The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-12-04 00:00:00

OLD HILL.

IMPORTAXT TO COLLIERII.-4t the Police Court, OR
Wednesday, before Colonel Fletcher, Messrs. 11. L. Freer,
N. Hingley. and IT. Howard, Joseph Lyman Wit chariod
with neglecting the employes nt of Messrs. W.
Mills and Co., on the 27th ult. Mr. Stokes defended.
Alfred Williams, son ii complainant, said defendant was
banksman in the employ of the firm. They claimed 20s
compensation, as defendant caused the whole of the men
in the pit to play on that day. The men refused to go
down tha pit in the ab eic 3 of def Aslant. Cross-ex-
amined :It was the Custom to keep a day in hand. On
the Saturday there was a day in hand. Defendant had
been for his wages but did not receive the day in hand.
Mr. Stokes, in defence, said the men had given notice and
had worked 13 days under that notice and as there was
a day in hand he thought his notice had expired and he
was free to go, Colonel Fletcher said they could not see
that defendant should leave on the 13th day, he should
have stayed on the Saturday. Mr. Stokes contended
that inasmuch as one day was left in hand it on:y re-
quired that one day t.) complete the 14 days notic.
Colonel Fletcher said thy did not believe that 13 days
notice was sufficient. Mr. Mills said it was the custom of
the district to give or take 14 days notice. It did not expire
until the Saturday. Mr. Mills said he should be satisned
with a small fine. He did not wish to injure defendant
but he wanted to show the men that they could not leave
without giving proper notice. Defendant was fined Is.
and costs.

IMPORTANT FACTORY ACTS CASE.—John Clay, anvil
manufacturer, Blackheath was summoned by Mr. J.
Jones, Inspector of factories, for having on the 11th ult.
at Blackheath, being the owner of a certain anvil factory
.did employ Samuel Bissell without having registered his
name in accordance with the statute. Mr. Stokes defended.
Mr. Jones paid he visited defendan.'s factory on the 11th
ult, and found the lad Samuel Bissell, 10 years of age at
work blowing, he asked to see the register but = the lans
name was not entered. Mr. Stokes : What is a faetory
under the Act of Parliament. Mr. Jones. said in this_
question there must be 60 persOne-empleyed, he did not,
count the people employpd
,there. He.cled not know that
Mr. Clay carried on his work by men who contract for
bite. In answer to the .Bench Mr. Jones said defendant
had acknowledged himself under the factory acts by hav-
ing the register books and rules and sending for the
doctor. Mr. Stokea said the defence was that it was no..
a factory and that defendant was not the person who
employed the boy. It must be proved that there were
50 persons at work at the time Mr. Jones, visited the
place. Mr. Jones said that under the 30th and 31st Vic,
tons, sec. 12, to constitute a factory 50 or more persons.
must be employed on.that day and for 100 days in the
year preceding Mr. Stokes said he should prove that
at the time of the visit of Mr. Jones there were not 50
persons employed there and he should prove that during
last year 50 persons had not been employed during 100
days. This was a question of great importance in the
district as to who were the employers. Mr Clay carried
on business as an anvil manufacturer and employed a cer-
tain number of men. The men only were his sorvents
The men contract for the work and they engage the boy.
thergore the employers were liable. Mr. Hayes said the
occupier was liable Thelbench did not think the argument
of Mr. Stokes sufficient to effect the ease. Mr. Stokes
again said that the employers ought to have been sum-
moned and not defedant Mr Clays son was then called
by Mr. Stokes as a witness ter the defence and he said
at the time of Mr. Jone's visit there were not 50 persons
employed nor in the factory 100 days in the preceding year
Cross-examined by Mr. Jones : He could not distinctly
speak as to that question, he had no means of proving it
they had lists of the men only. They employed 28 men
and some of the men had two boys; the men engaged the
boys and paid them. The Bench said as there was some
informalty in the summons they should direct a fresh
summons to be served on defendant, and adjourned the
case fore week.—Samuel Stevens was summoned by Mr.
Jones for that he being the occupier of a certatn workshop
did unlawfully employ Annie Stevens' 10 years of
age, in his shop on the 11th ult., without obtaiciog
a certificate of the child's attendance at school.
Mr. Jones said he visited defendant's shop on the above
date and found the child at work. Defendant acknowledged
that she had been at work 3 weeks learning to make nail.
He did not produce a certificate of child's attendance at
school. In enswer to the charge defendant said it was a
neighbour's shop and the child was trying ti make nails
and she hail been doing so for a fortnight. Fined 13 au 1
costs. The following persons were summoned by Mr.
Sub inspector Brewer for similiar offences and fined
Joseph Westwood 10s. and colts ; Seas Pars ies Is and
costs ; David Watts, Is. and costs; Hannah D trby, is.
and costs ; William Crump, is. and costs ; Gaorge Watt.
Is. and cos;s ; Joseph Southall, is. and costs ; and John
Wellinge, Is, and costs.
IMPORTANT TO FIJRNACF.MEN.—John Morris, John
Jones. Joseph Stevens, Jonathan Onslow, Joseph 0 yen,
William Brooks, Joseph Fowkce, Joseph Tremens Geo.
Cooper, James Pearson, Richards Richards, Joseph
_Unseen, James "Breoks, and Jame Peates, were sum-
moned by the British Iron Company, Corogreavne We, ks.
for neglecting their work and .E 2 compensation Wee
claimed from each of the defendants. Mr.'''Honsfray
appeared to prosecute and Mr. Homer defended.'-' It -was
ellown that the defendants were engaged on-the terms
that they were to give or receive. fourteen" ilaye. notice
before leaving. On the 13th til. pap-er 'Was, affixed to
the door of the office at the works, stating that the
furnacemen thereby gave " fourteen days' notice for an
advance of wages from that date. It was, however,
only signed "The Workmen," and the Bench held that
it was not valid. Charles Hodgetts, manager of the work,,
said that in consequence of a suspicion which he had of
the strike being!intended, be in some measu-e'provided
for it, otherwise the loss to the company might have
been there serious. Some of the defendants wine to have
worked on the night of the 28th tilt, but they absented
themselves, as did else the others on the following morn-
ing In consequence of this, although the place of the
defendants was in Some measure supplied (though with
great difficulty), there was a 'ethers decrease in the yield
of the furnaces, the total loss to the company ausoenting
to £37 10s. Mr. Flomfray contended that as the defend-
ants were all banded together in the proceedings, as
shown by their own evidence, they were all equally
liable. Mr. Homer said that the men were under the
impression that they had given 'sufficient notice of their
intention to leave, and left accordingly. He endeavoured
to show by evidenee that the loss to the company was
not occasioned immediatly by reason of defendants'
leaving their work on the day named. The Bench retired
for some time and on returning into Court, the chairman
said they had carefully investigated the matter and
found that the case had been proved to their satisfaetion
and !fined each defendant E 2 • and costs and rescinded
the contract between complainants and defendants.

Good value for money is desired by all, with article-
that c innot be judged of by Ap pe aran ce, careful pure
chasers rely en the high standing of those with whom
they deal. For 30 years, Hornirnan's Pure Teas in
packets have given general satisfaction, being exceedingly
strong, of uniform good quality, and truly chap. Agents:
Stourbridge—Clarlies 151, High-street; Baker, 124; High
street; Elf wit. :ITark9t Place ; Morris, 136, High-street
Brierley chemist ; Kalertninster, But
hing ; Halesowen, Adam, chemist; Lye, Jones, chemist
Wordslev, Citron.% 1119-ni,lt ; Kingswinford, Pennon
Brettel Lane, Coiliuj, chewist ; Birmingham, Banks