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

THE ELECTION RIOTS.

At the Brierley Hill Police Court, on Thursday last,
before Mr. I, Spooner Stipendiary. Luke Horton, a
miner, Witi charge-I with assault:u; and threatening to
kill Benjamin Biewitt, a farmer. Prosecutor stated that
a aia,taug of Mr. Shenatoue's supporters was held in tbe
National School room, Pensnett, on the night of the 2n4
inst., and he attended. After the boo. candidate had
made his speech, defendant attacked prosecutor with
formidable stick, and gave hunt a violent ti.oi• woes his
back. He shouted out, ' Where is Blewitt f I will kilt
him. He shan't go home to-night." A great disturbance
followed, and Lroseentur took refuge behind Hrs. Shea.
Stone. He felt the erects or the blow still.
Cross examined : He woo fund of rows. He had been
before that court for assaulting a boy. He could not tell
how many times he had been summoned He could not
say he had been up a dozen times.
The Stipendiary: I know your face.

C—r.oss•eiramination continued: I Wlt3 on Shenstone's
side. and I went to the tuieting with a stick. After the
~etjug hod commenced there was a row, and no ens
could be heard. The Cuainnan (Mr. Cornelius Chun.
bore) called for order, but he was not heeded. We turned
lot of men out, and some fights took place. I took my
share in the row. I won't swear I did not strike &AIM
one with my stick. Perhaps I did; some my I did.
did strike one man.—Tile Stipendiary: No one can pat
the slightes confidence in this man. No living being/mold
rely upon his evidence..-11e. Young asked Mr. Holberton
jibe intended to go on with the vase, and that gentlemen
replied that he only wanted his client to be protected--
The Stipendiary : 'then I will bind them both over, and
Blewita 11111 st pvy the costs of botit—Blewitt lingered in
the witness-box, and the Stipendiary noticing hint said'
do away, and be boundover and you COS add this to tbe
number of your appearances in this place. —Joseph Angel
cl 2), woe then charged by Benjamin Blewitt with a
similar offerco. Prosecutor stated that betwen eleven
and Beeline o'clock in the forenoon of the 3rd instant he
was engagd in delivering voting papers at Commonside.
He met the defendant and three other men close to the
Fi,jj Inn. Witness was alone, aucl carried a stick.— The
Stipendiary : That celebrated stick of yours-15 laugh.)
—Witness Yes, if it is a celebrated stick I was canvassing
for Shenstoae, aud defendant said I shouldn't do any
more that day, ad I land to take shelter in an adjoining
house. He said he would rub we if I did not give him 141
so pay for a cap he had lost —The Stipendiary :When
you applied for this warrant, did you any defendant
threatened to rob yoa if you di I not hand him 14s. ?
Witness: Yea: 1 said he wanted me to give him 14s.—
Mr. Young. You told him what you have just repeated?
Witness: Yes.—The Stipendiary : Why did you tell as
o difforent story ?—Mr. Ifolberton : He 13 rather ex-
citable.---The Stipendiary: He is a violent, injudicious,
and law afraid something worse.—Mr. Holberton said
he wanted the defendant hound over ; and the Stipen-
diary replied: Biewitt is entitled to have the man hound
over, but under no circumstaisiwa give him any costa.—
Defendant was then.bour.gover.

ASAULTLNG • WICK—At the Pollee Colin, 00 Mari-
day, before Mr. 1. Spooner, Stipendiary, Juba Bird waa
charged with amaulting Ims wife, on the 16th inst. Mr.
Ciulow defended. The assault was nut at seriMs one,
and defendant waa ordered to fiad two attretiea to keep
the peace for sa months and pay costs.
//DUNK AND Rlol,ll:7s.—WllusAi Thomas was charged
with being drunk end riotous, an the 171'i fut. Police
amicable Godby proved the case. Defendant sae
further charged witu • similar offence on the 15th Mots
Police-mm.l44We Odes proved the case. Defendant wee
lined 10a 6d in each case; in default one mouth's herd
.labour.

WILFUL Demean. James Miles WAS charged
with wholly breaking ali wer vase, the property of
Sarah Lane. From th, evilence of complatueut it up-
pears that defendauL's wife had rece.ved a veloatiae, and
he charged her lodger with sending it. Defendant in
strikiug the lodger broke the flower vase. The learned
Lipendtary said there was a similar case now before this
superior Court sail he would •ljoona the case for •
womb, to hear that decision. He afterwards reeora•
Mewlei defeudant to settle with complainant. Dented-
ant uhimately paid do dernagc, and costs. Defendant
ws. furtuer energed with awsanding Juba Gardner, the
lodger, sad was tiued 2e 6d ad cods.

_
orcSSAft:LI CASE. Brown, Joseph Guest, and
Silas Vickers were charged with assaulting Charles Lit-
ilewood, at Communaute, on the lath inst. Mr. HOMO?
defended Guest. Complsiumt, an old man, said he went
Into a publicMonse to have a pint of ate. Brown struck
min on tile head in trio passage, and knocked him down
and lucked him. Whilst he was down the other defend-
ants lurked him until he became insennibM. When he
done to Landed Nam, he went out of the house and de-
feudams adorn kiaked Min. lie was Hi bed for two days
And could not walk for four days. Hobert Colley said
be was at the Stamford Arms fun, and saw all three of
the defendants on top of complainant when he was OD
me ground. Mr. Homer aldreased the Bench on behalf
of Guest, and said the evidence was very weak against
turn. There was a row in the house and the landlord
mitered the room to be cleared, and there was no
Laure violence used than was uncisiary in turning them
out. two witoesses were called for the defence,
Bpxoner sail he di i to, belie 'e taem and fined defend-
-41.1 LA £1 each ant coats; in default six weeks imprisoa•
went.

_
AcektlLT try An Fri i hill, green groccr,
was coarged with assaulting Joua Attd, in. on the 4
Ii
suit, by throwing posters and other things at him. Mr.
ilolberton appeared hi Balm at the charge, aud Mr.
rmig defended. Mr. Holuerton, in opening Vie case
sail the assiali arose out of the late electoon for Vie
boromsh of Dudley. Complainant was engaged in bring-
ing up voter iopoU wiser, the aaaaalt took place. Com-
plainant said he lived at Brierley Hill. On the election
day, ah at a quarter past eleven o'clock, he was taking
soW4 voters to poll and was passing defendant's shop.
when she threw a potatoes at turn which struck him on
the ear. Ile saw defendant throwing in the afternoon.
Cross.examined Thee'- were hundreds of persons in the
street and down Lock's Lane. I was not driving, but I
sat by a butcher. 1 Was trying to shield myself from the
stones and potatoes that were being thrown. Wiil swear
that the defendant threw a potato°. William Corbett,
brick manufacturer, said he was passing through Brierley
Hid, on the 4:h hist, wben a potatoe was thrown from
defendant's shop soil etrmk hum The case was dis-
missed.
AsBAELT CABE. Joseph Parkes Was fined .t 5
an-
Cools ; in default 2 mouths imprisonment, for assaulting
William Davey, on the 14th in: