The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-04-13 00:00:00

BOARD OF GUARDIANS.

The last meeting of the old Board was held
yesterday; Mr. Brooks in the chair. There
were also present :—Messrs. Brooks, Rollinson,
Baker, Billingham, Fiddian, Griffin, Guest,
Homer, Pateshall, T. H. Pargeter, Rhodes,
Fereday, and Peskin. The minutes of the
last meeting were read and confirmed. Ad-
mitted into the house during the week 19' •
discharged, 11; dead, 3; remaining, 385.
Corresponding week last year, 426. Out-door
relief Kingswinford district, £2B 16s 4d ; Stour-
bridge district, £2O Is 100 ; Halesowen dis-
trict, £2l 4s 54,1 ; total, £7O Ss Bd, against
£9l 15s 10d last year.
The usual votes of thanks were passed to the
Chairman, Vice-Chairmen. Mr. Jeffries, the
Clerk, Relieving-officer and Workhouse officials,
for their services during the past year.

CHIMNEY ON FIRE.-At the Police Court, yes-
terday, before Major Fletcher and Colonel Bar-
rows, Thomas Adams, bootmaker, was fined 5s
for allowing his chimney to take fire. William
Yardley, grocer, was fined 5s for a bimilar of-

fence.
ASSAULT CASE. —Sarah Clarke and Ann Sal-
mons were charged with assaulting Caroline
Taylor, on the 15th ult. Mr. Burbury defended.
Complainant said on. the above date she had
been to the Police Court, and the defendants
were concerned. About one o'clock she was op.
posite Mill's house, and Sarah Clarke went up to
her, laid hold of her, struck her and blackened
her eye, and pulled her down. Ann Salmons
went up at the time and beat her until she be-
came insensible. She was confined the next
day, and had been ill ever since. Several wit-
nesses gave corroborative evidence. Mr. Bur-
bury in defence, admitted that Clarke struck
complainant, and they both fought, but Salmons
did not strike at all. Several witnesses were
called to prove that Salmons did not strike, and
she was discharged. Clarke was fined 20s and
costs, in default one month.
ILLEGALLY POSSESSING A Mom—Edward
Jenkins and Thomas Reubery were charged
with illegally takings hara an the 9th inst, not
having a license to kill. Wm. Stevens, keeper
to Mr. Foley, said that about 8 o'clock he was
in the Sandy Lane, talking to P. C. Smith, and
he saw the defendants coming from the direc-
tion of Whittington, and Smith asked Jenkins
what he had got under his coat, and pulled it on
one side and saw a hare which was quite warm.
They had two dogs with them. P.C. Smith
gave corroborative evidence. Defendants said
they found the hare in the road. Fined Is. and

STEALING A COAT.—John Smith was charged
with stealing an overcoat, the property of Joseph
Wharton, on the 9th inst. Mrs. Wharton said
on the above date the coat produced was hang-
ing at her door, and missed it about half -past 2.
Henry Hill, butcher, said on the above date the
prisoner offered to sell him the coat for 38., and
he ultimately gave him 2s Od. for it. P.S. Jones
proved apprehending prisoner, who pleaded
guilty and was sentenced to one month's impris

onment.
STEALING PROVISIONS.—John Stuart (14), Was
charged with stealing a packet of cocoa and 14
ounces of bacon, from the shop of Mr. Edgar
Griffin, provision dealer, High-street. Prosecu-
tor said in consequence of information given to
him he brought the lad to the Police Station,
and saw him searched, and the cocoa was found
upon him. Sarah Jane Canadine said on the
11th inst she saw prisoner go into prosecutor's
shop. She was in her own shop opposite She
saw him pick up the packet of cocoa. Police.
constable Bladon said he received prisoner into
custody, and charged him with stealing the
cocoa and bacon, and he admitted having taken
them, and said he dropped the bacon in the pas-
sage. Witness searched, and found the bacon in
the passage. Prisoner said he was guilty of tak-
ing the cocoa, and was committed for oue
mouth.
DRUNKENNESS.—WiIIiaM Morris Was fillad 104
and costs, or 14 days, for drunkenness at Wol-
laston.
- - - -

CUARGE OF TIIREATENING.—Betsy Cartwright.
of the Lye, was charged by Mary Aston with
using threatening language to her, on the Bth
inst. After hearing the evidence, the defendant
was cautioned and discharged.
SWEARING-IN OF CONSTABLES.—The constables
for the various townships were duly sworn in,
except Charles Hicklin, for Stourbridge. In this
case Mr. Prescott made an objection to him on
the ground that Hicklin had the serving of the
summonses against defaulting ratepayers, and
that the fees were diviled between him and the
assistant-overseers, which he considered was an
injustice to the ratepayers, us the assistant-over-
seer was being paid twice over for performing
one duty. He considered the police were the
proper persons to serve the summonses, mid theu
the ratepayers would receive the benefit. Ma-
jor Fletcher remarked that he was quite willing
to hear what Mr. Prescott had to say on oath.—
Mr. Prescott: I can't prove it myself; but will
bring a witness to do so in five minutes.—The
case was then adjourned for 14 days, to hear the
evidence on both sides.
TRANSFERS.—At the Petty Sessions yesterday,
before Major Fletcher and Colonel Barrows, the
following transfers took place: The Nag's Head
Inn, New. street, Stourbridge, from James Key-
zall to William Morris; the Plough and Harrow,
the Heath, Stourbridge, from William Morris to
William Aldis ; the Railway Inn, Portobello,
from George Davis to James Taylor—Beer-
homes: The Old House at Home, Cradley, from
James Fradgley to the widow, Sarah Ann Fradg-
ley ; the Rock Tavern, The Heath, from Benja-
min Maud. to Henry Davis.
BITING OFF A MAN'S EAR.—At the Worcester
Session, on Tuesday last, before Mr. R. P.
Ainphlett, Q.C., M.P., Edward Stringer was
charged with unlawfully, maliciously, and felo-
niously causing grievous bodily harm to John
Allen' on the '26th of March, at the Ridge Top,
Wollaston, on the 26th ult, by biting off his ear.
Ibis case has been fully reported in our columns.
After hearing the evidence, the jury found the
prisoner guilty of a common assault. The
Chairman told the prisoner he had been convic-
ted of an abominable offence, for which he would
have to undergo six months' hard labour.
STEALING BUTTER.—At the Police Court, on
Tuesday, before Mr. ILL. Freer, Thomas Chap.
man (10), of the Lye Waste, was charged with
stealing 41bs of butter, value 4s Bd. the property
of William Penn, of the Lye Waste, on Monday,
and VMS remanded until yesterday, when he was
senteneed to six months' imprisonment.
ELECTION OF GUARDIANS.—The following is
the return of the newly elected Guardians :
Lye : William Fiddian, 602; George Rhodes,
470; George Newnan', 422. The first two are
elected. Amblecote : Philip Pargeter, 190; Wil-
liam Richardson, 108. The former gentleman
is elected.
SACK HIRING.—At the Gloucester County
Court, on the 4th instant, Messrs. Holcomb and
Co., Limited, sought to recover 14s from Mr.
G. R. Collis, of Stourtou Castle, Stourton, for
hire due on 32 sacks, alleged to be hired on the
defendant's account by Messrs. Philpotts and
Co., corn merchants, of that port. Mr. Rice,
clerk to Messrs. Philpotts and Co., proved sel-
ling 15 qrs. of oats to the defendant in the Bir-
mingham Market, and said it was the custom of
the corn trade for the seller to pay the first 12
days' hire on sacks, and that after that time the
purchaser was liable for the hire and sacks. The
oats were sent free to Stourbridge station in 32
of Haleorub and Co.'s sacks, and he believed
that an advice note of the sacks was sent to the
defendant when the grain was forwarded. For
the defence, Mr. Jones called Mr. Collie, who
stated that he had bought grain from Messrs.
Sturge for upwards of thirty years, and that
that firm always delivered the grain in their own
sacks. Being invited by a friend to give Messrs.
Philpotts an order, he did so; but he was posi-
tive it was not to Mr. Rice he gave it, and that
nothing about sacks was mentioned. He gave
his cheque for the oats at the time of purchase,
and was entirely ignorant of the existence of the
firm of Holcomb and Co. There was much de-
lay in the delivery of the grain, because the
canal was frozen; but when the sacks arrived
they were immediately eniptled and returned to
Pliilpotts and Co., Gloucester. He said also