seconded by Mr. Woolley.
Mr. W. Edwards proposed Captain James
Walker, which was seconded by Mr. Cartwright.
The Chairman then proposed Mr. W. Edwards
which was also seconded. •

Mr. s.cott proposed Mr. Charles Cochrane, of
the Orange. which was seconded by Mr. A.
Cook.

Mr. Henry Richards proposed Mr. George W.
Prescott —(treinendoui chemingl. This was
seconded by Mr. Ralph Wood.
Mr. .1. Hughes proposed Mr. E. Stringer,
which was seconded.

At this stage, the Chairinan asked it Mr. H.
itich.irds was a ratepayer.
Mr. Richards said if he had not been one, he
should have been a foolk't man to have been
there.

"dlr. Powell 131114, if there Wll,, any donb,. he
would propose Mr. Prescott—(loud cheers).
The Chairman said he was quite sat'sfied.
Mr. H. Hicklin proposed Mr. Billingham,
which was seconded by Mr. Allsop. .
Toe Chairman then put the names of the
various candidates to the meeting, and the most
popular were Mr. Scott, Captain Walker, and
Mr. Prescott, whose names were loudly •ap•
ply!! led.

Liter in the evening, Mr. J. Hughes was pro-
posed as a member for the Board.

Mr. J. Beddoes here attempted to speak,
amid loud cries of Get on the platform " and
eonfusion, and his remarks were inaudible

(Loud cries of "He is not a ratepayer.)" Having
satisfied the Chairman that he was a ratepayer,
the speaker remarked that he had not much to
say, but he hoped they would hear him. He had
been educated in the town—(cheers and hisses).

A voice, "Jack ! don't cry.
Mr. H. Hicklin : Mr. Chairman it's a waste of
time for him to speak.
Mr. Dancer : Allow me, gentlemen, to say a few
words. It appears to me—(Loud cries of "Turn
him out," and "Standdown Jack, you are drunk.")
After considerable confusion, the speaker touched
his forelock in a very polite manner towards the
Chairman, and then left the platform amid great
uproar.
Mr. J. Beddoes again attempted to speak, and
got onto the platform amid roars of laughter. He
wanted to know what they wanted a School Board
for. He was reared at Scott's school, and many
hundreds besides him. He knew Mr. Scott's
father, and his grandfather, 65 years ago.—(loud
laughter). What did they want to educate them
better now than when he went to school—(cries of
" Sit down Joe.)
The Chairman suggested that a committee
should be formed, to include the twelve nominated,
and that Messrs. Packwood, Pagett, Butner, and
Haskew should be added to the number. On
putting the motion, a majority was against this,
a. 14 loud cries were heard, that no conunittee was
w.mtediAt the close of the meeting, however, the
p 'coons nominated were asked to retpain, and a
lar.re committee was formed for the purpose of
selecting the most popular men, ,and with a view
of electing them.
Mr. Scott proposed a vote of thanks to the
Chairman, who, in returning thanks, remarked
that on the whole the meeting had been a good
one. A little chaff had been introduced in a
humourons way, but it had all gone on well.
The meeting then separated.

tholiWAY OFFENCIL—At the Petty Sessions, yes-
terday, before C. Cochrane, Esq., Thomas Tolley,
farmer, of Hagley, was charged by Superintendent
Freeman, with allowing two horses to stray on the
9th inst. Police-constable Summers proved the case.
Defendant was tined 5s and costs.
CRUELTY To HORSES. Jacob Edwards WBs
charged by Superintendent Freeman with working
two horses at Broom, on the 10th instant, whilst in
an mifit state; and John Westwood was summoned
for allowing them to be worked. Police-constable
Jackmau proved the case, and said the wounds on the
shoulder were in a very bad state, and were bleeding,
Mr. Morton gave the defendants a good character.
Edwards was disharged, and Westwood lined 20s and
costs.
A WtFE BEATER.—Messra C. Cochrane, H. 0.
Firmstone, and It. L. Freer, David Brettle was
charged by Maria Brettle, with assaulting her on the
9th, Mr. Perry defended. Complainant, who had
a shocking black eye, said that the defendant struck
her, and that she was now suffering from defendant's
misconduct, and had been obliged to go to the Hos-
pital at Birmingham. Witnesses corroborated the
complainant as to the assault. Defendant pleaded
guilty, and Mr. Perry, for the defence, said that the
complainant was a very violent woman, and aggrava-
' t-d the defendant. She had threatened to break up
the home, and threatened to kill hint, and in the ex-
citement defendant did strike his wife. Fitted 208
: Itnd costs; in default one mouth.
NatiLacT OF WORit.—John Smith and William
Hancox were charged with neglecting the work of
Messrs. King and Co., on die 6th instant ; and .ft 4
was claimed as compensation. Mr. Collis defended.
The case was adjourned for the production of the
agreement.

STEALING TIMBER—Edwin Chance was charged
with ,tealing a quantity of wool, od the 11th lust
the property of Thomas Parker, of the Hersey
Whe .1 Works. Police-sergeaut Jones proved that he
met the defendant with the wood produced, and he
gard a wrung name. He apprehended him, when he
coalessed that he worked for the prosecutor, and had
stolen the timber. Mr. Parker ideutided the timber,
but gave the defendant a good character, and asked
the 13 en ehtobe as lenient with him as possible. In
conkleratiou of his previous good character, defend-
ant was only ordered to be imprisoned for 24 hours.
ASSAULT CASE.—Piltfbe Gordon was charged by
Hannah Homer with assaulting her on the 11th inst.
After hearing the evidence, which was to the effect
that the affair occuwed through some disturbauce
between their respective childrea, th, Bench ordered
complainant and defendant to pay the costs between
them.

killiag her first husband by throwing him down a pit.
Del mdant had often threatened to kill her. Defendant
hound over in £lO, to keep the peace for siz
months.
ASSAULT CASE.—Doreas Bo)hasn't was charged with
an tutting Maria Hussey, on the 27th nit. Complainant
maid that the defendant struck her, and pulled a quantity
of hair off her head. The defence was that they both
fought, and the ease was dismissed.
CHARGE OF THREATENING —Mary Cotton was charge
with threatening Hagar Desks, on the Bth inst, and
prayed for sureties of the peace. Mr. Addis•tn appeared
for complainant. After hearing the evidence of each
site, which was of a filthy nature, the Bench diamiased
the -ammons —Emily stinton was charged with using
threatening language to Ann Parkes, on the 6th inst.
In this case the usual complimentary language was used
tco,raartrd,saenadchthoethßere,nacnhddlih.ne
ipssnediietshe .a.ppeared violent in
13111101111.
PALTRY CASE.—Ann Davis was charged with assault-
' inti Emily Stinton, on the 26th mad 2711 i ult. From the
• evitence of complainant it appeared she went to the
Hinton house for a half-pint of ale, when the defen-
dant struck her, put her in the cellar, and shut the door.
After hearing the evidence, the case was dismissed.
CHAROE OP STEALING IRON.—George Houghton
chsrged with stealing one iron shackle, the property
the L mdon and North Western Railway Company.
'orge Fewkes, in the employ of the Great R esters
Railway, said that the shackle produced belonged to the
London and North Western Railway Company, and
marked with their stamp, and believed Me iron belonged
to them. P S Baldwin proved that he found the shackle
pro-laced in the prisonerla brewhouse, aud asked him
h ,tv he cane by it. He replied that he did not know,
and he witness took possession of it. From enquiries
mode found it belonged to the London and North-Western
Railway Company, and have not had time to communi-
cate nath them and asked for a remind. 'lbis was granted
and priioner admitted to bail in two sureties of £lO,
and himself in £2O. _

lams STEALING.—SamueI Bloomer (14), was charged
with stealing two pieces of pit chain, and three pieces
of irou rail, on the 6th mat, the property of Earl Dud-
ley. Mr. Homer defeeded. Sarah Watietms, wife of
Samuel Willetts, Four Ways, Cradley Heath, said that
on the above date the prisoner brought the iron pro•
duced to her. She weighed Band paid hire at the rate
Of eightpeoee pet score pounds. and fivepence for other
iron. Ilad often bought iron of the prisoner and other
boys. Thomas Morgan, engine-tender to Earl Dudley's
24 pit, said that on the 2nd inst. he cut two pieces of
chain out the same as that produced, and left the chain
nester the dresaers. Have nine tuissed the chain. Can
swear to one of the pieces of chaiu, having marked it
with a chisel in maiseitig a blow, and is the property of
Earl Dudley. P.O Taylor proved that he found the iron
prod need with other iron at lir. Willett'a house. Defen
dant denied that he knew anything anent the iron. Mr.
Homer, addressed the Bach for the prisoner, aud cou-
tended that the receiver ought to be punished aud not
the prisoner. It often happened that boys picked op
bits of iron which was took to the iterapa; aim., and our
thing led on to anotner. The guilty person he cou-
sideted was the receiver, who was going unpunished as
was often the ease,read the thief gets punished. Witness:a
were called as to character, and the Bench sentenced
prisoaer to one month's hard labour.
AusAULTINU a WoMAN.—Willams Denison wan charged
with aemauking Strati Wes.woo I, of itiackheath, on tue
3rd his;. Complainant said that on the above date, de-
fendaut struck her oeveral times. Did not give him any
provocation. Pleaded guilty. Fiued Is and costs ; iia
default 14 day:.
IritAListi Itios.—lnkertaen Rose, • youth, was chat ged
with stealing a foothrok, the propeity of the narl of
Dailey. Sarah Wilietts, of Cradley, proved that the
prisoner brought the hook (produced) to her amout a
fortnight ago. She bought it of him. He stated that he
got it out of the cut " John Williama, inspector of
machinery to Earl Dadley, proved that the hook pro-
duced wee the prope. tv of E trl Dudley, aud that it was
worth 4s. The defence was that be had tee iron out of
the "cut." fileeteneed to one mouths unprisoulueut.
DAMACING Mow's° GaAs.. Thomas tireeti Vfial
Maimed with damaging a quantity of mewing grass, on
tie 4li Mat, the Cr ;if Joseph 0 hitehouse• Do-
t- ndeat was fo.ed lo the damage, and a hue a Is soul
c •sts.—Frat ei We-t sood also charged widi a :msg.
Our now ng grmota ;01 tan 71,4 idst, the properly oi -Joseph
Whitehouse. Fined 2s sad costs, and 6il d Image
ANOTHaII CACA t-rg,,.sts —lidniart IZeeee,
an ea wet, Was cbareed by Henry Fox, on behalf ; the
X. w tint h Iron seth steal rig is VI tnti• y of
trot 16i be, on the 23in Slay. Benj loin Sates p'o.e
Seeing emisoaer Lir, the iron away. tteery lox, eamclo
m in, proved that he fumed the teen it tau Rag Mil;
F ego, and that the ir..n po.ieciJ belonged to the veal-
p my. tic. bert Hipkisa said that Le sew toe presoucr
at i.e forge on the i 3 h alt. Prisoner broug :t the iron
pr ;laced as a whe.rlb aro, aol adrid Lou to fitl It.
sty-hog that he bad got it out a the old monad 'AI.
j o,oei tea me sk.
SMILING BOOTS ;—Lr.cy Ann Whitley, a young
girl. a, an charge I with stealtug a pair of booterta the
Slat nit, the pr perty of ThoruasJohn Y 'auk Mary
Uni-iinhsprv.oi that she saw the priso Cr. take the Loots
in question. Wittiest" fol.° xed her down the Urea mind
seined her of taking theme, shu denied taking thu to de
oh e she aft. d up toe prisouer's filmset, sad found the
b iota henries( od her aim. I'rism:mask:4 her to forgive
h r, but gave her in charge. Insremtor .Price proved
styrehending the prisoner on the 31st int, vu a charge
of stets hg • pair of boots. I:v.:fence was also given
Oat :he prisouer and her .it, cause to the sh-p after.
wards under the pretence of makiag a
not do no. The b..ets were worth 4a 6 In considers.
ties of previous good charadter, prisoner was fined 20s
and coats; is defailt are month. Purentome, but did
_ .

Ts foilowirg traneftrs to pace :
The Heath Tavern, Crallvy death, tram Tobias liing'ey
to Ann Ilaria Hickman; Ike d, Cratliey,
from Coroehus ES:riny to Sarah Deeley.