The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-06-12 00:00:00

OLD HILL.

THE STRIKE IN THE HORSE-NAIL TRADE.--A
largely-attended meeting of horse-nail makers,
who are now on strike for an advance of wages,
was held on Tuesday at Halesowen. The men
unanimously resolved not to return to work until
the masters concede the 3s. list. Similar resolutions
were passed at meeting held at the Lye and Re...WM
Hill.
DRUNKENNESS.—At the Police Court on Wed-
nesday, before Messrs. B. Hingley and C. Holcroft,
James Cockai, builder, of Old Hill, was charged
, with being drunk in the highway on the Ist inst.
Police-constable Johnson proved the case and de-
fendant was fined is. and costs.—Eli Willetts,
miner, of Old Hill, was fined is. and costs, for
, being drunk and disorderly in the Halesowen Road,
Old Hill, on the Ist lest. Police constable Row-
lands proved the case.—Thomas Atwood, butcher,
of Cradley Heath, was els.. fined 2s 6d and costs
for being drunk on the 31st ult.—Joseph Williams,
chaintnaker, Cradley Heath, was charged with
being erunk and disorderly in the highway, on the
4th inst Police-constable Martin said that defend-
ant was drunk in Granger's Lane, Cradley Heath.
A fine of is and costs was imposed.
DRINK Awash —Charles Jones, a young man,
was brought up in custody charged with travelling
in a railway carriage belonging to the Great
Wes-ern Railway Company, without having an
available ticket. George Parsons, in the employ of
the Great Wesern. Rahway Company, said that on
i the 7th inst defendant arrived at Brierley Hill Sal-
-1 ti .n by the 10 o'clock express train from \Forces-
i ter. He was very drunk and abusive, and wanted
Ito light. On being asked for his ticket he could
only produce an excursion ticket, which was not
available by that train. Inspector Lock said that
the defendant went by an excursion train and ough
to have returned by the 7.20. excursion train from
Woreester, instead of the express train. The
Bench said they thought it was the result of his
gettin4 drunk and fined him 2s 6d and costs.
Wil.Ftn, DAMAGE.—Four boys named John Bed.
does, Mark Lee.iham, Samuel Nock and Joseph
Parkes, of Spring Fields, Rowley, were charged
with wilfully damaging growing crops, the property
of Mr. Wiliiam Davies, of Rowley. Police-con-
stable Styles proved that the defendants were run-
nine- about in a field of growing wheat, belonging
to Mr. Davies. The case was not presssd and de-
fendants were ordired to pay costs.
mouwAy oFFENcE. Joseph Stevens' carter, of
Old Hill, was summoned for allowing his horse to
stray in the highway, on the 2nd inst. Police-
constable Johnson prov,,d the case. Defendant
was ordered to pay costs.
KEEPING A REF3ESH3IENT HOUSE WITHOUT A
LiCENSE —Emily 6tinton, of the Corngreaves Road,
Cradiey llea:11, was summoned for keeping a re-
freshment house without having a liceume. Police-
constable Sylvestra said that on the sth inst. lie
tisited the house of defendant about 11.45. at night.
He saw three men buy a fried fish each and eat it.
Defendant pleaded guilty and said that she did not
know she needed a license. Mr. Woolla.ton con-
sel-.ld for the ease to be withdrawn, and the Bench
allowed it.

FELONY.—William Guest, labourer,. of Rowley,
was charged with stealing a rabbit, the value of
Rs 61, the property of Mr, "William Whitehouse,
Lane -, of Rowley, on the 4th inst. He was further
charged eith stealing 14 fowls, value ..t1 10s. Od,
or or about the 4th inst., also the property of Mr.
Whitehouse. Mr. Wright prosecuted. Prosecutor
said the raboit was kept in a pen in-ide his barn.
It was impossible for the rabbit to have got out
it,elf. On the 4.11 inst, the rabbit w..s stolen. A
skin was produced, which prosecutor ideut fled as
being the skin of the rabbit that he had lost. He
also said that within the last three weeks he had lost
14 fowls, Some fowls were produced which prose-
cutor identified as his property. Thomas Griffiths,
wagoner, in the employ of prosecutor, said he fed
the rabbit bolo aging to his nia-Aer, about s,:,‘vcit
o'clock on the morning it was stolen. lie then
went to work and on returnino. about 12 o'clock
found the ral-;bit had been stolen lie ident:fi:d
the ,kin of the rabbit. He also identifi,d the fowls
produced as bing the same which his master had
lost. Three men were called named Thomas Jewkes
John Smith, and Enoch Richards, who proved buy-
jig the lowli p.oduced from prisoner. Police-con-
stable Styles said he apprehended prisoner on the
7to inst who ou being charged with stealing the
rabbit reilied "I will pay him for it." The wit-
nesses brought the fowls on the following morning
to the p.licc stalion. and said they had purchased
them from prisoner. He then charged him with
stealing the fowls. Prisoner admitted the charge.
—fie was mrther charged, together with another
man name' John Carter, with stealing a hen and
three chickens, the property of Mr. John Hadley,
one of the partners of the Ramrod Hall Colliery.
Prosecutor was sworn and said he Lad lost a hen
and three chickens, and identified those produced
as being the same he hat lost John Hackett, tin
maker, of Rowley, proved buying the lien and
chickens produced from pri,oners for 28. 6d. Guest
pleaded guilty and Carter not guilty. Guest was
sentenced to three months' hard labour for the
first offence, an i one month's hard labour for the
second offence. Carter was sentenced to two
months' hard labour.
GAMBLING. ._William Dann, miner, and Williqm
Slater. nonworker, both of Rowley, were chari..ted
with unlawfully paying at cards in the highway,
on the 29th ult. Police-constable Styles proved that
defendants were playing at cards in the Dudley
road, Rowley. Defendants were each fined 18 and
costs.

ALLEGED FELONY.—Thomas Redford, quarryman,
_Ho Aey, was charged wit'a stealing a lamb, the
poperty of Mr. William Davies, farmer, of Rowley.
Mr. Stokes defended. Mr. Davies said that on the
• 13th ult. ho was called down stairs by his daughter
who told him some men were running the lambs
which were in a field belo.ging to Mr. Williams.
He went in the direction of the field and there aaw
the defend:int with a lamb under his arm, which
was his property. When defendant saw him he
threw it down and ran away. Mr. Stokes here asked
prosecutor if he persisted in charging the defeud,nt
with felony, and he roplied, Yes. Mr. Stokes thea
said that on the day in question the prosecutor's
lamb had got into a field belonging to a Mr.
Williams. Defendant was employed by Mr.
Williams who told hint to catch the lamb and take
it to the pound. Defendant caught the lamb and
wal going to take it to the pound when the prose—
cutor's son went up to him with a large dog and
threatened to set the dog On idi if he did not put
the lamb down, and defendant put the lamb down
and walked away. He had Ur. Williams present
to give evidence to that effect. The Bench dismissed
the case.