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

BRIERLEY . HILL.

STEALING CHEERY OToCKS.—At the Police COUII, On
Monday, before Messrs. H. Smith and B. St. John
.ItUiews, William Potchard was charged with stealing
it cLetry stocks, the propeity of 'leery lisightley, at
latterford, on the atti that. Mr. H. Sou:Were defended.
ComplainsLt said he was a Ilbourer, and kept a plant...-
nun. On the above haw he met defendaut about ball.
post five o'clock, mid he had some cherry stoeks. WA•
hese went lets the plahLition, and fouLd the tops of
lot of stocks. They hop bete cut oil and were ling on
tue ground. The tops awl the stocks produced corres-
pond. CrONS•CIAILIIIICIi :Ihere are other plantations
me neighbourhood. A mho hauled Jones stud be par.
CII.Wed the stocks produced from defendant, and gave him
as for them. They were Out worth more than as. After
hearing the speech of Mr. Saunders for the defence, the
nehca iLllicted a floe of Li, is damage, and coots ; iii
default one month.

A Lou TIUN iu B 0118.—A lad named Henry Poberts
was charged with being on the premiaes of the Bretteli
Lane Iron Works Company, with intent to commit •
felony. Henry Brice said he worked at the Iron Works.
About a fortnight ago he saw the prisoner in the works.
Witueis whored a The one produced was the
same. William Boughey said a great many handkor•
chiefs; containing the men's dinner had been taken from
the leorkB. and he had frequently seen prisoner loitering
about the place. Prisoner pleaded guilty, and was sen-
tenced to 14 days' hard labour.
. .

DRUNKENNESS.—Joseph Higgs was ordered to pay the
coats la being druuk and disorderly at Wombourne, on
The ti.h instant. kioitee-constable kinidulph proved the

ASBADLTiNG AN OLD WOMAN.—William CartiVrighL, a
little boy, wits charged with assaulting an old woman
named Mary Skeldiug, on the 9th instant. Complainant
said she was walking along the street on the above date,
when a number of boys threw stones and dirt at her.
Defendant was among" them,
and he pulled her dress.
The case was adjourned for a week to enable complain-
ant to obtain further evidence.
Tan CHARD" ADAIR"' • tiareusean.—Loais Spros-
son. under-dramekenPr in the employ of the Earl of
Dudley, was charged on remand will killing two fowls,
the property of Edwin Corder lilac, with intent to steal.
Mr. Elcock appeared to prosecute, and Mr. Holberton
defended. Edmund George, in the employ of protect'.
tor, proved that he saw the defendant, hprosson, on the
Sheepcote. Sprosson and witness caught held of each
other. Defendant said that it was in the complainant's
power to ruin his character, as it looked suspicious for
him (Sprossou) to be there at that time of night. Wit.
nese knew that defendant was under-gamekeeper to the
Earl of Dudley. Elijah Hartley proved that he ssw
Sproseon and George catch hold of each other. It was
twelve o'clock at night. Witness went into the fowl yard,
and saw two of the fowls dead. He could not say how
long they had been killed. George Lees said be wu
gardener to Lady Varil. On Wednesday night about
eleven o'clock he was in company with Sprosson, and
started to go home with him from Thomas rerrins' pub-
lic-house. Defendant asked him to go a walk, and be
went to Mr. Giles'e farm, to the sheep pen. The door
was shut. Sprosson said he wanted to see if there wan
. any one about. Defendant had no light, bat struck a
match, end caught hold of a fowl, which cried out. Pro.
mentor proved that he went down to the pen at twelve
o'clock at night. haw two of the fowls dead. Their
necks were pulled out, the bodies being quite warm.
They were alive and safe at eleven o'clock. Mr. Rothe,
ton, in defence, contended that defendant had
.a right to
go to the sheepcote, as he had instructions to go round
the tenants' premises to see that all was right. On the
night in question he saw alight in the sheepcote, and,
thinking that there was some one about, he went, amid
just as lie came out of the place he seized Edmutds, who
also c sught hold of Lim. His client did nut act like a
coil y lean would have done, He went to (ides'l Ii .use.
Lees. h waver, wet sway. He should cad evidei ce to
more that th- del..inlant had a right to be there. Kr.
lie, rn Ta, lor sal us% e.tAtei' agent to lie gad of
Dudley. Defen feat was no&r.gautekeepar at
was employed td look if Cr the game at Ashwood and
oth r Ltrrus la the neielitiourbood. Wanes, ware in.
stracti fur the keepers n 4 on'y to Ink after the
',De. lo protect the ten property. He hat
known defendant f,r 15 sears fl' hid ;bven
it halm, od • d therpiaes for more than 12 years He
wan a very n.spectahle wan, and witness had always con.
siiered him hone- t. If be found any keeper neglecting
to protect the tenants' property he should diacharge
Mr. J. B. Lucas, head.garnekeeper to the Earl of Dndley,
said he had found defendant an honest. respectable and
most trustworthy servant. The Bench retired for ash irt
tine, and on returning into Court Mr. Matthews said
they had given the case their most careful consideration,
and had come to the conclusion that the charge had not
been made out clearly against the defendant, and dis-
missed the ease.