The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-12-25 00:00:00

BRIERLEY SILL.

SUDDEN DEATH OF A "CHEAP JACK."—On Saturday
night last, a crowd assembled round the well-known
"Cheap Jack" stall in the Market Plate, to listen to the
jokes of the assistants who were " giving away" bargains.
In the middle of the proceedings the son of Charles
Canham, the proprietor, came to the front, and stated
that his father had died suddenly. end u...i.c.aa
...apouthat. it was fouull on enquiry that Canbam bad
been drinking heavily, and died in his bed in the van at
the rear of the stall without giving the slightest signal of
his approaching dissolution.
NOTICE To THE PUBLIC —Monday next being Bank
Holiday, there will be uo business transacted at the Pollee
Court. The cases will therefore be heard on Tuesday.
PLAYING AT CARDS.—At the Police Court, on Monday,
before Messrs. F. Evers and H. Hall, the following per-
sons were summoned for playing at cards. on the 11th
inst, at The Level, James, Turner, Rhoden, Kirby, Hunt,
Abel Skidmore, and Cain Skidmore. Police-constable
Payne said on the above date he went towards a brew-
house at the back of the Fox and Goose, Level-street,
when he saw the defendants run away. John Wallett, 14
years of Ewe, said he had been playing at banking "in
the bre whluse, with the whole of the defendants He
lost 4d. Thomas Knott also gave evidence. Defend•
ants were severely reprimanded by the Bench, and as this
was their first offence, they were ordered to pay costs.
NON-MAINTENANCE OF A SON IN A REFORMATORY
John Pell, a stone sawyer, was ordered to pay 2s per week
towards maintaining his son, who is an inmate of the
Woodbury Reformatory.
CAUTION TO BOATMEN.—B3njamin Taylor, a boitman,
as summoned for wasting a quantity of water belonging
to the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal Company,
on the 21th ult. A man named Wall proved seeing the
defendant waste the water by pulling the paddle up before
he closed the bottom gat s, at Botterill Lock. Defend-
ant was ordered to pay costs.—Edward Coley and George
Pigott were charged with a similar offence. Wall proved
the case and Coley was ordered to pay costs, and Pigott,
who did not appear, was fined 2s 6d and costs.
DRUNKENNESS,—A ycuth named John Jones was
charged with being drunk and refusing to quit a public-
house ; and further charged with assaulting the landlord,
Joseph Pearce. Complainant said the defendant was the
sole support of a widowed mother, and he did not wish
to press the case azainst him. Defendant expressed his
regret, and the Bench allowed the cases to be withdrawn
on defendant paying the costs.
THREATENING —Frederick Smith was summoned by
Sather Basnett from using threatening language towards
her. Defendant was bound over to keep the peace for six
months.

CZARGII o CNTTING AND WOIINDING.—WiIIiSID Pear-
son, fruiterer, Quarry Bank, was charged with unlawfully
cutting and wounding George Berry, at Quarry Bank, on
the 10th inst. Mr. Waldron defended.—Prosecutor said
he was at Mason's, the Sun Inn, Quarry Bank. on the
night of tho 10th inst. Prisoner was there, and had a
fowl to sell. He wanted 3s 6d for it. They had no
quarrel, and prisoner suddenly sprung up, laid hold of a
knife, and stabbed the prosecutor with it in the cheek.
Richard Barnes said he was at the Sun Inn, on the night
of the 10th inst. They were talking about a fowl, when
prisoner picked up a knife and struck back at proseeutor,
and cut his cheek. They were both sitting down at the
time. Cross-examined : He could not tell whether it was
an accident or not. James Mason, landlord of the Sun
Inn, Quarry Bank, said on the 18th lust prisoner wanted
to sell a fowl. Prosecutor said if prisoner had not been
to see Dr. Bell Fletcher he would soon have to go. Pri-
soner then picked up a knife, threw it at prosecutor, and
cut his cheek. He could not swear whether prisoner
loosed the knife or not. Witness bathed the prosecutor's
face, and put some sticking pls;ster on it. He prevented
Berry from assaulting prisoner. Prisoner said he was i
very sorry he had done t. Police-sergeant Lavin sta-
tioned at Brierley Hill, said he read the warrant over to
prisoner, who said, " I am guilty; I have done it; and
he should not have stolen my fowl." Mr. Waldron con-
tended, in defence, that it was done accidentally whilst
prisoner was getting up with the knife in his hand, and
asked the Bench to treat the case as one of common as-
sault. The Bench retired for some time, and on return-
ing, said they had decided to send the case for trial at the
Sessions Prisoner was, therefore, committed for trial ;
bail being accepted.
A WIFE BEATER.—At the Public Office, on Thursday,
before I. Spooner, Esq., Stipendiary, John Hooper, of
Wordsley, was brought up on a warrant, charg,d with
assaulting his wife, Eliza, on the 26th June last. The
evidence went to show that the assault was a bad on,
and defenda,it tried to throw his wife out of the w!nd.,w,
Di fondant was committed to Stafford for six months, and
at the expiration to find sureties for his good behaviour
for six months