The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-11-13 00:00:00

THE STOURBRIDGE OBSERVER.

BRIERLEY HIL I.

REFUSING TO PERFORM THEIR TASK. At the
Police Court, on Moaday, before Messrs. F. Evers
and H. 0. Firmstone, Catherine Stevens, Mary
Mar a Windmill avid J.ne Smith wore charged with
re using to perform their t ski of %;ork, whilst in-
mates of the Stourbridge Workhouse. On the
evening of the Ist inst, the defendants left the
Workhouse without permission, and upon returning
were put on bread and water diet and each ordered
to pick 41bs. of oakum per day, the ordinary day's
work. This they refused to do and only picked one
pamd and told the superintendent of labour that
he would find the oakum the same as when he gave
it to them. Defendants were sentenced to 14 days
imprisonment
Dauxic ENN Ess.—Patrick Keenan, shoemaker, of
Brockmoor, was charged with being drunk and
disorderly on fhe 18th ult. this case had been
adjourned to enable defendant to call witnesses.
Police-constable Lafford was again sworn and said
that on the day in question the defendant was in
High S, reet, Brockmoor, cursing and swearing about
Ireland, lie ,vas very drunk and a man named
Mason took him home. Edward Mason, who was
called on behalf of the police, said he saw the de-
fendant as he was going home with another man
who was drunk and rather noisy. In his opini,n
defendant was sober. He deniel taking defendant
home. William Edwards, who was called for the
defence, said defendant was perfectly sober and the
man that was with him was drunk. The Bench
, remarked that the evidence was rather peculiar,
and it was possible that the policeman might have
been mistaken, and under the circumstances they
felt bound to dismiss the charge.
Coat, STSALING. No less than twenty-six per-
sons, living at Commonside and Bromley, were
summoned for stealing coal on the 26th ult., the
property of the Earl of Dudley. The case.; were
proved by Police-constable Hicklin and James
Taylor, from whose evidence it appears that they
were watching at No. 25, Wallows Colliery, for an
hour, and during that time saw the derendants
pick coal out of the bank, carry it across a field.
and put it in different heaps. The defendants had
about 12 cwt. of coal in their possession. The de-
fendants were fined in sums varying from 28 6d to
103.

TAKING PHEASANTS EGG4.—RObert James Co dr,
miner, of Kingswinford, was charged with stealing
pheasants eggs on the 21st May last. Mr. Holber-
trill appeared to prosecute. John Bowen, game-
keeper, in the employ of the Earl of Dudley, said
that on the above date he saw the defendant and
others in Himley Wood, searching about. They
found a pheasants nest and the eggs were taken out
and handed to defendant. He absconded at the
time but had now returned. Another charge of
using snares was brought against defend.int. On
the morning of the 21st ult., at about half-past
six, Additional-constable Woodeook while on:duty
in HimlPy Wood saw defendant go and look at
some snares that were set there. Witness did not
then interfere but watched the next morning, when
he saw the defendant go again to th 3 snares.
Witness then appeared on the scene, and defend-
ant ran away, but was followed and caught. He
refused to give his name, and gave the officer a
wrong address.—The Bench fined him ss. and cost,
or 14 days for the first offence, and 10a. and costs
for the second, with the alternative of one month's
imprisonment.
DAMAGING A FENcE.—Three boys named Bedd ird
Barratt and Edwards, were each find 24. 6d.
for damaging a fence the property of the Earl of
Dudley.
REFusiNo To QUIT. Henry Smith, saddler,
Darlington Street, Wolverhampton was charged
with being drunk and disorderly and refusing to
quit, on the 291 h ult. Police-sergeant Hammond
said he visited the Vine Inn, Trysull, where ho
saw the defendant who was very drunk and
abusive, He refused to leave the premises when
requested by the officer.—Defendant wa. fined 15s.
and cost., which included an allowance of ss. to a
witness.

ASSAULT.—George Hughes, a boy, was charged
with assaulting William Mills, another boy, on the
22nd ult.—Mr. Holberton defended.—On the day
in questbn the two boys were workiug together at
a tin works at Brockmoor, when the defend int
caught complainant with a pair of hot tonghes,
which burnt him.—Mr. Holberton said it was a
pare accident, and nobody was more sorry th in Cie
defendant himself.—Upon the defendant promising.
to pay 15s. for the time while complainant hid
been at play, and the costs, the sutumoni was
withdrawn.—George Harris, an old man, was find
ss. and costs for assaulting William Hand, a boy,
on the 26th ult.
KEBI•ING Doos WITHOUT A LICENSE.—SamueI
Wharton and Samuel Horton, labourers of Kinver
were cha.ged with keeping dogs without having
a license to do so.—Defendants pleaded guilty.—
The charges were withdrawn on payment of costs.
OUTRAGE ON A WOMAN AT BRETTELL LANE.
At the Staffordshire Assizes on Monday, before Lord
Justice Bramwell, Henry Garbett (21, miner,
Thomas Harvutt (21), labourer, Charles Harvutt
(19), labourer, Thomas Robinson (21), labourer,
and Josiah Wallett (21), purldler, were charged
with a criminal assault on Jane Hughes, on the
4th September last, at Kingswinford. Mr. Kettle
was for the prosecution; Mr, Marshall Todd
appeared for Garbett, and Mr. Darliag for the
other three; Wallett being undefended,—On the
night in question prosecutrix, who lodges in
Brettell Lane, went out for a walk with a young
man named Nicklin. They proceeded ab ,ut 300
yards, to Baker's Farm Gate, where they stoo I
talking. Shortly after several youths came up,
one of whom made an indecent overture, for which
prosecutrix sapped him in the face. They then
went on to the canal bridge, where Nicklin left her
to get a light for his pipe, during which time the
men, who had followed them, rushed at the prose-
cutrix, and the offence complained of was then com-
mitted. Afterwards they threatened to throw her
into the canal, but hearing someone corn ng they
made off. She then went to her lodging, and on
Monday following she made a complaint to the
police, and prisoners were subsequently arrested.
Corroborative evidence was given by Nicklin, who,
it was elicited, when the prosecutrix was attacked
went away to look for assi•tance. In reply to a
ques, ion, he said that he did not render any help,
as be was afraid of the men, they having threat-ned
him,—His Lordship thereupon told him that he
was a "dirty dog," for in all probability if he had
interfered the men would have gone away.—Evi-
deuce of identification was given by Samuel Pugh,
whom Nicklin asked for a light at the bridge, and
when the prosecutrix was attacked he and Ni-klin
went away to look for assistance, and then he went
straight home. The jury acquitted Charles
Harvutt, and 1- e was then put in the witness-box
for Wallet, but his evidence only went to show that
he, his brother, and Robinson left Wallett and the
other prisoner at Baker's Farm gate.—The jury
found a verdict of not guilty against Thomas
Harvutt and Robinson, and found Garbett and
Wallett guilty.—Each of these men were sentenced
to ten years' penal servitude.
ALLEGED CRIMINAL ASSAULT AT BRIERLEY HILL.
—James Howell (lb), puddler, was charged with
committing a criminal assault on Caroline Hick-
lin, on the 6th September, at Amblecote Fields,
Brierley Hill.—Mr. Plumptre prosecuted, and Mr.
Darling defended.—lt appeared that prosecutAix
was going across the fields in question. when
prisoner came up behind her, threw her down, and
committed the offence complained of.—For the de-
fence, several witnesses were called, wha said that
onthe day in question the prosecutrix told them
that prisoner had not hurt her beyond pulling her
about.—Prisoner was found guilty of the at tempt
to commit a rape, and was sentenced to eighteen
months' imprisonment, with hard labour.
FOWL STEALING AT QUARRY BANK.—At the Police
Court, on Thursday. before W. F. F. Boughey,
Esq., Stipendiary Magistrate, Anthony Thompson
(30), puddler, Quarry Bank, was charged sdth
stealing a fowl belonging to Amos Dunn, landlord
of the Elephant and Castle at that place.—On
Tuesday afternoon prosecutor's son saw the prisoner
leaving tie premises, and noticing that is pocket
had a bulky appearance he followed him, and found
a fowl which he had stolen in his possession.
Prisoner then ran awny, but surrendered himself
that morning. He now told the Stipendiary that
he was driven by hunger to commit the theft. He
had not done a day and a-half's work a week for
five years, and had a wife and children to support.
—The Stipeneiary infitcted a fine of 20s and costa,
or in default three weeks' hard labour.
A DRUNKEN TINKER. Thomas O'Donnell, a
travelling tinker, was fined ss. anc.l costs for being
drunk and disorderly and refusing to quit the
Unicorn Inn BrettelLane, on Monday last and was
further mulcted in the sum f Is. and costs, and
ordered to pay 3s. 61 the amount of damage done
by him to the taproom door, out of which he kicked
a panel In default of Fttyment he was ordered to
be imprisoned for 20 days.
A CHILD BURNED TO DEATH AT BRIERLEY
—On Tuesday last a child namcd Adam Hunt,
aged about six years, whose parents roside in Park
street, Brira.ley Hill, was left alone in the house
by his mother, who went out for a short time.
Upon returning she found her child in fiam,s,
which she extinguished, not, however,' b3fore the
little one was so badly burned on various parts of
its body that it died soon afterwards.