The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-11-06 00:00:00

yOUNDER,

At the same Court, James Smith, horse driver.
Brockmoor, appeared in answer to a summons
charging him with having eto!en, on the Ist
October, a quantity of pig-iron, the property of Mr.
11. 0. Firmstene, of the Leys Ironworks, Brock-
moor; and Edwin Taylor, a partner in the firm of
Taylor and Gill, ironfounders, 73rocknaoor, was
charged with receiving a quantity of atolen pig-iron
with felonious knowledge.—Mr. J. Stokes (Messrs.
Stokes and Harper) appeared to prosecute. Mr.
Alfred Young, (instructed by Mr. Clulow) appeared
to defend Taylor, and Mr. Waldron defended Smith,
The charge against Taylor was firs: proceeded with.
—Mr. Stokes, in his opening statement, informed
the Bench that, having carefully considered the
matter and consulted with Mr. Firmstone they had
come to the conclusion that they were not justified
th
in placing Smith upon his trial, therefore no evid-
ecce would be offered against hira.—Smi was
thou discharged.—John Smith, pig weigher, in the
employ of Mr. Firmstone was then called and said
that on the Ist October last he was employed
weighing pigs. He rec Aiected the policeman coming
to him and informing him of what he had seen.
He went to the wharf and missed a quantity of
pig-iron, which was intended for ' wire iron." It
was about 14 pigs. The iron was on the wharf
adjoining the canal when he left. Police-constable
Lafford, stationed at Brockraoor, said he was on I
duty near defendant's work on the Ist ult, about
one o'clock in the morning. On approaching the
bridge he heard a noise proceeding from the de-
fendant's work—it was the rattle of iron—and he
turned round and saw a man on Mr. Taylor's wharf.
He saw the man pick something off the boat,
which was tied against the defeiniants wiled and
take it to the end of the wall near the Nif had. The
wall was about 3 yards from the cupola. The man
spoxe to him and he (witness) then went to the
gate which lend to the work but could not get in.
There was no othHr mode of getting to the works
exeept going aeros4 the ca,,al. He (witness) went
to Buckpool to get assistance and returned to the
Place again with two other officers, Buckley and
Ty. therley. He (witness) got an empty boat and
went across heicanal and landed on defendant's
premises, but could not see anybody there, but pro-
secutor's boat was still tied up to the wharf. He
found it was Mr. Firmstone's boat. There were
14 more pigs on one of the beams of the boat—the
place where ho saw the man take some iron from.
tie found 8 pigs unon the defendant's premises,
some of them appeared to be newly-made. Those
on the wharf appeared exactly like those in the
boat. He watched there until half-past six. Police-
Sergeant Salt came about 1-past two and re-
mained there with him. At half-past six the defend.
came to the foundry, He (witness) said "Mr,
Taylor, do you know anything about this iron"
pointing to the boat. Defendant said "I don't."
Witness thou pointed out to him the iron at the
end of the wall on the wharf and said "Do you
know anything about this." Defendant said " I
do not." Witness then said" Was there any iron
there yesterday." Defendant sairt "Not to the
best of my knowledge." Witness then said he
saw a man unload off that boat that morning.
The pigs were marked "Lay Works," and the boat -
was Mr. Firmstone'. Defendant said "I have had

iron off Mr. Firmstone, but have not ordered tl?em,!
but!sometime9 they setld them without ordering.
Ny t es.; et the i. oh on the harf and removed
he other ireu to the Lay
‘„ WI. -33 we t :n company with Superin-
tendent ‘‘,-,ll,lstuti, to the d.etendanL's works about •
hat•past 12 o'clock and as the iron was gone.
Mr. ‘V °Hasten said " Where i 3 that iron that
Lafford pointed out to you this morning." Defend-
ant said, "I suppose its used up." Witness then
saw some broken pieces by the cupola. Witness
pointed out one piece in part:cular to:Mr.Wollaston
that he saw by the wall, but a portion of it had dis-
appeared altogether, The cupola was at work. Mr.
Wollaston asked defendant how it was the iron WO
moved. Defendant said "I never interfere with it,
I always leave it with my foreman." Witness re-
moved what he found left of the eight pigs and
took it and showed it to Mr, Firmstone. There
' were about three pigs and a half of the eight which
had disappeared altogether. Cross-examined:
He only saw two pigs removed from the boat to the
end of the wall. It was a fact that there was a large
quanti y of pig iron of different kinds inside the
angle of the wall. There were also stacks of pig
iron in different parts of the !yard, but were of a
different brand to that. He aid not notice how
many stacks there were. Mr. Firmstone having
given evidence as to the identification of the iron,
Mr. Young addressing the Bench for the defence.
contended there was no guilty knowledge. He
called several witnesses, and after hearing the
whole of the evid, ace the Bench committed defend-
ant to take his trial at the next Stafford Sea-ions,
bail being accepted.