The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-06-05 00:00:00

BAT intrAY, arrr r. IFFC

was at work in a field calPd "the eight acre piece"
belonging to Mr. James Whitehouse at Wood Sut-
ton, and whilst at work 1:e saw three men in a
field called the "seven acre piece" end two men in
a field called the "Pool Piece." The men had two
dogs with them, one dog was on one side of the
hedge and the other dog on the other side. One of
the dogs was caught by a man named Boucher in a
rabbit hole, which dog was with the two men he
could not identify, because they wcre on the off
side of the hedge from where he was at wei lc, The
three men now charged were standing on the side
near to him, and they also had a dog with them.
The men on seeing witness ran away. Police-con.
stable Enoch said he had seen the dog which had
been caught, and he had seen the same dog with
the defendants many time=. Witnesses were called
for the &fence, who said that the defendants were
playing at marbles the whole of the day, near the
house of James Saddler, on the sth ult; but failed
to give any satisfactory reason why they fixed the
sth ult for the day they were playing and not
another data. Rogers, who has been convicted for
a like offence previously, was fined lOs and costs;
in default 14 days. The other defendants were
fined 5s each and costs ; in default 7 days.
STEALING A JACKET.—Mathew Lee, an old man,
was brought up in custody charged with stealing a
jacket a.d vest, the property of William Shepherd
on the 28th ult. Prosecutor, who is a groom, in
the employ of Mr. Bourne, of Stourton, said that
about 8 o'clock on the morning of the 28th ult., he
put his jacket and vest in the potting house and
shortly after that time lost them. He saw nobody
except tie gardener about the premises, Susan
Crane said she lived near the potting house. On
the 28th ult. the prisoner came to her house begging.
Prisoner went from her house towards the potting
house Emily Wheatley, who lives at the lodge
belonging to t••:teurton hall, said that prisoner called
at the lodga about 9 o'clock on the morning in
question mid asked for something to eat. He came
• from direction of the Hall. He had something
bulky in a bag. Police-constable Evans said he
apprehended prisoner on the evening of the 28th
ult. Prisoner had a bag with him in which he had
got some rags and bones. Prisoner pleaded not
guilty. The Bench said it was a case of strong sus-
picion against prisoner, but there was not evidence
enough to convict, and discharged prisoner.
DAMAGING WOOD PATTERNS.—Joseph Cartwright
(16), Daniel Beckley (16), Thomas Coehrane (13),
and John Everies (14), were charged with damaging
a quantity of wood patterns, the property of Mr.
C. Firtns*one. Defendants were seen throwing
the patterns about the ashbank, by a watchman
named Burford. The damage done amounted to
ss. The two elder defendants were fined lOs each
including costs, and 2s. Gd. each for the damage
done. The other two defendants were fined ss.
each.

ASSAULT BY GIRLS.—At the Police Court, on
Thursday, before W. F.F. Boughey, Esq, Stipen-
diary, Martha Cochrane and Margaret Cochrane,
two girls, were charged with astAulting another
girl, named Emma Tracey. The parties all work
together in Messrs. Budd's tin works, at Brockmoor.
Jn Monday morning some words had passed be-
tween them, and, as complainant was entering the
works after dinner, defendants lifted up her clothes
in an indecent manner, and then knocked her down
among some plates, badly cutting her fingers and
her head. Defendants were each fined 5s and costs;
imprisonment.
A default seven day's
A DANGEROUS JOKE.—Joseph Sedgley (45),
William Royds (27), and Ezekiel Spier (20), glass-
makers, all of Wordsley, were charged with stealing
1 -Ohs of tea belonging to John Haynes, landlord of
the Cherry Tree Inn, ;'Wordsley. on Wednesday
afternoon defendants were all drinking at prose-
cutor's house When leaving each one took from
a cupboard half a pound of tea, and on arriving
home, Sedgley and Spier sent the tea they had
taken back, but floyo, who said he meant to do the
same, found he had lost his packet on the road.
Defendants now repre-ented that they took the tea
for a joke. Mr. Boughey attributed the freak to
drink, and ordered each defendants to pay
the costs
only.
CHARGE OF GAMBLING.—RaIph „Hayes (18) and
Edward Hilton (17), Silver-street, Brierley
v, ere each fined ss. and costs, with the alternative
of seven days' imprisonment with hard labour, for
gambling with coppers in the neiebbourhood named
on Sunday afternoon last. Police-superintendent
Wollaston said he had received a great many com-
plaints from respectable inhabitants of the nuisance
occasioned by youths gembling in the streets.
STEALING RADlSHES.—Wiiiialll Winwood. Park-
street, Brierley Hill, was fined 2s. 6d, or in default
seven days in gaol for sealing two bunches of
radishes from the shop door of Mrs. Oliver, green-
grocer, Moor•street, Brierley Hill.
BASTARDY ARREARS. Joseph Howard Smith,
labourer, Kinver, a married man, was sent to gaol
Lr three months, with bard labour, for non-compli-
ance with a bastardy order made upon him in 1877.
the amount of arrears due to the complainant, Ann
Sink a widow. of Brettell Lane, was stated to be
420 5s 9d.

ing it to be stolen. The case was adjourned from
last week and the evidence then given was to the
effect. that the watch in question was stolen from
prosecutor about 10 months ago, but until the last
few days all efforts to trace the stolen property were
unsuccessful. It was then at a pawnbroker's shop
at Hanky, where it is said it was pledged for £7
108. Od. by prisoner. Mr. Harper, the solicitor for
the prosecution, said he had had the opportunity of
looking through the evidence which had been at
the disposal of the prosecution and he thought the
justice of the case might be met. He considered
it was his duty to ask the Bench not to send the
case for trial. He asked the Bench to allow the case
to be withdrawn and the watch would be restored
to the prosecutor and defendant would pay costs.
Mr. Hayes who defended said, that however indis-
creet she may have been:she has not been criminal.
The Bench after some consideration consented for
the case to be withdrawn.