The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-01-17 00:00:00

BRI ERLE Y HILL.

DRUNKENNE9S. - At the Police Court, on Mon-
day, before Major Fletcher and Mr. L. Freer, George
Hodgetts was charged with being drunk and dis-
orderly on the let just, at Brierley Hill. Pollee-
constable Giles proved the case and defendant was
fined Is and costs.

DAMAGINO A FENCE—Sarah MtHISISS (12), and
Arthur Malpass (8), were charged with damaging a
fence belonging to Edwin Geary, on the 6th instant.
The ease was withdrawn on pap:limit of costs.
KILLINU PHEASANTS. George Griffiths and
Richard Babbs were charged with unlawfully killing
two pheasants, on the 22nd of December, the pro-
perty of Mr. Foley. James Broad said he was an
under-keeper in the employ of Mr. Foley. He knew
defendants. He saw them on the above date on land
belonging to Mr. Foley. They caught two pheas-
ants and killed them. Griffiths gave the birds to
Babbs and told him to throw them over the hedge.
John Bench, gamekeeper, said he saw the defend-
ants on the above date, on laud in the occupation! of
Mr. Foley. Superintendent Mills stated that Grit-
lithe had been convicted three times and Babbs
once. Griffiths was fined 40s and costs; in default
one month, and Babbs was fined 20s aud costs; in
default 14 days.

THREATENING.—Richard Babbs. Joseph Breathy,
and William Dulstou were charged with threatening
James Broad, on the 6th inst. Complainant said he
want to Wordsley Post-office on the day in question
when he met the defendants who all threatened to
kill him. John Haubury gave corroborative evi-
dence. Defendants were bound over to keep the
peace for one month, in one surety of £5 and them-
selves in £lO each.

A NICE YOUTH.—Benjamin Marsh was charged
with stealing wearing apparel, the property of Thos.
Shakespeare, at Brierley Hill. Prosecutor said he
was ins ironworker and resided at Brierley Hill.
The boots, shitt, and muffler produced were his pro.
perty, and they were safe at his house about four
o'clock on the 4th inst. He missed them about 8
o'clock on the Sunday morning. James Hayes said
he saw prisoner at the Locks Pit, about 6 o'clock on
the Bth. He bought the muffler produced and gave
prisoner 2d and some food for it. Witness handed
the mintier to Sergeant Walters. Elizabeth Harris,
Porter's Fields Dudley, said she saw the prisoner
on the sth. He asked her to pledge A pair of boots
fo.t him. She pledged them to Mr. Mackie for 3s
63. The boots produced were the same. Michael
Mackie, pawnbroker, Dudley, proved receiving the
boots from last witness. William Tolley proved
purchasing the shirt produced from prisoner. He
gave prisoner is for it. Police-sergeant Walters
said he arrested prisoner at Brockmoor, about a
quarter to one on the 11th inst. Witness charged
him with stealing a pair of boots, one muffler, and 1
shirt the property of Thomas Shakespeare, on the
4th inst, at Brierley Hill. Prisoner said he did
steal them, but he was hard up.—Prisoner was
further charged with stealing a brown overcoat, the
property of Jahn Hurley, at Brierley Hill on the
sth of September last. Prosecutor said he was a
coke burner. and resided at Brierley Hill. On the
above date he was at the Nine Locks Ovens, and the
coat was safe at half-past six. He missed it on the
following morning. The coat produced was Lis
moperty. Sarah Hurley, wife of prosecutor, said
she saw the prisoner in Brierley Hill! Market Place,
iu September. He was wearing her husband's
jacket, and she succeeded in getting it off him fter
some trouble. P.S. Walters said he charged
prisoner with stealing the coat, and he said he re-
collected it. Prisoner was committed to take his
trial at the next Stafford Sessions.

A " FOWL" AFFAlR.—thunuel Perry, Joseph
Williams, and John Hammond were charged with
stealing six fowls, the property of Charles Thomas
Deeley, on'the 10th just, at Brockmoor. Prosecutor
said he resided. at BrockmOor. He had 17 fowls
safe in a pen at 5 o'clock in the afternoon. The pen
was shut up but it was not be ked. On the follow-
ing morning the pen door was down and there
were feathers all over the place. He missed six
fowls, and the fowls produced were the same. P.C.
Cottetill said, from information received he went to
Perry 's house on the 11th just, and found one of the
birds produced and about half a bushel of feathers.
It was in a back room up stairs. He showed the
feathers to last witness. Witness charged Perry
with stealing a fowl belonging to Mr. Perky, and the
prisoner said he had it given to him. Witness after-
wards went to William's house, in company with
Police-constable Goodfellow, and there found the
other bird produced. It was in a cupboard down
stairs, hidden under some clothing. Witness ar-
rested prisoner and charged bun. Prisoner did not
make any reply. Police .sergeant Walters stated
that he arrested Hammond on Sunday. He charged
all three prisoners together, with stealing six fowls
the property of Charles Deeley, on the 10th instant.
They all said they stole them, but did not break the
pen down as it was open. Hammond added that he
did not think they would get so much, for they had
not broken down anything. Williams remarked that
they only had one each. In answer to the charge,
prisoner pleaded guilty. Perry said they boiled one,
and eat it between them because they were clam-
ming. Perry, who has been previously convicted,
was seatenced to three months hard labour; Wil-
liams and Hammond were each sentenced to two
months hard labour.

ASSAULT CASES—At the Police Court, on Thurs-
day, before Mr. I. Spooner, Stipendiary, Isaiah
Bamflet was charged with assaulting his wife, on
the 19th inst. Complainant said she did not wish
to press the case, as her husband had promised to
behave better in future. In answer to the learned
Stipendiary, witness stated that defendant had struck
her before. Mr. Spooner said he could not allow the
case to be withdrawn. Complainant stated that de-
fendant struck her once, on the above date. De-
fendant was fined .62 and costs, and ordered to find
two sureties of .410 each; in default 3 months.—
Henry Millward was charged with assaulting John
Plant, at Amblecote, on the 9th inst. Complainant
said he was a bricklayer, and lived at the Delph
On the above date he was at work opposite the Roe
Buck Inn, Amblecote. He was up some scafiolding
when defendant said if he did not come down he
would break his neck. Defendant then went up the
ladder and laid hold of witness, and said if he did
go clown he would break his neck. Witness caught
hold of a rope to prevent himself from falling off
the scaffold. Three witnesses were called for the
defence, but Mr. Spooner said he did not believe two
of them. He believed the evidence of complainant,
and it was a good thing for defendant that he had not
thrown him down, and he would have been tried for
minder or manslaughter. Defendant was fined £2
and costs; in default 6 weeks' hard labour.—Joseph
Parker, a little boy, was charged with assaulting a
little girl named Mary Ann Tennant, on the 10th at
Brierley Hill. Complainant said she was going with
dinner, when defendantstruck her a blow on the nose
and made it bleed. Defendant was fined Is and
costs; in default seven days. Henry Darrol was
charged with assaulting Hancocks on the 9th hist,
at Pensnett. and was ordered to pay costs.—Eli
Cartwright was charged with assaulting David Plant,
at Brierley Hill, on the 6th inst. Complainant said

he was by the Foils Pool, on the night of the •
about eleven o'clock. Some one had insultef' -
sister's daughter, and he went out to see who it w4ke,,
Ile saw four men, one of whom was the &ten A 57.4.
Witness said " It's you, is it, Painter," when e jtt
the men struck him, knocked him down, and de,10.1.
ant kicked him. Mary Ann Lakin said she ea'?
fendant on the night in question about Wet eu oo
and he insulted her.. For the defence four wit, •
were called to prove an alibi, but their evidence
to prove that defendant said he was going to.:
about half .past eight o'clock. Mr. Spooner a..
was a most brutal and cowardly assault on a•
man who was a cripple, and he would tine defet, v.•
£5 and costs, or a months' hard labour; and b.
only sorry he could not inflict a heavier penalty.