The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-06-12 00:00:00

BRIERLEY HILL.

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES AND THEIR RIGHTIL—At a dele-
gate meeting of the various friendly societies represent-
ing 8,000 members held at the " Star " Hotel, Brierley
Hill, the following resolutions were passed unanimously,
viz. :—That we continue to agitate for the alterations we
require in the laws affecting the meetings of friendly so-
cietiea as advertised in our local papers.—ghat it is ad-
via-ble that the various societies should hold meetings
for this purpose in the various districts, and use their
utmost endeavours to procure a Muss Meeting of the
various societies at a place and time hereafter to be de-
termined, and that all local divisious be invited to co-
operato with /Ir. T. Homer, Cradley Heath.—That T.
H. Smith, 8, Fenton-street, be appointed secretary for
the Brierley lill division.—Resolved, that our next
meeting be held at the " Vine " Hotel, Stourbridge, on
Monda7, June 14th, ;A seven o'clock, p.m., when the
attendance of members of all societies is earnestly
invited.

GAMBLING ON THE HIGHWAY.—At the Police Court,
on:Monday, before lSfeesrs. E. St. J. Matthewes acid L.
Freer, William Dovey was fined 400 and costs; Joseph
Dovey, 10s and costs; Joseph Firmstone, 404 and costs ;
Henry -Firmstone, lOs and costs ; William Firmstone, is
and coa!,s ; William Harrington, 10s and costs; John
Harrington jun., 108 and costs; George Harrington, 10s
and costs; Joseph Meese, is and costs; John Hughes,
lOs and costs; Thomas Bate. 10s and costs; Richard
Plazrying jun., 10a and costs; Joseph Round, is and
costs; Thomas Dry jun., discharged for gambling on the
highway at California on the 15th ult.—Mr. Waldron def-
ended.— -Police-constable White said he saw the whole of
the defendants on the 15th of May at Califoria. They
were on the footpath and were using dice for money. He
saw coppers and silver. Joseph and William Dovey had
the dice. He saw people come up the street and they
had to go off the footpath in order to pass defendants.
Other witnesses gave evidenced.
DAMAGING MOWING GRASS.—James Stafford, Mark
Rushton jun., Joseph Hackett and Thomas Walker were
charged with wilfully damaging mowing grass, the pro-
perty of Benjamin Beckley. Defendants were fined 6d,
3d damage, and costs ; in default 7 days.—Defendanti
were further charged with damaging mowing grass be-
longing to William Baker. Defendants were fined 2s. 61,
ad damage, and costs; in default 14 days.
CIIALGE Or OBSTRUCTING EAILWAY PASSENGERS.-SaM-
uel Wyld was charged by Inspector Look, with obstructing
railway pasengers, and using obscene language, and fur-
ther charged with assaulting Thomas Kean at Round
Oak Station, on the Bth ult. Defendant was fined 10s.
and eo.its, in each case;
COWARDLY ASSAULT ON A WOMAN.—Thomas Morris,
engineer, was charged with assaulting a woman with
whom he cohabited, with being drunk and riotous, and
with breaking the cell windows.—From the evidence
it appeared that the prisoner went home on Saturday
night drunk, that he then assaulted his paramour, Han-
nah Middleton, dragged her out of the house by her hair
and was dragging her along Park Street when appro.
hended by the officer, and when in the cell he broke the
windows with his fiists.—Prisoner having been previously
convicted for gross :assaults, was sentenced to six
months' imprisonment, with hard labour.
STBALNG MlLK.—George Winter and Edward South-
all were charged with stealing a quantity of milk, the
property of Mr. George Richmond Collis, of Stourton
Castle, on the 6th. inst. Mr. Collis and Police-sergeant
Stevenson proved the offence and Southall was sentenced
to 7 days imprisonment, and Winter to one month. Mr.
Collis did not press the charge against Southall.