The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-01-13 00:00:00

BRIERLEY HILL.

DEATH BY DROWNIND.—EarIy On Sunday morning
last, the body of a hawker named Robert Owen, was
found in an arm of the canal at Lock's Lane. The dc•
ceased started off on his rounds on Tuesday morning
last, but all trace of him was lost at Quarry Bank at
night. Owen was 45 years old.
TRANSFERS.—At the Petty Sessions held on Monday,
before H. 0. Firmstone and H. Smith, Esqrs., the fol-
lowing transfers took place: The Black Horse Inn, Buck
Pool, from Thomas Pitt to William Henry Hughes; the
Crown Inn, Commonside, from John Waterfield to John
Sutton; the Cross Inn, Commonside, from Handel Male
to Martha Murray Fieldhouse ; the Rising Sun, Amble-
cote, from Alfred Parkes to Charles Parkes; the Grand
Turk, Mount Pleasant, from William Lawley to Fanny
Lowe; the New Inn, Dudley-street, from James Jackson
to Laura Jackson (this was a protection order).
Casimir or VAGRANCY.—At the Petty Sessions held on
Monday last, before H. Smith, Esq., Louisa Crump was
charged with sleeping in an outhouse, on ths Bth instant,
Police-constable Lavin proved that he found the defend-
ant sleeping in a pigstye. She said she had no home.
Discharged on promising to get lodgings.
CHARGE OF WILFUL DAMAGE.. Charles Cramp, a
youth, was charged with wilfully damaging • wall on the
6th ultimo, the property of Hannah Hyde. Elizabeth
Clarke, the daughter of prosecutriz, said that she saw
the defendant breaking the stone coping with a piece of
iron. Police-constable Freeman said he saw the coping.
which was damaged te the extent of Is, and defendant
admitted when he served him with the SUMIIIOII9, break-
ing the wall, and asked if the other boys had been served
with summonses. Defendant called a witness, who said
he saw the defendant break a small piece off the wall.
Ordered to pay 64 damage, sad costs, Ils ;in default
II days.
CAUrION To CARTER, —Josiah Green WU charged by
Superintendent Mills with leaving his cart in Dudley-
street, on the 3rd instant, longer than was necessary for
loading and unloading. Police-constable Doobar proved
the case. Ordered to pay costs, 85.
ItErosiwo TO Qciz.—Samuel Morgan was charged by
John Birch Perry, landlord of the Unicorn Inn, Round
Oak, with refusing to quit his house when requested, on
the dud moat. The case was proved. Defendant did not
appear, and was fined lOs and Costs.
AN OFFENDING PCDLICAN.—Thomas Dunn, landlord
of the Bash Inn, Moor Lane, was summoned by Super.
intendent Mills for keeping his house open for the sale
of beer on the 17th, during prohibited hours. Police-
sergeant Breton proved that he visited defendant's house
at ten minutes' past twelve, on the above date. Found
two men in the kitchen, and six in the bar. There was a
quantity of ale in jugs and glasses on the table. Police.
constable Goodfellow corroborated. The defence was
that six of the men worked for him, one was his son, and
the other came from Kidderminster. Fined 40s and
costs.

Tnumenty CAM—At the Petty Sessions held on
Thursday, before I. Spooner, Esq., Stipendiary, Abra.
ham Crew, landlord of the Five Ways Inn, was charged
with assaulting Joseph Cook, on the 30th ultimo. Mr.
Addison appeared for complainant. From the evidence
it appears that the complainant went into the defendant's
house with a man named Thompson, to have a pint of
ale. There was a quantity of potato parings, salt, and
slops on the table. Defendant's daughter swept them on
to him. He told her not to do that again, when defend.
ant came to him, caught bold of him and carried him to
the door, and struck him a violent blow on the eye, which
caused his eye to bleed. The defence was that some
time ago complainant came into his house drunk. He
refused to go, and he had to put him out. On the above
date Cook came in with a man, and called for a quart of
ale. The table was rather dirty, and he asked his
daughter to wipe it. She did so, and Cook said some
had gone on his clothes, and began to curse and swear,
and he put him out, but did not strike him. Mr. Spooner
remarked that it was one of the most trumpery eases
that ever came into a Court, and dismissed it.
DUORDIIRLY CONDUCT.—HeIIrY Smith was charged
with being drunk and disorderly on the 23rd tilt. The
defendant was brought up on a warrant. Police-constable
lloobar proved the offence. and defendant was fined 10s
61 and costa—William Williams was charged with corn.
mains a similar offence on the Bth lust, at Brockmoor.
Police-constable Cotterill proved the offence. Ordered
to pay 10. 6d; in default 14 days.
Lawny CAsa.—ltichard Poole was charged by Harriet
Skidmore, of the Delph, with assaulting him on the 31st
ultimo. Complainant said she did not wish to press the
case. Mr. Spooner said he must first bear the evidence.
Complainant than said that she want to the defendant
for the money to support her child, when the defendant
began to beat her, knocked her down twice, blackened
her eyes, and kicked her on the side; and she had been
unable to work for a week through his ill-treatmeut. The
learned Stipendiar) told defendant be was an unmanly
brute, and sentenced him to three months' imprisonment
with hard labour.

NEGLECT Or WORK.—At the Petty Session. at Brier..
Icy Hill, on Monday last, before H. O. Firiustone and if.
Smith, Esq., Isaac Jones was charged with neglecting
the work of Messrs. James Williams and Co., on the 27th
Mt, and claimed £l7 Ss as compensation. George
Osborne said that on the above date defendant neglected
Iris work. Defendant was engaged to wheel the coal into
the work.. He had two other men under him. They
aent to the defendant, and found he waa drinking in a
liublicdtouse with the other two men. The consequence
was that the workmen had to leave their work for the
want of coal. It is the defendant's business to stock the
irk. with coal. In con aaluence of defendants neglect
complainants had sustained a loss of £l7 8., which was
considerably under the value. Thumb; Houghton gave
corroborative evidence. The defence was that he had a
number of Christmas boxes given him with the other two
inen, and they gat too much to drink, and he was very
sorry. He had been with thb firm for 13 years, and there
Itad been no complaint against him before. The Ben.ih
said it was a very serious offence. The firm had no
doubt lost a gotti deal of mosey through the defendant,
tad they should like to give the complainant an opportu•
itity of settling the matter amicably. They should be
obliged to convict if they did not. Mr. Osborne said he
was instructed to press the case. He was not in a posi-
tion to say that defendant had been a good servant. He
had transgressed before, and the men under him would
have been better if it had not been for the defendant.
Mr. James Williams had been a very indulgent master to
the defendant, and he (witness) was in a position to say
that defendant would not again be employed at the works.
Mr. Firmstone said they had given the case careful con.
sideration. Although the defendant had admitted being
drunk and incapable, that was no excuse for neglecting
his work. But he had kept many other men from work.
ing, which was a great hardship to them. He had also,
by his conduct, entailed a great loss upon his master, and
burnt a quantity of coal in waste, for which they should
fine him 404 and coats, in default 14 days; and should
order his master to detain any money which was coming
to him, and hoped it would be a caution to him in future.