The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-01-24 00:00:00

OLD HILL.

BRUTAL ASSAULT ON A POLICEMAN.
At the Petty Sessions at Old Hill, on Wednesday last,
before Mr. H. Smith, Jobs Prince, Samuel Ward and
Levi '.l;ranter, niiiiera, of Tividale, were charged with
viuleutiy assaulting Police•constable William Satchwell,
on the lulls instaut, whilst is the execution of his duty.
The °Meer had to be accommodated with a chair whilst
be gave his evidence. Ills head was t,so bandaged up.
Complainant said that beaus on duty near the Junction,
about half-past eleven, lie beard a great noise of
swearing in the Dudley Road. On going to them she saw
the three defendants quarrelliug with another mau. lie
lemonstrated with them, and asked them to go away,
and then left them. rho• noise continued, suit he went
to them a second time and remonstrated with them.
i They began to throw stones at him, and Ward got his
belt off and twisted it rouhd his hand, and he heard the
the buckle tingle. Before he had time to say a word he
receieed a blow on the back with the buckles. Witness
then drew out his staff and struck him on the arm, soil
then caught hold of Mut to take him into custody. Ward
then began to kick him on the legs, and bit at him. He
then threw him ou the ground, when Jacob Baker and •
man called '• Fiddler," came to him. He charged them
to assist bite. Witness gave Baker his handcuffs, and
" Fiddler'' lay across Ward's legs whilst he was being
handcuffed. Previous to getting Ward down, the latter
said he would cut witness up and give him to the -
pigs. As witness was rising up from the ground, he saw
the prisoner 'lranter, who was standing close to him.
Tranter picked up a stone and threw it at witness, and
it caught him on the nose. Witness then received a tre-
mendous blow from Prince with a piece of timber, which
knocked him agaiust the wall. Witness's eyes were filled
with blood, and he become insensible.

In answer to Superintendent Mills, witness said that
is December last he charged Iliard with assaulting him,
and he was hued Is and costs. Ward stated at the time
that he would have that - ISs 641 out of him.
Cross-exsintued by Ward : I did tell yt.o to go home.
The third time I went to you, you struck me. Cannot
say that Baker bit you with a atick.
By Trauter . You did not go home when I told you.
I did not hit you.
Jacob Ba'ter, miner, of Tividale, said that about eleven
o'clock he heard a noise the Dudley-road.
.The..first
. . . . .

bider

he heard was Samuel Ward, who said he would kill the
" Ohl ," cut him up, and give him to the pip.
Complainant then went and ordered him to go home,
when Ward struck him with his belt, and Sateliell struck
him across the arm iv.th his staff. Ward then attempted
to run up the road, and the ;complainant charged him
(witness) to assist in taking Ward. Ongoing up the road
he met Levi 'fruiter, and told him to go home ; if he
did not, Satchwell would lock him up. Satchwell heard
him talking to Tranter, and complainant came across the
road, and franter began to kick and strike the complain.
ant. He also struck witness. Ward struck with the
buckle end of his strap, and kicked the officer. Sala-
. well gave witness the handcuff+, aud he haudeuffed him
I and assisted in taking Lim to the station. Did not see
Prince to anything, but eaw him there.
Hannah Guest, of fividale, said that she heard a noise
and a stone came whizzing by her and struck Satchwe'l
on the head, and knocked him down: Did not see who
threw the stone, but it came from the direction of Iran
ter, who was walking very sharp.
Examined by Mr. Mitts: Some of the blood Was on
my hands. Did not see 'fruiter throw the atone; but it
came from the direction in which Trouts/ was going.
Mary Ann Satchwell, daughter of complaisent, said
that on the 10th juin she heard a disturbance in the r, ad.
near the Juuution. West to see what was the matter.
She saw Johu Prince strike her father on the shoulder,
and run away towards the canal bridge. She was also
struck. Her father was injured on the shoulder, head,
and legs. Saw Ward there ; but did not see him do
anything.
Thome+ Standish, surgeon, of Crailley Heath, said
that he saw the officer on the niorhing of toe 12th, at his
house.. He found him in bed. Examined him, and
. . .

mad lo.ukses on Ins 11,,dy, two contu,ed.wounds onU.,

face, and a very serious one on the foreitcal. the wetted
being close to the boos. Wt.liessfoued low very id, and
. .

, .
-
in a critical elate. The wound is not healtd, and the
complainant ens still ill from the ett,cts of the blows;
bat was in a fair way for recovery. Tue wound on the
head was • contused one, two inches long, and might
Lave been caused by a piece of timber.
Police-coustabie attjallen proved that he went anti
apprehended Trauter at has father's house. the same
night. Ile was very drunk, and began to kick. Took
him to the station with Ward, and charged him the next
morning with assatiqiug Poise-corona/de Satchwell.
Ward said Prince hal pone it all, and that the two
Princes kotked Sett:heel! whilst he was down.
Police-constable Shorthouse, stationed at Blackheath,
. said from information received he apprehended the pri.
saner Prince on the 12Lh lust, at theJunctioa Lou, Itvi-
dale. Be told him he eon going to arrest him. He
said, "1 am the man, amid am ready." When
at the station at Tividale, witness charged him with vio-
lently asssaulting Police-constable Satehwell, on the
night of the 10th. Ile replied that he thought Satchwell
ought to be charged with assaulting him, as histehwell
struck him on the arm with his Mall. On going towards
Blaekheath, prisoner asked witness if he was going to
arrest Croshen. Witness told Mai " Not that he wan
aware of." Prince said that he was as bad as the rest;
that he now him throw a stone, which caught Satchwelln
daughter on the breast; and that it was a regular draw
ken row altogether.
Thin being the case,
Defendants said nothing in defence, and were com-
mitted to take their trial at the next Stafford Sessions.

DRUNK AND DISORDERLY —William Stokes, Thomas
Bird, James Fisher, nut! William Daniels, were charged
with being drunk and disorderly, at Blackheath, vu the
17 th . Pinice-constahle Shortho use proved the case, and
said that the defendant was very drunk and wanted to
tight. Fisher was very violent and threatened him, and
was one of the worst characters in Blackheath. Stokes
and Bird were heed :is each. Several previous convic-
tions were proved against Fisher, and he was lined 20s
and costs; in default one month. Daniels was fined 1.08,
he having beets previouily convicted. Charles Wood-
ward was also fined lfis and costs for being drunk; in
default one month.

GA3lll.ll:lNti-074-71HE iIIOHWIY.--JOhll Hill and James
Rogers was charged with playing at cards on the highway
leading from Halesowen to Old Hill, on the 12th inst.
Police-constable Cooper proved that about seven o'clock
he saw the defendants playing at cards. They hod •
lighted candle. 'there were sr..veral others playing, who
ran away. Defendants offered him 5s to make it up.
Fined 1113 each and costs.