The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-05-07 00:00:00

iota( aub istrirt ljeb3s.
THE LOCAL GLASS TRADE.

The glass trade bas been steadily going from bad
to woise, and unless some change quickly takes
place, there will be a dearth of labour which will
be serious for the Stourbridge district. There is no
trade which has felt more the pinch of foreign corn-
petion than this. Our market has been simply
floodel with ship-loads of cheap Belgian,
Bohemian, German, or Swedish glass, with a result
which has been most disastrous to the English trade.
In this great emergency the masters see, no alterna-
tive but a material reduction in wages, and at a
meeting, held during the past month, of the Mid-
land Association of Flint Gla s Manufacturers,
combined action in this direction has been resolved
upon. The need for this reduction is imperative,
and we feel confident that if the workmen will
reas, nably and d'spa.ssionately consider the position
of the trade, they will spontaneously meet the
masters in their request. There is no record yet of
a strike ever benefiting a trade, but there is abund-
ance of proof ot strikes having crippled and ruined
scores of trades, and brought disaster to all con-
cerned. The best friends of the flint glass workmen
are those who will in this crisis of the trade counsel
compromise and concliation, and we sincerely trust
that this better advice than resistance will prevail
amongst them.—Pottery Gazette.
DRUNKS.—At the l'olice Court yesterday, before
Mr. A. Freer. John Brearley was charged with being
drunk in Enville Street, on the 20th ult. Mr. H.
Bird proved the case, and said that defendant was
the caw.; of him breaking a bicycle valued at .C2O.
A fine of 5s and costs was imposed.—Francis Allen
was fined 5s and costs for being drunk on the Ist
lust on C ent Hills Common.—James Thomas was
fined 2s 6,1 and costs for being drunk at the same
place and time —Joseph Southall was charged with
being drunk on the 2nd inst. at Cradley. P.C.
Webb said defendant came to him and said he had
been turned out of the Holly Bush public house for
being drunk. Witness said tney were quite right
t do so, and said he should summons him for being
drank on the highway, A fine of 23 6d and costs
was inflicted.—Thomas Ward was fined 5s and costs
for being drunk at Cradley on the Ist inst. Pre-
vious convictions were proved against defendant.
—George Wall was charged with being, drunk at
the Lye, cn tile 26th tut. PA.% Stone proved tire
c ise, an defendant was fined 5s including costs -.-
David Weste,ood was fined 2s 6d and costs for being
drunk at the Lye. on the 3rd inst.—Sainel Porter
was clptrgo with being drunk in Summer Su/1:i ,
on t e 13th ult. Fined 2s 6d and costs.— Edward
Crump was charged with being drunk on the 27th
ult, ia be public street. and was fined 20 6d and
costs.— lhomas Partridge .vas charged with bein.;
drunk at Cradley Park on the .sth inst. P.O Junes
said ,:eleud:int conld neither stand nor speak. Ile
hau t.) get a stret,her and take ina to the station
lined o 6,1 and costs.

bGGiNu Athed Williams was charged with
begging on,the 4th inst. P.C. Cooper said de-
fen,ant came to his house and asked tor a copper to
get a night's lodging. He took him to the police
-tation. alenoalit sai ihe was a native of Bristol
iar as he could recollect and was a stranger to
the town, lie had only a half-penny in his po,:ket,
and lie was trying to get en .ugh for a i•ight s lodg-
iu4s. Mr Fr.:-cr Siji he thought it was a case of
distress and the case wold be dismissed on his
promis ng to ieave the town.
DituNic —John Ingram was charged with be;ng
drunk on ei,nt Li:11 Common on th, 4th inst. P.C.
sLi ii. sa,,, the defendant on the hills in
eomoy wi.h an they man not yet identified
Fine 5s an I cots.—Ottarlus Iliggin, was charged
With being druhi; n t 43 Ist inst. at Cleat. .P.O
Dais an i Mr. lh hupsoa proirzd the case. Mr.
Freer zaid he woul.l he fin, d Si and costs, whi h
would be a poußa for his Sunday freak.

ALLEGED UNLAWFUL WOUNDING. William
Binner, itellbrough.ou. was c .ar_ed with unlaw-
fully wounding i'yud.nce Wood, Wllclmore, on the
9th April, by tnrowiug a brick at her. Mr. P. rry
defenthd. Complainant said on the 9th April she
saw the defendant assaulting her daughter Eliza.
bath, She wet to hr daughter's assistance, and
del. ndant picked up a piece of brick and throw it
at Ii r, strociag her and causing her to be uncon.
acious tor ta o nouis ail a half. Evan Wood said
that heariut, a noise he went out and saw defendant
beating his'daugher lie went out at.d the de-
fendant hen loosed his daughier and struck him
(witiles,t) is tat ye. I.),.fendant th. n picked up a
b-ick. and threw it at his a-ffe, • it.rag her and
causing her t., fad ,o tho ground. Eliza.oeth Wood,
Willi on Wood Arti.ur IVo .d, and Dr. Raymond
also gave evicience, and the c,se was acijoJrned for
seven d:ys.
ALLEOI:O3 THEFT OF LEATHER.—CharIes Bennett,
-at weaver, Kidderminster, anti NViiliatn Finlow,
cat
aaltvt, Quarry Bank, were enarged with steal-
" • ratify utter, the property of Wiiliam
114•• they • Heata on it,e let int.—Mr. J.
attfu'lttai
hinds de!dttl.cril -im, salesman, identified
guard, and Eiatiy 11/113N.... "aw saw at Cradley
the prison,rs as the WY, Drosecitor
statie lon the night of rob -'1 - ,40110.
identifi,cl li.l-atner as his pror;clr4J,*---1
way said he saw two men get out o: :ra
Bl ikettown with two bags. He arrested Blfy•t
and asite nina how he came to have the
low her in his passeasion. and he ro, lied ttlat a man
Start asked nun to b ing it from Stourbridgo. lie
took Bennett b.,ck to Stourbraige on suspicion of
st aling the leather. The other man ran away and
got cl-ar off. The prisoaer Filow bore a great
resemblance to him —Finlow said he had never
seen Benne.t in his life. -The ease Was adjourned
for 7 oays —Mr. !lin& applied for bail tor Bennett.
—Superintendent Wheeler objecte las prison:x
hwi ;wen c.invict,d for poaching, and bail was la-
fused —Bit was allowed for Fallow, himself in £5O
atta two sur,!•iaa ef £lO each.

Aao OF GrattptaNs.—Mr. Pargeter presid d
at the weekly tu-eting of th s Board yesterday,
whe . the Nl:v.4i r of the House reporttil that he had
adrui.te-d 20 discharged 20, dead 2, remaining in
the House 570. against 544 for the corresponding
week last year.—R •lief : Kings winford, £46 9s Od ;
Stourbridgo. £35 4s 11; Halesowen, £2B 5s 1-id;
nonresident, £2 Is sd; total, £lll 19s 8d; same
week last year, £ll4 Os 4i —The question of alter-
ing the day of meeting of the Boa.r.i.was broached.
Mr Rollinson moved. and Mr. Webb seconde i, that
th.i Board meeting be altered from Friday ii 1 Tues.
thy. F.ve wete for it and 15 against.