The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-04-17 00:00:00

Elcock appelred to prosecute and Mr. Fatish de-
fended. Prosecutor proved that he had not received
the sums of reorwy paid to prisoner, and it was not
entered in the cash bo .k. The Rev. S. H. Eld, of
Belbroup,-hton proved that he p lid prisoner £1 7s 6d,
qn the 17th October, 1878. it was also proved that
prisoner had been paid by Fonnell's Fiecutors, 29th
FcbzuAry, 1879, £3 12s 8d ; Wesleyan Mutual
Socipty, 151 ; Harmonic Society, 14s, July, t 879.
Prisoner pleaded guilty. The case was not pressed
and he was senteuced to three months imprisonment

with hard labour.
THe CH ‘.RGE GP RIOTING - Charles Moreton,
Henry Walton, George Stedman, Albert Wakeman,
and George Wakeman were brought up on remand,
on a charge of rioting on the 12th inst. Police-ser-
geant Jones, stationed at Stourbrsdge, said he was
in High Street, in the evening, from about half-ist
seven till a few minutes pest ten. There wae stone
throwing, and it continued more than an hour
Thene were three or four thousand people there.
A great number ef stones were thrown. The stone
throwing was chiefly between the Talbot Hotel and
the Town Clcek. There were several officers injured
by the stone throwing. About half-pest eiget he
(witness) was knocked down by a brick. Cross-
examincd. The police did not commence to clear
the street before the stone throwing began. NA to
his knowledge had any people been leetten by the
police before the stone throwing. Pone --ergeant
Powell, ate,' ioned at Wolverhampton, said he was on
duty in High Street, Stourbridge, in the evening,
from ab eit five o'clock until about ten o'clock.
There were bad eggs and oranges thrown at the
police before the stone throwing commenced. The
stele throwing began at about eight o'clock, and con-
tinned more or less until Police-sergeant Jones came
down, an.l else the whole time between eight and
ten o'clock. The street was full for a considerable
distance each side the TalbA Hotel The chief of
the throwing was by the Town Clock. Several offi-
cere were injured by the stones. The police did not
attempt to clear the St eet t,efore the throwing com-
menced, and it was in censer-lie-lace of the throwing
that he sent for instructions what te do. Cross-
examined : He was sure the stone throwing had be-

gun be?ore the pi-lice began to charge the people.
There had not:been anything on the part (if the
police to CAUSO the stone throwing. The etones were
thrown at the police. Police-eonstab!e Cartwright
said that on the night of the 12,11 MA., he was
placed on duty in New Street about ten o'clock.
He saw Georee Moreton standing on the corner of
New Street, (the High Street me). lie siw him
threw five stones at the policemen that were standing
at the corner of Coventry Street. He was behind
the defeadent. He was about thirty or fo.sy yards
from de endant when he threw the first stone. He
put his hand on him as soon. as he threw the last
s-one. Witness told defendant he should take him
into cus'ody for rioting. Defendant replied he
w add cut their b— heads off; he would make them
Know better than hit him for nothing. On the way
to he st iti en he dropped five stones out of his
ekets. Witness picked them up and breught them
te the sevion. When he got defendant to tne
q:ation he searched him and found several other
stones in his pickets. The stones were produced.
Cross exeenined. He was on the corner when lie
took him into custody. He (witness) was coming
from the direction of the Nag's Head public-hue.
The High Street had been cleared by the police be-
fore this, and he was employed to clear the High
Street. Some of the police used their staff. He did
not know teat tho police followed the people out of
, High Street into New Street. He did not know that
that More on had been struck in the street. Defen-
dant presented the appearance of having his
head bound up. lie did not sae
Mr. Pearson when he apprehended Moret
Did riot hear the Riot Act real. Police-constable
Greenhill, of Malvern, said he, was on special duty
at S.ourbridge, on the 12th inst. He was in coin-
pany with Police-constable Cartwright. At twenty
minutes past ten o'cleck he saw George Moretin
at
the c ..rner of New Street. He saw him throw
stones at the poice in High Street, as the police
drove others down. He was about five yards be-
hied hiha when he threw the flie4 stone, end close
at his bec ween he threw the last. Police-con-
stable Cartwright charged him with throwing stones
at the police and to ,k him into custody. As he
wae going to the station Moreton tried to take soms
stones out of his pocket. He was prevented doing
so. Witness did not see Moreton searched. There
was a great noise and many persons in the High
Street. Police-constable Gibbon, of Great 3lalvern
said he was on special duty in High Street aboat
11 o'elock at night. His attention was called to
Henry Walton He sew Walton pull something
out of his pocket and throw it at tee police and
people near the Talbot. Witness caught hold of
him and found the stones pr ,duced in Walt ,n's
.!rouser p ,ckas. There were nine. Police constable
Greenhill was within a yrie.d of witness. Cross-
examination: Did net see any blow struck by the
p lice, hut felt s )me stones. P.C. Greenhill
said he saw Wal, 0 t t'iro wing stones at the polies.
ile pulled them out of his near jacket pocket. He
was p• e out wen he was searched, and nine stones
upon him. Police constable Eaves said that abut
half-past ten et night he saw e;eorge William
Steadmen with about ten others. He saw some-
thing in h s right hand, and took two ston s from
his right hand ant two from his pocket. Witness
asked def n 'ant what he yeas going to do with
them, and he replied" They are for you b--s."
He toek him into custoly with the assistance of
G Witness was struck many times with
stoties. Cr )ss-ex .mined : Did not see Steadman
.hrow stones. Police-coustalde Grinnell said Lha'
he a-s;sted the last, witness to take Steadm in to
the station and he stones were taken from him.
Palice-c ,nstable Cross said he saw Steadman, w:th
abeut six others. He said he would make it b--
hot for tee police when it got dark. About 8.45.
a number of stones were thrown Four struck
hi n on the head, and he was carried insensible
into the Talbot Hotel. Police-constable Webb
said he was in High Street from 9 until after
11 o'clock. He saw a great deal of stone throwing
and saw many constables struck. His large finger
Wa, smashed and he was injured on the back. He
s tee Albert Wakeman swing his arm as if in the
act of throwing at the police. He caught hold of
hen an I asked him why he was throwing. Defend-
ant denied throwing. Witness searched him and
found the large stone produced in his pocket
Police-constable Grinn 11 said he saw Charles
Wakeman throwing stones at the police. He ran
up to him and took the stone produced from hint
and charged him with throwing stones at the police
Defendant made no answer. This being the evi-
dence, Mr. Perry addressed the Bench for the
defence for Moreton, and contenied that Moreton
was ti:st struck by the staff of a police officer, and
that he did afterwards put some stones into his
pocket hut did not throw any. Mr. Perry Con-
tendel that the evidence fell far short of the charge,
and called Thomas Wall, gardener, who said he
saw Moreton in New Street, between 8 and 9
o'clock, when a rash of persons came, followed by
police. One policeman struck Mereton on the head
and blood flowed. He saw him again in twenty
minutes, and Moreton was talking to a
Mr. Pearson. Another rush came, and one
policeman took hold of him and took him to the
station. He did not see Moreton throw any stones and
called Allan Pesrsou who said he was in New-at.,
but did not s Moreton throw any stones. Mr. J. ,
Taylor, town clerk, said he had known Moreton for '
15 yea's, and during that time he had always been
a steady anti good workman and is sill employed'
under the .Commissioners. Inspector Williams
corroborated and said he was surprised to find the
cargo against him as More on is a
..quiet man.
James Shetten gave the two Wal<einan's a
character. Tnis being the defence the magistrates
r tired to consider their verdict. On returning into
Court, they committed all the prisoners to take
tbeer trials, bail nein.; accepted in £4O themselves
and two sureties e ,ch in
ELECTION Rows. Samuel Rhodes, of the Lye,
was charged with as,-aulting John Pearson on the
7th inst. Mr Perry appeared to prosecute and Mr.
Elcock le,:ended. Complainant said that about a
quarter-past eleven o'clock at night he heard a noise
ant went into the Cross to see what was the matter
He iound his s in in the road with his waistcoat and
seirt sleeves torn. He went up to them and de-
foidauk. struck him on the head with a staff De-
fendant struck him a second time. James Hatton,
John Woodgeley, and James Wood corroborated:
Police-constable Jewsen said he saw defendant
strike Pearson with his fist but did not see him with
a si aff.—Frank Pearson was then charged with as-
saulting Samuel Rhod, son the 7th inst. Corn-
plain int said he was standing by his own door when
he saw his brother being put upon and they began
to fight. Defendant came running out of the house
with a staff in his hand and struck witness on the
bead with the seiffe Witness took it from him and,
struck the complainant in the first ease in self-de
fence. Several witnesses were called on both
The Ltench considered both assaults clearly proved
en 1 fined defi nd ints lOs and costs.