The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1866-11-24 00:00:00

OLD HILL.

TUE LATE CHARGE OF TRESPASS.
At the Petty Sessions, on Wednesday last, before E.
Moore and F. J. W. Barrs, Esgrw. Elizabeth Chapman
was charged with trespassing Cu laud belonging to the
New littlish Iron Coinp:any.
Tiiia case. ljar re rlersi will recollect, was adjourned for
Mr. Harts. Mr. Burbury, and Mr. lloinfray to inert at
ton o'clock at the pit bulk for the purpose of examining
the rood. On Wednesday they met, and on returning to
Court Mr. llomfray asked Mr. Barry for his decision in
this case, which hi, wauld recollect was a ijourned for the
purpose of going to see the road. Having done no be
must now ask for his decision.

Mr. Barbary said that was not so. The ease was ad.
journal for the purpose of the worthy magistrate going
ti look at the road at his (Mr. Barbary's) request. Hav•
iug done so, he should propose to call Ibis witnesses.
Mr. H fray said it was ialjourned for the purpose of
Mr. Barra to examine the road and give his opinion upon
it. Having examined the road be must now ask for the
decision which his ass willing to abide by.
Mr. Barbary sail what he understood was thls. has.
an iiii;iortant case affecting this district, and he asked
Mr. Barra to sec the place previous to bearing the evi•
dunce. Having seen it and returned, to hear the evidence
and then give his judgment. He did not call any witness
lust time, but he had come that day with live who were
prepared to give evidence in the case.
Mr. Bares: I understood that it was left for use to de•
eide after going to see the place.
Mr. Barbary: I certainly did not understand it in that
way. What I understood was that you should examilio
the place, bear the evidence. and then give your decision.
With that understanding I did not address the Court on
the last OCCIISiOD.
_ _

Mr. Barra : If the ease is to go on now I 1111191 retire,
and it must be hied by another magistrate.
Mr. Barbary: Will you give your decision as to what
theyompany should do with the road.
. . . . _

hlr. Burrs: That will be exceeding my jurisdiction. I
think the case had better be adjourned.
Mr. Ihnuflay : That will be putting the company to a
great deal .4 expense, bringing me here time after time.
I understood that it was left to the decision of the worthy
magistrate, and with that understanding lie did not bring
any witnesses. lam quite willing to have the decision
of the !lynch at once, and will abide by it. As regards
Mi. Barbary's evidence, I am quite willing that lie
should call his witnesses now no that we may have the
case settled.

The case was ultimately adjourned for it days.

SERI,II,I ASSAULT. —At the Petty Sessions, on Wednes•
day last, Elijah Williams, Joseph Woodierll, and krael
Siviter, all of Cradle), Heath. were charged by Edward
Bidesteld with unlawfully as-lilting and wounding MU]
with intent to do him grievant bodily harm, on the 21nt
ult. _Complainant, an elderly man, presented a sad
spectacle, his eye being bound op from the effectu of the
injuries received by a atone. On being examined he
said: On the above date I was coming from Spinners
End, about twelve o'clock at night, in company with his
wife. Woodhouse began to throw atones at us. I then
turned myself round, saying at the same time that I
would go and see what the game wan. As soon as I
turned round Woodhouse and another man ran up Spin-
neret End. I turned the corner. As I did so I was struck
on the eye with • large stone, and knocked down, and be-
came imensible. I du not know who threw the stone. I
have a witness, but he is not here. At this stage of the
proceedings the case was adjourned for further evidence,
ha the Bench considered it a very serious assault. Dc'
fendants were then bound over to appear next Wednes-
day.
Woirma's Qvaausi.s.—At the Petty Sessions, on Wed•
nesday last, Betsy Crofton and Sarah Ann Croson were
charged by Caroline Baggott with assaulting her on the
tillx inst. On the above date she was in her Clay house
about half-past twelve. She began to abase witness, mid
she returned it, Witnese said, " Pull 'em," which is •
nickname, when the defendant began to throw at her, and
she in return threw at her. Betsy then struck witness,

and both defendants got her down, and blarked ha r eye.
Witness did not return the blow. She i, in danger of her
life. Sarah Garland said alien sire went they were all
in ai corner together. Witness saw blood on the com-
plainant's face, but did not see them begin the row. In
defence it was stated that the defendant first la-gan to
throw clay, and some of it went in Betsy's eye. Mr.
Moore: You have no right to take the law vito pier oaur
hands ; and yen are fined Gal each and costs, 15s ed.
A BRUTAL AOSAULT.—thI Wedllolol,ty loot, at tie Pub-
lie Office, Solomon Roberts, a 'miner, wan charged by
Mary Harris with assanitieg her on the inst.
Pleaded guilty. From complainant's evidence, it seems
that defendant had been paying his addresses to her daugh-
ter. On .e above day he came into the house and had
ammo words with her, aml began to beat leer, when the
mother interfered. Defeedant then commenced to brat
the complainant, knocked her down, kicked her on the
body, and blacked her eye. She hail been very ill ever
since from his violence. The Bench remarked that it
was a very bad case to beat a girl he was courting, and
then to strike her mother. Fined 50a and coats; in de-
fault six weeks' hard labour.
CHARgE OF Ann t ULTIMO AND THRMATENIND.—A. Firs•
GRACEFUL FELLow.—At the Petty Sessions, on Wednes•
day last Thomas Price, chain makor, rctiiiing at Cradley
Heath, 1111 charged by Tracy Guest with asaaulti rag and
using threateuiug language In lier on the 17th inst.
Complainant, an interesting bribing woman, said she bad I
been keeping company with the defendant some time.
He seduced her, and got her to leave a good place on Use
pretence that he was going to marry her. He now refused •
to do no, and on the above date she saw him talking to a
young weenie, when she told him that she wanted to
speak to ham. He told her to go about her business.
She refused to do no until sire had spoken with him.
Defendant then struck her on the breast and knocked
her down. Defendant bad previously assaulted her. In
answer to the Bench, witness said she was enceinte by the
defendant. The Bench remarked that his conduct was
most disgraceful, to get a respectable girl into trouble
and then to desert her. Fined 20a and Coats; in deLiult
one month's hard luboor. At the expiration to find one
surety in £2O, and be bound himself in £2O, to keep the
peace for six months.
WILFUL DAMAOR.—On Wednesday last, at the Public
Office, Jeremiah 13illiugham was charged by James Drove,
of Cradley Heath, with wilfully damaging a quantity of
grass on the 13th bast. Prosecutor said that lie rented
some ground, and on the above data the defendant walked
across • seed piece, and damaged some clover. Ordered
to pay the costa, and promise not to repeat the offence.
CHARGE OF WILFUL AND MALICIOUS DAMAGE. At
the Petty Sessions, on Wednesday last, George Day, of
Oldbury, was charged by George Taylor with wilfully and
maliciously damaging a wall OD the 23rd ult, the property
of the Earl of Dadley. Mr. Owen appeared to support
the case, and said that his lordship's agent had built •wsit
at considerable expense, at Perry Lake. They had suf-
fered for some time past by prisoner wilfully knocking
it down; and he should prove that the defendant dam-
aged it on the above data. If he reared this to the sat.
infection of the Bench, he was instructed by the Earl of
Dudley's agent to ask them to make an example of the
defendant; and to lot others know that they could not
damage other persons property with impunity. William
Whitehouse, farmer, of Portwuy, stated that on the above
dab: he aim the defendant, with a horse and cart loaded
with Rowley-rag stone, going along the New•road; and
with his bands defendant pulled the coping stone of the
wall for twelve or sixteen yards. Witness then asked
him what lac pushed the atone off for. Defeedant re.
plied," F.ar mischief." 'tubed Ormond, surveyor to the
Earl of Dudley, abated that the damage dune would be
from 25s to 30s, and that the wall cost the Earl of Dud-
ley £l5O within 12 inoutlay. A good deal of damage had
been done by patties pushing the coping stones off. Mr.
Darby said that he employed the defendant to work for
him at Cl. per year. lie hail no father or mother, and
had promised not to offend agnia. The Benaffi fined the
defendant Is, and 10s the damage, and costs. Mr. Darby
paid the money.