The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-01-18 00:00:00

OLD HILL.

Madman Swami* Immix—At the Petty Sessions, on
Wednesday last, before Messrs. E. Moore, F. W. G.
Bans, and N. Hingley, Joseph Homer was charged by
Edward Whitehouse, with stealing a bundle of iron, his
property, on the night of the 10th inst. Mr. Homer de.
fended. Prosecutor said on Fnday night last, between
eight mid nine o'clock he was coming past his gieenhonse
at Spalding Green, when he saw the prisoner come oat
of his warehouse with a bundle of iron on his back. He
called out to prisoner 'Hallo, Bo," and then went
straight to the Police Stetion. He did not say anything
else to him. Prisoner was in his employ at the time.
Witness had lost iron before. Prisoner had no right to
take iron off the premises. The iron is worth Os.—
Mr. Homer asked witness it he could swear that the iron
produced was -the iron taken away from his shop by
prisoner, and upon his replying in the negative, he naked
the Bench if it was necessary for him to croas•examine
the witness. He contended that no case had been made
out against his client, as it had not been shown whose
property the iron was which it was alleged he had been
seen carrying. The iron might have been the property
of the prisoner for all they knew, as there WU no eridence
to show to whom it belonged. On being further ex.
amined prosecutor said there were two bundles of iron
stolen, one of which was brought back next morning by
a little girl. He did not ask her where she found the
iron.—The Bench ultimately dismissed the case, as there
was not sufficient evidence to convict.
_

COAL STKALlNG.—Charlotte Tranter and Sarah Batty,
two women, were charged with stealing coal, on the 20th
nit, the property of Walter Bassano and Co., at Old Hill.
Police-constable Cooper deposed that on the above date
he was on duty in Love Lane, about half-past three in
the afternoon. He saw the two defendants, and several
others with them taking coal from the pit banks. He
stood under the hedge end they ell came towards him in
the lane. He caught bold of the two defendants, and
got their imam. Batty had the coal en her head in a
skip, and Tranter had it ia her apron. Batty had about
15tbs, value lid, and Treater bad 10 or 12 pounds,
value ld. Mr. Bassano said he was sorry to bring the
cue against the prisoners; but he was robbed of.! least
ton tons of coal every week, and he considered that he
ist £6OO • year ia eowseriesoee. The basil whore the

8/4111DAT

east was tams from was teased of from the read end
pismire mast have broken the fame to get at the coal.
In answer to the prisoner Batty, he said that he had
hosed that she was frequently at the bank stealing coal.
Treater stated that she had abort 20 or 30 lumps of coal
about the size of a reel of cotton which she had picked
up off the footpath. Both prisoners stoutly denied
having been on the bank. Mr. Hingley said, at Mr.
Bassano's request they would adjourn the case to that
day fortnight to see if that prosecution would have any
fact in deterring others from committing a like offence.
Amor= Cesz.--George Pearson, was charged with
assaulting John Careless, on the 11th inst. Mr. Mom.
fray prosecuted, and Mr. Addison defended. Mr. Horn.
fray, in opening the sise, said it was one of a serious
trade nature. Defendant who formerly worked for
Messrs. Mobberley and Bailey, had voluntarily quitted
their service after giving them notice, but had afterwards
without the slightest provocation nose and brutally
assaulted complainant, striking him and rendering him
, insensible at their works. Complainant was engaged in
winding at the time; but, fortunately it was only water
which he was drawing up, as if it had been men the con-
sequences might have been most disastrous. He thought
it absolutely necessary that men should be protected in
their work, and if he proved his case he hoped they
would inflict such e penalty Si would deter defendant
from ever repeating the offenee.—John enrolees said he
was an engineer in the employ of Messrs. Mobberley and
Bailey, demisters, of Cradley Heath. Oa the 7th hist,
defendant entered the engine-house and said to him, "I
should think you have got your hand in by now?"
Witness answered " Not particularly, for we have not
been doing much as yet." Defendant said that he
wanted his things. Witness told him that his things
were there; he had not disturbed them, or interfered
with thmni. Del cadent then went to look for his things.
Witness said nothing to him. Defendant said he did not
think it worth his while to ask such a—se witness
where his things were. Witness thought defendant was
looking for his things when defendant suddenly gave him
• blow with something which made the wound that was
I then on his nose. Witmese then got further away from
I him for fear he should receive another blow from him.
The engine was going at the time. Defendant struck
him but once. The blow made witness feel rather queer
at the time. He was smothered with blood.—Cross-
examined: Witness denied that be had melted for deicn.
donee job, but admitted that he had agreed to take it
without having the used allowance of fire emel.—Mr.
Mobbed()) was milled and said defendant was in his
employ up to the Ilth lost, when he spivs witness notice
that be woald leave, and left.- Ile then took the cam.
plainest on in his Sees. Compielamat tome to witnees's
house after he was Mrsek. His lase wig all over blood.
and his nose was eat. Croreenemint4 : Memoir pee
him (witness) 14 days' nodes to leave. He diMinetly
told aidendant that hesitant& kiwi no msg. When com-
plainant same to him be mil disithdeftt had streak bin
with something sharp. The dethadlant had worked for
them for some time and they had nothing against his
soadert. Mr. Arldisoa, for the defines, said that 11r.
Homfray had been representing this ease as a serious
tricliadespelßtroelfmati::ethao:nisttdehqb.seitief.iies.n.Pil::rtirgighabutltethawinhe:veagpi„draornetuited"bhady.thatehllieliZet
to defendant's employers and got his job of him by
offering to do it minus the usual allowance of fire coal.
This conduct natnrally irritated the defendant, and when
he went to fetch his thing. some angry words passed
between him and complainant ; bet the blow which was
given was purely the result of accident, and he would
submit that if the Bench ordered his client to pay the
coots the ends of justice would be noel—Mr. Moore
(chairman) said they considered it a very gross case, and
must fine defendant 40e and costs. . . .

DISORDEULY COIMUCT.—AbeI Harris, was charged with
being guilty of disorderly conduct on the 21st ult. Police.
constable Jackson said on the above date he was on duty
at tiorsty Bank, about a quarter-past eleven at night.
Defendant was then making a great noise. Mr. Haman°
and another witness stepped forward and said defendant
was of weak intellect, and the case was dismissed..
..

ANOTIARR COAL SiEALING CAME.—WiISARI Hackett,•
boy 12 years of age, was brought up on a charge of steal-
ing coal from the pits of Mr. W. Bassani), on the 9th inst.
Police-constable Cooper said on the above date he was
on duty in Bright's Lane, Cherry o,rohard. He new
there Joseph Hackett, (who was summoned but did not
appear) and the defendant William Hackett. The former
had about 5 or 6ths. of coal in a bag, and the letter about
151151. He followed Joseph into the house. When he
got in his mother said to him "Chuck it down there, and
come into the house." Mrs. Hackett admitted having
told her ion to throw the coal dowo, and mid she was a
poor woman with no prospect of being able to buy coal,
and she could constantly hear of others getting "liberty"
to take coal, and therefore thought it no harm to tell her
children to do the tame as her neighbours. —Police.con•
stable Cooper said in answer to the Bench, most of those
stealing coal were little boys. He could bring lots of
them there, but did not like to do no—Mr. Base:no said
he mast press this case as it had occurred a fortnight
after the eammous in the other case had been taken out,
and the fact that proceedings bad been taken, had not
acted in the slightest degree as a deterrent on others.
The female prisoner Matilda Hackett, was committed for
seven days' without the option of • fine; and the boy
(William Hackett) was dismissed with the caution that if
he came there again be would be whipped.
NPOLICTETO TO SUPPORT • Wits—Michael Bailable,
was brought up on a Marge of allowing his wife and
family to become chargeable to the Union. The Case
being proved he was ummitted to prison for one month.
SHAULT IT • Wlll.—Sophia Vale, • young woman
apparently about 20 years of age, was charged with
assaelting her husband. John Vale, whose up appeared
to be about the same as her own, on the 1111 i inst. Kr.
Stoke, wee for the complainant, and he opened the ease
by staling that It wee somewhat unusual for • husband
to have to Ming • charge of moult against his wife ;and,
doubtless, be the present instance they would hardly !
think it credible that the wounds which 000111.1.ianat bad
reeitived sould have been inflated by suck a delicate look.
lag young women as the defendant, but ha would prove
to them beyond • doubt that sash was the ease. The
Meta were very simple. The parties now before the
Bench, though husband and wife, were living separate
from muses into which it was unnecessary to enter.
Some time ego defendant had instituted prooeedinp In
the County Court, to compel complainant to support her.
He (Mr. Stokes) appeared for John Vale on that occasion,
and the result of the trial was that defendant was non-
stilted. This seems to have irristed her, and on the
above date she proceeded to • house where complainant
was and threw stones et him, blackened his eye, scratched
his face, and tore his cost into shreds. The husband
who was at the present time under sureties to keep the
peace, with a forbearance which he (Mr. Stokes) could
not help thinking was very praiseworthy on his part,
kept his hands in his pocket daring the whole of the
time so that there should be no pretext for saying that
he had retaliated on his wife. Now, he thought, that if
be proved these facts the Bench would think with him
that it would be only fair to the husband to afford the
same protection to him, by binding his wife over to keep
the peace, as had already been afforded to the defendant.
John Vale said he was at the present time under recou-
nMances to keep the peace towards his wife for aix
months. He had lived eeparately from his wife ever
since he was bound over. On Saturday last he was going
in the direction of Haden Hill. He mw Joseph Wild
who asked him to go into his house and he stayed there
until half 'pest five. He then got up to go away. Defen-
dant threw the stones produced at him and hit him on
the back of the head. That was the first that he saw of
her that day. She went out again and picked up another I
end returned again in about aye minutes. A neighbour
came to the window and they opened the door. befell- I
dant came in again, and pulling off her bonnet and shawl
said, 'The is better dead, and I will kill him 1
at ones." She ripped his coat and said, "You
old—, you have got plenty of money you mast I
buy another." Defendant also told witnem that there I
was some one waiting outside for him—Joseph Wild I
was next called and stated that he lived at Haden Hill, I
by the Wesleyan Chapel. On the above date he was at I
his house at about four o'clock. He saw complainant I
outside, and asked him to come in. When witness went
outside he did not see defendant there at that time.
Complainant stayed at his house till about • quarter-past
six. Defendant same into witness's house about han-
som{ five and threw • atone at complainant. Defendant
went away and complainant fastened the door. It woe
afterwards opened to admit • neighbour. Before com-
plainant came to his house he had no marks or scratches
on his face at all. They were inflicted by defendant.
Complainant did not strike her. He had his hand, in
his pocket • part of the time, and the reel of tha time he
held them behind his back.—Defendant, In answer to
the charge said, " I have not beaten him with any stones
gentlemen, I never knew anything about Ibis stones. He
alesek me them times by sone pies."—Dedessillant wiss
fined Is. ed. and coats.

DISOILDBILLY COTDOCT.—WiIIim Matey, lariloril at
the White Swan has, Old Hill. ehasped Solomon Treesass
Wilk being disorderly al his hoses, on the 11th hut.
Complaisant maid ddeadsat caste iato kis horse &boat
alas o'clock oa the above dale, cad began to Stibt and
quarrel with hie brother. Witness pat blaz out, but h•
MON is agaia and made a diatarMatoa. The 'mach
ordered defendant to pay the eoats.