The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-07-10 00:00:00

BRIERLEY RILL.

LOCAL BOARD MEETING.-At a monthly meeting of
this Board, held at the Board Room, High-street, on
Tuesday, Mr. E. Grove presided.—The death-rate for
the past month was reported to be 17 3 per thousands,
and there was an absence of aymotic disease.—The Clerk
(Mr. Holberton) said he wrote to Mr. E. Fisher smith,
as directed, asking him if the Earl of Dudley would
present the coal lying underneath the Town Hall to the
town, or what the lowest price would be. To that he
received a reply stating that the lowest price for the two
measures of coal and gubbin would be £2OO. per acre.—
A plan having been shown of Pensnett Chase, on which
the land on which the Town Hall stands was so marked,
and some members having expressed their belief that
the mines were originally purchased with the surface, the
question was allowed to reman in abeyance until the old
title deeds could be examined.—The adoption of the Free
Libraries Acts having been unanimously agreed to at a.
public meeting, it was decided by the Board to take the-
necessary steps for putting them in force.—The remain
der of the business was formal.

BREACH OF THE PAC.—At the Police Court, on
Monday last, before Messrs. F. Evers and H. Hall, John
Smith and Edward Collins were charged with committing
a breach of the peace, on the 30th ult, at Quarry Bank.
—Police-constable Lavin proved the case, and defendants
who pleaded guilty, were bound over to keep the peace
for six months, themselves in £lO, and one surety each of
£lO.

ASSAULTING A GlRL.—Joseph Homan, of Wordsley,
was charged with assaulting a girl named Sarah Lowe, at
Wordsley, on the 28th ult. Complait int said she was
standing on the footpath close to defendant's house, on
the above date, when dt-fendant ran at her and struck her
on the face with the back of his hand. Thomas Quarry
gave corroborative evidence. Defendant said complain-
ant had offended him by " booing " at him, and he pushei
her. Fined 2s 6d and costs; in default seven days.
CAUTION TO TRESPASSERS. John Moseley, Jahn
McCarty, Benjamin Luck, Tobias Ketley, Joseph Ketley,
Joseph Timmins, Michael Burt, Jane Bristow, and John
Timmins, all from Stout bridge, were charged with dam-
aging a quantity of mowing grass, the property of the
Exors of John Wall, by wilfully trespassing on the 28th
ult.—Johnilloseley, John McCarty, and Benjamin Luck,
were further chargtd with assaulting William Wyldes,
on the same date.—Wyldes said on the above date he saw
the three last defendants, with others, in the field. He
told them to go out as they were knocking the hay about,
and running in the grass that was not cut. The girl
Bristow ran into the grass, and he went to fetch her out,
when the three defendants threw at him. Hsi was struck
with bricks, and his eye was cut.—James green said he
was in the field, and s‘tw all the defendants there. He
saw defendant strike Wyldes.—The case against John
TinnnilDS was withdrawn, and he gave evidence against
defendants.—For ,the trespass all the defendants were
fined 61 and costs. For the assault on Wyldes, Moseley
was fined 5s and costs; McCarty:2s 6d and costs; and
Luck 5s and costs.

ExersE PaoskounoNs.—James Perry was summoned
by Mr. Otter,. Supervisor of Inland Revenue, for keeping
a dog without a license, on the 27th of May last. The
excise offizer at Cleobury, proved that defendant had three
dogs on the above date, cud he only had licenses for two.
The dog was above six months old. Defendant 'pleaded
gui ty, and was fined the mitgated penalty of 255.
STEALING PEAS.—Thomas Wyre and George Morris
were charged with stealing a quantity of peas, on the 2nd
inst, the property of Thomas Gue,t ; and Wyre was far-
ther charged with stealing a leading rein, the property
of Messrs. W. and E. Webb, at Kinver, on the same date.
—Police-sergeant Stevenson said from information re-
ceived he watched for prisoners in the Gipsy's-lane. He
saw them come down the road from the direction of
Cookley. They both hid peas. He took them to the
farm bailiff He asked prisoner Wyre where the leading
rein was, and the prisoner pointed out the place where it
was, in some grass in the field.—Mr. Mountford, the
bailifi, said he identified the leading rein as the property
of Messrs. Webb. It had been missing for some time,
and prisoner had been in the employ of Webb. The
rein was worth 3s.—John Orkley, wagoner, also identified
the rein.—The case against the lad Morris was dismissed.
—For stealing the peas, prisoner Wyre was fined Is and
costs, in default seven days; and for stealing the rein he
was sentenced to seven days' imprisonment.
ASSAULTING A Boy—Martha Gill was charged with
assaulting a little boy named Benjamin Bodman, on the
29th ultimo.—Complainant said he was fighting with the
defendant's brother, when defendant struck him on the
face with her fist, aid knocked his head against the wall.
Defendant said she only pushed complainant away, be-
cause he was fighting with her brother.. She denied
striking him. Ordered to pay costs.
DRUNK AND E 1070178. —At the Public Office on
Thursday, before I. Spooner, Esq., Stipendiary, Edward
ktalpas, of Pensnett, was charged with being drunk and
riotous, on the 3rd inst. Police-constable Keenan proved
the case. Fined 10s 6d; in default 14 days' hard
labour.

CHARGE OF STEALING A KEY. - Joseph Gray was
charged with stealing a key, on the 6th inst, the property
of Samuel Grice. Complainant, who is engineer to
Messrs. Harris and Pearson, proved that prisoner took
the key of the brewhouse. On asking him for it, priso-
ner made use of abusive language, and gave him the key.
Piisoner „who is an old offender, said nothing in defence,
was sentenced to three months' hard labour.

A DRUNKEN RAILWAY Teiveldza.—John Trow, fire-
man, in the employ af the Great VI estern Railway Corn.
,any, was charged with being drunk on the night of the
7th inst. Walter Howard Baker, reporter, proved that
he was in the train at Dudley Port. Defendant was
drunk, and made use of filthy names to his wife. De-
fendant also struck him on the side of the head. The
defendaut admitted being drunk, but did not recollect
striking complainant. He had been in the Company's
service nine years, and never had a blemish on his char-
acter before. Mr. Spooner said there was no excuse for
defendant making use of filthy names to females, and
fined him the full penalty of 4Us and costs. The assault
cise was withdrawn.
CHARGE OF INJURING FOWLS.—Richard Charlton was
charged with wilfully injuring a fowl, on the 22nd ult, the
property of Edward Harvey. Mr. Waldron appeared for
complainant, who proved that the defendant struck a
fowl, and injured it. Defendant admitted that he threw
a stone and his stick at the fowl, but did not know that it
was injured. Police-constable Keenan also gave evidence
as to the injuries. Ordered to pay 21 6d and costs.
Assirta Casn.—lsaac Trace was charged with assault-
ing Edward Thomas Millward, on the 30th ultimo. The
defendant was further charged with cruelty to a dog. Tile
complainant, who is a crate maker, resides at Bret'ell
Lane. On the above date he had a bull-and terrier
whelp with him, which Was eight months old. The dog
was coming towards him, when defendant made a stand
and deliberately kicked the dog, and broke his left fore-
leg. The defence was that the dog ran at him, and he
believed the dog was going to bite him, and he gave him
a side kick. Complainant asked the defendant's name,
but he refused to give it, and struck complainant. Mr.
Spooner: That is just what the complainant says.—De-
fendant: I call this witness to prove that the dog was
running towards me.—Mr. Spooner: You must recollect
that the dog is a puppy.—Defendant: Yes, and I have
been bitten by a puppy.—Mr. Spooner: If you like to
give £2 compensation for the injuries, I will allow you to
do so.—Defendant please to reduce it a little.—Mr.
Spooner: No, I shall not; but I will not fine you for the
assault, which was a trivial one.—Defendant: I am a
public man , being an agent to a life assurance society,
and the money I have belongs to the public generally.—
Mr. Spooner: If you do not pay £2 compensation, I
shall tine you £2 and costs.—Defendant : I have not re-
fused yet, but merely appeal to you—Defendant then
paid £2 as compensation.
CRUELTY TO Doos.—Benjamin Holt, John Bent, and
Daniel Haden, were charged with cruelty to two dogs by
fighting them on the 29th ult. Joseph Burton, watchman
to Mr. Raybould, of Penenett, said that the defendants
were on Mr. Itaybould's premises, and they had two dogs
fighting. He remonstrated with them, when they made
use of abusive language. He told them they were break-
ing the law, and shortly afterwards they parted the dogs.
Shortly afterwards, however, they set them on to fight
l'be dogs bled very much —Mr..Spooner remarked
that it was a very bad case, and he .should flue them £5
each; in default three months' hard labour.
ASSAULT CASE.—Thomas Jarvis was charged with as-
saulting Richard Smith, of Wall Heath, on the 21st ult.
Complainant, who is a shoemaker, said that he lived in
the High-street. Defendant came to him and struck him
on the side of the head. Defendant admitted striking
complainant, and his reason for doing was that complain-
ant insulted his wife and child. Ordered to pay Costa.