The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-07-24 00:00:00

TDE STOITRI3MDGE OPSEBVE

when defendant met him and struck him three
times. Defendant also struck him with an um-
brella, and had threatened his life. Thomas
Wright corroborated. Fined ss. and costs.

ASSAULT CASE.—Bridget Ca.vaty was charged
with assaulting Michael Irwin, on the 17th ult.
Complainant said he was in the Woodman Inn,
having a pint of ale, when the defendant came
and set about her, and scratched his face. He
did not strike him back again. Two witnesses
corroborated. The defence was that complainant
struck first. Fined 2s. 6d, and costs; in default
7 days; a cross summons against Irwin was dis-
missed.

CHARGE OF STEALING MONEY.—Charles Mole
was charged with stealing, on the 22nd ult, Bs. 54d
the property of Edward Mosley. Prosecutor
lodged at Mrs. Edward's of Oldswinford. He
marked some money, and in the night saw the
prisoner go to his trousers, take the money out,
and put it into his own purse. Witness was awake
at the time and saw him go to the drawer. The
money consisted of 4 Florins, a three-penny piece
and coppers. Before he went to bed he had 17s.
54d., on searching his pockets he found but 9s.
He called Mr. Dark who was in the house, and
told him that the prisoner had robbed him.—
George Dark said he was called into the room and
the last N+ itness said he had been robbed. Pris-
oner pulled out Bs. sid., out of his pocket and
threw it on the ground saying take it if it is yours
and makeino noise about it. He then sent for a
police officer.—Police-constable Firth said that he
went to Mrs. Edwards house and charged him
with the offence. Prisoner denied taking the
money, and said it was part of the wages he had
received from Mr.iGodfrey. Defendant was corn.
muted to take his trial at the next Worcester Ses-
sions.

"Kiss IN THE RING" AND ITS CONSEQUENCES...-.
George Smith was charged by Alfred Green with
assaulting his son, James Green, on the 20th instant.
From the evidence given it appeared that the annual
treat was given to the children in connection with
the Baptist School on the above date, and they were
playing at "kiss in the ring," when the defendant
pushed Green down. When the latter got up, the
defendant struck him on the left eye. For the de-
fence, it was alleged that defendant did not strike
complainant. Jane Taylor, one of the witnesses for
the defence, said she was at the school treat at
Hanbnry Hill, on Tuesday last. She was in the kiss-
ing ring when Green and Smith same in, and Green
began to spoil the game. Smith turned him out of
the ring. Green then struck Smith on his breast.
Smith did net strike Green. She saw all that took
place. She was standing still, and had hold of "Mr."
Smith's hand, when Green came and forced their
hands apart.—George Thomas and Alfred Jones, two
lads, who were present on the occasion, also gave
evidence.—George Smith was further charged with
assaulting Anne Louisa Brecknall, on the 17th inst.
The evidence went to show that the defendant caught
hold of complainant by the neck, threw her down,
and bruised her on the leg. Defendant was fined is
and costs, or in default seven days, in each case.

By the coroner: It 'Min dangerous for a person
going to the pig-stye.
By Mr. Wyndham: The amount of money given
witness by deceased would have only been suffi-
cient to give change in the ordinary course of the
business.
Police-constableiFreeman said he.saw.the mark
where the foot had slipped, but he could not say
whether it had been made by deceased or not.
The servant Hoelgkiss (on being re-called) said
deceased had left no letter behind her, or given
any other intimation that she intended to make
away with herself.
George Heathcock'said he 'lived at King-street,
Wollaston. Ole had known deceased fur a great
many years. He last saw her alive on Saturday
week, when he spoke to her at the door as he was
passing. It was about half-past eleven in the
morning when he found her. He was just look-
ing round the engine to see that everything was
right, when he saw;a body comine, down the
stream. He got a piece of iron and drew the body
to the bank, and then saw that it was the body
of Mrs, Ganner. When he got deceased to the
bank the body was still warm. The distance from
the pig-stye to where witnessfound her would be
about 400 yards. He called .for assistance and
deceaseei was conveyed to her own house. The
water was running over the weirs about'42 feet at
the time.
Mr. Wyndham: Supposing the river was full up
to the bank, was there any danger of a person
slipping in.
Witness: Yes; there was a good chance of any-
body slipping in. It was, in fact, dangerous.
Police-constable Freeman:said on Tuesday morn-
ing last, from information received he came down
to the Foster's Arms. He had known deceased
for 20 years. She had kept that house for a long
time. When he saw the body of deceased there
were no marks on it. The body was warm when
he saw it, about twelve o'clock. He examined the
sides of the river, and he found appearances as
if some one had slipped from the side into the river.
He did not see any footsteps leading towards the
pig-styes. There was a small foot-mark, similar
to that which would be made by a woman, about
eight or ten inches from the side of the river, and
it had the appearance as if the person who had
made it had slipped. .
By Mr. Wyndham : To get to the pig-styes a
person would have to go near the river. It was
a dangerous place when the river was full.
By the Coroner: The garden was private pro-
qerty. There was formerly a fence, but it was
now down. The place would be much safer with
rails. There was no house within call of the spot,
as the garden was walled in.
The Coroner said there was nothing in the evi-
dence to justify them in saying that deceased had
destroyed herself. It might have been an acci-
dent. He had heard nothing that would show
that deceased had wilfully thrown herself into the
water. Mrs. Downes was the only one who seemed
to throw a doubt upon her sanity. Ho thought if
they felt sure there had been no violence offered
to her, they might return a verdict to the effect
that she ha el been found drowned. They might
say she had fallen in by accident, but he did net think
they would be justified upon the evidence in say-
ing that such had been the case. He was, there-
fore, of opinion that an open verdict of found
drowned would best meet the case.
The Jury then returned a verdict of "Found
drowned," and called the attention of the Stour-
bridge Canal Company to the state of the bank
where the affair happened, and suggested that
they should place au efficient fence there.

RAILWAY ACCIDENT AT BRETTELL LANE.

The down line near the railway station was impas-
sable for a long time on Sunday, owing to an accident
which occurred to a morning train. The 11 10 a.m. tTain
was within one hundred or two hundred yards of the
platform, when, owing to the line bei.g under repair,
the engine left the rails and hurried itself deeply in the
ballast. The passengers got out, and seeing the nature
of the obstruction, some of them who were ouly bound
short distances, went on upon foot. It was a consider-
able time before those who remained were sent on by
the carriages being transferred to the other line. The
engine, which weighed about forty tons, tasked the ex-
ertions of a large body of men to get into position again,
it having sunk into the ballast as far as the fire-box
would let it. It was not until nine o'clock that the hue
was cleared.